Musical Theatre Goddess LEA SALONGA is Still Freaking Awesome - Rendition of Aladdin's A Whole New World with Il Divo went Viral

The YouTube video went viral after several websites featured the video from a performance of the operatic group Il Divo in their "A Musical Affair" world tour with the legendary Lea Salonga.  All of the articles from these websites were amazingly surprised to hear Princess Jasmine singing live on stage the iconic theme of the 1992 Disney animated film Aladdin, and sounded pretty much the same from more than two decades ago.  Lea Salonga's 2014 rendition is as perfect as her 1992's.  Everyone is stunned!  I wasn't!  You know why?  Because Lea Salonga is just PERFECT!

Lea Salonga, The "Rare Bird" Sings Scott Alan's "Look (A Rainbow)"

It's been two weeks since the first showing day of the movie Les Miserables here in the Philippines.  Like a true-blue fan of the Les Miserables musical, of course, I watched it.  I have been anticipating its run here from the time its promotional trailer was released on YouTube about more than 9 months ago.  Were my expectations met?  That would be a whole different post.  Watching the movie naturally wasn't enough.  I'd like to know what others especially netizens think of the movie as well.  While scouring YouTube for reactions to the Les Miserables movie, I came across Lea Salonga's "sold-out-open-to-the-public-dress-rehearsal" rendition of the beautiful Scott Alan original song, "Look (A Rainbow)".  Needless to say, I WAS MESMERIZED, and have totally forgotten about Les Miserables.  Well, who wouldn't?

Les Miserables 2012 Movie Trailer with Lea Salonga

No disrespect meant for Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway nor to the producers of the movie Les Miserables.  The movie that's going to be shown on Christmas Day has a trailer in YouTube.  It featured a snippet of Hathaway's performance of the iconic song I Dreamed a Dream (IDAD).  It's a powerful trailer but with Lea Salonga's live rendition of the song in the 25th Anniversary Concert dubbed over the trailer, it became an orgasmic auditory experience.  Simply put - beyond perfection.

Les Miserables (The Movie) Character Posters

58 days!  83,520 minutes of waiting until Christmas Day.  There's so much to look forward to on the holiday season, one of which is the showing of Les Miserables - the movie adaptation of one of the longest running musicals ever, and a certified worldwide theater phenomenon.  When the character posters for the movie came out, I just have to feature them in my blog.   (Did you sense that I was a Les Miserables fan?  I'm sure you did.)  I just cant wait!  83,519 minutes… 83,518… 83,517… 83,516… 83,515… oh, my!

Look (A Rainbow) by Lea Salonga

Lea Salonga will take you for a magic-carpet ride.  The song "Look (A Rainbow)" is not from the Disney movie "Aladdin" but, hearing Lea Salonga sing this delightful song provides you a "magical" experience nonetheless.  I have to warn you, though.  Prepare for a sudden and plethoric release of emotions!

Lea Salonga and her Continuing and Inspiring Journey

She's obviously beautiful that's why she was one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1991 alongside Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise, Whitney Houston, Richard Gere, Sophia Loren, Mariah Carey, Claudia Schiffer, Madonna, Pierce Brosnan, Giorgio Armani, Isabella Rossellini,  Jason Priestley, Patrick Swayze, Kevin Costner, and Michael Jordan.  Hah!  I bet you didn't know that.  She is no other than LEA SALONGA.

Disney Princesses and their Singing Voices

I grew up with the Disney classics.  Well, now they're classics, but in the 80's and 90's they're just DIsney animated features, and they formed part of my growing-up years.  Would it be selfish of me to introduce Belle, Ariel and Princess Jasmine to my 5-year old niece?  Or Hercules, Tarzan, and the Hunchback of Notre Dame to my 8 year-old nephew?  I really do not know what kids are watching these days.  I honestly feel however, that they should be initiated with the DIsney classics.

Aside from the valuable life lessons they could learn from these DIsney classics, they can learn to appreciate good music.  I'm talking about really great quality songs composed by top caliber musicians and sung by gifted singers.  A lot of people probably heard the songs Reflection, A Whole New World, Colors of the Wind, or Part of Your World but could not tell who the singers were (much less the composers).  So, in their honor, I present the Disney princesses and their singing voices.  See the real-life princesses!  How odd it is, or probably it's just me, but the real-life people somehow resemble their counterpart princesses.  Don't you think so, too?  Who's your favorite Disney princess?  Which Disney princess for you has the best singing voice?

Lea Salonga, of course my favorite, lent her ethereal golden voice twice to add life to Princess Jasmine and Mulan.  She sang A Whole New World with Brad Kane for the movie Aladdin, and Reflection for the movie Mulan.

