HighSpeed
Rannie & Renz: Quite contrary
Ronald Constantino

CLASS & COMMERCIAL – Rannie Raymundo is class. He’s a Lasallian, Kundirana member years back, remember?

Renz Verano is commercial. He’s multiplex king in the ’80s and early ’90s, the male equivalent of Lani Misalucha, remember?

The joke is Rannie’s audience is colegialas and Renz’s the mother of those colegialas. Or, this columnist might add, the alalays of colegialas.

Yet, they are the best of friends – and business partners. They own Brattrax recording studio situated at the back of Rannie’s Greenhills home. Lloyd Umali would have been another partner, but he opted to migrate to the US. Rannie’s younger brother, Lance Raymundo, took over Lloyd.

The joke is Rannie’s audience is colegialas and Renz’s the mother of those colegialas. Or, this columnist might add, the alalays of colegialas.

Yet, they are the best of friends – and business partners. They own Brattrax recording studio situated at the back of Rannie’s Greenhills home. Lloyd Umali would have been another partner, but he opted to migrate to the US. Rannie’s younger brother, Lance Raymundo, took over Lloyd.

•

Upon the invitation of colleague Ambet Nabus, this columnist attended a mini-presscon where Rannie and Renz sang a few cuts from the album, including the duets, ‘Paikot-ikot,’ ‘Walang Iwanan,’ and ‘Uwi Na Ako.’

The last song expresses the longings of an Overseas Filipino Worker, eager to taste once more balut, galunggong, talong, and bagoong, to be with family and other loved ones. The song is guaranteed to melt the heart of, reduce to tears even the most macho of men, Rannie said. And he speaks from experience, having sung ‘Uwi Na Ako,’ in his travels abroad. Rannie and Renz recorded ‘Uwi Na Ako,’ with Lloyd Umali.

•

Rannie counters that there’s nothing wrong with that. He hastens to add that Renz can also go classy, recalling that during a pa-sosyal concert Renz sang ballads and Broadway selections. "Gulat silang lahat, na-eclipse lahat ng ibang singers."

The partnership does not mean, however, that Rannie and Renz are no longer pursuing their solo careers. Rannie will continue singing as a solo artist – and doing music shows. Renz will still sing songs like ‘Remember Me,’ which catapulted him to multiplex superstardom.

•

Looking forward to that concert, the classy singer and the masa performer joining artistic forces.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=37311

Renz Verano is commercial. He’s multiplex king in the ’80s and early ’90s, the male equivalent of Lani Misalucha, remember?

The joke is Rannie’s audience is colegialas and Renz’s the mother of those colegialas. Or, this columnist might add, the alalays of colegialas.

Yet, they are the best of friends – and business partners. They own Brattrax recording studio situated at the back of Rannie’s Greenhills home. Lloyd Umali would have been another partner, but he opted to migrate to the US. Rannie’s younger brother, Lance Raymundo, took over Lloyd.

•

Upon the invitation of colleague Ambet Nabus, this columnist attended a mini-presscon where Rannie and Renz sang a few cuts from the album, including the duets, ‘Paikot-ikot,’ ‘Walang Iwanan,’ and ‘Uwi Na Ako.’

The last song expresses the longings of an Overseas Filipino Worker, eager to taste once more balut, galunggong, talong, and bagoong, to be with family and other loved ones. The song is guaranteed to melt the heart of, reduce to tears even the most macho of men, Rannie said. And he speaks from experience, having sung ‘Uwi Na Ako,’ in his travels abroad. Rannie and Renz recorded ‘Uwi Na Ako,’ with Lloyd Umali.

•

Rannie counters that there’s nothing wrong with that. He hastens to add that Renz can also go classy, recalling that during a pa-sosyal concert Renz sang ballads and Broadway selections. "Gulat silang lahat, na-eclipse lahat ng ibang singers."

The partnership does not mean, however, that Rannie and Renz are no longer pursuing their solo careers. Rannie will continue singing as a solo artist – and doing music shows. Renz will still sing songs like ‘Remember Me,’ which catapulted him to multiplex superstardom.

