Music Icon Pilita Corrales Comes Up With Duets Album With Sharon, Martin, Basil And Other Music Greats

PILITA CORRALES is no doubt an icon in local music as Asia’s Queen of Songs. She is the only local singer who had performed with renowned international artists like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Bob Hope, Julie Andrews and Pat Boone. She sings Tagalog, Visayan, English and Spanish songs with equal ease.

She started her career in the late 50s in Australia. At the first Tokyo Music Festival in the ’70s, Pilita even defeated Olivia Newton-John as the Best Performer. She then conquered Filipino audiences with her shows in the Manila Grand Opera House and later, on TV, with “An Evening with Pilita”. With a career that spans six decades, she has won every imaginable award in local music. She also did several movies and is active on TV up to now in GMA-7’s hit sitcom, “Vampire ang Daddy Ko”.

And now, even if she’s a septuagenarian, she has maintained her youthful looks and sexiness. She remains well-loved for her work, humor and genuine good nature, not just by audiences, but by her fellow artists. No wonder they are more than happy to collaborate with her in her latest album called “Duets.”

Viva Boss Vic del Rosario felt it’s been a while since Pilita last released an album and he suggested the “Duets” album. “Mag-duet ka with other icons in the music industry,” he said.

Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Vic Sotto, Chad Borja, Regine Velasquez, Joey Albert, The CompanY and Sarah Geronimo quickly agreed. The next step was to select the songs.

“What Viva did was to ask the artists what songs they’d want to do with me. Basil chose Kapantay ay Langit. Chad chose ‘Usahay’ to give the album a Visayan flavour. My version of Pagdating Ng Panahon with The CompanY is also something no one has ever heard before. The song’s arrangement has a jazzy feel to it and there’s the addition of Spanish lyrics I myself wrote. I approached Vic Sotto during our taping of Vampire Ang Daddy Ko, and we did his hit composition, Ipagpatawad Mo. With Concert King Martin, I did Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, and with Sarah, Forever’s Not Enough. Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko is the song I shared with Sharon, while You Are My Song and Tell Me are my songs with Regine and Joey. It’s really a great honor to work with them. Who knows when this will happen again? Before Duets, all these songs used to be just something I would love to listen to. I haven’t done them in the live shows that I do. So this time, I get to do it.”

Also in the album is Pilita’s signature song, A Million Thanks To You, which she does solo. What’s the secret of her durability? “First of all, love your work, your profession. Love it will all your heart, give it your all and you’ll never go wrong. Then you should be able to adapt yourself to change. In my shows, I go with the times. Nauso ang rapping, I also did it. I do a lot of jokes also. I even do Lady Gaga in Tagalog.”

Pilita and her guests will perform songs from the album in “Duets: A Million Thanks”, a concert for the benefit of the Mare Foundation. This will be held at the Fiesta Pavillion of the Manila Hotel on Thursday, Nov. 13. Get your tickets now.