“What has life to offer me when I grow old?”
This is the famous opening line of “Next in Line,” arguably one of the most touching songs ever released by AfterImage, Wency Cornejo’s former band. Almost three decades have passed since they broke the barriers of OPM and Pinoy alternative rock became mainstream.
Wency has chosen to shy away from the spotlight for many years. He was last active in the local music scene sometime in 2008, when his band reunited and recorded a comeback album.
He has been happily residing in Davao, running a food business, and raising his teenage son with his partner. Although he has been invited numerous times to be part of the band scene down south, he has politely declined such offers.
“They cannot afford me,” he said in jest at the press conference for “The ’90s Live!” held at Kuya’s in Quezon City. He stops to stress that it was meant as a joke. He just doesn’t feel like singing all the time anymore, he said.
AfterImage dominated radio charts in the 1990s with hits such as “Next in Line,” “Habang May Buhay” and “Tag-Ulan.”
Wency expressed that while he resumed songwriting after AfterImage disbanded and even pursued a career as a solo artist, he rarely feels the urge to stretch his vocal cords in front of a captive audience these days.
There are however, exceptions. And one such exception is his 50th birthday, which he imagined he would celebrate performing with his contemporaries in a modest venue in April.
After discussions with other parties, his vision of a small birthday gig transformed into a major concert with his contemporaries from the ’90s band scene, at The Theatre in Solaire, no less.
Wency explains, “Look at it this way. Ayoko na masyadong kumanta, but in this show I will be singing three or four songs.”
Joining Wency in “The ’90s Live!” are Cooky Chua of Color It Red, Lei Bautista of Prettier Than Pink, Jett Pangan of The Dawn, Paco Arespacochaga of Introvoys, Naldy Padilla of Orient Pearl, Medwin Marfil of True Faith, Dong Abay, and original Rivermaya guitarist Perf de Castro. What these men and women will bring to Wency’s belated birthday concert is bound to be an explosion of unadulterated homegrown talent.
Wency is looking forward to singing “Habang May Buhay” with Cooky Chua during the concert. The song was originally written to be sung as a duet between her and the Color It Red vocalist.
Wency shares, “I started this with the ones who are really close to me, and this is the line-up you see.”
Except for Lei, Naldy and Wency, the artists in the line-up are still active in the music scene one way or another and will have gigs and recording projects to return to.
Lei is happily married and still plays music in church, at least; and Naldy was seen performing with nephew Daniel Padilla very recently on TV. But what will happen to Wency, the mastermind of this once-in-a-lifetime concert, after the curtain closes?
Will he go back to his quiet life, continue writing songs, or desist from singing again?
Songwriting is something he can always go back to, and one thing could easily inspire him to write another song.
“Ma-break ang heart ko,” he said matter-of-factly. “It’s true. I don’t know for other songwriters but it’s always been true for me. I broke my heart last year, and wrote a song. I always break my heart—not necessarily romantically. It could be family, it could be friends. It could be anything under the sun that will make you feel bad.”
He admits he has a “baul” of unreleased songs that he might just share with the public at the right time.
At 50, Wency is more practical, and seeks to enjoy life’s remaining pleasures. He looks forward to performing in more shows abroad, similar to the one he had with Introvoys in New York and a show he had in Turks and Caicos.
Wency is honest enough to admit the reason why he hardly plays local gigs anymore. “Pinipili ko na yung mga gigs na gagawin ko. Mostly abroad because it’s easier, pays much better and you get to pasyal,” he said.
Wency Cornejo is currently managed by David Cosico, who also handles the career of Morissette Amon.
“The ’90s Live!” happens on Saturday, July 22,8pm at The Theatre in Solaire. For ticket reservations, call TicketWorld at 891-9999.
