Ryan Gallager ng The Voice US pusong Pinoy

ni MARICRIS VALDEZ

HINDI na kami magtataka kung bakit nahalina at biglang nag-turn ng chair si Kelly Clarkson ng The Voice ng Amerika noong 2020 kay Ryan Gallagher dahil kami man humanga at napailing sa ganda ng boses.

Naging bahagi si  Ryan ng team ni Kelly pero hindi pinalad na manalo. Pero hindi rito nagtapos ang career ni Ryan dahil nakilala siya sa US sa pamamagitan ng concert appearances at corporate shows. Ilan sa mga international stars na nakasama niya sa iisang stage ay sina Carrie Underwood, Josh Groban, Lea Salonga, at Michael Bolton.

Una namang nakapag-perform si Ryan sa Pilipinas noong 2013 nang maimbitahan sa birthday party ng isang kaibigan. At simula noon nagpabalik-balik na siya sa ating bansa para sa mga special at corporate shows sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas.

“Since then, I don’t think I can count the number of times I’ve been back. Maybe 30 to 50 times and I just really fell in love with this country, its people, your musicality,” ani Ryan nang makahuntahan namin ito para sa promotion ng kanyang Christmas single na The Feeling of Christmas na available na sa Apple Music at iba pang digital platforms.

“So I became an adopted Filipino. That was 14 years ago. I was 21 years old, and I’m 35 now. Almost half of my life. I’m Pinoy…sa puso,” buong pagmamalaki ni Ryan na 

marami na ring salitang Filipino ang alam.

Nagparinig din si Ryan ng ilang OPM hits na dama namin ang kanyang pagkanta. Ipinarinig niya ang Kahit Isang Saglit ni Martin Nievera.

“I just love the way Filipino music sounds, especially the love songs. You don’t need to understand the lyrics but anyone who listens to it can immediately feel it,” pag-amin ng singer.

Ang The Feeling of Christmas ani Ryan, “I wanted to capture the feeling of Christmas for me. For me, it was all about the snow, the gifts, and the presence of family and loved ones.

“But then I thought, it’s Jesus’ birthday, and what did he do? The story of Christmas is about Him coming into the world to save us, right? So, I wanted to write something that was dear to my heart but also fun and upbeat.

Parte ng 16 song Christmas album ang The Feeling of Christmas na ini-record ni Ryan last year with a full orchestra sa Nashville, Texas at Los Angeles.

Ang Fire & Ice Productions na pag-aari nina Ice Seguerra at Liza Diño ang tumutulong sa career ni Ryan dito sa Pilipinas.

Bukod kay Ice, gusto rin ni Ryan na maka-collab ang ilan sa ating OPM icons, “I had a duet with Lea Salonga. I want to work with Lea again, and also Martin Nievera. Sarah G (Geronimo) also. I never sung with Sarah!”