EXCLUSIVE: AGT golden buzzer Eleana Gabunada is defying gravity
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Eleana Gabunada is holding on to David Forter's as she takes her final bow on the Asia's Got Talent stage, "He said, 'Don't let me down. Practice.' So that's what I'm going to do."
“Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar”
These lyrics from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Music of the Night keeps on ringing in the ears of 10-year-old singer Eleana Gabunada.
At first glance, everyone can tell that Eleana is devoted to singing and singing alone. It is, after all, what she lives and breathes for.
“Music is really my passion,” she says.
“No one pushed me to do it. Even during [all of] my auditions, ako lang po talaga yun.”
The prodigy shares that she began singing at the age of two and began joining barangay talent contests by the time she turned five.
Her drive to hone her craft, competition after competition, fuels her passion even more to reach her dream of becoming a Broadway star.
“I want to be a performer and a Broadway singer,” she firmly says.
“Kasi, my favorite musicals are Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera.
“So if I make it, I really want to be Elphaba because of her song, 'Defying Gravity.' And in the Phantom of the Opera, I want to be Christine.”
It may seem ambitious for a ten-year-old, but for Eleana she has her eyes set on the prize while maintaining her feet firmly on the ground.
“I simply want be the best performer that I can be and to give the best performance I can give to the audience so I can make them proud and happy.”
When you listen to her sing for the first time, there is no doubt that she can easily captivate you as she hits note after note without any fear or hesitation.
She powers through hard hitting notes easily as if she's taking a walk in the park.
Her playlist, though varied, consists of many concert and Broadway classics influenced by her mom.
“There's 'My Heart Will Go On,' 'Defying Gravity,' 'I Surrender,' and so many other Broadway songs po.”
“My mom told me to listen to these old songs. She'd say, 'Old songs are nice so you should listen to them aside from recent songs.'
“So, when I first heard Celine Dion, I immediately fell in love.
“If ever I'd be given the chance to sing with her [Celine Dion], it would really, really, really, mean the world to me.”
Her other influences also include Broadway singers Lea Salonga and Idina Menzel.
So why those women?
“Because they always tell a story behind their voice.
“They deliver the song to the audience and they capture their hearts.
“And that's what I feel also. Whenever I sing Broadway songs I always put in my mind I should always make people happy and touched by the story behind the song.”
For a kid her age, it would be normal to shy away when facing a large crowd but the opposite can be said for Eleana. She loves it and she craves for it.
“What makes me confident while on stage is hearing the applause of the audience because I really love listening to their claps.”
And to remove the pre-stage jitters? Her family and faith in God.
“Before going on stage, I always pray to God to give me the confidence para maka-perform on stage properly.
“And also my family who always support me and comfort me when I needed them. They always give me advice if ever I get nervous and they give me the love that I really want.”
Eleana also credits her sister for continuously reminding her of her goal.
“My sister would always say, 'Konti na lang! And you will reach your dream already!'”
It was also her sister who shared her Golden Buzzer moment on the Asia's Got Talent stage as Eleana sang Barbra Streisand's 1968 hit “Don't Rain On My Parade.”
“It was…” Eleana pauses as she thinks of the right words to say.
“Surreal.”
It can be recalled that it was none other than musical producer David Foster who pushed the most coveted button.
The Canadian songwriter and composer praised the singer for understanding the craft that she's currently in.
He said, “Somehow at age 10, you understand your mission and you understand your job, and there is no doubt in my mind that if you want to be on Broadway one day, you will be.
With her lips turned upwards, this memory still lingers on Eleana's mind.
“I actually felt so overwhelmed getting the golden buzzer from David Foster.
“Kasi po he is one of my favorite artists because his songs are the ones I kept listening to.”
As she takes her final bow on the Asia's Got Talent stage during the semi-final round, Eleana is holding on to David's advice as she takes a new step towards her dream.
“He said, 'Don't let me down. Practice.' So that's what I'm going to do.
“But I really, really thank everyone for giving me the chance to show my talent on Asia's Got Talent.”
As she holds on to her Phantom of the Opera mask pendant, one thing is for certain, this won't be the last we'll see Eleana on stage.
This isn't going to rain on her parade.
