Regine Velasquez

MANILA, Philippines — Regine Velasquez fully understands why every new female belter tends to sound like her at the start of their career.

“You have to pattern your singing style to a veteran until you develop your own style,” Regine told Bulletin Entertainment and other media in a recent interview where she was asked to comment over Angeline Quinto’s tendency to sound like the Songbird.

When the press forced Regine to react on the copycat practice, common among up and coming, young belters, she humbly said, “I’m at that point in my career that I’m not affected anymore [if others tend to copy my singing style]. I don’t care. Not that I don’t care for, let’s say Angeline, I care about the person but on the other hand I understand that you need other singers to base your range upon before you find your own.”

In Angeline’s defense, Regine argued, “I myself copied other artists, such as Whitney Houston, when I was starting out in the business.” To which, the press reacted, “But Whitney is a foreign artist. In the Philippines, almost every new singer is doing a Regine.”

Ogie Alcasid’s wife just smiled and said, “May anak na ako. Hindi na talaga ako naapektuhan. Mas naiintindihan ko pa nga. Kasi [it happened in the past] like when Rachelle Ann Go was starting out, I heard her over the radio and I felt she sounded exactly like me. I began asking myself, ‘Did I record this song?’ I thought baka nagka-amnesia lang ako at ako pala talaga ang kumanta nung naririning ko but through time, that’s just how it is, eh. And look at Rachelle now! She sounds very differently now because she developed her own style. I just think that it’s a process more than an effort to sound like someone else.”

Incidentally, Angeline is guesting in Regine’s Valentine concert with husband Ogie on Feb. 14 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. “I want to guest her naman because, I’ve guested Sarah Geronimo before, so this time, iba naman.”

Regine will eventually resume her regular TV grind, although she doesn’t see it happening soon. “Though I will appear on ‘Party Pilipinas’ (Feb. 12) and ‘Eat Bulaga’ just to promote the concert,” she said.