The enchanting music of k.d. lang

I always tell myself that I must find out why k.d. lang writes her name with no capital letters. It actually looks chic but also strange. I never got around to finding out. On the other hand though, it does not really matter how k.d.lang writes her name. People are now used to it and her fans of which, there must be lots, could not care less. All that matters for them as far as k.d. is concerned is her singing, which I must say is absolutely gorgeous.

k.d. lang comes from Canada. She started out in the ‘80s as a country singer. Then she broke through in the US with the wonderful crossover album Ingenue in the early ‘90s and has over the years evolved into a divine interpreter of just about anything. She does pop, rock and the standards. Her voice also puts on a New Age vibe sometimes, swings a little and then goes back to country. And she sounds fantastic with anything.

You must forgive me this but I am afraid this will be one of those pieces littered with superlatives. That is what happens when you listen to k.d. lang. Take note that she does not scream or twist her notes. I have yet to hear her with those “featuring” whoever gimmicks or do any sort of vocal calisthenics. All she has is this full, honeyed voice of remarkable range that totally envelops the listener. You cannot help but get lost in her songs.

I know she may not be doing much by way of hits these days and even her fans do sometimes forget about k.d., inundated as everybody is with all these R&B divas in the charts. But then you get hold of one of her albums and you once more fall under her spell. How can anybody sound like this is what goes inside my head while listening to her new release Recollection.

Recollection by k.d. lang is a two-CD set of old and new recordings. CD 1 has the big hits like Trail of Broken Hearts, You’re OK, Miss Chatelaine and Constant Craving from the Ingenue album composed by k.d. and Ben Mink and the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah. There are also The Air That I Breathe by The Hollies; Helpless by Neil Young; Western Stars by Chris Isaak; The Valley by Jane Siberry; Summerfling and I Dream Of Spring by k.d. and David Pitch. All great tunes that show why people think k.d. is a remarkable singer.

CD 2, though is what has been playing on my machine for days now. This is the magical one, which may not have the hits but has k.d.’s most beautiful recordings. Get a load of this list: Help Me by Joni Mitchell; Hush Sweet Lover by k.d. and Mink; Beautifully Combined by k.d. and Joshua Grange; a duet with the legendary Roy Orbison of the classic Crying; the Cole Porter standards Love For Sale and So In Love; Barefoot by k.d. and Bob Telson; a duet of the lovely Moonglow with Tony Bennett; Siberry’s Calling All Angels; a new recording of Hallelujah; and a most divine medley of Golden Slumbers and The End by the Beatles from the Happy Feet soundtrack.

Cheers to Warner Music for releasing this one.

The yodel king

Fred Panopio died last April 22 of liver cirrhosis. He was 71 years old and the only and much loved singing cowboy Filipinos have ever known. There could have been two of them but losing that one gave Fred his successful career. It was National Artist Levi Celerio who told me the story.

It was in 1960 when Celerio wrote the lyrics to the song Pitong Gatang by musical director Tony Maiquez. It was the theme song of a movie starring the young action star Fernando Poe Jr. They wrote it for a local “singing cowboy,” who had just won a talent contest. That was the time when for some strange reason movie fans enjoyed watching Filipino cowboy movies.

However the “singing cowboy” who usually performed songs by Gene Autry and Roy Rodgers refused to sing Pitong Gatang because the lyrics were in Tagalog. He only did English songs! Colonial mentality was rife at the time. Celerio remembered this kid, who could yodel, whom he had heard in town fiestas and recommended him to Maiquez. That kid was Panopio.

Panopio, who also made movies as a comedian, went on to other hits like Tatlong Baraha and Markado. His Tagalog adaptations of Bohemyo (Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen), Kawawang Cowboy (Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy) and others were also successful.