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Concert recap: Odette Quesada made many music fans fall in love again

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Leah C. Salterio

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada1.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada staged a two-night concert, “Hopeless Romantic,” at the Maybank Theater. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- The music of singer-songwriter Odette Quesada defined a generation. “Simple, catchy, prolific, piercing, relatable, sincere and full of love,” her hits were constantly revived by a number of artists.After not being seen on the local concert stage for nearly two decades, Quesada staged a two-night concert, “Hopeless Romantic,” at the Maybank Theater in the BGC Arts Center over the weekend. Both nights were packed, solid proof that Quesada was really missed by local fans.Producers Noel Ferrer and Rowell Santiago (who also directed the show) patiently waited for three years to convince Quesada to perform in the country again. “Ang daming challenges,” Ferrer posted on his Facebook page. “But goodwill and love prevailed in the end.”The producers were really thankful for the successful turn-out of the two-night concert. Quesada did not only pack the Maybank Performing Arts Theater on January 17 and 18, she also generously regaled the audience with her many hits throughout the concert.The two-night show was dubbed “Hopeless Romantic,” after Quesada’s debut album in 1984 (which is supposedly the original title of “Don’t Know What To Say, Don’t Know What To Do,” the recorded by Ric Segreto). “What better way to describe me, but &#x27;hopeless romantic,&#x27;” she told the audience. Then, the familiar strains of Raymond Lauchengco’s ballad, “I Need You Back,” immediately reverberated in the theater. “Let’s see if you remember this one.” The entire audience sang with her as they knew the lyrics by heart.“This one (audience) was better by a mile,” Quesada happily remarked to her second night crowd. Then she looked at her two back-up singers behind her. “I don’t need back-up. They (looking at the audience) can all do your job.”<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada2.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada staged a two-night concert, “Hopeless Romantic,” at the Maybank Theater. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>The night was not only her homecoming concert, but also her 55th birthday. A girl in the audience bravely hollered, “I love you.” To which Quesada smilingly replied, “I’m single! Are you a girl?” When she got a positive reply, Quesada simply said, “Sorry, wrong number.”She has been single for 12 years now, after she lost her husband, singer-songwriter Bodjie Dasig, whom she married in 1993. They have a son, Darian, now 24 years old.Quesada devoted several minutes to the “Bodjie phase” in her life. Evidently, Dasig penned memorable hits that Quesada confessed she never thought she would sing one day. The hit ballad, “Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko,” may be a searing romantic piece, but in truth, Dasig penned the Tagalog ditty after he couldn’t decide which car brand to choose, Toyota or Mitsubishi, Quesada said.“I never thought I would sing this song of his,” Quesada said of the ballad. The song became a big hit and was even used as the title of Laurice’s Guillen’s 1995 movie starring Dina Bonnevie, Alice Dixson and then Rustom Padilla (now BB Gandanghari). Then, Quesada segued into another Dasig hit, “Ale (Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako)?”The “very first song we wrote together” was the Tagalog bossa nova ditty, “Dito Lang Ako.” She reminded the audience about the song that she also recorded: “Si Sitti daw ang bossa nova queen, pero ako ang unang gumawa ng bossa nova. I hope one day Sitti can also sing this one.”There were songs from the ‘80s that a lot of people thought Quesada also recorded and how she wished she did, but really didn’t. She included three of those titles to her repertoire that night.“Actually, I really wrote these songs,” she smilingly said. “Just don’t tell Cecille Azarcon and Louie Ocampo.” Quesada rendered Ocampo’s “Tell Me,” originally recorded by Joey Albert; Gerry Paraiso’s “Loving You,” sang by Segreto; and Azarcon’s “Special Memory,” by Iwi Laurel.Then, Quesada reminded everyone that she wrote the Tagalog hit, “Ayoko Na Sana,” recorded by Ariel Rivera.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada3.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada and Arman Ferrer. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>Before introducing her first guest that night, rising musical theater actor Arman Ferrer, Quesada asked permission from her audience if she could “humble brag” that night. “As if I haven’t started yet already,” she said. “Not too many people know that I wrote a Tagalog song for Ric Segreto when he was trying to make a comeback in the &#x27;90s.”The introduction was for “Sana ay Malaman Mo,” a stirring song performed by the good-looking Ferrer. He gained recognition – and need we say, even well-received admiration – in a number of musicals of late, including “Mabining Mandirigma,” “Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and “Sweeney Todd,” all staged in 2019.Ferrer also got his own TV spotlight when he sang the National Anthem during the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte last year. Yet, it was Ferrer’s first time on the pop concert stage in Quesada’s concert.The impressive tenor admitted to be on tenterhooks sharing the stage with Quesada. He unmistakably knew her songs, constantly played in their house by his mom. But performing with her gave him the jitters. Still, Ferrer impressed the audience with his soaring tenor. He later did a duet of Lea Salonga’s “You’re My Home,” with Quesada.