The Circus and Minstrels shows and the hit songs

A look at the song line-up of the Circus New Minstrels reunion show held during last Valentine’s Day weekend at the Kia Theater reveals again the massive power of the hit song. Just think, these guys have been doing this show, well, with some chang-

es here and there, for over a decade now under an assortment of titles. Best of Our Love, 70s Today, Circus, New Minstrels Greatest Hits Reunion,

Reunited in Love, etc. But the people — no matter where they do it, whether with Joey Albert in the past or Celeste Legaspi last year and for the latest edition Ali Sotto — continue to come year after year and always end up having a good time. And that holds true whether the show is held in the cozy Music Museum or in the grand hall of the PICC or in other show places in between.

Of course, most of them are of a certain age. They are not the type who packed the James Reid, Nadine Lustre show at the Big Dome last Saturday. They are the ones who recall those glory times for the Circus Band and the New Minstrels during the ’70s era when they violated curfews to dance at Rino’s or Wells Fargo. But they bring along younger converts, even if only to push their wheelchairs or help them down the stairs, who also enjoy what happens on stage and make it a point to come back for more.

This is because everybody loves the hit songs and these shows offer a lot. The audience get to hear and sing and dance along to the music of the ’80s, ’70s and of nearly 50 years ago in the concert. Those are the songs they listened to when they were growing up. The ones that they danced to, fell in love with and now listen to fondly with their personal music videos playing in their heads, filled with sad, bitter or hopefully predominantly happy memories.

It was a sumptuous feast for any music lover. Celebration, Bridges, Somewhere In Time, Yesterday I Heard The Rain, My Funny Valentine, Wallflower, All Of My Love, You’ve Made Me So Very Happy, I Just Don’t Wanna Be Lonely, Never Never Never, Of All The Things, Hello, Betcha By Golly Wow; the

songs of the Association, Never My

Love, Cherish and Windy; the songs of

Natalie Cole, Someone That I Used To Love, Inseparable, Miss You Like Crazy, Mr. Melody, This Will Be An Everlast - ing Love; the songs of Earth Wind and

Fire, September, Fantasy, etc.

And most of all, they get to listen to the classic Filipino pop songs, which they do, not just with sweet nostalgia but with a huge sense of pride. Why not? Filipinos created those songs. They are beautiful and as the years have shown, they are now also timeless. You, Ngayon at Kailanman, Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan, I Don’t Love You Anymore, Panakip-butas, May Minamahal, Tagaraw, Saan Ako Nagkamali, Umagang Kay Ganda, Nothing I Want More, Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika and others. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the members of the New Minstrels and the Circus Band and whoever they have as guests, do an excellent job. It is always good to hear the hit songs of Basil Valdez. Jacqui Magno’s purring tones, Ding Mercado’s strong low notes, the playful Pat Castillo and Tillie Moreno with her eternally famous Umagang Kay Ganda with Ray-An and Saan Ako Nagkamali. And it was a treat to see Ali Sotto, away from her radio show, looking sexy and voluptuous and singing again.

Also, do you know of any young diva who can equal those high curly notes done to perfection by Louie Reyes? Or of Eugene Villaluz’s powerful baritone? I have a feeling that Bruno Mars saw Ray-An Fuentes performing somewhere and imitated that swagger. Hajji Alejandro looks great and is still in his Kilabot Ng Kolehiyala form. The fact that he performs with such a high regard for his audience and so much love for his art is almost palpable. You could feel it connecting with the crowd. And best of all, he has lots of hit songs to sing.

I read somewhere that if you want to be immortal, you should write a song. Make that a hit song or better yet, plenty of hit songs. You can also say, the same goes to those who sing those hit songs. They are not only immortals. They are forever young.

See you guys again, next year.