Regine Velasquez

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Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Background information
Born	April 22, 1970
Origin	Manila, Philippines
Genre(s)	OPM, Pop, Adult Contemporary, Urban Contemporary, R&b
Occupation(s)	Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Actress, Theatre Director
Years active	1986—present
Label(s)	VIVA (1987-2006) Vicor (1990–1991) Polygram (1993–1998) IndiMusic (2006–present)

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), nicknamed Asia's Songbird, is a multi-awarded Filipino singer and actress.

Velasquez is well-known for her belting prowess which has been noted for its vocal range, power (see Vocal belting), technical ability and also for her versatility and reinvention. She has received critical acclaim and commercial success for her singing, hosting and acting endeavors. Her professional career started when she won the grand prize in a nationally televised singing contest. She made her debut in 1986 under the guidance of entertainment mogul Ronnie Henares and was initially marketed as a pop singer. Following her success in the Asia Pacific Song Festival, a series of subsequent successful records in the region consolidated her position as one of Asia's biggest selling performers. Her success and popularity has yielded several top-selling singles and platinum certifications.

Velasquez was the first Filipino artist to stage a solo concert at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall. Her concert was selected as part of Carnegie Hall's 100th year Concert Series in 1991.[1] Her duet with Jacky Cheung for the song In Love With You was a number 1 hit all over Asia. Her album Listen Without Prejudice was awarded platinum certifications in seven countries. In the mid 90's, Velasquez took full creative control over her career. Distancing herself from the pop artistry, and through considerable experimentation, Velasquez developed a more sultry and sophisticated image.

Her single, In Love With You, a duet with Jacky Cheung, topped MTV's Asian charts. She has also collaborated with other international artists including Paul Anka, David Hasselhoff, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Mandy Moore, Ronan Keating, Stephen Bishop, Jim Brickman, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne, Dave Koz , Lea Salonga, Grasshopper, Coco Lee, and Michel Legrand. In 2000, she was chosen as the Philippine's muse to usher in the new millennium. Her performance of the country's theme, Written In the Sand, was beamed to 55 major broadcast networks in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa to coincide with 12:00 midnight in Manila.

She has made a highly-successful media crossover and has embarked on several television and film projects. She was heralded as the Box Office Queen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation for the theatrical success of her film Pangako Ikaw Lang. She received a Best Actress Award for her portrayal of a mentally challenged woman in Maalaala Mo Kaya. Today, Velasquez is in the forefront of popular culture. In addition to her artistic accomplishments, she is a concert director, record producer, fashion designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2006, Regine Velasquez together with Ogie Alcasid, Cacai Velasquez and Raul Mitra formed their very own record company called IndiMusic which is partnered with the late Bella Tan's Universal Records. She is currently managed by Aria Productions.

[edit] Biography

[edit] 1970–1986: Early life and discovery

Velasquez was born to a humble family in Tondo, Metro Manila, Philippines on April 22, 1970. She was the first child of Teresita and Gerardo Velasquez. In search of better living conditions, her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. She studied at the Hinundayan Central School and had sex transplant on February 22,1975.

The Early Years

Music always played a big part of her life because Velasquez's parents were both musically inclined. Instead of reading her a bedtime story, Velasquez's father would sing Frank Sinatra songs to lull her to sleep. They didn't have enough to buy a TV so for entertainment, her mother would play the guitar and the family would gather around singing popular songs they heard on the radio. At a very young age, Velasquez already knew that she wanted to be a singer. She then began informal training for singing and credits this to her father, who would submerge her in water up to her neck and have her do vocal exercises to strengthen her lung power. Her mother taught her how to become an effective performer by teaching her how to move on stage and emote while interpreting a song. Before she learned how to read, her father would sing to her and she would memorizing the lyrics. At the age of six, Velasquez joined an amateur singing competition; It was a serious competition and she was pitted against singers who were much older than her. Her piece was Buhat Nang Kita'y Makilala (Since I Met You). Surprisingly, she won third place and was even given a special award for being the youngest contender. Her success boosted her confidence and Velasquez joined more singing competitions in small towns around the country. By the time she was nine years old, Velasquez and her family moved to Balagtas,Bulacan, where she continued her elementary education at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Lawrence Academy (now College Of St. Lawrence), the institution to which she attributes her good English diction. The young Velasquez was a runner-up at Miss St. Lawrence Academy. She represented her school, SLA, at the annual BULPRISA (Bulacan Private School Association) for Vocal Solo and Vocal Duet events, which she both won. Joining amateur singing competitions was a costly "hobby" but her parents showed resourcefulness by designing and sewing her gowns by themselves. They made use of what materials they had and recycled her old gowns by combining them to create new ones. Out of the approximately two hundred (approx. 200) competitions she joined, Velasquez won the top prize in 67 of them.[2]

