Out of The Voice Kids Phl
There is much talk about The Voice Kids these days. Blame that on Esang de Torres’ triumphant theater debut as Little Cosette in the current Manila run of the great musical Les Miserables. This development has certainly opened new doors for Filipino child performers in theater productions abroad. So you can bet that there would be lots more parents and kids ready to try their luck in the talent show that will enter its third season soon.
What I find interesting here is that Esang was not the winner of Season 2. She came in third. I am sure that her coach Lea Salonga had a hand in getting Esang ready for this big break. So, less than a year after she first sang in The Voice, this girl with no theater experience at all, got into Les Miz and is doing very well in her role. I guess this only goes to show that winning is not all there is to these contests. It is actually the TV exposure, plus the confidence gained that goes a long way towards boosting up one’s career.
Coincidentally, also doing very well these days is The Voice Kids Season 1’s third placer, Juan Karlos Labajo. I came across this very sweet sad voice singing Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam a few days ago and I found out that it was Juan Karlos or JK as he is called by his fans. When I went to check further on the song, I saw the video on frequent rotation on MYX and JK’s first album, titled just plain JK, is in the charts as a consistent big seller. This boy has got it made.
I saw JK’s blind audition in The
Voice Kids over a year ago and I never forgot it. The boy, all of 12 years old, was quite charming as he dared to flirt with Lea. That move did not get him into Lea’s camp. It was rocker coach Bamboo who took him in. But that incident already made clear that the cheeky JK could have a bright future in show business. And that is what is happening now.
I am sure that it also helps that JK has a sad backstory to tell. Pinoys love it when hard luck kids make good on TV. He was orphaned at a young age and had to rely on the kindness of friends and relatives. The song Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam is dedicated to his late mother. He may not look it, being an attractive mestizo, but this boy was also bullied in school and once collected junk for a living. His fortunes have now changed.
JK includes Para Sa Yo, This Gravity, This Song Is For You, Summer Time Love, Maybe Love and Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam. Bonus cuts are a band version of Para Sa Yo and an acoustic version of Gravity. His style is not yet fully developed. Must be why there is no consistency in the contents of the CD. There are also hints that his voice is still in search of its right placement
but his earnest delivery of the songs more than makes up for those.
I do not know how JK fares as an actor. But given his looks and sad childhood, acting should be a most natural transition for him. I hope this happens soon. Watch out girls, new heartthrob emerging now.
JK’s single Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam is the most-watched video of the week as per the latest Pinoy MYX countdown. The rest of the Top 20 songs are Kalsada by Sam Concepcion; Randomantic by James Reid; Sana Mali by Moonstar 88;
O Pag-ibig by Ylona Garcia and Bailey May; Langit Na Rin by JC De Vera;
Liwanag by Aicelle Santos; Mananatili by Janella Salvador and Marlo Mortel;
Exploration No. 5 by Reese Lansangan; Bolang Kristal by Abra featuring KZ Tandingan. Ferris Wheel by Yeng Constantino; Gusto Kita by Bailey; Heart Of Glass by Jonalyn Viray; Heart Of Gold by the Perkins Twins; Half A Million by Karylle; Sa Aking Pagpikit by Midnight Meetings; Sana’y Tumibok Muli by Klarisse De Guzman; Nyebe by Kaye Cal; Two Four by Gracenote; and Prom by The Juans.
For a listen as to how Esang and the other finalists fared in Season 2, check out The Album by The Voice Kids Season 2. Included are Esang’s Salamat, Salamat Musika and the foretaste of her theater debut Somewhere from West Side Story. There are also Itanong Mo Sa Mga Bata and Magkaisa by Reynan Dal-Anay, who placed second; You’ll Never Walk Alone and Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin by first place winner Elha Nympha; If I Were A Boy and Next In Line by Sassa Dagdag; Got To
Believe In Magic and Hero by Kyle Echarri; and Flashlight and Saan Darating Ang Umaga by Zephanie Dimaranan.