Regine Velasquez
Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), also known as Asia's Songbird, is a ballad, jazz, pop, pop rock, and r&b singer, philanthropist, actress, model, entrepreneur, and record producer from the Philippines. Velasquez made her debut in 1986 under the guidance of entertainment mogul Ronnie Henares and was initially marketed as a pop musician. Following her success in the Asia Pacific Song Festival, a series of subsequent successful records in the region consolidated her position as one of Asia's biggest selling performers.
Velasquez was well known for her collaboration with Asian star Jacky Cheung for the song In Love With You. She has also collaborated with other international artists including Paul Anka, David Hasselhoff, 98 Degrees , Mandy Moore, Brian McKnight, Ronan Keating, Stephen Bishop, Jim Brickman, Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne, Dave Koz , Lea Salonga, Grasshopper, Coco Lee, and Michel Legrand.
In the mid 90's, Velasquez took full creative control over her music and image following her separation from Henares. Distancing herself from the pop artistry, and through considerable experimentation, Velasquez developed a more sultry image and has since become a musical icon. Her success and popularity locally and in the Asian region has yielded several top-selling singles and platinum certifications in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Velasquez' made a highly-successful media crossover and has spunned successful television outings and chartbuster films.
In 2000, Velasquez embarked on her biggest and most ambitious concert outing, R2K Concert, which was hailed as one of the greatest shows by an Asian performer in the last twenty-five years. She was heralded as the Box Office Queen by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation the following year for the theatrical success of her film Pangako Ikaw Lang. By that time, Velasquez was in the forefront of popular culture. In addition to her commercial accomplishments, she is well-known for her belting prowess which has been noted for its range, power (see vocal belting) and technical ability.
Biography
1970–1986: Early life and discovery
Velasquez was born to a humble family in Manila, Philippines on April 22, 1970. She was the first child of Teresita and Gerry Velasquez. In search of better living conditions, her family moved to Hinundayan, Southern Leyte. She studied at the Hinundayan Central School.
Music was always a big part of her life having parents who were both musically inclined. Instead of reading her a bedtime story, her father would sing Frank Sinatra songs to lull her to sleep. Her mother played the guitar and the family would gather around singing popular songs they hear on the radio. At a very young age, Velasquez already knew that she wanted to be a singer. She then began informal training for singing and credits this to her father, who would submerge her in water up to her neck and have her do vocal exercises to strengthen her lung power. Her mother taught her how to become an effective performer by teaching her how to move on stage and emote while interpreting a song. Before she learned how to read, her father would sing to her and she would memorize the lyrics. At the age of six, Velasquez joined an amateur singing competition, her piece was Buhat Nang Kita'y Makilala (Since I Met You). She did not win, nonetheless, she given a special award for being the youngest contender. Velasquez joined various singing competitions in provinces around the country. By the time she was nine years old, Velasquez and her family moved to Bulacan, where she continued her elementary education at Balagtas Central School. She later studied at St. Laurence High School, the institution to which she attributes her good English diction. Joining these competitions was a costly "hobby" but her parents showed resourcefulness by designing and sewing her gowns by themselves. They made use of what materials they have and recycled her old gowns by combining them to create new ones. Out of the approximately two hundred (approx. 200) competitions she joined, Velasquez won sixty-seven (67) of them.
At the age of fourteen, Velasquez entered the senior division of Ang Bagong Kampeon, a television show singing competition featuring aspiring young talents, hosted by Bert "Tawa" Marcelo and Asia's Queen of Songs, Pilita Corales. Velasquez auditioned with the song Saan Ako Nagkamali (Where Did I Go Wrong), a song picked by her father. The judges were amazed that such a young and petite girl can fill the entire room with the power of her voice and express so much emotion in her rendition of the song. She won eight (8) straight weeks as the weekly champion and competed in the finals where she was proclaimed as the first grand champion of the show. Her winning piece was George Benson's In Your Eyes. Part of her winnings was a recording contract with Octoarts where she recorded the single Love Me Again under the name of Chona Velasquez (Chona, being her nickname). She became a member of the Organization ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), an organization of Filipino singers. She then started performing in music lounges all over Metro Manila where some members of OPM helped her out by giving her advice and even loaning their gowns to her for her performances.
1986–1987: Early commercial success
Through her recording contract, Velasquez got the chance to meet fellow Octoarts artist Pops Fernandez. Fernandez was one of the biggest names in the industry during that time and on February 16, 1986 she invited Velasquez to guest on Penthouse Live! which was a popular musical variety show for primetime television hosted by Fernandez and her then husband Martin Nievera. Ronnie Henares, the show's producer saw Velasquez' performance and immediately offered her a managerial contract which she graciously accepted. When Nievera found out that her real name was Regina, he suggested that she drop Chona and use Regine as her screen name. That same year, her father resigned from his job as a construction estimator to fully attend to his daughter's rising career.
In 1987 Velasquez signed a contract with Vicor Records and released her self-titled debut album at the age of seventeen. The album contained unforgettable hits like "Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang", "Isang Lahi" and "Urong Sulong", anchoring her place in the Philippine music scene.
Velasquez also ventured into television. Her first regular musical variety show was Triple Treat with Keno, Randy Santiago, and Gino Padilla. In 1988, she was included in the Sunday variety show Teen Pan Alley with Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga. Velasquez and Gibbs has collaborated in several projects including a musical Kenkoy At Rosing and has recorded the hit revival Magkasuyo Buong Gabi. Both singers have appeared in several concerts together.
