Rey Valera recalls rivalry with George Canseco
The local music industry should be thankful for the fact known among insiders that there was a time when ace songwriter Rey Valera was pitted against the late George Canseco in terms of penning bound-to-be classic love songs. That served as catalyst for the creation of music and lyrics most of us are now familiar with.
For one, that rivalry certainly pushed Rey to come up with a style that somewhat deviated from George’s which at the same time gave him his now-acknowledged identity both as songwriter and singer. “Para maiba ako kay George, the style I adapted is ‘in your face.’ Heto lang ako sa tabi mo. Hindi malalim ang mga words ko,” shared Rey during an early evening chat with the press to promote his upcoming concert with Hajji Alejandro.
Though the words to his songs are categorically far from being shallow, what he’s trying to point out is his conscious effort to use words that can easily be understood and are part of everyday Filipino language. Whereas the forte of the revered composer was grounded on
Balagtasan-type of Tagalog poetry, Rey anchored his lyrical writing to what regular modern Pinoy would utter to someone he is romantically affectionate to.
Asked to name the hit compositions that he thinks fall among his favorites, Rey mentioned Malayo Pa Ang Umaga, Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko and Maging Sino Ka Man. Just by the titles of these three songs alone, one is led to the idea that he indeed embraced such style. It is a style that spawned numerous hits, enough to make him, in his jovial tone, crack joke about colleagues billed alongside him who do not have a catalogue as loaded as his.
Throwing a punchline for his dear friend Hajji, he mused, “Tatlo lang ang hit ni Hajji, yung isa anak niya pa ang nagpasikat.”
Of course, he meant no harm and was just fooling around with someone dear to him and whom he has successfully worked with professionally for a number of times.
Rey and Hajji are featured in the upcoming concert Hurado Na, Kilabot Pa set on Dec. 2, Saturday evening at the Music Museum in San Juan City.
Produced by Tyler Boom Entertainment, the show will also have on board as special guest veteran belter Dulce, a major act who has not been on the same show with Rey for many years. Musical director is Gerry Matias. (For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999)
He likes making jokes for his pal, adding, “Hajji is a true friend because whatever I say behind his back, it doesn’t offend him.”
These days, Rey has become a known judge opposite singing hopefuls on mainstream TV, owing to his exposure on ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime as resident judge. His credibility as music critic and hitmaker provides him public respect that extends even to the younger generation.
Recalling his start-up period as a songwriter, he went back to the day he wrote Mr. DJ while commuting from his hometown province in Bulacan.
“Naisip ko ang idea na yun habang nasa byahe at bago ako bumaba, tapos na ang kanta. Nung first time ko nakita si Sharon
(Cuneta), sinabihan lang ako na gumawa ako ng kanta na madali kantahin para sa kanya.”
He also remembered one night at a bar called, yes, Impyerno that he saw a guy standing up on him as he was singing a Billy Joel song. Years later, he met that same guy who told him he walked out because he was waiting for him to sing his own hit Ako Si Superman.
On his songs being perennial soundtracks to ABS-CBN’s teleseryes, he quipped, “Tumaas ang bahay ko dahil ginagamit sa teleserye ang mga kanta ko.”
As to why he seemed to have slid back from writing new songs, Rey warmly noted, “I want to give chance to other songwriters.”
But wait, he is not done yet as he is bent on writing new songs or should we say, hits.