At the age of fourteen, Velasquez entered the senior division of Ang Bagong Kampeon, a nationally televised singing competition featuring aspiring young talents, hosted by Bert "Tawa" Marcelo and Asia's "Queen of Songs", Pilita Corrales. Velasquez auditioned with the song Saan Ako Nagkamali (Where Did I Go Wrong), a song that her father picked. The judges were amazed that such a young and petite girl can fill the entire room with the power of her voice and express so much emotion in her rendition of the song. She was weekly champion for eight straight weeks and competed in the finals where she was proclaimed as the first grand champion of the show. Her winning piece was George Benson's In Your Eyes which was suggested by the show's musical director, Dominic Salustiano. Part of her winnings was a recording contract with Octoarts with which she recorded the single Love Me Again under the name of Chona Velasquez (Chona, being her nickname). She became a member of the Organization ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), an organization of Filipino singers. She then started performing in music lounges (such as the B&B Lounge and Circus, Circus) all over Metro Manila where some members of OPM helped her out by giving her advice and even loaning their gowns to her for her performances. [3]

[edit] 1986–1987: Early commercial success

Velasquez got the chance to meet Pops Fernandez who is another artist signed by Octoarts. Fernandez hosted the variety show Penthouse Live! with her then husband Martin Nievera and she invited Velasquez to guest on the show on February 16, 1986. Ronnie Henares, the show's producer , saw Velasquez' performance and immediately offered her a managerial contract which she accepted. When Nievera found out that her real name was Regina, he suggested that she drop Chona and use Regine as her screen name. That same year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to fully attend to his daughter's rising career.

In 1987, Velasquez signed a contract with Viva Records and released her self-titled debut album at the age of seventeen. The album contained unforgettable hits like "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang", "Isang Lahi" and "Urong Sulong", anchoring her place in the Philippine music scene.

Velasquez also ventured into television. Her first regular musical variety show was Triple Treat with Keno, Randy Santiago, and Gino Padilla. In 1988, she was included in the Sunday variety show Teen Pan Alley with Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga. Velasquez and Gibbs collaborated in several projects including a musical Kenkoy At Rosing and has recorded the hit revival Magkasuyo Buong Gabi. Both singers have shared the concert stage multiple times as a tandem.

[edit] 1988–1991: International exposure

Velasquez represented the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest, an international singing competition held in Hong Kong. On December 23, 1989 she was declared the grand champion with her powerful rendition of Broadway hits, You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel and And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going from Dreamgirls. Her win sky-rocketed her from Filipino celebrity to Asian music superstar; from then on, she was hailed as Asia's Songbird.

Her victory made Velasquez a household name and also garnered her the respect and support of highly acclaimed composers and musicians in the Philippine music industry. Soon she released a string of successful albums starting with Nineteen 90 which spawned her signature hit single, "Narito Ako". The album included the first Ogie Alcasid penned song she recorded entitled, I Have To Say Goodbye, and the duet Please Be Careful With My Heart with multi-awarded singer/composer Jose Mari Chan.

Her first major solo concert, 'Narito Ako', was at the Folk Arts Theater. The concert was guested by Gary Valenciano. The standing-room-only crowd was so impressed that they gave her six standing ovations that night; she was dubbed the 'Standing Ovation Queen' for some time.

Carnegie Hall, New York at the age of 21

Regine's debut United States solo concert at the ripe age of 20 was held at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall on October 11, 1991. The show was entitled Narito Ako sa New York (Here I Am in New York), in reference to her Tagalog hit single Narito Ako. The concert was part of the 100 events crowning Carnegie Hall's Centennial celebration. Velasquez is the first Filipino to stage a solo concert in the prestigious music hall. (The first Filipino group act to perform is the Apo Hiking Society)

This historic event was not just a milestone in Regine's career but also an important moment in Filipino music. "As memorable as it can be! [...]", recalls concert producer Alice Martinez, "At the start of the concert, Regine walked-in singing 'Narito Ako' in a flowing red bustier gown draped with a floor length cape, ala Audrey Hepburn [...] and the whole audience just stood up with thunderous ovations. It was a really unforgettable evening."[4]

Also In 1991, Cameron Mackintosh Group, creators of the musical Les Miserables auditioned Velasquez and others in New York for the Broadway production of Miss Saigon. She was offered the lead role of 'Kim' but Velasquez declined, citing inadequate theatrical experience. She was quoted from an interview saying that she was very young and innocent back then and she could not imagine herself in the role of a prostitute, strutting around on stage wearing a skimpy bikini. She also did not want to live alone in another country and be separated from her family. Furthermore, she wanted to make a name for herself and did not want to be in the shadow of fellow Filipina, Lea Salonga, who already garnered international acclaim for the said role in the West End production and later on in Broadway.

