Interviewers kept talking over each other, and cutting Arnel off.
The translations on YouTube are quite wrong in parts.
I'l give it a try
Interviewer: Two days ago, or, or a couple of days ago, you had your first big TV guesting in the US, on the Ellen deGeneres Show. So, how was that?
Arnel: Well, at first, I got nervous, because the people were like, uhm, like, too stiff? Everyone was saying Hello. Hello. ...
Interviewer: Who? The audience?
Arnel: No... the crew... the show's staff was like, sooo (bossy voice) "Hello. Okay, you! Be here! And Neal, you..." I was overwhelmed,
I was intimidated by them...
Interviewer: How about Ellen? How was Ellen to you?
Arnel: Oh Ellen, she was very very warm, very friendly and...
Interviewer: That's just one of the many big things happening to you, the (!!) Journey, the TV guestings, this GQ, 2008. Their story on you
here is very nice, it really recaps your life's story. Is it really true that at one point in your life, you were scrounging for
bottles and scrap at Luneta Park? Just so you could...
Arnel: No... I collected bottles and old newspapers
(wech: as in, out in the streets with a pushcart; can't do it in Luneta, it ain't allowed).
Arnel: When my mother died, I was just 13.
Interviewer: Okay.
Arnel: And we went really broke. We lost our home. So, my father decided to take my two younger brothers, Erick and Jolly, and try to
find someplace where they could afford to live.
Interviewer That was only the start of...
Arnel: And I, I went on my own.
Interviewer: So you voluntarily stayed behind?
Arnel: Well, no, I couldn't literally "stay" behind. We couldn't afford where we WERE staying. Meaning... I lived on the street.
Interviewer: But at that point, you already had the singing ability going...
Interviewer: How did you discover it?
Arnel: Ever since I was 5 years old, I knew that...
Interviewer: But you were just singing casually, in odd places?
Arnel: Oh, no...
Interviewer: This is before you joined a band, is what I'm saying...
Arnel: Uhm, when I was 6, until I was 8 years old, my father would enter me in contests...
Interviewer: Ah, so he was already grooming your talent...
Interviewer: So what were you singing back ten?
Arnel: Oh my, really cheesy stuff. like "Matud Nila"...
Interviewer: Really? Are you serious? That's a love song for kids...
Arnel: That's why I wasn't too happy-- whenever my father would measure me out for a new Barong
(formal Filipino attire),
I'd start running away.
Interviewer: So you were a real balladeer back then?
Arnel: No, I didn't like that stuff! Back then I was into singing Michael Jackson. At age 5 I knew "Ben" and "Happy" by heart.
Interviewer: So, you could hit those high notes? I mean, your voice obviously hadn't dropped yet, but..
Interviewer: But those notes (on Ben and Happy) You weren't hitting the high notes like in Open Arms yet?
Arnel: Oh, it was higher than on Open Arms...
Arnel: There was a time when I'd joined a band, during the 80's... I used to sing Through The Fire
Interviewer: Really?
Arnel: My range was much higher back then
Interviewer: Chaka Khan's (song)?
Arnel Yes...
Interviewer: Here's a question for you. You're a guy, and of course, your dream is to be a rock star, and you sort of achieved that,
though not on a big scale. You went to Hong Kong, you were doing showband (sic). But now, how different does it feel singing
(then) and, now, in front of thousands of fans, like in Chile for example? Or your upcoming tour in Europe?
Arnel: It's the intimacy. I can see the crowd's reaction when they're up close. With fewer people, I feel their appreciation more,
or when they don't like what I'm singing. I know right away. I'm better able to connect with them.
Interviewer: Arnel, I'm curious. When you got the call, what/how did you feel?
Arnel: Oh, i didn't believe it was for real. I said Äre you really Neal Schon? I really challenged him to get on a webcam to webcam
conversation with me, so that I could see him. I know the face of Neal Schon, because of him being one of my influences.
Interviewer: what was it like, once you established that, okay, he's the guy. I believe you now. You come in for the audition. What was it like?
Arnel: Of course it was nerve wracking.
Arnel: Of course it was nerve wracking. I had to deal with the time zone
(jet lag),
Interviewer: You weren't in top condition?
Arnel: I faced them with only two hours' sleep, and I was like "How am I going to do this?". And then I was there and I'm like
"Imagine, I'm in the same room with them!" It's like...
Interviewer: An out-of-body experience?
Arnel: Yes.
Interviewer: Did you expect that you'd really hit (your) target(s)?
