martin ,his music ... a legend
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SANA BAGO AKO MAMATAY MAKITA KO SI MARTIN!!!!!!!!!1
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Despite the increasing flood of new talents in the Philippine entertainment scene, with the abundance of talent programs which launch wave after wave of singers and stars overnight, “Concert King” Martin Nievera remains one the country’s premier balladeers. His multitude of musical engagements, sold-out performances, product endorsements and other lucrative projects attest to his status as an institution in the realm of Pinoy Pop Music. His latest release, When Love is Gone, further cements his re######tion as a master entertainer with remarkable longevity.

A compilation of what best could be described as “break-up songs,” Martin’s newest album is a follow-up and somber counterpoint to Best Wishes, which contains optimistic wedding tunes. As if to drive the point even further, the first single, Goodbye, a song about lost love, features Martin in a duet with ex-wife Pops Fernandez. As he remembers, even the recording of the song (a remake he originally performed with Regine Velasquez) was a bit awkward for the much-gossiped couple.

“The words in my song usually hit me more than they hit her,” he says. “So out of pride, even if it did hit me, I would not show it, because she was in the studio, right in front of me, watching me record. Once she recorded, I had to leave, I couldn’t stay. For personal reasons, I thought I might distract her.”

What looked at first like a picture perfect union between two of the nation’s most popular singers ended shockingly amidst intrigues of extra-marital indiscretions. In recent years, however, it would appear as if a reconciliation of sorts has come to pass, with Martin and Pops amicably performing in shows together and, on the personal side, spending much of their vacation time together with their two boys, Robin and Ram – their last being a cruise around Europe, which Martin planned and paid for.

So the question on everyone’s mind: Are Martin and Pops getting back together again? “Pops and I, right now, we’re living each day as it comes, enjoying whatever comes our way,” he says. “We haven’t sat down to think where this is going to go or what is going to happen, like when we first met.

“I think what’s going to bring us back together again, if it’s really in the cards, is if God really wants the two of us together, more than just friends, to spend our twilight years together, etc.  I can’t really control that.” He says there has to be a sign from her that she’s willing to take it to the next level, but “I don’t see any. I see a lot of love and respect for each other’s privacy, we don’t ask any questions about him or her or whatever, none. We have fun with whatever’s happening at that moment, and that’s it.”

That suits him just fine. “Whether it happens the way we both want it to happen or not, it’s forever. We’re always a family – she’s the mother of the kids, I’m the father if hers.”

He continues: “It’s like two great friends, and if you cross the line, you ruin it. We’re at that point. We don’t want to ruin what we have now, which is so weird, because we already know what it’s like to be together. To be a team, on and off the stage. I’m sure Pops feels the same way. The moment we get off track and we take the plunge or take the risk; we could become lovers, but no longer friends. We could become husband and wife, but no longer this magical thing where everything is exciting, everything new. It’s great.”

Asked whether he’s affected by Pop’s post-annulment relationships, which included Australian model Brad Turvey, Martin candidly admits that yes, it hurts. “There’s still a part of me that wants her to the point of jealousy. But if he’s a good guy, and he’s good to my kids, okay lang.” As for his own love life, he remains tight-lipped. “My answer is I’m not going to answer any question like that, because that’s what got me in this mess in the first place. I will not admit to any relationship until I’m certain it’s the one. Until it’s something to brag about. What for? I’ll just make all these girls popular.”

Despite his past mistakes which he sincerely regrets, Martin feels that, in the end, he’s grown to become a better man and artist for it. “I’m the one person that’s kicked myself in the ass for the things I’ve done, but look what it’s done for me. I’ve become more passionate about life, about my songs; I want you to know how I’m feeling.”

Celebrating an astounding 23 years in show business, Martin began his career auspiciously in 1982 with the release of the platinum album Martin Take One. His first international recording was Say That You Love Me, released in Hawaii. It was with the 1994 LP Roads that he first reached double-platinum status, selling an astonishing 80,000 copies.

In 1997, Martin made three amazing releases -- a single, What’s On the Other Side; platinum album, Journeys; and a special edition of Journeys released in Hawaii.
Another career highlight would be his LIVE album, recorded at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, accompanied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

Despite all the audience acclaim and critics’ accolades, Martin does not take much stock in awards, prizes, or citations. “From the very first year I was in show business, I never believed in trophies. Most of the fans, they have all my trophies. It’s really them that got me those anyway, so they’re the ones that should get it. I don’t believe in those things. I say thank you, it’s a blessing, but I don’t make it a goal in life to win an award or trophy.”

Martin has also become quite an international showman as well, dating back to 1989 when he first performed at The Harrah’s Casino Lounge in Reno, Nevada, and The Palace Hotel Ballroom of Guam in 1996. He has also done numerous stints in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Middle East, and Canada. In 2003, Martin had an extensive run in Las Vegas, heaping further praise.

As Martin relates, it is when performing abroad that he is conscious of his Filipino heritage. “I’m more inspired when I’m out of the country, because I feel I’m representing our people,” he says. “There’s so much pride in what I do. Here, you become a little more relaxed. In the States and other parts of the world, I feel I’m representing the country, so my pride factor increases a hundredfold. My goal is to make them stand up.”

Traveling seems to take much of his time now, and as much as possible during “down” times and breaks, he makes a conscious effort to spend as much time with his kids, and with Pops, as possible. “Before the day they decide to go to college or whatever, they need to be in a family atmosphere. I don’t want to miss a moment where my son’s playing a guitar or the other one’s entering a drawing in some contest. I’m really a proud father. I want to be there. I don’t want to miss a single day without seeing my kids. I love being around them.”

With all his significant achievements, does he feel that there’s anything goal for him to attain? “I think every singer, every performer, every actor, their biggest dream is to achieve a happy ending,” he says. “We sing about it, we act it out in movies. I don’t think you can plan, choreograph, or write a happy ending. It just happens.”

Touching briefly on the current political strife and unrest in the country, Martin half-heartedly jokes that he’d make “a great president” based on all the negative experiences he (admittedly) has put himself through. “I don’t mean to make parinig, but I’ve been such a great liar all my life,” he explains. “It’s gotten o the point when you know I’m lying. It’s when you don’t know I’m lying, and then I’d be a bad president. You know me so well, you’d know how I would do things.”

Looking back on his career and into the future, his inspiration has always been the Filipino people. “I love this country, I love the people who I sing for,” he says. “I give them more credit than they deserve. There are some Filipinos that you just want to slap, but that goes for any race. Come on! Get with it, be proud of what you are! They got so many stories to tell. That’s what keeps me going. But you will never see me in politics; I have a higher calling, and I love it.”
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Martin Nievera, tikom ang bibig sa bagong karelasyon!

Jun Nardo


Siyempre, sinimplihan namin ng tanong sa kanyang lovelife si Martin!

"It’s still private! I don’t want to brag about it until she’s really the one. I’m sure, you will know about it!" tugon ni Martin.

http://www.abante.com.ph/issue/dec0705/main.htm
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