“Collab na lang, wala na showdown-showdown,” said multi-awarded performer Jed Madela, cutting in the bud any possibility of a showdown with SB19’s Stell Ajero, who stunned Araneta at the recent “David Foster & Friends” Manila show.
Jed was asked to react to comments comparing Stell’s performance of “All By Myself” to his own at a recent press conference at Tipsy Pig for his “Welcome to My World” birthday show on July 5 at the Music Museum.
The powerhouse performer was generous with his praise for Stell. “I watched his performance at the David Foster concert, ang galing. I watched his performance, I think he guested at Erik Santos’ concert in the US, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan kasi he’s very good. As long as he sticks to his core. Tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan,” said Jed.
The Voice of Asia and WCOPA overall champion nixed the suggestion of a showdown with Stell and instead proposed a collaboration. A rivalry, he said, would only result in division and negativity.
“It’s just so funny we have this tendency of pitting artists against each other, sinong mas magaling, sinong mas mataas ang boses, sinong mas pogi, sinong mas payat, it all ends up with everybody fighting,” stated Jed. “If it’s a collaboration for something beautiful, and everybody will enjoy. The fans of Stell will enjoy, the fans of Jed will enjoy. Mas masaya kesa ah, mas magaling si Jed sa part na yun, mas magaling si Stell. It’s going to be a negative effect sa fans, mag-aaway-away. Ako, as much as possible, I just want everybody to be at peace. Mag enjoy tayo. At the end of the day, ‘yung bashing at pag-aaway, wala ring pupuntahan. May masasaktan lang. Collaboration would be good.”
This might just be one aspect fans may not know about Jed – that he is open to collaborations and all other possibilities that may be presented to him at this stage in his career – not just acting but dance as well.
“I’m with Star Magic pa din ‘di ba, and Direk Lauren, we spoke. Sabi ko sa kanya, Direk Lauren, ano pa bang nakikita mo sakin na kaya kong gawin? I’m open to whatever projects Direk Lauren thinks are suitable for me,” related Jed.
In his over two decades in show business, Jed has had a string of successful concerts. His first solo show took place at the Araneta Coliseum in 2018. In 2020, he headlined an exclusive online digital concert called “New Normal.” Last December 2023, he celebrated two decades of musical brilliance with “Here & Now.” “Welcome to My World” on July 5 at the Music Museum is set to mark his 47th birthday.
“‘Welcome to My World’ is going to be a general story of what I’ve been through in the past 20 years and what I am going through at this specific moment, and kung ano pa ‘yung plans ko in the near future,” Jed said. “The concert ‘Welcome to My World’ is an extra special concert, kasi kung hands-on ako sa mga past concerts ko, itong concert na ‘to, pati feet on,” he added in jest.
Next for Jed is a series of international shows. He is set to conquer audiences abroad with shows on July 12 at Sheraton Laguardia East Hotel Flushing in New York and July 27 at Sheraton Laguardia East Hotel in Hollywood. He will then be back in his hometown on September 21 for a show at the Iloilo Convention Center. — (GFCT)
