Great Performances - A trip through some amazing musical memories # 8: Martin Nievera - Kahit Isang Saglit (The one I l nearly got lynched singing!)

Tonight we're going for something a little different by bringing you some OPM. "OPM?" they all cried in unison. Yes say I. OPM: Original Philippines Music.

Firstly just a few words about music and the Philippines. If you travel around the world, I'd dare to say that at least half the house bands in every hotel in the world hark from the Philippines. They can sing, they can play, they can dance. All of them. It's like there's something in the water. In Bangkok, Hong Kong, every city I've been to in Asia, if you hear a band and think "hmm, they sound good", they will be Filipinos. Seriously, I exaggerate not.

So, unless you're one of my Filipino chums here, I'd lay a pound to a penny that you've never heard of Martin Nievera, and that's a shame because in the Phils, he is a legend. Blessed with a beautiful and smooth tenor voice and devilishly good looks, he has been host of the famous TV show ASAP, which is where I first saw him, probably about 2007 or so I guess.
Now I find it odd that OPM hasn't taken off all over the world like KPOP seems to be doing right now, there are many incredible artists to choose from, some of whom I'll be including in later articles.

So back to this particular song. I was with some friends in a dodgy Karaoke bar when a guy got up and sang this, and I thought it was just beautiful. The guy of course, could really sing. I asked my friends who it was and they said;
"It's Martin Nievera, you know, the guy you like on ASAP". So as soon as I got back to the hotel, I hit the You Tube train until I found this. Now it has to be said, as it was said quite vociferously in the comments, that perhaps that top wasn't the best thing to wear as it is a 'little' sweaty, but don't let that take anything from the performance. From that point, it was the song I heard in my head whenever I had to leave and go home because the song (I'm told) is about someone hoping he can see someone again....

Anyway, that's not the story.......

This is......

After I'd left that trip, I as usual bought a stack of CD's including Martin Nierva which I played endlessly in the car until I knew all the words..in Tagalog, hell yeah! Obviously I didn't know what they meant but it didn't matter. Next trip back, as usual I ended up with friends in some Karaoke bar but instead of going for some obscure English Language song in the hope they didn't know it, hence making it difficult for them to know how bad I was, I decided to go for it! I chose to sing 'Kahit Isang Saglit'..in Tagalog, a super loved song ingrained in their national identity by the whole country's favourite singing son.

It was the Tanduay what made me do it your honour!

Now, to be honest. I can hold a tune but as the opening notes rang out across that packed bar, I suddenly realised just how the key it's in which you don't realise when you're banging it out to the CD in the car.

The first notes started well. Softly spoken and quite low, for a second I thought I might just carry it off. Especially when the crowd's look of fear softened and I as the first words came out, got me a ripple of applause. No one ever claps there, they are a seriously tough crowd because the standards are so high.

Paano ang puso kong ito
Ngayong lumisan ka sa buhay ko?

First two lines, I've got this covered......

Kung kailan sumikat ang araw

getting a bit higher....

At lumigaya ang aking mundo...

Bollocks, as I realised just exactly how high the notes of the chorus got to..........

My face reddened, the original looks of sympathy and appreciation began to turn to obvious grimaces, and it's quite a long song.

When the last note had faded, there was a deafening silence and I as I sat down, I was too embarrassed to meet anyone's stare.

It was the last time I sang Karaoke in the land of the singing Gods. Every-time I chat to my friends online, they still mention it as they collapse in fits of laughter....

Either way, its a beautiful song, sung by a great singer to an appreciative audience and it also brings back very, very happy memories for me, and that's why it's a great performance.

Please have a listen and tell me what you think !

There will be more OPM in this series, as I suddenly got the urge to check out my mp3s as I write. We're gonna have Lea Salonga, Rachelle An Go ( I luv her!) both of whom I've seen in the West End, Freddie Aguillera, Sarah Geronimo just to name a few.....

@maverickinvictus and the the whole Phils clan. This is for you. Thank you :-)

...shouldn't that be Mhaverick ? and Shurpassinggoogle lol !!

Thanks for dropping by. Your Upvotes and Resteems are gratefully received but your comments and engagement are truly appreciated. Let's keep up the debate. Thank you

@nathen007 #greatperformances

Life's not about the hustle. It's all about the humanity

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