While The Carpenters in the 1970s and Air Supply for most of the 80s pretty much defined the MOR or middle-of-the-road genre of their respective eras, the same can probably be said of Micheal Learns to Rock.
For most of the 1990s and even during the early 2000s, the soft rock Danish band scored a string of big hits that included “The Actor,” “25 Minutes,” “Out of the Blue,” “Someday” and “Paint My Love.”
Because of their enduring popularity, particularly in Asia, it’s no surprise that the band has frequently performed in the Philippines. Just two years ago, I caught their well-received show at the New Frontier Theater for their Back On Tne Road Tour. This November 5, they’ll perform again at the SM Mall of Asia Arena as part of their Take Us To Your Heart tour of Southeast Asia.
And even though they have more than enough greatest hits to fill an extended concert set list, the band is not through writing and recording new material. To promote MLTR’s new single, “A Life To Remember,” guitarist Mikkel Lentz recently granted an exclusive virtual interview with SoundStrip and looked back at what has certainly been a career to remember. Excerpts:
What do Filipino audiences mean to Michael Learns to Rock?
Oh, they mean loyalty. I mean, the Filipino fans for us, I mean, are loyal, and we’ve been to the Philippines so many times. They were there the first time we were in the Philippines, and they’re still here. So we feel a lot of emotion and gratitude for our Filipino fans, who understand the spirit of Michael Learns to Rock.
They are not just a great crowd. They are also the best singers in the world. When we play in the Philippines, people are very much alive, and they sing along to all the songs. It’s a very festive and vivid atmosphere. In terms of audience response and the way they interact with us onstage, the Philippines is one of the best countries in the world to play in.
Why do you think MLTR’s music and your songs resonate so much with Filipino audiences?
That’s a very, very good question. A lot of people, including ourselves, have wondered about that. I mean, there was never a formula or anything like that. Nothing was planned.
Many people have asked us, why are you famous in the Philippines, in Asia? We say, we don’t know. I mean, we speak Danish, we don’t speak English in Denmark.
I guess it’s because the lyrics are pretty easy to understand. Quite simple, because it’s not our first language. So the way we express ourselves is easy to understand.
And I guess the melodies appeal to people who have a romantic flavor. Our most famous songs in the Philippines are ballads, the slow songs. So we think the Filipinos like us for our romantic songs.
You have a new single called “A Life To Remember.” Would you say this song from the title alone pretty much sums up your life and career?
I guess you can say that. You know, I was a teenager when we started in 1988, I was 19 years old. And now I’m getting old. So yes, it’s about that, about the gratitude of life. When you get older, it’s like you see everything in a different perspective.
Because when you’re young, you want to achieve all your goals. And you’re quite busy going somewhere else and realizing your dreams. But now it’s like we’ve already tried a lot of the things that we dreamed about.
And now, all we really care about are our families, our children, and our friends. So things are a bit more relaxed now. And we feel a lot of gratitude for this.
Because we survived all these years and had a wonderful journey. So now when we’re looking back, it’s like, wow, we feel very privileged to still be here and to look back on all the beautiful things that happened along the way.
Michael Learns To Rock has been around for a long time. Except for a few lineup changes, you guys are still performing and making new music together. What’s your secret?
Good question. I think we’re like brothers. We were very young when we met.
So we’ve been through this 40-year-long journey, almost four years together. And that is very precious. It’s like having family and brothers, and good friends.
And also, so no matter what, I guess we will always be friends like that. But also, I mean, our fans keep us together. Because we, I mean, we’re family guys.
Normally, we just stay home with our families. But when we meet, it’s always because we are going to play music for our fans. Without the fans, I don’t think we would see each other very often. The fans are the glue that keeps us together.
Over the years, you’ve created and released a lot of music. Do you have your own particular favorites among your songs?
I really like “Someday,” it’s a really beautiful song. I also like “Love Will Never Lie,” and “Renovate My Life.” I think they’re beautiful songs.
For me, “The Actor” is also a favorite, because that’s the song that started everything. And we were very young when we did that. And it was very real. I mean, we did not have a car. And I did not even have a girlfriend back then. That song kind of opened everything and is a big reason for our success.
