WE GOT TO TALK to MARTIN NIEVERA the day after his concert with Kenny Loggins last Sunday night. Everyone noticed Loggins was not at in his best element and Martin revealed it’s because he’s suffering from a painful cyst that grew in his between the discs of his spine and has to be operated on in L.A. “He’s taking painkillers and because of that he forgot the lines of his own song noong nagsasagutan kaming dalawa,” says Martin. “When I touched his back, I could feel the growth. Kawawa naman. We go a long way back as in my very first album, I sang all original songs except for one revival, his ‘Heart to Heart’.”What about his ex, Pops Fernandez, is it true she’s also sick so her coming concert was cancelled? “You know, whenever people see me, they always ask: How’s Pops? When I’m in a good mood, I say, she’s fine. But pag wala ako sa mood, I say, she’s happy now, without me. Pops always had health issues even when we’re together, like ulcers, which she probably got because of me,” he laughs. “I called her up and she said her acid reflux has come back. She had that before and it really affects her singing so she has to rest muna.”
He’s flying to the States for a concert series then he go to Hawaii on June 14 to do a series of shows with the Society of Seven, where his dad Bert Nievera started. He’s also doing shows with his own son, Robin, who is doing well as a MYX VJ. “He’s the only one who’s contract was extended among the VJ’s there. I’m so flattered when people tell me how good he is with the guitar. They say he’s a real musician. I’m offering to help him in his career because I have so much to give. I said I’ll write him a song, but he rejects it. He doesn’t want to be under my shadow and I respect him for that.”
Before he leaves for the US, Martin launched a new album, “Himig ng Damdamin”, under PolyEast Records. It has 13 revivals of all OPM love songs, complete with minus one. The beautiful jacket also includes all the lyrics of the songs: “Kung Ako na Lang Sana”, “Babalikang Muli”, “Iisa Pa Lamang”, “Ayoko Na Sana”, “Umagang Kay Ganda” (with English version called “Beautiful Morning”), “Kailangan Kita”, “Paalam Na”, “Now That You’re Gone”, “Narito”, “Before I Let You Go”, and “Everyday”. He reveals that he still nurtures his dream of making it internationally. “I wrote Ellen Degeneres saying I love what she did for Charice and Arnel Pineda, but I have no sad story to tell her like coming from a poor family. But I told her: I’m dying to guest in your show. She didn’t reply. In a show of Charice, I guested and, later, all the Filipinos came to me so the group of David Foster got curious and asked who I am. They were told I’m the Concert King of the Philippines and they asked me to sing for them. I sang ‘The Prayer” and they said, you should be in our show. I later got a call from them saying they need me to fill up their concert in New Jersey, where there are plenty of Pinoys. But it so happened I’m already doing another show elsewhere so I wasn’t able to make it. Sayang.”