1988–1991: International exposure
Velasquez represented the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific Singing Contest, an international singing competition held in Hong Kong. On December 23, 1989 she was declared the grand champion with her powerful rendition of broadway hits, You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel and And I'm Telling You from Dreamgirls. Her win sky-rocketed her from Filipino celebrity to Asian music superstar; from then on, she was hailed as Asia's Songbird.
The accolade has made Velasquez a household name and also garnered her the respect and support of highly acclaimed composers and musicians in the Philippine music industry. Soon she released a string of successful albums starting with Nineteen 90 which spawned the highly successful single "Narito Ako", her first collaboration with Ogie Alcasid entitled, I Have To Say Goodbye, and the duet Please Be Careful With My Heart with multi-awarded singer/composer Jose Mari Chan.
Her very first solo concert was held at the Folk Arts Theater and was entitled 'Regine at Nineteen'. The concert was produced by Kuh Ledesma, Velasquez' mentor and was guested by Gary Valenciano. The standing-room-only crowd was so impressed that they gave her eight standing ovations that night; she was dubbed the 'Standing Ovation Queen' for sometime.
Performing at the legendary Carnegie Hall, one of the most illustrious music centers in the world, is a dream that most musicians aspire for. An old joke about a tourist asking for directions in New York goes, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?", and somebody answered "Practice, practice, practice..." If that's the case, vocalizing while submerged neck deep in the waters of Southern Leyte must have been very effective. Regine's debut United States solo concert at the ripe age of 20 was held at the Main Hall of the prestigious Carnegie Hall on October 11, 1991. The show was entitled Narito Ako Sa New York (Here I Am in New York), in reference to her Tagalog hit single Narito Ako. To top it off, the concert was even selected as part of the 100 events crowning Carnegie Hall's Centennial celebration. Velasquez is the only Filipino chanteuse whose name appears in the Hall's Centennial Series.
This historic event was not just a milestone in Regine's career but also a triumph for every Filipino. "As memorable as it can be! [...]", recalls concert producer Alice Martinez, "At the start of the concert, Regine walked-in singing 'Narito Ako' in a flowing red bustier gown draped with a floor length cape, ala Audrey Hepburn [...] and the whole audience just stood up with thunderous ovations. It was a really unforgettable evening."[1]
The success of the album Nineteen 90 was succeeded by the release of the award-winning Tagala Talaga which is comprised of her rendition of classic Filipino compositions by Ryan Cayabyab, Levi Celerio, Nonong Pedero, Willy Cruz, George Canseco, Louie Ocampo and Freddie Aguilar.
In 1990, Cameron Mackintosh Group, creators of the musicals Les Miserables and Miss Saigon auditioned Velasquez and others in New York. She was offered the role of Kim but Velasquez declined, citing inadequate theatrical experience.
1993–1998: Asian stardom
The year 1993 saw the release of her fourth record Reason Enough, which attained platinum status. It featured songs such as Sana Maulit Muli, Babalikang Muli, and her duet with Gary Valenciano, Slip Away. It also included a collaboration with music legend Paul Anka, called It's Hard to Say Goodbye (which was later on recorded by Celine Dion).
Velasquez's first Asian studio album was Listen Without Prejudice, released in 1994 under Polygram Records. The album featured the hit In Love with You with Jacky Cheung, Follow the Sun, What Kind of Fool Am I, and Reason Enough. Its sales totalled over 300,000 units throughout East Asia. Two further best-selling albums were released in the region: My Love Emotion, which featured the cult favorite You've Made Me Stronger, composed by Trina Belamide. The album doubled the success of her preceding album and even had a special alternate cover and bonus cut for its Japan Release. Her next album was entitled Retro, which contained covers (revival cuts) of hits from the 70's. The album also contained the accoustic version of Dance With Me, a duet with Velasquez' mom, Teresita velasquez,who has been popularly dubbed as "Mommy V" by people in show business.
By 1996, Velasquez recorded her first Christmas album, entitled Love Was Born on Christmas Day which marked her final album under Polycosmic Records. She signed up with Viva Records and released her multi-platinum R&B and hiphop oriented album Drawn, which was produced by Mark Feist who has worked with other R&B artists such as Shanice and Destiny's Child. It featured a self-made hand-sketched portrait of Velasquez on its album cover. The album comprised a mix of original and cover tracks with an R&B flair. Hard-hitting songs like How Could You Leave, I'll Never Say Goodbye, and fast upbeat songs like Once In A Lifetime and Messin' With My Head celebrated her finesse vocal power and versatilty. The only Filipino track in the album, Ikaw (You), was the theme song of her movie with matinee idol Aga Muhlach. The single Emotions was produced by Mark Feist, who later produced the Destiny's Child cover of the same song in 2001 with little variation. Velasquez also developed more sexy image, distancing herself from her former demure image.
1999–2004: Regine reigns
Velasquez' popularity showed no signs of ceasing, she ushered the new millennium when she sang the Philippine Millennium Anthem aptly called Written In The Sand atop the Manila Peninsula hotel, which was broadcasted live all over the world. She then released an album entitled R2K which stands for Regine 2000, a fitting theme patterned from the symbol Y2K which was a massive cause of hysteria prior to the coming of 2000. The album consisted revival cuts from international artists and spawned a sixtuple platinum award, with hits such as On the Wings of Love, Fallin, I'll Never Love This Way Again I Don't Want to Miss a Thing. She then embarked on a major solo concert entitled R2K Concert. The visual spectacle was one of the most ambitious concerts in Philippine history and was hailed as one of the greatest shows by an Asian performer in the last twenty-five (25) years.
