That same old Basil magic

Ryan Cayabyab introduced him as "the best balladeer the country has ever produced." Such illustrious introduction is fitting only for an artist like Basil Valdez. Rightfully, Basil has managed to maintain his pre-eminent status in the music industry for 30 years. He is the only local performer who has recorded the most number of original songs. And these tunes have been immortalized in singing contests, weddings, churches and videoke joints, reinforcing Basil’s enduring popularity.

A number of Basil’s timeless ballads made it to the repertoire of his Valentine concert, An Enchanted Evening by the Bay with the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) and Ryan as conductor. The strictly invitational show held at the posh One Esplanade saw Basil in his best element, performing with an entire orchestra. It was an ambitious production, perhaps the envy of other seasoned performers. But Basil does it best with a full orchestra, led by his favorite musical director.

Basil and Ryan have been working as a tandem for decades now. In fact, Basil obviously specifies Ryan’s services for most, if not all, of his live performances. Three of Ryan’s original compositions for Basil made it to the concert repertoire: Nais Ko, Paraisong Parisukat and Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang.

Late last year, the two even teamed up for Basil’s CD, The Filipino Classics, a 12-track compilation of romantic songs from the ’20s to the ’60s, recorded with the SMPO. The album has been certified gold and Basil generously dished out a few selections during his show: Sapagkat Kami ay Tao Lamang, Madaling Araw and Mahiwaga.

In between his numbers, Basil did very limited spiels. Yet, when he sang, he clearly shared a part of himself with his audience, who had a chance to rediscover him that night.

Heart-wrenching love songs the late George Canseco penned for Basil were rendered by the singer in a well-applauded medley of Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan, Kastilyong Buhangin, Ngayon at Kailanman, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and Paano Ba ang Mangarap. Those in the audience familiar with the hits were singing with Basil. The Canseco suite was capped with the powerful ballad Ngayon, which Basil said he recorded way back in 1979.

The show premiered three new arrangements by Ryan for the SMPO. Tennessee Waltz and Unchained Melody, said to be the favorites of tycoon Henry Sy, were rendered especially for the man who built the SM empire, the most distinguished guest in the audience that night. The concert venue, One Esplanade, is situated at the SM Central Business Park Seaside near SM Mall of Asia, built by Henry Sy. Another beautiful song, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, was performed by the orchestra for Henry Sy Jr.

The earlier part of the show gave the spotlight to the SMPO, led by its conductor, Arnel Feliciano. The orchestra interpreted a Rodgers and Hammerstein medley (I Whistle a Happy Tune, My Favorite Things, Some Enchanted Evening, The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, You’ll Never Walk Alone), paid tribute to Frank Sinatra (I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Strangers in the Night, That’s Life, The Lady is a Tramp) and also did Filipino love songs (Minamahal, Minamahal Kita, Ikaw, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal).

A source informed me that the Basil Valentine concert would be the final performance of the SMPO before the group formally disbands. But Ryan said his wish that night is for One Esplanade to be the permanent "home" of the SMPO.

Basil, meanwhile, kept the audience entertained with his vintage hits, You, Lift Up Your Hands and Iduyan Mo. He later paid tribute to two prolific foreign songwriters in a separate medley: Barry Manilow (I Write the Songs, Looks Like We Made It, Even Now) and Michel Legrand (Little Boy Blue, Pieces of Dreams, Summer Me, Winter Me).

The two-hour show would have included Basil’s other timeless songs. But he politely ended with his second encore, Diyos Lamang ang Nakakaalam, also a cut in his Filipino Classics CD.

The success of his Valentine concert clearly proved Basil remains a popular performer who commands a sell-out crowd. There may be dozens of other artists after him who have made their respective mark in the music industry, but Basil holds an enviable, illustrious niche, making him not one of the best, but the best balladeer the country has ever produced.