She always has a good voice and over the years, she has developed her own style. Nora in her heyday towered above all other singers not only in terms of popularity but simply because she has a beautiful voice which is what spells the difference even now that many other pop singers have cropped up. Most of our singers now sing well, yes. They have their own style but most of them are at best imitators.
Kung susuriin mo, walang natural na ganda ang mga boses nila. Dito naiiba si Nora dahil maganda talaga ang voice quality niya. Karamihan sa mga pop singers ngayon, pare-pareho ang chest tones. Pagdating sa vibrato, doon nagkakatalo. Dito pumupuntos si Nora. –Prof. Andrea Veneracion National Artist for Music
I was one of the judges in the Tawag ng Tanghalan championship who batted for Nora Aunor. And I proved myself right from the start. The first time I heard this tiny, little gem of a singer, I was really impressed. “Wow, what a voice! To think that it’s coming from someone so young at that time. She had a natural nice, deep voice to typical of the soulful Filipina soprano voices. And more than that, I was really struck by her beauty. Believe me, I knew then she would amount to something great. –Fides Cuyugan Asencio Professor of Music and Voice, UP Founding Artistic Director, Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines From “Handog ni Guy” Souvenir Program, 1991
Sa tuwing pinapakinggan ko ang awiting “Pearly Shell” na pinasikat ni Ms. Nora Aunor, laging bumabalik sa aking alaala ang kahapon.
Taong 1974. Grade 1 ako noon. Excited ako sa paghahanda ng aking costume. Bulaklaking salawal na kulay bughaw at tinuhog-tuhog ng karayom sa sinulid na puti ang puting bulaklak na kung tawagin ay calachuchi upang maging kuwintas ng hubad kong katawan. Oo, sa unang pagkakataon, sa mura kong edad, iindayog ang aking katawan sa saliw ng tugtuging “Pearly Shell.”
Hindi ko makakalimutan ang tagpong ito. Tandang-tanda ko pa. sa aming pagsasanay ng sayaw, isang aksidente ang nangyari.
Nauntog ang aking ulo sa “door knob.” Arraaayyyy!! !!! Waaaaaahhhhhhhhh! !!!!!! Ang lakas ng iyak ko as in. Siyempre, napahiya ako eh. At dumating ang ate ko para damayan ako sa kahindik-hindik na mga kaganapan.
Mula Grade 1 hanggang Grade six, folkdancer ako sa aming school. At wala nang door knob na umeeksena.
For most Noranians, this is the single most memorable musical number in PMPC Star Awards history and, perhaps, in Philippine television.
See for yourself why.
(Trivia: Danny Tan arranged the medley. Megastar Sharon Cuneta and Mr. Gary Valenciano led the stars in giving the performance a standing ovation.)
Congratulations, Ms. Nora Aunor, for receiving again a PMPC Star Award for Global Achievement in Cinematic Excellence and International Recognition. (She got the same award for Bakit May Kahapon Pa.)
The 25th PMPC Star Awards for Movies, directed by GB Sampedro, will be aired on ABS-CBN as its Sunday’s Best feature on June 21, 2009.
March 31, nagbigay-parangal at pagkilala kami sa mga taong mahal namin sa aming komunidad ng mga katekista. Sa pagnanais kong iparinig ang mga bagong awitin ni Ate Guy, gumawa ako ng simpleng videos na may lyrics ng kanta.
1. Sa mga kasamahan namin dito sa Manila na nagkaroon ng bagong assignment at dahil sa tawag ng paglilingkod at pagiging masunurin ay malilipat ng ibang lugar
ang theme song para sa kanila ay “Sa Iyo Pa Rin.”
2. Sa kapatid naming namayapa nitong nakaraang Marso, si Aldrin (please pray for him), isang katekistang nasa ilalim ng aking pangangalaga, biglaan ang kanyang pagkawala (na-heat stroke)
kaya theme song namin para sa kanya ay “Ganyan Nga Ba.” Puwede rin ang “Habang Panahon” pero gagamitin ko ito para sa susunod na susunduin (hehehe … joke).
At the end, komento ng aking kasamahang coordinator: “Bro, nadalawahan mo kami ah.” Natutuwa silang may paghanga. Angkop naman kasi ang mga awit.
At kinakanta na nila pagkatapos.