Two years later, with a couple of movies and several hit concerts in between, she returned to the studio and released an all original album befittingly titled Reigne, a play of letters from her name. The album also achieved enormous success with hits like To Reach You, Dadalhin, and Sa Aking Pag-iisa.
She continued to juggle her singing, film, television, and advertising career, and has reaped numerous awards and accolades for it. In 2002, she was awarded a Best Actress award for television in her dramatic role of a troubled retarded thirty-year-old woman seeking acceptance and love. It was the same year where she staged her very first open-air concert called One Night with Regine set at the majestic stairs of the Philippine National Museum, the concert was recognized by a Malaysian tabloid as it's number one pick for the most promising concert event in Asia. Its also the same concert that won her the Best Musical Special at the 2003 Asian Television Awards, besting other notable nominees like MTV Music Awards. That same year, Velasquez' MTV Asia special entitled Speak Your Mind was nominated for the UNICEF Child Rights Awards. The production, along with forty-six (46) nominees from ten (10) countries, were highly commended for their explicit agendum on child welfare. Velasquez' special documented on the plight of numerous street and homeless children swarming the streets of Metro Manila, and in an effort to protect and safekeep the rights of these children.[2]
Regine became the first recipient of the MTV Favorite Artist Award (Philippines) in 2002. During the awards ceremony held in Singapore, Velasquez surprised her fans when she shared the stage with Mandy Moore, one of the hosts for the show, for a special performance of Moore's hit song Cry. She was the recipeint of the award for two consecutive years.
For 2003, she reunited with concert king Martin Nievera to topbill in what was to be the mother of all back-to-back concerts. The Martin Nievera and Regine Velasquez World Concert Tour was a definite triumph, a fusion of two music royalties whom individually could sell-out "standing room only" arena concerts. The first quarter of 2004 saw Regine and co-artist, singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid in a much-anticipated back-to-back concerts simply tagged The Songbird and the Songwriter. People pretty much had an idea of what to expect from the singers since they have been constantly working on songs for Velasquez' soundtrack albums in the past.
December 2004 was Velasquez' return to major solo concert performance. She successfully staged another set of back-to-back concert performances regally titled Reigning Still. The show was triumphant amidst a series of typhoons that ravaged Manila and nearby provinces. Reigning Still wasn't a culmination of Velasquez' career, it was a bridge to a new level in her career – maturity – in performance and in work. She moved on with the event and for two consecutive nights, Regine conquered the coliseum again on her own. The concert was not full to its maximum capacity on the first night (considering that Manila's streets are still flooded at that time) but the second night was a real full house. Never mind since it has been declared Sold Out two weeks before the concert which means even if people didn't make it, tickets were already bought and sold. That's very important especially that Velasquez donned the hat of producer and director. The concert was a showcase of what Velasquez has learned in her craft through the years. It is a spectacle of her running concepts, ideas and style where you can see a Velasquez touch in every detail of it. The concert though was more pop in nature, high spirited, experimental and upbeat, following the trend of recent concerts by Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Christina Aguilera
2005–present: Eventual prominence
In 2005, Velasquez and singer Pops Fernandez teamed-up for a back-to-back concert entitled Queens On Fire, which was a pre-valentine presentation for Filipino fans because Regine and Pops had never staged a back-to-back concert in the Philippines, mostly they were tours abroad. As regularly expected, Regine and Pops brought the concert abroad for an eight-city U.S. tour. She also had her concert at Aliw Theatre in the whole month of November and December. Together with her special guest are Jonalyn Viray and the Comedy Concert Queen Ai-Ai Delas Alas.
She released another album comprised of cover songs which was aptly titled Covers. This time it featured OPM classics of male singers like Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Side A, True Faith, and Ariel Rivera. It added a female touch to songs specifically written for men and Velasquez masterfully created another pop-culture phenomenon. This album broke records when it reached platinum status barely five days after its release date. Velasquez, who also had her soundtrack album Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (What I Need Is You) in 2000 achieve gold status merely two days from its release, continued to live up to her "Platinum Touch", a referrence to all of her records that attained platinum status.
The year 2006 marks her 20th anniversary in the music industry. She started the year with a bang by releasing her 14th album Covers: Volume 2. Her most ambitious production to date, the album is made up of foreign pop favorites presented with innovative arrangements from rnb/hip-hop, jazz, pop rock, pop ballad, and blues showcasing her musical versatility. Regine in the album is the superb interpreter who takes on well-established favorites and gives them her own twist. The album contains sixteen (16) cuts which are all revivals, her first single is Hold Me In Your Arms, which was originally popularized by Southern Sons. It also includes the song a mellow version of Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette, a big-band style rendition of Straight Up by Paula Abdul, and the remake of Sheena Easton's So Much in Love done in R&B quiet storm style featuring Vince Alaras of Southborder. Velasquez showed her experimental side through the songs Call Me and Head Over Feet which proved that she can be very effective in the contemporary rock genre. For February, she staged a very special Valentine concert at the Araneta Coliseum entitled Forever After. It's a romantic concert-musical set in fairyland co-starring Ogie Alcasid, Rico Puno and the Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai Delas Alas. Spring of 2006 was slated for the North American leg of last year's highly successful concert Queens on Fire 2006 with Pops Fernandez. May 2006 is the start for the international tour for the fantaconcierto hit "Forever After" which is scheduled to stage in key US cities and in Europe. The European tour will include a performance at London's Wembley Arena.
