The constantly changing Jose Mari Chan

by Hideo Kawakami

Constant Change, among other albums, holds the rare distinction of being the longest-selling double platinum in the history of the Philippine music industry. Jose Mari Chan, better known by his trade moniker "Mr. Song Writer" is again drawing attention for a repeat of the same feat in the sequel Souvenirs which was released last 1998.

Highly polished, this album can be described in one word as the collection of his lifeworks.

When I first visited Manila in 1987, I bought Jose Mari Chan's album as a souvenir which I later wrote about in a magazine by way of introduction. At that time, I received a proposal from Warner Music to market the product in Japan. With this background, I would like to state for the record that he is my favorite music artist in the Philippines.

After that, I had a chance to visit him directly for the recording of "Jose Mari Chan Special," a two-hour program aired by IBS (Ibaraki Hoso) about 12 years ago.

Even now, he is known not only as the king of pop music but also as a highly accomplished entrepreneur. Despite these, he is deeply sincere and unassuming, and as a top player in the business world, exudes a dignified air. A man among men, I can't help but think he embodies the ideal of a "hero".

As before, he writes songs that gives dreams and hope to the Filipinos. Singing his own songs as well, in this album Jose croons of the memories of half his life as well as Western standard songs. Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade tops his list of songs. His rendering of Neil Sedaka's and Burt Bacharach's representative ballads certainly lends a gorgeous atmosphere to his listeners.

Having been instrumental in the release of his first album in Japan, I fervently hope that this album will likewise be released in Japan. For this to be realized, I am anticipating the support of our readers as well as from Filipinos all over Japan. *

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