CHRISTIAN Bautista
With GMA 7 now offering a live comedy show on its Sunday noontime slot—which was, for the longest time, dedicated to musical variety programs—many of the network’s singers are now left without a main platform on TV in which they get regular exposure.
Of late, a number of singers who were closely associated with the Kapuso station have opted to jump ship, the more recent ones being Jaya and Jonalyn Viray (rechristened as Jona), who are now with ABS-CBN.
Amid this spate of transfers, balladeer Christian Bautista chose to renew his exclusive contract with GMA 7 for two more years. “Some singers have moved on to other networks or returned to where they were originally from—and I completely respect that. I decided to remain here to carve my own path,” he told the Inquirer in an interview at his recent contract signing.
But Christian believes that musical variety shows will come back sooner or later. “I can record theme songs for teleseryes. There are concerts, corporate shows and out-of-town gigs,” he said. “Television is important, but there are other avenues.”
Besides, one of the deciding factors for Christian is the prospect of furthering his acting career in GMA 7, which has so far given him roles in four soaps, including the ongoing “Encantadia.”
“I was able to hone my acting, although [I admit] there’s still a lot of room for improvement,” Christian said.
“The goal is to act like Dennis Trillo or John Lloyd Cruz,” jested the 34-year-old singer-actor, who confessed that he thinks he’s better suited for lighter fare. “I’m an ugly crier,” Christian added, laughing. “But I do think doing drama has helped me put more weight on my singing.”
Christian, who began his career in theater, will also be in the September staging of “Jersey Boys”—a musical about the 1960s rock and roll group, The Four Seasons—where he plays the role of songwriter Bob Gaudio.
Christian has taken it upon himself to start writing more songs. “Singers like me who do not play instruments usually let the label take charge of the creative process. I want to produce my own music—that is the skill I want to learn and develop” he said. “I want a fresh sound.”
He has been singing professionally for more than a decade now. But while reinvention is essential, so is honoring one’s core market, stressed Christian, who’s known for his sentimental love ballads, like the 2004 hit, “The Way You Look at Me.”
“My goal is to connect with my audience, then expanding and winning over new fans,” he said. “I’m a pop guy, so it’s all about striking a nice balance between artistry and commercial appeal. I have to sell, but without compromising my craft.”
E-mail apolicarpio@inquirer.com.ph