Richard Poon goes pop on ‘Legends’ album

Ni Len Armea

Richard Poon

Isang sukatan ng pagiging isang tunay na music artist ay ang patuloy nitong pagbibigay ng bagong proyekto para sa mga tagasuporta nito. Isa na rito si Richard Poon, na bagaman kilalang-kilala sa larangan ng Big Band, ay nagpasya na gumawa ng isang pop album na kakaiba sa mga nakagawian ng marinig mula sa kanya.

Binubuo ng 12 kanta  ang “Legends” album ni Richard na kanta ng mga legendary music artists tulad nila Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, The Beatles at Michael Jackson. Pumili si Richard ng mga kanta ng music icons na ito at kanyang binigyan ng bagong rendisyon – ngayon nga ay tunog pop naman.

“For some people who don’t know, I already have five albums – three were Big Band albums, the fourth is a Christmas album and the fifth is the ‘crooner’s album.’ This is my 6^th studio album but it is my first pop album. When I transferred to Universal Records, they asked me if I could offer something new.  This new album is different from what I usually sing,” pahayag ni Richard sa ginanap na presscon sa Makati City.

“Not a lot of people know that I started in the music industry singing pop songs. I perfectly believe that now is the perfect time to go back to my roots – pop,” dagdag pa ni Richard.

Ang mga kantang nakapaloob sa kanyang album ay ang “A Song For You” ni Elton John, “All At Once” ni Whitney Houston, “All In Love Is” ni Stevie Wonder, “Truly” ni Lionel Richie, “And I Love Her” ng The Beatles, “Crazy” ni Kenny Rogers, “Ready To Take A Chance Again” ni Barry Manilow, “Can’t Help Falling In Love” ni Elvis Presley, “If I Keep My Heart Out Of Sight” ni James Taylor, “Borderline” ni Madonna, “The Girl Is Mine” ni Michael Jackson at Paul McCartney at “Evergreen” ni Barbra Streisand.

Sa mga kantang ito, inamin ni Richard na ang kanta ng The Beatles na “And I Love Her” ang paborito ng kanyang kasintahan na si Maricar Reyes. Sa katunayan, sa album launch na ginanap sa Eastwood City kamakailan, dumalo si Maricar at inialay ni Richard ang kantang ito na ikinakilig ‘di lamang ng kasintahan kundi maging ng audience.

“Maricar and I don’t usually have the same taste in music. Most of the sweet love songs that I like, ayaw niya. She likes alternative songs. In the album, if you notice, And I love Her is the most alternative in the album so that’s her favorite,” pag-amin ni Richard.

Nasa plano rin ng singer na maglabas ng all-original album balang araw at ipakanta sa kapwa singers ang kanyang mga naisulat na kanta. Inamin ni Richard na may mga tumutuligsa sa kanya dahil puro cover songs ang ginagawa niya subalit aniya ay may tamang oras para gawin ang bawat bagay.

“There are few critics in the Internet who criticize me for being anti-OPM and hindi raw ako marunong magsulat ng original songs. But I want to make a ‘David Foster-like album’ one day, maybe 12 to 20 songs, that I wrote and arranged and it will be sang by different artists like Gary V., Ogie Alcasid and so on. I have many original songs in my ataul,” aniya.

At nang tanungin siya kung tuluya na niyang iiwan ang Big Band dahil sa pagbalik niya sa pagkanta ng pop ay naging maiksi ang sagot ng binatang singer.

“I will not leave Big Band. It’s my mark.”