With Rico & Basil through the earthquake

I did not feel the earthquake that hit the Philippines last Friday evening. How could I when maganda ang kantahan at masarap ang tugtugan at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City? It came halfway through the The Way We Were concert starring Rico J. Puno and Basil Valdez. If I remember right, it was while Rico Baby was reaching the end of a booming rendition of MacArthur Park. It was only after murmurs passed through the audience and when I saw the suspended speakers swaying overhead did I believe that an earthquake actually happened.

For a few seconds, the whole place seemed to hold its breath. Maybe they were waiting for another tremor or getting ready to bolt through the nearest exit. Now something like that could have resulted in a dangerous stampede. But Rico, bless him, got the music playing again and continued with the show. It was understandable that a few people decided to go but those who left, did it so very quietly. They clearly did not want to disrupt what was going on on the stage. The rest stayed. In true Pinoy fashion, they were perhaps confident that since the Big Dome has already withstood several earthquakes in its 50 years, it can certainly stand another.

They were also doubtless confident that there is no finer way to get over the earthquake jitters than to watch Rico and Basil sing live. And they did so beautifully. Don’t you just find it amazing that these guys have two of the greatest voices we have ever heard? And they still have them. Don’t you think it fortunate that their music saw us through trends, events and lots of living over the past 30 years? Don’t lie. Most of you have memories attached to Rico’s Damdamin and to Basil’s Ngayon at Kailan Man. And even more amazing still, I am very sure so few among the younger singers today will likely be able to rule the stage as these two do in middle age.

Middle age. Now that does not really sound good but it is a fact of life. Maybe I should say maturity. But mature does not suit the eternally sockless Rico, who was as playful as ever, even with his toned-down jokes. "Ayoko ng green. Baka mag-walkout si Basil," he cracked, and Basil, spent most of the evening with a smile on his face. He was as always elegantly suited and urbane but you can tell that he was also enjoying himself. There were even times when I feared he would burst out laughing over Rico’s antics and not be able to sing.

The jokes though and the reminiscences, "P30 ang bayad sa akin. Libre pagkain," recalled Basil of his folksinging days, were but the icing on the lip-smacking, filling cake of the well-mounted show. Director Al Quinn, another showbiz veteran, was in his element with Rico and Basil and the mostly oldies repertoire. The musicians, led by Mel Villena, performed well. The evening though was really all about Rico and Basil together on stage for the first time and doing what they do best: sing.

Those two could have simply stood on stage singing their hits and the audience would have still enjoyed the show. Their voices have no need for gimmickry. Kapalaran, Damdamin, Bawal Na Pagibig, Ganyan Pala ang Magmahal, Together Forever and May Bukas Pa from Rico. Lift Up Your Hands, Hindi Kita Malilimutan, Ngayon, Ngayon at Kailan Man, Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan and You from Basil. But they offered other goodies as well.

They were a swinging Michael Bublé duo in the opening They Can’t Take That Away from Me and The Way You Look Tonight. They recalled the clubbing days at Rino’s and Wells Fargo with Love the One You’re With, Of All the Things and The Harder I Try. They were a folksinging duet with Dust in the Wind. They also gave the audience an inkling of what they will sound like had they been 18-year-old singing idol wanna-bes today with Because of You and Your Love. Not to forget. Even with a little fancy footwork, Basil still sounds like Basil with Macho Guwapito and Rico needs to work on his Sa Tuwing Umuulan. Thankfully, the earthquake left no disastrous damage. Thankfully, Rico and Basil finally got together after three decades. I pray that there will not be another earthquake. I will not mind sitting through another Rico and Basil concert again.