Treasure trove of lessons, revelations and trivia from Basil Valdez

The Philippines is famous for its never-ending supply of exceptional singers and performers—but, Basil Valdez, the country’s premier balladeer, is a cut above the rest.

The 65-year-old OPM icon can teach young singers a thing or 10 about interpretation, lessons in humility and longevity, and sustained skill. This is precisely why you need to watch “Basil Valdez @ Solaire” at The Theatre in Solaire on April 29 at 8 p.m. (call 552-7473/891-9999).

The concert marks the singer’s 40th year as a recording artist: He recorded “Ngayon at Kailanman” and the album containing it in 1977.

Joining Basil are special guests Sharon Cuneta, the Ateneo Chamber Singers, frequent collaborator Ryan Cayabyab and the 42-piece ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra.

We can tell you a hundred more reasons why there’s nobody like Basil, but the balladeer’s astounding body of work speaks for itself: “Ngayon at Kailanman,” “Say That You Love Me,” “Hindi Kita Malilimutan,” “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan,” “You,” “Iduyan Mo,” “Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang,” “Lead Me, Lord,” “Let the Pain Remain,” “Nais Ko,” “Salamin ng Buhay,” “Sana ay Ikaw Na Nga,” “Tanging Yaman” and those peerlessly sung movie theme songs from the ’80s.

The list of enduring hit songs is long and prodigious—and Basil will be singing many of them on Saturday.

“This is a very simple concert,” he told us with nary a hint of braggadocio. “The only difference is, this time, I will
be presenting an all-Filipino repertoire. All of the songs that I will be performing are my songs.”

In this rare and revelatory Q&A, Basil shares with Inquirer Entertainment his thoughts and recollections about his collaborations with George Canseco, Ryan Cayabyab and Willy Cruz, his hit-making contemporaries, his biggest mistakes in life and a “singing” and “crying” Sharon Cuneta at age 12—truly a treasure trove of lessons, revelations and trivia:

What do you think makes your songs immortal? It’s a combination of fortuitous luck and the right formula. I was tapped to sing the songs of gifted composers like Ryan Cayabyab and the late George Canseco—that in itself is a blessing.

I recorded 25 of George’s songs, and Ryan’s arrangements were nothing short of spectacular—they still are. This is the reason why I’ll be singing my classics on the 29th.

If you were asked to sing just three of your classics, what would they be? That’s a tough question. But, I’d choose George’s “Salamin ng Buhay” and Ryan’s “Nais Ko.” “Ngayon at Kailanman,” also by George, is also a personal favorite, pero na-overtake na ’yan when I started singing “Ikaw” (by George and Louie Ocampo), which was actually written for me, kaya lang it was given to Sharon because, at the time, she needed a theme song for her movie.

Sharon Cuneta will be your special guest. What does the Megastar have that other top female singers don’t? May magic talaga si Sharon. I vividly remember [the first time I saw her].

I was recording a song at Cinema Audio. I took a break to go to the CR, and there was this 12-year-old girl seated on the steps of the studio. She stood up and started singing my songs—and I didn’t know who she was! Little did I know that that girl would eventually become Sharon Cuneta, the Megastar.

I also remember Sharon crying when we had a concert at the Folk Arts Theater dahil sa sobrang stress backstage, because she was young and new in the business. She performed “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko.”

Later, she sang one of my songs, ’yung “Tubig at Langis” by George Canseco and those Willy Cruz tunes—and the rest is history.

Describe the following OPM luminaries in a word or two:

Rico J. Puno: Husky voice
Hajji Alejandro: My friend
Celeste Legaspi: Great performer
Kuh Ledesma: Magical voice
Regine Velasquez: Biritera
Martin Nievera: A good friend
Gary Valenciano: A singer and a dancer
Zsa Zsa Padilla: Nice partner onstage
Nonoy Zuñiga: “Never Ever Say Goodbye”
Anthony Castelo: Balladeer

You’ve stuck with Mr. C (Ryan Cayabyab) for about three decades now. What’s the secret to your enduring partnership? It’s actually apat na dekada (four decades). The secret? We respect and appreciate each other’s talent. Ryan was way ahead of his time, napaka-creative n’yang mag-isip.

Any thoughts on Willy Cruz’s passing? Could you talk about how it was recording “Let the Pain Remain”? Willy was a great composer and conductor. Humingi ko sa kanya ng Tagalog song similar to those he wrote for Sharon, who sang a lot of his songs. He decided to give me this English song, “Let the Pain Remain,” instead.

I wish I knew him better as a person, because that was what we were never able to do kahit na matagal na kaming magkasama. I never really knew the real Willy Cruz. But one thing is certain—his music will live forever.

How different is your voice now from how it was in the ’70s and ’80s? A singer’s voice, especially for men, is like wine: Habang tumatagal, lalong sumasarap (It gets better with age). Experience brings wisdom, and it makes a performer more intelligent and sensitive to what he’s singing about.

This is noticeable in the tone and texture of my voice every time I perform or record a song nowadays.

Of course there are changes: There were high notes that I could easily reach when I was younger. But, there aren’t major adjustments—you just keep singing. If the notes are too high, I just ask them to bring them down.

Given a chance to change something in your past, what would you change differently? I’ve made a lot of mistakes and committed sins [I’m not proud of], but I’d like to keep them to myself. Sana, ang mas maaga kong nagawa, I should have “discovered” the Lord sooner—and much earlier in life.