Ibang klase ang popularidad at longevity ni Kuh Ledesma bilang OPM diva.
Naging blessing ba o burden sa kanya ang imahe niya bilang diva sa paglipas ng mahabang panahon?
Aniya, “I think it’s a blessing. Because when they say diva, it is with respect and it gets me on my toes, yung gusto kong… to live up for that thing.
“After all, everybody’s calling me that, alangan namang sabihin ko, ‘Hindi, don’t call me diva, don’t call me diva.’ No.
“Thank you, if you see me that way. Of course, ang nag-umpisa niyan, the late Floy Quintos.
"And, for me, it’s just a nice gesture and at the same time, it’s nice to be able to do shows where you can play around with that vision or what you’re called.”
Hindi ba niya naramdaman na nakakahon siya dahil dito?
Mabilis niyang tanggi, “No, no, not at all. Ako pa!”
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Kuh WORks ON NEW SONGS, CALLS FOR VIGILANCE
Isa si Kuh Ledesma sa mga music artists na kilala sa paggawa ng concert albums—noon.
Ang tanong, may plano pa ba ang acclaimed singer na maglabas ng concert album in the future?
Seryosong pahayag ni Kuh, “Right now, we’re working on some gospel inspirational songs, kasi we feel na it is a need for such a time as this.
“We’re also working on nationalistic songs, dahil I wish that all singers would move into that kind of music and lyrics, because you know, music inspires, it moves, it can move a nation, actually.
“Katulad nung "Bayan Ko," during the war, it moved the people, nagkaroon sila ng inspiration to fight for their country.
“So, we are not, you know… we don’t wanna make a music that will move people to anger, but to love their country more, kasi iyan yung kailangan natin ngayon.
“Our country is actually in the midst of something very, parang shaky, at saka we are in danger, actually.
"Ngayon pa lang nae-expose yung mga ginagawa ng mga… yung mga intent ng… ano ba talaga ang gustong gawin ng mga taga-China, di ba?
“It’s quite perilous times, medyo nakatago lang.
“But we need to really think about how we can save our country from being oppressed again, di ba?
"Masyado tayong busy with so many other things that we forget what’s going on, yung talagang yung the heart of our country.
“Hindi tayo as prayerful as we should be, kailangan maintindihan natin yung power ng prayer, that it is really God that is going to move to save us.
“We can have all the ammunitions, we can have all the training we can do with our soldiers and army, we can have the Americans and all that and whoever, sana India, you know.
“Pero ang bayan natin kailangan talagang matutong magdasal at most importantly, makilala ang ating Panginoon.
“Pag sinabi kong makilala, hindi lang yung pumupunta sa simbahan, hindi lang yung nagdadasal.
"Kundi talagang we search after the truth from the Word of God, kasi gusto iyon ng Diyos e, we have to seek His face, so that we know how to approach Him and ask.”
KUH'S UPCOMING CONCERT
May concert ang Pop Diva sa August 3, 2024, Sabado, 7:30 ng gabi, sa ballroom ng Winford Resort and Casino Manila (sa likod ng SM San Lazaro sa Maynila) na pinamagatang Kuh Ledesma Sings Her ABC.
Ang ganda ng venue ng upcoming concert ni Kuh, sosyal, bagay kay Kuh.
Pero may pagkakataon pala sa nakaraan na kumanta si Kuh sa mga lugar na hindi matatawag na sosyal na sosyal o yung tinatawag na ‘street venue.’
Bulalas ni Kuh, “I have sung in a sabungan… oh yeah. When we were Music and Magic, I believe, or I was going solo already.
“We’ve also sang in Eduardo’s. Of course, sa umpisa sabi namin, ‘Ay, Eduardo’s! Baka hindi bagay sa amin, sosyal kami e, class kami,’ ganun,” at tumawa si Kuh.
Hindi sila nag-alinlangan na i-offer sa kanila ang Eduardo’s?
“E, kasi it would bring the people in, di ba, so… pero nung sinabi ng manager namin, ‘Ito ang offer nila,’ sabi ko, ‘Let me think about it’,” at muling tumawa ang Pop Diva.
“Ang laki ng offer, sabi ko sayang naman, di ba, and besides, the crowd was wonderful, we brought our music to them, who are we to say na ayaw namin diyan?
“Especially now, I always bring a message, that I know can be an inspiration of change.”
KUH ON WORKING WITH YOUNGER SINGERS
Special guests ni Kuh sa kanyang concert ang mga baguhang male singers na sina Nathan Randall at David Young.
Ano ang nakita ni Kuh sa dalawa upang maging panauhin sa Kuh Ledesma Sings Her ABC?
Mabilis niyang tugon, “Gusto ko kasi kasama ko mga young, at mga guwapo,” at muling tumawa si Kuh.
“They’re very talented, it’s actually my honor for them to be part of my show, because I’m glad that they did not discriminate according to my age, kasi 45 plus….
"No, 49 na pala ako, tingnan mo nakakalimutan ko na kasi sobrang lagpas na sa kalendaryo, 49 plus, plus… tax,” ang tumatawa pa ring sambit ni Kuh.
Dagdag niya, “These guys are good kids, I call them kids.”
Sa direksyon ni Vergel Sto. Domingo, maaring tumawag sa Ticketnet Online (0927-2978027 at 0960- 88502889) para sa karagdagang detalye para sa tickets sa Kuh Sings Her ABC.
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Sa kabila ng mga pinagdaanan sa career at personal na buhay, bakit matatag pa rin si Kuh Ledesma?