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Maestro Louie Ocampo turned "composer ka lang" insult into an inspiring and nostalgic sold-out concert

by Anna Pingol /

02.09.23
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Photos: Viva Live

On both nights, Louie Ocampo thanked Boss Vic del Rosario of Viva and Viva/Vicor Records. He said he's the man "who believed in me since the beginning of my career." Moreover, he added: "He's the one who told me I deserved a 45th anniversary concert."

Last February 4 and 5, lovers of genuine music flocked to The Theater at Solaire and joined the legendary composer, Maestro Louie Ocampo in celebrating his 45th anniversary as the songwriter/musical director to the country's music gems—Martin Nievera, Pops Fernandez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Marco Sison, Joey Albert, Sarah Geronimo, Basil Valdez, and Sharon Cuneta, just to name some.

For two hours or so on both nights, the audience walked down the memory lane with the maestro and his singers as they hummed or sang along with the songs that also became the anthems of their lives—or love lives.

But prior to the nostalgic part, the maestro opened his two-night concert with a witty new composition called "Composer Ka Lang," his ode to the insult that inspired this milestone get-together of the country's finest musical artists.

(To the unfamiliar, the condescending phrase came from a contestant on It's Showtime's "Tawag ng Tanghalan" singing contest who failed to make it to the cut and blamed it all on the maestro who was head judge at that time.)

The upbeat song, performed by Sam Concepcion, is his first composition for 2023 and the maestro says he had help with the lyrics from Jugs Jugueta. Sam is the perfect performer for it as the song evokes a musical theater vibe.

(Sam later came back for Louie's hot commercial jingles/full theme segment for which he sang "Closer You and I" (originally sang by Gina Padilla) and "So Many Questions" (Side A) and further pushing that nostalgic 90's vibe.)

Then came the APO Hiking Society—Boboy Garovillo and Jim Paredes (with Danny Javier being solely missed that night)—who sang their only two non-APO written songs: "Ewan" and "Ana."

"Louie is the fourth APO [member]," said Jim. And that's by virtue of them allowing him in to write songs for them.

Gary Valenciano, who performed on video, rendered "Babalik Ka Rin," a song Louie composed for Duty Free Philippines back in the day yet remains as the theme that best immortalized the longingness of all Filipinos abroad.

The lovely Zsa Zsa Padilla, says the maestro was a "rising sultry singer" when he gave here her hit, "Point of No Return," which she also sang that night. She was later joined onstage by her equally gorgeous daughter Karylle as they "Point of View," originally sung by Joey Albert who could not make it to either night of Louie's concert. Karylle also later performed the monster hit, "Tell Me," a painful song inspired by a young love that broke the composer's heart.

On both nights, Louie decided to pay tribute to a classic OPM piece, "Anak" (by Freddie Aguilar) by creating his own arrangement for it. It was originally intended for Sarah Geronimo but colds—as she tweeted—prevented her from making it on her assigned night. Another Viva pride, Katrina Velarde came to the rescue. She studied the power-rock arrangement impromptu and delivered and owned it powerfully, too. She simply rocked.

Meanwhile, the Martin Nievera-Basil Valdes duet of "Say That You Love Me," a song they both recorded was goosebumps-inducing. If only for that, the concert was already worth all the penny. But there's more of course.

For Basil's solo, he sang George Canseco's "Ngayon at Kailanman." Sir George, along with other music genuises Ryan Cayabyab and Willy Cruz, are the ones that inspired Louie to aspire to be on their league.

Martin, who's Louie's BFF and who even stood as best man at his wedding, had three solo spots singing three personally important songs of Louie: his wedding song "From Now On," Kahit Isang Saglit (his ode to his miscarried baby), and "I'll be Here For You," which is both Louie and Martin's fatherhood theme.

Martin also rendered a medley of Louie's movie theme compositions namely "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" (Lagarista, 2000), "Forever" (Forever,1994) and "You are My Song" (Wanted: Perfect Mother, 1996).

Lyca Gairanod and Janine Teñoso, two of Viva Record's future concert venue-fillers, were guests on the Day 2 show and they did their version of "Points of View," which Zsa Zsa and Karylle sang on Day 1.

Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez was also on Day 2 and she belted her "Narito Ako" classic.

But both night's finalé act was no less than the Megastar Sharon Cuneta who even revealed on the first night that her single "Hagkan" was written during the time when Louie had a crush on her. Sharon gave a nanunuot-sa-pusong rendition of both her hit songs "Hagkan" ang "Ikaw." And it capped both nights beautifully.

And that's Maestro Louie for you—not a composer lang but an icon.

If you missed this milestone event, fret not because "Composer Ka Lang," directed by Paul Basinilllo, is having a two-night Valentine repeat on February 14 and 15. And guess who's coming? Joey Albert is flying in from Canada just to serenade you with "Tell Me." Concert Queen Pops Fernandez will also be there to sing "Don't Say Goodbye."