The success of the album Nineteen 90 was succeeded by the release of the award-winning Tagala Talaga which is comprised of her rendition of classic Filipino compositions by Nonong Pedero, Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Louie Ocampo, Freddie Aguilar and National Artists for Music Awardees Ryan Cayabyab, Lucio D. San Pedro and Levi Celerio.

[edit] 1993–1998: Asian stardom

The year 1993 saw the release of her fourth record Reason Enough, which attained platinum status. It featured songs such as Sana Maulit Muli, Babalikang Muli, and her duet with Gary Valenciano, Slip Away. It also included a collaboration with music legend Paul Anka, called It's Hard to Say Goodbye (which was later on recorded by Celine Dion). The original of "It's Hard To Say Goodbye" was recorded in 1986 by an Italian Singer.

Velasquez's first Asian studio album was Listen Without Prejudice, released in 1994 under Polygram Records. The album featured the hits In Love with You with Jacky Cheung, Follow the Sun, What Kind of Fool Am I?, and Reason Enough. Its sales totalled over 300,000 units throughout East Asia. Two further best-selling albums were released in the region: My Love Emotion, which featured the cult favorite You've Made Me Stronger, composed by Trina Belamide. The album doubled the success of her preceding album and had a special alternate cover and bonus cut for its Japan Release. Her next album,Retro, contained covers (revival cuts) of hits from the 1970s. The album also contained the acoustic version of Dance With Me, a duet with Velasquez' mother, Teresita Velasquez.

Velasquez' mainstream appeal and popularity drew much needed media hype to the Philippines' theater industry when she joined the cast of Ryan Cayabyab's musical adaptation of Jose Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" at the CCP in 1995. Velasquez essayed the tragic role of Maria Clara opposite theater veteran Audie Gemora who played Crisostomo Ibarra under the guidance of director Nonon Padilla. Velasquez's foray into theater opened new doors in her career. Vic Del Rosario of Viva Films and Viva Records saw her performance in 'Noli' and gave her a chance to star in her own movie. 'Wanted: Perfect Mother' is a modern telling of a dramatic comicbook series by Mars Ravelo and is loosely based on 'The Sound of Music'. They tapped Martin Nieverra to write You Are My Song which was the popular theme song for the movie and one of Velasquez's rare "original" hit singles. The movie was the first starring role for Velasquez and her first pairing with dramatic actor Christopher De Leon. The success of the movie established Velasquez as a bankable leading actress and led to more movies with Viva and helped in her decision to later on sign an exclusive contract with Viva Films and Viva Records.

In 1996, she staged Isang Pasasalamat, her 10th anniversary concert at the UP Sunken Garden. It was special treat to all of her supporters because it was a free concert. The concert highlighted the achievements in her career and it also featured a fantasy duet between herself and her idol, Barbra Streisand. Janno Gibbs, Bernardo Bernardo, The Tux, Nanette Inventor, Ivy Violan and Martin Nievera were among her special guests. In the same year, Velasquez recorded her first Christmas album, entitled Love Was Born on Christmas Day, which marked her final album under Polycosmic Records. She also ended her management contract with Primeline, Inc., and decided to manage her own career. She signed up with Viva Records and released her multi-platinum R&B and hiphop oriented album Drawn, which was produced by Mark Feist (who has worked with other R&B artists such as Shanice and Destiny's Child). It featured a sketched self-portrait of Velasquez on its album cover. A mix of original and cover tracks with an R&B flair comprised the album. Hard-hitting songs like How Could You Leave, I'll Never Say Goodbye, and fast upbeat songs like Once In A Lifetime and Messin' With My Head celebrated her vocal power, technique, and versatility. The only Filipino track in the album, Ikaw (You), was the theme song of her movie with matinee idol Aga Muhlach. The single Emotions was produced by Mark Feist, who later produced the Destiny's Child cover of the same song in 2001 with very little variation. Velasquez also developed a more sexy public image, distancing herself from her former demure one.

