Ogie Alcasid's The Songwriter and the Hitmakers Press Conference

Ogie Alcasid

I find it hard to imagine that it’s been almost 25 years since Ogie Alcasid burst into the music scene. I remember that he used to appear in television programs wearing clothing with keyboard motif which was his signature look back then. Now, Ogie has firmly cemented his position as one of the big guns in the local music industry not just as a recording artist, but also as a sought after songwriter. He is also the current president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM). He is celebrating his 25^th anniversary in the industry next year but the lead up to it has already begun with the release of his newest album, The Songwriter and the Hitmakers, released by Universal Records.

The Songwriter and the Hitmakers is an 18 track album combining Ogie’s old and new songs sung by him and by some of the Philippine music industry heavyweights. Ogie sings in two tracks namely Ikaw ang Aking Pangarap and Ang Puso Ko while the rest of the tracks in the album feature 

Guest artists in the album include his wife Regine Velasquez-Alcasid for the track Sino Ako and the husband and wife duet of Tayong Dalawa. Other guests artists in the album include Gary Valenciano (Kailangan Kita), Martin Nievera (Pangako), Kuh Ledesma (Walang Iba), Sarah Geronimo (Tanging Ikaw Lamang),  Christian Bautista (Ikaw Lamang), Angeline Quinto (Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka), Rachelle Ann Go (Mula Ngayon), Noel Cabangon (Ikaw ang Pag-Ibig Ko), Richard Poon (To You), Jed Madela (Tanging Ikaw), Piolo Pascual (Kung Mawawala Ka), Arnel Pineda (Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw), JayR and Jaya (Mga Nakaw na Sandali) and Kyla (Why Don’t We Give).

Ogie Alcasid had a press conference for the album that was held recently at Patio Carlito. At the press conference, he performed several tracks from the album and then responded to the question why his biggest hit Nandito Ako, was not included in it. The response was simply because he wasn’t the one who wrote it. The song was written by Aaron Paul del Rosario instead.

Ogie promotes album at Party Pilipinas

A few days after the press conference, I was able to see Ogie Alcasid once again when I watched Party Pilipinas live inside the GMA Network studios. The program had a production number solely devoted to the album. In it, Kyla performed Why Don’t We Give, Mark Bautista did Ikaw ang Pag-Ibig Ko and Ogie himself did a rendition of Walang Iba which was capped by Kyla and Mark joining him.

Mark Bautista, Ogie Alcasid and Kyla

The Songwriter and the Hitmakers is now available in record stores nationwide. Thanks to Universal Records for inviting me once again to the press conference. Thanks to Richard of LionhearTV for letting me watch Party Pilipinas.

The Songwriter and the Hitmakers

Tracks:

1. Ikaw ang Aking Pangarap

2. Sino Ako

3. Kailangan Kita

4. Pangako

5. Walang Iba

6. Tanging Ikaw Lamang

7. Ikaw Lamang

8. Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka

9. Mula Ngayon

10. Tayong Dalawa

11. Ikaw ang Pag-Ibig Ko

12. To You

13. Tanging Ikaw

14. Kung Mawawala Ka

15. Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw

16. Mga Nakaw na Sandali

17. Why Don’t We Give

18. Ang Puso Ko