Ledesma's career in music began when she joined the Lastiko band (formerly known as Ensalada band) in Bacolod while she was still a Nursing student at Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod. Ledesma and her bandmates Toto Gentica and Jet Montelibano later went to Manila to form the Music & Magic band which became pivotal for her career. She later received the lead role in the pop ballet Rama Hari by Alice Reyes. She eventually went solo with Dito Ba?, Ledesma's first hit song.
In the 1980s, Ledesma has performed during solo concerts at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Araneta Coliseum, PICC and the Philippine Folk Arts Theater.[1]
In 1982, Ledesma launched an all-Filipino concert, Ako ay Pilipino (I am a Filipino) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines that featured a repertoire of ethnic sounds, classic kundimans and beautiful pop songs, tapping into the rich node of indigenous art and contemporary pop music to produce alternative approaches to songs. Her show eventually became a television special followed by two albums. This was immediately followed by another production at the CCP, Inspired Madness in 1983, which was created in collaboration with Philippine film director Peque Gallaga and musical director Ryan Cayabyab.
During the political ambience of the 1980s, Ledesma paid tribute to Ninoy Aquino at the end of one of her shows at the CCP by singing her a cappella rendition of Impossible Dream and You'll Never Walk Alone (Hindi Ka Nagiisa). From 1984 to 1986, Ledesma joined the Apo Hiking Society in Ang Pinoy Nga Naman (1, 2, and 3) at the Folk Arts Theater.
In March 1989, Kuh Ledesma was chosen as the first Philippine singer to be the recipient of the Salem Music Awards after competing against other top singers from Asia at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In the 1990s, Ledesma had a series of concerts with foreign artists Noel Pointer, Jack Jones, Kenny Rankin, The Platters and Michel Legrand followed by other concerts with popular Philippine song artists such as Regine Velasquez (U.S. tour, 1999), Pops Fernandez and Jaya (Power of Two, 1999). After Ledesma's four-night concert with the jazz violinist, Noel Pointer, she released the album, The Voice, The Violin. Ledesma was also one of the judges in the coronation night of the Miss Universe 1991. In February 1994, Ledesma had the Two of Hearts concert with balladeer Jack Jones. During 1995's Valentine's season, she performed with Kenny Rankin. Ledesma started the new millennium in a Valentine show with The Platters. In 2002, Ledesma had Valentine presentation with Michel Legrand.
Ledesma has her own production company Headline Concepts and built concert venues such as the Music Museum (a combined theater-restaurant built in 1988 at Greenhills, Manila) and the Republic of Malate. The Republic of Malate is a facility located along Mabini Street in Manila, which houses a restaurant, a bar, a watering hole, a game room, a tobacco area a dance club and a theater. However, The Republic of Malate was destroyed by a fire in November 2001. Ledesma has plans of rebuilding the facility.
Kuh Ledesma had a regular monthly television special called Akuhstic Café which is a musical travelogue that presented viewers the urban night life of Metro Manila by visiting clubs, lounges and concerts. Akuhstic Café was a grand finalist in the Asian Television Awards in Singapore for best musical program.
In April 1997, Ledesma became the featured artist of the ‘’Muling Aawit ang Pasig’’, a benefit concert of former Philippine First Lady Ming Ramos for the restoration of the Pasig River.
In 1998, the centennial year of Philippine Independence, after producing a Valentine concert at Fort Santiago, Manila, Ledesma was commissioned by the National Centennial Commission to stage a three-night centennial concert of the year, Lahi…Kami ang Pilipino which was held the Expo Center at the former Clark Airforce Base.
Ledesma also owns Bravo Records, a music recording studio. Ledesma is known for building careers of new talented singers.
Ledesma celebrated her 25th year in the music industry by holding a series of shows at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Manila (Kuh Ledesma Presents). Ledesma has a goal of publishing a book of photographs to chronicle her career.
Kuh Ledesma is also a member of the Artista Para Sa Pagbabago (Artists for Change), an organization of artists, environmentalists and businessmen. She was also the president of the Restaurant Owners Association of Malate.