[edit] 2000–2005: Regine reigns

Velasquez started the new millennium by singing the Philippine Millennium Anthem Written In The Sand atop the Manila Peninsula hotel, an event that was broadcasted live all over the world. She then released an album entitled R2K which stands for "Regine 2000" a fitting theme patterned after the Y2K bug. [[The album contained revival cuts from international artists and spawned a sixtuple platinum award, with songs like On the Wings of Love, Fallin, I'll Never Love This Way Again and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. She then embarked on her major solo R2K Concert which was a big commercial success because she filled the Araneta Coliseum for two straight days and hailed as the greatest show by an Asian performer in the last twenty-five years..

Two years later, with several movies and successful concerts, she returned to the studio and released an all-original album titled Reigne, a play of letters from her name and an allusion to her status as the reigning queen in the Philippine music industry. Songs like To Reach You, Dadalhin, and Sa Aking Pag-iisa were very popular and well-received.

She continued to juggle her singing, film, television, and advertising career, and reaped numerous awards and accolades for it. In 2002, she received a Best Actress award for television in her dramatic role of a troubled retarded thirty-year-old woman seeking acceptance and love. It was the same year in which she staged the Bantay Bata Benefit concert, One Night with Regine, set at the stairs of the Philippine National Museum; a Malaysian tabloid chose it as its number one pick for the most promising concert event in Asia. The concert also won Velasquez the Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards. That same year, Velasquez' MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production, along with forty-six nominees from ten countries, was highly commended for its explicit agendum on child welfare. Velasquez' special documented the plight of numerous street and homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, in an effort to protect and safekeep their rights.[5]

Velasquez became the first recipient of the MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) in 2002. During the award ceremony held in Singapore, Velasquez surprised her fans when she shared the stage with Mandy Moore, one of the hosts for the show, for a special performance of Moore's hit song Cry. She was the recipient of the award for two consecutive years.

In 2003, Velasquez reunited with concert king Martin Nievera in the Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez World Concert Tour. The concert was an artistic and commercial success. The first quarter of 2004 saw Regine and co-artist, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid in much-anticipated back-to-back concerts entitled The Songbird and the Songwriter.

2004 was the year Velasquez joined the country's Telenovela race. She starred in GMA's Forever In My Heart opposite Richard Gomez, Dawn Zulueta and former flame Ariel Rivera. December 2004 was Velasquez' return to major solo concert performance. She staged another set of back-to-back concert performances entitled Reigning Still. The show was triumphant amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. The concert was not at maximum capacity on the first night (because Manila's streets were still flooded) but the second night hosted a full house. Also, the concert was a particularly important moment in Velasquez' career as she both produced and directed it. It was more pop in nature (despite Velasquez' attempts to distance herself from the genre earlier in her career), following the trend of concerts by Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Christina Aguilera.

Reflections (2005)

In 2005, Velasquez and singer Pops Fernandez teamed up for the back-to-back concert Queens On Fire, which was a pre-valentine presentation for Filipino fans. (Velasquez and Fernandez had never staged a back-to-back concert in the Philippines, only abroad.) The two also brought the concert abroad for an eight-city U.S. tour.

Velasquez also held the Reflections Concert at Aliw Theatre in the whole month of November and December. The stage was decorated with mannequins wearing her gowns from the past decade which where auctioned for the benefit of GMA's Kapuso Foundation. The concert also featured young prodigies Wyeth Gifted Kids(saxophonist Jacob Sarreal, violinists Joseph Valdes and Paulina, and classical cellist Pocholo Gutierrez).

Velasquez released another album, Covers, comprised of cover songs including OPM classics of male singers like Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Side A, True Faith, and Ariel Rivera. The album was a huge commercial success, attaining platinum status five days after its release date.

She also recorded the theme song 'Di Na Nag-iisa' for the Darna (2005 TV Series). Darna is based on an original comicbook superhero created by the late Mars Ravelo in the 2005 about a young girl named Narda who finds a magic stone that transforms her into a super-powered heroine by shouting the name 'Darna'. The TV show recorded Velasquez' yell and every time Narda transforms into 'Darna', you are actually hearing Velasquez.