Controversies
Velasquez's career has not been without its share of intrigues. Early in her rise to fame she was rumoured to have undergone plastic surgery by having her nose redone; she denied this, saying that redoing her nose would have altered the sound of her voice. Talk about this issue continued to resurface, but has vanished over time.
In 2000, she was involved in a visa row, being accused of people smuggling after reports of unknown individuals not part of her U.S. Tour entourage were accompanied unbeknownst to her, to be then left behind in America. Her U.S. visa was revoked, and she would never be able to return to American soil. But in just under a year, the case was resolved through the help of immigration lawyer Michael Gurfinkel. It was in April 2005 when Velasquez gave the first interview about her plight five years before, on TFC's premiere of the show Citizen Pinoy, also hosted by Gurfinkel. She talked about how she should have been aware of every detail in her entourage, she was keen on the fact that she ought to be more cautious over her personnel and crew.
Velasquez has been criticized for imitating Mariah Carey's singing style and fashion sense including her butterfly trademark which was featured on her album cover of R2K showing it as a tattoo on her lower back. Her music video of her signature song On the Wings of Love has also been inspired with butterflies similar to what Mariah has. She has admitted that she looks up to Mariah and is one of her biggest influence in the entertainment industry next to Barbra Streisand.
In mid 2000, ABS-CBN News posted a rumor about Mariah Carey's derogatory remark on Velaquez that took place in an interview with MTV Asia VJ Donita Rose. According to the article, Carey admired Velasquez' vocal prowess but later on quoted her as "a brown monkey who can sing". It was later confirmed, however, that no such interview ever occurred in the first place.
Velasquez also became a topic of hot discussion over ruining the marital relationship of her friend and co-artist Ogie Alcasid who was married to Miss Universe 1994 finalist Michelle Van Eimeren. Speculations that the couple have separated and that Velasquez and Alcasid have lived together were circulating for quite some time. This was fairly attributed to the fact that the two singers work together in a weekly variety TV Show and did a series of concerts in the Philippines and abroad. Again, both singers shoved off any truth to the rumors and Van Eimeren issued a statement saying that nothing is going on between Regine and Ogie and that her family is peacefully happy and intact.
Early in 2005, Regine was rumored to have given a budding singer a cold treatment backstage after a song number they did on a show. Regine also allegedly had insecurities with the said singer. But Regine who is known to support newcomers as a way of "paying it forward" to people who have helped her in the past, automatically dismissed the issue because she felt it was purely insinuated. This led her to a statement that became a massively used and popular catch phrase from fans and artist alike, "I'm freakin Regine Velasquez, why would I be insecure".
Summer of 2004, Velasquez was sued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for underdeclaration of her income tax returns. The government branch filed a tax evasion case against Velasquez for omitting to pay an estimated Php 3 million in 2003 for her alleged failire to diclose her earnings from a modelling and talent contract with Nestle Philippines.[3]. However, on February 7, 2006, The Deparment of Justice dismissed the tax evasion case on counts of technicality because the Bureau of Internal Revenue deprived Velasquez of due process by not notifying her about her tax deficiency before charging her with tax evasion.[4]
More so, Regine's daring and sexually provocative outfits were also a subject of media scrutiny and later became under the provision by the Movie and Television Regulation Board for wearing a very revealing top in one of her shows.
Multimedia artist
Music was only the first arena for her success. As a spokesperson, she helped increase the presence of American fast-food chains like KFC and Wendy's in Asia. As an actress, she appeared in a number of Filipino films that benefited greatly from Regine's popularity. She has also hosted various TV shows. She has also embarked on a successful series of reality singing constests. She has also done dramatic roles. She played the lead role in her own soap opera for primetime where she played a woman searching for her soulmate and is torn between two men vying for her love. She also started her own record label called Songbird Music where she helps budding singers start their own career. She has produced songs for Gabby Eigenmann, Roselle Nava and Sarah Geronimo. Her flair for fashion and her fashion icon status led her to embarking a successful line of elegant and chic clothings branded as Regine where she herself draws and conceptualises the designs. She recently published Regine: The Book, a coffee-table book comprising a five-year memento of her portraits. In addition to her advertising work, Velasquez launched her own clothing line called Reigne where she sits as the main designer for the upscale and chic gowns and dresses. Her line became one of the most successful entrepreneurial ventures by an artist and includes many different types of clothing for young women, including tees, coats, tops and many other products apart from the scanty gowns patterned from her style.
The Philippine Department Of Tourism and partners Smart Telecommunications, Jollibee Food Corp., Shell Philippines and Pfizer has launched its biggest travel advocacy campaign calledI Love the Philippines, Biyahe Na. The latest scheme, with a new theme, slogan, and jingle, is being promoted mainly through print, radio, and television advertisements. Colorful drop banners domain thoroughfares of major cities and destinations across the Philippines. It has selected Regine Velasquez to record the song and serve as the official product endorser. The television advertisement paraded a montage of Philippine destinations with Velasquez in every backdrop.
