Jinky Vidal (Instagram/@jinkyvidal)
The boyfriend of singer Jinky Vidal recently drew flak when he went out on social media over what he felt was an unfair recognition—or the lack it—to his girlfriend in a recent tribute for iconic OPM band Freestyle. He played a word for the band, “freesh*t.”
Jeric Medina wrote: “Freestyle is FreeSH*T without @jinkyvidal. She’s the ONLY reason they ever got famous. Can’t wait for the day they just stop and not ruin music anymore. Mediocracy is real.”
It was because of this post that he endured bashings from netizens.
But then, he also immediately issued an apology to those he offended of what he felt was a spur of the moment. He explained that he only wanted to give recognition that Vidal is due.
On the March 18 episode of Kapamilya Sunday variety noontime show “ASAP,” the band was given a special tribute in one of its segments.
Present during the show were fellow former Freestyle band mate Top Suzara, who sang some of the band’s hits together with OPM icons Jake Zyrus and Jason Dy.
However, Vidal was not present during the tribute.
Vidal was among the original members and lead singers of the band. Together with Suzara, they sang some of the most iconic love songs of a generation.
Tracing their roots from Davao City, the band rose to fame in the late ‘90s and was a highly sought-after act in the early 2000s. They stormed the local music scene and scored some of the unforgettable ballads such as “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” “So Slow,” “Bakit Iniwan Na?” “’Til I Found You,” “This Time,” “Para Sa ‘Yo,” and “I Wanna Get Close,” among others.
Eventually in time, series of challenges hit the band including the change of front liners. Suzara left the band in 2005 while Vidal went solo in 2012.
In 2013, the original vocalists had a reunion concert titled “Top and Jinky Reunited” at the Music Museum.
Present members now include Ava Santos, Joshua Desiderio, Tat Suzara, Rommel dela Cruz, at Gerald Banzon. /jpv