At ako naman ay mananatili sa Manila pero maa-assign sa ibang area. Kaya gagawa ako ng video para sa aking maiiwanan
na ang theme song ay “Friends.”
Sa aking pagtahak sa bagong assignment,
ang theme song ay “Starlight.”
At para naman sa mga kapatid ko na ayaw palipat ng parokya dahil ayaw ng pagbabago o komportable na (kung meron man),
ang theme song ay “Ligaya.”
Ang isa pang plano ko, tribute naman sa mga katekistang “SINGLE” pa (marami niyan dito; di na nakapag-asawa dahil kay Kristo, huh!)
ang theme song naman nila ay “Kailan.”
Ang iba sa kanila ay 50 years old na, umaasa pa (hehehe … joke uli). pero ako, nagdesisyon na: “single-blessedness” forever.
During advent, meron kaming special lesson: Advent and Christmas. Kaya ang awiting “Pasko” naman ang papasok.
O di ba ang saya!
Masaya ang maging katekista. At kung kayo ay nagnanais magkatekista o may kamag-anak, kaibigan, o kakilalang gustong maging katekista, makipag-ugnayan lamang po sa akin.
O kung may kakilala kayong gustong sumuporta sa pag-aaral ng sinumang gustong maging katekista, just let me know.
New Nora Aunor CD Brings Back Beatiful Music . . . by Ellen Alejano
It was late afternoon yesterday. I was at work and talking to my husband on the phone. “Is there a CD mail in the letter box?” I asked. Hubby replied, “Don’t know, I just got in and I haven’t checked.” I said, “Then go outside and have a look, will you? (Oops, sorry I forgot to say “Please.”) If the CD is there, then save it quickly from the scorching heat (it’s hot Oz summer here, folks, and late afternoon sun can be a bit unforgiving).” That was a lame excuse, I know, but can you blame me? I was just excited to know if I will finally be able to listen to that “priceless” CD of Ate Guy when I come home. Hubby got back on the line and said, “Yes, here it is—fresh from the oven.” Funny but true, it must be really hot inside that mailbox . . . just like inside the oven.
You guessed it right. I came home last night and the first thing I picked up was the CD mail. Inside was the signed copy of Ate Guy’s new CD album Habang Panahon. Precious! After reading the sweet note from dear Cece, I popped the CD into my PC. Instantly, the family room was filled with the all too familiar golden melodious voice, singing what else but the first cut “Habang Panahon.” From the first note, I was hooked. My nine-year-old daughter who was doing her homework at that time remarked, “I don’t understand what she’s saying but I like her singing.”(Hmmm . . . teach her more Tagalog words, Mom!) Then I heard someone said, “Nice voice!” Was that my husband? If I have to say this, my husband very seldom gives compliment and when he does, there’s almost always the “but” argument added to the end of it. So those words (without the “but”), well that’s true and honest compliment. I’ll take it wholeheartedly on behalf of Ate Guy, thank you very much!
I finished listening to all the songs. The whole time I sat glued to the computer chair. I soooo love the new CD. There are 10 original songs composed by husband-and-wife team of Bodjie Dasig and Odette Quesada. They provided the nice blend of backup vocals too. Each song is beautiful with pleasant tune and meaningful, easy-to-recall lyrics. The arrangement and the mix are refreshing. Even the Christmas song titled, what else, “Pasko” has a happy, catchy jingle beat. Ballad, jazzy, upbeat, pop (whatever!), Ate Guy sung with the perfect voice. Minus high notes and high-strung interpretation, the CD is truly music to the ears, soothing and affecting. Ate Guy’s voice remains brilliant through the years. It projects the right emotion (it helps to be a great actress too, doesn’t it?). Like vintage wine, her voice has matured with smooth texture that cuts through sharply but amazingly painless.
It is not easy to pick favorites from the CD. I like “Habang Panahon,” “Ganyan Nga Ba?” and “Sa Iyo Pa Rin” the first time I heard them. The other songs got better as I listened to them over and over. Excellent pieces! My little girl is now able to sing “Starlight” (at least she gets the meaning of this one). My eldest daughter thought that the jazzy “Friends” is cool.