Film career
Velasquez has molded a productive and rewarding career in music and commercial endorsement, but she wasn't delimited to that alone. Eventually, her status has paved the way for her successful crossover to film. She has carved her way into doing movies and has starred in a string of blockbuster movies which her star power alone was a force to be reckoned with.
In 1987, she got her first movie role as the grand-daughter of a mafia clan involved in crimes in the film The Untouchable Family. It didn't showcase much of Regine's popularity as one of today's biggest and bankable actress, but it was an appropriate start. She soon ventured into comedy films where she got an extra boost as one of the leads. Her 1988 film Pik Pak Boom with contemporaries Dingdong Avanzado, Herbert Bautista and Bing Loyzayga was a "Friends"-like flick. She then co-starred with comedians Joey de Leon and the late Rene Requistas in the flick Elvis and James where she plays a nerdy music aficionado and the love interest of the two.
Her film career took a quick hiatus, but she returned to the big screen in 1996 for her very first lead role in the film Wanted Perfect Mother where she plays a feisty vagrant club-singer who becomes nanny to four children at the same time falling for their widowed dad. Her next movie in 1997 entitled Do Re Mi, is a musical comedy about three friends in the midst of their grueling and sometimes hilarious attempts to land a record deal and become a full-pledge singing group. She plays a radio disc jockey and the mediator for her two overtly different friends. 1998 was the release of Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako where Regine plays a ghost, she was a soon-to-be-bride who dies in a car accident days before her big day. She desperately tries to tag her way into finding the perfect woman for her lonely husband.
1998 was her big team-up with matinee idol Aga Muhlach in the romantic film Dahil May Isang Ikaw which was well-received. With albums, concerts and television shows here and there, Velasquez still had room for doing enormously successful films. In 2000, she starred opposite bad boy of Philippine cinema, Robin Padilla in Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, a film about a popular female star who falls in love with an ordinary fan of hers. She then reunited with Aga Muhlach in 2001 for their second romantic offering Pangako Ikaw Lang which spawned Regine the highly coveted Box-Office Queen award from the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, a prestigious award-giving body honoring the year's best.
Velasquez did two more romantic films in 2002 and 2003 called Ikaw Lamang, Hanggang Ngayon with respected and award-winning actor Richard Gomez and Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka this time with another award-winning actor Christopher de Leon. It was on December 2003 when Velasquez debuted in her first Sci-fi, fantasy film Captain Barbell where she plays the love interest of the crime fighting Philippine superhero.
Voice and singing style
Velasquez is perhaps best remembered today for her ability to sing effortless and exceptional sustained vocal belting and can do crescendo or decrescendo while holding a very high note for many seconds. She is credited as having a 3.5 octave vocal range that requires head voice using her chest register. She is skillfully adept in hitting very high notes and can reach from sixth octave in full chest voice or when she shifts to falsetto or rarely whistle register. She is classified as a Lyric Soprano. She had a rare facility in this register, and was capable of executing vocal acrobatics in this technique while in the key of her highest pitch. She has exhibited her belting and sheer lung power while singing onstage sitting in lotus position and even while being suspended up on a harness in mid-air (like what she did in her R2K Concert singing On The Wings of Love and Butterfly.
Her highest hit note so far is F6 (on the song More Than Words Can Say a duet with David Hasselhoff which she sung in whistle register).Her highest in full voice is C6 on her live rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" when she pulled the word "arms" (stay in my arms if you dare) and in the song Once In A Lifetime from her Drawn album. B5 and F#5 (while singing Light Of A Million Mornings), Her lowest note by far is a C3.
She credits her vocal skills from her father's training technique wherein she was performing vocal exercises while submerged neck-deep in the ocean to strengthen her diaphragm and build up her vocal cords and lungpower. This paved the way for a genre of belting for female singers in Philippines music. Her vocal style has been heard in many female singers, and has influenced the likes of Kyla, Nina Girado, Sheryn Regis, Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go and Jonalyn Viray.
Despite of having a great voice, some criticize Velasquez use of her vocals on her late 1990's and early 2000's being oversing, screaming and yelling rather than singing. Other comments includes that her vocals also becomes thick and nasal. Some referred her use of "Whispering vocals" work as a sign that her voice had begun to deteriorate but she has maintained that it "has been here all along". A reviewer of MTV asia quoted her album as "Regine Velasquez screaming , wailing and yelling . Listening to her reach all high notes isnt as much pleasurable" But her song Call Me on her latest Covers 2 album proves that "the voice" indeed was still there. Many famous musician and composers admire her vocal prowess. {see vocal merits)
Vocal Profile
- Voice type: Lyric Soprano
- Highest note (Head voice/Whistle Register) quality: F6 (more than words can say), b5 (Reasons),
- Highest note in chest quality: c6 (I have nothing, once in a lifetime), b5 (Reasons, butterfly, i'll never love this way again) f#5 (light in a million mornings),
- Lowest note: c3, d3
- Vocal range: 3.5 octaves (c3-f6)
- Lowest note: 20 seconds
Audio/Video samples
- Reasons
- More than words can say (f6)
- Velasquez sings Fantasia's "I Believe"
- Velasquez in her younger years — "What Kind of Fool"
- Reigning Memorabilia
- More Regine Live Performances
Vocal merits
Many famous musicians and big names in the music industry compliment Regine's vocal prowess.
