Pops Fernandez at Martin Nievera
PINATUNAYAN ng award-winning singer-actress na si Pops Fernandez na karapat-dapat pa rin siyang tawaging Original Concert Queen.
In fairness, laban kung laban pa rin si Pipay sa kanyang bonggang-bonggang production numbers, lalo na sa kanyang mga sing-and-dance moments.
Inamin ni Pops na hindi raw siya makapaniwala na mapupuno niya ang The Theater At Solaire para sa kanyang 40th plus anniversary concert na “Always Loved”. Napanood namin ang show sa first night nito, February 9.
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“There was a time I thought tapos na ako in doing concerts. It took me a long time, but I realized I should celebrate my 40-plus years somehow.
“Not for me, but for the people, for the fans, for my audience. It was my way of thanking them,” aniya sa harap ng audience.
Ilan sa mga kinanta at sinayaw niya on stage ay mga kanta nina Paula Abdul, Cyndi Lauper at Taylor Swift.
Nag-duet din sila ng kapwa OPM icon na si Joey Albert, para sa 1984 hit classic song na “Points of View”. Bukod diyan, tinawag din ni Pops si Erik Santos sa stage para kantahin nila ang videoke favorite ba “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang.”
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Hataw kung hataw naman sila ni Randy Santiago sa kanilang sing-and-dance medley with “Sunglasses at Night,” “Glamorous Life,” “Let’s Go Baby, Let’s Go Crazy, Come On,” “Break Out” at “Everybody Have Fun Tonight”.
At siyempre, talagang tinilian at pinalakpakan ng audience ang production number nila ng kanyang ex-husband at Concert King na si Martin Nievera.
Binalikan ng ex-couple ang kanilang past sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga napiling kanta na swak na swak sa bawat episode ng kanilang married life hanggang sa maghiwalay na nga sila.
Kabilang na riyan ang “Lately,” “Break It To Me Gently,” “You Have No Right (To Ask Me How I Feel),” at “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again.”
Sabi ni Martin kay Pops, “I had to leave you for you to become the woman that you are today – fierce, survivor, the Concert Queen.”
Pagpapakilala pa ni Martin kay Pops, “She could have been the Taylor Swift of the 80s. The woman who set the path for many singers of today. The Concert Queen!”
Ilan sa mga celebrities na naki-celebrate sa anniversary concert ni Pops ay ang mga kaibigan niyang sina Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vina Morales at Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson.
Sa isang bahagi ng show, inamin ni Pops na dumating din siya sa punto ng kanyang buhay na magpahinga muna sa pagpe-perform at mag-produce na lang ng concerts para sa ibang artists.
“But I realized, I could do concerts again. When I collaborated with other artists in the US, I got to miss performing live onstage. Once you’re back onstage and you get to sing live again, that was really where I want to be.
“I got excited again. I decided I still want to work some more. While I still can. While I still have the energy. Why not?” aniya pa kasunod ng pagkanta ng kanyang latest Taglish single na “Poppin’.”
Sabi pa ni Pipay, “Who would have thought that I will still be in the business more than 40 years? I am very grateful to everything that happened in my life and my career.
“I will do solo concerts again because that has been my trademark,” dugtong pa niya.