On November 15, singer Rey Valera remarked that he feels flattered by young people still listening to his songs.
During the media event for their upcoming music concert ‘XXceptional: The Hitmakers 20th Anniversary,’ which LionhearTV covered, Valera appreciated how young generations still know of his songs.
“Pero I think, parang ano ‘yun, nafla-flatter ako, na parang kahit na bata alam nila ‘yung kanta. Minsan nga nasa Tiktok, ginagawang katawa-tawa.”
He also cited his views about younger singers making covers of his songs.
“Mayroong kantang nangyaring ganon na ang ginawa noong nag-cover ay iniba ‘yung phrasing at iniba ‘yung areglo. Ngayon, ako naman, pakakantahin ko ‘yung audience, magugulat ako, aba iba na ‘yung phrasing. So, depende ‘yun kung sino ‘yung– kasi bumababa ako sa audience, pinapakanta ko, doon ko nage-gauge ‘yung anong sikat ngayon. Minsan doon sa phrasing nila, doon ko nare-realize, ah may bagong version.”
He maintained that he doesn’t feel threatened because their versions of his songs breathe new life into his music.
“Hindi ako nate-threaten o ano, mas natutuwa ako dahil ‘yung kanta is nagkakaroon ng sarili buhay, gumagawa siya ng sariling paraan para maka-reach out sa bagong audience. Nakakatuwa ‘yun. ‘Yung kanta, gumagawa siya ng paraan para mabuhay at marinig pa siya.”
As for catering to younger audiences as a singer, Valera said that his generation focuses on the fans who grew up with their music.
“Ma-swerte naman ako na ‘yung mga kanta ko ay nagamit sa telenovela, ‘yung mga nag-coco-cover noong mga bata, na-aano ng mga new generation, kaya masasabi ko, mayroon ding mga nakakakilala sa aking mga medyo bata-bata.
“Mas ang nakaka-appreciate sa amin eh ‘yung hanggang ngayon sinundan kami simula’t simula. Magkakasabay kaming lumaki siyempre, tumanda, alam nila kung saan kami nanggaling, alam nila ‘yung pag-hihirap na inabot namin, kung paano kami nagsimula pare-pareho.”
As for their music event, Filipino singers Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison, Rey Valera, and Nonoy Zuñiga are celebrating their 20th year of music and friendship through the “XXceptional: The Hitmakers 20th anniversary.”
“XXceptional: The Hitmakers 20th anniversary” at the Theater at Solaire happens on December 1 at 8 PM with Gerry Matias as their musical director and Concert Queen Pops Fernandez and Flor Santos, mom of actor-singer LA Santos, under DreamWings Entertainment, as concert producers.