Filipino American Nicole Scherzinger at Carnegie Hall
Nicole Scherzinger went from being the princess of pop to the queen of Broadway this year when she won a Tony, Broadway's equivalent to the Oscar.
Fulfilling a long-held dream, the Filipino American singer and actress performed Oct. 8 at one of the country's famous venues, Carnegie Hall, singing Broadway hits and songs and telling stories from her career as a Pussycat Doll and Broadway diva earning her seven standing ovations throughout the hour and 45-minute show.
“I have been so blessed to have had so many dreams come true these past few years, but I don’t know if I ever dreamed this big,” she told the audience. “Ever since I was a little girl, I said, ‘One day I’m going to perform at the Carnegie Hall.'”
The songs 47-year old artist sang ranged from Broadway classics to some of her favorite pop favorites including Prince's "Purple Rain" and Shirley Bassey's "Diamonds are Forever."
Her encore included numbers when she was the Pussycat Dolls' lead singer in the early 2000s. By the end of her show, she had the audience in the palms of her hands as walked out into the sea of applauding fans.
If you missed Scherzinger's one-night performance at Carnegie Hall, you can catch her performance at Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall on Oct. 30.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.
Nicole Scherzinger gave an emotional speech while accepting her Tony.
Broadway might never see another evening like Sunday's Tony Awards where history was made when three Filipino Americans won Tony awards, Broadway's equivalent to the Oscars.
It was a big night at Radio City Music Hall for Asian American performers but especially for Filipino Amerians.
Filipino Amercans Darren Criss and Nicole Scherzinger, each won their first-ever Tony Awards for their performances in the musicals Maybe Happy Ending and Sunset B.vd, respectively. Criss won Best Lead Actor in a Musical, while Scherzinger won Best Lead Actress in a Musical.
Additionally, another Filipino American, Marco Paguia, won Best Orchestrations for Buena Vista Social Club.
Scherzinger, 46, won for her performance of fading Hollywood star Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., a revival based on the 1950 film noir of the same name by Billy Wilder.
"Growing up I always felt like I didn't belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last," she sobbed while accepting the award.
"I'm so honored to be recognized alongside these exceptional warrior women in this category. I want to thank you all so much for making this little Hawaiian/ Ukrainian/ Filipino girl's dream come true. So proud to represent."
She also thanked her family, including her mom, stating she 'had me at 18 and gave everything up for me.'
Nicole wrapped up her inspiring speech, sharing, 'If there's anyone out there who feels like they don't belong, or your time hasn't come, don't give up.'
'"ust keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and your light now more than ever.'
'This is a testament that love always wins. Thank you so much. God Bess you," concluded Scherzinger, who started her musical journey as a member of the all-women Pussycat Dolls.
Darren Criss is the first Asian American man to win a lead role Tony.
In the Best Leading Actor in a Musical category, Criss beat out Andrew Durand for Dead Outlaw, Tom Francis for Sunset Boulevard, Jonathan Groff for Just in Time, Jeremy Jordan for Floyd Collins, and James Monroe Iglehart for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical.
In his acceptance his Tony, Criss gave a shout out to his costar. "I share this with one of the best leading actresses is in a Broadway msical the season, Helen J. Shen,' he said. "I am so proud of you and your Broadway debut is for the books. This is where you belong."
Criss and Shen performed a number from their musical after being introduced by Broadway legend Lea Salonga, the first Asian woman to win a Best Actress in a Musical Tony for her role in the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon.
"The real hero for this remarkable journey is my wife, Mia," he continued, "who took a massive swing on allowing me to do this and to allow this crazy upheaval in our life to make this logistically possible, and for bearing the brunt of raising two tiny friends under three so that I could raise a singing robot at the theater eight times a week."
"I have such immense pride to get to be part of this notably diverse exquisite Broadway season this year," Criss told the star-studded audience.
It was a big night for Maybe Happy Ending which wound up with six Tony's including Best Musical and Best Direction for a Musical for director Michael Arden.
The musical's South Korean lyricist Hue Park and American composer Will Aronson took home the Tony for best original score and best book of a musical.
In addition to the Tony for Best Orchestration, Marco Paguia also won a second Tony as a musician for the Buena Vista Social Club. Besides being the show's music direcor and conductor, he is also on stage playing piano.
Another Asian American winning an award Sunday was Francis Jue, a Broaddway veteran who accepted a Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play in Yellowface, a timely revival about representation for Asian Americansin the performing arts written by David Henry Hwang. The play also earned a Tony nomination for lead actor Daniel Dae Kim.
Unknown to most of the audience, another Filipino American, Tatiana Cordoba, sang and danced Sunday in her lead role as Ana Garcia, the Mexican American teenager seeking to break away from a life as a garment worker in the musical Real Women Have Curves.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.
