For Hajji and Rey, there’s no point in trying to act young
Once in a while, producers would request Hajji Alejandro and Rey Valera to perform current hits by young pop artists. And they would oblige, at times begrudgingly — if only to prove that they keep tabs on today’s music trends, and that they’re bold enough to take them on.
But now they realize that, at this point in their careers, they need not get too wrapped up in trying to woo or impress new fans. They’re OPM icons, legacy acts with long lists of timeless hits and decades of experience. There’s nothing much left to prove.
“For me, there’s no point in us trying to prove that we can perform what the young ones do; that we can replicate their moves. We would just look like tryhards. That’s their thing,” Hajji said at a press conference for “Hitmakers: Xxceptional,” a coming concert he will coheadline with Rey, Marco Sison and Nonoy Zuñiga.
The few times they did so, they just ended up leaving their audiences baffled.
“We have experienced that in the past. Back then, when we were a bit younger—but well on our way to maturity—we felt like we had to sing songs of younger artists. But what happened is that the moment we sang those new songs, our fans got confused. It wasn’t what they came for,” the 68-year-old singer-actor related. Now, the game plan is sticking to what they do best, but not without giving their songs a twist here and there. “It’s about thinking of ways to improve our music, by way of sprucing up the arrangements or something. But they’re still the songs they want to hear from us,” Hajji said.
‘Sing for our generation’
“Artists our age should sing for their generation; the people they grew up with; the people who supported them from their school days until now,” he added. “It’s a bonus if they bring their kids with them. But it’s their parents that we really hope to entertain.”
After all, it’s nostalgia their fans are after, Rey, 69, pointed out.
“There were times when we were asked to sing Ed Sheeran songs, etc. And we do it, but we remind the people that it’s not who we really are. It’s true that the people who genuinely appreciate us are those who grew up with us; those who know where we came from; those who know about our hardships and how we started,” he said.
They’re here to relive those precious moments with the fans.
“I realize that the reason they’re still there for us is that their past memories and our songs have all become intertwined … The songs bring back memories. That’s how I feel when I hear songs from my generation. The nostalgia brings me back in time. That’s what the people who watch us want to feel, and it’s our role to give it to them,” the singer-songwriter said.
Hits covered, revived
But it’s flattering, of course, when young listeners show genuine appreciation for their music. And there’s no bigger compliment, Hajji and Rey agreed, than their hits being covered or revived.
“I’m very lucky because some of my songs are covered and used for teleseryes, so some young people know about them. Sometimes, when I perform in shows and ask the audience to sing, they sing back the lines with different phrasings—that’s how I know there are new versions out. It’s an honor,” said Rey, who’s also amused with people using his songs like “Walang Kapalit” on TikTok.
“I feel happy because the songs are being given a new life and are making their way to new audiences. Who wouldn’t want their songs to be heard for a long time?” he added.
For Hajji, seeing other artists cover his songs feels like a pat on the back. “It tells you that you have done something good,” he said. “My song ‘Nakapagtataka’ has been revived by various artists. It’s a compliment … it means they want to make sure the songs will be heard by generations to come,” he said.
“Xxceptional,” which will be held on Dec. 1 at The Theatre at Solaire (www.premier.ticketworld.com.ph), is the 20th anniversary of Hajji, Rey, Marco and Nonoy performing together as the “The Hitmakers.” Pops Fernandez will be joining the fun as a special guest and will perform an OPM medley with the four.
“It’s the culmination of all the things we have done in the past 20 years. Our camaraderie has matured to the point that people feel instantly happy seeing our bond,” Rey said.
A tribute to fellow hitmaker, the late Rico J. Puno, is also in order, Hajji said. “We’re really preparing for that. And it’s only fitting that we recognize his contribution.” INQ
