MANILA, Philippines?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.
David Benoit Live in Manila
David Benoit with FILharmoniKA Orchestra conducted by Gerard Salonga; special guests Bituin Escalante and Tots Tolentino; Feb. 11, 8 p.m., PICC, Pasay City. Call 9115555 or 8199999.
How did you spend Valentine?s Day when you weren?t famous yet?
Bituin Escalante: Valentine?s is my sister?s birthday so I always spent it with family. Boyfriends were delegated to another day.
Gerard Salonga: Oddly enough, I never made a big deal out of Valentine?s Day. I know this is really cliché, but every day you should make sure your special someone feels loved. My wife and I have spent the last 10 years as professional musicians, and we usually spend Valentine?s Day on the job. I honestly can?t remember the last time we went on a planned Valentine date. We still go out on dates, but it doesn?t have to be on Valentine?s Day.
Tell us about your most unique Valentine date experience.
Bituin: Having Piknik Ketchup Fries and Coke under the stars on the field across Baker Hall of UP Los Baños. There was a show in the hall but we couldn?t afford it. I think ours was the better experience.
Gerard: I was 18, and this is really cheesy. I sent 11 roses to her house, and guess who brought the 12th one?
What would be an ideal Valentine date?
Bituin: Our show, hahaha! Seriously, though, as long as my date has me laughing and swooning and the conversation is great, I?m good.
Gerard: For me and DJ, the ideal Valentine date would be to play a symphony, then go out, have a delicious meal, and just talk about music.
Who?s your fantasy date?
Bituin: Christopher Walken.
Gerard: Jacqueline du Pré. She passed away at a young age in 1987, but was one of the greatest musicians ever. There?s also something sexy about a woman who plays an instrument well ... and she looked great playing the cello!
Name other artists who could do a perfect Valentine show.
Bituin: Everyone?s capable of pulling off a near-perfect show. What matters is not who you are, but what you do and how you do it.
Gerard: Martin Nievera. Any of his shows would be a great date show. He?s a great singer, and his humor always guarantees a good time for everyone in the audience and on the stage with him.
What?s the most romantic song for you and why?
Bituin: There are so many, but at the moment I?m so in love with Cole Porter?s ?So In Love? and Jacques Brel?s ?Ne Me Quitte Pas.? I guess it?s because I?m mildly obsessive right now.
Gerard: As pop songs go, it would have to be ?Born For You? by David Pomeranz. It was a song DJ dedicated to me while we were falling in love with each other.
Why should we watch your concert?
Bituin: It?s all about the music. In all modesty, there is fantastic talent in this show. Aside from Mr. Benoit, it features FILharmoniKA and Mr. Tots Tolentino. It?ll be an awesome thrill to be sharing the stage with all of them.
Gerard: Because you?ll have a great time. It?s David Benoit with FILharmoniKA. He?ll be performing his hits, and he?ll be joined by Bituin Escalante, Oggie Benipayo, and Tots Tolentino. Benoit will be playing a beautiful nine-foot Steinway model D grand piano and he?ll also be conducting a couple of his symphonic compositions, which will amaze everyone. He?s a lot more than just the jazz-fusion pianist and composer. Everyone will leave the PICC on Feb. 11th with a smile on their faces.
Men of the ?80s
Randy Santiago, Gino Padilla, Raymond Lauchengco, Louie Heredia, Nikki Bacolod; Feb. 12, Tejeros Grand Ballroom, Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite;
Call 8199999.
How did you spend Valentine?s Day when you weren?t famous yet?
Raymond Lauchengco: Wishing I could spend it with my wife. (I have to answer this very carefully!)
Louie Heredia: I can?t remember na, kasi when I had girlfriends I was already in show biz.
Gino Padilla: I?ve always spent Valentine?s Day the way most people do. I go out and eat in a restaurant with my loved one.
Tell us about your most unique Valentine date experience.
Raymond: About two years ago, I decided to spend Valentine?s at home with my wife and my newborn daughter. I prepared a special dinner with champagne ... the works. Unfortunately, my wife drank a bit too much champagne before dinner, and halfway through our meal she asked (no, begged) me to let her go to bed and sleep already. I ended up eating the rest of my Valentine dinner alone. Can?t say it was the best, but it certainly was the most unique!
Louie: My Valentine date experiences have always been traditional, giving roses and going out to dinner. But this year may be the most unique because I will be spending it with my cat, Ningski.
Gino: We had a group date in a beach house; played some games, cooked food, danced and sang all night!
What would be an ideal Valentine date?
RL: It really doesn?t matter, it would be ideal as long as I?m with my two girls (my wife and daughter). Although I think my daughter would understand if I preferred to have her mommy to myself.
Louie: Watching the concert ?Men of the ?80s.?
Gino: For me, an ideal Valentine date would be one spent in Paris, one of the most romantic places in the world.
Name other artists who could do a perfect Valentine show.
Raymond: Hmm ... maybe me and my sister Menchu?
Louie: Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez, especially after what they have been through.
Gino: Of course, my cousin Zsazsa Padilla and my ninong Jose Mari Chan.
What?s the most romantic song for you and why?
Raymond: I?ve always found ?What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? very romantic. It shows how, when you love someone, you just want to be in every part of her life.
Louie: ?Can?t Find No Reason.? It was my first hit single and so many girls are still so in love with the song. Also because the lyrics are so simple, yet they make you fall in love. Marami akong nabola diyan.
Gino: ?I Believe In You? because I wrote it for my wife.
Why should we watch your concert?
Raymond: It?s a fun, party concert for those who love the ?80s. A real trip down memory lane!
Louie: All four of us sat down and chose the songs carefully. It?s a well-balanced show?from funny, fun, romantic, then reminiscing and bringing back great memories. You will fall in love again with your ex-es after watching it.
Gino: It would bring back beautiful and happy memories from the ?80s. That?s including ballads and fast songs. We will surely give you a blast!
