The Araneta Coliseum swarmed with Anne Curtis fans as the actress sang her way to musical stardom. The said concert, entitled “Annebisyosa,†took place last January 28, 2012, filling the coliseum with people eager to see Anne and her “newfound talent†in singing. Anne was well-received by Filipinos as she started dominating the music industry with her curves and charm. However, an authority in the said industry supposedly raised an eyebrow in the midst of these events.
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga wasn’t pleased with Anne Curtis’ latest career move. When allegedly asked about Anne’s new trade, Ms. Salonga stated the following:
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Aaah…can you check your ears please? Really, if you are going to spend your money go to where you know you’re gonna have a good time and if you are a real discerning concert-goer you will go to where you know your ears will have a good time.
I don’t like going to concerts where people are out of tune, to be quite honest- I hate it, HATE it. I cannot stand it. I cannot listen to somebody out of tune for maybe more than 10 or 20 seconds . After that, I’m gonna kill myself.
At that point it’s like ‘Give me a gun, a razor blade, I need a way out of here and like quickly, you know? I feel that desperate to get out of the room.
I like to listen to people who make it sound so easy and there’s passion and you know that there was craft and a lot of thinking behind what they’re doing and I have such respect for that, you know? That’s what I enjoy.
When I leave and I go, “Oh my God! That was so awesome,” you know?
I don’t want to be like, ” Wow that’s two hours of my life I’ll never get back.” I don’t wanna have to say that. I don’t ever wanna have to say that to anybody, you know?
So the one’s who actually put a concert, put up something good so that the audience when they leave, you know? “That just changed my life, I wanna go back again. Are they gonna do it again in an hour, I’m gonna buy another ticket and go back in.”
That’s what a lot of singers try to achieve and that’s what I personally try to achieve…
(Source: link)
However, if Anne’s talent didn’t pass her standards, in return, her comments got the wrong side of the fans. In the aforementioned source, some Facebook users flooded the comments section with anti-Lea sentiments in defense of Anne Curtis. Lea was regarded as unethical for her blunt critique against the actress, and she was even criticized because of her alleged anti-Philippines statements. Fans even went further to speculate that Anne Curtis might even surpass Ms. Salonga in the future.
Amusingly, none of these baseless accusations hold water. That’s because the question asked to Ms. Salonga didn’t even address Anne Curtis in the first place. According to the singer on her Twitter account, the question was not about Anne Curtis’ singing, but about off-key singers in general. Furthermore, Ms. Salonga herself stated that she respects Anne Curtis’ fulfilment of her dream.
The question was, “What’s your opinion on people who sing out of tune?” I answered honestly. This has been going on a long time.â€
“Truth is I said Anne says herself she isn’t a singer so I can’t be angry with her. She made a dream come true and I respect that.
(Source: link)
This changes the whole context of her answer, which is why the criticisms thrown against her are unfounded and irrational. Ms. Lea Salonga talked about people who call themselves singers while possessing no talent whatsoever. She expressed her contempt for arrogant “artists†who milk the music industry for money without producing any skill at all. For someone who’s a veteran in the field of music, isn’t such judgment reasonable? This is not appealing to authority (in case someone has any ideas), because she’s not even arguing. She’s offering her honest comments.
To prove the singer’s credibility, InterAksyon deleted its recent article regarding Ms. Salonga’s interview, acknowledging its mishap in covering the story. This also effectively nullifies the credibility of the rants of the onion-skinned fans, if there is any to begin with. You can check their apology here.
Clearly, this is a vivid glimpse to the mental bankruptcy of the Filipino society, assessing events with hubris and sweeping generalization, but hardly with rational analysis.
In a nation where standards for talent are steadily deteriorating, it seems the degradation of musical prowess might be proportional to the degradation of critical thinking.
So people, please heed Lea’s words in Twitter:
“So before anyone decides to launch an attack because of what I said, which I stand by, find out exactly what I said in full, and in context.”
So much for blasting Rebecca Black for having a legion of mindless fans despite her music being obviously rubbish. IDK if Lea has ever seen or read about Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, but a character from that game once said that “any fake-ass idiot” is able to get a recording contract nowadays.
yep, and “any fake-a$$ idiot” is also able to get elected as president. Just look at Erap and Pnoy as examples. Their similarities are uncanny and one of them will be ousted soon…very soon.
What is more appalling that the reaction of the overly-sensitive fans of Anne Curtis is actually what I think as the bigger issue: the press taking comments out of context.
It’s not a new practice. It is done to sensationalize headlines, therefore sell them more. But it’s just not right. It reeks of irresponsibility and misrepresentation of truth that has become the norm for media here in the Philippines.