- Legendary composer and Grammy award-winner, Michel Legrand said in his very limited english that he used to have only one favorite referring to Barbra Streisand, but now he has two, referring to Regine.
- R&B star, Brian McKnight said that he would put Regine on top for those singers he had collaborated with. And he has worked with Mariah Carey a couple of times. "I have to tell you, I've worked with a lot of people and I have to put you at the top of the list of the most talented people that I've gotten to work with. If ever you need me to write a song for you, the next day I'll have 10 CD's for you. - Brian McKnight"
- Mandy Moore, admires Regine and complimented her as the "biggest popstar in Asia".
- Pop diva sensation, Coco Lee has referred to Regine as "Diva of all Divas."
- Jazz Instrumentalist, Dave Koz was blown-away with Regine after her soulful performance of "Careless Whisper".
- British R&B group Blue, who were guest hosts in SOP exclaimed "That was absolutely amazing!" after hearing Regine's effortless rendition of "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing".
- Jim Brickman became an instant fan with Regine's rendition of his compositions Your Love, By Heart, and My Valentine. in their concert with Ariel Rivera and The Company and promised to write a song for her.
- Peabo Bryson and Jeffrey Osborne were both very honored when Regine covered their hit songs in R2K. They both fell in love with Regine's down to earth persona and her beautiful voice when the three of them shared the stage at the Araneta Colliseum
- 98 Degrees members were equally impressed by her after performing with her in SOP that they downloaded her songs in their i-pods.
Discography
Studio Albums
- The following albums were released in the Philippines. An asterisk indicates that the album was released both in the country and in Asia.
| Year | Title | Record Label | Certifications |
| 1987 | Regine | VIVA | Gold |
| 1990 | Nineteen '90 | Vicor | Double platinum |
| 1991 | Tagala Talaga | Vicor | Gold |
| 1993 | Reason Enough | Polycosmic | Platinum |
| 1994 | Listen Without Prejudice * | Polygram | Double platinum China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia
Platinum Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand Gold Vietnam |
| 1995 | My Love Emotion * | Polygram | Platinum
Sales exceeding over 300,000 units in over 7 Asian countries |
| 1996 | Retro * | Polygram | Triple platinum |
| 1996 | Love Was Born On Christmas Day | VIVA | Platinum |
| 1998 | Very Special | Polygram | Double Platinum |
| 1998 | Drawn | VIVA | Triple patinum |
| 1999 | R2K | VIVA | Sixtuple platinum |
| 2000 | Unsolo | Poly East | Limited collectors edition |
| 2000 | Regine Live: Songbird Sings The Classics | VIVA | Double platinum |
| 2001 | Reigne | VIVA | Platinum |
| 2002 | Regine Velasuqez: Greatest Hits | VIVA | Platinum |
| 2003 | The Songbird and The Songwriter | VIVA | Platinum |
| 2004 | Covers Vol. 1 | VIVA | Quadruple platinum
Platinum certification three (3) days after its commercial releases |
| 2005 | Reigine Duets | VIVA | Limited special edition |
| 2006 | Covers Vol. 2 | VIVA | Platinum |
Soundtracks
| Year | Title | Record Label | Certifications |
| 1988 | Pik Pak Boom | VIVA | Released as a single |
| 1995 | Separada | VIVA | Released as a single |
| 1996 | Wanted Perfect Mother | VIVA | Double platinum |
| 1997 | Adarna | Polycosmic | Released as a single |
| 1997 | Do Re Mi | VIVA | Platinum |
| 1998 | Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako | VIVA | Gold |
| 2000 | Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw | VIVA | Triple platinum
Gold certification two (2) days after its commercial release |
| 2001 | Pangako Ikaw Lang | VIVA | Platinum |
| 2003 | Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka | VIVA | Gold |
| 2003 | Captain Barbell | VIVA | Platinum |
Singles
- The following singles were released in the Philippines. An asterisk indicates that the single was released both in the country and in Asia. A hyphen indicates that the single released was a collaboration with another artist.
