Piano Nights with Rica Arambulo
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPBI8s0PhA]
I’ve watched Rica Arambulo for the first time ever last night at Conspi. Tita called me (and several others) for a meeting for an upcoming Conspi gimmick (which we will reveal pretty soon) and it seemed perfect that it was also piano night with Rica. I first saw and heard her in YouTube, while I was adding the videos page in our website, and like I said in a previous blog, her song “Ikaw at ako pa rin” had me teary-eyed and nostalgic at 7am in the morning. The song, in my opinion, was simple and straight to the point, best heard in acoustic mode, and it’s just one of those songs that keep getting better as you listen to it again and again (which I did, hehe).
Anyways, her gigs would start off with the first set all to herself, doing various covers and originals; in the second set she would graciously accommodate jammers. I’ve been told that Gary’s daughters are hardly ever absent for Rica’s gigs (unless dad’s not around to sponsor, daw hehe) and can always be depended upon to jam. Last night, it was Dyosa (while I sang backup for Power of two) and a few of the other customers as well, though Dyosa gave us a few encores before we called it a night. It was great — there’s nothing like listening to Rica at that point when night has ended and the next day has begun.
Ikaw at Ako Parin had me misty-eyed when I first found the music video, even with my extremely limited understanding of Tagalog. I just knew it was special. My take on the music video was that she was seeing an old boyfriend out with his new honey, but Rica told me it was about a dead guy that only she can see (I asked her to send me the translation when she has time). It takes serious artistic courage to write a story like that in the face of pop music culture. That’s what makes Conspi performers unique.
I heard Dyosa when I was there in May. Very talented. It’s really cool to hear young singers doing the old standards. I never cease to be amazed by the level of talent that shows up in the music hall. Big up to Conspiracy for providing the venue.
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