•

Looking forward to that concert, the classy singer and the masa performer joining artistic forces.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=37311

April 02, 2008 03:50 PM Wednesday 

By: Nel Alejandrino

Tattle

* * *

It has been a while since we heard about Rannie Raymundo.        
   
Do you know that he has performed as a magician both in America and Europe? No wonder that he has magician friends, especially in Las Vegas, Nevada, and, of course, dito rin sa Pilipinas.
   
It just breaks his heart, Rannie said, that some old magician friends dito sa atin have a hard time coping with everyday life.
   
This is why he wants to put up a foundation which will look after the welfare of these magicians, especially those no longer active in the profession.
   
Meantime, what is keeping Rannie busy ay isang proyektong itinuturing niyang natatangi if only because kasama niya sa pag-conceptualize at pag-materialize nito ang equally kasing husay at kinikilalang musician ng bansa, si Renz Verano.
   
Together, Rannie and Renz created a bagong tunog via the album, R&R (Rhythm and Rhyme) Sessions. Kakaiba ito sa mga nalikha nilang dalawa in the past.
   
Sa areglo at hagod pa lang ng mga kanta, maituturing nang katangi-tangi ang album na ito. Malayo na nga ang narating ng taste nila sa musika.
   
Ganunpaman, in the 12-cut album, mapapansin ang magandang kolaborasyon nila sa mga duetong Tirahin Mo, Paikot-ikot, Walang Iwanan, Puwede Ba? at Goodbye.
   
Samantala, markadung-markado pa rin ang baritonong boses ni Renz sa mga awiting Dahil Ikaw, Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na at Balewala.
   
Tatak-kilabot kolehiyala pa rin ang naging approach ni Rannie sa mga pamilyar na niyang awiting If I Could at Someone Like You. Espesyal na handog naman ni Rannie para sa mga OFW ang awiting Uwi na Ako.
   
Sosyo sina Rannie at Renz sa digital recording studio na  Brattrax. Their album will be released by Viva Records.
   
Magkakaroon nga pala sila ng concert sa Teatrino, Greenhills.

