Play & sing the music of Jose Mari Chan

A song is not a song if it has ceased to be performed, is not heard anymore and is doomed to oblivion. I do understand a songwriter’s resistance to the use of his songs in some instances. He does not like the new arrangement or the way the artist will do it or he wants more by way of royalty payments. But there is really no reason to withhold the use of one’s works for a selfish reason like not wanting other artists to sing your song. An unheard song is a dead song. So while the songs of George Canseco, Willy Cruz, the Hot Dog and the Apo Hiking Society will surely be alive a hundred years from now, these guys allow people to keep on singing their songs, there will also be other tunes, dead and buried and without a tombstone to tell people they were hits once upon a time.

Add the hits of Jose Mari Chan to those songs people will still be singing years from now. While also a singer who is the best interpreter of his own works, Jose Mari has generously given songs to other artists to record. He also makes it a point to share his songs with a larger audience through the release of music minus ones and the publication of music folios containing his compositions. With these he makes sure that should there come a time when not one of his recordings are around for people to listen to anymore, these books will still make the music available. As long as there is somebody who can read and write music, there will be a place for a song by Jose Mari Chan.

Words & Music by Jose Mari Chan is the second volume of his works arranged for voice with piano and guitar accompaniment. The first one released in the market a few years ago was so successful it was decided that the time was ripe for Volume 2 to make its appearance. There are 21 songs included. These range from Jose Mari’s first hit Afterglow to commercial jingles like Big Beautiful Country to the most enduring of his compositions Can We Just Stop and Talk a While. Knowing how prolific he is, I am sure that he still has enough material for a Volume 3. In fact, a number of songs from his last album, A Heart’s Journey still have to make it to the folios.

Jose Mari mentions the adage that for a life to be well-lived, a man must sire a son, plant a tree or write a book. His songs now fill two volumes. And he is happily sharing them with all of us. I do hope though that he also took the trouble to have these folios copied and later also made available on CD-ROM.

Current Sellers

While I admit that there is so much to like in foreign music, and that means American, Chinese or whatever, it is still always heartening to find Filipino artists dominating the local hit charts. This is what is beginning to happen these days and although I know that the pirates have already gotten their hands on these releases, I do hope the trend continues and that we get more and more OPM hits in the coming months and forever hereafter. For all we know, we could be watching the start of another glorious period in the area of Filipino pop music. And that is truly something to rejoice about.

The favorite songs of the moment are the following: Can’t Lose You by F4; Mr. Swabe by the madcap group Parokya ni Edgar; Where is the Love by the Black Eyed Peas; Saan Ka Na Kaya Ngayon by Anna Fegi; Why by Avril Lavigne; Moonlight in Paris by Paolo Santos; Forever’s Not Enough by Sarah Geronimo; I’ll Be by Edwin McCain; Hinahanap-Hanap Kita by Regine Velasquez; and Loving You by Nina.

While we’re at it, I might as well mention the other current sellers by Filipino artists, with the hope that this will spark buyers’ interest and lead to more hits. You might also want to check out Hanggang Ngayon by Martin Nievera; Nasaan by Nyoy Volante; Ocean Deep by Carol Banawa; Tila by Lani Misalucha; Keep on Loving You by Renz Verano, Kanlungan by Noel Cabangon; Cold Summer Nights by Arnee Hidalgo; Magpakailan Pa Man by Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez. Tamis ng Unang Halik by Ashley; and Design for Love by Jay R.