Nievera was born on February 5, 1962, in Manila, Philippines with twin sister, Victoria, to Bert Nievera and Conchita Razon. Nievera spent most of his childhood in Hawaii with his father as his father sang for the group Society of Seven. The Nievera family also took up residence in the Bay Area in California for a short time in the late '70s. Martin attended high school in Walnut Creek, California.
Inspired by his father's talent and success, Nievera returned to the Philippines in 1982 to begin his own singing career and by June 1982 he released his first LP, Martin...Take One, with the album reaching platinum in just five months.[citation needed] Nievera began co-hosting the TV variety show Penthouse Live! with Pops Fernandez, the Philippines' "Concert Queen," who would later become his wife. Nievera's second LP, 1984's The Best Gift, also reached platinum. In 1987, Penthouse Live! was changed to Martin and Pops Twogether, in celebration of their marriage. After his marriage to Fernandez, with whom he has two sons, Ram and Robin, failed in 1998, he wrote and recorded music for the sole purpose of winning her back, which he called Forever. Even though he did not succeed, the music ended up in the hands of the public and rose to become a best-selling music collection. The two sequels, Forever Forever and Return to Forever are also about the split. Both of these albums hit platinum sales as well.
In 2001, he plagiarized "We Just Don't Know How To Say Goodbye" by Diane Warren and included it as "To Say Goodbye" in his "My Souvenirs" album compilation, which was later pulled out of the market for copyright violation lawsuit.[1]
As an actor, Nievera has an extensive acting career and has appeared or starred in eleven movies and seven television series and specials. Nievera's film credits include dramas, romance, science fiction, comedy and action.
Nievera is temporarily based in Las Vegas, Nevada with Katrina Ojeda with whom he has a son named Santino (born October 7, 2006). He had his 25th anniversary concert on September 14 and 15, 2007 at the Captain's Bar of the Mandarin Hotel in Makati.
He appeared with Hawaii's Society of Seven and Lani Misalucha at the Flamingo Las Vegas from February 13 through April 13, 2008. He performed a pre-Valentine/post-birthday concert with Pops Fernandez titled "Missing You" on February 6, 2009, at the Araneta Coliseum. Martin is also currently co-hosting the weekly music show called ASAP' 09.
On May 2, 2009, Nievera was chosen to sing the Philippine national anthem during the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Although he was criticized by the National Historical Institute because of his peculiar style in performing the anthem, many of those who watched the event, including Pacquiao, defended him.
In August 2009, Martin Nievera has a concert together with Gary Valenciano for the first time in "As 1". They also both have a new album in one collaboration album.
On September 2009, Nievera suffered Dehydration after his concert on September 19, and his best friend, Gary Valenciano worried about his buddy's condition. The following day, Martin was discharged from the Hospital.
Unchained Melody
Martin Nievera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To open arms of the sea yeah
Lonely river sigh wait for me, wait for me
I'll be coming home wait for me.
Oh, my, love, my darling I've hungered for
Your touch, a long lonely time
And time goes by, so slowly and time
I need your love,
I oh I need your love,
God speed your love to me.
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms the sea yeah
Lonely river sigh wait for me, wait for me
I'll be comin' home wait for me.
Oh my love my darling
I've hungered, hungered for your touch, a long lonely time
And time goes by so slowly and time can do so much are you still mine
I need your love
I oh I need your love
God speed your love to me
The lyrics to Martin Nievera's rendition of Unchained Melody are a testament to the pain and loneliness of separation from a loved one. The song starts with the metaphor of lonely rivers flowing into the sea, representing the loneliness and solitude that one feels when separated from their love. The open arms of the sea act as a symbol of the hope of being reunited with the person one loves. In the next line, the river sighs, conveying the sadness and yearning of the singer who pleads with their lover to wait for them, promising to come home soon.
The chorus is undoubtedly the most recognizable part of the song, featuring the iconic phrase "Oh, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch a long lonely time." This line signifies the desperation and longing that the singer is experiencing. The slow pace of time is highlighted in the next lines, emphasizing the unbearable nature of the wait. The singer asks if their love is still theirs, signifying the insecurities that arise when separated from a loved one. The song ends with the plea to God to speed their love to them, highlighting the helplessness of the singer, who is at the mercy of fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
Rivers without companions flow into the sea
To open arms of the sea yeah
The embrace of the sea awaits them
Lonely river sigh wait for me, wait for me
The river yearns for someone to wait for its return
I'll be coming home wait for me.
Someone promises to return soon and wants the river to wait for them
Oh, my, love, my darling I've hungered for
Addressing a loved one, expressing longing
Your touch, a long lonely time
Desire to feel the touch of one's beloved who's been gone for a while
And time goes by, so slowly and time
Time seems to move at a snail's pace
Can do so much, are you still mine
Questioning if their beloved is still theirs
I need your love,
Expressing the need to be loved
I oh I need your love,
Emphasizing the intensity of the need for love
God speed your love to me.
Asking for blessings to have their love returned to them
Writer(s): A. NORTH, H. ZARET
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.