On Time's Top 100 are, from left: Jon M. Chu, Lisa Su and Daniel Dae Kim.
Time magazine named its 2025 Top 100 influencers; a list that includes 14 individuals of Asian heritage.
From artists, chefs to CEOs and performers, Asian influence is widespread throughout society. They include familiar names such as movie producer and director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked) and actor/activist Daniel Dae Kim; and some less well-known individuals from business and the arts, such as Liang Wenfeng and Lisa Su.
"The 2025 Time100 list of the world's most influential people recognizes the leaders shaping the world today and defining its future," said Time Chief Executive Officer Jessica Sibley.
Following are the 14 individuals of Asian heritage recognized by the weekly news magazine:
Ma Yansong, architect
Jon M. Chu, motion picture producer/director
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon, chef and restaurant owner
Lisa Su, AMD CEO
Bonnie Y Chan, COO of the Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing
FYI: For more details about Time's influencers, click here.
Influencers picked by Time could have a negative impact on the world as well as a positive one. For example, Donald Trump is on the list for the 7th time, more than any other person on the list this year.
Time will convene the 2025 Time100 list of the world’s most influential people in New York City at the Time100 Summit on April 23 and the Time100 Gala on April 24, which will air as a primetime television special on May 4 on ABC.
Of the 2025 Time 100 list, Time Editor in Chief Sam Jacobs writes in his letter to readers: "Time's founders knew that focusing on the individuals who are transforming the world is the best way to help readers understand it. That belief animates much of what we do at Time.
"What does the 2025Time 100 tell us about the forces shaping our lives? he continues. "It includes six members of the Trump Administration; 16 corporate CEOs, a record, and a sign of the emergence of a class of business leaders who are filling a leadership void; nine leaders who are fighting for justice, equality, and democracy, at a moment when the rights of so many are at stake."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.
Jason Momoa posed in front of one of th 13 observatories already on Mauna Kea.
Protesters trying to stop construction of a giant telescope atop Hawaii's tallest mountain were visited by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson last week. This week, long-time ally Jason Momoa, visited the demonstrators on slopes of Mauna Kea.
Momoa, who has born in Hawaii, visited the hundreds of demonstrators encamped at the base of Mauna Kea on the Big Island on Wednesday. He had been supporting the movement to stop the construction of the Thirty-meter Telescope (TMT), which would occupy a site about the size of a football stadium and stand 18-stories high. Native Hawaiians consider the dormant volcano a sacred mountain.
"I'm so very honored to be here ... to bring my children and all my (family) here," Momoa told reported CNN affiliate KGMB/KHNL. "There's one thing that's not gonna happen. That telescope's not being built here."
Momoa, best known for playing comic book superhero Aquaman in the movies, was welcomed with a ceremony complete with hula dances and chanting, reports CNN.
Dwayne Johnson made a surprise visit to Mauna Kea late last month to lend his support to the demonstrators who have blocked the road to the telescope construction site since July 15. Johnson, the actor and former wrestler lived in Hawaii as a child.
“You have men, women, children and elderly — kupuna that we call them — who aren’t leaving,” Johnson told the Star Advertiser. “And they are so steadfast and passionate about the sacredness of this land.”
Johnson, one of the most popular actors in Hollywood who has stated his interest in running for political office one day, offered to help with talks between the state and protesters, KGMB/KHNL reported.
Among the host of other celebrities who have expressed their support of the Mauna Kea protectors include Grammy-winning Filipino American Bruno Mars, who was born on the Hawaiian island of Oahu; Damian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, performed . some of his father's protest songs for the demonstrators; Nicole Scherzinger, a Filipina American who grew up in the islands.
INSTAGRAM
Nicole Scherzinger posted this image on her Instagram account.
Meanwhile, the demonstrators said they would abandon the mountain slope if an approaching hurricane hits the island.
Hawaii's Gov. David Ige on Tuesday rescinded an emergency proclamation put in place to deal with native Hawaiian protesters. Ige said there were no immediate plans to move heavy equipment to Mauna Kea's summit.
He also noted two hurricanes were approaching that could affect the protest area and the rest of the state.
Hurricane Erick, approaching from the east, is forecast to pass south of the Big Island later this week. Following right after is Hurricane Flossie, which appears on track to come close to the islands early next week.
San Francisco Giant Madison Bumgardner had his bat engraved with "We Are Mauna Kea."
Nicole Scherzinger toured with the Black Eyed Peas earlier sparking rumors that she had joined the group.
THE BLACK EYED PEAS addressed widespread speculation that Fergie has been replaced by Filipino American singer Nicole Scherzinger.
