Japan's Le Velvets visits Manila

Although very hip and truly trendy, J-pop is not all that Japanese music is about these days. As we are going to find out this week, fans in the Land of the Rising Sun also like other types of music. One very good example is the smooth mix of pop and classical sounds by the all-male quintet, Le Velvets, that has been wowing music lovers all over Japan these past months.

The attractive and talented group will be flying into the country today via Philippine Airlines upon the invitation of the Embassy of Japan for the celebration of the Philippine-Japan Friendship Month. Le Velvets will also perform exclusively in selected SM Malls in Metro Manila in connection with the launch of Le Velvets, its debut album for Viva Records.

The classically trained singers give moving renditions of well-loved songs from various countries in the album. Le Velvets contains timeless pop favorites like, Unchained Melody, Fly Me To The Moon, Waterloo, It’s Only Paper Moon, Moon River and Mas Que Nada. There are also classics like Nessun Dorma, O Sole Mio and Vivere, plus a Japanese original Mi Vida.

Then to gladden the hearts of the new fans they will surely meet in the course of their visit here, Le Velvets also recorded two songs by the legendary Filipino composer Willy Cruz for their album. These are the ballads Never Ever Say Goodbye, originally popularized by Nonoy Zuñiga and Sharon Cuneta’s signature song, Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas.

Le Velvets is the brain-child of Robby Wada, music producer and promoter and chairman of the SL-Company, Inc. of Tokyo. Robby is no stranger to Filipino music. He helped bring Freddy Aguilar’s immortal song Anak to the attention of foreigners way back in the ’70s. Just in case you are curious, SL stands for Symphony of Love, which Robby thinks aptly describes the sound of Le Velvets. He found the members of the group through open auditions for young and good-looking male singers who can sing both pop and opera.

Out of the hundreds who showed up, those who made the grade are: Tenor Tatsuhiko Saga, a singer and theater actor from the Kyoto University of Arts; tenor Shinichiro Hino of the Musashino Music University, a singer and dancer with the unique ability to sing both tenor and soprano parts; tenor Takanori Sato of the Kunitachi University of Music who is the youngest of the group with vocals of extreme clarity; baritone Hironobu Miyahara of the Tokyo University of Arts of the deep and sexy voice; and baritone Takuya Kurokawa also of the Tokyo University of Arts who has the lowest voice among Le Velvets.

To catch Le Velvets in action, singing and doing their trademark mall jack, you might want to check them out at the following places: The Block Atrium at SM North EDSA at 6 p.m. on July 20; the SM Megamall Event Center, 5 p.m., July 21; and at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium, 7 p.m., July 22. Then if you want to see them up close in a full-blown performance, there will also be a dinner show at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City at 9 p.m. on July 21. They will also visit Umagang Kay Ganda on ABS-CBN; Eat, Bulaga! on GMA 7; and Good Morning Club on TV5.

MYX chart

Meanwhile, here is how local pop music looks like nowadays as per the Pinoy MYX Countdown of the Top 20 videos of the week: Matututuhan Mo Rin by Rocksteddy; Huling Sayaw by Kamikazee featuring Kyla; Hey Hey Alodia by Segatron; Ikot Ng Mundo by Bamboo; I’ll Never Go by David Archuleta; Basta Ako by 6Cyclemind; Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita by Erik Santos; My Everything by Down To Mars; Different Corners by General Luna; Langit by Slapshock.

Sasabihin by Christian Bautista feat. the Neocolours; Presyo by RJ Jacinto feat. Ely Buendia; Download by Dingdong Avanzado; Forevermore by David Archuleta; Somewhere Down The Road by Sabrina; Bukod Tangi by Jason Hernandez; Liquid Ice by Charlie Green; Sandali Lang by Emmanuelle; Huling Pag-ibig by Circa; and Pangako by Valley of Chrome.