The Champions did it again!

In September last year, the Champions – Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go and Christian Bautista – had their successful debut on the international concert scene in New York, the first leg of their US concert tour. The good news is that the Champions – this time with Frenchie Dy, Sheryn Regis and Raymond Manalo – have just done it again last May 21, also in New York, at another successful concert also produced by Alice and Red Martinez of Re-Al Entertainment.

Here’s a review of that encore Champions concert specially written for Funfare by Raoul Tidalgo, columnist and entertainment editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter:

Which show did you watch over the weekend? If you went to Sharon Cuneta’s much hyped Mega Tour in Atlantic City, you missed the most exciting explosion of singing talent in recent months unleashed by Sarah Geronimo, Sheryn Regis, Rachelle Ann Go, Frenchie Dy, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista and Raymond Manalo at the Return of the Champions at the Colden Center for the Performing Arts of Queens College.

A production of Viva Entertainment and presented in New York as Magnificent 7, by Re-Al Entertainment (owned and run by Red and Alice Martinez), Return of the Champions, was, more than anything, a validation of the Filipino’s world-class talent.

The sprinkling of non-Filipinos in the packed house unanimously decreed the Champions would shame the contestants of American Idol anytime.

That sounds extravagant but on second thought why else would the ushers and stagehands of Colden – blase as they are to all forms of performance art – stop in their tracks and listen to Sheryn and Sarah and Frenchie and Rachelle Ann make birit?

The four brought the house down with their Black Divas Medley at which each sang Respect, I’m Coming Out, Proud Mary, Never Can Say Goodbye, Last Dance and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

That number was a real killer in terms of goose bumps-inducing moment.

Although all seven of them were in top form, it was, surprisingly Sheryn Regis who kind of nearly stole the show not so much with her amazing pipes as her excellent audience contact. No matter if she was ad libbing in Visayan, Sheryn caused laughter to erupt in the house each time she spoke. The girl has the comic flair of Pilita Corrales, the spunk of Elizabeth Ramsey and the allure of Verni Varga.

Frenchie was another revelation. We liked it that she could laugh at herself. Poking fun at her heft, Frenchie related how, when she tried out for Star in a Million, she was cautioned that "walang matabang singer na sumisikat." She knocked the audience with her Arethaesque voice.

After the show, a stagehand said that while Frenchie was in the middle of an elaborate number, one of the speakers in stage left exploded. Asked if it was Frenchie’s voice that caused it, the stagehand only winked.

Rachelle Ann, although a superb singer, was the least giving of the girls. This girl gives the impression she’s holding something; that she has more to give but won’t let go. We’d like to see her make wala; kick ass. She looks always proper, kind of a Maria Clara of the music world.

Strangely, even if it was clear that she was the anchor of the show (after doing her Celine Dion medley, the audience rose to an ovation), Sarah Geronimo seemed to have lost some of her sparkle. She was very open and exuberant on the first champions tour last year but this time around, Sarah was less playful and looked a bit self conscious. Sometime ago I read in a Manila daily that there is a "new" Sarah emerging these days. Maybe this was the new She?

Among the boys, it was clearly Mark Bautista who stood out. This kid has a quiet sex appeal and he knows it and has no qualms using it. All the girls squirmed in their seats each time Mark moved his hips during the group’s novelty medley ("Jumbo hotdog, kaya mo ba ‘to?"), What a difference seven months make. When Mark first came to New York last year, he was this nerdy kid who sang like Martin Nievera. This time around, Mark has morphed into this confident young man who looks comfortable at what he’s doing. P.S. He’s sounding less like Martin, too.

Raymond has a powerful voice that somehow gets waylaid on CD. He sounds better live. When this boy learns to differentiate a paying concert audience from an ASAP or an SOP crowd, I bet he will become a better entertainer.

After his gold and platinum records plus a growing fame that’s spreading unto parts of Asia and who knows where else, what’s left to be said about Christian Bautista? That he doesn’t move well and he can’t rock nor dance, that’s what. But who cares? When he launches into The Way You Look at Me the house stops and screams at song’s end.

Return of the Champions was a memorable and magical show. Everyone was happy and full of good vibes after the show. Even June Torrejon, eyes always at half mast, brightened and lightened and looked wide eyed. Red and Alice, of course, grinned from ear to ear, smug in the thought that they’ve done it again.

(Note: The Champions will have a show in L.A. on June 11, also produced by Al Chu like their concert in the same city in October last year.)

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