Raymond Lauchengco Relives the '80s Magic

Over the past four decades, Raymond Lauchengco has a made a name for himself not only as a singer, but also as a photographer, director, and visual artist. He counts himself blessed—or as the popular Bagets song puts it—he "Just Got Lucky" that he was able "to explore that creative restlessness."

The voice behind the songs "I Need You Back,” “Farewell,” “So It’s You” is grateful that Filipino music audiences embraced him without a question or judgment every time he went back to singing. It is for this reason that he opted to call his 40th anniversary concert "Just Got Lucky."

“[This concert] is my way of giving thanks to the people who have been listening to me for the last 40 years,” the balladeer said at a media lunch hosted by East Ocean Palace. “And the best way I can do that is to take the audience to where it all started—the '80s. So they can expect my hits, familiar love songs, and guess what? Fast songs with dancers! Something I am not known for,” he laughed. “I want people to leave the concert feeling like, ‘Oh, it’s good to be alive…even if we are much older!’”

The multi-talented artist is thankful for the creative detours that enriched him as a person and made him a better storyteller. "A singer is really just that: a storyteller. You connect with people and share a common sentiment. I could never sing ‘Farewell’ or ‘Saan Darating ang Umaga’ now the same way I did at 18, and it’s because of those creative detours that have given me a deeper understanding of what life is about."

Lauchengco tells us more about his artistic journey and his upcoming concert in this Q&A. 

Lauchengco found himself drawn to sculpture during the pandemic. "Who knew I would ever do that?" he said.

Four decades in the music industry—what an incredible journey! How does it feel to reach such a milestone? What's been the most rewarding part of your career along the way?

It’s all very exciting. To do a major concert in a beautiful theater in Manila to say thank you to the audiences who have been there for me for 40 years. It’s also very humbling because it takes a village to mount an endeavor like this. Seeing everyone on the team working so hard motivates me, inspires me, and gives me another reason to be thankful.

[Joining Raymond on stage at "Just Got Lucky" is another multi-talented performer, Bituin Escalante. Waya Gallardo is the writer and concert director, and Marvin Querido is the musical director.]

The most rewarding aspect for me is realizing that what I do still means something for quite a number of people. Even after all this time. To see people smile, laugh, or cry to my ballads, to hear them singing along, or to watch them stand up to dance and have fun to the dance tunes I’ve added to my repertoire means the world to me. It’s simply priceless!

What can audiences expect in your "Just Got Lucky" concert?

Because it’s my 40th, I wanted to take my audience back to where it all started—the '80s. In my past shows prior to the pandemic, I’d always do Broadway, big-band standards, and a sprinkling of OPM songs (including my hits) wearing a tux. I enjoyed doing these shows, but I do admit that they were more on the serious and formal side.

This time around, for "Just Got Lucky," I’d like to do something that’s the exact opposite—a concert that’s loaded with fun and nostalgia. The kind of fun that gets you up on your feet and the kind of nostalgia that makes you want to sing along in celebration of life and everything you’ve been through.

As to how I’ll bring the era to life, I think all the memories that '80s music has the power to bring back will take care of that. Memories of falling in love or getting your heart broken for the first time. Memories of when you made the friends you’ve kept forever, etc.

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Alongside your singing career, you have made significant strides in photography, directing, and the visual arts. How have these artistic pursuits shaped you as a performer?

I’ve always had a creative restlessness about me. There were always other pursuits that I was passionate about, that I needed to explore like professional photography, directing, and visual art.

So I gave myself ample time to delve into all these things. And I’m glad I did because they widened my perspective. All singers are like storytellers, whatever makes you a better storyteller makes you a better singer.

You've put singing aside to explore other creative interests. How do you balance them all, and what keeps bringing you back to singing?

Singing is and will always be my first love. It’s always what I return to. After giving myself the time I needed to become a photographer, a director, and a visual artist/ sculptor, I now feel that the need to explore other pursuits has more or less settled.
I still have other dreams I wish I could fulfill, but one lifetime simply isn’t enough so I chose the dreams that I felt were most worthwhile. I’m now at the point in my life where I just want to say thank you. And I think I can do that best by singing.

You’ve called your career detours a blessing. Can you share more about a specific creative detour that profoundly impacted your approach to music and storytelling?

All my detours have enriched me as a person. They may have taken me away from singing but maybe I needed those breaks to realize that singing was what I loved the most. That’s why I think of them as a blessing.

And if you ask me what it is about singing that I love so much, it’s not even about the singing. It’s about the people I sing for and the special connection you get to have with them. That’s what I love the most.

The detours also impacted my approach to singing because I got to experience what it’s like to communicate/to find your voice through other mediums. In photography, your voice is in the image you create or capture. In directing, it’s in the vision you set and later execute. In visual art, it’s in putting your aesthetics, your emotions into the pieces you create, in the hope that it will mean something to someone else. But still, it’s all about communicating. It’s all about telling a story the most potent way possible.

With singing, it’s much more direct. You have two very powerful tools to work with—the lyrics and the melody. Couple that with an interpretation that people can connect with, and it’s magical!

You've hinted at including fast songs with dancers at your concert, which isn't typically your style.

I’m really a balladeer at heart, but ever since I started singing again after the pandemic, I started to add fast songs to my repertoire. Maybe that was my way of wanting to celebrate life after three very isolated and scary years.

I also noticed how people would respond when I’d surprise them with an unexpected dance tune like "Just Got Lucky" or "Together Forever" by Rick Astley. They’d jump up from their seats and dance like no one was watching.

So there will be quite a lot of songs like that for my concert on November 23. Dancers too. Not because I’m a dancer but because I want it to be fun for my audience. I am celebrating them, after all. I want people leaving the theater after the show feeling happy and giddy about life!

The "Just Got Lucky" concert will be held on November 23, 2024, at 8 PM at The Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are available at TicketWorld and the Solaire box office.