| Date | Single |
| 1986 | Love Me Again |
| 1987 | Kung Maibabalik Ko Lang
Isang Lahi Urong Sulong |
| 1988 | Magkasuyo Buong Gabi — |
| 1989 | And I Am Telling You
You'll Never Walk Alone |
| 1990 | Narito Ako
Please Be Careful With My Heart — I Have To Say Goodbye Promdi |
| 1991 | Buhay ng Buhay Ko |
| 1992 | Kastilyong Buhangin |
| 1993 | Sana Maulit Muli
Babalikang Muli It's Hard To Say Goodbye Slip Away — |
| 1994 | In Love With You — *
Follow the Sun * What Kind Of Fool I Am * Reason Enough * |
| 1995 | My Love Emotion *
You've Made Me Stronger * |
| 1996 | Fly *
I Just Don't Wanna Be Lonely * Bluer Than Blue * You Were There * Zoom * I Can't Help It — * You Are My Song |
| 1997 | Forever — |
| 1998 | How Could You Leave
Ikaw Emotion I'll Never Say Goodbye More Than Words Can Say — * |
| 1999 | On the Wings of Love
One Love Fallin Dancing Queen For The Love Of You In Your Eyes I'll Never Love This Way Again Lost Without Your Love I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing |
| 2000 | Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw
Tuwing Umuulan |
| 2001 | Pangako
Tanging Mahal With A Smile |
| 2002 | Hanggang Ngayon
To Reach You Dadalhin Sa Aking Pag-iisa |
| 2003 | Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka
Hinahanap-hanap Kita Sa Piling Mo Magpakailanman — |
| 2004 | Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin
Say That You Love Me Pangarap Ko'y Ikaw Araw Gabi Shine |
| 2005 | Di Na Mag-iisa |
| 2006 | Hold Me In Your Arms
Bakit Ba Iniibig Ka — |
Acting
Films
| Image | Title | Date Released | Media Production | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
The Untouchables | 1987 | VIVA Films | Sheila | |
| Three groups of mafia involved in bank robberies and other crimes, uses deceit and betrayal against each other, ends up getting caught by the National Bureau of Investigation. Meanwhile, Sheila gets abducted by one mafia gang and a handsome man named Pretty Boy appears to be having interest on her, as he expresses his love to Sheila. | |||||
|
Pik Pak Boom | 1988 | VIVA Films | N/A | |
| A story about four individuals who are bound by friendship. Regine is a brilliant student who relies on her scholarship from her friend, Bing's dad. All four of them are good friends at school. Their lifestyles are the only difference: Herbert and Regine are poor while Bing and Dingdong are rich. Their lives are entangles in a web of friendship and searching for their self-worth. | |||||
| File:R elvis.jpg | Elvis and James | 1989 | VIVA Films | N/A | |
| A comedy flick that revolves around the story of two friends and their rowdy and hurly-burly plight as individuals and partners in crime. The story unfolds as they fall for the nerdy and music aficionado lass that will test their friendship and personality. | |||||
| File:R wanted.jpg | Wanted Perfect Mother | 1996 | VIVA Films | Sam | |
| Regine returned to the big screen in 1996 for her very first lead role in the film adaptation of Mars Ravelo's Wanted Perfect Mother where she plays a a feisty vagrant club-singer who becomes nanny and music teacher to four children at the same time falling for their widowed dad, played by Christopher De Leon. | |||||
| File:R doremi.jpg | Do Re Mi | 1997 | VIVA Films | Reggie | |
| Donet, Reggie and Miki. Three different girls with different backgrounds. Poles apart they may seem, but there's one thing that binds them: their love for music. One day, fate wills that they meet, and together, their voices blend to create beautiful melodies. And as they sing their way through life's ups and downs, they build a friendship strong enough to last a lifetime. | |||||
| File:R honey.jpg | Honey Nasa Langit Na Ba Ako | 1998 | VIVA Films | N/A | |
| Regine plays a ghost, she was a soon-to-be-bride who dies in a car accident days before her big day. She desperately tries to tag her way into finding the perfect woman for her lonely husband, played by Janno Gibbs. | |||||
| File:R dahil.jpg | Dahil May Isang Ikaw | 1999 | VIVA Films | Anya | |
| Two opposing characters. Two contrasting background. One love story written in the stars.Despite their initial antagonism, Andrew discovers that beneath Anya's tenacious front is a sweet, spirited woman who knows how to enjoy life. And through Anya, Andrew begins to shed off his rigid stance. But before romance could bloom between them, Andrew is set to marry someone else. | |||||
| File:R kailangan.jpg | Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw | 2000 | VIVA Films | Francine | |
| Francine is a massively famous celebrity breaks down the bridges and falls for an ordinary man, an avid fan of hers. In this story bound by borders, Francine and Gimo desperately tries to beat the odds in order to make their not-so-common relationship work. | |||||
| File:R pangako.jpg | Pangako Ikaw Lang | 2001 | VIVA Films | Cristina | |
| In the hospital, Vince, a womanizer, is comatosed and mistakes Cristina as his guardian angel when he sees her as he opened his eyes. When he gets better, he vowed to treat women better and find his guardian angel. When Vince sees his 'guardian angel,' he tracked her down to find out that she's a real person. Fate, destiny and true love are all challenged since Vince is already engaged to be married. | |||||
| File:R hanggang.jpg | Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon | 2002 | VIVA Films | Katherine | |
| Ryan is a bachelor not hesitant of commitment. In fact, each time he engages in a relationship, he dreams of settling down. But each time, he finds someone better. Katherine is a boring postal worker who feels unloved and unwanted by the people around her until she met Ryan. | |||||
| File:R pangarap.jpg | Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon | 2003 | VIVA Films | Alexis | |
| Alexis thought she had everything, a wonderful family, a stable life and a successful business-- until she yearned for that someone tp share her life with. Feeling a bit desperate, she asks the Lord to give her a sign. She enters a church where she finds Rafael (Christopher De Leon) giving a eulogy for his wife. Touched by everything Rafael said, Alexis tries everything to get close to him. | |||||
| File:R barbell.jpg | Captain Barbell | 2003 | VIVA Films | Cielo | |
