FMM: Met expectations

The Metropop fixation continues. Which is very apt because all the entries, runners-up and winners qualify as Friday Magic Madness songs due to their age.

Kuh Ledesma is a big favourite of the family. When we were kids, we'd watch her concerts at Music Museum, even if it meant us staying up way past our bedtime. We also got to meet her personally a few times because she's friends with one of our Titas.

There's an interesting story about Kuh Ledesma and the Metropop Music Festival. Odette Quesada penned an entry for the contest, and she wanted Kuh to sing it. At first, Kuh was reluctant because she didn't like joining singing contests, even as an interpreter for a composer who's very close to her. 

But Odette really wanted her to interpret the song. In fact, Kuh was the only singer she had in mind and was a non-negotiable. So, what she did was to ask her grandmother to talk to Kuh and convince her. Now, Kuh is close to her Odette's grandmother and has a soft spot for Lolas. And that sealed the deal.

That song, "Till I Met You" eventually bagged the grand prize in the 6th Metropop Music Festival in 1983.

I'm so glad Kuh met Odette's grandmother. That meeting has gifted us with an iconic song that - up to now - is one of my most listened to songs.

FMM: Way back when...

This week, D' Frendz and I were chatting and Mona mentioned the line: "Noong unang panahon."

Of course, like the usual D' Frendz conversations, this suddenly went a totally different direction, and we were suddenly talking about that old song from "Tales of the Manuvu." Particularly this song:



"Noong Unang Panahon" is a memorable song for me. We performed this in our High School Glee Club, and we "toured" around different campuses and venues performing this song. Our teacher, Mr. Ortega, prepared a full number of songs from that musical, and our number was introduced as: "Overture from 'The Tales of the Manuvu.'"

It started as a song, transitioned into a dance, then culminated in a battle. And it was a hit everywhere we went.

Gosh, that was so long ago. Now, looking back at it, this really felt like it was "Noong Unang Panahon."