Nonoy gets more romantic

This is not to say that this guy was never previously romantic. His biggest hit, the trendsetting Never Ever Say Goodbye expresses the ultimate promise one associates with undying love. But what is to stop him from getting even more romantic? And that is just what he does in his latest release titled The Love Album. For this, his first under a new contract with Viva Records, Nonoy Zuñiga goes all out for the candy-coated kill with songs full of sweet sentiments for anybody who has ever been in love.

"These are what many of us consider our theme songs," says Nonoy, as he talks about tunes like Too Shy to Say and The Way You Look Tonight. "I’ve been singing some of them for a long time now and I have always wanted to record them. I feel good when I perform and I know I am bringing back happy memories. And I have plenty for everybody in this album. This is for lovers of all ages from the ’80s or the ’60s and even back to the ’40s and ’30s. Some of the songs are that old pero favorites pa rin nating lahat."

Judging from the market response to the album, there are lots of diehard romantics out there and they heartily agree with Nonoy’s interpretation of their favorites. The Love Album is doing great, saleswise. Best proof of this is that Nonoy is getting ready for volume two and is asking around for suggestions on which tunes to include.

Of course some of them will be his own choices just like the way he made sure his own favorites are included in The Love Album. "I picked out What Matters Most by Kenny Rankin not only because I have always liked the song but also because fans are always asking me to sing it during my shows. I know it is also one of the most requested songs during weddings. So I decided I might as well record it. From now on, what I will sing when they ask me to do it is the Nonoy Zuñiga version. Dati kasi si Kenny Rankin. And because the album is now available, they can also buy a copy. "

He was already almost halfway through with the recording when he accidentally came across another one of his favorites. "I watched The Notebook and they used this old song I’ll Be Seeing You. The movie was so romantic and touching. I think it showed what true love really is. So I thought I should include the song. Ang ganda nung kanta at bagay na bagay sa concept namin."

As a result, these two beautiful songs ended up as bookends to others in the collection. "Tamang-tama sila. When the album was finished, What Matters Most, whose message says it is not how long you were together but the kind of love you shared that matters became the first cut and I’ll Be Seeing You, which is about being in love forever no matter what happens is the closing cut."

In between these two are more songs about love like the enduring favorites of several generations, I Only Have Eyes for You and The Way You Look Tonight, plus newer stuff like the Stevie Wonder classic Too Shy to Say; Someone Who Cares, from the motion picture Fools; I Wanna Be Free, by the Monkees; If, by Bread; Until It’s Time for You to Go, by Claudine Longet; Moon River, from Breakfast at Tiffany’s; In My Life by the Beatles; and the enchanting When I Fall in Love, which Nonoy performs as a duet with Regine Velasquez.

Nonoy gave up a career in medicine to fully concentrate on singing. He started out as vocalist of the Family Birth Control Band until an unfortunate bombing incident during Martial Law thrust him into the solo spotlight. His breakthrough song was Ako ay Ikaw Rin, the song named theme for the disabled in 1980. His collaboration with composer-producer Willy Cruz resulted in some of the biggest selling songs of the ’80s era. Among these are Doon Lang, Kumusta Ka, Never Ever Say Goodbye, Init sa Magdamag and many others. He marks his 25th anniversary as a solo performer this year.