“Should we stay or should we say goodbye
Walk away or give it one more try
What a waste to let our dreams just fly
And as the days go by, we’ll always wonder why…”
“Was it pride that made us drift away
Hurting words we should not even say
Hold my hand and look straight in my eyes
If we can’t say goodbye, then we’re worth one more try…”
Candid words and clever lines… plaintive melody with pulsating emotion…sentimental message hitting the heart bull’s eye. This is poetry in its purest composition that could only be sublimely penned by somebody who had been in such emotionally tumultuous situation. There’s that universal tone into it that makes us no longer wonder why this song is a favorite musical background of many melodramatic movies and television series. The schmaltzy essence in its entirety justifiably provides the needed angst and torturing anguish that heightens the degree of every scene and dramatic highlight.
But this piece shouldn’t be mistaken for other songs of the same title which are credited to Timmy T, George Michael, and Erin Boheme. The above lyrics, which are snippets from One More Try, are far different from the rest in terms of wordings and melody. This prominent version of One More Try has lyrics and melody perfectly blended into one pulsating musical masterpiece richly loaded with a gamut of emotion which others failed to come up with.
Just when you thought this touching composition has all what it takes to sulk in the dark and whimper, think again. There’s a lot more of this genre from the same sentimental singer-songwriter. One should hear the long list of equally emotional ditties written and composed by no other than a distinguished Filipino music icon, Cecile Azarcon.
Cecile forayed into the music scene at the right time when songwriting and composing are mostly dominated by men. What separates her from among her peers? Cecile is a born poet with a keen sense of feeling that guides her to meticulously pick the right words and phrase. A high caliber singer-songwriter with enviable style distinctly her own, Cecile’s lyrics are very personal with vague imagery and aesthetic appeal that pierces the heart and haunts the soul.
Her pieces always possess that killer-hook element which concentrated the message and emotion into one lingering climactic moment. A compromising tension settles into a peak that builds interest, curiosity and recall even among first time listeners. Azarcon’s songs were profusely written with souls of their own encapsulated into haunting melodies.
The products of her creative imagination resulted to well-crafted lyrics that are genuinely honest, engagingly powerful, and enticingly appealing… reflecting truly passionate human emotions that are easily relatable.
There’s often a smooth establishing circumstance embedded in her every song that narrates and associates with every one’s personal story. The melody is imperturbable. The lyrics are undoubtedly potent. The messages are agreeably salient. Her candor and forthrightness in her works are nothing sort of epigone…sans neither irony nor cliché…just simply the maxim of human feelings.
What motivates Cecile to empty all her talents into writing soulful music? What mysterious force guides her in composing the right melody for her poetry? Has the etymology of her name anything to do with her phenomenal talent?
Actually, the name Cecile was derived from the Roman clan of Caecilius, based from the Latin word “coccus” which means dim sighted or blind.
But in contrast, Cecile Azarcon has a deep inner desire to see and utilize her God-given talent into something huge and creative. Ironically, Cecile isn’t blind but aptly armed with a 20-20 vision that penetrates through the heart to burrow deeper for what it beats for. Others would like to believe that she maybe a hopeless romantic wearing rose-colored glasses and believes in fairytales, candlelight romances, sunset gazing, and chasing rainbows. Amazingly ‘though her works only express reality.
The daughter of Minda Azarcon, another musical genius who was regarded as the musical mentor to the stars, Cecile has had successfully established a distinct identity all her own via writing songs for popular recording stars like Coritha and Jam Morales (Even If), Gary Valenciano (Reaching Out), Chiqui Pineda (How Did You Know), Martin Nievera (Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin), Basil Valdez (Lift Up Your Hands & Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga), Iwi Laurel (Special Memory), and Kuh Ledesma (I Think I’m In Love, Help Me Forget & One More Try).
She was barely 19 when balladeer Basil Valdez requested her to allow him to record the song, Lift Up Your Hands, after the latter heard her singing it with piano accompaniment after a rehearsal.
Now Vallejo, California-based, it will be recalled that in 1999, Vicor Records released Cecile Azarcon Piano Collection, a compilation of her greatest hits to ably commemorate her 20th year in the business.
Currently on cloud nine with the success of her latest composition, Walking On Water, after being inspired from Jesus’ persuasion to Peter to walk with Him on water. Cecile was induced to write it for her sister who was battling with the big C three years ago and with no other choice for an interpreter but her bosom friend, Kuh Ledesma.
Now celebrating her 35th year after having written nearly 50 songs that made all to the top chart, Cecile is excited over the release of a new album which isn’t actually hers but features her MRH (Most Requested Hits) plus three new originals in a CD entitled Sounds of Manila Sings Cecile Azarcon.
Already the most in-demand band this side of the north east, Sounds of Manila couldn’t be much prouder, not to mention humbly honored, after having had Cecile entrusted her collection to them.
The CD, which was recorded in California by SoM’s vocalists Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan and Hermie Angeles, will be formally launched via a dual concert and has 9 cuts to boast: All My Tomorrows (new composition, duet ), Help Me Forget (duet), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (duet), One More Try (solo, Hermie Angeles), How Did You Know (duet), Special Memory (solo, Hermie Angeles), I Think I’m In Love (solo Hermie Angeles), Even If (solo, Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan), Di Na Maghahanap (new composition, solo, Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan) and Once It’s In your Heart (new composition, solo, Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan).
The much-awaited concert, which pays tribute to Cecile Azarcon’s 35 years in the Philippine Music Industry, is aptly tagged: An Evening of Original Philippine Music with Cecile Azarcon and the Sounds of Manila. It also features renowned Musical Director Lorrie Ilustre as special guest and with the special participations of Carlo Tampac of C2, the San Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino Choir of Little Ferry/Moonachie, NJ and BBC’s Pasalubong, a Fil-Am organization of Bergen Community College.
Slated on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7:30pm at the Ciccone Theater in Bergen Community College, 400 Paramus Road, Paramus, New Jersey 07652.
Tickets can be purchased at tickets-bergen.edu or call the Box Office at (201) 447-7428. Tickets are priced at $30 for General Admission, $20 for BBC faculty and seniors, and $10 for BBC students.
For those who won’t be available on Saturday or will sorely miss the show, another concert is scheduled the following day, Sunday, April 27, 2014 at the Peter Norton Symphony Space along 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY.
To be presented by Synergy Productions and Marketing, Inc., SoM’s musical tribute to Cecile Azarcon’s 35 years of timeless OPM hits will be front-acted by the following promising and homegrown talents: Jared Martin, Tiffany Viray, Arnel Arcedo, Tony Gado, and Carlo Tampac of C2.
This time, admission tickets are priced at $60 for VIP, $45 for Orchestra, and $35 for Balcony.
For the show’s info and tickets, please visit: http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/8306/music/an-evening-of-philippine-music or call (212) 864-5400 from Tuesday to Sunday at 1 to 6 PM only.
Incidentally, Sounds of Manila Band is composed of Ronnie Sabangan ( Band Leader, Bassist), Suzanne Lansangan-Sabangan (vocalist), Hermie Angeles (vocalist), JR Gendrano (drummer), Bobby De Leon (keyboardist), and Aaron Garcia (guitarist).
Sounds of Manila, without a cloud of doubt, could effectively deliver nothing but only the best and ably give justice to Cecile Azarcon’s masterpieces surpassing all expectations. After all, they won’t be dubbed as ”Ambassadors of Philippine Music” for nothing.
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