2 sisters, 2 different worlds

Singing sisters Tina and Danita Paner remind one strongly of international singing sisters Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. Tina, whose signature hit in the ’80s was Tamis Ng Unang Halik, is as pop as Jessica. Their image is that of the "would-never-hurt-a-fly" girl of camera-ready smiles and beauty queen wave. They have both forayed into movies and TV. Danita, about to release her debut album, is akin to the headstrong Ashlee. They are into edgy alternative rock sound in direct opposition to the saccharine music of their sisters that broke into showbiz ahead of their little sisters. Danita and Ashlee, too, are young women with minds of their own – and are unafraid to speak them!

This we found out about Danita during a recent talk. She recalls with a grimace the time she was asked to frontline a concert for Tina (prior to her migration to Spain). Her spot in the show? Oops, I Did It Again by Britney Spears. "I can’t recall that time without feeling my stomach turning," she says. "The song just didn’t fit me. After that, I swore never to sing songs again that I don’t like. Buti na lang din at wala akong ini-invite na kakilala ko noon kundi lalong nakakahiya!"

But that was five years ago, and Danita had just hit her teens then, so it’s totally excusable. Now at 17 years old, however, Danita knows exactly where she wants to take her music and will never be pressured to redirect. "Some people have told me, ‘You’re just riding on the current band trend.’ Or that I’m just rebelling against the music of my sister by doing an entirely different genre. But the truth is, I’ve been listening to rock all my life. My favorite bands are Dishwalla, Coldplay and Incubus. Locally, I like Sponge Cola, Rivemaya and 6Cyclemind. You can check out my i-Pod. I’m no poseur!"

Danita is confident that every one will come around once her album is out. Composed of pop rock originals as Tell Me, Bakit, Tanong as well as remakes of Rivermaya’s early hit, Himala, and Pretty in Pink’s Cool Ka Lang, Danita credibly joins into the league of Rock Princesses Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis. "True though I hope people won’t compare us. Because if you ask me how my music differentiates from them, I wouldn’t know how to answer you. But the difference is there. People will know instantly once my album is out," she says.

The yet untitled album is taking more than a year to finish; a long time in terms of local album production time frame. The reason is that Danita has asked songwriters of top bands to contribute and produce tracks in the album. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

How is Tina taking to her being a rock chick? "Supportive as ever. Though we’re not very expressive of our feelings towards each other, we make sure the other knows it by action. In my last concert, just before I went on stage, she even called me up to remind how to deliver my spiels, to convey the right emotions of songs and not just to hit the right notes, and to have a good time because it will translate in the performance. I’m so proud of Tina and feel so blessed that she is my sister," says Danita.

The budding singer also feels the same towards her mom whom she describes as "misunderstood." Danita says that if not for her mom’s strong personality, many people would have already taken advantage of Tina and her. It also helps that her mom has been around the business that she already knows how to open doors for Danita. "My going into music would never have happened if not for my mom. She was in a meeting with Viva Music executives when she told them that I also sing," says Danita.

Of course, more than half of the credit still goes to Danita. If Danita’s demo tape did not impress Viva Music (the way it did), then no amount of backing from her mom would have closed the deal. "Sometimes, though, I wish mom would be less proud of me. I remember a time when we met someone and mom pitched me to him to make me their endorser. Nakakahiya kasi at the time, I had no make up and was wearing a ratty jogging pants and months-old slippers. Yun bang itsurang yon ang kukunin na endorser? Malay ko ba naman kasi that we’d meet important people."

Asked how else she differs from her sister, Danita reveals that she is more moody and more of the fashionista. "I got it from my mom who shops for clothes regularly. I, too, can’t help getting into this fashionista thing kasi we live near a mall. Temptation is everywhere!" she says.

If Danita had to choose a song to dedicate to Tina, it would be Missing You by Mejia because of the line "(You’re) a thousand miles away from me." "I miss my ate but I know she’s happy now so okay lang. Meron namang telepono at Yahoo Messenger. And I’d be visiting her in Spain this summer, anyway," she says.

And for mom? "Make Me Whole. Because my mom keeps us all in balance. She has always been there for us and everything she does is for us. Because my mom makes things right.