MARTIN NIEVERA SHARES THOUGHTS ON MARRYING AGAIN

Martin Nievera's songs never get old. From the days of cassette tapes, jukeboxes, Walkmans, compact discs, and karaoke to this era of music streaming platforms, Martin's music lives on.

- DOLLY ANNE CARVAJAL

After four decades (and counting) in the biz, he does a special kind of encore. In 1983, his album Take One was a huge success. Fast forward to 2025, he launches his new album, Take Two. It is a compilation of his top hits (released by Vicor Music and distributed by Viva Records).

Martin's songs are lovelier the second time around. Hail to the Concert King. No artist can ever dethrone him in the OPM scene and in the hearts of Pinoy music lovers.

Here's my chat with Mart:

Among all your songs in Take 2, which one hits you in an entirely different way this time around?

"Of the nine OPM classics I recorded in this Take 2 album, there is one song I used to love to listen to back in the '80s. It's a song written and recorded by Iwi Laurel entitled, Special Memory, and even though I was still very new in the business, I would feel so sentimental and miss my life as a young boy dreaming to become a singer during my childhood.

"Why does it hit me differently now that I have done a 'take 2' version of it? Well, for the simple reason that now that I have been living my dream for the last 43 plus years, I find myself feeling a little like a special memory myself. Time can do that to you.

"With all these great singers and songwriters and hitmakers emerging today, I ask myself: Have I done enough? Did I give enough to an industry that has been so very good to me? Will I be remembered for the good I have done or for the viral bad?"

Since Take 2 won't be available on streaming platforms, do you prefer vinyl albums?