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Martin Nievera admitted that he missed the personal interaction with the media. That's why, even on a Sunday, the Concert King met the entertainment media, including GMANetwork.com, to talk about his new album under Vicor Music.

Titled Take 2, the nine-track album is released on high-quality vinyl, which is both a nostalgic keepsake and a fresh invitation to rediscover Martin's at his finest. The songs included are "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Forever in Your Eyes," "Be My Lady," "Tell Me," "Special Memory," "Say That You Love Me," 'Di na Muli," "Leaves," and "Never Ever Say Goodbye."

During the interview, Martin was asked what he missed the most about his showbiz career.

He answered, “I miss the person-to-person promos. Even these presscons, I miss this. When people get to ask questions and I see you writing it down, there's a relationship here. These songs won't make it as far as this café without the press. They can send you flyers, they can send you these things here [press releases], but nothing like this.”

Then, Martin pointed out that moments of personal interaction, be it with the media or fans, are among the things young celebrities sometimes fail to appreciate.

“That's what the kids don't understand,” he said. “They're such in a hurry to get things over with that when they get to my point, 42 years in the business, they're gonna wonder where did it go, 'Ang bilis ng oras. Hindi na ako sikat. Wala nang bumibili ng albums ko.' Nobody cares. There's another version of me and another version of that, and another version of that.

“I keep telling them, 'Guys, slow down,' because fame today is so fast--very, very fast. So, you need to embrace yesterday. You need to love every moment of--not naman your fame, but the getting into it.”

In connection with this, Martin recalled advising a young celebrity after seeing him not giving enough attention to his fans.

“I was with a young artist, I can't mention his name 'cause it's gonna sound like I'm badmouthing, you know. But he had these fans with huge banners, not flyers but banners, waiting for him on the streets, and he's like this [short wave]. At least he waved!

“I said to him, and he's father was with him, 'Dude, you need to embrace this. This is not forever.' And the father goes, 'You listen to him! I used to watch him when I was younger.'”

The “Be My Lady” singer said this was something he regretted during his earlier years in showbiz.

“I used to run away from girls just to get to my car after a promo in a school. I used to get away from them. That was the biggest mistake of my life.

“I should've let them tear me apart because that's not gonna happen again. I mean, you're gonna get old, you're gonna get wrinkly, and they'll be like, 'Eww,' then they're gonna go to the next younger guy. And it's happening already in my life.”

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Martin said he always reminds young celebrities to enjoy the moment while it lasts.

“You either embrace it or you commit suicide. It either gets to you mentally that 'I'm no longer that guy. I used to be that guy.'

“But I'm still here, how did I do that? Why am I even still being here? Di ba? Because I embrace everything. Even the moments when they're telling me, 'You're no longer that guy.' Well, I have an album and some people care. I must be doing something right.”

Does Martin get hurt when people tell him he's not as famous as he used to be?

“Yes, it really hurt,” he replied.

“But what hurts more is if I see someone younger, more popular than me, just letting it go. Dude, tomorrow, wala na yun. And I don't mean tomorrow as a figure of speech. I literally mean tomorrow, Monday, wala na yun. You need to embrace that. Stop the bus. Get off the bus and hug those people or tweet about it, 'Whoever you are on the street… maraming salamat!'

“You know how these people during my time, they save their money to watch my shows. People who don't have any money will save their last money to watch me and sit in the worst seat ever, to get a glimpse of me. There were no screens back then. We had the worst sound system. And I'm not gonna pay attention to the cheap seats, but that cheap seat got me here today.”

Then, Martin reiterated, “So for me, to these young stars, embrace it, love it, and mean it. Because tomorrow it's not there. And when you're really popular and sikat, you won't really listen to someone like me. But a few years from now, much less than a few years from now, you'll remember it, 'Tama pala si Martin.' I don't wanna be right, prove me wrong.”

For an established artist like Martin, it would be easy to ignore the antics of young celebrities and let them do as they please. But the OPM singer feels a responsibility to continually guide them on how to handle fame.

He reasoned in the end, “Because they are the ones picking up where we left off. When I'm dead and gone, this industry better be in a good place where I worked so hard.”

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