"WE GOT THE LOVE": A REVIEW OF THE 'REUNION'

              Smooth, soulful and full of passion…

            These must be the reasons behind the crowd-drawing power of The Circus Band and the New Minstrels. And I have to agree, based on the throngs of people who braved the notorious traffic in the metro to watch their pre-Valentine/ reunion concert on 13 February 2014 at the PICC Plenary Hall.  

            It was definitely a 3-hour nostalgic event celebrating the boisterous seventies. The artists were undoubtedly the reason behind the crowd’s excitement. This reunion concert of the Circus Band (Hajji Alejandro, Pat Castillo, Jacqui Magno, Tillie Moreno, and Basil Valdez,) and the New Minstrels (Joey Albert, Chad Borja, Ray-An Fuentes, Ding Mercado, Louie Reyes, and Eugene Villaluz) can be considered a dream come true for the audience, especially for those who missed their “Greatest Hits Reunion” concert in September 2013.

            Not surprisingly, the artists kept the people laughing the whole night as they made fun of themselves and their age. Of course, the mostly-mature” crowd (the 40-70 year olds) laughed out loud as they giddily relate to the artists’ balding hair, menopause, and hot flashes. As senior artists frequently say, they definitely took their professional and personal lives to a higher level---- higher cholesterol, higher uric acid, and higher blood sugar. Yet despite their wrinkles, flabs, and all, they all kept their swagger, humor, and passion to share their “long-missed” melodies with an appreciative audience.   

 

Promo Poster taken from concertsinmanila.com

            Aside from the artists, their songs were indeed the highlight of the show. It was the OPM hits of the 70s that made the crowd reminisce the innocence of their chirpy youth.  Hajji Alejandro’s “Panakip Butas” kept the men smiling as they sing along. Joey Albert’s emotional rendition of “Tell Me” made the women sentimental as they reflect on their past broken hearts. Ding Mercado’s “See You There” felt unfamiliar but it lifted everyone’s spirits with its sweet and comforting tune. Basil Valdez’ signature songs “Ngayon at Kailanman” satisfied the people’s expectations, while his “Gulong ng Palad” made the oldies recall the first telenovela on Philippine television.

            What gave me the shivers though was hearing Tillie Moreno and Ray-Ann Fuente’s famous duet “Umagang Kay Ganda.” This was truly a popular yet meaningful song that I still get to hear on TV and on the radio, especially when feeling that Pinoy reflective mood. But it was only the first time that I got to listen to the artists singing the song. And it was even more special realizing that it would take years for the song to be sung live again.     

            The concert also paid tribute to the popular Motown Sound and the roaring divas of the past decades. The men honored “Stevie Wonder” with a medley of his greatest hits. The ladies kept the audience dancing with their rendition of songs by Donna Summer, Barbara Streisand, Gloria Gaynor, Diana Ross, and Abba.     

            The show undoubtedly delivered what was expected of it--- vocal harmony, funny antics, light entertainment, and reflections of the good old days. I was impressed by the artists’ rendition of the songs they were known for, still delivered effortlessly and with more passion and conviction, which ultimately point to their professional maturity and life experiences.

            Although during the show, my only reservation was the realization that the Circus Band and the New Minstrels were show bands known for their renditions of America’s popular tunes of their era. So it was no surprise that each band rendered US top 40 hits of the 70s during the concert. No wonder the audience merely knew the signature songs of the artists as individuals or duets, and not so much the original songs they performed as a group. This is quite a pity considering that they all blend together with a heavenly harmony and a perfect pitch that must be highlighted with original compositions for each band.

            Overall, the concert however proved that these celebrated Filipino artists from the Circus Band and the New Minstrels not only “got the love” but they still “got the groove.”