For Jose Mari Chan, 'Christmas in Our Hearts' is a gift that keeps on giving
For all the memorable songs that he had written, “Christmas in Our Hearts” will always be regarded as the quintessential Jose Mari Chan masterpiece.
Since it first hit the airwaves in 1990, “Christmas in Our Hearts” has become the Yuletide anthem for Filipinos alongside the traditional carols to mark the season.
The song was part of Chan's album, also named "Christmas in Our Hearts," which is the biggest-selling album in the Philippines - a feat that perhaps will never be surpassed given that physical records are no longer the norm in today's digital age.
The origin of the album can be traced to the massive success of Chan's 1989 record, "Constant Change."
Incidentally, "Constant Change" was the first Filipino album to reach Diamond status after selling more than 800,000 copies and to date is the second biggest-selling album in the country behind, well, "Christmas in Our Hearts."
"Constant Change" featured the timeless hits “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” “Can't We Start Over Again,” “Constant Change,” and the unforgettable “Beautiful Girl.”
Prior to the album, Chan has dished out the ballads “Tell Me Your Name” and “Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile,” among other hits.
Exceeding expectations
In a way, "Christmas in Our Hearts" was not envisioned to surpass Constant Change.
It was, rather, a project to keep Chan's momentum going as his popularity surged both in the Philippines and abroad.
The plan was for Chan to come up with a record composed of covers and original songs all wrapped under the theme of the festive season.
One of the songs put forward by Chan was the title track, “Christmas in Our Hearts.”
The material made use of the melody of an obscure Chan song titled “Ang Tubig Ay Buhay,” with lyricist Rina Cañiza changing the original words with inputs from Chan.
Designed as a duet, Chan asked singers and theater actresses Lea Salonga, then Monique Wilson, to sing with him on the song.
Both stars agreed but failed to do the project due to Lea's contact with a competing record label and Monique losing her voice a few days before the studio session.
In the end, Chan recorded “Christmas in Our Hearts” with his daughter, Liza.
“When the producer [the late Bella Tan of Universal Records] heard it, sabi niya, 'Joe, I don't think radio will play this song,'” Chan reminisced about the moment in an interview with GMA Lifestyle.
“I said, 'Why?'” a confused Chan asked.
“'Because it sounds too much like a Christian song,” Tan replied.
“Sabi ko, 'What's wrong with that?' Christmas is a Christian event, a Christian celebration,'” Chan argued, pleading his case.
Tan felt that radio stations will find the song not commercially viable. She then urged Chan at the last minute to write a “romantic Christmas song” to boost the album's marketability.
Chan relented and came back after a few days with the dreamy, “A Perfect Christmas.”
“'Yan, Joe! That's the song that radio stations will play!'” Chan recalled Tan telling him excitedly.
When it was time to preview the album, however, “Christmas in Our Hearts” was the song that appealed the most to the media and radio DJs, and soon, the listening public.
“I was surprised, but I was grateful to God for the gift of music,” Chan said about the success of the song and album, which was released in November 1990.
“By December it had already achieved five Platinum awards until it became a double Diamond record seller,” Chan said.
For context, Diamond status as per the standards of the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) during the 90s until the mid-2000s means record sales of 400,000 copies.
"Christmas in Our Hearts" doubled that number and has sold more than 800,000 units to hit the double Diamond mark.
The album and song's success has also crossed over to the digital realm with millions of downloads on streaming platforms under its credit.
The memes
The boom of social media has also surprisingly benefitted “Christmas in Our Hearts” and Chan.
Chan, for years now, has become the country's favorite meme to announce the coming of the “ber” months, a time when Filipinos begin counting the days leading to Christmas.
“At first, I was amused. I was complimented and flattered, and it would help to maybe promote my songs,” Chan said.
“But then later on, paulit-ulit na lang kasi. [It's always] the same picture and people might get bored - 'Yan na naman? Wala na bang iba? Wala na bang bago?'”
In general, though, Chan expressed gratitude to the memes for keeping him relevant and at the most joyous season of the year at that.
“Thank you very much for giving me importance and for associating me with the Christmas season. Ber months pa lang, nandyan na 'yong mga memes,” smiled Chan.
As for his favorite Christmas songs, Chan mentioned the classics such as “O Holy Night,” “Joy to the World,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” among several others.
Meanwhile, Chan's favorite Christmas tradition is mounting the Christmas tree at home with the entire family, which now includes his grandchildren.
“Each of my children has their own [Christmas tree] ornament that they remember when they were kids,” he fondly mentioned.
“A very important thing to remember is that Christmas is for the family. Christmas won't be complete without our family [sharing it with us].”
Looking ahead
Chan has been mostly at home ever since the pandemic and lockdowns started last year.
This means running his business (a sugar company based in Negros) at home and conducting meetings and interviews virtually.
We asked him how he feels about the drastic shift in the landscape of music not just here but worldwide. A fact that is highlighted even more today as people resort to technology to access music.
“It's challenging for new songwriters. How do you become popular nationwide? When you go on social media parang limited lang ang audience. Of course, they talk about, for example, 100,000 viewers. But can you translate that to money?” he mused.
“Unlike before, you sell 100,000 records and you can see your royalty checks. I feel bad for the young singer-songwriters.
“But I always encourage them to continue writing, continue to sing your songs, let the world know about your music, the thoughts in your heart,” Chan said.
“I'm encouraging young singer-songwriters to express themselves. Listen to the melodies of the '80s, '70s, '60s, '50s, and then gather inspiration from those and write your own. You can write in Filipino to express yourselves.”
Any chance of seeing a Jose Mari Chan songwriting class soon?
“No one has asked me to give a master class yet,” he replied.
“Well, one day, who knows, if somebody will approach me. I don't mind doing it with one or three songwriters. Between the four of us, we can give good ideas to aspiring songwriters.”
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