Natalie Cole: Truly Unforgettable

She’s a chip off the old block.

A music critic was esctatic in the way he describes Natalie Cole, daughter of the great Nat “King” Cole, thus:

She soars without straining her vocal cords. Her tones come across as round and full-bodied even in the lower register. And probably because she grew up at a time when impeccable phrasing can turn a simple ballad into a masterpiece, she conveys so much meaning to every word.

Natalie’s fans will see that for themselves up close when she sings her hits — such as Inseparable, Miss You Like Crazy, Someone That I Used To Love, I Live For Your Love, This Will Be An Everlasting Love, L-O-V-E, When I Fall In Love and, of course, her immortal duet with her father, Unforgettable — during her concert at the Big Dome on March 11, aptly titled An Unforgettable Evening with Natalie Cole.

She’s coming to Manila fresh from her triumph at the recent 51st Grammy Awards where she won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Still Unforgettable and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist for Here’s That Rainy Day.

“This honor is especially gratifying because of the health issues I had last year,” Natalie was quoted as saying. “It is a wonderful thing to have the acknowledgment of my peers.”

Last week, Conversations did an exclusive interview with Natalie by phone. She was in Florida and I was in Hong Kong for an interview with Dwayne Johnson (ex-The Rock) for his latest movie, Walt Disney Pictures’ Race to Witch Mountain (more on that in next Sunday’s Conversation).

I was told by the one who arranged the interview to call a number and look for “Pam Harris.” It turned out to be Natalie’s “security” name. She was extremely nice and warm throughout the 20-minute interview.

Good morning. May I talk to Pam Harris?

“Hi!”

Hi, Miss Harris!

“This is Miss Cole!”

Hi, Natalie!

“Yes, hi!”

Anyway, Natalie, what were you thinking when you were recording Unforgettable with your father?

“That was 18 years ago...a long time ago.”

How old were you then?

“Oh, I don’t remember.”

I’m sure a flood of memories came to your mind while you were recording that song.

“Oh yeah. It was a great moment, it was a very wonderful thing to do, and we were happy that we had found the song that was right for this record. It was a great moment, yeah!”

Of all your father’s songs, why Unforgettable?

“Why Unforgettable? It’s the best among his songs. His other songs are just as memorable but they don’t have the emotion that Unforgettable has.”

How old were you when your father died?

“I was 15.”

What are your fondest memories about your father?

“Ahhhh...I was good when he was home for Christmas. He liked to drive fast cars and he was a big sports fan. He loved baseball...all kinds of sport.”

Did he sing you to sleep?

“No, he did not.”

Oh, he did not. Do you remember sitting on his lap with your father humming or singing a song?

“Yeah, we did things like that.”

How much of you is like your father?

“Oh, quite a few things...probably my temperament and my generosity; the way I like people. Like my father, I don’t want to see anyone mistreated, anything like that. I’m very racial-conscious because my father had a lot of, you know, challenges in the area of race. I’m very sensitive to that kind of issue.”

How old were you when you realized that you wanted to be a singer?

“Oh, I was probably in my 20s.”

It was rather late.

“Yeah, very late.”

Why rather late? Did you want to be something else?

“Yeah. I was going to college to be a doctor.”

Oh, a doctor. What kind of doctor, surgeon or an internist maybe?

“A psychologist.”

Why psychology?

“Well, it happened to be an area for which I had a big interest because I am up to now interested in people. I wanted to put up a clinic for young children and actually music was going to be part of my therapy.”

Would you remember the first song that you ever sang as a kid?

“Hmmmmm...The very first song? It was probably a song from camp. Or maybe a song with my father. I was about five years old. My sister and I sang a song with my father called Ain’t She Sweet.”

Of course, you will sing Unforgettable during your concert in Manila.

“Of course, yes!”

Filipinos are very sentimental, you know. So I guess they will be in tears listening to you sing that song.

“Oh, yeah? I think you’re right! It’s a very emotional moment when people hear that song. It brings back very good memories, tears, laughter, so many things.”

What’s your favorite line from that song?

“Hmmmm...Probably this line: It’s incredible that you think I’m unforgettable, too.”

It’s not the first time you are performing in Manila, is it?

“No, it’s not! I’ve been there before; it’s been a long time, probably 25 years ago.”

There was no Unforgettable duet at that time yet...

“...no, there wasn’t.”

What do you remember from that long-ago visit to Manila?

“Oh, very little. Hahahaha! I just remember that the weather was nice and the people were very, very nice. We didn’t get around very much but I remember how wonderful the people were. They treated me very kindly. I remember them taking me to a shopping mall.”

And what can we expect from your concert this time?

“We will combine the old and the new. They have given me a list of the songs that I should do but I haven’t done some of those songs in over 10 years. But there will be old songs in the repertoire that’s for sure.”

I wonder, how have you changed in the 25 years since you were in Manila?

“I think I’m much better at what I do. But one thing that stays the same is my passion for music. Other than that, I’ve become more dedicated. I think that I really work much harder than I ever did when I first started at my craft; I’m more dedicated and I have become a perfectionist.”

Can you tell me more about your latest album, Still Unforgettable (released locally by Warner Music Philippines)?

“It has been 18 years since the release of the Unforgettable album and I just thought that it would be nice if we could continue along the tradition of doing great music but this time not just about my father but also other great artists like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald. You know, my father introduced me to so many different artists and their music as well, and I wanted to do an album that includes them.

I’m sure that you’re aware that you’re carrying your father’s legacy. Is it such a big responsibility?

“I don’t think anyone can measure up to what my father had achieved. I’m just happy to at least play some of his music but he is really the one who was the pioneer, the one who started all this. He’s really The King.”

If you were to record another duet with your father, what would that be?

“We just did another one, Still Unforgettable.”

If your father were in front of you now, what would you tell him? I’m sure he is very proud of you. 

“I would just want to tell him how much I love him. I wish we had the time to do more things together. I would just love to drive him around in a sports car.”

What pieces of advice did he give you?

“He didn’t. He was the type who would teach by example and not so much with words. When I was little I would watch him go to work. I learned from his work ethic. He was serious with his work. He treated people very well. And that’s what I learned from my father — how to treat people very well. I think he showed me how to love your family, your children, even if he wasn’t home very much. He loved us very much. Watching him was my greatest lesson.”

Are you bringing up your children the way your father brought you up?

“I think so, very much so. My son is now 31 and he’s getting married soon. I think he will be a great dad, I think he will make a good husband. He’s very kind, very sweet and very gentle...a very respectful young man.”

If you were to sing a song to your father, what would it be?

“Hmmmm...let’s see. A song by another singer, You Are So Beautiful.” (Proceeds to sing) “You are so beautiful to me, can’t you see...?”

(Note: For tickets to An Unforgettable Evening with Natalie Cole call SM TicketNet’s outlets at 911-5555, or 374-2222. The Philippine STAR and People Asia are among the sponsors of the concert, also includingGoldilocks, Mossimo Music, San Miguel Beer, Breastcare Breast Self-Exam Kit, Edsa Shangri-La, Etc, 2nd Avenue, C/S Origins, Jack TV, Abs-Cbn, A.S.A.P. 09, Warner Music, Focus Media, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, Love Radio, RX 93.1, Mellow 94.7, 96.3 WRock, 99.5 RT, RJ 100, Yes FM, Maxx and DZRH.)

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