SHE'S A SPECIAL
ANGEL "I'd rather be a faceless voice," confesses Ger, the unassuming artist behind the surprise Perfect 10 No. 1 hit 'My Special Angel'. Indeed, many have been asking who this wonder woman is. Sneaking past seasoned diva Toni braxton to the top of the chart, this lady is - get this - a first-time singer, with no formal training and nary an album to her name, save for her contribution to the Dazed and Confused compilation. And this has to be the topping cream: 'Angel' - the third song she's written in her life - is her demo tape version. All said, why would anyone prefer anonymity. No lofty ambition: all the soft-spoken 24-year-old wanted was to record a song and hear it on radio. "I've already done that and I'm satisfied," says Ger. I'm still very new to everything: interviews, photoshoots, performing on stage. If I have to [go public], I will. But really, I'd rather let my songs do the talking. I want to write songs that I can be proud of." Explaining that all her songs are inspired by her own experiences and from things she hears from her buddies, Ger - otherwise known as Geraldine Ho - reveals she wrote her first song at 16 as a birthday present to a friend, because she wanted the gift to be meaningful and lasting. What about 'Angel'? "It was written for my late grandfather and school principal [of St. Theresa's convent]," she says, offering a theory why it went down well with radio listeners. "It was not written as a commercial hit. I wrote it from my heart, for people dear to me. If I 'go commercial' and churn out songs periodically, they will lose their credibility." You tell her it was a clever move to keep the 'local singer' bit down and use a nondescript name like Ger. "I wanted people to hear my song and like it for itself. Sad thing is, listeners tend to trash a local song before they hear it. I remember when Kick! had their hit, I was like 'That's a local band? Wow!' I took their cue and went low-profile first. My record company wanted me to use another name, something like 'Ling'. But I stuck to 'Ger', cos it's still me and it doesn't reveal much.' 'Angel' was recorded in Australia while she was doing her matriculation course (equivalent to our 'A' levels). "I did it on the sly. I only told my parents when 'Angel' hit No.1. they'd have killed me for spending $1200 on it. I was so broke I had to leave school!" But surely, the big bucks are rolling in already? "Actually, I haven't seen any of it yet," she tells you honestly, adding she'd like to use the money to attain her degree in Physical Education." At this point though, she's just taking it easy. No definite plans for recording a full album as yet, although she is confident the two other songs on her demo-tape,'Say You'll Be Mine' and 'Try to Remember' - both gentle, soothing tunes - will also strike a chord with local music listeners. Meanwhile, Ger juggles a full-time job as a fitness trainer and playing on the National Hockey team. "Many people tell me sports and music don't mix. I love both and I'm not giving either one up. I know people expected me to be a 'long-flowing-hair, long-dress, strolling-on-the-beach type. What can I say, sorry, I don't even have long hair!" Ask her what music she listens to in her leisure, and her reply is a revelation: Thai and Japanese songs, the Grease soundtrack, Boyz II Men, and last but not least, George Michael ("a true talent"). "I learnt everything I know from listening to music. I like songs that tell a story." She bursts into 'the Rhythm of the Rain'. What a beauuutiful voice... It comes then as no surprise when this ex-policewoman tells you she can't even read music notes. "I either keep a tune in my head for ages or I tape it down. I only know three chords on the guitar. If I need a different chord, i just keep trying till I get it. I don't know what I'm playing half the time." A miracle. Just three chords and she can score a hit? Maybe she's got an angel's blessing after all. Who's her special angel, on wonders? "God. He gave me the song. I had the first verse in my mind but nothing past that. My mom said 'go pray about it.' I did and the whole song just came out!" So, who is she an angel to then? "All my hockey mates!" ___________________________________________________________ Dazed and Confused, which contains Ger's 'My Special Angel', is out in the stores.
G-e-r.org | Official Site of Ger's Debut Album On My Own |
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