Lea Salonga with Anika Noni Rose, Paige O'Hara and Jodi Benson were elevated as Disney Legends August of last year (2011).  All of these consummate singers featured above are Disney Legends except for Judy Kuhn.  Well, someday soon I know she'll get her Disney Legend award.

Here is the once-in-a-lifetime event.  The four Disney Princesses sang at their awarding ceremonies in Los Angeles.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy this wondrous treat.  Play the video please.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The beautiful lifelike rendition of the Disney princesses are by this very talented Finnish graphic design student at the Arts University College in the U.K..  HIs name is Jirka Vinse Jonatan Vaatainen.  He used photos of real people and combined them with animation pics to come up with lifelike versions.  I discovered his masterpieces while "stumbling".   Do visit his weblog if you want to see more of his beautiful works of art.  His blog is at http://jirkavinse.wordpress.com.

The Dream Lives. Hold Your Breath for the Les Miserables 2012 Movie.

AN EMOTIONAL RIDE.

It's heart wrenching!  An emotional roller coaster ride packed in 90 seconds of visual delight.  The official trailer of the 2012 LES MISERABLES movie, an adaptation of the Claude Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil musical, starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Russell Crowe, was released a few days ago.  I cannot contain my excitement.  Like I was a 10-year-old kid again, "I want to watch the movie now"!  (sigh…)  For now, I guess I'll just have to satisfy myself with watching YouTube videos of I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, A Little Fall of Rain, Empty Chairs and Empty Tables, and One Day More, my favorites from the musical, and incessantly click the repeat button, until the December showing of the movie.  (another sigh…)

Here is what I am talking about.  Prepare to take a brief emotional roller coaster ride.  Watch this official Les Miserables 2012 movie trailer:

THE RELUCTANT PROSTITUTE.

Anne Hathway plays the part of Fantine.  Did you catch a glimpse of Anne Hathaway's expression when her hair is being cut?  Sublime!  Can you feel her anxiety, sadness, fear, and bitterness?  She just learned that her dearest child who is living far away from her and being taken cared of by strangers, is sick.  She just lost her job because of false accusations of sleeping with the boss, and blamed for making a ruckus in her workplace.  She has no money, left alone by her child's father, no relatives, nothing!   So there's no recourse for weary Fantine but to sell her gorgeous hair.  She is just one step away in selling her body.  Goodness gracious!  Good story, isn't it?  That's just a minuscule part of the brilliant 19th century political and philosophical French novel of the great Victor Hugo.

Anne Hathaway is singing parts of the iconic song I Dreamed a Dream as the trailer goes on.  She is obviously no Lea Salonga, Ruthie Henshall, or Patti Lupone (should I include Susan Boyle?) but, you cannot deny Anne Hathaway's  tempestuous rendition.  The emotions jump out of the screen and engulf you.  I know she'll be great in the movie.

CONFESSIONS.

I must confess.  I am a Les Miserables fanatic… at least of the musical.  I am not a fan of Anne Hathaway.  So, you should believe me when I say those good things about her.  LOL.

I have not read the book.  When I was in college, I tried.  I bought a paperback copy of the novel and read the first few pages.  I thought to myself, "who writes this way?".  Apparently, geniuses.  It was hard for me to understand "archaic" English words (well, the original book is written in French, and has been translated countless times), and at most times the structure of the sentences is too much for me.  Maybe I should give reading the book another try?

Thank heavens there's the musical adaptation of the novel in English.  I learned about the musical in 1989 during the search for "Miss Saigon" by producer Cameron Macintosh, composer Claude Michel Schonberg, and lyricist Alain Boublil.  Their last stop for their worldwide search was in Manila and here is where they found KIM of MISS SAIGON - the great LEA SALONGA.  Lea Salonga sang "On My Own" from the Les Miserables musical in her audition.   It became very popular after that.  So, I got a cassette tape of the London Original Cast Recording of Les Miserables.  I fell in love with it.  I downloaded the libretto and finally, I understood what the novel is about!  LOL.  Unfortunately, I don't have the cassette tape anymore.

When the CD of the Original Broadway Cast Recording came out, I naturally bought a copy.  Then came the 1995 tenth anniversary concert.  Lea Salonga was cast as Eponine in the so-called DREAM CAST.   "On My Own" became her signature song.   Salonga's rendition is considered by most critics and many Les Miserables fans as the gold standard for that iconic song.  (Okay, I ambiased because I am a die-hard Salonga fan.)

Here is a treat.  Watch my all-time favorite rendition of On My Own sang by the Tony-awardee Lea Salonga in the tenth anniversary of the musical held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1995.  You'll see why this is the gold standard for this song.  I created an e-card with the lyrics of On My Own, so you can sing along with Lea Salonga.  Ready?:

HOLD YOUR BREATH.

