Jed Madela shuts down comparisons with SB19’s Stell: Collab, not showdown

(From left) Jed Madela and Stell Ajero of SB19. Image: Facebook/Jed Madela

Jed Madela hoped that comparisons between himself and SB19’s Stell Ajero would be put to rest, while pointing out that netizens should stop pitting artists against each other.

Both known for their high singing voices, Madela praised Ajero’s vocal prowess during his “Welcome to My World” media con last June 24, when asked about the latter’s scene-stealing “All By Myself” performance earlier this month.

“He’s amazing. He’s very, very good. He has such a good range. I remember myself 20 years ago. But I’m just so happy that there are more avenues for artists and balladeers like Stell, let’s say for those who are Martin Nievera-sounding, and Gary V-sounding,” he said of Ajero. “I watched his performance at David Foster’s concert, ang galing. He’s also a guest at Eric Santos’ concert in the US.”

Madela then immediately shut down the comparisons between them, when asked if he wanted to do a “showdown” with the SB19 member.

“Collab na lang, wag na showdown (Let’s collaborate instead, not a showdown),” he said. “It’s just so funny because we have this tendency of pitting artists against each other. It all ends up with everybody fighting. [I would rather opt] for a collaboration because it leads to something beautiful, that the fans of Stell and Jed Madela would enjoy. Mas masaya (It’s better).” he said.

“Now that Stell is making a name for himself, he’s all over the place, people are talking about his performances, and I’m also flattered that people are comparing him to me. There are only a few male singers with high singing voices… Anything to entertain the people and make the industry more colorful,” he continued.

No comparisons

On the sidelines of the media con, Madela was then asked to react to Raquel Pempengco’s “Mala-Jed Madela si Stell” remark, where he reiterated to not compare the two of them.

“I’m flattered… but again, it’s going to [have] a negative effect [if we just compare]. I want everybody to be at peace,” he said.

Touching on the growth of new-generation artists, Madela said he’s “very, very happy” for SB19 and BINI who are now considered the “lifeline of the Philippine music industry.”

“There’s a diverse change in the industry of music, like P-pop. Dati, kapag sinasabing P-pop, it’s just the balladeers and the biriteras. But now, with these P-pop groups, ang gagaling nila,” he said.

(There’s a diverse change in the industry of music, like P-pop. Before when people would say P-pop, it was just the balladeers and the biriteras. But now, with these P-pop groups, they’re really good.)

The “Forevermore” singer then praised SB19 for being “unapologetic as artists,” while sharing that P-pop acts inspire the “vintage artists” to never settle for anything less in music.

“What I really admire, especially with SB19, is that they write their own material. They’re very unapologetic. They say what they want to say but in a nice way, which is how it’s supposed to be,” he said. “[The new artists] inspire, even us vintage artists, to be more creative and not settle. We grow because of them. They are now the lifeline of the Philippine music industry so let’s support them. Let’s not bash them.”

Ajero made headlines after performing a rendition of “All By Myself” at David Foster’s “Hitman and Friends” concert at the Araneta Coliseum earlier this month. The SB19 member, who made his solo debut in June, was part of the show as an opening act.

Madela is set to hold his “Welcome To My World” concert at the Music Museum on July 5.