Martin: Singers are practically naked onstage

MARTIN Nievera photo: Alexis Corpuz

Many things could go wrong for singers during a live performance: They could miss their cues, forget the words to a song or misfire notes—sometimes all of the above. They may have to contend with faulty equipment or simply find themselves before a tough audience on a bad-vocals day.

Thus, going onstage is always nerve-wracking for balladeer Martin Nievera, despite his 30 years in show business.

“From the minute the curtain rises, we singers are surrendering ourselves to criticism and comparisons—not only to other artists, but to our old selves as well. We’re practically naked onstage ,” Martin told the Inquirer. “We can’t hide behind our names.”

Then there’s the tall order of trying to please everyone. “They expect you to be Superman… if you’re not, then you let them down,” he pointed out.

Even coworkers

At times, performers are at the mercy of the people they work with.

Earlier this month, pop-R&B star Mariah Carey was slammed after her raw microphone feed—which sounded less than stellar—from her performance of her holiday hit song “All I Want for Christmas is You” in a New York City gig was leaked, allegedly by a sound technician.

“We trust these people with our lives… It doesn’t help that some want to capitalize on our mistakes and bad days,” Martin said. “There are times when we can’t hear ourselves onstage. But we have to keep singing, do our best, keep a straight face.”

But if there’s one thing the veteran singer has learned over the years, it’s this: Spontaneity is indispensable. “No two audiences are the same. The only thing that’s true about all audiences is that they expect perfection. I can, and do, make mistakes, but I always try to make them seem like they were meant to be done,” said Martin, who is headlining a concert tomorrow at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura.

“There’s also the excitement over not knowing whether or not your spur-of-the-moment antics would crash and burn,” he said. “I try to turn my nervousness into excitement.”

Titled “The Big Mouth Rocks a New Year,” the show, Martin said, would be an intimate affair in which he would sing songs from his latest album, “Big Mouth, Big Band” (PolyEast Records). “I’ll get to do the songs in the concert with the same” people I did the album with, which is pretty rare,” he said. “I may also take a couple of song requests.”

The show is mounted by Hills and Dreams Events. For tickets, visit www.smtickets.com or call 4702222.

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