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-02&sec=3&aid=54473

Ang musika at mahika ni Rannie Raymundo…
Written by Remy Umerez

TDalawang bagay ang malapit sa puso ni Rannie Raymundo: music at magic.
    Ngayong buwan ng Abril ay ilulunsad ni Rannie sa Teatrino sa Greenhills ang una sa apat na malalaking album na kanyang pinrodyus mula October, 2007, kung saan nagkaroon siya ng full control sa concept at nilalaman ng bawat album.
    The first to be launched ay ang album nila ni Renz Verano, ang R & R. Mag-bestfriends ang dalawa at mistulang magkapatid ang turingan sa isa't isa sa tunay na buhay. Nabuo sa kanilang isipan ang isang ideya at ang resulta ay R & R na kung saan naiibang Renz ang maririnig ng sambayanan.
    “Hindi ito isang Renz na kinilala bilang Jukebox King. Ang maganda nito ay may duet kami ni Renz na ikagugulat ng marami dahil ngayon lang nila maririnig si Renz na aawit ng ganito. Kung baga sa isang aktor, versatile si Renz at napakalawak ng range ng kanyang boses. R & R would definitely surprise many,” wika ni Rannie.
    Puro duet ang tampok sa pangalawang CD. Mga unknown female talents tulad ng rejects sa Pinoy Idol or Dream Academy ang piniling maka-duet ni Rannie. “Hindi naman komo hindi ka napili in a singing search ay nangangahulugang hindi ka mahusay. On the contrary, may mga kasong ‘yung ‘di napili ang siyang nagtatagumpay in the end. The winners in most of the reality shows ay nakasalalay sa magiging choice ng texters na siyang bumoboto. I hope to give them a break sa pamamagitan ng duet album na ito.”
    Nahilig si Rannie sa aliw na dulot ng mahika o magic. Nagayuma siyang pag-aralan ito. Lagi siyang may panahon na magbigay ng lectures hinggil sa kaalaman niya sa siyensiya ng salamanca. Kung ilang ulit niyang ipinamalas ang kanyang skill by appearing on select shows mostly para sa kawanggawa. Kung paano niya lalapatan ng kaukulang musika ang magic is what his third album is all about. Ang album ay alay niya sa miyembro ng Magician Foundation Inc (Phils.) na kung saan ang pangulo ay si Rannie.
     Ang pagiging La Sallite ni Rannie ang siyang nag-udyok upang gawin ang ikaapat na CD ay pamagatang Green album na tumatalakay sa personal na buhay ng isang La Sallista. Isama na din ang ilang komposisyon na ang layunin ay pangalagaan ang ating environment o kapaligiran.
    Ang apat na albums na nakatakdang ilunsad separately sa taong ito ay nirecord sa studio mismo ni Rannie sa loob ng kanyang marangya at malawak na tahanan sa Greenhills. Nagkaroon siya ng interes na magtatag ng sariling recording studio, matapos mag-aral sa Los Angeles hinggil sa negosyo ng pagsasaplaka.
    Ikinatutuwa ni Rannie na hanggang ngayon ay naririnig niya ang version ng other singers ng kanyang mga pinasikat na kanta tulad ng Why Can't It Be? Ang kanyang himutok nga lang, “Sana man lang out of respect ay ipinaalam sa akin ng producer na ipapakanta ito sa iba.”
    Rannie is one showbiz personality who enjoys a successful married life. May dalawa siyang anak na babae at ang isa dito, si Margarita ay sa pakiwari ni Rannie ay may hilig sa pag-awit. We told Rannie na pwede niya itong isinama sa kanyang album of duets with virtually unknown singers.
    Ang wika ni Rannie: “She is very shy at saka ayoko namang pilitin ang bata. Kapag handa na siya, igagawa ko siya ng album at pwede sigurong sila ni Lance ang mag-duet. Very common na ang mag-ama. Wala pa akong naririnig na mag-uncle.”

http://pinoyparazzi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=445&Itemid=30

* * *

Ever wonder what has become of noted singer and composer Rannie Raymundo?

Rannie started in the business as the composer of several of songster Ding-dong Avanzado’s hit songs. They were classmates at De la Salle and members of Kundirana, the popular theater group of the school.

Other members of the Kundirana who are now well-known artists too, include Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano and the Santiago brothers, Randy and Rowell.

Rannie mostly sang his own compositions when he became a singer. And, like Dingdong, he became a hit.

But he suddenly left the music scene. Did he voluntarily give way to his brother Lance (Raymundo), who left his medical studies to follow in his elder brother’s footsteps? Or is it because Rannie fell in love with another singer, who is now abroad and reportedly happily married to a foreigner?

Rannie replied No to both questions. He left, he said, because he felt he no longer belonged in the business. Most of the songs which were lording it over the music scene were revivals, and he was not at home doing that type.

***

Now 40 years old and a devoted husband and father to two girls, aged 11 and seven, Rannie again wants to give the public a taste of his music. Together with Renz Verano, who himself went on a hiatus from the music scene, Rannie made an album called "R&R Sessions."

"R&R Sessions" has 12 songs, with some Latin-inspired numbers, upbeat pop-rock beat and sentimental ballads. Some are accompanied by jazzy instruments, while others have soulful acoustic rhymes. Actually, the collaboration has produced a new sound which Rannie and Renz agree is different from what their audience came to identify them with.

"‘R&R’ is our way of reconnecting to a new audience – yes, the audience of today," said Renz.

Listeners will again hear Renz’ baritone in the cuts "Dahil Ikaw," "Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na" and "Balewala," but this time he sings with a difference.

Rannie, on the other hand, maintained his "kilabot ng mga kolehiyala" sound but with a distinctive quality in his versions of his still familiar songs, "If I Could" and "Someone Like You."

