A night of love, laughter and kilig

Why didn’t somebody think of this before? I mean putting Concert King Martin Nievera and singing champion Sarah Geronimo together in one concert. Easy answer. Most people think Martin should be with former TV love team and ex-wife Pops Fernandez. More so during the Valentine weekend. Not with Sarah, with whom he did What Love Is at the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday, Feb. 12.

But it turned out that although they were born a generation apart, Martin and Sarah make a great combination. So who needs a John Lloyd Cruz to bring in good box-office? Not Sarah on that stage. She has found the ideal leading man in Martin and they packed the Big Dome with a huge and very appreciative audience.

They came wondering if Martin still has what it takes to pull off a fantastic show. Does he? Very much so. He is not known as the concert king for nothing. In fact I cannot think of anybody around who can be as fun. He can strut around like a Bieber wannabe, complete with a wig. Or as quick-witted, Vicki Belo sucks. ??? You know, liposuction. Har! Har! Har!

Or sing like he does with a voice that can work wonders. He was found last Saturday rapping ala Tik Tok , singing Baby Baby big band style or reaching the high Cs in a medley of songs from West Side Story. OK, he is still short in the dance moves department, but the knees did cooperate nicely in the rousing VST&Co. medley that closed the show.

On the other hand, who needs a dancing Martin anyway when you have the long-limbed Sarah there, who is a daring, enthusiastic dancer? I like watching her dance and finding her moving even better now than the last time is a treat. Of course, she has also become an even better singer. To those who are wont to ask, has she gotten rid of her Celine Dion tendencies? Well, she still sings a good To Love You More, but she has obviously come to her own with fuller tones, wider range and nice, sexy low notes.

 These were put into good use singing with Martin, the demanding song line-up put together by musical director Louie Ocampo and concert director Rowell Santiago. It was cheese from kesong puti in Laguna to gouda Swiss. I can’t throw in cheddar because they stayed clear of Air Supply but the show was still first class cheese, a grand, tasty mix of ouch and kilig.

But then how else would you want your music on a Valentine weekend with Martin and Sarah? Cheesy of course. Starting with the precise beat of All You Need Is Love by Martin down to the lovely medley of Ikaw and Ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap up to You Are My Song in the end, the show was a celebration of love songs. Millionaire and Sorry Sorry digressed a bit from the mood but nearly everything else were well-remembered love songs.

Martin has known heartbreak. Lots of them. And how he wallows in these memories. That is why he makes Kahit Isang Saglit sound like he is feeling and singing it for the first time. It is obvious that Sarah has discovered this incredible device for artists. Her Someone That I Used To Love and Almost Over You had the ouch factor. And definitely oozing puddles was her latest single Sino Nga Ba Siya? Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

They may have felt ouch in the memories triggered by the songs but I do not think anybody in the audience felt ouch when the evening ended. They only had smiles because they truly enjoyed themselves. I did too and it felt doubly great knowing that the hot show of the 2011 Valentine weekend was What Love Is and it is by Filipino talents.