A trip down memory lane with ‘80s and ‘90s hitmakers

MANILA, Philippines — What could make time-travel possible and let you be transported to the joyful days of your youth? It’s when you watch your favorite musicians from the past sing their wildest hits in one arena? It’s nostalgia and a trip down memory lane.

The Theatre at Solaire on Thursday became some sort of time machine when ‘80s and ‘90s Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists such as MYMP, Lloyd Umali, Neocolours, Geneva Cruz, Wency Cornejo and Rivermaya performed their greatest hits for a solid three hours and a half, in a concert dubbed “All the Hits: Just The Way You Want It,” produced by Ticket1.

In an era where there was no Spotify, no YouTube or definitely AI yet, playlists were created on cassette recorders. It was in this era too that some of the most heartfelt songs about love, unrequited love, heartbreak, misery, dreams and life goals were written by underrated but genus singer-songwriters like Neocolours, Umali, Cornejo and Rivermaya that contributed to the growth of Original Pilipino Music.

The concert featured the best of OPM music that night. But first, a raffle was held for the audience and plane tickets from dream destinations in Asia were given to lucky winners.

After the raffle, MYMP opened the show, with their hits Especially for You and A Little Bit. The band, which became popular in the early 2000s, was formed by Juris and Chin Alcantara. Alcantara maintained the band when Juris left and went solo.

Today, two young women with soaring voices replaced Juris and continued to do shows around the country.

MYMP then sang a new composition titled Di Mo Lang Alam. It also rendered their most-streamed music, according to Alcantara, the heartwarming Tell Me Where It Hurts, followed by a cover song Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us.

The next performer was crooner Lloyd Umali, who popularized the hit song Bakit Kung Sino Pa? in the ‘90s.

Umali, now in his 50s and few pounds heavier, sang a medley of James Ingram songs, starting with the ‘80s hit Just Once and There’s No Easy Way to Break Somebody’s Heart. Known as a biritero, Umali navigated through the highs and lows of the songs, his voice not as stellar as before, but still fine. He acknowledged his age as a factor in slowing down. Right after singing, he immediately asked for water and was visibly panting.

For his last song, he sang his hit Bakit Kung Sino Pa, and dedicated it to the broken-hearted. He said many people can still relate to this song because of its universal theme.

“Bakit kung sino pa ang syang marunong magmahal ay syang madalas maiwan ng hindi alam ang dahilan,” the song’s chorus says.

He spoke a bit to the audience and recalled that he wrote the song when he was just 21 years old.

“Para sa mga sawi sa pag-ibig, yung mga pinaglaruan lang, at ginawang parang jackstone,” Umali joked to the audience, before crooning the song.

One of the most awaited performers that night was the ‘80s band Neocolours.

Vocalist Ito Rapadas and Jimmy Antiporda are two of the original members of the group, who are still holding concerts up to this time.

Rapadas sang Kasalanan Ko ba, and after that talked briefly about the ‘80s when there was no Spotify, no YouTube and everyone was recording their playlist through a cassette recorder or recording and writing their songs through a cassette. It was this time, in 1989, when they wrote and launched their huge hit Maybe. It was their second song for the night, when everyone sang along through the lyrics.

Neocolours’ songs are some of the most romantic and profoundly-written ballads that until now resonate to the younger generation. These are “Mapanakit” songs, aptly termed by my entertainment editor Nathalie Tomada.

Then Rapadas sang a ballad that they composed for Ogie Alcasid called Sa Kanya. The crowd sang along with the Neocolours.

Unknown to many, Neocolours also composed songs for various artists during the ‘80s and ‘90s. Antiporda wrote songs for the late rapper Francis M. During the concert, Antiporda did a cover of Cold Summer Nights and the patriotic Mga Kababayan Ko, complete with rapping.

For their last song, they sang the hugely inspirational “moving on” song Tuloy Pa Rin, in which the crowd got up to their feet and joined in a sing-along.

Antiporda also wrote for Geneva Cruz, her first solo song after Smokey Mountain, the environmental song, Anak ng Pasig.

He then called out the next performer Geneva Cruz, who performed the song. Clad in a short red tutu, and sexy top, Geneva sang the song with gusto and impressed the audience when she belted the song lying down the stage.

Geneva also sang her very first hit the yearning Kailan, when she was still part of Smokey Mountain in 1990.

“I was only 12 years old when I sang this song and I didn’t know about love, then I met Paco Arespacochaga and I have Heaven, and Paco and I are still friends,” Geneva said.

Then she changed costumes and sang a medley of Andrew E.’s Humanap ka ng Panget and Hataw Na, displaying her snappy dancing skills.

She then introduced the next performer, her good friend Wency Cornejo of After Image band in the mid-‘90s. Cornejo probably had the most strongest vocal in the concert.

Cornejo is a ‘90s musical singer-songwriter behind the hits Hanggang Kailan, Habang May Buhay and Next in Line.

Cornejo, the son of popular broadcaster Mel Tiangco, shared a little bit of his songwriting skills. When he was 19, he composed his original song Next In Line, which talks about creating your own destiny. He shared to the audience that when he earned his first million, he gave it to his mom. Later, he regretted doing it because he realized his mom is so rich.

He also joked about how he is not the oldest performer during the concert, citing the members of Neocolours.

Cornejo thanked the audience for supporting OPM.

“Nabubuhay ang musika natin dahil sa inyo,” Cornejo told the crowd.

Truly impressive was Cornejo’s well-preserved voice, and his mellifluous voice floated in the air when he sang Hanggang Kailan and Mangarap Ka.

Then he performed the inspirational Next in Line. He shared a little bit of information about how his life is now. He stayed for a while in Italy to take up a culinary course on pizza making and now, he’s proud to say that he’s a chef and will open a pizzeria soon. He told the audience that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.

The last performer at the concert was the iconic rock band Rivermaya. On vocals/drums was Mark Escueta and on bass was Nathan Azarcon. They first performed the intro song Umaaraw, Umuulan.

Escueta, who did the vocals, told the crowd, “Sana hindi kayo maka-relate sa song na ito. Tungkol ito sa mga sawi sa pag-ibig, para sa mga sawi na ginamit lang. Eto yung nakita mo sa FB na may iba na kasama. Ang advice ko ay kantahin nyo ito, Ogie,” Escueta said, before singing O Giliw Ko, obviously joking.

And then he sang Kisapmata, one of Rivermaya’s early hits.

Escueta’s voice is fine and he was doing a great job both singing and pounding the drums during their performances. Azarcon, on the other hand, gyrated with enthusiasm while strumming the guitar during performances for Ulan and Elesi.

For the grand finale, Rapadas and the MYMP girls took to the stage once more, joining Rivermaya and sang Bongga Ka Day and Isayaw Mo, both ‘70s OPM songs, bringing the audience to its feet and joyfully dancing.