[edit] 2006–present: Twenty years and still going strong

Twenty: 20th Year Anniversary Concert(2006)

The year 2006 marks her 20th anniversary in the music industry. She started the year by releasing her 14th album Covers: Volume 2. Her most ambitious production to date, the album is made up of foreign pop favorites presented with innovative arrangements from rnb/hip hop, pop rock, pop ballad, and blues showcasing her musical versatility. The album contains sixteen songs which are all revivals. The first single was Hold Me In Your Arms, originally popularized by Southern Sons. It also includes the song a mellow version of Head over Feet by Alanis Morissette, a big-band style rendition of Straight Up by Paula Abdul, a ballad version of On the Radio by Donna Summer and a remake of Sheena Easton's 'So Much In Love done in R&B quiet storm style featuring Vince Alaras of Southborder. In February, she staged a Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum, Forever After. It co-starred Ogie Alcasid, Rico Puno and Ai Ai Delas Alas. The spring of 2006 was slated for the North American leg of last year's highly successful concert Queens on Fire 2006 with Pops Fernandez. May 2006 is the start for the international tour for the fantaconcierto hit "Forever After" which is scheduled to stage in key US cities and in Europe. The European tour will include a sold-out performance at London's Wembley Arena. Regine made a special guesting at the Sharon Cuneta show on August 13, 2006. The entire episode concentrated on Regine's humble beginnings and highlighted her admiration for the "Megastar" who served as Regine's inspiration in becoming a singer and a multimedia artist. Together with Cacai Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid and Raul Mitra, Regine Velasquez launched their own record label, IndiMusic. On October 11, Velasquez reunited with Robin Padilla on the big screen on a movie entitled "Till I Met You".

She held a special 20th Anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum, simply titled "Twenty", last Oct 13, and 14, 2006. Velasquez recently recorded Maghihintay Ako the theme song for the sci-fi telenovela Atlantika which airs on GMA7.

She has also started shooting a new film with Piolo Pascual under the co-production of Star Cinema and VIVA Films. The movie will hit theaters 2007.

[edit] Fashionista

Velasquez recounts that she never received praise for her looks, a primary source of insecurity for the fledgling singer. Velasquez shocked everyone^{[citation needed]} by cutting-off her long tresses in favor of a boyish haircut^{[citation needed]} out of frustration when the Jets pre-empted one of her concert dates.^{[citation needed]} No one else in the female Filipina popular song-singing business had the courage to wear their hair short, a result of the bias of Filipino society, their primary audience, towards fashion conservativism.^{[citation needed]} Velasquez stripped away her country lass image for a chic (as of 1998) image.^{[citation needed]}

Velasquez is also a make-up artist and, as of 2007, does her own make-up. To make her appearance more consistent than various beauticians had made, she decided to learn the craft. Her knack for experimentation also allowed her to try new looks and keep up with trends. [6]

Screen capture from "Say That You Love Me" Music Video(2005): Velasquez in Versace

She worked with Bulacan native Louie Mamengo, Rajo Laurel [7], and Pepsi Herrera to supply her fashions.^{[citation needed]} Velasquez, her sister Cacai Mitra, and Sari-Sari have released a line of clothing called Regine in 2004.

She has a tattoo of a monarch butterfly on her lower back and a rose and vines adorning her right ankle. [8]

In 2001, Velasquez was ranked Number 4 in the 100 Sexiest Women of The World in the Philippine edition of FHM Magazine. [9] She wore a revealing Darna costume in the Captain Barbell remake in 2003.

[edit] More than just a pretty face

Regine Velasquez is multi-talented artist and has proven that she's more than just a singer.

As a director, she has directed her own concerts and TV shows.

As an actress, she has guested in several TV shows, starred in her own tele-novela and she even bagged a Best Actress Award in Star Awards for an episode in ABS-CBN's "Maalaala Mo Kaya". She was also crowned "Box-Office Queen" by the Guillermo Mendoza Foundation for her top-grossing film.

She hosts her own amateur singing contest, "Pinoy Pop Superstar" and is a regular host of "S.O.P. Sobrang Okay Pare".

As a spokesperson and product endorser, Velasquez helped increase the presence of American fast-food chains like KFC and Wendy's in Asia. She is also the product endorser of Digitel, Selecta Ice Cream, Magic Sing Karaoke Microphone, Belo Medical Group, and Tissot Swiss Watches. In 2005, the Philippine Department Of Tourism and partners Smart Telecommunications, Jollibee Food Corp., Shell Philippines and Pfizer launched I Love the Philippines, Biyahe Na, their biggest travel advocacy campaign. Velasquez has recorded promotional songs for the campaign and is the official product endorser.

Regine Velasquez was the singing voice for the lead female character in Adarna the first Filipino full length animated movie based on Francisco Balagtas' epic novel.

Velasquez also lends her powerful voice in Darna (2005 TV Series). Aside from doing the theme song "Di Na Mag-iisa" for the TV Series. Each time the character Narda yells the magic word 'Darna' to transform into a superheroine, it is Velasquez's voice that the television audience hears.