"We hope that with this new sound, mga anak naman ng mga kolehiyalang dating nakikinig sa aming music ang aming ma-win over," said Rannie.

The duets of Rannie and Renz of the songs "Tirahin Mo," "Paikot-ikot," "Walang Iwanan," "Puwede Ba" and "Goodbye" are some of the highlights of the album.

Rannie and Renz also pay tribute to the overseas Filipino workers with "Uwi na Ako," which they recorded with friend-singer, Lloyd Umali.

They recorded the album in their own recording studio, Brattax. It will be released by Viva Records.

They will star in a concert at Teatrino in Greenhills on April 26, Wednesday, 9 p.m.

April 03, 2008 06:08 PM Thursday

By: Mario E. Bautista

Freehand

RANNIE, RENZ JOIN FORCES

RANNIE Raymundo and Renz Verano are both names to reckon with in the local music industry, with Rannie best known for “Why Can’t It Be” (that has had several revivals) and Renz for “Remember Me”, both of which remain constantly requested in sing-along bars.  They cater to different market, Rannie to the “sosyal” A&B crowd while Renz to C to Z “masa” audiences, but this didn’t prevent them from being the best of friends.
   
Their friendship started when Rannie had a concert and he asked Renz to jam with him on stage. Renz sang English songs not usually associated with him and wowed the crowd who realized he can be versatile. “I thank Rannie for being the only singer who recognizes my talent,” says Renz.
   
Rannie says Renz is just too humble but he’s really a good singer with his own originality. Now, they’ve joined forces to come up with a fusion of their talent in “R& R Sessions: Rhythm and Rhymes”, recorded in their own Brattrax Recording Studio in Greenhills. It has 12 original songs. Each does three solo numbers, four duets, and they also have a trio with another friend, Lloyd Umali, who has chosen to live in the U.S.
   
They collaborate on the music and lyrics of many songs that Renz says is “the new Manila Sound”, including the carrier single, “Pwede Ba?” One song that can be the new national anthem of OFW’s and other Pinoys who live abroad is “Uwi Na Ako”, which Rannie composed while he was jamming with some old friends in the U.S.
   
The lyrics will remind you of things that are purely Filipino and will really make you homesick if you live abroad.
   
Rannie and Renz will have a special concert to formally launch the album on April 26, Wednesday, 9 p.m., at Teatrino Greenhills presented by Barako Energy Coffee, Faces & Curves, Charms & Crystals, Calayan Medical Clinic, Gluta White Soap, Met Tathione, Factory at Black Mamba. The other cuts in their album are “Pare-Pareho Lang”, “Tirahin Mo”, “Dahil Ikaw” , “Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na”, “Someone Like You”, “If I Could”, “Bale Wala”, “Walang Iwanan”, and “Goodbye”. Properly promoted, many of these songs can be potential hits.

People's Journal

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-04-03&sec=3&aid=54676

***

Rannie Raymundo and Renz Verano are both names to reckon with in the local music industry, with Rannie best known for "Why Can't It Be" (that has had several revivals) and Renz for "Remember Me," both of which remain constantly requested in sing-along venues. They cater to different markets, Rannie to the "sosyal" A and B crowd, while Renz to "masa" audiences, but this didn't prevent them from being the best of friends.

Their friendship started when Rannie had a concert and he asked Renz to jam with him on stage. Renz sang English songs not usually associated with him and wowed the crowd who realized he can be versatile. "I thank Rannie for being the only singer who recognizes my talent," says Renz.

Rannie says Renz is just too humble but he's really a good singer with his own originality. Now, they've joined forces to come up with a fusion of their talent in "R& R Sessions: Rhythm and Rhymes," recorded in their own Brattrax Recording Studio in Greenhills. It has 12 original songs. Each does three solo numbers, four duets, and they also have a trio with another friend, Lloyd Umali, who has chosen to live in the US.

