SEVERAL millennials and Gen Zs grew up listening to medleys by singer-songwriters Tori Kelly and AJ Rafael on YouTube.
The two recently teamed up anew to cover a song, this time, with Tori singing in Tagalog with “Asia’s Phoenix” Morissette.
On TikTok, Tori and Morissette breathed new life to the latter’s 2015 hugot track “Akin Ka Na Lang,” while AJ played the piano.
“POV: you just learned how to sing in another language (Tagalog)” a text in Tori’s TikTok video read.
“I just learned Tagalog, I’m so happy right now,” the American singer said.
Morissette started their rendition by singing the first verse of the song that goes: “Bakit hindi mo maramdaman? / Ikaw sa akin ay mahalaga.”
Tori continued singing the verse, sending chills to Morissette.
“Ako sa’yo’y kaibigan lamang / Pa’no nga, ba’t ‘di ko matanggap?” Tori sang.
The two then harmonized the chorus part of “Akin Ka Na Lang” and ended it with squeals and giggles.
This is the first time that the trio collaborated on a cover song. In the past years, Tori and AJ made medleys on YouTube, including a Taylor Swift medley in 2013 and a Christmas medley in 2018.
AJ, who popularized the songs “We Could Happen” and “Without You,” has collaborated with other Filipina singers like Yeng Constantino, Moira Dela Torre, Jessica Sanchez, and Ylona Garcia.
On Instagram, AJ posted photos of him with Tori and Morissette playing Mario Kart and filming a video.
Netizens’ reactions
Meanwhile, the comment section of Tori’s TikTok video was filled with praises from netizens who were surprised to see the trio in one frame.
“All my musical idols in one frame! Super ganda ng diction ni Tori,” said content creator Lottie Bie.
Meanwhile, composer Kiko “Kikx” Salazar, who wrote “Akin Ka Na Lang” for the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs competition, was “on cloud nine” after hearing the trio’s rendition.
“Still processing this happened! My written song being performed by these three? Help me wake up! Thank you for this! I’m gonna cry! It’s so beautiful,” he wrote.
While it did not win in the “Himig Handog” competition, “Akin Ka Na Lang” became a popular ballad in the country. Many Filipinos made covers of it and performed the song in various singing competitions.
“Akin Ka Na Lang” also became part of Morissette’s self-titled debut album in 2015.