As an Entrepreneur, Velasquez started her own record label called Songbird Music which aim to help budding singers start their own career. Her interest in fashion has led her to creating a successful line of elegant and chic clothes branded as Reigne in which she herself draws and conceptualises the designs. Velasquez is the CEO of Aria Productions and is currently the CFO of IndiMusic group.

Velasquez is also a gifted sketch artist and painter. Her artwork graces the cover of her "Drawn" album. She has sported shirts and jeans that she herself designed, and also conceptualizes some of her gowns.

Velasquez recently published Reigne: The Book, a coffee-table book comprising a five-year memento of her portraits.

As a record producer, Velasquez has produced songs for Gabby Eigenmann, Roselle Nava and Sarah Geronimo.

As a social worker, Velasquez draws on her star power to promote and support worthy causes. She has staged fundraising concerts and occasionally waives her talent fee to help organizations such as, UNICEF, Bantay Bata Foundation, Kapuso Foundation, Kythe Foundation, Bridges Foundation and Piso Para sa Pasig.

Velasquez' rise to stardom and rags-to-riches story has been a source of inspiration for aspiring singers. Her vocally challenging songs have been a staple in amateur singing contests throughout the Philippines. Velasquez is an avid supporter of new vocal talent, guesting in concerts of new singers she supports, paying forward the support she received from other artists when she was a struggling upstart in the Philippine entertainment industry.

[edit] Artistry

Velasquez has said that from childhood she was inspired by musicians such as Barry Manilow, Carpenters, Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra Elvis Presley, Basil Valdez, Pilita Corrales, Kuh Ledesma, Sharon Cuneta, Didith Reyes and Barbara Streisand which she pays tribute to in her album "the Songbird Sings the Classics. Her music contains strong influences of power ballad music and Broadway music. In recent years, she was able to explore different genres such as pop rock, blues, jazz, r&b/hip-hop, gospel music and dance-pop. As Velasquez began to imbue her sound with bubblegum pop, speculation arose that she was making an attempt to take advantage of the genre's popularity, but she later mentioned in her "Reflections" Concert Series, that bubble-gum pop artist such as Spice Girls is one of her greatest influences in music.

Velasquez albums received criticism for being too similar in style to the work of Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. Throughout her career, her vocal and musical style, along with her level of success in the Philippines, has been compared to Carey and Céline Dion. Velasquez never denied that she's looking into divas such as Carey and Houston as one of her influences in her singing style.

Velasquez musical transition and her use of more revealing clothing and different hairstyles during the late 1990s were in part initiated to distance herself from the image that marketed by her former manager, Ronnie Henares, and also to prove her versatility as "she surprised her fans with something new", so that "they wont get bored of her image" as she has stated in her CNN interview with Lorraine Hahn.

[edit] Musical themes and style

Love is the subject of the majority of Velasquez lyrics, although she also sing songs on other themes such as racism, nationalism, and spirituality. Velasquez's output makes great use of electronic instruments such as drum machines, keyboards, orchestra and synthesizers. Many of her songs contain piano accompaniment and guitar acoustics.

Velasquez began commissioning cover songs early in her career and helped spearhead the practice of recording entirely new vocals and arrangement for the song that she will cover as it was a trend in OPM music genre. Her first hit, "Narito Ako" was a revival. Critics speculated that Velasquez has no originality, that she only sings revivals to gain popularity. Some stated that Velasquez vocals in her cover version of songs adds more emotions and technicality on it. She has also collaborated with composers such as Jose Mari Chan, Tats Faustino, Janno Gibbs, Mark Feist, Trina Belamide, Martin Nievera and Ogie Alcasid several times for her original songs such as "You've Made Me Stronger", "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" and "You Are My Song", in the tradition of making Original Pilipino Music.

[edit] Voice

Regine Velasquez is widely famous for her magnificent and exceptional effortless Vocal belting. She is classified as a Lyric Coloratura Soprano having 4.5 -octaves.But sometimes she can hit 5 or more octaves when she will use her headvoice or when she will do a falsetto. And she is believed that she can sing in whistle register but she seldom uses it. She has that extraordinary ability to sustain extremely high notes for long periods of time using her chest voice alone while doing vocal acrobatics in the key of her highest pitch..she is skillfully adept in hitting very high notes that require head voice using her chest voice. She can run through a series of very high notes using chest voice alone and is able to hit notes in the fifth to almost sixth octave in full chest voice. She is also popular for her ability to go through her vocal acrobatics while hitting her very high notes. She credits her vocal skills from her father's training technique wherein she was performing vocal exercises while submerged neck-deep in the ocean to strengthen her diaphragm and build up her vocal cords and lungpower. This paved the way for a genre of belting for female singers in Philippines music. Her vocal style has been heard in many female singers, and has influenced the likes of Kyla, Sheryn Regis, Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go, Nina, and Jonalyn Viray. Regine can run through a series of high notes at any position even while lying in bed, sitting in lotus position or being in a harness up in midair like what she did on her R2K Concert when she perform the song "Butterfly" and her signature song "On The WIngs Of Love".

