When a door closes, God somehow opens a window.
Ask Randy Santiago.
When the ABS-CBN noontime show MTB underwent a revamp last January, Randy was among the "casualties". He loved the show so much (having been a co-host for several years) but instead of sulking, he opted to scan the silver lining behind the clouds. It was a blessing in disguise, according to Randy.
"Now, I can do many things I wasn’t able to do when I was with MTB. I can now accept out-of-town and out-of-the-country shows, and have more quality time with my family." (He and wife Marilou Coronel have three children: Raphael, 13; Ryan, 11; and Raiko, two-and-a-half-years old.)
Last April, Randy finally pushed through with what he and Marilou had long been planning – travel together. Randy left ahead with Raphael and Ryan, then Marilou and Raiko followed them. It was bonding time for the Santiagos.
At the same time, Randy joined Vina Morales in parts of her US concert tour for two weeks.
Anytime now, Randy will leave for Dubai to grace The Filipino Channel (TFC’s) Popstar contest (similar to American Idol).
"I have also resumed writing songs. These are some of the things I couldn’t do while I was with MTB."
Tomorrow night at the Araneta Coliseum, Randy returns to the concert scene with Rewind, a musical spectacle produced by Entertainment Plus Ventures showcasing the hits of the ’80s (songs by, among others, Madonna, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson and Boy George). Directed by Edgar Mortiz (with Mel Villena as musical director), Rewind also stars Pops Fernandez, Louie Heredia, Raymond Lauchengco, Gino Padilla, Juan Miguel Salvador and Jett Pangan (of The Dawn), together with Arnee Hidalgo and Nina.
Because Randy is on a "nostalgic" mode, expect him to do some of his own ’80s hits, such as Babaero, Paikut-Ikot and Hindi Magbabago. He’s doing a medley of love songs with Pops who will segue to a Madonna medley.
Other songs on the repertoire that will surely make the audience "rewind" their own memories: I’m So Excited, Designer Music, Vogue, High Energy, Rico Mambo, Body Dancers, Careless Whisper, With You I’m Born Again, Buttercup, Telephone, My Sharona and Fantasy.
Rewind is a perfect comeback vehicle to the concert scene for Randy who hasn’t done a concert of this magnitude for ages.
"It’s like a reunion of friends," said Randy. "And what better way to reminisce the good old days than to sing the songs of that time? The whole show will be devoted to songs and we will hardly have time to say anything. The audience can sing along with us."
Tickets to Rewind – priced at P2,500, P1,500, P700, P500 and P200 – are available at SM Ticketnet and at the Araneta Coliseum box office (call 911-5555, 683-0866 or 687-5658 for inquiries).
As a bonus, a brand-new Toyota Revo and an SUV will be raffled among ticket holders as part of Entertainment Plus Ventures’ Rewind Doble Revo Doble Papremyo promo.
The suspense on American Idol is reaching its peak, with only four contenders remaining, each described by the US magazine Entertainment Weekly thus: La Toya London, The Early Front-Runner; Fantasia Barrino, The Spitfire; Diana Degarmo, The Girl Next Door; and Jasmine Trias, The Flower Child.
Win or lose, Jasmine has already earned the distinction of being the first Asian – and a Filipina at that! – to have reached that far in the hotly-contested talent search.
Will Jasmine stay on after this week’s elimination or, sigh, will she go?
Here’s how Entertainment Weekly (which noted that Jasmine reminds people of Ashanti) assessed Jasmine’s chances (Funfare won’t reprint those of the other three):
• WHY SHE’LL WIN: In a field full of outsize personalities, her sweet disposition is refreshing; contestants who capitalize on home-state pride often go far (see Utah’s Carmen Rasmusen).
• WHY SHE WON’T WIN: Jasmine has never matched the powerful high of her week-1 rendition of Inseparable, which was supposed to have announced her presence in this race. Odds 30-1.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph)