Massive Music Festival 2010

Then & Now: Confluence of Nine Global Artists 

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte 

Astronomically, the blue moon phenomenon happens approximately once in every 75 years. To draw a parallel, the forthcoming Then & Now concert, slated May 15th at the Mall of Asia concert grounds, is of the same magnitude. There has never been such an assemblage of nine major global artists in a single stage; nor will there be for a long, long time. Flying in from the United States are JoJo, Diana King, Frankie J, Baby Bash, PM Dawn, SMV, All-4-One, TQ and V Factory, with each one performing their greatest hits.

“Our primary goal is to provide the Filipino audience live outdoor entertainment; the kind of musical experience that happens once in a lifetime and never before witnessed in this country,” enthused Janeth Chang, chief financial officer of Divan Media Group, the show's production outfit. Touted as “Massive Music Festival 2010,” it is, as the moniker suggests, the biggest concert event to ever hit the Philippine archipelago. And it's one show you shouldn't miss! 

A guaranteed all-hits show, the concert is not an album tour where the artists sing only cuts from a newly-released recording; nor a promotion tour wherein they only push for a couple of songs. Their respective fans can expect to hear the artists' top tunes all night long. 

Boy Bands in the ever-changing musical landscape, many of the '90s groups didn't survive except for a few. One of them is the Los Angeles-based team of Tony Borowiak, Jamie Jones, Delious Kennedy, and Alfred Nevarez. Known collectively as All-4-One, the R&B quartet was fortunate in having established a very strong international following by virtue of such major hits like their revival of The Thymes '63 classic So Much In Love, their 1994 chart-topping single, as well as a cover of the country ditty I Swear, one of the longest-running #1 singles in Billboard's history. The latter tune earned them the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals. Their other hits include I Can Love You Like That (1995), Someday (1996) and My Child (2009). 

On the other hand, relative newcomer quintet act V Factory has amassed a solid following despite its lone hit single Love Struck. With their hip-hop-meets-R&B vibe, the instantly addictive songs that they have just finished recording for Warner Bros. Records has something for everyone; from tough-edged beats to touching ballads, giving it an appeal to music lovers of all ages. Composed of Jared Murillo, Wesley Quinn, Asher Book, Nick 'Nicky T' Teti and Nathaniel Flatt (with two of the boys cast members of the series Glee), these five mad-talented young male singers and dancers are all that and more with their combination of edgy urban pop and electrifying dance moves.

Singin' blogger TQ (or Terrance Quiates) began with the R&B group Coming of Age in the early '90s. The ensemble disbanded after two albums; one of which produced the hit ballad Coming Home To Love. In 1998, he released his solo album “Westside” and, a year later, “They Never Saw Me Coming” that carried the hit singles Bye Bye Baby and Better Days. He is currently working on his 6th studio project, “Kind of Blue.” TQ has recorded the Michael Jackson song Dirty Diana in his latest album. Writer of his own blog, he has previously written on the music Web site AllHipHop.com. Part I of his blog can be found here while the rest can be found in the archives of the site. He gives an insight into the music business and the troubles he has had getting his albums released. His other hits are Daily (2000) and Let's Get Back To Bed (2001). 

Sibling Acts New Jersey hip duo PM Dawn is the multi-platinum selling R&B act formed by brothers Attrell Cordes (aka Prince Be, the Nocturnal) and Jarrett Cordes (aka J.C., the Eternal) in 1988. The name comes from the idea “in the darkest hour comes the light.” They released their debut album “Of the Heart, of the Soul, of the Cross: The Utopian Experience” in 1991 to rave reviews. The duo's more famous hits include Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, I'd Die Without You, and Looking Through Patient Eyes. Their other hits are Paper Doll (1992), Norwegian Wood (1993), Downtown Venus (1995), Being So Not For You (I Had No Right) 1998, and Gotta Be... Movin' On Up featuring Ky-mani in 2000. Despite suffering a massive stroke in 2005, and left with paralysis on his entire left side, Prince Be continues to tour with his brother and is in fact, back in the studio recording new material for a new full-length LP. 

