Whine, a relative of George, Kostang and Yvonne Remeliik, has all praises for George and Kostang during our conversation at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort in Aug. 15, 2017. I didn't realize that his partner is Filipino. I just know it when she speaks Tagalog when we are having this photo session.
GEORGE, KOSTANG & YVONNE REMELIIK--
PALAU'S BEST SINGERS!
THERE IS a Palauan couple that had dinner at Waves Restaurant in Aug. 15, 2017 that proceed to Breeze Bar and had drinks there. They sit at the table where they can overlook me playing keyboard music from 9-11pm. I just played instrumental music f0r 30 minutes till the guy requested songs of Elton John.
I played all Elton John’s songs since then – Skyline Pigeon, Daniel, Sweet Painted Lady, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, We All Fall in Love Sometimes, Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me and when I played Your Song, he puts his thumbs up meaning he likes the song. It is also one of the favorite Elton John songs of George Remeliik, a regular karaoke singer at Image Restaurant in early 2000.
When he requested “Sorry seems to be the Hardest Word”, I sang it and he comes to me and sang some part of the song. Later, he gave me $5.00 tip and I continue to play more Elton John songs.
While paying their bill, we have more conversation about George and Kostang Remeliik. According to him, he asked George once, “Where is the best place to sing karaoke in Palau? And George said at Image Restaurant where I worked for 13 years as pianist/DJ operating karaoke after 2 hours of piano instrumental music.
George said that because at Image Restaurant, we don’t put echo in the mike so that you will hear your real voice while singing unlike in all other karaoke bars that when you’re singing, it looks like you are singing inside a cave because of too much echo effects in the mike.
The Palauan guy also mentioned that George can sing like a lady singer. I remember him singing the duet song “Endless Love” by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. He will sing the Lionel’s part in his normal voice and will sing the Diana’s part with a falsetto voice and it seems like there are 2 singers singing “Endless Love”. When I sing with guest to this song, I always make a joke about the last 3 words of the song. Instead of singing “My endless love”, I will sing “My stainless love”.
That style of George in singing duet song by himself was applied also by the grand prize winner of Pilipinas Got Talent a few years ago. Romelito won it in singing the spiritual song “The Prayer”, which was the ‘masterpiece’ song of Bro. Rey Palma and his wife Sis. Luz Palma. Their special number during the Sunday service of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale is filled with emotions as the lyrics of that song has a combination of English and Latin words.
I remember the 2nd time that I met Kostang at the bar of Image Restaurant in 1994. He offered me a Budweiser beer. The bartender at that time is Antonia Borja. When I was about to open the beer, she gestured to me not to do so because Kostang is paying by cash. When he left, Antonia or Toni put back the beer in the chiller and gave me the $3.00 that Kostang paid for the beer.
I also asked Kostang at that time to give me the lyrics of the most popular Hawaiian song in Palau, the "Honolulu City Lights".
Kostang also became my partner during the sunset cruise of Rock Island Tour Company where he played guitar first to the Japanese guests and when they requested Japanese songs, it's my time to play using the keyboard. That time, there is an ongoing chess tournament and I am the Chief Arbiter. I just know about the touch move complain the next day...
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/11/touch-move-sparks-protest-tbn-april-2-9.html
While jogging at Long Island Park, I met Kostang there and we have 2 photos taken.
I remember the 2nd time that I met Kostang at the bar of Image Restaurant in 1994. He offered me a Budweiser beer. The bartender at that time is Antonia Borja. When I was about to open the beer, she gestured to me not to do so because Kostang is paying by cash. When he left, Antonia or Toni put back the beer in the chiller and gave me the $3.00 that Kostang paid for the beer.
I also asked Kostang at that time to give me the lyrics of the most popular Hawaiian song in Palau, the "Honolulu City Lights".
Kostang also became my partner during the sunset cruise of Rock Island Tour Company where he played guitar first to the Japanese guests and when they requested Japanese songs, it's my time to play using the keyboard. That time, there is an ongoing chess tournament and I am the Chief Arbiter. I just know about the touch move complain the next day...
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/11/touch-move-sparks-protest-tbn-april-2-9.html
EXCEPT FOR KOSTANG, THE REMELIIK SIBLINGS ARE SINGING FOR PLEASURE AND FUN AND NOT FOR MONEY. EASILY THEY CAN RECORD SONGS (AMERICAN OR PALAUAN) FOR SALE BUT THEY PREFER TO SING NOT FOR MONEY.