About Anne’s singing: well, if you truly idolize or are a devoted fan of someone, they can do no wrong in your eyes…
Still and all, Anne Curtis — whose own Twitter description says she is, apart from being “Princess of All Media”, a “CERTIFIED (caps hers) Recording Artist” (so much for “says she isn’t a singer”, sorry, Ms. Salonga) — sounds like a sanded cat when she sings:
Wow. Her singing was … horrible. I couldn’t finish the video, so I opened another video where she sang with Sam Milby. But I couldn’t last a minute so I closed it again.
I checked her twitter and it says there “PLATINUM” now.
Just … I have no words.
Her singing is really really really god awful.
I’d rather watch porn than listen to her screeching.
Its not surprising anymore if sino na naman gumawa ng issue na to…i watched this in tfc, gusto sana gawin pang malaking issue ng tvpatrol ang kaso nabara sila ni lea and natawa ako ng sagutin ni lea ung reporter ng “i dont care, sa akin kung sino ung magaling na artist dun ako! Nice one lea!hehehe
Listening to Anne Curtis’ singing is like watching a North Korean propaganda film.
Lea still kicks ass, massively
Meh, even if she did pertain to Anne Curtis, her statement would still hold true. XD
Correct! This is the sad thing about Filipinos in general, they really know how to set the bar LOW.
I actually loled when I read the latter part of the article.
For Anne’s fans: “Defensive much?”
This just shows how low the showbiz industry can get. If you want to create a sensation, don’t do it at the expense of people who shed blood, sweat & tears perfecting their craft. What Lea said should be a wake up call to media, government & filipino people. You should work extremely hard in the profession you are in so you can be worthy of the title. This goes to politicians, office workers, celebrities.
I remember what Shirley Temple once stated when she was asked about Paris Hilton’s debut album, when she said that Hilton was stealing “the thunder” off true talent.
Male fans just wants to ogle. Her singing struggles are just temporary distractions.
I’d rather listen to any decent Filipino indie band than these pinoy pop abomination. Here’s an example and it’s my favorite music from this band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoRD0bkvCPs
Btw her article “Let Us Pray…” is so epic.
http://www.leasalonga.com/leas-official-blog/272-let-us-pray
I have always respected Lea. Not only genuinely talented, but really classy and more intelligent than the other half-baked starlets that they churn out these days. Her voice from Miss Saigon at a very young age was just pure and fluous. Young filipinos today don’t know shit about anything with class. It’s like half of them is full of whoredom and shitdom as dictated by the equally shitty local programs.
And I~~~~~ ee I~~~ will always COPY you ooh oh oh
will always COPY~ you oohh
-state of phl entertainment industry
The showbiz people who call themselves reporters should stop writing because they are giving wrong information. They probably did not understand Lea Salonga’s comments because it was in English and was not able to catch up with every word she said. Lea speaks English well and for those who are not good may not have understood what she meant. I read the transcript. Besides, no one can compare the talent that Lea has. I have no problems with Anne Curtis. She is beautiful, sweet and has a soft heart. However, she herself admits that she cannot sing and to be a singer was a dream for her. I also understand some fans who just will accept their favorite actors for whatever they are even if they are not doing well in some areas of their craft. You can see a lot of aspiring actors and actresses who try to sing and dance. I even heard one from abs-cbn who handles training for these aspirants that there are still a lot who are just “pa-cute” but with no talent at all.
Ms. Salonga’s comments were not said for Anne. It was her opinion on the budding singers who really cannot sing a tune. Those singers who have to crane their necks to reach for high notes. Singing should not hurt anybody’s ears. It should be melodic. Pero sa nangyayari ngayon, the melody of the song is lost.
I stand up for Ms. Lea. Those who cannot sing should stop singing. Listen to true singers like her, Bituin Escalante, Lani Misalucha, Kuh Ledesma, The Company, at marami pang iba.
Reminded me of the people who took out parts of the verses in the Bible, and use it against other people/religion.
Yeah Zionists are exactly like that. Wonder who their equivalent are in the Philippines.
we are fed with so much mediocrity that lea salonga has to stand up and say exactly what it is… properly….
i cannot understand why abs-cbn even produced it… well… they have been peddling mediocrity since 1986
thats because in our crappy local entertainment industry, mediocrity sells. bottomline is — as long as it sells , bahala na if its mediocre cge nah.
Ms. Leah was asked for her opinion and she answered bluntly and honestly. I really can’t get why most Filipinos react with such stupidity and defensiveness. We are just furthermore revealing how rotten are society is – haters of truth, conceited and without class.
One honest opinion and poof! The Filipino unfounded pride is right back on track.
Funny how people of this country claims to be Christian but resemble identical character with the Devil.
It’s true some of our Filipino singers sing really out of tune,When I watch the variety shows from home,some of our singers are really out of tune.Therefore if you can’t sing ,out of tune don’t become a singer just stay in your chosen craft if you’re an actress/actor then be one do not go into the singing field because you think,you have a good singing voice when In fact you’re not.I respect what Lea Salonga stated therefore I stand behind her.