There is a story I once heard as a child about a musician who traveled from town to town. He played a flute so sweetly that people who heard his music could not help but dance with joy. On one occasion, a deaf person happened upon the people dancing happily while the musician was playing. He scoffed at their vulgar display and walked away disgusted, never knowing the joy the simple musician brought to his tiny hamlet.
I often feel like the deaf person of the story, never really appreciating the joy music can bring. I have gone to concerts, listened to the radio, danced in nightclubs, even took piano lessons when I was younger, but I never fully understood why people were so drawn to music. What was it about music that captured the imagination so?
I found the answer on Feb. 23rd when Martin Nievera: Live in Concert came to the Orpheum theater in Vancouver. I knew little of Martin at that time besides what I read about him in the Chronicle. My excitement about the show came from the anticipation of watching Vancouver’s own songbird, Janice Lozano, sing on stage with him. All of us who have been following her career knew this was the break she was waiting for, her moment to shine.
My first impression of Mr. Nievera was that he seemed to be really down-to-earth, with no air of arrogance, as one would expect from a celebrity of his caliber; he was the genuine article, up-front and sincere. Following him during his promotional tour before the concert, seeing how he interacted so naturally with his fans, made me realize there was no hidden agenda when it came to this man. He was the real deal.
I also soon learned that to see Martin at his best is to watch him perform on stage. As soon as the band led by Louie Ocampo started to play, you could feel a sense of excitement growing stronger and stronger from the audience. And when Martin appeared with a spectacular light display glittering in the background, I could have sworn that all the stars in heaven were in alignment and a vortex opened up on center stage. Never before have I witnessed our kababayans erupt with such fervor.
It was then that I realized why he was named the Philippine Concert King. There was never a dull moment with him on stage. His repertoire consisted of popular songs, the classics, Broadway, pop hits and of course, his originals: with the classics, Martin brought out a sense of nostalgia, especially, with the older crowd; with the modern music, he appealed to the young, as well as, the young at heart; and with the Broadway hits, he showed us his versatility. But it was when he belted out his originals though that the crowd truly screamed their appreciation. In fact, when he sang, Be My Lady, even the band was surprised with the response they were receiving.
On that night, Martin brought more than his musical talent to bear; he also showed us a humorous side that took everyone by surprise. He had the audience roaring with laughter when he sang, Who Let the Dogs Out, as a classical tune. He exclaimed that he could not believe this song made so much money or when all that the songwriter did was watch his dogs run out the door to come up with the lyrics. Even the way he announced the sponsors of the show was entertaining. He had us all howling when he included their names in a witty rendition of If You Don’t Know Them By Now, getting us to join in on the chorus whenever it came into play.
After seeing how savvy Martin was on stage, there was a moment when I feared that perhaps Janice was in over her head. Thus, when Martin introduced her with the song Wildflower, there was apprehension on my part. But when the Vancouver Sweetheart of Songs stepped onto the stage, she put all my doubts to rest. Never before have I seen her sing with such confidence, such passion. I looked around me and saw the same amazement on the faces of the people and I wondered when this transformation took place. When her song Home ended, Martin returned for the duet of When I Fall In Love, and they sang so sweetly I swear you could have eaten them with pancakes.
Even days after the concert, Janice often talked about how Martin inspired her, of his dedication, passion, and sincerity. After all is said and done, and days fade into years, this concert will be nothing more than a distant memory, but to Janice, the concert will represent the moment when she was inspired to pursue her dream. She now understands what it means to "give it her all," to put "heart and soul" into making that dream come alive. That is something that will stay with her for as long as she lives. This to me, ladies and gentlemen, is the true measure of the man they call the Philippine Concert King.