Lea Salonga talks about being back on 'The Voice'

Bago magbalik si Lea Salonga sa telebisyon para sa The Voice Kids at The Voice of The Philippines Season 2, muling niyang itatanghal ang kanyang matagumpay na concert nong nakaraang Diyembre na Lea Salonga Playlist The Repeat sa PICC sa January 18. Ikwinento ng Broadway star ang dahilan kung bakit niya napagdesisyunang ulitin ang concert. “Because it was such a wonderful experience the first time… It was nice that every time I looked out in the audience I saw somebody that I knew that was in same way, shape or form a part of my career, whether it was somebody I worked with or friends that I have met during a certain time of my life and they were there and they were so supportive. It just makes me feel so happy and so proud of the career that I have built up until this point and because it just felt so bitin. Lahat kami nabitin, the orchestra, me, Gerard (Salonga), we just felt like ‘That’s it?’ normally I would do two nights parang punong-puno na e… but this one’s like we got to do this one over again because I did not have enough of a good time.”

At sa pagbabalik ng The Voice, kinumpirma mismo ni Lea na parte pa rin siya bilang coach ng nasabing hot singing concert. “The Voice is coming back. I mean first it’s okay to announce it, I have not been given the go ahead yet to say anything yet but I am certainly coming back so my chair is going to turning again for people so I am excited.”

Ngunit sa kanyang pagbabalik, napapabalitang may hindi na magbabalik ang international Pinoy artist na si Apl.de.ap bilang The Voice coach sa Kids Edition at Season 2 na nabalitaan din mismo ni Lea> “For the kids kasi its just three (judges) and I have watched the videos of other countries and their versions of The Voice Kids there were only really three. As for Season 2, I have no idea what the plans are for Apl if he is going to return, I hope he does because over the first season the four of us have developed a really nice rapport and banter and chemistry and it would be nice to pick up where we left off rather than start over but those things are not up to me. So I am only hoping that he returns for Season 2 if he doesn’t we hope we find somebody who will be able to fit the chair and be able to keep up with us because the three of us are on, it is so on, it is just the trash talking begins.”

At dahil ang nanalo sa unang season ng The Voice of the Philippines na si Mitoy Yonting ay mula sa Team Lea, sa pagbabalik ng nito sa ere, mas may pressure ba sa award-winning singer and performer na ang muling tanghaling winner ay manggaling sa kanyang grupo? “It’s from Team Lea again. I try not to think about it because with every season kasi naguumpisa ka muli, you are starting all over from the very, very beginning. Each coach is starting over from the beginning and hoping to warm up everybody else because it’s as much about the coaches as it is about the artists. And how we coach our artists is a reflection of us so yes I won Season 1, ang sa akin lang sure like you can go on and fight for the title I already won one, its okay. Give chance naman to others so bahala na sila. So everyone is just very competitive, everyone wants to win, each coach wants the title and so I don’t think everyone is going to be sitting back in their chairs and relax because there are bragging rights. I mean we all have our salaries, which will remain of course confidential, but more than that there is a pride element in this and everyone in season 1 is incredibly invested incredibly so invested and everyone is like we have to do this again, we got to get back and we got to do this.”

Nagsalita din si Lea sa kumpirmadong pagbabalik ng fellow coach na si Sarah Geronimo. “Yes, she is going to come back! Actually she ended up as one of the top two coaches with Klarisse. Okay kailangan natin seryosohin itong batang ito kasi she was able to bring that one artist to this point and it’s not a small thing. I think her confidence has grown, as an artist and as a coach so I think that there is that to think about so she is going back to fight so we have to be ready for her. Yeah and its certainly given her a lot of credibility as somebody who just don’t get up to perform and it makes me feel good for her.”