The recording of 20 Palauan songs with Senator Alfonso Diaz became a reality prior to my trip to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway with the song "Maureen" being one of those.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
"MAUREEN"
FIRST PALAUAN KARAOKE SONG
ABOUT 8 years ago, while paying an item I bought at WCTC
(2nd floor) counter, I noticed beside the cashier, a video of a
Palauan song playing a karaoke version of the song “Maureen”, which I can play
and sing because it’s one of the first Palauan songs that we know when me and
guitarist/vocalist Wilson Prima were singing during our daily performance at
Image Restaurant since July 21, 1992.
The
key of the song is for lady but I still sang it while waiting for my change and
receipt. The cashier was surprised and said, “There you have it! It’s the first
time that somebody sings this first karaoke version of this song and look, it’s
not a Palauan!”
Since
early 2000, I have tried to make a karaoke version of Palauan songs starting
with “TNT”, the Palauan version of Hawaiian song “Baby Blue”. The problem is
the graphics, in which I’ve planned to write the lyrics into mirror and will
shoot the background of Rock Islands for a unique Palauan karaoke touch.
There’s no problem with the music as I can copy the analog part of Image
Restaurant’s karaoke songs through VCR and my Sony digital camcorder.
It
didn’t push through as the market in Palau is too small with a population of
more or less 20,000 people and less than 5,000 are Filipinos. When playing the
“Baby Blue” in karaoke at Image Restaurant, where I’m also the disc jockey, I
sing the Palauan version if there are Palauan guests.
“Maureen”
is one of the 20 songs that I recorded (some are live) in former Senator
Alfonso Diaz’ recording studio prior to my participation in the 2014 World
Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway held from August 01-14, 2014.
When
he is listing the title, we’re not sure about the spelling of Maureen. It can
be Maurene or Maureen. He said he will make sure about the right spelling of
that name.
I
was paid $10.00/ song and when Sen. Diaz issued me a check of $200.00, he said,
“If that check bounces, I will make that amount triple!” He’s really sure that
he has fund for it.
Our
agreement is that he will not mass-produce CDs of those songs because of small
market and very easy to pirate songs nowadays. He will make those songs as
background music to his radio talk shows and during the House of
Representatives and Senate hearings/functions.
It
was the original idea in 2005 while I’m playing keyboard music at Rose Garden
Resort. Senator Diaz offered me to record 10 Palauan songs that he will
mass-produce and will pay me $500.00. He will also make it as background music
during the House and Senate meetings. They don’t like to hear those Palauan songs
with lyrics, esp. the new songs that have non-sense meaning.
We
have agreed to record those songs in his recording studio using my keyboard
(Yamaha PSR400) but Minister of Health Victor Yano suggested to use the grand
piano at Airai View Hotel for more classical finesse. Sen. Diaz agreed and said
he will talk to Senator Mlib Tmechtul, who is a close friend, to use that white
grand piano. I used that player grand piano in 1993. That piano can play by
itself if you will plug and insert a cassette to a machine with prerecorded
piano pieces. The keys will also go down as if there’s somebody playing it.
When
I’m playing “Song for Anna”, Orly Matias, the bus driver of the hotel, noticed
that it’s not one of the songs that included in the list. He went beside me and
saw that the cord of the machine is not plugged into the outlet. He said, “So,
it’s really you playing! I thought you are just pretending to play and just
“flowing” with the rhythm but I saw the machine is not plugged in.”
While
playing music at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort, a Palauan lady approached
me and asked where she can buy those CDs she heard while listening to the talk
show of Sen. Diaz. I said to her that she can ask Sen. Diaz because it’s not
for sale. And that we have an agreement that whoever wants to have those songs,
he will record it for a price.
Sources: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- September 01, 2016
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book
No comments:
Post a Comment