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada4.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada and Fe de los Reyes. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>Next guest that night allowed Quesada to show her other side. With singer-comedienne Fe de los Reyes, she did a parody of Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like,” something that the audience, perhaps, had never seen her do before. “Kahit 61 na ako, I still got it,” the funny De los Reyes bragged. To which Quesada countered, “You just don’t know where you got it.” The latter wrote the parody of “That’s What I Like” for only two hours. They amusingly sang about getting old.Quesada has been writing songs and materials for De los Reyes, whenever the latter performs in the US. “Hinihintay ko lang mabayaran na,” she teased.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada5.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada and Sharon Cuneta. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>When Sharon Cuneta sauntered onstage, Quesada took on the ivory keys and played the intro of “To Love Again.” Cuneta proudly said, “This is one song that has transcended generations. I was 17 when I recorded this. This is the untouchable version.”Quesada expressed her desire to have Cuneta record an Odette Quesada album. “I would love for Sharon to sing my songs [again],” she said, as the intro of “You’re the One,” another piece she originally wrote for the Megastar, played on.To Santiago, who was romantically involved with her before, Cuneta dedicated the song and even teased, “We were still together when Odette wrote this song. He has become such a great, great friend. Pero talagang hindi tayo pwedeng mag-asawa.”<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-sharon.jpg"/><figcaption>Sharon Cuneta. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>Although Kuh Ledesma was the special guest who rendered her original pieces – “Till I Met You” and “A Long, Long Time Ago” – on the first night of the concert, Cuneta admirably agreed to sing those two Quesada compositions on the second night.“It’s such an honor,” Cuneta blurted out. “I cant believe it, because Kuh is always my idol.” She carried out beautiful versions of the songs that were applauded by the audience.When Martin Nievera emerged onstage, he immediately taunted Quesada. “I’m here to represent all singers that you have not written a song for. I have been in the music industry for 37 years and I didn’t get to record one song of Odette Quesada?”He eventually crooned “Give Me a Chance,” which he also recorded when he was trying to woo back former wife Pops Fernandez. “You always write sad songs, don’t you?,” he asked Quesada.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada7.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada and Martin Nievera. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>“I’d like to write sad songs when I’m happy,” she countered.They sang Gary Valenciano’s dance hit, “Growing Up” and the audience were up on their feet dancing.“The world is not the same without Odette Quesada,” Nievera fondly told the audience.She was in Germany on a tour on February 14, 1994, supposed to be her first Valentine’s together with Dasig as a married couple. “We couldn’t be together on our first Valentine’s as husband and wife,” Quesada lamented. So, she excitedly got him a pair of leather boots as a gift.When she got home, Dasig presented her with the tearful song, “Habang Panahon,” that he penned for her as his Valentine’s gift. “He always managed to outdo me all the time,” Quesada lovingly recalled. “I never had the courage to sing this song until after he died. It will be eight years in March since he passed.”She later sang “Farewell,” a hit ballad recorded by Raymond Lauchengco for Maryo J. de los Reyes’ film, “Bagets,” shown in 1984.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/01/16/20200119-odette-quesada8.jpg"/><figcaption>Odette Quesada and Martin Nievera. Gian Carlo Vizcarra</figcaption></figure></div>Quesada recognized the many celebrities in the audience that night -- Moy Ortiz, Jamie Rivera, Teresa Loyzaga, Ara Mina, RS Francisco, Bernadette Sembrano, and Olive Isidro. The night before, even Senator Grace Poe watched the concert.“This show will not be complete without this final song,” Quesada said as she went to the audience with “Friend of Mine” and got everyone singing. Rivera, Sembrano, Ortiz and Loyzaga even rendered a few lines of the first song Quesada recorded.The audience clamored for more. She lost no time to emerge onstage again. “Sayang naman ‘to. Pinaraktis namin pero hindi masasali.” So, she ended the night by rendering a song she wrote, “My Favorite Story,” recorded by David Pomeranz.It took nearly two decades for Quesada to perform again in Manila. And her fans are simply praying it will not take her that long before she stages another performance in Manila.