Arnel: No. Never. Even though three days of auditioning were done, at their warehouse, and, ...and so we finished the studio recording
too, because they wanted to know how I'd sound on a recording. Well, to my surprise, that (turned out to be) the defining moment, when they
heard "it". Like, this is our vocalist. But... they didn't tell me then, not until the next day, when I was headed back to San Francisco.
They told me ---Neal Schon was fetching me from my hotel room, and he just told me... You got the gig.
Interviewer: Did you ever doubt, (like) you didn't get it?
Arnel: For a time. I even told my manager, "Direk" Bert. I said, Direk, ...
Interviewer: Your performance wasn't good?
Arnel: I was losing it. My voice was cracking...
Interviewer: Your former band must be so proud of you, and I understand that sometimes when you come home, you jam with them.
Arnel: Of course. we're Filipinos. We don't just move on without looking back to where we came from. I'd think I'm
one of the Filipinos who really live by that.
Interviewer: How's your family and your girlfriend? How are they taking all of this? I'm sure, your girlfriend is like.. you know
Interviewer: Hey, (at fellow interviewer) Why do you have to drag her into your intrigues?
Interviewer: I meant, like, how do you support someone who's like, bigger than life now, when before he was just Arnel?
Arnel: Actually, no, it's nothing. We're simply us, at home. She just treats me as Arnel. As her partner.
When I'm there, I get up in the morning, I water the plants, I still run to the wet market. It's changed though,
sometimes some people stare at me, like, "(WTF) is he still doing the palengke
(wet market) rounds for?"
Interviewer: Are you as big in the Philippines as you are here (U.S.)? Sometimes I feel you're bigger over here...
Arnel: Yes. Yes...
Interviewer: I really don't understand that...
Arnel: In a way, I'm really happy. Because I get to do what I want to do there (back home).
(Live) as simply as I used to live... and we don't even discuss things about showbiz... about scheduled interviews...
Interviewer: How do you explain this newfound fame of yours to [snip] to your kids, do you tell him "Oh, your dad is a big rock star now"?
Arnel: With my 19 year old, I'm telling him this is just a job and I want you to work as hard, like I did in the past, and would still continue working very
hard, so you will have your own achievements. You will have your own name. I don't want anyone to say that my son rode on my name. I tell him I will
do my best to help you in any way, especially with your work ethic, I think that's important.
Interviewer: Do you feel lucky, there are a lot of good singers out there. Talented singers..
Arnel: Very!
Interviewer: but they didn't get that lucky break which you got. Was it chance, an act of GOD, it was just your time, what do you think?
Arnel: All of that combined. Together.hard work, chance, luck, blessings
Interviewer: A confluence of...
Interviewer: Arnel, what do you say to those who say that you're not Steve Perry? I don't even want to look at Arnel, he's not the same. He's not white.
Interviewer: Do you get that, though? "He isn't white"?
Arnel: I don't get offended. Because actually, I'm a very big fan of, I myself am a very big fan of Journey.
Interviewer: Have you met Steve Perry?
Arnel: Oh no. Not so far.
Interviewer: Oh, not yet?
Interviewer: What might your reaction be?
Arnel: I think I would be starstruck then. Because I'd want his autograph too.(laughing)
Interviewer: Speaking of bandmates, do they have requests --bandmates and management-- on changing your style, looks, your hair,
your clothes, and your English? Is there anything like that?
Arnel: (laughing) Especially the English, because...
Interviewer: To improve (your English)
Arnel: No, well, not quite..
Interviewer: Your accent?
Arnel: with the accent, yes.
Interviewer: Tell us about the CD. You have a CD coming out?
Arnel: Yes, the album is out June 3. Starting June 3 exclusive to Wal-Mart. So all of you out there,
(especially) our countrymen (laughs) ...
[cut]
Interviewer: What songs will be on it? Original songs? Old songs, new songs?
Arnel: It's a mixed bag: the one album is all the greatest hits, 11 songs. And then the next CD, the 2nd CD, all brand new songs, 11 of them.
So you're going to hear 2 different Arnel Pinedas with Journey.
Interviewer: Do you really try to mimic the voice of Steve Perry, or did it come out naturally? Whats the story there?
Arnel: There's a point (range) where it comes close naturally, but aside from that, I have to live up with (sic) expectations.
And the legacy, for us to keep safe.
Interviewer: For us.. for the Filipino community, at least, you've exceeded all expectations. We are so proud of you and what you've done.
You're... we're really proud of what you're doing, what you've done for us through...
Arnel: Thank you very much,and I will continue doing so.
Interviewer: June 3 is the date. Watch out for their new CD at WalMart.
-=-
wech
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 5:13 am