Christian Bautista's new album will introduce Jose Mari Chan's hits to a new generation

"I'm just a tool to sing his songs," says Christian Bautista, who has brought some of Jose Mari Chan's greatest hits to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Author: Melba R. Llanera

With the legendary success of Jose Mari Chan, kahit sinong singer ay kakabahan na i-revive ang mga kantang napasikat niya. Constantly, Please Be Careful With My Heart, Beautiful Girl, ilan lamang ito sa mga kantang naging paborito at naging bahagi ng buhay ng mga music lovers

Busy finishing his new album containing all the hits of the respected and well-known singer/composer, Christian Baustista admitted to us that he feels the pressure.

"Presure talaga sa akin, di lang hit, diamond, platinum, lahat na yata ng awards, naibigay na sa kanya. Nung nag-usap nga kami ni Mr. Jose Mari Chan, 'It's really an honor, thank you. I have to admit, it's a big pressure coz this is big, pero I'm grateful that you allowed me.'Ang sabi naman niya sa akin, 'This is good. I'm also proud that you're gonna do my songs.'

"This is also one way na naisye-share ko rin ang songs niya sa generation natin, I'm just only a tool to sing his songs."

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF Jose Mari Chan. With Universal records as his mother recording company, matagal na palang balak nitong i-revive ang mga kanta ng mahusay na singer pero hindi lang nila alam kung paano nila sisimulan at kung sino ang kakanta.

"Universal thought of reviving Jose Mari Chan songs pero di nila maisip kung paano. Gagawin ba nilang parang banda lahat, gawing pop lahat? Tapos naisip nila, why not Christian? Naisip nila in a way yung Beautiful Girl hit sa Indonesia, pati yung Please Be Careful With My Heart, sumunod ako sa yapak ni Jose Mari Chan who also sing songs in Indonesia. Saka sumikat din naman ang mga kanta ko nang kaunti in Malaysia, Thailand at Singapore. Naisip nila medyo may similarity nang kaunti. Of course di ko abot yung mga diamond niya pero again it fell into places. Hopefully din sa mga Indonesians and other Malay countries, ma-share ko uli ang mga kanta niya."

Sa music video ng Tell Me Your Name, si Paula Taylor ang ka-partner ni Christian. Special request ng singer na makapareha ang magandang VJ sa music video at di niya itinago na may crush siya dito.

"Nung nagpa-planning ang Universal kung sino ang magiging kasunod na leading lady ko, dapat talaga iba ang dating coz it's my first music video under Universal, so when we found out that Paula Taylor is in town, we immediately contacted her and apparently she just finished her movie with Mr. Vic Sotto and she's available. Sabi nga niya sa akin, two weeks or a month ago, nanonood daw sila ng manager niya ng TV then napanood niya ako sa MYX, 'Who is that guy? Maybe we can do a video together.' Tapos tumawag nga ang Universal sa kanila, parang wow! It all fit. Everything just fell into places.

"Sino ba naman ang hindi magkaka-crush sa kanya? She's really super beautiful. After I worked with her, napatunayan ko na ang bait-bait niya, very down to earth, madaling katrabaho, walang diva factor."

DUETS. Sa nasabing album ay balitang kasama rin ang kantang I Have Fallen In Love With The Same Woman Three Times, ang kanta ni Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino sa asawang si ex-President Cory Aquino.

"Kasama rin siya. Nagpapasaslamat nga ako kay Mr. Jose Mari Chan na in-allow niya ako to sing that song. It's gonna be part of the album."

May mga ka-duet din si Chrsitian sa album na ginagawa. Ilan sa mga ito ay sila Regine, Sarah Geronimo at iba pa.

"Mayroon akong apat na ka-duet: si Jose Mari Chan in Heart's Journey; Ms. Lani Misalucha, Here and Now--I'm so thankful to her kasi nag-record pa siya sa Las Vegas for this song; Sarah Geronimo--bagay na bagay--Please Be Careful With My Heart; and Ms. Regine Velasquez, My Girl, My Woman, My Friend. I'm so thankful and grateful for this project."

Source: Philippine Entertainment Portal