IN TUNE WITH JAMIE RIVERA
Interview by Lionel Zivan S.Valdellon

published in CHANNELS : SEPTEMBER '99

When she sang her bittersweet hit "Hey, It's Me" back in 1987, she struck a sentimental chord in Filipinos everywhere. We were soon to learn that Jamie Rivera was more than just a sweet new voice, she was also a songwriter who would go on to record 8 full-length albums and would enchant ballad-lovers with her gift of song. Eventually she would land on Broadway as Kim in Miss Saigon, continuing the legacy that Lea Salonga started.

Today, on her 12th year in show business, she has released her 12th album Feels So Right, and has toured 12 malls around the nation to promote it. CHANNELS caught up with her one afternoon to chat about her music.

CHANNELS: What have you been doing all this time?
JAMIE: I have not really been absent from the industry, I just wasn't that visible because I had nothing to promote. But once in a while, I came out on TV. I have been very active when it comes to corporate shows. And I've been writing songs pa rin.

CHANNELS: How long did it take to finish Feels So Right?
JAMIE: Almost a year, because I had a hard time writing those six songs (out of 12). During the time I was writing, ang inspiration ko puro bata, kasi nakafocus ako sa youth. So parang nahirapan ako, kasi ang gusto ng Star (Records), they wanted me to deviate from that image of being a mother.
___ I should write love songs daw. Kasi that's what I've been known for. It took me about a year to finish those six songs and I was intending to produce [the album] myself, so ang bagal talaga. And then I sought the help of Mon Espia, who fortunately accepted the offer to produce my album. Medyo bumilis na ang takbo ng album. I asked four other composers to write songs for me. The other two are revivals: "People Alone" was picked by my manager Angeli Pangilinan, "Love Is All That Matters" … wala lang, gusto ko lang.

CHANNELS: Do you have any stories behind the songs you wrote, like "BROKEN VOWS"?
It was for Arnell Ignacio. Kasi one independence day, the one before the Centennial, we were in the Rizal Stadium at kahihiwalay lang niya kay Franny, his wife. He was telling me the story of how they met, how they started, bakit sila naghiwalay. That's why I wrote the lyrics: "You loved me, in spite of who I am. And I thought you'd always understand…"

CHANNELS: Any songs inspired by your own life?
JAMIE: "Ganyan Talaga". Yun naman ang sobrang young. There was one song kasi when I was younger (laughing). I really loved the song of Geneva… "Kailan". Kasi noon, pag naririnig ko iyon, talagang kinikilig ako! Naisip ko, why don't I write a song that would make the youth feel the way I did when I was younger and having all these crushes?

CHANNELS: So you had to deviate from mother image, did you feel you were bringing down your musical standards to write these "younger" songs?
JAMIE: Not at all. Nag-experiment tuloy ako, naging challenge sa akin. Not only in writing my songs, but also in changing my image and… na-challenge akong magpapayat.

CHANNELS: And your new Natalie-Imbruglia-inspired "look"is also an experiment?
JAMIE: Dati di mo ako makikitang nag-e-experiment. Like sa damit ko. I'd let my husband buy for me. Puro conservative ang dating. Mga Escada, Prada…Eh ngayon, I realized, parang hindi naman dapat ah. Pwede ring People Are People…Sayang eh. Hindi naman ako ganoong katanda, pero ganoon ang nagiging image ko. So medyo binaba namin, ginawa naming rugged. This is the way I dress up naman talaga. Binagay na nila kung ano ako ngayon. Casual lang.

CHANNELS: And what are your views about remakes?
JAMIE: I have a split emotions about this. First is sayang dahil ang dami-dami nating talents. Filipinos are basically very talented people, very sensitive, very sentimental. And yet, hindi nailalabas. Naging trend itong remakes. Yung mga older composers, songs nila ang na-re-remake. More royalties for them. And that's good. But sayang yung mga new breed of composers. Sila ang kawawa.
___ On the other hand, okay lang naman, kasi nga trend iyan. It's a cycle. Just like in fashion, it all comes back. Like dati, puro banda, wala naman ang solo singers…ganoon talaga iyon.
___ The challenge now is with arrangers and singers. Kailangan gandahan nila ang areglo and interpretations ng kanta. Of course the original is always the best. But the challenge now is for you to deliver better than the first.

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