Out of sight but never out of mind

While all the performers making up the Legends of OPM are still based in the country actively pursuing their individual careers, it is only Joey Albert who has made her home abroad in Vancouver, Canada and has semi-retired from the music field. At the same time, it is also only Joey who has not worked before with Boss Vic del Rosario, head honcho of the Viva group of companies.

When Boss Vic thought of bringing together a group of hit makers of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), his lineup consisted of perennial favorite Rico J. Puno, Nonoy Zuñiga, Rey Valera, Claire de la Fuente, Eva Eugenio, and Joey Albert. This was to be held Dec. 30, 2008 at the PICC, when the whole country would be in a mood for everything Filipino, from San Fernando parols, to the Metro Manila Film Festival of Pinoy films, to balikbayan enjoying the holiday break with their families. All the artists welcomed the concept and the lineup of performers with confidence and rejoicing. All except Joey Albert.

“I was really nervous in the beginning. I didn’t know how I was gonna fit in. These are heavy weight, let’s face it,” the ever humble Joey confesses.

“I was included because of my hit songs. I am not that legendary, but my songs are. I’ve been away for 12 years, yet they keep using them for teleseryes. Tell Me was used again recently,” she continues, with what we have started to call her ode to her songs.

Joey’s catalogue of unforgettable hit songs include Tell Me, I Remember the Boy, Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, Points of View, Kumukutikutitap, Sa Iyo Lamang, Iisa Pa Lamang, Million Miles Away,      

“These songs are phenomenal. I am amazed. Usually kasi diba, out of sight, out of mind. Someone sent me a YouTube recording of a kid singing Tell Me. Wow! I don’t even have to do anything, sila ang na po-promote ng songs ko. I think all these songs were just destined for me. But I am more in awe of the songs than I am of me. A lot of people don’t know me. They know my songs. Yun ang sign na talagang phenomenal ang songs. Mga second generation Filipinos in Canada, classmates of my children say, Ah, mommy mo pala ang kumanta ng Tell Me. They know the songs, even before they know the singer. Ang sarap ng feeling!”

Before she decided to migrate to Canada with her husband in 1995, Joey recalls Richard Gomez asking her permission to use Sa Iyo Lamang as movie theme to be entered in the 13th Metro Manila Film Festival. The festival awards night happened while Joey was on board the plane bound for Canada. “The minute I landed, I received a fax that said, Sa Iyo Lamang won 13 awards and one of them was Best Song. This was an affirmation from God na, ‘Don’t worry. Yung iniwan mo, aalagaan ko.’”

To young aspiring singers, Joey is consistent with her advice, “ Work hard. Sing from your heart and with your heart, sing for fun, not for fame. Fame never lasts but songs do. Sing so you have something lasting to leave behind.”

The Legends of OPM concert in December created such a rousing response from the audience, that there was simply no option for Viva but to hold a repeat. The repeat is set for March 5, again at the PICC, which means that Joey will need to go on leave from the school where she teaches to do the concert.

Joey started singing as a child but her career as singer started when she won the Dream Girl Filipino contest on TV. The next year, she was already named one of the Top 10 entertainers at the Tinig Awards, the Best Female Vocal performer at the Cecil Awards in 1985, and the Best Female Performer at the Awit Awards in 1990. Tell Me went gold in 1986, and Iisa Pa Lamang platinum in 1994. She got to perform in the biggest venues locally, did foreign acts in Manila with El de Barge, Julio Iglesias, Mike Francis, and went on foreign tours throughout the US, as well as Rome and Milan.

She is a cancer survivor from cancer of the uterus and again from colon cancer.

Her most memorable fairly recent performance in Manila was in 2007 when Joey had three reunion concerts at the Music Museum with her former sweetheart and songwriter Louie Ocampo. It was Louie who wrote most of her unforgettable songs including Tell Me and Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin. During the reunion that took 22 years to happen, Joey recalls, “Iyak ng iyak ang mga tao. Siyempre, nakita nila kami ni Louie.” We got to read a report on the concert where the writer wrote, “ The two looked good together on stage, and they make beautiful music. I nearly choked trying to hold back tears... that these two talented musical artists are no longer together and making the same sad songs.”

In describing the musical directors she has worked with, Joey tags Gerard Salonga as a phenomenal young musician, clearly born for his music. Ryan Cayabyab will always be the proverbial maestro to her. But of Louie, she says, “Now Louie, well... I have to say... he’ll still always be the best music director and piano player for me. He plays with his heart and that’s what makes him totally unique. No one can put feelings into those keys like he can. Undoubtedly, he is in a class of his own.”

Joey goes on to confess that although she is living an ideal life in Vancouver, she does miss many things about the music business. Like “The few but precious friends I met along the way, sitting around singing together... the recording, painting musical portraits with vocal nuances... sound checks. Those last few hours before an ULTRA concert; slowly watching everything come together like a dance.The musician; sharing music, songs we know and love.”

Legends of OPM is directed by Roxanne Lapuz with Gerry Matias as musical director. Tickets at SM Ticketnet, Araneta, and Ticketworld. Call Viva 687-6181 locals 620 and 745.

(E-mail the author at [email protected].)