After nearly 40 years in the entertainment business, Regine Velasquez has conquered the hit charts, sold out so many performances, been a movie box-office queen, even ventured successfully into theater and won all the awards you can think of.
STAR / File

At this point in her career there is nothing more that Regine Velasquez has to prove.

After nearly 40 years in the entertainment business, she has conquered the hit charts, sold out so many performances, been a movie box-office queen, even ventured successfully into theater and won all the awards you can think of. Well, maybe not the Grammy or the Academy Award of the US of A. But who knows?

And she is still at it and on top of the game. Just think, Regine is back in the charts these days because she recently returned to one of those things she does best, that is covering old Filipino pop hits.

Her latest single is Wherever You Are, which is on the way to five million views on YouTube helped along by its “Dyesebel”-inspired music video. The song is a cover of an original by South Border and is a composition by Jay Durias and Vince Alaras.

Now check out what comes after that. It is a new original song and a very special one at that. This is Jigsaw Puzzle, which is earmarked for release and heavy promo in the North American market. An uptempo power ballad just right for Regine’s soaring vocals, Jigsaw Puzzle was produced by Adam Hurstfield of Canada, mixed in Nashville and mastered in New York City. The song is a composition by Hurstfield and Don Wolf with words by Hurstfield, Wolf plus Gino Paciocco and Nicolina Bozzo.

These new hits come along with a very special concert series titled “Reset.” The country’s favorite Songbird must have a masochistic streak in her and that is why she is subjecting herself to a grueling, even punishing schedule for “Reset.” Presented by I-Music Entertainment, there are four shows on the agenda, all of them to be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati.

What is interesting about “Reset” is that while it is all about hit songs, it has no fixed repertoire. Regine will be performing her original hits on Feb. 14 and 22.

Original hits means songs that she popularized like You are my Song, Dadalhin, You’ve Made Me Stronger by Breaking my Heart, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw and others. Maybe among these will also be Jigsaw Puzzle.

Come Feb. 15 and 21, Regine will be singing covers. This means, she will sing songs popularized by other artists but which she successfully recorded.

Among these will surely be Wherever You Are and maybe Araw-Gabi, Tuwing Umuulan, On the Wings of Love, Tadhana, Against All Odds, I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing and so many others.

And here is more. No two shows will be the same. Like she might sing Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka on Feb. 14 but not on Feb. 22. Among the covers, she might do Harana on Feb. 15 but not on Feb. 22.

This is why she might indeed have a masochistic streak in her. Regine will have to relearn and rehearse all of the different songs for her four-night concert series. She will need not only lots of energy but also vocal cords of steel.

Of course, “Reset” will also be very hard on the wallets of Regine’s loyal followers. If they want to watch her perform all of her hits they will have to be present in all four shows. I want to hear her do Jigsaw Puzzle live and she does not sing it on Feb. 14, then I will have to be there also on Feb. 22.

This is a clever marketing gimmick to bring more ticket buyers into the shows. But I have never seen Regine skimp from entertaining audiences to the full so I am sure her fans will get their money’s worth.