| Luckless and clumsy, Enteng is blessed with a golden heart. He is deeply in love with his sister's teacher, Cielo, but this love is equaled only by his slow-poke moves. He stumbles upon a magic barbell that gives him the power to turn into Capt. Barbell, a superhero dedicated to fighting justice. As Capt. Barbell, Enteng must use his new powers to fight Lagablab, Freezy and Dagampat, three villains spreading chaos and evil. | |||||
Theatre
| Image | Title | Theatrical Date | Venue | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:R rosing.jpg | Kenkoy Loves Rosing | August to September 1991 | Music Museum | Rosing | |
| A musical-comedy on the well-loved Filipino comics classics created by Tony Velasquez | |||||
| File:R noli.jpg | Noli Me Tangere | July 14 to August 6, 1995 | Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater | Maria Clara | |
| Maestro Ryan Cayabyab's evocative musical based on the novel by Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. Set in late 18th Century Philippines, Velasquez plays the tragic heroine Maria Clara, the one true love of Crisostomo Ibarra. Caught in the storm of politics, intrigue, and familial piety, the two lovers lives are swept away in a world run amock under the abusive powers of the Spanish Colonial Rule. | |||||
Television
Non-drama
| Image | Title | Stint | Network | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:R sop.jpg | SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare) | 1997 to present | GMA Network | Main host | |
| A Philippine noontime musical variety show of GMA Network that airs live every Sunday at noon-2 p.m. from the Studio 3 of the GMA Network Center. It features livewire concert performances by the hottest concert artists and young stars today in the Philippine showbiz industry. | |||||
| File:R pinoy.jpg | Pinoy Pop Superstar | 2004 to present | GMA Network | Main host | |
| A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It is broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA, The Kapuso Network. The format is loosely patterned on American Idol. | |||||
| File:R forever.jpg | Forever In My Heart | 2004 to present | GMA Network | Angeline | |
| A Philippine television soap-opera which mixes a romantic-comedy genre and tackles a serendipity issue. A story about two fallen angels who must find their way into the mortal world in search of each other before their candles in heaven burns out. | |||||
| File:R search.jpg | Search For A Star | 2003 to 2004 | GMA Network and VIVA Entertainment Group | Main host | |
| A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcasted every Saturday evening on GMA, The Kapuso Network. The format is loosely patterned on American Idol. The search spunned its grand winner Rachelle Ann Go who now top-bills as an ABS-CBN talent. | |||||
| File:R star.jpg | Star For A Night | 2002 to 2003 | GMA Network and VIVA Entertainment Group | Main host | |
| A Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It pioneered the return of a much more hyped and prestigious talent searches. It was broadcasted every Saturday evening on IBC 13, a VIVA television company. The search spunned its grand winner Sarah Geronimo who now top-bills as an ABS-CBN talent. | |||||
Sitcoms/Dramas
- 1993: Mr Kupido — "Reason Enough", with Apa Ongpin and Jenine Desiderio
- 1994 : Ober Da Bakod
- 1994: Spotlight — with Ariel Rivera
- December 22, 1996: Ikaw, Ako At Ang Awit with Gary Valenciano
- February 26, 1997: Mikee - "The Black Triangle", with Donna Cruz and Mikee Cojuangco
- May 26, 1999: Mikee Forever
- September 7, 1999: Kool Ka Lang
- July 20, 2000: Habang May Buhay — "Sa Puso Ko'y Ikaw", with Piolo Pascual
- September 13, 2000: Pwedeng Pwede
- July 4, 2001: Larawan with Dingdong Dantes
- August 22, 2001: Beh Bote Nga
- November 8, 2001: Maalaala Mo Kaya — "Lobo", with Piolo Pascual
- April 27, 2003: Huling Yakap Sa Tag-araw with Dingdong Dantes
- May 2003: OK Fine Whatever
- December 2003: Idol Ko si Kap
- 1998 to 2003: Sharon varying dates of guesting
- May 2004: Tanging Ina, TV Series
Awards
Star Awards For Television
| Year | Award | Media |
| 2005 | Best Female Host | S.O.P. |
| 2002 | Best Single Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role | Maalaala Mo Kaya
Episode Title: Lobo |
| Year | Award | Media |
| 2003 | Favorite Artist (Philippines) | Voting public |
| 2002 | Favorite Artist (Philippines) | Voting public |
| Year | Award | Media |
| 2001 | Favorite Female Aritst | Voting public |
Awit Awards
| Year | Award | Media |
| 2001 | Best Performance by a Female Artist | Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw |
| 2001 | Best Duet Performance | Habang May Buhay
duet with Jaya |
| 1995 | Best Duet Performance | Forever
duet with Martin Nievera |
| 1994 | Best Performance by a Female Artist | Sana Maulit Muli |
| 1994 | Best Duet Performance | Muli
duet with Gary Valenciano |
Katha Awards
| Year | Award | Media |
| 1996 | Best Pop Female Vocals | You've Made Me Stronger |
Katha Awards
| Year | Award | Media |
| 2004 | Best Major Concert Act | The Songbird and the Songwriter |
| 2003 | Best Major Concert Act | One Night with Regine |
| 2003 | Best Major Concert Collaboration | Regine Velasquez and Martin Nievera World Concert Tour |
| 2002 | Best Major Concert Act | Two For The Night |
| 2001 | Best Major Concert Act | R-15 |
| 2000 | Best Major Concert Act | R2K Concert |
| 1987 | Most Promising Female Entertainer | Aliw Committee |
Guillermo Mendoza Foundation
| Year | Award |
| 2005 | Female Entertainer of the Year |
| 2004 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 2003 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 2002 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 2001 | Box Office Queen |
| 2000 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1999 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1998 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1997 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1996 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1995 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1994 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1993 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1992 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |
| 1991 | Most Popular Female Entertainer |