This new Nora CD is a wish come true. I hope that more Pinoys (and all Noranians, of course) will have the chance to listen to it. Through beautiful music, Ate Guy will ease her way to the hearts of the Filipinos, once more . . . like in the old times.
Thank you, Tony V., for making it happen.
Thank you, Mr. Bodjie and Ms. Odette, for writing the lovely songs and letting our dear Nora sing them from the heart, as always . . .
P.S. To my dear friend Cece, super thank you talaga. Luvya Sis.
From the Nora Aunor Yahoogroup, posted on February 3, 2009
Sa loob ng tatlong taon, mula 1969 hanggang 1972, nakagawa si Nora Aunor ng 18 LP at 216 singles. Halos bawat minuto ay maririnig ang kanyang plaka—sa jukebox, sa radyo, o sa TV. Saan mang lugar—sa mga pamilihan, sa mga pampublikong sasakyan, sa mga opisina, sa mga kapistahan at iba’t ibang okasyon. Sa bawat record stores sa Raon, minu-minuto kung patugtugin ang kanyang plaka.
Sa top ten chart ng local recordings, madalas number one si Nora at ilan pa niyang kanta ang karaniwang nasa listahan. Sa paramihan ng benta ng plaka sa Pilipinas, tumba kay Nora ang The Beatles at si Elvis Presley.
Pumasok si Nora sa recording industry sa panahong namamayani ang colonial mentality ng mga Pinoy; ikinahihiya ng marami ang pagtangkilik sa local singers. Binago ito ni Nora. Mayaman o mahirap, masa o elitista, kinagiliwan ang tinig ni Nora. Pinatugtog ang kanyang plaka sa bawat bahay—hamak man o malapalasyo.
Umabot hanggang sa labas ng bansa ang paghanga sa boses ni Nora. May mga nagpadala sa Alpha ng mga sulat ng paghanga. Sa Sabah, naiulat na ipinagbibili ang mga plaka ni Nora sa presyong pang-black market. Pinakamabili doon ang Hawaiian songs ni Nora. Sa London, ibinalita ng isang Filipina na kaliwa’t kanan ang panghihiram ng dala niyang mga plaka ni Nora—ng parehong mga Filipino at Briton.Isang Tsino ang nagsabing hindi siya makapaniwala na may mang-aawit na kasinghusay ni Nora ang Pilipinas. Maraming Filipino na nasa ibang bansa ang nag-request na mapadalhan ng kopya ng mga record ni Nora (“They Go for Nora, Too!” Philippines Daily Express, July 18, 1972). Sa Guam, nangunguna rin sa bentahan ang plaka ni Nora. Isang Amerikanong nagngangalang Douglas Whitney ng California ang nagsabing isa si Nora sa pinakamahusay na mang-aawit na narinig niya. (Philippines Daily Express, “Superstar, Hinangaan ng mga taga-Guam, US,” August 14, 1973).
Binuksan niya ang pinto para sa maraming local singers. Sa tagumpay ni Nora, lumakas ang loob ng maraming record producers na tumuklas ng mas maraming local talents at mag-produce ng maraming albums. Naging aktibo ang maraming musikero. Nagkasunod-sunod ang tulad nina Eddie Peregrina, Victor Wood, Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz, Vilma Santos, Novo Bono, Manny De Leon, Esperanza Fabon, Perla Adea, at marami pang iba.
Adaptations ang kalakaran noon sa industriya. Pinatunayan ni Nora na may merkado rin ang mga lokal na komposisyon. Sa kanyang ikalawang album (More, More, More), halimbawa, pito ang original songs. Nang magtagumpay ang album, naging in-demand ang Filipino song writers tulad nina George Canseco, Danny Subido, at Bert Dominic.
Kinikilala ng mga nakakabatid sa loob ng industriya ang mahahalagang kontribusyon ni Nora Aunor sa pagsulong ng Philippine recording industry.
****** Noranians are people smitten by a talent extraordinaire: Ms. Nora Aunor, a singer with golden voice, world-class film artist, cultural icon, living legend—the ultimate multimedia Superstar of the Philippine entertainment industry.
Noranians are SUPERSTARstruck.
This is their page to celebrate their identity as Noranians.
****** Noranians may share here their impression of Nora Aunor; any trivia on her music, performances, or other works; their own stories as Noranians. E-mail contributions to superstarstruck@gmail.com.
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