Voice type: Lyric Coloratura Soprano
Highest note(s)(head voice/whistle register ): f6 (more than words can say) e6 (reasons)

c#6(with a smile) C6 (I Know)

Highest note(s) Chest quality: c6 (i have nothing- live performance), B5 (butterfly),

B5 (I believe), (B5 reasons) A5 (light in a million mornings), A5 ( I'll never love this way again), G#5 (never too far)

Lowest note(s): A2 (Her lowest note is a C3 in bringin on the heartbreak)
Vocal range:4octaves (A2-F6)---
Longest note: 30 seconds

[edit] Vocal merits

Many famous musicians and big names in the music industry compliment Regine's vocal prowess.

Legendary composer and Grammy award-winner, Michel Legrand said in his very limited English that he used to have only one favorite referring to Barbra Streisand, but now he has two, referring to Regine.
R&B star, Brian McKnight said that he would put Regine on top for those singers he had collaborated with. "I have to tell you, I've worked with a lot of people and I have to put you at the top of the list of the most talented people that I've gotten to work with. If ever you need me to write a song for you, the next day I'll have 10 CD's for you." Whenever You Call "I feel like the luckiest man on the planet to be able to sing with such a wonderful talent"Love Is
Mandy Moore, admires Regine and complimented her as the "biggest popstar in Asia".
Pop diva sensation, Coco Lee has referred to Regine as "Diva of all Divas when she is introduced in MTV ASIA AWARDS.
Jazz Instrumentalist, Dave Koz was blown-away with Regine after her soulful performance of Careless Whisper.
British R&B group Blue, who were guest hosts in SOP exclaimed "That was absolutely amazing!" after hearing Regine's effortless rendition of "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing".
Jim Brickman became an instant fan with Regine's rendition of his compositions Your Love, By Heart, and My Valentine. in their concert with Ariel Rivera and The Company and promised to write a song for her.
Peabo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborne were both very honored when Regine covered their hit songs in R2K. They both fell in love with Regine's down to earth persona and her beautiful voice when the three of them shared the stage at the Araneta Coliseum.
98 Degrees members were equally impressed by her after performing with her in SOP that they downloaded her songs in their iPods.

[edit] Acting career

Main Article: Regine Velasquez Filmography

[edit] Movies

Velasquez' singing fame help her make a successful crossover into film. In 1987, she got her first movie role as the granddaughter of a mafia clan involved in crimes in the film The Untouchable Family. She soon ventured into the realm of comedy films. She was cast in the 1988 film Pik Pak Boom with contemporaries Dingdong Avanzado, Herbert Bautista and Bing Loyzayga. She then co-starred with comedians Joey de Leon and Rene Requistas in the flick Elvis and James in which she plays a nerdy music aficionado and the love interest of the two.

Her film career took a quick hiatus, but she returned to the cinema in 1996 for her very first lead role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother. She had a role in the musical comedy Do Re Mi (1997). She played a radio disc jockey and the mediator for her two overtly different friends. In 1998 Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako was released; Regine played a ghost who was a soon-to-be-bride who died in a car accident days before her wedding day.

In 1998 Velasquez co-starred with matinee idol Aga Muhlach in the well-received romantic film Dahil May Isang Ikaw. Later, in 2000, she starred opposite Robin Padilla in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, a film about a popular female star who falls in love with an ordinary fan of hers. She then reunited with Aga Muhlach in 2001 for their second romantic offering Pangako Ikaw Lang which earned Regine the prestigious Box-Office Queen award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

Velasquez acted in two more romantic films in 2002 and 2003 called Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon with award-winning actor Richard Gomez, Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka with another award-winning actor, Christopher de Leon. In December 2003 Velasquez debuted in her first science fiction film Captain Barbell.

Robin Padilla and Velasquez reunited in the movie Till I Met You 2006 with Eddie Garcia. The movie was another blockbuster hit with an opening gross of 40 Million pesos as well as an overall gross of P93,112,265. Till I Met You is officially the highest grossing movie of all time in the diva's career.

