Decades in the making, The CompanY and Neocolours finally share the stage

There is always a first time. The vocal quartet The CompanY of Moy Ortiz, Annie Quintos, Sweet Plantado-Tiongson and OJ Mariano and the Neocolours of Ito Rapadas, Jimmy Antiporda, Paku Herrera and Niño Regalado took decades for their first collaboration to happen.

Yet, when it did Thursday night at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT), the two groups made sure they gave the audience an unforgettable night of songs, music, laughter and memories.

Three years earlier, Ortiz gave Rapadas a call and proposed a possible collaboration between their groups. But apparently, that was not the time yet. 

Early this year, Rapadas felt the time was right for them to work together, so he was the one who called up Ortiz to pitch a possible joint concert venture for them. And Ortiz lost no time to give his nod on behalf of The CompanY.

Hence, “Pakisabi Na Lang, Tuloy Pa Rin” was the title of their first joint concert together. It was ideal that both titles came from their songs combined. “It’s a reminder for both of us of life in general,” Rapadas earlier said. 

It wasn’t hard to make the musical project happen. When The Company worked with Echo Jham Productions early this year, the latter readily agreed to be the producer of the concert.    

Rapadas will not get tired lauding The Company, who has never been out of the music industry for admirably 41 years to date, with enviably 31 albums to boot. The group started in 1985 and remains visible and active in the entertainment circuit, with performances in and out of the country.

Neocolours became known in 1987. However, in 1993, the quintet stopped performing together as a group, although the members were still active in the industry. They regrouped anew in 1999 for the “Emerge: The Best of Neocolours” album. 

Before the concert started, young talent David Young impressed the crowd when he beautifully crooned a Jack Jones medley – “What I Did for Love,” “All the Things You Are,” “Impossible Dream” – while rising bossa nova princes Andrea Gutierrez did a mash up of “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko” and “Para sa Akin.”

Not before long, The CompanY emerged onstage joined by Rapadas and Jimmy Antiporda and immediately delighted the audience with “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing.”

“Mula sa mga lumang banda, eto ang bagong kwento,” beamed Ortiz. That introduced their first musical collaboration, “Marami Pa,” a collaborative single and adult contemporary piece that was released in music platforms before the concert. The song is written by Ortiz, Plantado and Edith Gallardo. The instrumental arrangement was done by Antiporda, who produced with Rapadas.

The audience heard the best-selling singles of the Neocolours – “Hold On” (1988), “Bahala Na” (1988), “Maybe” (1989)

It was great to hear the group render Bodjie Dasig’s “Ale, Nasa Langit na Ba Ako?” They also delivered “I Want It That Way,” one of the hits of Backstreet Boys. Rapadas also belted out Ogie Alcasid’s “Sa Kanya,” a hit ballad the former penned for the hitmaker.

Of course, The CompanY sang their hits – “Everlasting Love,” “Muntik na Kitang Minahal” and “Pakisabi na Lang.”

Through a musical “time machine,” the two groups rendered songs of the ’80s – “High School Life,” “Blue Jeans,” “Beh Buti Nga,” “Estudyante Blues, “Growing Up,” and “Farewell.”

They also brought the audience up on their feet when they sang “Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko,” “Mr. Disco,” “Swing It Baby,” “Sumayaw, Sumunod,” “Tayo’y Magsayawan,” even “Bongga Ka Day” and “Annie Batungbakal.” 

At the helm of the concert was Calvin Murphy Neria, with Beth Martin and Jimmy Antiporda as musical directors. Producers are Mhae Sarenas of Echo Jham Entertainment Productions and DMC Philippines. Part of the proceeds of the concert will be donated to the San Antonio de Padua Parish of Malabon City and Sto. Rosario Parish.

Naturally, “Pakisabi Na Lang” and “Tuloy Pa Rin” are part of the setlist. “Pakisabi na Lang” is a 32-year-old song recorded by former The CompanY member Reuben Laurente. The song was written by Ortiz and Edith Gallardo and was even covered by Ice Seguerra and Sharon Cuneta.

That led to Neocolours’ “Tuloy Pa Rin” and their well-received encore with The Company – “Electric Dreams,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Boys Do Fall in Love” and “Don’t You Worry Baby.”

With a well-attended concert in a full-packed venue, the show certainly needs a repeat. Let’s just hope The CompanY and Neocolours will manage to squeeze in another night where audiences will see them join anew onstage.