The first time I heard of her voice was the song “A Whole New World” in Aladdin. I just had to know the singer behind the lovely voice. And from there on, I was in love with…..Lea Salonga. Never mind that I was then oblivious to the fact that she was already a huge name in Miss Saigon and countless other musical shows, I was just mesmerized by the voice—powerful, crystal clear and full of emotions.
So when an opportunity came to see her perform live in Kuala Lumpur, I was delighted.
Kicking off her concert at KL Convention Centre with just the right amount of class and finesse, Lea in a black evening gown charms the audience from the very first note.
Backed by a 6-piece band (two keyboardists, guitar, bass, drums and piano, the latter beautifully played by younger brother Gerard Salonga), the crowd’s first favourite came in the form of “I Dreamed A Dream”, made popular recently by Susan Boyle. Powerful vocal house she is and that song draws loud cheers from the floor.
Between songs, she tells stories, cracks jokes and the mood of the concert lifts beyond the slow numbers in the beginning. Then, she surprises me….
Paying a beautiful tribute to the late Michael Jackson, Lea tells how “heartbroken she and brother were when they heard of the tragic news and proceeds to lament “Gone Too Soon”. It was a moving rendition and for a brief moment, I can almost see “the comet blazing across the evening sky”. Ain’t too sure what was it…but her voice and emotion shining through in each word bring tears to my eyes….
Other favourites in the almost-too-short concert (just 90 minutes) include “I Give My Live for You” from Miss Saigon, some medley of 80’s power ballads, an impromptu duet with a member audience for “A Whole New World”, much to the surprise to many. “He even got the harmony right!”, she praises her young duet partner.
Her story-telling between songs continues with how she says she feels more relaxed these days as she approaches 40 years of age, and how she feels all should have fun and let loose some. And boy, did she have fun…with the second surprise of the night when she performs Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, drawing loud cheers from the younger audience..ahem!
Right after the “rockish” Gaga hit, she brings the pace a notch lower with yet another fave “On My Own” from Les Miserables. She even attempts to sing P. Ramlee’s Tiga Malam (made popular by Siti Nurhaliza) in passable Malay, garnering loud cheers throughout the concert hall.
It was indeed a beautiful and classy concert by Lea with her repertoire of songs that managed to satisfy, surprise and altogether enrich the audience. She did me, for sure.
When the waves are crashing down
Pulling you to sorrow
I will sail you back to shore
When there are no more heroes
Over under, near or far
I’ll be right beside you
Standing here with open arms
When there are no more heroes
Chorus:
And through it all
And through it all
When you’re tired and you stumble
I will carry you
When starlight falls,
my love will guide you home
You’ll never be alone
When there are no more heroes
It was you who showed me how
Brought me back to glory
Through hopelessness and darkest days
It was breath you gave me
Chorus x 3
When there are no more heroes
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Planet Earth
By Michael Jackson
Planet Earth, my home, my place
A capricious anomaly in the sea of space
Planet Earth, are you just
Floating by, a cloud of dust
A minor globe, about to bust
A piece of metal bound to rust
A speck of matter in a mindless void
A lonely spaceship, a large asteroid
Cold as a rock without a hue
Held together with a bit of glue
Something tells me this isn't true
You are my sweetheart, soft and blue
Do you care, have you a part
In the deepest emotions of my own heart
Tender with breezes, caressing and whole
Alive with music, haunting my soul.
In my veins I've felt the mystery
Of corridors of time, books of history
Life songs of ages throbbing in my blood
Have danced the rhythm of the tide and flood
Your misty clouds, your electric storm
Were turbulent tempests in my own form
I've licked the salt, the bitter, the sweet
Of every encounter, of passion, of heat
Your riotous color, your fragrance, your taste
Have thrilled my senses beyond all haste
In your beauty I've known the how
Of timeless bliss, this moment of now.
Planet Earth, are you just
Floating by, a cloud of dust
A minor globe, about to bust
A piece of metal bound to rust
A speck of matter in a mindless void
A lonely spaceship, a large asteroid
Cold as a rock without a hue
Held together with a bit of glue
Something tells me this isn't true
You are my sweetheart, soft and blue
Do you care, have you a part
In the deepest emotions of my own heart
Tender with breezes, caressing and whole
Alive with music, haunting my soul.
Planet Earth, gentle and blue
With all my heart, I love you.
