Kuh Ledesma considers Barbra Streisand her 'voice teacher'
Para sa OPM icon na si Kuh Ledesma, iisang pangalan lang ang kaniyang naiisip kapag tinatanong siya kung sino ang pinaka-malaking impluwensiya sa likod ng kaniyang singing career.
"I grew up listening to Barbra Streisand," sambit ni Kuh.
Para sa mga hindi nakakilala kay Barbara Streisand, siya ay isang sikat na American singer, songwriter, actress at filmmaker. Sa kaniyang karera na umabot sa mahigit anim na dekada, si Barbra ay humakot na ng napakaraming awards, kabilang na ang dalawang Academy Awards, sampung Grammy Awards, limang Emmy Awards, Presidential Merit of Freedom at siyam na Golden Globes.
"Streisand became my mentor in terms of vocal placement. I didn't have the budget to go to a voice teacher except later on when Cecile Azarcon became my teacher," kuwento ni Kuh.
"My real voice teacher was Streisand as I would emulate and I would actually sing her songs, I also learned how to place my voice. I learned to sing hard songs because Streisand would always sing hard songs."
Masasabi na si Kuh ay isa na ngayong "legend" sa larangan ng musika sa Pilipinas. Siya ang kauna-unahang Filipino singer na nakapagtala ng mga sumusunod: makapagpuno ng manonood sa Araneta Coliseum; maka-receive ng Salem Award sa London noong 1989; makapag-record ng all-English OPM album na pinamagatang "I Think I'm In Love" noong 1984; makagawa ng all-OPM concert sa Folk Arts Theatre.
Kaya di naman maitanggi ni Kuh na excited siya na gawin ang "Kuh Ledesma, Christian Bautista Sing Streisand, Groban, Legrand," isang concert kasama si Christian Bautista na magaganap bukas ng gabi, October 20, sa The Tent at Solaire.
Bukod kay Streisand, paborito rin ni Kuh ang mga kanta na sinulat ni Michel Legrand tulad ng "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Piece of Sky," "How Do You Keep The Music Playing," "Windmills of Your Mind," at iba pang classic songs.
"I had a wonderful experience with him [Michel]. Istrikto siya ha," kuwento ni Kuh na nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makatrabaho ang legendary French musical composer, arranger, conductor at pianist noong 2002 para sa isang concert. "It was such a wonderful experience for a singer like me to be able to sing with such an amazing composer."
Aminado naman si Christian na si Josh Groban ang naging "peg" niya sa pagkanta simula noong sumabak siya sa isang singing contest.
"When I started in 'Star In A Million,' I started with Groban songs. We didn't want to compete with the other biriteras and other birit kings, 'cause I'm really a baritone. Mas suitable pala sa akin ang mga songs ni Josh Groban because he has a lower register."
May ilang kanta si Josh na malapit sa kaniyang puso. "There is a song ni Groban from the movie A.I. called "For Always." It's such a beautiful song that I've always wanted to sing it. If I have the chance, I would also love to sing "You're Still You," again because it's been a while na hindi ko siya nakanta."
Confident din ang dalawa na may hatak pa rin ang OPM singers kahit na marami ng foreign acts ang nagko-concert sa Pilipinas. "There will always be an audience for OPM, there will always be an audience for foreign," sagot ni Christian. "We have lots of beautiful concerts and musicals that are world-class."
May isang hiling lang si Kuh. "I just wish OPM, being an organization, would actually make intentional efforts to let local producers and artists know if there are foreign artists coming. Sana merong calendar para di nagkakatapatan. Para kasing there's no consideration especially for the local artists, lalo na 'pag Valentine's. You don't even need to bring in foreign artists during Valentine's, kasi flooded na ng local artists."