On the distaff side, SWV (acronym for Sisters with Voices) though not kin are kith, being school friends: Cheryl 'Coko' Gamble, Tamara 'Taj' Johnson and Leanne 'Lelee' Lyons. As kids, they learned to harmonize in church choir and it was a 5-song demo tape they put together that caught the attention of producer Teddy Riley, who helped establish the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Their name is associated with the hits I'm So Into You, Right Here/Human Nature and Weak; all of which came out in 1992. The trio disbanded in 1998 but reunited in 2005; went back to working on a new studio album and started touring again. Their other hits are You're The One (1996) and Rain (1997).

From The Movies  

Born to a Jamaican-Indian mother and an African father in Spanish Town, chanteuse Diana King is an R&B, pop, reggae and dance-hall singer-songwriter rolled-into-one. Her debut album “Tougher Than Love” spawned Shy Guy, a hit track that made it to the OST of the 1995 action flick "Bad Boys." In the Philippines, it has become a staple song in most videoke and comedy bars all over Metro Manila. Her follow-up hit, Ain't Nobody, was a cover of the '70s chartbuster by Rufus & Chaka Khan. She came up with another big hit in 1997 with a dance/reggae cover of Dione Warwick's '70s classic "I Say A Little Prayer" that was featured on the soundtrack of "My Best Friend's Wedding." Since then, Diana King has had numerous music projects, TV appearances, awards and live performances including the star-studded Las Vegas Divas Live show. She's currently writing and recording under her own label and goes on concert tours around Asia annually. Her other hits are L-L-Lies (1996) and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? (1997). 

On the other hand, JoJo, more popularly known by her fans simply with her soubriquet, than her real name Joanna Noelle Blagden Levesque, emerged unto the pop music scene in 2004 via the hit singles Leave (Get Out) and Baby It's You, making her the youngest solo artist with a No. 1 single in the US. Her 2nd album “The High Road,” released a year later, scored more hits including 'Too Little, Too Late' and 'How To Touch A Girl.' But her greatest hit seems to be the 2007 reply to Sean Kingston's “Beautiful Girls,” her rendition of 'Beautiful Girls' Reply.' JoJo's other hits are 'Not That Kinda Girl' and 'Weak' (2005) as well as 'Anything' and 'Note to God' (2007). She has also dabbled into TV and film and made her maiden boob-tube appearance at the Bernie Mac Show. She starred in two Hollywood movies: "Aquamarine," her film debut, and "RV"; both of which came out in 2006. 

Close Pals 

American rapper Baby Bash, aka Ronald (Ronnie) Rey Bryant, performed under the stage name Baby Beesh from 1995 through 1998, after which he changed the last part of the name to Bash. His first album in 2003, “Tha Smokin' Nephew,” included the hit singles Suga Suga and Shorty Doowop. Two years later, he released another album, “Super Saucy,” with its lead single, Baby I'm Back , a collaboration with singer Akon. His 3rd album in 1997, “Cyclone,” had two certified Billboard hits: the title track featuring T-Pain and What Is It? featuring Sean Kingston. His other hits are Na Na (The Yummy Song) 2007, Don't Stop (2008) and That's How I Go featuring Mario and Lil John (2009). Baby Bash also writes lyrics for singers like Whitney Houston and Jennifer Hudson. He frequently collaborates with other artists like Natalie (Energy, 2005), Paula DeAnda (Doing Too Much, 2006) and fellow concert performer Frankie J (Obsession aka No Es Amor, 2005). The latter artist, though born in Tijuana, Mexico, was raised in San Diego, California since 2-years-old in a very musically-oriented household. His father was a lead singer in a traditional Mexican band while his grandfather was a violinist. 

Frankie J (contracted from Francisco Javier Bautista Jr.) developed an early interest in singing and was already participating in talent shows and performing in various school functions by the time he got to high school. After his first album “What's A Man To Do,” he released a 2nd self-titled album that spawned the hits 'Don't Wanna Try' and 'Ya No Es Igual.' He also released in 2005, 'How To Deal' and his cover of 'More Than Words.' To date, he has come up with four English-language solo albums, the latest of which is “Time” that was released last year.

Fans of the featured artists can expect more than three hours of non-stop Pop and R&B hits spanning three decades from the late '80s to the present in a truly world-class show, but sans the international price of admission! Tickets are available at all TicketNet and TicketWorld (891-9999) outlets. For more details, please call tel. nos 389-3708 and 687-0048 Ext. 15099 or email info@divanmedia.com. You may also check the Web sites www.MassiveMusicManila.com and www.ThenAndNowConcert.com. Or simply log-on to www.divanmedia.com.