We are at the Sky Bar, on the 38^th floor of Solaire North in Quezon City, offering a wide overwhelming view of Metro Manila on a clear sunny afternoon.

Before us is Martin Nievera, ever loquacious, ever voluminous, backdropped by a huge, electronic signage in blue that calls him The King 4ever, on stage at Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 27, a production of Ogie Alcasid.

I shoot the first question, asking Martin to reflect on being so up here, so close to the sky, being called The King, being on top all these 42 years of his career. What matters

Moments earlier, prior to the forum, when I asked Martin about his position in life, he jested, “I like being on top.” He gave me a hug like he always does, and flashed a naughty wink on the side. That’s so very Martin.

ON BEING ON TOP: I don’t think about these things. I had been through high’s and lows, but that’s just normal for any individual.

ON BEING KING: The late entertainment editor, Bob Castillo, was the first to call me "Concert King" back in the 1980s, but he meant it sarcastically. Fans then used it as my title.

I hated the Concert King title as it gave me so much pressure.

I would psyche myself that I didn’t have to be the Concert King. I have to show everything during a show, one that’s fit for a king.

And the audience is the king. The show has to be the kind of show that is fit for a king.

That’s what makes me the Concert King.

ON TODAY’S RISING SINGERS: They’re amazing. They can create all these vocal stylistics not heard of during our time. They’re having it so easy, so unlike during our time when we had to slave to make it.

ON TODAY’S OPM: What great OPM sound they make these days. OPM is at an all-time high, and I can’t be happier with all the new music coming out in all directions.

ON BEING A MUSIC ICON: I’m the easiest person to ask when it comes to helping new artists. I want to guest in everyone’s show or concert. People come to me saying they need an icon to guest in their show, and they think of me, and that makes me an icon. Hahaha. I want to be able to help them.

ON DREAMS AND DREAMING: What’s nice is that my dreams now, they’re not mine. It’s not about me anymore. It’s about the industry. It’s about the country. It sounds like a showbiz answer but as you get older, that’s what you think about. I think about my children. What are they gonna be? Will I live long enough to see my children realize their dreams?"

A son of mine is 19, and he’s autistic. Two years from now, he’ll be 21, an adult. What happens after that?

ON RETIREMENT: I don’t look forward to retirement. This job of mine, this passion for singing, performing, and entertaining, keeps me going. I no longer care whether it’s a small or a big show. I’ve realized that the stage is my healer. You know, I had dengue recently. My platelets were low, but I had to do a show, a commitment. I went up there, enjoyed myself, and before I knew it, performing cured me.

Nothing matters to me anymore except to entertain and to enjoy what I’m doing. I no longer think of competition. No more pressure.