Air Supply

MANILA, Philippines -- It was an intimate interaction that happened between the famed duo Air Supply (Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock) last Thursday night at the Aliw Theater.

It was a long line that I had to follow when I arrived before 8 p.m., a clear proof that the duo’s popularity with Filipino music lovers has not waned.

I’ve never seen such enjoyment and fun manifested by the crowd as they heartily sang along with the Air Supply hit songs, and as they surged forward to touch Russell, or, for the lucky, be kissed by him on the cheeks.

Russell, in a light-footed way moved from end to end of the stage, endearing himself to the enthusiastic and appreciative audience (who’re made up of young and old fans), while gesturing affectionately towards his partner Graham Russell and the drummer and other members of the band for them to share the applause.

He even went down for a closer feel of those at the far end of the theater, who cheerfully met him halfway for endless handshakes and picture-taking with their cell phones.

As expected, the duo performed most of the songs that made them a byword since 1975 till today, 25 years after (still, many regretted their not including in their repertoire their other hits like “Sweet Dreams” and “Come What May”). They performed “Just As I Am,” “Just a Little Bit More,” “Even the Nights are Better,” “Every Woman in the World,” “Lost in Love,” “The One That You Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Making Love (Out of Nothing At All,” “Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)” and that’s when Russell decided to get down to meet those at the back seats; and “Goodbye.”

Graham, who is the guitarist and songwriter of the duo, did his share of singing, and in between he reminded everyone that it was in 1991 (“before some of you weren’t born yet”) that they first came over for a concert. “We love the Philippines,” he said, and that is why they keep on coming back.

At the end of the show (after several encore numbers because clearly, the audience can’t seem to have enough of their performance), Air Supply thanked Danee Samonte of Steve O’Neal Productions for bringing them over, hoping to be back again soon.

ABS-CBN tops TV ratings in April

Based on Kantar Media’s report, ABS-CBN topped the national TV ratings in April with an audience share of 43 percent, or a 13 point lead over its rival network.

Kantar said ABS-CBN secured nine out of ten most watched programs for April, excluding the Holy Week when advertisers discount the holidays in doing their media plan and local networks don’t do regular programming.

“Mara Clara,” the country’s most-watched teleserye for the past months, tied with weekend’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya” on the No. 1 spot in April both with an average national rating of 32.5 percent. “Mutya,” on the other hand, claimed the No. 2 spot with 30.8 percent followed by the Coco Martin starrer “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin” (30.7 percent) and the talent-reality show “Pilipinas Got Talent” (29.3 percent).

“TV Patrol” scored 25 percent with its successful coverages of the Royal Wedding between Prince William of Wales and commoner Catherine Middleton, and the beatification of Blessed John Paul II.

Other shows in the Top 10 are “Wansapanataym” (24 percent), “Rated K” (21.8 percent), and the recently concluded soap on vampires and werewolves in “Imortal” (21.5 percent).

American songwriters produce Olivia’s album

Pop-jazz artist Olivia has a new album under Vicor Music Corp. entitled “Sweetest Vice.” The 12-cut CD is in collaboration with top American songwriters namely, Christian de Walden, Michael Shepstone and Ralf Steimann.

De Walden, who headed the team, is a senior album producer in Europe and the US. He is a composer, arranger and songwriter as well.

Hit songs of big-name artists like Anne Murray, Engelbert Humperdinck, Paulina Rubio and The Three Degrees worked with De Walden as album producer.

Recorded in Manila and mixed in Los Angeles, CA and Milan, Italy, the CD was produced by Vic del Rosario and son Vincent del Rosario, together with long-time business partner Tony Ocampo.

The album contains cover of songs close to the heart of Pinoys, such as Captain and Tenille’s “Don’t Forget Me,” Randy Crawford’s “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” Commodore’s “Easy,” Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “This Girl’s In Love With You,” “Got to Let You Know,” “Kissing a Fool,” “Sometimes a Love Goes Wrong,” “He’s Out Of My Life,” Madonna’s “Take A Bow,” and Trisha Yearwood’s hit “How Do I Live,” which Olivia sings with Mark Bautista.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, May 16, go to Robert Arevalo, Gary Estrada, Cherry Cobarrubias, Butch Tenorio, Carmina Pavia, Ada de Leon, Adrian Albert Dominguez, Abet Lopez, Lynda Reyes, Anelle J. Baluyot, Alfredo C. Mendoza, Malou Almonte, Danny Cruz, Benny de Ocampo, Ronald Manalili, Vic Valenciano, Maggie Herrera, Bien San Roque, Jun Natividad, and Leonarda Calo Solito… Happy wedding anniversary to Terry and Eli Maniquis…