Charice’s coming-out was a nonissue for her mentor. GRACE MENDOZA
Like every good thing that has happened in her life and career, Charice’s recent onstage reunion with her godfather and mentor, David Foster, on the “Asia’s Got Talent” stage came when she least expected it.
One day last April, Charice flew to Singapore for what should have been a casual get-together with Foster, which was arranged with the help of Marc Johnston, who manages both artists’ international careers. But little did she know that her supposed one-day trip would end up longer—and a lot more exciting.
The first thing Foster noticed, Charice recalled, was her weight loss and new look. “He told me he was happy that I’ve finally found my style, and that I looked good,” said the singer, who now wears her hair short, and has taken a liking to leather boots and biker jackets.
Her coming out and sexual preference were nonissues. Foster embraced her, Charice recounted, and it was touching and overwhelming. “It felt like David genuinely missed me,” she said, adding that she and the composer/record producer lost contact about four years ago.
Chatting about music
And then, of course, the two started talking about what they do best and love most: music.
“David asked me what I was listening to at the moment, and I told him that I love Sam Smith…He asked me if I knew the song ‘Lay Me Down.’ When I said yes, David played it on his mobile phone, trying to figure out the notes and chords,” she related in a recent interview with the Inquirer.
The very next moment, Foster, who served as a judge in “Asia’s Got Talent,” turned on his keyboards. And before long, he and Charice were jamming. “It was like the good old times. I was happy, singing my heart out, when out of nowhere, he asked me if I would like to perform the song in the show,’” she said.
That same day, Foster introduced Charice to the talent contest’s producers, who offered her a spot right off the bat. “They already had ideas on how the number would be like. Everything was happening so fast, and I was caught off-guard,” she said. “I didn’t even have clothes to wear. But luckily, they took care of everything.”
Teary audience
Her performance was taped the following day, and aired as part of the show’s finale last week. Charice admitted that there was a little bit of pressure, because she didn’t know how the fans would react to their reunion. “But when the music played, I felt at peace and confident. Come on, it’s David Foster! I trust him,” she said.
Midway through her number, the 23-year-old singer noticed that not a few guests inside the studio were nearly in tears. She didn’t belt out as forcefully as before and just continued to make her rendition as heartfelt as possible.
In the end, Charice was duly rewarded with a standing ovation.
David Foster and Charice jammed like the good old times.
“It was mission accomplished…I didn’t need to hit high notes just to impress people. This is the kind of music that I want to do,” said Charice, who will fly to the United States next month to work on a still secret project. “And to see David play the piano as I sang was priceless. I was so happy.”
Prior to this TV appearance with Foster, Charice reconnected late last year with her godmother, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who had been instrumental to the one-time YouTube star’s international success. Charice appeared on the now defunct “The Oprah Winfrey Show” four times. It was also Winfrey who hooked up the young talent with Foster.
Foster asked Charice to be part of his 2008 tribute concert, “Hitman: David Foster and Friends,” in Las Vegas, Nevada. The two then appeared on TV in the United States and did concerts around world. Foster was also the producer of Charice’s self-titled international album, which was released in 2010.
In late 2011, however, Foster announced that he would no longer produce music for Charice because they were no longer under the same label: Foster had transferred to Universal Records, while Charice stayed with Warner Music.
Charice suffered a series of personal and family issues, which lasted until her coming-out announcement in 2013.
Asked how she felt seeing Winfrey and Foster again, Charice—who’s set to do shows in Japan and France in the coming months—related: “I wasn’t in touch with them because I didn’t want them to see me at my worst. I had to focus on my issues…But now I’m glad they were finally be able to see me for who I really am.”
(apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph)