And furthermore...
Why pick on Sitti in the first place?
No one forces anyone to buy her albums. Granted, some of us are force-fed her sh_t in places which play it. But still...
Sintonado kumanta, 'ka niyo?
Eh, si Ryan Eigenmann (spelling?), hindi?
Kulang sa taste? Eh, si Lito Camo, hindi?
Jazz daw pero di naman talaga jazz sa totoo lang?
Oo nga.
But regarding this last point, I have a solid defense for her. Sometime two years ago, she & I conducted an interview at 19 East's bandroom. She herself said that her recorded output can't accurately be called jazz. Pop-jazz daw talaga ang mas accurate na term sa musika niya.
The way she's marketed has more to do with alien concepts on the part of her handlers than with any stupidity on her part. I doubt anyone has perfect control of press blurbs and PR tomfoolery.
After the interview, she texted me to request that I not print that statement of hers, as certain of her bosses might not have liked it. I honored that request back then, but I feel perhaps enough time has now passed to air this sentiment of hers.
Sitti, kung mabasa mo 'to, pasensya na sa pagbuklat ko ng sinabi mo. No harm no foul naman siguro 'to.
Pero Sitti... gaya ng napag-usapan na natin dati --- research pa. Maganda na ang karamihan sa mga prinsipyo mo sa buhay. Pero sa musika, kailangan mo pa talaga mag-research.
One more thing in Sitti's defense...
Many may not know this but (speaking of jazz) Sitti actually has quite a far-reaching list of old jazz standards in her repertoire. Madami siyang pondong jazz tunes, kahit yung mga lumang-luma at napaka-obscure. (Hindi lang nga niya nakakanta ng madalas sa mga regular gigs niya.)
In fact, the first time she and I met was at a Skarlet gig at Stonehouse, where she jammed with us. We played "That's All". In the key of G.
Prior to that 1st meeting, panay rin ang okray ko sa Cafe Bossa. Tuwing pinapatugtog sa piped-in system ng Stonehouse, di ko matiis ang mga sintonadong nota't di ko mapigilang mag salubong ang kilay at mag-walk-out makaraan ng iilang minuto lamang. Di ko matagalan ang isang buong kanta.
When she jammed with (bassist) Dave Harder and myself, I was pleasantly surpised. Oks naman pala. Of course, to be honest, her dazzling legs, captivating prettiness and endearing charm may have had a bit to do with the good impression she made.
But still...
What I listen for most in any musician is intent. When the intent is cool, sometimes the ragged edges may be forgiven.
Sitti's intent that night was cool.
One more Sitti anecdote...
At the Awit Awards ceremony last year, panay ang tukso ko sa kanya. Everytime she passed, I'd tease her, saying "Queen of Bossa! Queen of Bossa!" out loud. After a few of these good-natured jibes, she took me aside and said she wished I'd stop calling her that.
So I said, "So ano pala? King of Bossa?"
To which she replied, "Hindi. Servant of Bossa."
Nakana, 'di ba?
I may not know her as well as I'd like to and I definitely don't know her as well as those who work with her do. But I'd like to think I know her well enough to say that in one man's final estimate, she's cool.
Bottom-line is: it's not what you play nor even how you play it. It's who you are.
By that yardstick (bad acting, idiosyncratic dance moves and showbiz forays aside), Sitti measures up in my book. Like everyone else, she has quite a ways to go musically, but in the final analysis, she's cool.
O, ayan, Sitti. Press agent as usual ang lolo mong abid pans for life. Yabyu.
Aya Y c",)
