Range, sensitivity & mastery

Mesmerizing doesn’t come close in describing the recent concept concert of Kuh Ledesma dubbed Songs That Made The Movies. Held at the Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Hotel that extended due to poplar demand, it brought out the movie buff in the audiophile and vice-versa via carefully selected repertoire culled from soundtracks both classic and contemporary.

Opening with Gold Finger (from the James Bond flick of the same title), Kuh emerged garbed in gold cat suit with pistol to match that set the tone for a remarkable night. Despite being on top of her game for more than two decades, Kuh the diva still finds new ways to present her craft in a provocative way. Tongue-in-cheek without prejudicing taste, the camp intro hinted of fun and danger; like a roller coaster ride with its first loop just lurking ahead.

Without missing a beat, Kuh followed-up with the recent Christina Aguilera contribution to Shark Tale, Car Wash. Breaking from the usual songs people expect of her, she was joined by guest performers Rebekah, Jon Joven Uy, Jake Macapagal and Lana Jalosjos in the hip hop number. Kuh is not afraid to share the limelight with upstarts the way she did with Gary Valenciano and Regine Velasquez in the ‘80s and Christian Bautista a few months ago.

Switching to ballads next, Kuh dished out a plethora that melted the romantic heart. Done in her inimitable style (easy to do as Kuh has one of the most recognizable voices in the industry, then and now), she tipped her hat to new international chanteuses Le Ann Rimes, Celine Dione, Mariah Carey, etc. though more sensibly, vocally. Never overreaching notes as the above artists almost always do, the music fell quietly on the ears, thus, making their messages come across in a more heartfelt way. In You Must Love Me (from Evita), Kuh transfixed people by imbuing drama and dynamo that drew the line between vocalist and mere singer.

But if that number was a comet blazing across the sky, then Barbra Streisand covers were akin to the instant the wonder touched ground. Piece Of Sky, Evergreen and Finally Found Someone were phenomenal. These songs perfectly canvass Kuh’s range, sensitivity and mastery in making the difficult sound effortless.

Celebratory of theme songs and cerebral in the line-up, there were songs that the young ones only discovered were culled from movies, like Crazy For You from Vision Quest and Just Once from The Last American Virgin.

Capping the night was the Disney medley of inspirational tunes. Since Kuh became born-again Christian, numbers that bear positive messages have always figured in every show she does.

If Songs That Made The Movies were to be categorized, it would certainly fall under ‘feel-good, ’ ending the cowboy riding out into the sunset with the girl.