JOEY Albert
Every year, Inquirer Entertainment helps readers pick a show for that special day, by asking the concert artists to talk about their gigs … and romance.
The shows:
‘Seasons of the Heart’
Raymond Lauchengco and Stephanie Reese with guest George Yang; Feb. 12, 8 p.m., Grand Ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City; call 8919999 or 2388888
‘All For Love’
The New Minstrels and Circus Band: Joey Albert, Jacqui Magno, Pat Castillo, Louie Reyes, Ding Mercado, Eugene Villaluz, Ray An Fuentes, Chad Borja; Feb. 14 and 15, Music Museum, Greenhills, San Juan City; call 8919999 or 6877236
DING Mercado
The interviews:
What’s the mushiest thing you did for love?
Raymond Lauchengco: The sweetest thing I did for love happened on a Valentine date with my girlfriend several years ago. I set up a sofa, table, rug and a little kitchen area on the roof of our house. I also mounted Tivoli lights for a unique al fresco dining experience. It took me three days to set up everything because I was working alone. Cars and curious people would slow down and look at what I was doing. But it all paid off—my girlfriend married me.
Stephanie Reese: It’s actually something my boyfriend did for me. He found out that I wanted to learn how to knit. But, it turned out, I didn’t have the talent for it. So he surprised me—he studied knitting himself and made me a purse!
Joey Albert: I think one of the sweetest things I’ve ever done was walk 18 holes so I could be with a boyfriend [who was] playing golf. I was 14 at the time.
EUGENE Villaluz, Jacqui Magno, and Pat Castillo
Pat Castillo: My loved one and I spent [the day] in a high-end service apartment. I whipped up his favorite angel hair pasta, and got ourselves a good bottle of wine and then enjoy the vista from the living room of our suite!
Jacqui Magno: Isn’t giving oneself to another—totally and unabashedly—the sweetest and mushiest thing one can ever do?
Eugene Villaluz: This is a difficult question to answer, simply because when you do anything for someone you love, even the smallest gesture of affection can be either sweet or mushy.
Ding Mercado: I hired an all-male singing group to serenade my special someone on her birthday.
What’s your most memorable Valentine date?
JEREMY Davis, Hayley Williams, and Taylor York of Paramore
Stephanie: It was in Santa Cruz, California, with my boyfriend. The night before Valentine’s Day, we hid little love notes for each other all around the house and in the car. The next day, we both had fun looking for those notes.
Joey: The one where I said “yes” to my first boyfriend. I wore a light blue dress and put on Mary Quant eye shadow.
Pat: I’m almost always working on Valentine’s Day!
Jacqui: Honestly, I don’t remember—I’m nearing senior citizenship! Also, Valetine’s Day is a work day for me. And anyway, Valentine’s Day can be celebrated every day! I admit it’s a cliché, but it’s an ideal way to live.
Eugene: I hardly find time to go out on dates because my group and I would usually be doing shows. Having a memorable date with a loved one shouldn’t happen only on Valentine’s Day. As a song goes, “each day is Valentine’s Day.”
Ding: I was always performing more often than not on that day.
What’s your favorite love song?
Raymond: “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life” because it evokes so much longing to be with the one you love. The imagery that Michel Legrand used to convey his message is poetry set in music. It’s not just about protestations of love—it’s about commitment.
Stephanie: “Take My Breath Away”—it’s so ’80s cheesy which I love.
Joey: Elton John’s “Your Song.” I would melt if a man sang it to me.
Pat: Good memories come to mind when I hear “Lucky I’m in Love” by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.
Jacqui: “Bridges” because of its message and beautiful melody.
Eugene: “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life” by Michel Legrand. The lyrics say it all: “All the seasons and the times of your days/All the nickels and the dimes of your days/Let the reasons and the rhymes of your days/ All begin and end with me…”
Ding: “I Honestly Love You” and “Looking Through the Eyes of Love” because these are songs I can really relate to.
What’s the best way to deal with a breakup?
Raymond: Stop feeling sorry for yourself and move on. C.S. Lewis said, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Stephanie: Running solves everything for me!
