MAKALIPAS ang pitong taon mula nang manalo ang “Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako” sa “Himig Handog” songwriting competition, nagwagi uli si KZ Tandingan sa HIMIG 11th Edition ngayong taon.
Siya ang kumanta ng isinulat na entry ng songwriter na si Danielle Ann Balagtas, ang “Marupok” na siyang nagwagi bilang Best Song sa ika-11 edisyon ng Himig Handog.
“It still feels like the first time. Hindi mo talaga puwede i-expect kasi na mananalo ka, kasi iba-iba yung beauty ng bawat kanta na part ng Himig 11th Edition so what I could do was to hope na magawa ko ang lahat ng kailangan ko gawin at sana mag-hope na makakuha ng isang spot sa top five yung ‘Marupok.’
“So nu’ng tinawag yun as the Best Song at nanalo ng Best Music Video, pag nakita niyo yung video makikita niyo na tumatalon ako from my spot hanggang sa gitna kasi ganu’n ako kasaya.
“It just feels so good sa puso mo na nare-recognize yung effort mo as an interpreter,” ang pahayag ni KZ sa ginanap na Himig 11th Edition Winners virtual presscon kahapon.
Aniya pa, malapit talaga sa puso niya ang “Marupok” kaya tagos sa puso ang pagkaka-interpret niya rito sa ginanap na grand finals last Sunday.
“Sobrang special niya kasi paulit-ulit ko ring sinasabi sa ibang interviews ang ‘Marupok’ is a song na pinakamalapit kung sino ako as an artist, yung kung hindi man siya naisama sa Himig Handog this year, this would still definitely be part of my album, parang ganu’n.
“Para siyang sinadyang isinulat for me. The first time I heard this song it just sounded like it was meant for me. Tapos nalaman ko pa na ia-arrange ng aking musical director.
“The thought in my mind was this was going to be for a competition but we really wanted this song to stand out and be there and be relevant kahit na tapos na yung Himig Handog,” paliwanag pa ni KZ.
Bilang isa sa mga singer na matagal nang nagpe-perform sa annual songwriting competition, “Siguro mas more on I’m competing with my past performances sa Himig, kung may competition man. Kasi hindi kasi din naman ito singing contest.
“So wala na talaga akong pressure. Yung pressure mas nanggagaling siya I have to give this song justice, kailangan maramdaman ng mga judges yung same energy, same puso sa track or more pagdating sa live performance. So mas yun yung inisip ko.
“Sabi ko, ‘Lord just make me remember everything I have to remember. Be my voice and just perform through me.’ Sabi ko if manalo man then Your will be done but I just want to do this right, I just want to perform to the best of my abilities.
“Yung lang yung iniisip ko. This is not my competition. This is Danielle’s competition and I am there to support her,” lahad pa ng Kapamilya singer.