Ogie Alcasid and Odette Quesada open up about their songwriting course of and music in an intimate press convention forward of their joint present on Feb. 13 on the NUSTAR Conference Middle and Feb. 14-15 on the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Picture: Hannah Mallorca/INQUIRER.internet
Ogie Alcasid and Odette Quesada are two of essentially the most prolific singer-songwriters of our time, however what not many individuals know is that a few of their timeless hits about love had been written after they weren’t in love, and so they had been merely counting on their creativeness.
As their acquainted songs unleash a myriad of feelings on listeners, one might simply see a imaginative and prescient of those two crooners presumably going by way of a heartbreak, or driving excessive within the sweetness of their reciprocated love, however actually, a few of these compositions had been penned of their most “human” state of self-expression.
Quesada mentioned she “was not even in love” when she introduced her finest hits to life — together with “Until I Met You” and “Don’t Know What To Say (Don’t Know What To Do).” However she finds magnificence in on a regular basis love tales as they act like some kind of a immediate on a clean web page.
“Most of my songs, particularly after I was an adolescent writing all these hits, I used to be not even in love,” she mentioned, as she narrated the backstories behind a few of her timeless hits.
“I wrote ‘An extended, Lengthy Time In the past’ — which Kuh Ledesma sang — primarily based on an interview she gave a couple of former love of hers. I used to be touched by the story so I wrote the track and gave it to her. With ‘Until I Met You,’ I simply overheard a bus journey dialog between two kolehiyala women behind me, and one in all them uttered, ‘, I by no means knew what love was till I met this man,’” she continued.
In the meantime, “Don’t Know What To Do (Don’t Know What To Do)” by the late Ric Segreto was one other track that Quesada composed after listening to an interview of Merce Henares with “Bluer Than Blue” Michael Johnson.
“It was primarily based on an interview with Merce Henares on ‘Good Morning Manila.’ She was interviewing Michael Johnson who’s the singer of ‘Bluer Than Blue.’ When requested, ‘How would you finest describe your self?’ He mentioned, ‘I’m a hopeless romantic.’ That line actually [made an impression on me]. I turned off the TV and began writing,” she mentioned.
“So, little prompts. Kung hihintayin ko ‘yung love baka hanggang ngayon hindi pa nag-uumpisa profession ko (If I’d watch for love, my profession may simply take off now),” she added which made everybody within the room giggle.
Ogie Alcasid (fourth from left) and Odette Quesada (sixth from left) whereas rehearsing for his or her present. Picture: Fb/Ogie Alcasid
Do they write higher songs when they’re glad, or when they’re brokenhearted?
“We all the time say songwriting is self-expression. It’s telling your story, proper? Whenever you’re telling your individual story — regardless if you happen to’re glad or damaged or needing somebody — you’re simply telling your story. Is it laborious? In fact, it’s laborious,” Alcasid informed reporters at an intimate press convention in Quezon Metropolis.
The singer created a string of well-loved songs all through his profession which gave delivery to many renditions from common singers, amongst them, “Hanggang Ngayon,” “Nandito Ako,” “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang,” and “Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala,” to call a number of. These songs had been so common that they grew to become the theme track of many {couples} and are a staple in lots of videoke periods.
“As a songwriter, I really feel prefer it’s a launch. You set it out into the world after which, it’s accomplished. What’s laborious is when it’s a must to invent a narrative. You’ll be able to’t really feel something. Or what if a sure somebody feels what you meant? That’s the laborious half,” mentioned Alcasid.
Ogie Alcasid and Odette Quesada (centered) throughout an intimate press convention. Picture: Fb/Ogie Alcasid
On love, longevity
Quesada, who works as an HR skilled within the US, considers like to be long-lasting. Even when it ends. “Love continues even if you happen to’re damaged up with anyone. It is best to be capable to discover a new love.”
“It’s additionally about loving one’s self which is the very best since you don’t must depend on anybody,” she continued.
Alcasid — who mentioned love “makes the world go spherical” — chimed in with admiration on his face saying, “Ang galing niya talagang sumagot no (She’s actually good at answering questions, proper)?”
The singer-songwriter and “It’s Showtime” host, nonetheless, assumed knowledgeable stance when requested about the important thing to having an enduring profession in music. Sooner or later, he even informed Quesada that “OPM is doing very well” whereas praising the skills of Adie and JK Labajo.
“We’re blessed that we’re nonetheless right here and we’re doing what we’re doing. To remain within the lengthy enterprise, there’s simply no laborious or quick guidelines for that,” he mentioned. “Take pleasure in your self and benefit from the journey. It’s going to be a tough highway and plenty of occasions if you suppose that you just simply wish to hand over, simply carry on doing it. Laban nang laban. Gawa nang gawa (Carry on combating. Carry on creating).”
Through the chat, Quesada mentioned it’s “distinctive” seeing her and Alcasid — as singer-songwriters — collaborating on a present nevertheless it wouldn’t be attainable with out the latter’s spouse, Regine Velasquez.
“I went to look at ‘Iconic,’ the live performance of Regine Velasquez and Sharon Cuneta, in California, and Regine got here as much as me,” she recalled. “She mentioned, ‘, I would like you and Ogie to do a live performance collectively. I have already got the right title for it: Q&A.’ I form of light away for 20 years and on my fiftieth birthday, I mentioned I wished to do that once more.”