Thursday 16 August 2012

Nelly Furtado on Pacquiao, Pinoy roots and swagger

Grammy winner Nelly Furtado half-jokingly said that if she could collaborate with a Filipino artist, it would have to be with Manny Pacquiao.

“But I think I would have to fall in line to get the privilege. It’s a long line and a long list, right?” she asked during a press conference yesterday at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel.

The Canadian singer-songwriter, who is performing tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the rap rock group favorite Gym Class Heroes, also said she would be performing all her hits.

“It’s going to be a fun show,” she promised.

Inspirational and musically aggressive

She is also set to unveil the new songs from her fifth album “Spirit Indestructible,” which will be released next month.

Nelly describes it as a “friendly punch in the face” as the album, which took three years to make, is both inspirational and musically aggressive.

“My brand new album is super fun, super powerful album with lots of pops songs in every genre, from hip-hop world beats to reggae, and it’s my favorite project because I feel so thrilled to share with my fans because lots of my songs are inspiring. The album is kind of spiritual and inspiring,” she said in an e-mail interview with Yahoo! OMG! Philippines.

Used to do freestyle rapping

Nelly shared that her album was inspired by her “experiences and inspiring people” she met in the last few years.

Her first single off the album, “Big Hoops,” talks about R&B and hip-hop, her first musical loves.

She said that she used to do freestyle rapping in the clubs when she was a teenager.

“I listen to R&B all the time. My room is full of posters of my favorite stars. My microphone always used to feel like my sword and gave me great confidence. I feel like confidence and swagger has to be bigger and better when you’re on the microphone,” she said.

Being a mom and a musician

But motherhood changed her music, Nelly confessed during yesterday’s press conference.

“I became more serious about my career as a professional, you know, musician, and started taking that more seriously because I felt more like an adult and more, obviously, you’ll have to be more responsible and set an example for your children,” she said.

“It’s enhanced my life in a great way, and now I’m very conscientious of everything I do. It’s been fun balancing the two things, motherhood and being a musician.”

Her daughter Nevis, turns nine in September, and is quarter-Filipina, Nelly revealed. Her daughter’s grandmother comes from the Philippines. Nevis is now also learning how to play the piano and violin.

Supporting other children’s needs

Nelly also draws her inspiration from a charity she supports.

“The last couple of years I became an ambassador for Feed the Children, which is a group that builds schools all around the world, and my involvement with them has inspired me a lot,” she said.

One of the children featured in her music video was a beneficiary of the organization, she added.

“His name is Spencer West and he actually lost his legs when he was four-years-old and he just finished climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya with only his hands. And so we did a music video about Spencer West and set it to the music of ‘Spirit Indestructible.’” – With Yugel Losarata

Jozza Palaganas and Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

‘Katy’ cast call for local theater support

“There’s nothing bad about it (watching foreign musicals), because we have to see those musicals because they are beautiful musicals! But, ako lang, ang hiling ko sa mga Pilipino na bigyan n’yo kami ng chance,” Isay Alvarez-Sena, lead star of “Katy: The Musical” told members of the press last Tuesday, Aug. 14 at the Speaker’s Conference Room of the House of Representatives in Quezon City where Spotlight Artists Center and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc. sealed their partnership as co-producers.

She added, “You know, you watch ‘Phantom (of the Opera),’ you also watch an original Filipino musical.”

“Katy” is based on the story of Katy de la Cruz’s rise to stardom as the country’s Bodadil Queen. The first production debuted in 1989 with Mitch Valdes playing the lead role.

Big musical

“When we thought of producing ‘Katy’ we wanted it to be like the big musicals, the foreign musicals that come here,” Isay added. “So, we need support from everybody. So if we don’t get that support, hindi kami maririnig o hindi kami mapapanuod.”.

Scheduled to begin on January 13, rehearsals for “Katy” is slated to begin on October while tap dancing lessons for some of the vaudeville numbers Katy was famous for will begin in September.

This, and the powerhouse cast also made up of Dulce, Epi Quizon as Golay, Tirso Cruz III, Lou Veloso and Gian Magdangal, make the local production as big as the foreign ones.

“Actually, di ba ngayon buhay na buhay and teatro sa bansa natin? At nakakatuwa na nabibigyan ng pagkakataon lahat mga actors, bagong mga bata na nagsisimula. Pero napakaganda—mas lalong magandang binibigyan natin ng pagkakataon pa ang sariling atin, ang talagang original na Pilipino na musical katulad ng ‘Katy,’” shared Dulce, who was handpicked to be part of the cast.