Joey: If you asked me 30 years ago, I’d say, cry it out with friends. Now I say, punch the guy in the nose and find someone better.
Pat: For the next three months, work during the day and cry your heart out at night … then move on!
Jacqui: Put things in perspective, consider the experience a lesson, and move on. With confidence.
Eugene: Believe that a better person who deserves you more is somewhere out there.
Ding: Spend time with family and friends who love you!
Why should we watch your show?
Raymond: If you want to dress up, have a great candlelit dinner in a hotel and enjoy love songs, standards and classics from Broadway, come and see us!
Stephanie: You can look forward to a fun, nostalgic, romantic and invigorating night.
Joey: We’ll take you back in time—your college days, high school boyfriends and gentler times. Also, I’m hardly in Manila these days. See you there!
Pat: You’ll realize that age doesn’t matter when it comes to music and having a good time.
Jacqui: Because it’s a rare get-together of very good talents and interesting personalities! We’re definitely fun to watch!
Eugene: There will be lots of nostalgic songs from the ’70s and the ’80s—the soundtrack of our lives!
Ding: Expect to have a wonderful time reminiscing and enjoying the music of the ’70s and the ’80s. We lived in those eras, so who can interpret those better than us?
A foreign act
‘The Return of Paramore Live!’
Paramore, the internationally acclaimed rock band that popularized the hit songs “Crushcrushcrush,” “The Only Exception,” “Misery Business,” “Monster” and “Decode,” returns for a major show on Feb. 15 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The one-night musical presentation from Ovation Productions is part of the Asian leg of the American rock group’s current world tour that will also make stops in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur before going on a six-date, five-city tour of Australia.
Featured as special guest is mewithoutYou, another rock band, and known for the albums, “Catch For Us the Foxes,” “Brother, Sister,” “It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright!” and “Ten Stories.”
Paramore’s “Brand New Eyes Tour” debut at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on March 9, 2010, drew more than 19,000 fans in what was described as “one of the coolest and biggest concerts” in Manila that year.
Since it burst into the limelight almost 10 years ago, the American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, has drawn the attention of millions partly because of its female “frontman” and its variety of sounds that range from alternative rock to pop punk and emo music.
Formed in 2004 by Josh Farro (lead guitar/backing vocals), Zac Farro (drums), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar) and Hayley Williams (lead vocals), plus Jason Bynum (rhythm guitar) later, the group instantly made its mark with its 2005 debut album, “All We Know Is Falling.”
It continued its successful streak when its second album, “Riot!” (2007), was certified Platinum in the US and Ireland, and Gold in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, while its 2009 third album, “Brand New Eyes,” became its highest-charting album to date, going Platinum in Ireland and the UK, and Gold in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Paramore was named “Best New Band” that year and Hayley Williams as No. 2 “Sexiest Female” by readers of the British magazine Kerrang! In 2007, it was voted by the British magazine NME as one of the bands to watch in its “New Noise 2007” feature. That same year, Paramore was named by Rolling Stone magazine among the “ones to watch.”
It was also featured on the cover of the February 2008 issue of Alternative Press magazine and voted “Best Band of 2007” by the press. It was nominated for “Best New Artist” at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2008.
Paramore’s song, “Decode,” was the lead single for the novel-based film, “Twilight.” Another single, “I Caught Myself,” was featured on the movie’s soundtrack.
Despite the departure in January 2011 of two of its founding members— the brothers Josh and Zac Farro—the band, with the present lineup of Williams, Davis and Taylor York, continues to retain and keep alive the signature Paramore sound for the enjoyment of its fans worldwide.
With the new lineup, the group released its first single, “Monster,” on June 3, 2011. The single was featured on “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” soundtrack on YouTube.
Tickets are priced at P5,810 – VIP (reserved section), P4,760 – patron (standing), P3,700 – lower box (reserved seating), P1,800 – upper box (reserved seating) and P850 – general admission (free seating). Available at all SM ticket outlets. For inquiries and reservations, call SM Tickets, 470-2222 or visit www.smtickets.net to buy tickets online.