Surprise, surprise: “Cebu” in Julia Fordham’s new song
“I’ve been to
The British singer-songwriter couldn’t remember exactly how many times she has been to
Julia was in town recently to headline Ayala Center Cebu’s annual Moonlight Serenade. She was also the latest of a string of international acts brought by Ayala Malls to
While all sorts of very intense feelings seemingly spill out of every Julia Fordham song, she is actually light-hearted, charming and quick to laugh in person—this we discovered via a presscon held at Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Resort and Spa two days before her concert on February 13 at Ayala Center Cebu’s South Surface Parking area.
She chatted about the stories behind her songs, and is amazed at how these songs, many of which are already two-decades-old (she burst into the music scene in the late 80s), have not faded into oblivion and are, in fact, favourites for re-interpretation.
She has heard local artist Nina’s version of “Love Moves in Mysterious Ways,” and would love to hear Jaya, whom she said did a cover of another early song of hers. She would love to collaborate with the two should the opportunity arise.
Speaking of collaboration, she also wants to work with fellow British artist, Amy Winehouse, the biggest winner in the recently-concluded Grammy Awards. “We were supposed to work on a project together before, but suddenly she exploded in the music scene and got busy. But I already saw that coming,” revealed Julia.
Julia turned introspective when asked where she thinks she is in the industry right now, after years of critical acclaim and continued patronage, “I feel blessed and fortunate to have started when the recording scene was still at its heyday. I’m very fortunate to have managed to coast along…and sustained my career.”
Julia is well-loved in the
The Ayala concert started on schedule, but with yours truly unfortunately detained by work, I had not seen the concert in its entirety. Still, I was lucky to have made it in time for Julia’s rendition of her arguably most requested song among Filipinos, “Love Moves in
While it was easy to like Nina’s sultry cover, I was blown away by the original version of Julia (which by the way is one of the very few songs that she didn’t write herself, but did for a movie starring Demi Moore). There’s a transcendent quality to it, as she packed some power and astounding vocal styling into the song, underscoring it perfectly that love is, indeed, one powerful emotion—powerful enough to move you into doing things that at first seem impossible. But that’s just me thinking after getting appropriately carried away during Julia’s concert on the eve of Valentine’s Day.
Backed by an all-Filipino band, she performed other hits like “Invisible War” and “Girlfriend,” et al, plus emotive singles from her latest album.
Julia reckoned that why Pinoy audiences can relate to her songs is because we are innately and shamelessly romantic. But then again, it’s no mystery that there really isn’t any defense against heartfelt music.
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