Singer-director Ice Seguerra did the unthinkable when he sang and danced to Rihanna’s naughty “S&M” track, stripping to a black corset onstage, in the Sexy Time part of “Sessionistas: The Playlist,” Saturday night in Parañaque City.
Seguerra had the audience screaming, howling and laughing as he turned up the heat, singing about “sex, chains and whips” while dancing. It was one of the night’s biggest surprises.
“Hanggang dito hindi pa rin ako maka-hinga,” blurted out Kian Cipriano, as Seguerra quickly exited the stage after his number. “Kinakabahan na kami ‘pag naghuhubad ka.”
The Sexy Time playlist was one of the four segments in the concert, which started with the Kilig Playlist, the Sexy Playlist, the Barkada Playlist and the Healing Playlist.
After their highly successful reunion concerts last year – three in Manila (February, April and October) and one in Cebu (March) – the Sessionistas were back for another sold-out show.
The beloved voices of the Sessionistas -- composed of Seguerra, Nyoy Volante, Juris Fernandez, Kean Cipriano, Sitti Navarro and Princess Velasco -- were heard anew onstage, as the six-member group regaled the audience for one nostalgic night with their original songs, their favorites and those identified with them.
Since the group was formed in the Sunday noontime show, “ASAP” 17 years ago, the Sessionistas have regrouped and continue to make beautiful music together. Their bond endured through the years, even when they were out of the limelight, and their lasting friendship remains strong to this day.
Duncan Ramos skipped the concert last Saturday, but is expected to join the group in future performances.
From films, teleseryes, barkada nights to road trips, weddings, quiet healing moments and the hits that carried through the different chapters of our lives, the concert brings the ultimate playlist to the stage. The show was mounted by producers Ice Seguerra and Liza Diño-Seguerra’s Fire and Ice Entertainment and bankrolled by Fire and Ice Live.
Fire and Ice Entertainment described the concert as “a night built around the songs that soundtracked a generation’s heartbreaks, barkada road trips, first loves and 2 a.m. drives home.”
“Right now, everyone’s in their nostalgia era," said Fire and Ice CEO Liza Diño-Seguerra.
"We wanted to lean all the way into that,” she added. “These are the songs that built us. But the thing people realize when they’re actually in the room is that it’s not just nostalgia – it’s not a song you used to feel something for. It’s a song you still do. That’s the part of the show I’m most excited for people to feel.”
“Sessionistas: The Playlist” leaned all the way into the nostalgia set list. The group serenaded the audience with timeless OPM tunes that truly tugged at the heartstrings. They collectively started on a high note with “I Gotta Feeling,” then went on to individually croon the soundtrack of each chapter of their lives.
For the Kilig Playlist, Cipriano delivered “Truly, Madly, Deeply,” Velasco sang her version of Ronnie Liang’s “Ngiti,” Volante admitted he is a fan of Aga Muhlach and sang “Basta’t Kasama Kita” from the 1995 blockbuster romantic drama of the same title.
Bossa nova queen Navarro delivered “Kiss Me,” Fernandez belted out “Now That I Have You” and fondly reminisced briefly her wedding 15 years ago to Gavin Lim, where Seguerra sang the same tune in the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Seguerra who is a known member of the LGBT community, admitted he never thought he would find lasting happiness. “Love is like magic,” he said. “I finally found the person I can sing this song [‘If I Believed’] with.” He has been married to Diño-Seguerra for 12 years now.
Immediately, the unique chemistry of the members became evident onstage, even if they have different musical styles.
For the Sexy Playlist, Fernandez did Freestyle’s “So Slow,” Navarro sang Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” Volante crooned “I Wanna Know,” Velasco gave out Spice Girls’ “Two Become One,” and Cipriano delivered “In a Heartbeat.”
The Broken Playlist was started by Fernandez with Brian McKnight’s “One Last Cry,” Seguerra sang “How I Tried,” Volante crooned “Doors,” Navarro sang her version of Madonna’s “Take a Bow,” Velasco belted out “Before I Let You Go” and Cipriano delivered his version of “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
It wasn’t hard to convince Seguerra to work at the helm of “Sessionistas: The Playlist” since he was also the producer of the concert, with his better half, Diño-Seguerra.
The Barkada Playlist had Cipriano delivering The Eraserheads’ “Minsan,” Volante sang Itchyworms’ “Beer,” Navarro had Kitchie Nadal’s “Huwag na Huwag Mong Sasabihin,” Fernandez had Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Wanna Wait (For Our Lives To Be Over),” Velasco did her version of “A Thousand Miles,” while Seguerra had Swing Out Sister’s “You On My Mind.”
For the Healing Playlist, the artists briefly shared the heartbreaks they went through and how they got over the pain. Cipriano delivered Linkin Park’s “In the End,” Seguerra belted out “Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak,” Velasco had Wilson Philips’ “Hold On,” Navarro sang Olivia Dean’s “A Couple Minutes (A Color Show),” Fernandez gave out “You Were There” and Volante belted out Kenny Loggins’ “Forever.”
The last part had the artists Seguerra deliver “Ano’ng Nangyari sa Ating Dalawa,” Volante crooned his first composition, “You’re My You,” Fernandez did “I Love You Goodbye,” which she sang for the film of the same title.
Navarro thanked the audience for giving Pinoy bossa nova a chance and offered “Para sa Akin,” Velasco did her version of Noel Cabangon’s haunting “Kanlungan,” while Cipriano closed the segment with Callalily’s original hit, “Magbalik.” The song has inspired countless covers through the years.
Although some of the songs the Sessionistas rendered in their Playlist were covers, the melodies suited them perfectly. Even if a female artist carried out an original of a male singer, the songs were delivered admirably. The audience admired them. Each of the artists proved they can sing any melody – from ballads to rock to haunting anthems and even danceable ditties.
Do we hear a repeat before the year is over? That is not far from happening.