Flawed but forgivable, feel-good flashbacks

STEPHEN Bishop sometimes struggled, but still soothed. Photo courtesy of Viva Communications

Neither Friday night traffic nor arthritis stopped mostly middle-aged Filipinos from trooping to Quezon City for the “Back 2 Back 2 Back” concert, featuring ’80s music icons Stephen Bishop, Michael Johnson and Joe Puerta.

The Side A band, still remembered for their amazing Calesa Bar gigs at the Hyatt Hotel in the 1980s, opened the three-hour concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Frontman Joey Generoso serenaded the mostly 40- to 50-something crowd with ballads like “Set You Free,” “Ang Aking Awitin,” “So Many Questions” and “I Believe in Dreams.”

Like spirited, young, teenage gals, some ladies squealed as Generoso hit with precision the high notes of the opening lines of the song “Tell Me,” originally sung by Joey Albert.

The song heralded a karaoke bar-like atmosphere, as the crowd sang along with the band during “Forevermore” and “Tuloy Pa Rin Ako.”

Surprise number

After Side A’s performance, J Michaels, the host and band leader, surprised the audience when he plucked out from the crowd American singer Bobby Brooks Wilson, son of legendary singer Jackie Wilson.

Wilson wasn’t on the line-up of singers for the night but he pleased the crowd as he belted out his dad’s “Higher and Higher” and did a duet with Michaels, “He’s Not Heavy, He’s My Brother.”

MICHAEL Johnson found his visits to Manila “earthshaking.” Photo courtesy of Viva Communications

Lara Cuevas, one of the back-up singers, was a revelation as she performed Vehnee Saturno’s “Sana Minsan Pa.” She amazingly hit the high notes with ease but sometimes had to struggle with the lower ones. Cuevas eerily sounded like Zsa Zsa Padilla and upstaged Michaels in their duet of “Come Together” by the Beatles. Michaels, sadly, mumbled to fill in lyrics he forgot.

Earthshaking

Now 69 years old, Johnson said it was his third visit to the Philippines. Describing his visits as “earthshaking,” he quipped, “There’s been an earthquake every single time I come (here).” Johnson dedicated “This Night Won’t Last Forever” to the victims of the recent Visayas earthquake, their grieving relatives and other survivors.

As he was about to perform the song “I’ll Always Love You,” Johnson revealed how his long-lost biological daughter Truly Carmichael, who is in her 40s, found him four years ago. “I have looked for her all her life and she looked for me.”

Truly was trained as an opera singer. “It’s been an absolute joy of my life to meet her. This song [“I’ll Always Love You”] always brought her to me in my mind,” Johnson said.

“Bluer Than Blue” is perhaps Johnson’s most popular song. “This song enabled me to put the down payment on the home that I don’t live in anymore,” he said.

BOBBY Brooks Wilson made a surprise appearance. Photo courtesy of Viva Communications

Although his singing sometimes sounded labored, Johnson endeared himself to the crowd who helped him sing the hard parts.

Johnson recalled asking his good friend and singer John Ford Coley how to say “this night won’t last forever.” Coley replied, “Ang salawal ko ay nag-aapoy.”

Meanwhile, the 62-year-old Bishop, like Johnson, understandably struggled with the high notes and the occasional false notes evident even in his first song “On and On.”

The crowd was not only forgiving of their lapses but appreciative of them both. Bishop recounted how “Something New in My Life” was only released in Hong Kong but found its way to the Philippines and became an unlikely hit here.

He laughingly recalled, “It’s so funny here. My name is Stephen Bishop but here it’s Stephen Bee Shop.”

Mimicking a Filipino accent, he said, “Mr. Bee Shop! Can I have a photo?” In jest, Bishop said he wished to have a store here that sold bees.

The 1986 Grammy-nominated duet “Separate Lives” again showcased the vocal prowess of Cuevas, stealing Bishop’s thunder.

The song, written by Bishop and originally sung by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin for the movie “White Nights,” reached number one on Billboard’s Hot 100.

JOE PUERTA was still soulful. Photo courtesy of Viva Communications

Bishop then performed the “Avocado Song,” a parody of the song “Desperado.”

Afterward, he dished out “Saving for a Rainy Day” before singing a song very close to the Filipinos’ hearts. As if on cue, a sea of cell phones started recording his performance of “It Might Be You,” the theme from the movie “Tootsie,” starring the cross-dressing Dustin Hoffman.

Still powerful

Although the American rock band Ambrosia was formed 40 years ago, the voice of its former lead singer, Puerta, was still powerful and oozing with blue-eyed soul.

Except for some misplaced falsettos, he was in tip-top shape from his opening number “How Much I Feel” to his other hits like “You’re the Only Woman,” “I Just Can’t Let Go” until his last songs, “The Biggest Part of Me” and “The Magical Mystery Tour” with Michaels.

Puerta recalled how upset Ambrosia was in 1981 when “The Biggest Part of Me” received three Grammy nominations only to lose to Lipps Inc.’s disco hit “Funky Town.”

SIDE A’s set was a lively sing-along. Photo courtesy of Viva Communications

The show’s last song was an ensemble performance, which could have aptly described the mood of the night. The song was “Let It Be” by the Beatles.

Even though not every note was perfect, lyrics were sometimes forgotten and the singers couldn’t be their younger selves again, the crowd loved their music so much so they couldn’t care less.

“Back 2 Back 2 Back” will have a repeat on Saturday at the University of Southern Philippines in Davao City. Bishop will also perform with Nonoy Zuñiga on Sunday at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.