Martin Nievera on 25 years of music

When Martin Nievera met the Cebu media last Saturday, he certainly wore his heart on his sleeve. He waxed sentimental over a lot of things—from a moving gesture from his audience during a concert here in the 90’s, to the breakdown of his marriage and unforgettable onstage chemistry with Pops Fernandez, to a number of milestones in a performing career spanning 25 years.

“The first time I actually felt being truly connected with my audience without even trying to connect was during a concert at the University of San Carlos gym in 1995,” shared Martin at the presscon in Waterfront Lahug’s Casino Español, which was prepared by the concert’s co-presentor 105.1 Crossover. “At that time, I was having personal problems with my father, and I don’t know if the Cebuanos dissected whatever I was feeling through what they’ve read about me, but to my surprise, as I was singing ‘Say That You Love Me,’ everybody had lit a candle while singing along with me. I never had that kind of connection with any audience.”

As to his relationship with Pops, which has been buffeted by controversies in recent months, he admitted that there never was a closure between him and her. “And I think, that’s a good thing in a way, as there’s still hope for reconciliation between us as friends, because we really started out as friends before anything.”

Still, whatever personal upheavals Martin has gone through, these cannot sidetrack us from the fact that what a consummate artist he is and what an enduring career he has. Martin believes that today’s young artists are a luckier lot with many opportunities at hand for their talents to be discovered and nurtured. But to actually possess staying power is another story. Asked on what advice he can offer to today’s rising stars, he advises them to be ever appreciative of the interest of the fans and even the media, to be more open to people yet responsible, and to embrace the humility of both success and failure.

When asked what song would best sum up his 25 years in Philippine show business, he went on to sing a few lines of Kenny Loggins’ “Forever”: “Forever in my heart/ Forever we will be/ Even when I’m gone/ You’ll be here in me.” Martin said that this is a song of someone who, while feeling so insecure and unsure of himself, continues to love because he has found a reason to. And so he related that what kept him going through the years are the people he sings for—that is his purpose. Since he started staging concerts in the early 80s, he said that there has never been a small or big gig for him—all he wanted was to go out there and perform.

“Forever” and a whole lot more of the timeless pieces he has had contributed to the music industry will be part of his repertoire in the “Martin Nievera XXV” concert come April 30, 8PM, at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of Waterfront Lahug. What I’m also particularly excited about in the concert is the 28-piece FilharmoniKa Orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga that will accompany Martin. “Martin Nievera XXV” is directed by Rowell Santiago with Martin’s longtime collaborator, Louie Ocampo, as musical director. Tickets are  available at Waterfront Lahug (232-6888),  Crossover Cebu (412-5043), Ayala Center Cebu Customer Service, SM Cebu Customer Service and Royal Day Spa Outlets. After Cebu, Martin will bring his 5th anniversary concert to Cagayan De Oro on May 10. Martin said, “I remember when I had my first live concert at the Folk Arts Theater, I was out of tune! It was the worst so much so the press said I was the kind of artist that was here today, gone tomorrow. So, to have people still interested in me, 25 years after, is truly a blessing.”

Just an addendum: I just got an earful playing Gretchen Barretto’s “Unexpected” CD album, courtesy of Star Records, overnight. Her curious choice of cover songs includes Love Me For What I Am—and what she is, as she herself penned in the CD cover, is an “incredible woman…vain, extravagant, flirty, a tease, extremely lustful, a mistress… but I am also loving, caring, affectionate…a friend, a listener, a model, a goddess, a celebrity, a singer, an actress, an aunt, a sister, a mother, a girlfriend, a role-playing wife, a baby.”

She further wrote: “The greatest learning of my life is that it is fine by me to be despised for who I truly am than to be adored for who I really am not.” Well, you might not really learn to adore her, but in this case, you can’t help but admire La Greta’s openness. 

I didn’t have high expectations for the album. I was pretty much ready to dismiss her as another one of those jumping on the bandwagon of actors trying to sing (which you may very well know is not exactly a good thing). Yet, the album revealed that while Gretchen cannot be classified as a gifted singer, she’s obviously vocally-trained. The 12 tracks, mostly standards, and their arrangements suit her vocal range. And the renditions are unexpectedly… emotional. I have yet to see her perform live though, and so that’s something to watch out for in Martin’s Cebu concert as the “Concert King” himself confirmed that Gretchen will be one of his special guests.