Willie, the recording artist

Willie Revillame is turning 50 years old on Jan. 27. I am sure there will be a lot of celebrating. The guy has a lot to celebrate about. He is rich, popular and from the way he looks on TV quite happy with what he is doing. I am also sure that all those people whose lives have changed because they got the opportunity to be blessed by being in his show will be celebrating his being in this world.

Then should he take the time to look back and take stock of where life has led him, I am sure he will put on a smug expression and say to himself, not bad at all. Not bad indeed. Despite the fact that controversy seems to have attached itself to whatever he wears, Willie is truly a success story. And a huge one at that. The guy who these past days has been giving away a car a day to the audience of his TV show Willing Willie, has known misfortune but through sheer guts weathered them and emerged on top of his game.

Maybe it is age catching up with me. But then, why is it so selective? Why is it that I am having a hard time remembering the Willie of old? On the other hand, nobody around me also seems to remember the details. Too bad Birdland, where he once played, is now no more. I am sure someone there will recall how Willie was as a drummer. Probably good because, it was mostly the good musicians who played the legendary jazz club. Which one was his band? Someone said Picante, but I am sure there was another one. Maybe I should talk to Randy Santiago. Wasn’t Willie one of the Hawi Boys back in the ’80s? He also hung out a lot with Francis M. But then Francis M now raps in the great beyond and is not available for interviews.

It was a visiting foreigner with no idea of the workings of local show business who gave me the answer to my question. He asked a question while watching one of Willie’s sentimental moments in the TV show. Is he your new Nora Aunor? Perhaps, the right answer to that should be, not really. But on the other hand, why not, because propelled only by sheer willpower and innate business sense, Willie has attained phenomenal popularity that echoes Nora Aunor’s.

And that is why, nobody seems to recall his early days anymore. The degree of success he is enjoying at present is so massive that is has eclipsed everything else. Will it last? It will if Willie plays his cards right or until somebody that the public finds more appealing comes along. For the moment though, I think he should enjoy all his blessings and continue to share these with as many people as possible.

Now, memories of his early career days may have turned sketchy. Even the wikipedia entry under his name does not offer much. But Willie has clearly not forgotten that it was music that provided his beginnings. He shows this by taking time off from his schedule to record albums once in a while. He is not likely to win singing contests but he does know how to pick songs that suit his style and his close friendship with prolific songwriter Vehnee Saturno has given him access to an unlimited source for songs.

Willie’s latest CD is titled I Love You after the title track. All of the songs were composed by Saturno save for Naririto Ako, a tribute to friendship, where Vehnee is joined by Willie and the top novelty composer of today, Lito Camo, in the songwriting credits. The collection is made up of beautiful ballads that should turn other singers green with envy. Some of them, like the inspiring Munting Hiling, are among Saturno’s best.

Willie is no Nora Aunor, singingwise but buyers couldn’t care less. His popularity has made I Love You the biggest selling album in the country today. Also included are Kanlungan, Matapos Man Ang Kailan Man, Sa Yakap Mo, Kung Para Sa ‘yo, Ikaw Na Nga, Yun Ka, Akala Ko Ay Ikaw Na, Silong Na, and the duet version of Ikaw Na Nga where Willie is joined by the popular politician from Bulacan, and his program co-host, Shalani Soledad.