Dingdong Avanzado almost quit singing
Had he succumbed to self-doubt, Dingdong Avanzado would not have gone on to make more albums and chart more hits. He won't be celebrating his 25th year as a singer with wife Jessa Zaragoza and daughter Jayda on Friday, Nov. 9 at Music Museum.
But even the best of them need to be reminded that they still have what it takes to command attention.
"On my 10th year in the business, I thought 'Decade After' would be my last album," he recalls.
He was wrong, of course. The album hit platinum. Dingdong took it as a sign that "may market pa pala ako; nakalusot pa rin."
Total package
Inspired — and rightly so — Dingdong decided to level up, not only as a singer, but as a performer. He realized there's more to performing than a good singing voice.
"Kailangan mo total package," he muses.
So he took workshops under singer Zebedee Zuniga and musical director Atek Jacinto.
Director Freddie Santos was pleased with what he saw. He told Dingdong he has evolved as an artist. And the singer-songwriter was beside himself with joy.
"When I was just starting, I'd be the first to admit I lacked control. I was the boy next door, a breath of fresh air, tinitilian ng mga colehiyala, ganon lang. In the middle of my career, I told myself I can't last being like this. This is my career. I have to embrace it," Dingdong explains.
Style was just one of the things he improved on. The other one is content. Dingdong knows a good pop artist is abreast with the latest social media trends. So he turned to Facebook and came up with "Download."
'Stateside' experience
Experience, of course, is still the best teacher. Dingdong is forever grateful for the one-and-a-half years he and Jessa spent performing all over the US.
It was a make-or-break thing for the Avanzados, who had to make each show count. Otherwise, they may not be able to hold another show, and worst, earn a good living.
"I told Jessa we didn't have a manager there," relates Dingdong. I told her that once we get on stage, we're already dealing out calling cards. No one will get us if we bungle up."
So they treated each show in the US as their last. Dingdong and Jessa gave it their all. And the audience rewarded them with show after show.
Dingdong looks back at that period in his life with gratitude.
"We didn't realize it would be our training ground."
Thanks to those shows, Dingdong and Jessa can hold their head up as performers.
"Hindi lang kami recording artists," Dingdong crows. "We're also performers."
Timing
This, they will prove again, this time before their kababayan, in "Dingdong Avanzado 3.25, Tatlong Beinte Singko", which Dingdong himself will direct.
"November happens to be my anniversary month," he explains the timing of the concert.
Dingdong promises to show "where I am now," with the help of those he considers the most significant persons in his career. Besides Jessa and Jayda, this includes Ogie Alcasid, Gloc 9 and Rachel Alejandro, with whom Dingdong wrote the award-winning "Paalam Na".
The break-up song showed Dingdong can go beyond frilly love songs; that he is a songwriter of depth.
Dingdong has mapped out his plans for the next ten years.
"I'd like to get into musicals and write songs for other artists," he reveals.
Whatever it is, trust Dingdong to give it his all, as if he's back in the States, hoping his show will be his calling card for the next one, and the ones to come.
Now that he's in home ground, Dingdong can relax, confident that he has paid his dues.
