Regine: The Soundtrack of Her Life

As of last count (based on the list furnished Funfare by her camp), in her 25 years as a singer Regine Velasquez has recorded more than 500 songs (including movie and TV soundtracks) and that’s an unprecedented record, indeed!

As far as I know, it’s only Regine who has recorded a duet with a legendary foreign artist — that is, with Paul Anka on It’s Hard To Say Goodbye. Oh yes, of course, there’s also Lea Salonga who also did a duet with Julio Iglesias.

Asked which foreign artist she would like to do a duet next, Regine joked, “Hmmmm, maybe Justin Bieber?,” adding, “I used to say si Brian McKnight but I did have a chance to sing ‘live’ with him at a dinner in his honor last year when he was here for a concert.”

Because Regine is celebrating her 25th anniversary in the industry with a concert special on Nov. 16 at the MOA Arena (with her husband Ogie Alcasid as guest performer together with Janno Gibbs and Lani Misalucha, accompanied by the 60-piece Manila Symphony Orchestra with Rowell Santiago as director, and Ryan Cayabyab and Regine’s brother-in-law Raul Mitra as musical directors), her PR Jun Lalin invited only 25 movie writers to the presscon at Cravings (at Il Terrazo on Timog-Morato Rotunda, Quezon City, one of the sponsors along with, among others, The Philippine STAR). The concert is co-produced by iMusic Entertainment and GMA Kapuso.

The concert was originally scheduled for September or October but Regine, joking again, said, “Hinintay pa nilang mas pumayat ako.” Yes, she has to shed a few more pounds gained during her pregnancy for Nate Jacob, her and Ogie’s first child born in November last year. Happily, she’s winning her battle with the bulge, thank you. “The truth,” added Regine, seriously now, “is that we couldn’t find the right venue.” (There has been a spate of foreign acts, you know.)

Minus more pounds, Regine said that it was easier for her to fit into the costumes lined up for the show.

“Now I can wear bikinis,” she threatened and laughed. “I can eat fire and, why not, puede rin akong tumulay sa alambre.”

In the past quarter century, Regine has gone through a lot both in her personal life and professional life, all of which have been duly monitored by the media, and she has survived — beautifully! — so she really has a good reason to celebrate.

“I will be singing songs for the first time and songs that I recorded but never released,” revealed Regine.

Regine (who started as Chona Velasquez) was clueless on how she has managed to stay at the top despite the influx of wannabes. You see, for a star to remain an A-lister this long is nothing short of a feat. Only very few are able to do it, or haven’t you noticed?

As a nod to Regine’s silver anniversary, Funfare asked her to “record” The Soundtrack of Her Life.

Here are The 25 Memorable Songs in her life (all her own):

Love Me Again (“My first single as Chona Velasquez”)

Isang Lahi (“My first soundtrack, for Gabi Na, Kumander”)

I Have To Say Goodbye

Narito Ako

I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing

On The Wings of Love

Sana Maulit Muli

In Love With You (with Jacky Cheung)

It’s Hard to Say Goodbye (with Paul Anka)

What Kind of Fool Am I?

Please Be Careful With My Heart (with Jose Mari Chan)

Forever (with Martin Nievera)

Each Passing Night/Muli (with Gary Valenciano)

Shine

You Are My Song

Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw

And I Love You So

She’s Always a Woman To Me

Leader of the Band

Been Waiting

Promdi

Sabihin Mo Lang (original soundtrack for movie with Robin Padilla)

The Funny One (Ogie’s theme)

Walang Iba (theme from the GMA TV series Diva)

Dadalhin

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