EXCLUSIVES

Princess Velasco

EXCLUSIVE: Princess Velasco fulfills father's dream in the release of her new Christmas song

By CHERRY SUN
Published On: December 17, 2020, 1:02 PM

Princess Velasco’s single “The New Born King” is an original composition by her dad!

Princess Velasco brimmed with elation as she recalled how she was able to fulfill her father’s dream to be a music composer through her single under GMA Music titled “The New Born King.”

 

Princess Velasco

 

Princess released “The New Born King” in November to usher in the holiday season.

 

In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com during a special video conference with members of Kapuso Brigade, she further shared how they all felt about his dad’s composition materializing into a published Christmas carol.

She began, “Siyempre sobrang excited and thankful na nagawa namin ito and that GMA Music has released it kasi very special ‘to eh. Parang ito ‘yung birthday gift ko/Christmas gift sa daddy ko.”

Princess revealed that she is a daddy’s girl and that her father once dreamed of becoming an artist.

She continued, saying, “He’s very proud of me that I became a professional singer. Kasi talagang music lover siya eh pero never siyang nag-pursue ng career sa music. Kumakanta rin siya pero ngayon hinahapo na daw siya pag kumakanta siya. He never pursued ‘yung hilig niya sa music kasi siyempre dati, noong mga panahon nila parang hindi ka naman talaga masyadong kikita sa music so he went another way para makapagtaguyod ng pamilya. So ngayon, at this age, sabi ko nga, ‘Daddy, ‘di ba amazing na parang ilang dekada ka na sa mundo. Eight na ‘di ba.’ Minsan pag naiisip ko ‘yun naa-amaze ako eh kasi para sa akin bata pa rin si daddy kasi parang ‘pag kasama ko siya bata pa lang ako ulit… Minsan nakakalimutan ko na 80 years old na siya so tuwang-tuwa talaga siya na… kasi 1964 niya ni-compose ‘yung song.”

This accomplishment became more meaningful as it served to bridge the physical distance they had to observe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Princess shared, “He’s been so lonely at home… Nalulungkot siyempre, gusto niya kaming makita. Kasi dati every week, every two weeks dumadalaw kami sa kanya pero ngayon hindi namin magawa. Usually sa messenger lang or nagpe-Facetime kami, ganyan pero siyempre bitin. So nung pinakita niya sa akin ‘yung song, pinarinig niya sa amin ‘yung song na sinulat niya many, many years ago, 56 years ago, sabi niya, ‘Baka naman pwede mong i-record, Ces.’ Sabi ko, ‘Sige, try natin, daddy.’”

She had the music arranged by her close friend Mic Llave while GMA Music agreed to release and distribute her single.

Princess performed the first unofficial rendition of “The New Born King” during a livestream on October 24, which was also the date of composition of her father’s masterpiece back in 1964. She also made sure to include her father in the process of producing the single.

She recalled, “Sabi niya, ‘Aba, maganda. Medyo upbeat siya tapos masaya 'tsaka parang bagay talaga sa boses mo.’ So from the start pa lang parang kasama na rin siya sa collaboration process.

"Hindi ko naman siya ginawa na hindi ko pinapaalam sa kanya like every step of the way kasi nga siyempre kanta niya ‘yun and I want him to be part of the creative process. So pag may input siya, tine-take into account ko din hanggang sa nabuo na namin ‘yun song.

"‘Yung pinakaunang time niya na narinig na kinanta ko ‘yun is naka-live ako eh, naka-live ako sa isang livestream app tapos nanonood siya. Tapos sabi ko, ‘Meron akong surprise, parang exclusive ‘to ah, tayo-tayo lang makakarinig, ganyan. ‘Yung dad ko, may sinulat na song, hindi ko pa ito nare-record pero gusto ko lang iparinig sa inyo.’ So kinanta ko ‘yun parang sample lang tapos hindi ko alam na nire-record pala niya… Tapos tuwang-tuwa siya na ang ganda raw ng pagkanta ko, ganyan. Tapos nung final recording na, siyempre nagustuhan na talaga niya.

“Tuwang-tuwa siya doon sa coincidence na ‘yun. Sabi niya, ‘Sa wakas natupad ‘yung dream ko na maging legitimate na composer. Pwede ko nang tawagin ang sarili ko na composer.”

“The New Born King” is available for download and streaming on digital platforms worldwide.

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