Tag Archives: music

PHILIPPINE REALITY SHOW TO BE RENAMED ‘JUDGES GOT NO TALENT’

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Top: de las Alas, left, and Aquino; Bottom: Flores

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Gerphil Flores is just one step away from becoming the winner in the mega-talent show, Asia’s Got Talent.  The Filipina singer gifted with a “classical” voice is among the nine finalists who could win the tough competition being held in Singapore.

But years ago, when Flores was a teenager trying her luck in the local edition of the reality show (‘Pilipinas Got Talent’), two celebrity judges ousted her from the finals because they thought she needed to sing songs that the “audience can identify with” (songs that young singers like Charice would sing). Nevermind, that the young man whom the two judges picked didn’t quite hit his high notes during his final performance.

The two celebrity judges, we all know, were talk show host Kris Aquino, and self-proclaimed comedienne Ai-Ai de las Alas. Many felt they didn’t have any business sitting in the judges chairs for a talent competition, especially when it comes to music.

Well, Flores chose not to follow the advice of Aquino and de las Alas.  Good for her.  She is not only a strong contender to be Asia’s best singing talent, but she has caught the eyes and ears of famed composer, musician and producer David Foster who has worked with talents like Barbra Streisand, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, among many others.

The success of Flores in ‘Asia’s Got Talent,’ and a very bright future that awaits her because of her voice and the songs that she chooses to sing seem to have boomeranged as far as the celebrity judges that misjudged her are concerned.

As a gesture of repentance, the producers of ‘Pilipinas Got Talent’ are planning to rename the reality singing competition judged by Aquino and de las Alas to: ‘Judges Got No Talent.’

WHO’S PERFORMING (AND WHO’S NOT) DURING THE PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER FIGHT ON MAY 2

Clockwise: Pacquiao, Kimmel, Balawis, Foxx
Clockwise: Pacquiao, Kimmel, Banawis, Foxx

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – The stage is all set for the ‘Fight of the Century’ between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather.  The much-anticipated boxing match happens on Saturday, May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Today,  it was announced that American singer-actor Jamie Foxx will sing the U.S. National Anthem while Filipino American Gail Banawis will render the Philippine Nation Anthem.

Foxx is billed to star as Mike Tyson in his upcoming biopic and  co-starred alongside Will Smith the 2001 film,  Ali. He also performed “America, the Beautiful” before a Pacquiao fight in 2011 .

Banawis will perform with a group of singing pastors who are closely affiliated with the boxing icon. She has made a name for herself performing in front of Fil-Am communities in New York and New Jersey. It was Pacquiao himself who reached out to her and asked her if she could be part of the choir that would sing “Lupang Hinirang.”

Pacquiao’s Entrance Song

Previously, the Pacquiao camp wanted Manny to enter the ring to a song he himself recorded – ‘Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino’ (I will fight for the Filipinos).

But after much cajoling and persistence, TV late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will now do the honors of singing Manny’s song live at the MGM Grand.

Pacquiao gave his  approval during his appearance at last night’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ where the host demonstrated to the boxer that he knows the song well and will be very honored to be in Pacquiao’s entourage. (See video of Kimmel and Pacquiao’s duet below)

Teenage singing idol Justin Bieber is also expected to  be at ringside.  He is known to be an avid fan and supporter of Mayweather. Sources close to Mayweather said that Bieber wanted to sing “America the Beautiful,” during intermission, but the boxing promoters refused on the grounds that Bieber is not American. (He is Canadian).

PROMOTER BOB ARUM WILL NOT ALLOW MANNY PACQUIAO’S ENTRANCE SONG DURING MAY 2 FIGHT WITH MAYWEATHER

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – If you follow the boxing sport, you know the routine during a championship fight. The boxers approach the ring to the entrance music of their choice. Like, you know, the theme from the movie, “Rocky.”

For the May 2nd ‘Fight of the Century’ between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, the Filipino boxer, whose other passion is singing, has recorded his own entrance song. The music track titled ‘Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino’ (I Will Fight for the Filipinos) was especially composed for Pacquiao and this fight by composer Lito Camo. The lyrics are in Tagalog, the Philippines’ national language.

Well, it looks like this is not going to happen.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has decided not to allow Pacquiao to use his own recording as his entrance music. “Manny needs to understand that this is an international fight, not just a Filipino fight.  We will have live and television audience from all over the world, and I won’t allow Manny to use an entrance music that only Filipinos would understand,” Arum said.

The promoter added that if Pacquiao can record an English version of the song, then he would allow it. The Pacquiao camp has not responded to Arum’s decision.

Meanwhile, Mayweather’s camp announced that their boxer’s entrance music will be sung live by no less than Canadian teenage idol Justin Bieber.