They collaborate on the music and lyrics of many songs that Renz says is "the new Manila Sound," including the carrier single, "Pwede Ba?" One song that can be the new national anthem of OFW's and other Pinoys who live abroad is "Uwi Na Ako," which Rannie composed while he was jamming with some old friends in the US. The lyrics will remind you of things that are purely Filipino and will really make you homesick if you live abroad.

Rannie and Renz will have a special concert to formally launch the album on April 26, Wednesday, 9 p.m., at Teatrino Greenhills, presented by Barako Energy Coffee, Faces & Curves, Charms & Crystals, Calayan Medical Clinic, Gluta White Soap, Met Tathione, Factory and Black Mamba.

The other cuts in their album are "Pare-Pareho Lang," "Tirahin Mo," "Dahil Ikaw" , "Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na," "Someone Like You," "If I Could," "Bale Wala," "Walang Iwanan," and "Goodbye." Properly promoted, many of these songs can be potential hits.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/apr08/ente_2.htm

Rannie at Renz, binastos ng mga baguhang singer?

Marami raw mga baguhang singers ngayon ang bastos! Sa kuwento nina Rannie Raymundo at Renz Verano, marami si­­lang naiengkuwentro na mga baguhang singer­s ngayon, na akala mo kung sinong umasta, na hindi man lang magbi­gay-galang sa mga singe­r na mas nauna sa kanila, o nagkaroon ng mga hits na kanta.

Para sa impormasyon ng lahat, si Rannie ang nagpasikat ng kantang Why Can’t It Be, at si Renz naman sa Remember Me.

So, kayong mga singer­s na baguhan diyan, na unprofessio­nal na nga, dahil palaging late sa mga appointments nila, magpasikat muna kayo ng mga kanta niyo, bago kayo umarte o ma­ging bastos!

At sana, marating niyo ang narating nina Rannie at Renz, na nakapagtayo ng digital recording studio, ang Brattrax. Dito nga nila nabuo ang bago nilang album.

Laman nga ng album nina Rannie at Renz, na may titulong R&R Sessions (Rhythm and Rhyme), ang mga kantang Tirahin Mo, Paikot-ikot, Walang Iwanan, Puwede Ba, Balewala, at Goodbye.

Sa April 26 ay may show rin ang dalawa sa Teatrino Greenhills. Sponsors nila ang Barako, Faces & Curves, Gluta White Soap, Joy Lim’s Charms & Crystals, Calayan Medical Clinic, Met Tathione, Factory at Black Mamba.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/apr0908/ent_al.htm

Gagawan ni Rannie Raymundo ng duet album ang anak niyang si Margarita at utol niyang si Lance…
Written by Eddie Littlefield

