A Pinoy artist has done cover of Bruno Mars’ hit song “Versace on the Floor,” and it has gone viral. Just after a day or two after posting, it has had over 1M views and around 24,000 shares on Facebook. Pilipinas Popcorn got a chance to speak with the singer on the video via Facebook chat, and what you’re about to read is just proof that fun plus great talent equals fame for the right reasons. Pilipinas, meet Rafael Sudayan.
Rafael Sudayan, Talented Theater Actor, Teacher and many more
Rafael Sudayan first and foremost is an artist. He is a theater actor from Caloocan and was actually part of the theatrical play “Rak of Aegis” which hit the stage of The PETA Theater Center in June to August last year. Rafael also appeared in some TV shows like “On The Wings Of Love” starring James Reid and Nadine Lustre in 2015. He played the role of Kiko, one of James Reid’s crony and ‘side kick.’
Rafael also did commercials and is a voice talent for Radio and TV commercials. If not performing for stage plays, he teaches at the Philippine Educational Theater Association. Now that we know more about who the singer in the viral video is, here’s what he had to say about singing, the viral “Versace on the Floor” cover video, and what he plans to do with this overnight “fame.”
Do you usually sing for events? Or have you joined any singing competitions before?
“I’m really a theater actor. So I’m quite used to performing na…Pero sa singing eh this year lang ako nag start sa mga gigs. sa mga competition naman, hate ko sumasali dun.
Kasi i really love singing and sobra akong nag eenjoy sa pagkanta and kapag nasa contest na nawawala na yun dahil sa pressure and dala na din ng kaba.”
We noticed the video was taken at a wedding, are you friends with the bride and groom or were you hired/requested to sing?
“Yes friends ko sila. Gift namin ng isa ko ding friend na singer sa kanila yun.
We promised na we’ll do a set sa after party ng wedding nila. And yung video na yun ay sound check palang siya talaga. Parang katuwan lang dahil wala pang tao. Kaya kahit hindi maabot kami kami lang ang makakakita.
Pero nirequest din siya nung groom during the actual gig kaso walang nakapag video ng full version kaya yung na sa Facebook ay yung soundcheck version lang.”
Who shot and posted the video online?
“The original video that i posted talaga sa IG is 14 seconds lang. Kasi nga walang nakapag video. Then I shared it sa Facebook and luckily may isa akong friend na nakapag video nung mas mahabang version. So I asked for it and ayun posted it and after ilang days mayroon na siyang 1 million views. So thank you sa friend ko! You’re the real hero! Hahaha”
Did you have any idea that your ‘Versace On the Floor’ cover video would go viral?
“Actually, pinost ko lang yun just for fun. Para lang sa mga friends and family. Kahit nga pag tag sa mga friends ko wala eh. Low quality pa nga ang video nun kaya nagulat nalang ako na a page reposted na my song. Tapos yung page pala na yun ay mayroong more than a million subscribers.
Natawa nalang ako na umabot ng 1m views. Natawa kasi naisip ko me pumatol sa kalokohan ko. Haha”
What did you feel when you saw your video has gone viral?
“To be honest ang una kong naisip eh kung may piso ako sa kada view, eh milyonaryo nako hahaha. Pero natuwa ako dahil nagustuhan mga mga tao ang version ko.
Well, hindi ko naman pangarap na sumikat pero sabi ko kung sisikat lang din ako eh doon na sa bagay na pinaka gusto ko, which is singing.And ayun nga i’m also shocked kasi ang laki ng 1 milyon.
I never imagined myself na magiging part ako ng isang trending na video. Pero i’m happy kasi nababasa ko sa mga comments na may mga naiinspire sa pagkanta ko. And doon lang din ako nagsimula as a performer. Nakapapanood lang din ako ng palabas and sabi ko sa sarili ko “kaya ko din yan”.”
Do you plan to put up your own Facebook or YouTube page?
“Actually, plan ko na talaga na gumawa ng YouTube channel para mag cover ng songs and isa talaga yung “Versace on the floor” sa mga naka line up. Pero ayun naunahan na ako ng di ineexpect. Pero because of that mas lalo akong ginanahan dahil sa feedback ng mga tao. So anytime soon i’ll start na para dun sa page kaya abangan! Hahaha”