Hold your breath for the December 2012 showing of the Les Miserables movie.  I hope that the movie is "sung-through" (i.e., no spoken dialogue; all dialogue are sang).  Most fans of the musical are used to hearing POWERFUL voices and AWARD-WINNING performances.  Will the cast of the movie live up to the expectations of the musical's fans?  I hope they do.

Hugh Jackman is Jean Valjean.  He is a great singer.  Many people don't know about it.  I am sure he can pull the role off.  Russell Crowe as Javert is another story.  I haven't heard him sing.  Acting of course, will not be a problem, for sure.  Anne Hathaway is Fantine.  She does not have a powerful voice compared to those great  Broadway and West End superstars but, I believe that her acting might merit an Oscar nod.  Samantha Barks as Eponine would do great.  She already performed in the 25th Anniversary Concert held at the O2 Arena in London in October of 2010.  These are a few more reasons to watch the movie.

So, see you at the movies?  I bet, it will be great!

Muggles versus Pure-bloods. 5 Successful Half-Filipinos and Full-blooded Pinoys.

Into the final stretch.

Just got the news, sizzling hot from the pan.  Congratulations Jessica Sanchez!  Jessica Sanchez made it to the finale pitted against Philip Philips in the Season 11 of American Idol.  This is the first time that a contestant of Filipino descent made it to the Top 2.  Hawaii's Jasmine Trias from 8 years ago is the first to reach Top 3.  I thought it would be a battle between Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez since they are vocally on a par with each other.  I have strong  faith that the American public would judge and vote past "skin color".   Let the best singer win!

Jessica Sanchez is half-Filipino and half-Mexican.  Her mother is a Filipino and her US Navy father is Mexican.  Jessica Sanchez is a "muggle" - half-breed (no offense meant).

Half-Filipino and Half-Something-Else.

Did you know that the Philippines has been occupied by Spain from 1521 up to the 1890's?  That's more than 300 years of Spanish regime.  At those times, interracial marriages were probably uncommon but "mestizos" and "mestizas" abound.

Mestizos (male) and mestizas (female) are half-Filipinos and half-something-else.  They are normally characterized as having fair skin.  You see, FIlipinos belonging to the Malayan race have brown skin.  Thus, mestizos and mestizas are naturally popular.  Most Filipinos up to the present time think that they are special for having foreign blood in them.  If you are just like me, I consider this cuckoo!

Colonial Mentality, Papaya, and Glutathione.

Is this part of colonial mentality?… that anything made abroad must be good including half-breeds?  A lot of Filipinos think so.  Proof of which is the popularity and domination of fair-skinned actors and actresses in the showbiz industry in the Philippines.  Brown-skinned artists with a few exception aren't so popular.  As a result, pure-bloodied Filipinos painstakingly do what it takes to have whiter skin.

Soaps, facial creams, and body lotions with Papaya extracts which are advertised as having enzymes that lighten the skin flooded the market.   Glutathione IV (intravenous) injectables are now very popular.  You will see hordes of supplements claiming skin whitening in a matter of days.  The funny thing is Filipinos kept on buying these products.  I cannot actually pinpoint the cause of this phenomenon.  It seems to me, more and more cases are observed openly that dark-skinned people wants to be lighter while fair-skinned people (caucasians) wants to be tanner.

Muggles Versus Full-blooded.

Here's a bit of controversy.  Is there any link between the color of one's skin to the level of success  one can attain?  Some would think yes (or no).

To help us decide, here's a list of successful "muggles" - half-Filipino and half-something-else, and full-blooded Filipinos.  Let's check:

5 Successful Half-Filipinos & Half-Something-Else.

1.  Bruno Mars - successful grammy-award winning singer and songwriter.   His mom's a Filipino,  and father's African-American (I think).

2.  Darren Criss - Glee star.  His mom's a Filipino, and father's Scottish.

3.  Nicole Scherzinger - vocalist of Pussycat Dolls.  Half-Filipino (on the mother's side), half-German.

4.  Batista - wresting superstar.  Half-Filipino (on the mother's side), half-Greek.

5.  Lou Diamond Philips - Hollywood star.  His mom is a Filipino.  I am not sure of his father (i.e., something else…).

5 Successful Pure-blood Filipinos.

1.  Lea Salonga - Tony and Olivier-award winning actress.  Disney Legend.  Singing voice of Alladin's Princess Jasmine and Mulan.  International recording and concert artist.  Boradway superstar.

2.  Gloria Diaz - 1969 Miss Universe.

3.  Nora Aunor - one of Asia's most-admired actresses.  Multi-awarded movie actress.

4.  Charice Pempengco - Youtube singing sensation.  International recording artist.

5.  Manny Pacquiao - Mega-boxer.  Holder of 8-Division World Boxing Titles.  One of the world's most influential and powerful athletes.

