ISA ang concert king na si Martin Nievera sa mga labis na natutuwa sa muling pagsigla ng live concert scene ngayong mas maluwag na nga ang restrictions na kaakibat ng Covid-19 pandemic sa halos buong mundo.

Katunayan, katatapos lang niyang mag-perform sa isang casino sa San Diego, California kung saan kitang-kita raw niya ang “pagkauhaw” at “pagkagutom” ng ating mga kababayan sa panonood ng live concert.

“It brought tears to my eyes paglabas ko ng stage, sigawan lahat… It was a magical moment for me,” kwento ni Martin sa virtual interview kahapon para sa bagong kanta, Smile Again, na siya mismo ang sumulat at ni-release ng Vicor Records.

“I’m very happy and excited to be performing again. I’m happy for the audience that they get to watch live performances again. So, it feels like a new beginning. I don’t know if I could speak for every singer, but it feels like a new beginning for me. And I’m happy to be performing again.

“I’m hoping to do more when I get back to Manila and, in fact, I have one in June 25 at the Theater at Solaire. So, that’s gonna be their first live performance with a live audience in so long, so I’m happy to be that person… I love to be the guinea pig kasi, eh. I love to be the experiment. Ako palagi ang experiment ng ano… let’s see if the show wll do well. Let’s see kung matutuloy ito because of all the restrictions and rules which keep changing every single day.

“Where are we today? I think we’re right back where we started from, which is a hundred percent audience, everyone sitting next to each other, those who can wear masks, they can wear masks if they want to, those who don’t want to, don’t have to. I’m just so excited. It feels like the very first time I was doing concerts and recordings… like the beginning of my career all over again.”

Sakto naman na magse-celebrate siya ng 40th year sa show business sa July 5 kaya mas ramdam niya ang aniya’y “magic of being appreciated again like the beginning.”

Bukod sa regular pa ring pagpe-perform sa ASAP Natin ’To at pag-a-anchor ng sariling show, LSS (Long Story Short) sa ANC, muli nga raw na-discover ni Martin ang love niya for singing and writing songs.

Aniya, isinulat niya ang Smile Again dahil gaya ng marami, dumaan din siya sa pagiging down sa kasagsagan ng pandemya.

“What kept my mind busy was doing things I took for granted way before when I was so busy trying to be famous, you know, trying to be a singer and making some hit songs and hit concerts. I forgot that God put me on this Earth, not to make money, not to be famous, but to be a singer, to sing.”

“These are the times we’re not supposed to be positive remember? We’re supposed to be negative! The old meaning of ‘positive’ is what I wanted to bring back. I’m one of those singers who sing about the ‘sad’ love songs, the ‘I can’t make it’ love songs, the ‘I want you back’ type of songs. This time, I wanted to finally have a song that was positive,” diin niya.

At dito na nga nabuo ang Smile Again na nagmula sa inspirasyong naibigay ng pagkanta niya ng classic Charlie Chaplin song na Smile tuwing matatapos ang Facebook Live shows na isinagawa niya two years ago.

Meron din itong music video na maaaring mapanood sa iba’t ibang platforms.

“A serious song, written by a comedian reminding everybody that there will be happier days to come,” paliwanag ng concert king.

Mula sa melody ng batikang musical director na si Home Flores, ani Martin, “I just wrote all of the beautiful thoughts that came to my mind and thinking in third person, I thought of how other people can relate to this song and (that’s how) I realized the words that I chose. I think every one can relate to that, everyone wants some reason, big or small, to smile again.”