Yeng Constantino learns Mandarin for ‘Ikaw’
Pop-rock singer Yeng Constantino took all of six hours to record the Chinese version of her popular song “Ikaw.”
“Ginawa po ang lyrics sa Singapore. Ni-record ko rin doon. My boss po sa Academy of Rock, Chinese descendant po siya, eh. Pinagawa niya ang ‘Ikaw’ in Mandarin,” said the first “Pinoy Dream Academy” grand winner.
Yeng was interviewed at the media huddle for the first ever Fil-Chi star concert dubbed “Nice To Meet You” on Jan. 17, 2018, 8 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena. She will be joined by Chinese artists G.E.M., Della Wu, Chief (Chao Chuan) and Da Zhuang. The concert is produced by Philippine Dragon Media Network (PDMN). Kapamilya actress Kim Chiu is also one of the
performers.
Yeng thinks recording a song in Chinese landed her the offer to perform in the concert.
Singing her song “Ikaw” in Mandarin is no walk in the park. “Mahirap pong aralin ang Mandarin. Ang pronunciation nila ay iba talaga. Kapag nag-iba ang pronunciation ay nag-iiba ang meaning. Konting mali sa pronounciation ay iba na agad ang
meaning so kailangang ime-morize ko talaga. I needed to have a vocal coach,” she said. Yeng has long looked forward to being part of an event as “Nice To Meet You.” “We were hoping before na magkaroon nga ng mga gigs na ganito, na makakanta ako for Chinese communities. Nakikita ko na ngayon ang fruit ng ginawa namin sa Singapore. Nakakatuwa na meron ganitong event,” she said. “Nagulat pa rin ako when I was
chosen to perform in this event. Minsan may hope ka pero hindi mo rin naman ini-expect na may mangyayaring ganito. Nu’ng nangyari siya, parang ‘Huy, nangyari nga.’ Alam mo ‘yon?
“Tayong mga Pilipino, bukod sa nakakapagperform tayo sa Pilipinas (ay) gusto rin nating na nakakapagperform para sa ibang lahi. Opportunity po ito para sa akin.”
Previously, Yeng also performed for a Chinese audience at the China Asean Friendship concert.
“Pumunta po talaga ako sa China pero hindi nila ako pinakanta ng Mandarin song. Tagalog ang kinanta ko. Kasama ko mga Camboadians, mga Taiwanese. Pero dito sa Pilipinas first time lang po na makakapag-perform ako with Chinese artists.”
In “Nice To Meet You” concert, Yeng revealed that she will not collaborate with any of the Chinese artists. “Parang solosolo ang mangyayari. I’m doing five to six songs. Depende sa crowd kung ano ’yung mga kantang yon.”