Singer Kris Lawrence said controversial actress Katrina Halili knew from last year that he had recorded a remake of “Careless Whisper” which was recently announced as the promotional single of his just-released CD.

“Careless Whisper” was sung and danced to by Dr. Hayden Kho, Jr. in the first of a series of videos involving him and Halili that led to the most recent sex video scandal.

Halili was Lawrence’s ex girlfriend.

“I finished recording my version of that song August, September 2008. I even let Katrina listen to it several times but she never said anything,” Lawrence told Manila Bulletin Online and other members of the press during the launch of another CD that featured his vocals on several tracks.

When the sex video scandal broke out May 2009, Lawrence said he immediately called up Halili.

“I told her, ‘O, pano yan? Alam mo naman na meron akong recording ng ‘Careless Whisper.’ Ang sabi lang niya, ‘Oo nga po,’” said Kris.

The singer then called up his label, MCA Universal to ask if they can choose another song for a single from his CD. He said that his request was denied because everything relating to the promotion of ‘‘Careless Whisper” was already in place.

“Totoo naman. Even if you check the internet, February 2009 pa lang ay pinapatugtog na yung version ko sa Iloilo, Davao and Cebu. It even hit number four sa charts sa Cebu. It was a natural step for us to promote it in Manila, too, but then that thing (Hayden-Halili video) came up,” he said.

Lawrence personally chose to remake “Careless Whisper” in his album. He said that back in the US, he and his friends would joke about and dance to it during their drinking sprees.

“Ang lakas kasi ng dating ng instrumental intro ng kanta. You know, the one of the saxophone,” he said.

“Careless Whisper” is a George Michael original from 1984. It was named Song of the Year in several countries.

Lawrence said he thinks singing the song at the launch of his album would be “a mistake” because it’s “bad timing.” He said he has not watched - “by choice” - the alleged sex video involving his ex girlfriend.

What would he say to Hayden if they cross paths?

“Nothing. I don’t think it’s worth my time to talk to him.”

What Lawrence enthusiastically talked about is his participation in the album, “Soul Sonata.” A concept album by songwriter-author Samantha Riviera that’s released under Universal Records, Lawrence sang on four tracks here including its promotional song, “I’d Do Anything For You.”

“Sonata” is a 10-track collection that musically chronicles Riviera’s intriguing and inspiring story of love found, love lost and how love really is all that matters to touch a universal chord.

“Soul Sonata” has an accompaniment book titled “S.A.M.” Subtitled “Chronicles of a Woman who Lives and Love,” it details the story of Sam and Robot and the uncanny circumstances that intertwined their lives.

Lawrence said that “I’d Do Anything For You” perfectly captures how he feels towards Katrina.

“I will always be beside Katrina no matter what happens. I always tell her to just be herself and to trust in God through all these. I tell her that this is just a part of her life that she can overcome and learn from.”

He denied insinuations that his promoting “Careless Whisper” as a single is a sly way of using his ex-girlfriend’s situation to his advantage.

“Why should I use Katrina? I love her. Yes, I said ‘love’ without the ‘d,’ If I didn’t love her, then I wouldn’t be beside her at this point,” he said.

Lawrence, however, was quick to say that he and Katrina are only friends now.

“It’s better this way because we can concentrate on our respective careers. We still talk frequently about a lot of things ---except current events.”