Christian Bautista sings his way to the UK charts

Ni Len Armea

Christian Bautista naglabas ng bagong single na
pinamagatang Who Is She To Me? 

Naglabas ng bagong single ang singer na si Christian Bautista na pinamagatang “Who Is She To Me?” na isang love song at isa siya sa mga co-producer. Espesyal ang kantang ito para kay Christian dahil ito ang kauna-unahan niyang awitin na inilabas sa United Kingdom (UK) at simula ng napakinggan ito sa iTunes nitong Disyembre ay nasa #44 ito sa UK Vocal charts at #17 sa Top US New Releases.

Malaking bagay ito para kay Christian lalo na’t hindi madali na makapasok sa international scene lalo na sa United Kingdom at Estados Unidos.

“It’s big for me. If you would look at the numbers, you’d say ‘parang ang layo naman’ pero for me okay na iyon. Hopefully, tumaas pa,” pahayag ni Christian sa Pinoy Gazette.

Tiwala ang sikat na balladeer na tatangkilikin ang bago niyang single dahil maganda ang pagkakagawa sa kanta at sinsero ang lyrics nito na tungkol sa pagmamahal ng tunay na isang babae.

“I’d say it’s a love song from a different perspective. It’s a love song that talks about the beginnings of love. Who Is To Me, it is at that point when one person is starting to feel this feeling. What is this feeling? Who is she to me? Why am I feeling this way? Do I love her already?” Paglalarawan ni Christian sa kanyang bagong single.

“Iba ang melody lines ng kantang ito, alam mo na foreigner ang gumawa and it travelled from different countries – I recorded it in Los Angeles, produced in Italy, and recorded the music video in London,” dagdag pa ni Christian sa kanyang kanta na Who Is She To Me na isinulat ni Michael Shepstone.

Hindi naman bago sa international scene si Christian, na tinaguriang “Asian Pop Superstar,” na ang mga kanta ay popular din sa Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia at Thailand. Kaya isang malaking hamon para sa binatang tubong Cavite na mapasok ang UK market.

“People say it’s close to impossible, people say it’s hard. A lot of artists have done it already – whether America or UK – sometimes they make it, sometimes they don’t but I am one who just wants to try. I still want to experience it, go with it, or try it at least,” giit ni Christian na nagpasikat sa mga kantang “The Way You Look At Me,” “Colour Everywhere,” “Hands to Heaven,” “Up Where We Belong” at marami pang iba.

Bukod sa pagkanta, naging abala rin si Christian sa pag-arte sa telebisyon at naging host din siya ng katatapos lamang na talent competition sa GMA 7 na “To the Top.” Kahit na ang musika ang kanyang pangunahing pinagkakaabalahan, masaya si Christian na sa mahigit sa 10 dekada sa showbiz ay masasabi niyang marami siyang nasubukang mga bagay at natutuhan.

“There’s really no real formula on how to stay this far in the industry. May be faith, perseverance, hard work, the support of fans and the management, you’re ability to keep on creating – a mix of all that. You just have to continue what you are doing. Just don’t stop.”

Sa taong 2016, nasa plano na ni Christian ang magtanghal sa ibang bansa, maglabas ng bagong OPM album at gumawa ng musical.

“At this point, it’s all about creating creative noise. It’s about conquering different lands and ventures -- finding out what the next step is.”

“Through experience, you learn, you grow up, you mature. You learn from success, you learn from mistakes and hopefully you don’t fall the same way you fell before,” aniya.