Martin Nievera welcomes new voices to sing his songs
Martin on his hits being reinterpreted by other singers: ‘It’s an honor and the whole purpose of my anniversary (celebration) thing (in ASAP Natin ‘To) was to show everyone that my songs will be timeless for as long as people are singing (them). So, I welcome it and I encourage people to do it.’
Time after time, Martin Nievera’s gift of gab and gift of performing are on point. He always brings his A-game. A recent testament was Martin Nievera Live Again! at The Theatre at Solaire. Sharing his musical talent, Martin agreed to mount the one-night concert because of a good cause. That was to support the Gift of Life Program of the Rotary Club of Makati West, which funds the heart operations of children with congenital heart disease, according to the information given to the press.
“It’s a double meaning, Martin’s live again or the theater is open for live shows again, but because of my live show, we’re able to give life or these kids can live again,” said Martin in a group interview during the event called Solaire Donation Turnover to Rotary Club of Makati West Give of Life Program. Gracing it were Bloomberry Resorts Corp. and Solaire Resort president and COO Thomas Arasi, Rotary Club of Makati West president for Rotary Year 2021 to 2022 Franco del Rosario and Rotary Club of Makati West Gift of Life Program chairman Gerry Limcaoco.
For his contribution and support for the cause, Martin was awarded a plaque of recognition.
“The people who paid for this show are the ones with the halos,” added Martin, who, as one may put it, is an instrument, along with other collaborators, to make any fund-raiser happen.
“After 40 years in the business, people asked me, ‘Why did you do a show in that restaurant?’ ‘It’s a fund-raiser,’ (I said). I did one in Vegas,” shared he. “I’ve been in this business for 40 years, I said. ‘I think I can pick and choose my shows, big, small, with pay, no pay, (with) karaoke, minus one, band, orchestra, Kumu, whatever.’ Now, there’s no more rules. I think after 40 years, I have nothing to prove, nothing to lose.” From a fan’s point of view, it’s nice to see artists use their gifts for endeavors that benefit certain sectors of society.
Although he is an Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon, Martin continues to nurture his music by writing tunes.
“I’ve been writing so many songs during the pandemic,” said he. “Nobody wants to hear (them). But they want to hear the old stuff. Even when I do shows, (they tell me) ‘I hope you’ll sing… Are you gonna sing…?’ What I have to embrace now in this 40th year of my career is, that’s what my niche is, that’s what I have to keep doing.”
Martin, who appreciates how his songs are still well-loved by fans, wants to create new ditties and sounds. This is a way for him to keep his passion for music and performance. Speaking of the latter, he has to find a venue to sing, so his voice will be in good shape.
“That’s why I went on Facebook live and Kumu because my voice was not working for two years. I wasn’t singing. We weren’t performing… If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. It’s a muscle,” said he, whose Sunday variety show ASAP Natin ‘To recently celebrated his 40th anniversary in showbiz.
“That was so nice,” said Martin. “It was nostalgic, it’s like an out-of-body experience, as if I was hovering above the heavens, watching my tribute, but I was actually in it. It’s like I had a dream in heaven and that was what I saw, all my fellow colleagues, the Kapamilya who I love and adore, taking the time to learn and relearn my songs, the kids, the young kids learning Pain and all these hits of mine from 1980 plus. It was so touching and it was so moving… To this day, I’m so grateful to all of them.”
How did the concept for the anniversary segment come about?
Well, Martin was inquired regarding it, but said, “I want mine to be different. I don’t want it to be about me,” recalled he. “(They asked) ‘Paano mo i-ce-celebrate yung 40 years mo na hindi tungkol sa’yo.’ If I’m gonna do anything, let me start a song and symbolically hand the torch over to the new singer. I’ll sing it the way how I recorded it.”
From there, the singer would make his or her own interpretation of a Martin song. And that happened, particularly in the Kahit Isang Saglit segment, complemented with all other performances and a surprise from Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid.
Martin, the Concert King and Solaire brand ambassador, could feel the love and the sense of family artists share in ASAP. “For me, loyalty is everything,” said he. “Somewhere, somewhere down the road, it’s gonna pay off. It’s gonna teach some younger artists that fame and fortune is temporary, loyalty is forever.”
Asked about his take on his songs like Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin being reinterpreted by other artists, Martin said, “It’s an honor and the whole purpose of my anniversary thing was to show everyone that my life will be infinite, my songs will be timeless for as long as people are singing (them). So, I welcome it and I encourage people to do it and obviously there’s a lot of other singers much better than I am.” He agreed that it’s a way “to immortalize my music, my niche, my journey.”
With that, Martin’s musical talent will be enjoyed by the new and future generations.