Dulce and Isay then gave sample of what to expect in January by singing “Minsan ang Minahal Mo ay Ako,” which Ryan Cayabyab wrote especially for “Katy.”

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Eugene wants to entertain Nora in ‘Bona’

Eugene Domingo hopes to impress the original ”Bona”, Nora Aunor with her performance in the theatrical adaptation of the classic movie which the Superstar topbilled in 1981.

As Bona, an obsessed fan who falls in love with aspiring actor Gino Sanchez (Edgar Allan Guzman), the self-confessed Noranian admits she cannot play Bona the way Nora did in the acclaimed film. But Eugene hopes she can show something different.

“Kahit banlian ninyo ako ng kumukulong tubig, hindi ko kaya yung ginawa ni Nora Aunor. At sinabi ko rin iyon kay Ate Guy (Nora). So tawa siya nang tawa. Sabi niya, ‘Susugurin kita diyan!’,” Eugene said at a press conference on Tuesday, August 14.

She added that the modern “Bona” pays tribute to its creators, National Artist for Film Lino Brocka and writer Cenen Ramones, plus Nora herself.

Modern version

Eugene plays a call center agent while her love interest Edgar is a talent search contestant.

“The essence of the film is still there, definitely. But we have to cater to more audiences because the socio-political environment then, or during those times, was very different. So, ito ay pagpupugay natin kay Lino Brocka, kay Cenen Ramones at kay Ms. Nora Aunor sa kanilang classic na trabaho,” Eugene said.

She added that it is but fitting that Nora “be entertained” after decades of serving in the showbiz industry.

“Ang pinakagusto kong mangyari dito kapag napanood ni Ate Guy ay maaliw siya. Ready na po kaming aliwin siya. Pagkatapos niya po tayong aliwin ng maraming mga taon, it’s time for her to be entertained. At gusto kong ipakita sa kanya na ang ginawa niya noon hanggang ngayon bilang classic ay dapat pa ring mapanood. Kaya namin siya in-adapt.”

Eugene grew up watching Nora’s movies, like “Atsay” and “Lollipops and Roses” with her mother. She admits being intimidated with Nora, but working with her in TV5’s “Sa Ngalan ng Ina” drew them closer together.

“Nasanay na lang ako sa “Sa Ngalan Ng Ina,” pero noong una hindi ko alam kung paano kakausapin. Kasi baka nag-ko-concentrate. Makalipas ang ilang lingo, mas joker pa siya sa akin. Siya talaga yung mahilig tumawa,” she said.

Encouraging messages

Eugene is happy for Nora’s encouraging messages regarding her performance.

“Napaka-suwerte. Natatanggal ng konti ang kaba ko. Nagkakaroon ako ng kumpiyansa. Kung na-intimidate ako, oo naman. Kaya ang gusto ko mangyari, maaliw si Ate Guy sa Bona naming ito,” she said.

Eugene turned down other projects after the “Kimmy Dora” sequel to focus on her first love, theater.

“Alam ninyo, talagang ang commitment sa theater, nagigising ako ng madaling araw, tapos naiisip ko siya kaagad. Hindi katulad kapag shooting, 'Take! Cut!'.Nakalimutan ko na iyon. Ito araw-araw, committed ako,” Eugene said.

Directed by Soxie Topacio, PETA’s 45th season opener “Bona” runs from August 24 to September 23 at PETA Phinma Theater in Quezon City.

Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Queneerich gets early international attention in Miss World

The pageant is set on August 18, but this early, Miss World’s Philippine delegate Queneerich Rehman is already making the rounds of social media sites and even on international online publications with her talent in beat-boxing.

The 23-year-old Pinay candidate went up on stage during the pageant's talent portion on August 8 in Inner Mongolia, China in a long, back-baring halter dress. She turned her back to the audience to sing Far East Movement's "Rocketeer" and began what the audience thought was a typical song number.

Queneerich then beat-boxed hits such as "Yeah" and "Teach Me How to Dougie," to the surprise and delight of the audience.

The Miss World Philippine delegate and her beat-boxing talent was featured in online publications such as Time, Huffington Post, and and The Daily Mail.

And while her talent already got local recognition when videos of her Binibining Pilipinas 2012 screening and Miss World Philippines Talent Competiton were uploaded on YouTube, no Filipina candidate has left so many in awe in this part of a pageant the way Queneerich has.

Yahoo! Philippines OMG! welcomes opinions—and the occasional wisecracks—that enrich and highlight new angles on its stories. Below-the-belt rants may be a fact of online life, but that doesn't mean you should transform into a troll. You can speak your mind without bashing anyone. Keep it clean, folks.

Jozza Palaganas | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

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