Same old brand new A1
Published Oct 4, 2018 10:45 am
It was back in the ’90s when British-Norwegian pop group A1 dominated the airwaves. Do you remember the time you pinned their posters on your bedroom wall? Or dreamt of marrying one of their members? God bless our tween hearts.
A1 Band
Then again, what’s not to love with this group of gorgeous men – Christian Ingebrigtsen, Mark Read, Ben Adams, and Paul Marazzi – dancing around in vest while singing kilig-inducing songs as “Like A Rose,” “Heaven By Your Side,” “Everytime,” “Caught In The Middle,” and “Walking In The Rain,” among others.
The band went on hiatus to pursue individual interests in 2002, but reunited early this year.
What did they learn about being in A1 upon reunion?
“I guess I’ve, say, re-learned the value of pulling and tugging, sharpening each other within a band, to end up with something unique and different than you ever would have produced on your own. That the whole truly can become greater than the sum of its parts,” said Christian so eloquently.
He admitted that even now, it’s not without some hitches.
“The love for music and entertaining that we share provide more than enough fire – sometimes too much fire, as we don’t always agree on everything,” Christian laughed.
“But when we stand in front of an audience singing along with the songs we wrote so many years ago, and we realize that our music has played a part in people lives on the other side of the planet, it becomes addictive.”
Mark added: “There are a lot of fires burning within a band, you just need to keep fanning the flames. But also know when to step away from the heat when it’s getting too hot.”
New meaning of success
Now that they’re back together, the four can look success squarely in the eye.
Ben said, “We’ve been lucky to see the ultimate high as artists-number 1’s, sold out tours etc. There weren’t many lows for us but when there were we pushed past them to rise again.”
For Christian, he thinks true success is when a song they’ve written has meant something in someone’s lives.
“I’ve definitely redefined how I measure success as I’ve grown older. It used to be how many records we’d sold or how many people came to see our concerts. Now I think that true success is when we’ve somehow made a difference for somebody,” he shared. “(When we) reminded someone of some deeper truth or meaning that made them choose differently – better than they would have done if we had not been here. If I can leave this world a little bit of a better place than it would have been if I wasn’t here, if I can go to bed tonight, and the world is a little bit better for someone than if I had stayed in bed all day, then I will have succeeded.”
Mark revealed he never focused on success as either entity or entitlement.
A1 back in the ‘90s
“It’s like a byproduct of what we do, and as long as we stay focused on our goals and honing our craft and keep challenging ourselves, then hopefully that will always be there to an extent. It’s obviously at a different level to what it was when we had a big machine around us, but the fact that we’re still here all these years later, suggests we’re doing something right,” he said.
Get ready!
Titas of Manila are singing their hearts out upon learning that A1 will be having four shows in the Philippines this October.
This is actually the band’s third time in the country and they fell in love here during their first visit in 2012.
Paul finds the Filipino audience “loyal” and “very kind,” and he can’t wait “to revisit after so long and see them all in person.”
Christian loves the Filipino enthusiasm and positivity. He also thinks the Philippines has great food.
“I always love to see the smiles of people wherever we go! But the one thing I love the most, is how many of our songs still seem to be in people’s recollection there. Our Filipino fans love to sing along, remembering our lyrics, and that truly warms our hearts, because it means that the songs we’ve written has played a part in people’s lives,” he added.
What do they hope Filipinos would take away from their concert and from their music, we asked.
“I hope that they’ll have the best nostalgia trip they could wish for and they can relive their youth and well as witness the future of A1,” Ben said.
Paul exclaimed, “I would hope they are feeling good, have tired feet from dancing and sore voices from singing.”
Christian added, “I hope it will be a great trip down memory lane for both our fans and for us. Taking us back to our youth and bringing back good memories. It will also mark the end of the beginning in many ways, as well as the beginning of something new. With the new single, I hope it will bring excitement and optimism in the times ahead.”
Mark pointed out, “It’s the first and only opportunity to see us back together for the first time in 15 years. It’s unmissable!”
