Aside from sharing the same sensibility as singer-songwriters, Ogie Alcasid and Odette Quesada are compatible as concert partners because they have a unique ‘comfort level’ with each other.
Alcasid and Quesada will once again join forces at the ‘QandA’ concert, a culmination of their joint concerts, which puts the spotlight on OPM classics. Compared to their past shows, it doesn’t follow the Valentine’s Day format and instead focuses on love, life and everything in between.
‘I knew for a fact that I was excited to work with Odette, but same here. Every time we perform together, there is a comfort level,’ Alcasid said during a media con in Parañaque in which Quesada joined via Zoom.
‘I just look at Odette onstage, and she gets my jokes and even plays them off. It’s just fun. Her mind is always working, and she has such a sharp and grounded take on life,’ he continued.
Since Quesada is now based in the US as an HR professional, she doesn’t have a chance to frequently meet with Alcasid between their shows. Yet when they get together onstage, it feels like picking up from where they left off.
‘Even if we don’t see each other between shows, when we get onstage, it’s like picking up from a conversation we left off 35 years ago. I always feel like I’m with my best friend,’ she said.
‘Don’t tell Kevin that,’ she said while giggling, referring to her real-life partner.
One of the reasons that make Alcasid and Quesada’s tandem work is that they don’t have a problem in deciding which songs to perform, which in this case, will solely be focusing on OPM.
‘Surprisingly, this is our ninth, culmination ‘to of our past shows. It’s going to be bigger and better. Pareho kami ng choices so it’s easier, we pretty much agreed on everything that we suggested,’ she said.
Looking back, Quesada said she is proud of what she accomplished in her illustrious career. ‘I’m also preparing for retirement,’ she confessed, noting that she is aware of how time flies in the music industry.
‘I wish I had more time but I did a certain number [of shows] this year, nand’un na ako sa certain mode na when I retire, I have no regrets,’ she added.
Alcasid and Quesada’s ‘QandA’ concert will take place at the Mall of Asia Arena on Nov. 7.