DISKORAL

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ALL THE LOVE FROM KIS

On January 15, New Zealand’s Powerpop girls – KIS – filled the North Shore Event Centre in Auckland with their love, as Kayth-InaShaine performed Britney Spear’s “”Hold It against Me” complete with solid vocal harmony and creative rhythmic movements.

Before the nearly 5,000 audience could shout, “More!”, the talented trio soared into a potent interpretation of the Bruno Mar’s ballad, “Rain”. When it was all over, the crowd cheered as if KIS was the main feature, but of course, the girls knew that the star of the show was the Snr Sto Nino de Cebu, in whose honour they dedicated their numbers.

The performance during the Sinulog Festival was part of the build-up for KIS’ first mini-concert as part of the “Biggest Pinoy Dance Party in Auckland” – DISCO DISKORAL on January 28 in AMI Netball Centre, 44 Northcote Road, Auckland.

KIS is expected to include in their repertoire songs that they’ve put their own unique and sweet style.

KIS will be joined by OBG! a mixed bag of talented gentlemen with diverse musical influences, bound by a common love for good music. The 5-man band will sing the official anthem of the gig composed by Visayan novelty singer Max Surban.

The main feature for the musical event is CONSTELLATION BAND, the most in demand Filipino band in New Zealand. The Constellation Band is composed of professional musicians who started their craft entertaining US military personnel in Subic Naval Base, and followed their dream of performing in some of the entertainment capitals in Asia until deciding to migrate to New Zealand. Influenced by such bands as Chicago, Santana and Blood Sweat & Tears, Constellation Band has morphed in terms of their music style covering both the classics (e.g.

“Stars on 45” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”) and the latest hits such as those of Black Eyed Peas. The band has fronted concerts of Shaft composer Isaac Hayes, Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales and Mr Energy Gary Valenciano. Constellation Band never misses a week without a gig, having gained a loyal following in RSA and Cosmopolitan Clubs throughout Auckland.

Gates open at 6pm and the dancing begins at 7:30pm until the 12 midnight.

Score you tickets now. Email: rrmenchavez@yahoo.com.

DISCO DISKORAL is sponsored by REX YAP/NEW ZEALAND HOME LOANS; WESTERN UNION; PLANET EARTH TRAVEL; Dr Tony & Cora Noblejas; Tita Claudia’s Lechon and Tindahang Pinoy. CORD International Music Magazine is the official media partner.

DISCO LIVES ON! Disco is dance music that became a social phenomenon in the 80s reaching its peak with the release of the generation-defining film, Saturday Night Fever, and its accompanying soundtrack that consisted mostly of Bee Gees songs. Influenced by rhythm n’ blues mixed with strong bass lines, electronically arranged instruments and lush orchestral background, disco music created outrageous fashion and establishments of disco clubs where people socialized and had fun. Some of the earliest disco hits included Hues Corporation’s “Rock the Boat”, George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby” and Carl Douglas’ “Kung Fu Fighting”. Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, KC & the Sunshine Band, Village People and Chic became household names.

The Philippines also had its clone acts such as VST & Co (counterpart to the Bee Gees); Hagibis (to Village People) and Marvic (to Andy Gibb). Albums featured instructional dance steps, while TV had weekly shows like Discorama. Disco music reached even the most remote barangays, when villagers would congregate in “Diskoral” where music operators played 45 rpm disco records, and lasses danced with the gentlemen who had the right colored ribbon.

But as the 70s came to an end, so did the disco phenomenon, no thanks to the July 1979 Disco Demolition Night in Chicago that called on a boycott to disco and its culture had emerged in the United States. Punk and new wave music emerged; and radio withdrew support to disco records causing disco clubs to close, pulling disco musicians to oblivion and bankrupting entertainment companies that solely released disco records.

But then dance which is entwined in every individual’s heart rhythm cannot simply disappear.

Artists like Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire, Madonna, Backstreet Boys and many others continued to incorporate disco in their music, though a bit subdued; and the truth to tell, current artists like Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, Rihanna and Lady Gaga have disco music embedded in most of their hits songs.

DISCO DISKORAL is a declaration that disco music lives on, for dance is an essential part of living, an essential part of loving. Be living, be loving, be part of DISCO DISKORAL.

PRESENTING KBNZ

The Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ) is the organization of Bisayaspeaking Filipinos living in New Zealand. Though it has not been too long ago (about three years) since it was formally recognized as a Trust, KBNZ under the leadership of Rosendo “Sendo” Menchavez has embarked on projects in the service of its members and the greater community.

It regularly holds fellowship activities with the intention of strengthening the bond of friendship and camaraderie among members. It propagates the unique culture of Bisaya-speaking Filipinos through participation in such activities as the Philippine Independence celebrations; and the Sto Nino de Cebu Fiesta where the group’s cultural troupe has performed for the past two consecutive years. In 2010, the group joined the Auckland International Carnival where it won the grand prize for its Sinulog presentation that bested more than 20 other participants from other ethnic groups.

KBNZ also engages in community-orientated projects including a beach clean-up and in raising funds most recently $1,050 to help victims of the recent typhoon Sendong that hit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities. A portion of the income of DISCO DISKORAL will be set aside for the TABANG Typhoon Sendong Victims Drive, as assistance continues to be needed in Mindanao.

To pursue its goal of further assimilating into the New Zealand community, KBNZ has organized DISCO DISKORAL dubbed as the Biggest Pinoy Dance Party in Auckland featuring the popular CONSTELLATION BAND, New Zealand’s Powerpop Girls, KIS, and the mix bag music group, OBG! Everyone is invited to join the event, with $20 entrance fee. The income of the activity will be set aside for the various programs of KBNZ in 2012.