“A1 20th Anniversary ‘Reunion’ Tour” live in the Philippines 2018 happens on Oct. 21 and 22 at the KIA Theatre in Manila, Oct. 23 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao, and on Oct. 25 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu.
A1 Band
Then again, what’s not to love with this group of gorgeous men – Christian Ingebrigtsen, Mark Read, Ben Adams, and Paul Marazzi – dancing around in vest while singing kilig-inducing songs as “Like A Rose,” “Heaven By Your Side,” “Everytime,” “Caught In The Middle,” and “Walking In The Rain,” among others.
The band went on hiatus to pursue individual interests in 2002, but reunited early this year.
What did they learn about being in A1 upon reunion?
“I guess I’ve, say, re-learned the value of pulling and tugging, sharpening each other within a band, to end up with something unique and different than you ever would have produced on your own. That the whole truly can become greater than the sum of its parts,” said Christian so eloquently.
He admitted that even now, it’s not without some hitches.
“The love for music and entertaining that we share provide more than enough fire – sometimes too much fire, as we don’t always agree on everything,” Christian laughed.
“But when we stand in front of an audience singing along with the songs we wrote so many years ago, and we realize that our music has played a part in people lives on the other side of the planet, it becomes addictive.”
Mark added: “There are a lot of fires burning within a band, you just need to keep fanning the flames. But also know when to step away from the heat when it’s getting too hot.”
New meaning of success
Now that they’re back together, the four can look success squarely in the eye.
Ben said, “We’ve been lucky to see the ultimate high as artists-number 1’s, sold out tours etc. There weren’t many lows for us but when there were we pushed past them to rise again.”
For Christian, he thinks true success is when a song they’ve written has meant something in someone’s lives.
“I’ve definitely redefined how I measure success as I’ve grown older. It used to be how many records we’d sold or how many people came to see our concerts. Now I think that true success is when we’ve somehow made a difference for somebody,” he shared. “(When we) reminded someone of some deeper truth or meaning that made them choose differently – better than they would have done if we had not been here. If I can leave this world a little bit of a better place than it would have been if I wasn’t here, if I can go to bed tonight, and the world is a little bit better for someone than if I had stayed in bed all day, then I will have succeeded.”
Mark revealed he never focused on success as either entity or entitlement.
A1 back in the ‘90s
“It’s like a byproduct of what we do, and as long as we stay focused on our goals and honing our craft and keep challenging ourselves, then hopefully that will always be there to an extent. It’s obviously at a different level to what it was when we had a big machine around us, but the fact that we’re still here all these years later, suggests we’re doing something right,” he said.
Get ready!
Titas of Manila are singing their hearts out upon learning that A1 will be having four shows in the Philippines this October.
This is actually the band’s third time in the country and they fell in love here during their first visit in 2012.
Paul finds the Filipino audience “loyal” and “very kind,” and he can’t wait “to revisit after so long and see them all in person.”
Christian loves the Filipino enthusiasm and positivity. He also thinks the Philippines has great food.
“I always love to see the smiles of people wherever we go! But the one thing I love the most, is how many of our songs still seem to be in people’s recollection there. Our Filipino fans love to sing along, remembering our lyrics, and that truly warms our hearts, because it means that the songs we’ve written has played a part in people’s lives,” he added.
What do they hope Filipinos would take away from their concert and from their music, we asked.
“I hope that they’ll have the best nostalgia trip they could wish for and they can relive their youth and well as witness the future of A1,” Ben said.
Paul exclaimed, “I would hope they are feeling good, have tired feet from dancing and sore voices from singing.”
Christian added, “I hope it will be a great trip down memory lane for both our fans and for us. Taking us back to our youth and bringing back good memories. It will also mark the end of the beginning in many ways, as well as the beginning of something new. With the new single, I hope it will bring excitement and optimism in the times ahead.”
Mark pointed out, “It’s the first and only opportunity to see us back together for the first time in 15 years. It’s unmissable!”
“A1 20th Anniversary ‘Reunion’ Tour” live in the Philippines 2018 happens on Oct. 21 and 22 at the KIA Theatre in Manila, Oct. 23 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao, and on Oct. 25 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu.