Balladeer Christian Bautista launched a new album this week. Entitled Soundtrack, produced by Universal Records, the Asian singing sensation sings songs popularised by romantic films.
Aside from his album, the singer is also busy doing three shows on TV, adding hosting and acting to his wealth of talents.
Tell us about your new album.
It’s a very special compilation of all the romantic songs we’ve loved through the years. The first single is Up Where We Belong from the 1982 Richard Gere movie, An Officer and a Gentleman. Interestingly, this song is now being used as a soundtrack for the hit Korean series, Empress Ki.
This album is for those who love romantic films and the songs that helped made them great movies. Our team listed down more than 13 songs in the current compilation, and we had to go through a contentious process of choosing only the most memorable ones, at least for Filipino audiences.
Can you give us an idea of the other songs that made the list?
The album includes When You Say Nothing at All from Notting Hill, The Way We Were from the Barbra Streisand film of the same title. This is the song where I do a duet with Rachelle Ann Go. Then there is Come What May from Moulin Rouge [another duet song this time with Nikki Gil]. I guess people would be happy with Way Back into Love from Music and Lyrics and the karaoke favourite Unchained Melody from Ghost.
The other selections include How Deep is Your Love, A Thousand Years from Twilight, After All [duet with Karylle], Cruisin’ [duet with Julie Anne San Jose], Love is All Around, Kiss from a Rose and Seasons of Love.
Some of your contemporaries like Mark Bautista and Rachelle Ann Go are now making waves at West End. Have you thought about auditioning in future musicals in London?
I actually auditioned for Here Lies Love, but Mark got the part. It would of course be a great opportunity to do something like that — as an artist, you try and grab an opportunity that will further hone your craft. So when an opportunity comes, I will definitely give it a try.
Besides being a singer, you’re also a TV host and an actor. Which do actually love doing?
Singing is my first and great passion, but I have also come to love acting and hosting. They’re different ways by which I can express my talent or skills, so I appreciate being given the chance to do that through the soap series Strawberry Lane, or through Sunday All Stars, which I host weekly along with other great performers.
You’ve also been busy doing concerts in other Asian countries. You are very popular in Indonesia. What do you think is the reason for your success?
It’s just maybe a combination of talent and great material. My songs have done pretty well in Indonesia because they tell me they appreciate the type of songs that I do. Frankly though, whenever I perform live abroad and get really fantastic feedback, I am still overwhelmed and at a loss for words to explain. Just very thankful.
