Viva Live has presented a brand-new streaming event that featured the music of one of the most prolific rock singer-songwriters in OPM.
The online event, billed Rico Blanco Songbook: Musical Stories by Rico Blanco, is a celebration of the singer-songwriter’s most memorable songs from his time with Rivermaya up to his breakthrough years as a solo artist.
Retelling these songs are some of the most recognizable musical acts today as well as some rock luminaries of the Pinoy music scene such as December Avenue, Ebe Dancel, Callalily, Spongecola , Gibbs Sisters, Earl Generao, and Mayonnaise and Viva Records artists such as This Band, Raphiel Shannon, John Roa, Janine Tenoso, and Sarah Geronimo have reimagined the music of the ex-Rivermaya lead singer and songwriter.
Described as a musical documentary, Rico Blanco Songbook: Musical Stories by Rico Blanco is a first-of-its-kind musical special locally produced and released that is exclusive for streaming. The Treb Monteras II-directed special also features heavily on musical performances. Ebe Dancel, Mayonnaise’s Monty Macalino, Yael Yuzon of Spongecola, and Kean Cipriano of Callalily will reveal their perspectives about Blanco as an artist.
“Some songwriters are good at melodies, some at lyrics, Rico excels at both. He always has this ‘shet-ang-ganda-sana-ako-na-lang-nagsulat-nun’ song in every album he releases. He’s a master at what he does and I’ve always idolized him,” Dancel said of Blanco.
Newer acts such as December Avenue, This Band, John Roa, Raphiel Shannon, and Earl Generao talk of the impact the singer-songwriter has had on their own craft.
“We were excited and honored to pay tribute to one of OPM’s greatest songwriters. Rico is one of my musical heroes. Growing up listening to
his songs heavily influenced my passion for music,” December Avenue singer Zel Bautista said.
The virtual concert-slash-streaming event’s setlist relies on the Rico Blanco Songbook—a ten-track album compilation that reinvented the hits of the Pinoy rock artist. This includes “Your Universe” by Geronimo, “Wag Mong Aminin” as interpreted by Ebe Dancel, This Band’s “Liwanag Sa Dilim” and Janine Tenoso’s “A Love To Share” to name a few of the songs included in the album.
Rico Blanco Songbook: Musical Stories by Rico Blanco premiered on Aug. 7 on several platforms including www.ktx.ph