Reliving the glory days of jukebox

Before the karaoke, there was the jukebox. Drop 10 cents and, presto, you could enjoy any of your favorite songs. Drop more coins and you would have enjoyed a virtual concert, except that you just heard the singer(s) without seeing them.

Baby Boomers have experienced that kind of jukebox thrill and among their favorites were…you guessed it…Claire dela Fuente, Imelda Papin and Eva Eugenio whose songs continue to be played on the radio on retro Sundays, thus bridging the gap between generations of music-lovers.

The three singers have grown wiser through the decades, survivors of the vagaries of loving and living, heads unbowed, chins up, still singing about lost love and abortive love and unrequited love, and about lovers unsatisfied with loving only one.

On Aug. 31 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila, the three Jukebox Queens will bring back the glory days of jukebox. The jukebox generation is expected to reminisce with them.

You are friends in real life, right? But has there ever been any professional jealousy or rivalry among the three of you?

Claire: Oh yes, naman. Magiging plastic naman ako if I say wala. Yes, especially when we were young pa and during our peak. You know naman when you are young, ang dali mo matangay ng emotions mo. But of course, when you get older you will gain wisdom. Di na mainit ang dugo mo, hahahahaha!

Imelda: No, because I treat Claire and Eva as my family.

Eva: Yes, noong nagsisimula pa lang kami and when we were at the peak of our careers. But now, we have grown fonder of one another. Magkukumare pa nga kami, eh.

You (Claire) are immortalized by Sayang, Imelda by Isang Linggong Pag-ibig and Eva by Tukso. Which of your songs is the most personal?

Claire: Ako wala naman. Matino ako. My songs are all about mga forbidden-forbidden. And I never had a break-up, eh. My first boyfriend became my husband, hahahahaha! (Her husband, Moises de Guzman, died a few years ago. — RFL). There’s not much thrill in my love life. ‘Yun ang sayang.

Imelda: Bakit? and Kung Liligaya Ka Sa Piling Ng Iba.

Guest performer is Lenard Santos.

Eva: Kay rami nang winasak na tahanan. Pati ako, winasak. Hahahaha!

During your shows then (and on Aug. 31), isn’t there any scene-stealing?

Claire: Hmmm, there’s none. If ever there was, it was unintentional. I’m speaking for myself ha. I don’t know about Eva and Imelda. Hahahaha, joke!

Imelda: Of course, there is. We want the people to see how crazy we are, na loka-loka kaming tatlo.

Eva: Sa akin wala. Ewan ko sa dalawang ‘yan!

In love, who among you is the luckiest and who is the kulelat (loser)?

Claire: Pantay pantay lang siguro. Before, I was the luckiest in love. But my husband died so soon. Now it’s only Imelda who has a love life. Eva and I acted as bridge between Imelda and her current flame. Eva and I are kunsintidora. O, hayan, nilabas ko na ang well-guarded secret! Hahahaha!

Imelda: I am the luckiest because up to now I’m still in love with my Honey. ‘Yang dalawa, hindi suwerte sa love life, hehehehe!

Eva: Me, I’m also lucky kasi wala na akong iniintindi, inaantay o pinag-seselosan. But up to now, I’m still waiting for somebody.

Give three good reasons why we should watch your concert on Aug. 31.

Claire: First, we rarely do a concert together. It’s so expensive to put all three of us together in a concert, hahahaha! Second, you will see more than what you are expecting. And third, you will truly enjoy listening to songs of yesteryear. The concert will bring you down Memory Lane when you were young and clueless and happy and walang problema. Makaka-relate ka, maiiyak at ma-i-in love all over again…promise!

Imelda: Para malaman na ng madla kung sino sa amin ang pinaka-maganda, pinaka-sexy at pinaka-magaling, hehehehe!

Eva: We would like the people to know that we can sing different genres, that we can also dance. At para makita nila ang mga outfit namin…bongga!

(The Legendary Jukebox Queens In Concert, with Lenard Santos as special guest, will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila on Aug. 31, starting at 8 p.m. Musical director is Butch Miraflor. Ticket prices: VIP P6,500; Platinum P5,000; Gold P4,000; Silver P3,000; Bronze P1,500; and Balcony P1,000. Call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or SM Tickets at 470-2222.)