Gabby Concepcion said the first song that he recorded that
came out as a single (as in 45 rpm vinly discs) was "Burgis," from his 1981
movie with the same title. Now, Gabby has recorded twelve songs for his first
CD, his first album.
"Nagulat na lang ako when Warner approached me. Hindi ko
inisip o hindi ko akalain na mangyayari ito," Gabby said in the presscon PEP
(Philippine Entertainment Portal) attended this afternoon at Redbox Trinoma for
his self-titled album.
Gabby said he wasn't expecting he'd be doing an album when
he came home from the States early this year. "I only came home for my father.
I was expecting to do a movie. I never expected I would do TV, ngayon, mas
lalong hindi ko ine-expect na makakagawa pala ako ng album. Akala ko isang
[song] recording lang."
Gabby said Warner Music Philippines first made him sing some
of the songs he suggested. "'Tapos nung narinig nila, okey naman pala. 'Ayun, go
na. Nag-record na ‘ko ng iba pa."
The album is a collection of revivals, all suggested by
Gabby himself. "They [Warner] also suggested some songs, pero majority of the
songs [in the album] are the songs I really like. Songs that I used to sing.
"Ang hindi ko lang talaga isinadyest yung ‘Burgis.' Maski
ako ‘pag naririnig ko yun, kinikilabutan ako," Gabby jokingly added.
But one song that he really made sure to be included in the
album was "Come What May," a song he used to sing with ex-wife Sharon Cuneta.
"Siyempre, naging part of my life na yung song na yun. Not because naging theme
song namin siya or something. When people ask me kung yun ba ang theme song
namin, ang isinasagot ko, hindi. Nagkataon lang kasi na kinanta namin yun for
our movie and it was one song na nandun ako, na nasa CD niya."
Gabby remembered how boyish his voice was when he sang that
song with Sharon. "Siyempre, nagbibinata pa lang ako nun, kaya ang boses ko..."
He then sang the first line of the song, tightening his voice to sound like a
little boy.
"Pero sa version na ito sa album ko, iniba ng Warner ang
approach. Instead na babae ang mauuna, lalaki muna. And for this song, kinuha
ng Warner ang artist nilang si Nina to sing with me."
The other songs in the album are: "Iisa pa lamang,"
"Nakapagtataka," "When I Met You," "Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga," "Just Once," "Give Me
A Chance," "Kung Kailangan Mo Ako," "Hanggang," "Please Forgive Me,"
"Manila-Awitin Mo...Isasayaw ko," and "Ako Pa Ba?," the lone original song in
the playlist.
"Actually, dalawa [original songs] iyon. Pero itong ‘Ako Pa
Ba?' ang talagang nagustuhan ko. Parang Ogie Alcasid song nga siya, e." But the
song is composed by Emil Pama, Warner Music Philippines' resident composer.
"Come What May," "Give Me A Chance," "Please Forgive Me,"
and "Ako Pa Ba?" all offer the showbiz press present during the presscon that
opportunity to ask Gabby if these songs were meant for his Megastar ex-wife.
"You know what, the album is a collection of love songs.
It's meant for all the people na nagmamahal o may minamahal. Walang particular
person. Para sa lahat ng taong in love."
Gabby hopes the album will be a hit. He wants to follow up
the album with another collection of songs that became popular during the ‘80s,
his time. "Ang sabi ko nga sa Warner, sayang, ang dami pang magagandang songs
from the ‘80s na hindi nire-revive, na hindi talaga alam ng mga kabataan
ngayon. I just like to sing it and introduce these songs to them."
Get showbiz news anytime, anywhere on your mobile! Just key in PEP ON and send to 4627. Available to all Sun, Globe, and Smart subscribers.