IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Nora Aunor, a girl who touched many hearts with her voice (2025)

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Nora Aunor walks on the red carpet as she arrives for the screening of “Sinapupunan (Thy Womb)” during the 69th Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2012 at Venice Lido. Image: TIZIANA FABI/AFP

Before she became the Superstar of the nation, Nora Aunor found joy in music. Multiple tributes spoke of Aunor’s love for breaking into a tune, even when she was still a barrio lass in Iriga.

Her melodic voice didn’t go unnoticed, which led her to learn her first song, “The Way of a Clown,” with the help of her grandmother Theresa. Meanwhile, her aunt Belen was particular in teaching her the importance of diction, expression, and emotion in performing.

Learning songs gave Aunor the confidence to pursue a singing career, starting from amateur singing competitions until she landed winning spots at the “Darigold Jamboree” and “The Liberty Big Show.” Her first attempt at “Tawag ng Tanghalan” didn’t turn out the way she planned, but she took it as a driving force to win at her second try in 1967.

While she eventually lost her voice after a botched surgery in Japan, singing was the stepping stone to her prolific career. It was also her “greatest love,” and being unable to sing was one of her biggest heartbreaks.

“Ang pinakalove ko talaga ‘yung pag-awit kasi kung hindi dahil sa pagkanta ay hindi ako makakatulong sa pamilya at hindi rin ako makikilala ng mga tao, kaya nung masira ang boses ko, sinira nila eh, para bang sinadya. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ako nakakakanta,” she told Maricel Soriano in an August 2024 interview.

(What I love the most is singing. If it weren’t for my singing, I wouldn’t be able to help my family, and I wouldn’t be known by the public. This is why, when my singing voice was ruined, it was as if it was ruined on purpose. Until now, I still couldn’t sing.)

Despite this, Aunor’s golden voice continues to touch many generations. Many of her dedicated fans would still recall her music with fond smiles, while others never missed a tune or a lyric if the opportunity to sing her songs was presented to them.

‘Superstar Ng Buhay Ko’

Originally performed by the band Cinderella in the 1970s (dubbed as one of the pillars of Manila sound), “Superstar Ng Buhay Ko” is arguably the song most attached to Aunor’s name. The decision to let Aunor give her own rendition of the Cinderella hit was made by the composer-producer Sunny Ilacad in what seemed to be a fitting ode to her “Superstar” title.

“Superstar Ng Buhay Ko” was eventually included in her 1975 album “Noon at Ngayon,” allowing her sweet and expressive voice to shine, particularly in the lines, “Ikaw ang superstar / Ang star ng buhay ko / Mahirap ma-inlab / Sa isang katulad mo.” It remains one of Aunor’s greatest hits.

‘Yesterday, When I Was Young’

The story of “Yesterday, When I Was Young” can be traced back to 1964, originally released in French as “Hier encore.” The Georges Garvarentz and Charles Aznavour-helmed track was eventually translated into English, Japanese, Spanish, Greek, and Czech—with many international artists giving their own renditions, including Aunor.

Aunor interpreted the song as a tribute to how youth is fleeting, which earned its way into her “Nora Aunor Greatest Hits Volume 2” album.

‘The Song of My Life’

A seeming mirror of Aunor’s fulfilled life, the Jeannot, Harvel, Fischman-helmed “The Song of My Life” is the lead single of her 1971 album of the same name. The album, along with the song’s message, is crafted to capture her “simple sincerity” as a performer.

‘Torn Between Two Lovers’

“Torn Between Two Lovers” is another example of Aunor taking an original track (written by the late singer-songwriter Peter Yarrow in the 1970s) and allowing her sweet voice to glide across its melody, no matter how happy and painful the lyrics are.

The song, which portrays the agony of “breaking all the rules” with two lovers, is a refreshing shift from Aunor’s usual happy love- and reflective-centered tracks. Apart from her melodic voice, it also displayed her clear diction as each word was handled with such care.

‘Lollipops and Roses’ with Cocoy Laurel

Aunor’s partnership with Victor “Cocoy” Laurel is well-loved for many reasons, including their effortless ability to connect through music. One of the songs that showcased their long-lasting friendship is “Lollipops and Roses,” where each of them had their own renditions of portraying courtship through song.

Originally composed by Tony Velona in the 1960s, the track gained a cult following in the Philippines, thanks to Aunor and Laurel’s heartfelt interpretation in multiple events. It was also the inspiration for their 1971 film of the same name and its sequel, “Lollipops and Roses at Burong Talangka”, four years later.

‘Handog’

The bittersweet message of “Handog,” originally performed by singer-songwriter Florante, has propelled the track into a familiar fixture in Filipino homes, particularly those of adults and senior citizens. While it gave birth to several renditions and soundtrack featurettes through the years, it has also been one of the tracks that Aunor seemed to enjoy singing, including her tearful performance in an episode of her music variety show “Superstar.”

‘Kahit Konting Awa’

In recent years, many Gen-Zs are familiar with the lines “Sinong mapalad / Sino ang kaawa-awa / Kami bang halos ang buhay ay inialay sa bansa” due to the popular meme on TikTok, which portrays the hardships of everyday Filipinos.

But these lyrics, which came from this particular song, have long been a reflection of Flor Contemplacion’s hardships in the 1995 film “The Flor Contemplacion Story.” A theme song of the Joel Lamangan-helmed tale, it mirrors the tragic tale of a Filipino domestic worker who was sentenced to death in Singapore. “Kahit Konting Awa” has been a constant part of Aunor’s repertoire, and it also showed the screen veteran showcasing a powerful yet vulnerable side to her voice.