I know these are very short lists.  But analyzing the lists, it's a TIE, don't you think?  Conclusion:  color of the skin does not matter… (that much?).  Changing one's skin color is more of a personal choice.

With this, I hope that Jessica Sanchez win!  TALENT rather than skin color should prevail... fingers crossed!

SPREAD HAPPINESS.

Top 5 Reasons Why It's More Fun in the Philippines

Hot From the Pan.  

One hot topic right now is the controversial article of Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao about his reaction on Obama's support for "gay marriage".  Pacman is being criticized for his "alleged" hatred against the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) community.  The issue is blown out of proportion because of the article's author that cited a passage in the Bible's Leviticus which allegedly tells that "gays must be put to death".  This was attributed to Pacman and the LGBT community condemns him for it.  Later Pacman clarified that he loves the LGBT community but he is however, not in favor of "gay marriage".

The Actual Score.  

This is NOT however, the topic of my post.  When I logged in at "reddit", the trending topic is Pacman.  Naturally, the most popular post is about Pacman and his "alleged" belief that "gays must be put to death".  But what caught my attention is one of the comments under this post that says "the Philippines is on a civil war".  The commenter is saying that Pacman is respected in the Philippines and that when he is on the ring, he literally stops bloodshed from the civil war that's going on.  So, people should value his opinion.  I replied to his comment and corrected him that there is no civil war in the Philippines.   The commenter replied back and said that he has poorly worded his comment.  Further, that part of the comment is based on a link in wikipedia about "Terrorism in the Philippines".   I followed the link.  Wikipedia has a table of terrorist incidents in the Philippines from the 1970's to the present.  So, this is what I said to the commenter:

"Thank you for the link.  I read it.  I wish to say that the Philippines is an archipelago that is composed of 7,107 islands.  If you will examine the tables in the wiki post, you will see that the locations of these unfortunate incidents are concentrated in the southernmost and remotest part of the country.  It is very, very, very far from the capital and other major and key cities.  The conflict is mostly rooted on religion and their claim for land.  These are all being addressed by the government.  In fact, there is an on-going ceasefire between these factions [and the government].

Come visit the Philippines.  Our Department of Tourism has launched its campaign recently that even CNN featured it in their programs and website.  We now say.' It's More Fun in the Philippines!'."

Join the Bandwagon.  

From the time the tagline, "It's More Fun in the Philippines!", is launched, I wanted to contribute and support it.  As a Filipino who has traveled around a lot and lived most of his life in the Philippines, I can truly say that "it's more fun in the Philippines".  I'll give you my top 5 reasons.  Here they are:

Top 5 Reasons Why It's More Fun in the Philippines  

1.  the people.  Filipinos pride themselves for being hospitable.  Amidst the economic hardships of most Filipinos, we still rate as one of the happiest in the world.  We love to laugh.  We smile a lot.  It's contagious, you know.

2.  the sites.  Explore the 7,107 islands.  Okay, that's too many.  Let me give you a couple of recommendations.  There's Boracay in Aklan.  Boracay is always in the lists of top 5 beaches in the world and at most times tops the lists.  There's Bohol with the Chocolate Hills.  Nature is trying to impresses humans with these unearthly beautiful small hills clustered together in a single area much like a bunch of Hershey's Kisses.

3.  the karaoke.  Did you know that the sing-along system was invented by a Filipino?  The World Intellectual Property Organization awarded the Filipino inventor the Gold Medal for Best Inventor in 1985 for this sing-along system that has been popularly referred to as "karaoke".

4.  the vast talents.  I will have to do some name dropping here.  Lea Salonga (Disney Legend, singing voice of Princess Jasmine and Mulan, Tony-award-winning Broadway superstar).  Charice (international recording star).  Jessica Sanchez (American Idol 2012.. okay, not quite).  Filipinos love to sing.  Filipinos are born with a microphone on their mouths.  If you want to jam and sing your heart out, immensely enjoy yourself everyday, come to the Philippines.  Just don't pirate too many of our nurses, doctors, teachers, engineers, and artists.  They are world class, indeed.  But leave some of them in the Philippines.

5.  the food.  Since the Philippines is an archipelago, there is a variety of flavors.  There are significant differences in food preparation and cooking from province to province for a single dish.  Can you believe it?  Each version is an experience in itself.  What's more is that a 20 US dollar seaweed salad sold in New York is just  1 US dollar in the Philippines.  You must try it.

All countries have domestic problems.  Rising above these problems is what's more important.  Filipinos are good at rising above their daily hardships.  After all, there is so much more reason to be grateful for.  The Philippines has more than 7,107 reasons.  Come, experience the fun.  In almost every way, IT'S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES.

SPREAD THE HAPPINESS!