NGAYON nagbabalik musika uli si Rannie Raymundo. Tiyak naming ikagugulat ninyo ang latest album niya na ni-record niya sa sarili niyang studio sa Greenhills. Matapos makapag-aral sa Los Angeles, California tungkol sa recording technique, nagkaroon siya ng ideya na magtatag ng sarili niyang recording studio at hindi na rin matatawaran ang karanasan niya sa recording industry.
 Ilulunsad ni Rannie sa Teatrino, Grenhills on April 26 ang una sa apat niyang album na siya mismo ang nag-produced. Naiiba ang concept at nilalaman ng bawat album. Ang unang album to be launched ay R&R nila ni Renz Verano. Magkaibigang matalik ang dalawa na parang magkapatid. Pinagtibay sila ng hilig nila sa musika, kaya magkatuwang nilang binuo ang naiibang tunog at lapat ng musika sa kanilang album. Sabi nga ni Rannie, “Ikagugulat ninyo dito sa album ang ginawa ni Renz. Naiiba ito sa mga awitin na nagawa na niya in the past. Sigurado akong marami ang magugulat, lalo na sa duet naming dalawa. Ibang klase talaga.”
     Sa second album naman ni Rannie, mga unknown female talents naman ang binigyan niya ng pagkakataon na makilala. Puro duet naman ito with him ng reject o talunan sa mga Pinoy Idol at Dream Academy. Malaki kasi ang paniniwala niyang may kakayahan ang mga ito sa pag-awit kung mabibigyan lamang ng break. At ito na ang pagkakataon nila para sumikat at magkapangalan kahit hindi sila nanalo sa mga singing contest.
     “Timbre lang ng boses, alam ko na kung may ibubuga o wala. I should know dahil singer ako, kaya alam ko kung sino ang magaling kahit sabihin pa nating talunan. Hindi naman lahat ng nananalo sa mga singing search ay sila talaga ang mahusay. Hindi rin sila ang automatic na sumisikat. Ang impotante, mabigyan natin ng chance itong mga baguhang ilabas nila ang kanilang talent sa pag-awit. Ito naman talaga ang layunin ko, makatulong sa mga baguhang singers,” dugtong pa ni Rannie.
Bata pa lamang si Rannie ay namulat na rin siya sa isa pa niyang passion, ang mahika o pagiging magikero dahil na rin sa kanyang ama na mahilig sa magic. Nagkaroon siya ng interest na pag-aralan ito. Sa matagal na panahon, nagbibigay ng lectures ang singer-magician sa mga charity shows. Hindi na nga mabilang kung ilang ulit niyang ipinamalas ang kanyang galing sa mahika sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa pati na rin sa abroad. Naging inspirasyon niya sa pagbuo ng pangatlong album ay ang kanyang mga kaibigan na may kaalaman din sa mahika. Inaalay niya ang album na ito sa mga miyembro ng Magician Foundation, Inc. Phils. na si Rannie Raymundo ang tumatayong Pangulo.
Green Album naman ang ikaapat. Handog naman niya ito sa mga kapwa niya La Sallite na naging inspirasyon din niya. Malaki ang naging bahagi ng eskwelahan niyang La Salle sa buhay niya, and at the same time, ang Green Album ay may mga komposisyong nagmamalasakit sa pagpapanatili ng magandang environment na ang layunin ay pangalagaan ang kapaligiran.
Of course, hindi natin malilimutan ang pinasikat ni Rannie na awiting “Why Can’t it Be?” na hanggang ngayon ay naririnig pa rin natin na pinatutugtog sa mga radio station at inawit na ng kung sinu-sinong hindi naman napantayan man lang ang original version ni Rannie. Masaya siya sa kanyang married life at may dalawa siyang anak na magagandang babae.
“Yung si Margarita, ‘yung eldest ko, ang tingin ko mahilig sa music, kaya lang mahiyain pa. Kaya hinahayaan ko lang at ayokong pilitin. Lalapit din ‘yan ‘pag dumating siguro ‘yung time na ready na siya. Kapag ready na siyang umawit gagawan ko siya ng album na may duet sila ni Lance (kapatid nga ni Rannie na international singer-actor na ngayon),” pagmamalaking wika pa ni Rannie.

http://pinoyparazzi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=519&Itemid=30

"R&R," an unlikely collaboration

Because of the fact that they have different markets and different styles, Rannie Raymundo and Renz Verano are indeed unlikely to do a collaboration for an album. But being the best of buddies, they’ve collaborated nonetheless via "R&R: Sessions Album."

The album will test their musical appeal, having been absent from the recording scene for several years now. Rannie who didn’t record for the last eight years (because I didn’t want to follow the so-called trends, he said), and Renz are of course certified hit-makers during their heydays as recording artists.

Rannie, whose appeal was with the "kolegialas," is also a magician who was well-known abroad. He has written a number of hit songs, among them "Why Can’t It Be," and Renz too had had many hits, including " Remember Me."

Many don’t know that Rannie and Renz are the best of friends for years now. "Si Rannie lang ang pumupuri sa akin sa talent ko as a singer," Renz said in jest. But of course, Renz has had his own strong following in the past, who made him "Jukebox King." Now the two are also business partners, having established BRATTRAX, a recording studio to record their albums and which also aims to help discover fresh and young talents. "Marami talaga tayong mga hindi pa nadidiscover na magagaling na musikero at manganganta. Sana lang makatulong din kami to really give break to those who need it," they said.

