ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo on Tuesday, May 17, pointed out the difference between those who can and cannot sing.
“Kailangan may boses talaga, hindi yung feeling singer, hahaha!” he said.
Manalo stressed that in order to be an effective singer, talent must come first before hard work.
“Importante…nagsisimula lagi sa, ‘Teka, gusto kong kumanta.’ Teka, nakakakanta ka ba talaga? Or gusto kong sumulat ng kanta, nakakasulat ka ba naturally? Kailangan mayroon munang natural talent and then i-develop mo siya.
“So importante for a singer na natural singer ka talaga muna. Mayroon ka talagang boses. And then after noon, training and development, and dedication talaga to hone your craft.”
On “feeling singers,” the Kapamilya executive still respects those artists. However, he does not consider them singers but “entertainers.”
“Gusto ko rin namang bigyan ng respect— yun nga, isa sa mga sinasabi nila, hindi naman singers. Sa totoo lang hindi naman talaga singers sila. Mas entertainers.”
Nevertheless, the “entertainers” have far more hits than those who can actually sing. Manalo believes that audiences loved their ability to entertain rather than their singing capability.
“So parang, iyon nga, ako, kumbaga, if it’s they’re brand of entertainment na hindi sila singer pero kumakanta to entertain, and kino-consume ng audience nila. Hindi ko sila sasabihin na singer sila. Kumbaga, hindi kasi sila singer eh.
“Pero may audience sila. So kumbaga, ah! Entertainers. Kumbaga may ginagawa sila to entertain, may audience sila. So okay naman iyon,” he explained.
Filipinos, in general, are better singers than foreigners, he said. Manalo stressed that the Philippines “bested” other countries in terms of emotions.
“Ano tayo, mas may feelings. Mas emotional. Siguro nanggagaling sa’ting mga Pinoy, ang sesenti natin.”
The creative director added, “Yung hugot is distinctly ours, yung term na hugot. Kasi ano tayo, yung mundo naka-move on na sa mga ballads, and love songs. Pero ang Pinoy talagang mahilig pa rin sa mga senti and love songs. Kaya nga tayo mas magagaling na singers dahil bukod sa natural talent, mayroon tayong innate feelings and souls na sasabihin ko talaga na wala sa ibang lahi.”
But a singer and a song must go hand-in-hand to create a hit song, he said.
“Talagang mayroon kasing tinatawag na perfect match sa singers tsaka sa songs. So minsan, magandang-maganda ang song, magaling yung singer, pero hindi lang talaga nagma-match, yung walang chemistry yung boses sa material.
“Kaya ang ginagawa minsan ng mga songwriters, pinapa-try nilang ipa-record sa iba. At hindi naman nagkakamali. Kasi nagkakaroon talaga ng ano eh, mas nakikilala.”
Manalo, in the meantime, will have an upcoming concert on October 15 at the Resorts World Manila along with an album. He will also have a musical series titled Lyric and Beat, all part of his 20th-year celebration in the music industry.