“Black Eyed Peas is me, Will and apl.de.ap. That is who Black Eyed Peas is," stated Taboo, one of the group's original members. "We are the sole members.”
"We have a lot of singers that are a part of the family."
However when he was asked if Nicole Scherzinger has replaced Fergie, he said: “Nicole is part of The Black Eyed Peas family just like Fergie is part of The Black Eyed Peas family. Jess Reynoso (singer), is a part of the family."
The hip-hop group, who were on an 8-year musical hiatus, have reunited for their new ‘Master Of The Sun’ album without Fergie. Former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger is featured on a few of the new tracks, he said.
Fergie, who joined BEP in 2003, features on a number of the band’s biggest hit songs including ‘Where Is The Love’, ‘I Got A Feeling’ and ‘Pump It’.
However Will.I.Am, Taboo and apl.de.ap, have chosen to recruit former Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger to sing vocals on the project, as well as K-pop star CL of the K-Pop girl group 2NE1. ‘We love her as a family as a person and as an individual,’ the rapper said. ‘We got to meet the rest of the girls but we really built a friendship with CL.’
Addressing the speculation that Fergie had been replaced, Taboo clarified to Metro: “Nicole has been a family member of Black Eyed Peas for many years now and she was actually the first person that we asked to join the band prior to Stacey Ferguson (Fergie).
"Next in line was Fergie," he added, explaining that Nicole was busy with other projects during the early-noughties when the band rose to prominence.
Fergie confirmed that relations with BEP are amicable and she is available for more collaborations. “'I've always just been the little sis and part of groups and like that and I got to have a moment with 'The Dutchess' and such and amazing four albums with The Peas and hopefully more,” Fergie told SiriusXM.
BEP has always been able to combine their social consciousness with their music. apl.de.ap, (aka Allan Pineda) a Filipino American, sang "Bebot," as a tribute to the Filipino farm workers of the early part of last century. After a successful release with a slick contemporary video, years later, the group redid the video to reveal the real intent of their hit sung in Tagalog.
Just for the hell of it, and because it is Filipino American History Month, here is the original vision that was filmed partially in Stockton's Little Manila.
For the English translation, click here. You'll see it is the Filipino equivalent to James Browns' "I'm Black and I'm Proud."
You’re Filipino, shout it out c’mmon! If you’re beautiful, shout it out, c’mmon! If your life is valuable, c’mmon!
Filipino! Filipino! Filipino!
Black Eyed Peas is set to release their anxiously awaited "Master Of The Sun" album on Oct. 26 through Interscope Records.
"Master Of The Sun" is their first album in eight years, the songs on this political album are
inspired by the social climate of the United States. Following is a powerful video for their single "Big Big Love" which takes on some pretty big issues, the Parkland High School shootings, the opioid epidemic and the separation of kids from their families at the border.
There's a warning before the start of video, "It's hard to watch. No kid should have to live through this."Just in time for the Nov. 6 elections.
By the way, the new single features another Filipina singer, Jesica Reynoso, rormer The Voice of the Philippines finalist, who has apparently joined the Black Eyed Peas family.
The celebrities who took part in the newest incarnation of "Where Is The Love."
IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES, we all try to do what we can to fight the rising ugliness of racism, mysogeny and hate: Writers write, organizers organize, marchers march, speakers speak and singers sing. The Black Eyed Peas updated their video and lyrics to "Where's The Love" to make it more relevant to the times we are currently undergoing. Besides Filipino/American Apl.de.Ap, it featured a score of celebrities from the entertainment world including Hawaii-born Nicole Scherzinger, who is part Filipina.
***
THE WOMEN'S MARCH held Jan. 21 inspired singer/songwriter MILCK, aka Connie Lim, who wrote a song "Quiet," that has become the unofficial anthem of The March.
Samantha Bee, host of Full Frontal, saw a lot of things that inspired and gave her hope, but one thing stood out: the #ICANTKEEPQUIET Choir of DC, a group of women who spent the weekend doing flash mob-style performances around the city on the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, surprising unsuspecting strangers with their soul-stirring a cappella empowerment anthem, "Quiet." She brought the women onto her show to perform the moving song. (Go to the 4:25 mark to hear the song.)
"The words of violence towards women ... about grabbing the pussy ... brought up a lot of issues for my friend, who was abused," Lim told Billboard. "She got really traumatized, she couldn't leave her house and when I was writing with her she shared her emotions with me. I said, 'Holy crap, this is not casual words to fly around. We need to step up and protect people and make them feel safe and loved again.' And then the Women's March became this beacon of light and hope, something for us to do that was positive."
EDITOR'S NOTE. If you found this interesting, for additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.
