Big Mouth strikes again in early 2015

First, a trivia: It was the late Bob Castillo (of People’s Journal) who gave Martin Nievera the unique “title” Big Mouth. That was in the early ‘80s after Bob and I, upon the request of Martin’s father Bert Nievera, interviewed Martin whose gift of gab was already in harness at that time even when he was just about to set foot in showbiz. The “title,” conferred on Martin with genuine fondness, stuck and Martin has been proudly wearing it like a medal on his sleeve since then.

In fact, he’s using it in the title of his opening salvo for 2015 — The Big Mouth Rocks A New Year! at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura on Saturday, Jan. 3, starting at 8 p.m. with special guests Allen Sta. Maria, Morissette Amon and KZ Tandingan. That Big Mouth was unstoppable when Martin sat down for lunch with some movie writers a few days before Christmas at the Jet 7 Bistro (one of the show’s sponsors).

By the way, Martin left for the US early this month for two shows in Las Vegas Dec. 20 and 21, another show (a repeat) in Michigan on Dec. 26, and is flying back home posthaste for a New Year’s Eve show on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Solaire Resort & Casino.

Here are “gems” that stumbled out of Big Mouth:

• He did his own shopping for Christmas gifts (“I enjoy doing it alone”) on a long list. “I prefer to give personalized gifts, as opposed to by bulk,” explained Martin. “Doon kami nag-aaway ni Pops (Fernandez) noon because she wanted to buy in bulk. I want to choose each gift myself na bagay doon sa bibigyan ko.”

• While other singers take care of their voice by staying away from cold drinks and refraining from talking several hours before a performance, Martin does the opposite. “I take care of my voice by using it a lot. It’s like a diesel engine. If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Asked in jest if that applies to, you know, other parts of his anatomy, Martin was undaunted. “Ask him,” he smiled, pointing the wireless mike between his legs. “I will tell you in five years,” he quipped, adding, “You know my grandmother, Lulu Corrales (Name supplied by Ronald Constantino because Martin forgot it. — RFL), she was an opera singer and she was fond of cold food…ice-cream, etc. Kami ni Regine (Velasquez), we take iced water. I think it’s all in the mind. Ang bawal talaga, dairy products.”

• He doesn’t mind being a replacement as he was for Jed Madela (who got sick) in Lani Misalucha’s recent show, so he had to learn how to do the songs in Jed’s (very high) range overnight. “I think we are all equal,” said Martin who is devoid of any insecurity. “We can all replace each other. No one is a bigger star than the other.”

• Embarrassing moment: During a show at the old Ultra, he actually wet his pants in the middle of a song and since the audience wouldn’t let him go backstage to change (yes, his pants), Martin did it right there with only a huge towel (held for him by two assistants) covering him from the wildly-applauding crowd. “It was a very quick costume change,” Martin recalled with a laugh, adding in jest, mentioning that the show’s title has the word “dream” in it, “the reviews would have headlined, ‘Wet Dream a big success!’ Hahahaha!”

• Another embarrassing moment: At the Kodak Theater in Hollywood where Martin was to receive an Entertainer Of The Year Award presented by Brian McKnight (who insisted he be allowed to do the honor). On the front row were artists with Asian background, including Mark Dacascos and wrestler Dave “The Animal” Batista. Martin appeared onstage singing “this is the moment” and what came out was a “lip-synched” version instead of a Minus One. “Wait, let me rewind,” Martin told the audience. Same thing happened. Finally, he decided to sing a cappella, after which the audience broke into a heart-rending applause. Everybody thought it was part of the act. An American guy who did the Grammys and the Oscars came up to Martin and said, “That was a great act!” Told that it wasn’t an act, the guy said, “If that were a Hollywood star, he would have walked out and blamed the production, the director, the sound engineer, everybody!”

• ”I have learned to relax,” he said. “I’m not in a hurry anymore. You know, singing is just like sex. The first time around, you try to get as many as you can; you rush. But now, you take your time. There’s now a lot of kissing and hugging, a lot of overtures, and it’s much more fun and satisfying.”

(The Big Mouth Rocks a New Year! is produced by H&D Hills & Dreams Events Concept with The Belo Medical Clinic and Volvo among the major sponsors. Ticket prices are P2,000, P2,500, P3,000 and P3,500. Call 470-2222.)

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