Their album, by the way, boasts of a variety of Latin-inspired songs, upbeat pop-rock pieces, and of course sentimental ballads, all 12 of them with jazzy, soulful acoustic rhyme.

According to Renz "R&R: Sessions Album" is "our way of reconnecting to a new audience." His baritone voice is so distinct in his rendition of "Dahil Ikaw," "Kung Kailan Wala Ka Na," and "Balewale," which is his first composition.

Rannie, on the other hand, still possesses that "kilabot ng kolehiyala" sound and he simply makes it true in his versions of "If I Could" and "Someone Like You."

"Now, we’re kidding that with this album, we hope to have as supporters the daughters of those kolehiyalas who were once rooting for us. Baka nga puede pa," Rannie said. Their being best of friends are made real and more felt in their duets for the songs " Tirahin Mo ," "Paikot-ikot," "Walang Iwanan," "Pwede Ba" and "Goodbye."

And since stints and shows abroad are the "in" thing for them during those inactive days in the mainstream music scene, they wrote a special song for the OFWs and for those who migrated abroad, which they call "alay namin sa mga nangungulila sa buhay-Pinoy," they said.

The song is called "Uwi Na Ako," which they recorded with their good friend Lloyd Umali and which is expected to be a hit not only among OFWs but also Pinoys everywhere.

By the way, on April 26, Rannie and Renz will have a concert at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills. The concert is presented by Kape Barako, Faces & Curves, Gluta White Soap, Joy Lim’s Charms & Crystals, Calayan Medical Clinic, Met Tathione, Factory at Black Mamba.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080414121851.html

MovieGoer
Rannie, Renz combine forces
Nestor Cuartero

IT’S CALLED synergy.

Aimed at providing color and more body to their work, artists, at a certain point in their careers, hook up to create a new sound, a new look that hopefully can make them more exciting to the public.

The latest to try on this tested formula are Rannie Raymundo and Renz Verano, the two R’s of local music. Poles apart where image and sound are concerned, R & R (sounds like an acronym for rest and recreation…or is it procreation?) have joined forces to produce an album of innovative duets called R&R: Sessions Album.

Rannie is the voice of sophistication, the La Sallite who made a name in the first wave of Philippine R&B in the early 90s. Renz bagged a string of hits by way of jukebox songs around the same time, more commercial, more masa in appeal.

Together, Rannie and Renz have collaborated on a 12-cut album of Latin-inspired songs ranging from upbeat to sentimental. Recorded in Brattrax Studio, which the two friends jointly own, the album boasts such duets as ‘Tirahin Mo,’ ‘Paikot ikot,’ ‘Walang Iwanan,’ ‘Pwede Ba’ and ‘Goodbye.’ Another cut, the OFW song, ‘Uwi Na Ako,’ features a third voice provided by another good friend of theirs, Lloyd Umali.

Certainly, Sessions also carries solo numbers by the two artists, showcasing the sound each is known best for.

Rannie and Renz are not limiting their collaboration to recording. On April 26 at the Teatrino in Greenhills, R & R topbill an intimate show to promote their album and have some fun.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=37725

Still singing their songs

TAKE TWO

Ambet R. Nabus

05/08/2008

Only three recent concerts so far have emerged better than those media-hyped ones that only elicited “ho-hums” and “ah, ok” reactions from us.

First, “RnR Sessions” by Rannie Raymundo and Renz Verano, held at Tanghalang Teatrino, Greenhills last April 26, was definitely worthy of note. Their collaboration spoke a lot of their longevity in the business. Their new album of the same title offers the same variety, from senti to pop rock, Latino to novelty, and even their own “kilabot ng kolehiyala” brand.

The duo had a distinct way of connecting with their audience. It was both surprising and impressive to see that those who trooped their venue were young people who enjoyed their sound. Not that Rannie and Renz are old, far from it!

Also impressive were their spiels, and the way they introduced laughter and fun into the show. I heard there are at least two producers who are planning to re-stage the same thing soon. We won’t miss an encore.

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