Julio says he’s Filipino at heart

“I am Filipino in my heart!” These were the words exclaimed by living musical legend Julio Iglesias as he performed for thousands of pinoy fans the other week at the Araneta Colisuem. The Latin crooner dedicated the Manila leg of his world tour, aptly entitled “Heart of Gold,” to the victims of typhoon Ondoy and proudly proclaimed his special relationship with Filipino culture and people.

Julio Iglesias performs "Dahil Sa'yo" with Sharon Cuneta at the

Big Dome's 50th Anniversary Celebration

Julio stated, “In 10 years, there will be 200 million Filipinos & 3 of those are mine” (referring to his 3 children with first wife, Filipina Isabel Preysler) and even joked with the audience that he is a “master” of Filipino food.

“I know good adobo, pancit, & lumpia when I taste them,” said Julio with a smile before performing with the country’s megastar Sharon Cuneta. Aside from singing “All of You” and “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” with the renowned Latin artist, Sharon also sang the classic Filipino love song “Dahil Sa’yo” with Julio, making the audience swoon. The lyrics to the classic Filipino song were even projected on giant screens around the Big Dome for fans to join them in singing.

During his concert, Julio was clearly teary-eyed when he recalled how Mr. Araneta (who he lovingly calls “Jorge”) told him about what happened during typhoon Ondoy. He said “I am very thankful that I have everything I need but I am guilty for those Filipinos who lost their homes & their lives because of the typhoon. That is why I, as an artist, have to help them as much as I can, in whatever way I can. And I am thankful to all of you for buying your tickets and doing your part to also help these typhoon victims. ”

Iglesias’ “Heart of Gold” concert was held in celebration of Araneta Coliseum’s Golden Anniversary, to benefit the people who were the primary reason for the existence of the country’s mecca of sports and entertainment. In a great act of kindness, Julio waived his talent fee for the concert. To match his generosity, the Big Dome likewise waived its rental fee while all the proceeds of ticket sales will also be turned over to the beneficiaries. In short, for the first time in the 50-year history of the Big Dome, all proceeds of a landmark concert done by a renowned international artist goes to charity.

Craig David delivers anew

R&B star Craig David returns with a new single and album deal with MCA Music. His first single, is One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows), taken from his fifth studio album Signed Sealed Delivered released later on the March 2010.

The album is a collection of some of the great soul hits including For Once In My Life, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, I Heard It Through The Grapevine and the title track by Stevie Wonder, reworked in Craig's own style. The single, his first since 2008, takes a sample from the classic Four Tops hit (first released in 1966) and gives it a modern flavor.

From a UK Garage pioneer to a mainstream multi-million seller, Craig David is so much more than your average artist. The Southampton born singer is a truly exceptional individual who transcends the norm, consistently outdoes expectation and continues to push musical boundaries. Still only 27-years old, it’s incredible to consider what he’s achieved during his ten year career.

His brand new album, Signed Sealed Delivered asserts once more why Craig is such a significant artist. Covering a multitude of Motown classics, Craig’s fifth studio offering retains his innovative approach to music-making. Favorites from Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and The Temptations are all given a 2010 twist; the first single One More Lie (Standing In The Shadows) is an upbeat floor-filler, featuring hard-knock drums and a new level of vocal from Craig, as he takes it to the top-end.

Indeed, his voice is the centerpiece of the entire album, asserting his presence as a powerful pop vocalist. “I felt like, if I’m going to sing a Stevie song, I have to do it justice, so I approached it differently,” says Craig of recording the record. “Even if my voice broke hitting those notes, even if it was out of my comfort zone, I put my all in. I wanted this record to feel the same as when I made my first album; the songs had to pop out of the speakers. As soon as I started to feel that, I knew I was onto a winner.”