Kuh ‘rocks’ the vote

Kuh Ledesma has a gift for voters and politicians this coming election season: her new CD, K. She thinks it’s an apt offering for them since the songs remind us all over again about what being Filipino is all about.

Yes, the singer behind the nationalistic piece Ako Ay Pilipino is back doing something she did years back: stir a sense of patriotism. This time, it’s through all-new arrangements of such classics as Levi Celerio’s Ugoy ng Duyan, Silayan, Bulaklak and Mutya ng Pasig, among others.

"I want to focus on our treasure – the kundiman. I want to inspire people by reminding them of the beautiful things in our country," says Kuh.

Steering the album through this new, exciting journey is the acclaimed Bob Aves. He blends jazz, R‘n B, techno and other styles in the much-delayed album. And Kuh is so proud of the album she has earmarked her birth month, March, for its release.

"I had to shelve it for five years because of my schedule of tours here and abroad," reveals Kuh.

And now, she won’t let anything get in the way. In fact, Kuh is setting aside the end of the year for a CCP concert revolving around the songs in K, with Bob Aves at the helm.

The flames of national pride will burn brightly again, as Kuh revives the classics that made us proud of our musical heritage, never mind if it will be held months after the elections.

Ako Ay Pilipino and the upcoming K are not the only times Kuh wore her nationalism on her sleeve.

Rey Valera, whose romantic songs she will sing in Love Is ..., a Valentine concert at Captain’s Bar of Mandarin Hotel on Feb. 13 and 14, recalls an incident in Canada many years back. Former president Ferdinand Marcos was still in power and they were talking to an ambassador who said the Philippines is a country of cheaters.

"Kuh spoke up and said, `We don’t call Americans murderers just because of O.J. Simpson!’ The person she addresed kept quiet," says Rey.

Turns out the admiration is mutual. Kuh considers Rey one of the best composers in the land, in the league of her other favorites – Cecille Azarcon and the late George Canseco.

"He has a large collection of hit Tagalog love songs," says Kuh.

That’s why she will sing these songs in the two-night show. She’s even willing to come up with an all-Rey Valera CD.

And while he admits feeling intimidated working with such giants as Kuh and Rey, Erik Santos is all set to perform Josh Groban songs with Kuh.

"I felt that way when I performed with Lea Salonga and Ate Shawie (Sharon Cuneta)," says Erik.

Actually, Kuh, his ASAP co-star, says he doesn’t have to. It’s just a matter of striving for excellence – not perfection, which is impossible for any artist.

Then, acting like a doting ate, she gives a piece of advice to the singing champion, "No matter what happens, don’t forget your singing."

This, she adds, will make him endure in the business.

Rey agrees. "Singing will stay even when you’re no longer on TV," he tells Erik.

Rey himself is training his children – John Valor, 24, Valerie, 23, Greta, 21 and Clarisse, 18, as session musicians.

"I’m the new version of Toto and his children," he jokes.

But kidding aside, the singer-songwriter says he feels nervous everytime they go onstage.

"I never forced them to take up music," he explains, himself amazed at how his children have turned out to become a session band unto themselves. John Valor and Clarisse play the keyboards, Valerie is a bassist and Greta is a drummer. The family performed recently in Australia.

But they’re chips off the old block and you can’t fight with something as basic as genes.

Maybe, Rey, who has started writing songs in English can write a song for them someday. Who knows? The father, their children’s first inspiration, may just give his talented brood the break of a lifetime the way he made other singers rise to fame through songs that continue to live in music lovers’ hearts till now.