Martin Nievera marks 30th year with softer sound

NIEVERA. Fresh spin.

We’re pleased to note that even our veteran singers are reinventing themselves: First, it was Gary Valenciano, who wowed us by putting a fresh spin on overworked ballads—like Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” Stephen Bishop’s “It Might Be You,” and Burton Cummings’ “I Will Always Wait For You”—in his recent album, “Gary V. Sings Just For You.”

In “Martin Nievera 3D: Tatlong Dekada,” Gary’s closest rival celebrates his 30th year by waxing an album of mostly original tunes.

Yes, the hefty collection includes bonus revivals of theme songs from telenovelas (the stirringly reinvented “Times of Your Life” from “Lorenzo’s Time,” “After All” from “A Beautiful Affair,” with Vina Morales), but a majority of its cuts are freshly minted new compositions that benefit from Martin’s fresh renditions and relaxed singing.

Projection

Take “Magic,” one of the finest ballads we’ve heard from Martin—or from any local artist—in years. The winsome album-opener is devoid of show-stopping theatrics and over-the-top vocal projection, and recalls the “unaffected” beauty of his leisurely sung ’80s hits like “Love For Real,” “Make A Smile (Meldy),” “Pain” and “The Best Gift.”

Other must-hear tracks: “After All This Time,” “On My Own Again,” and the radio-friendly carrier single, “Ipadarama.” —And Martin surprises even more in “Take Off,” an Enrique Iglesias-channeling, electro-pop dance tune!