During the 2001 Philippine national elections, Ledesma was chosen by the PINATUBO (Pinag-isang Lakas Tungo sa Pagbabago) Party as a first nominee for congress. The PINATUBO Party is a far-right party in the Philippines.
Overjoyed
Kuh Ledesma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My castle of love
Just for two, though you never
Knew you were my reason
I've gone much too far for you
Now to say
That I've got to throw my
Castle away
Over dreams, I have picked out
A perfect come true
Though you never knew it was
Of you I've been dreaming
The sandman has come from
Too far away
For you to say come back some
Other day
And though you don't believe
That they do
They do come true
For did my dreams
Come true when I looked at you
And maybe too, if you
Would believe
You too might be
Overjoyed, over loved, over me
Over hearts, I have painfully
Turned every stone
Just to find, I had found what
I've searched to discover
I've come much too far for me
Now to find
The love that I sought can never
Be mine
And though you don't believe
That they do
They do come true
For did my dreams
Come true when I looked at you
And maybe too, if you
Would believe
You too might be
Overjoyed, over loved, over me
And though the odds
Say improbable
What do they know
For in romance
All true love needs is a chance
And maybe with a chance you
Will find
You too like I
Overjoyed, over loved, over
You, over you
The song "Overjoyed" by Kuh Ledesma is a ballad that tells a story of unrequited love. In the first stanza, the singer describes how they built a castle of love for two, with the intention of sharing it with the person they love. However, the person was not aware of the singer's feelings toward them, and now the singer has gone too far to turn back without throwing their "castle" away. This demonstrates the singer's deep longing and commitment towards the person they love, despite the lack of reciprocation.
In the second stanza, the singer talks about how they have dreamed of the perfect love for a long time, but the "sandman" has come too far away for the person they love to ever return. This shows how the singer is struggling to grapple with the reality of their unrequited love, and how the person they have feelings for is unable to return them. The third stanza further emphasizes the pain that the singer has gone through in their pursuit of love, as they have turned every stone in search of the love they seek, only to realize that it can never be theirs.
However, the chorus provides a glimmer of hope and possibility, suggesting that dreams can come true. The singer looks to the person they love as the reason for their dreams coming true, and suggests that if the person would believe, they too might experience the same overflowing joy and love, just as the singer has.
Overall, the song explores the pain of unrequited love and the hope that still persists despite the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Over time, I've been building
Throughout time, I have been constructing
My castle of love
A metaphorical fortress of affection
Just for two, though you never
Only meant for a pair, even though you were unaware
Knew you were my reason
Understood that you were my motivation
I've gone much too far for you
I have done too much for you
Now to say
It is now time to express
That I've got to throw my
I must abandon my
Castle away
Symbolic fortress of love must be destroyed
Over dreams, I have picked out
In my visions, I have selected
A perfect come true
A flawless realization
Though you never knew it was
Even though you were never aware that it involved you
Of you I've been dreaming
I have envisioned you
The sandman has come from
A hypothetical character who induces sleep has arrived from a faraway land
Too far away
Too distant
For you to say come back some
You are unable to request a return on a specific day
Other day
A different day
And though you don't believe
Despite your disbelief
That they do
The concept is that acts can
They do come true
Inevitably come to fruition
For did my dreams
Because my dreams
Come true when I looked at you
Occurred because of you
And maybe too, if you
Possibly also, if you
Would believe
Choose to have faith
You too might be
It is also possible that you are
Overjoyed, over loved, over me
Ecstatic, cherished and devoted to me
Over hearts, I have painfully
I have agonizingly scrutinized hearts
Turned every stone
Investigated every option
Just to find, I had found what
Only to realize that I had discovered what
I've searched to discover
I was actively seeking
I've come much too far for me
I have journeyed too long for myself
Now to find
Only to discover
The love that I sought can never
The love that I pursued can never
Be mine
Belongs to me
And though the odds
Despite the possibility
Say improbable
Are unlikely
What do they know
What do the odds really know
For in romance
Because in love
All true love needs is a chance
Pure love only needs an opportunity
And maybe with a chance you
Possibly, if you took a chance, you
Will find
Will discover
You too like I
You also, like me
Overjoyed, over loved, over
Ecstatic, cherished, suitably matched
You, over you
They are speaking directly to you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind