Jojo Mendrez, known as Revival King for breathing new life into classic hits, has once again stirred hearts with his rendition of “Somewhere in My Past.”

Originally sung by the beloved late actress Julie Vega, this iconic song has been given a fresh perspective, prompting emotional responses from some of the Philippines’ most celebrated figures.

@randomrepublika LOOK: Singer and producer #JojoMendrez revived the late #JulieVega’s song #SomewhereInMyPast 🎧 #StarMusic #MusicPH ♬ original sound – randomrepublika

Superstar Nora Aunor

National Artist Nora Aunor, who shared the screen with Julie Vega in the 1979 film Anak ng Atsay, was visibly moved by the preview. “Ay nako, nakakaiyak naman. Naiiyak ako,” she shared, wiping away tears. “Ay nako, sabi ko na nga ba eh. Napakagaling talaga. Iba ang interpretasyon talaga ni Jojo kapag umawit po ng isang awitin.”

Photo courtesy of Nora Aunor fan page on Facebook

Aunor, a legend in her own right, praised Mendrez’s ability to connect with the song on a deep level. “Mararamdaman niyo po ‘yung kaniyang pagkanta na nanggagaling po sa puso. Iba po talaga ‘yun,” she emphasized. The song clearly evoked powerful memories for Aunor, who reflected on her own journey as a singer. “Hindi ko mapigilan ang damdamin ko kapag nakakarinig ako ng mga tulad ni Jojo na napakagaling kumanta,” she confessed. “Naramdaman ko eh. Iba ang pakiramdam kapag nararamdaman mo talaga ang pag-awit ng isang mang-aawit. Maliban doon, siguro dahil naalala ko rin bilang isang singer, diyan din ako nagsimula.”

Snooky Serna

Actress Snooky Serna offered a different perspective on Mendrez’s interpretation. “Nakakarelax ‘yung song! Nakakarelax siya!” she exclaimed. “Contrary to what I was expecting na baka ako maiyak. Kapag pinakikinggan ko ‘yung rendition ni Julie, kapag naririnig ko siya, it kinda makes my heart feel a little bit sad. Pero itong rendition ni Jojo, congrats, Jo, alam mo bang ginawa mo siyang nakakarelax sa tenga. Parang narelax and diwa ko.” Serna concluded with enthusiastic praise: “Congratulations, Jo, you did a great job!”

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Claudine Barretto

Actress Claudine Barretto was also taken by Mendrez’s rendition. “Wow,” she reacted, “Ang ganda! Maganda pala kapag lalaki rin ang nag-remake.” Barretto even sang along at one point, clearly enjoying the new take on the classic. “Ang ganda! Never ko naimagine na kaya i-revive ‘yun. Nakakakilabot every time you hear that song. Mas nakakagulat na lalaki ‘yung kumakanta. And maganda ang pagkakakanta. Tama lang siguro na Revival King siya.” She finished with a warm message for the singer: “Hi, Jojo Mendrez, happy new year sa’yo! I just heard your song, ‘yung pag-revive mo ng Somewhere In My Past. I’m really so happy ngayon ko lang narinig ‘yun na lalaki ang kumanta and you nailed it. More power to you! I hope to meet you someday soon.”

Janice De Belen

Seasoned actress Janice De Belen, who was once a rival of Julie Vega due to their competing shows, Flor de Luna and Annaliza, was transported back in time by Mendrez’s version. “Parang R&B ‘yung version niya. Ang ganda ng areglo!” she commented while singing along. “Nice one, nice one!,” she added. De Belen acknowledged the nostalgia evoked by the song. “Oo naman, nostalgic, siyempre kasi alam ko noong nirelease ang kanta. Naririnig ko siyang kinakanta-kanta niya ‘yan. It was sung by someone close to you at wala na siya dito ngayon. Of course, it’s nostalgic. Pero maganda kasi ang galing, lalaki ‘yung nag-revive. Bakit kaya ‘yun ang naisip niya? Natutuwa ako na nirevive niya ‘yung song ni Julie. I’m sure kung naririnig siya ni Julie, ‘yan matutuwa siya. I like the song…Parang somewhere in my past din narinig ko na ang kantang ‘yan. Ang ganda. Galing niya!” She concluded with well wishes for Mendrez: “Jojo, congratulations, and good luck!”

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A Digital Wave of Appreciation

The excitement surrounding Mendrez’s revival isn’t limited to celebrities. Influencers like Keith Talens and Brenda Mage have taken to social media, sharing the song and creating skits to introduce it to a wider audience. Mendrez himself has been actively engaging fans on his Facebook page, sharing a side-by-side comparison of Julie Vega’s original performance and his own rendition.

In 2021, it was first announced that Jojo Mendrez was chosen to do the revival:

“Somewhere in My Past” will soon be released by Star Music in different online platforms.

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