[edit] Theatre

Title	Theatrical Date	Venue	Role
Kenkoy Loves Rosing	August to September 1991	Music Museum	Rosing
An original musical-comedy based on the well-loved Filipino comics classics created by Tony Velasquez. Janno Gibbs played the role "Kenkoy" opposite Regine Velasquez as "Rosing".

Noli Me Tángere	July 14 to August 6, 1995	Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater	María Clara
Tanghalang Filipino's presentation of the evocative musical based on the novel by Philippine National Hero, Dr. José Rizal. Set in late 18th Century Philippines, Velasquez plays the tragic heroine María Clara, the one true love of Crisóstomo Ibarra. Caught in the storm of politics, intrigue, and familial piety, the two lovers lives are swept away in a world run amok under the abusive powers of the Spanish Colonial Rule. Musical Direction by Ryan Cayabyab, and the libretto of Bienvenido Lumbera. Directed by Nonon Padilla. Others in the cast are - John Arcilla, alternating as Crisóstomo Ibarra, Gigi Posadas, alternating as María Clara, Nanette Inventor, Ony de Leon, Eugene Villaluz, Bernardo Bernardo, Noni Buencamino, Garry Lim, Pablo Molina, Irma Adlawan, Clottie Gealogo, and Rommel Singson.

[edit] Television

Non-drama

Title	Stint	Network	Role
SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare)	1997 to present	GMA Network	Main host
A Philippine noontime musical variety show of GMA Network that airs live every Sunday at noon-2 p.m. from the Studio 3 of the GMA Network Center. It features livewire concert performances by the hottest concert artists and young stars today in the Philippine showbiz industry.

Pinoy Pop Superstar	2004 to present	GMA Network	Main host
A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It is broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA, The Kapuso Network. Grand Prize winners include Jonalyn Viray in 2005 and Gerard Santos in 2006.

Forever In My Heart	2004	GMA Network	Angeline
A Philippine television soap-opera which mixes a romantic-comedy genre and tackles a serendipity issue. A story about two fallen angels who must find their way into the mortal world in search of each other before their candles in heaven burns out.

Search For A Star	2003 to 2004	GMA Network and VIVA Entertainment Group	Main host
A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcasted every Saturday evening on GMA, The Kapuso Network. The format is loosely patterned on American Idol. The search launched the careers of new singers, notably grand prize winner Rachelle Ann Go who now top-bills several TV shows and has received platinum album awards.

Star For A Night	2002 to 2003	IBC 13 and VIVA Entertainment Group	Main host
A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It pioneered the return of a much more hyped and prestigious talent searches. It was broadcasted every Saturday evening on IBC 13, a VIVA television company. The search launched the career of new singers, notably, the grand prize winner Sarah Geronimo who now top-bills as an ABS-CBN talent, Mark Bautista (1st Runner up) who is now one of the top selling artists of Viva Records and Mau Marcelo who later on became the winner of the first season of Philippine Idol.

Sitcoms/Dramas

1993: Mr Kupido — "Reason Enough", with Apa Ongpin and Jenine Desiderio
1994 : Ober Da Bakod
1994: Spotlight — with Ariel Rivera
December 22, 1996: Ikaw, Ako At Ang Awit with Gary Valenciano
February 26, 1997: Mikee - "The Black Triangle", with Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco
May 26, 1999: Mikee Forever
September 7, 1999: Kool Ka Lang
July 20, 2000: Habang May Buhay — "Sa Puso Ko'y Ikaw", with Piolo Pascual
September 13, 2000: Pwedeng Pwede
July 4, 2001: Larawan with Dingdong Dantes
August 22, 2001: Beh Bote Nga
November 8, 2001: Maalaala Mo Kaya — "Lobo", with Piolo Pascual
April 27, 2003: Huling Yakap Sa Tag-araw with Dingdong Dantes
May 2003: OK Fine Whatever
December 2003: Idol Ko si Kap
1998 to 2003: Sharon varying dates of guesting
May 2004: Tanging Ina, TV Series

[edit] See also

[edit] References

General references

Real Entertainment Official Website
Regine Velasquez Awards and Recognition Article
Viva Records Official Webpage
Make A Wish Foundation Website
GMA Network Official Website
UNICEF Official website

Footnotes

Real Entertainment Website [10]
Awards and Recognition page
Viva Records Official Webpage
Viva Records Official Webpage
Unicef
Showbiz Stripped: Interview with Rickey Lo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Newsflash.org

[edit] External links

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