“I’m blown away at how Michael has been able to keep his voice and tone so timeless, amazing,” is what a top commenter had to say after hearing 66-year-old Michael Bolton bring the house down in Manila. The crooner teamed up with Filipina R&B star Jona to sing “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You”, and you better believe the magic was still there! When he sang the opening line, the ecstatic reaction from Jona and the crowd said it all. That smoky voice and the emotional power with which he sings is so moving.
Jona also brought the goods to elevate the performance. The Mariah Carey of the Philippines delivered such a passionate vocal that really made the breakup anthem pop. Her lithe high range blended so deliciously with Michael’s husky low range. The Music Man has to say that the fact Jona was so clearly living out her childhood dreams singing with the great Michael Bolton made the performance extra special. She really wore her heart on her sleeve throughout the performance, and it was so sweet.
Jona uploaded her duet with Michael to her YouTube channel. It drew 4.9 million views and became her most popular live performance on the platform. Fans were loving the duet and added comments such as “He’s not singing, he’s telling a story with emotions. Such great singer” and “He is older now, but still sings with the voice of Michael Bolton in his younger days. Love his music!”
The Music Man’s favorite Michael Bolton duet came when he sang “When a Man Loves a Woman” at the Hitman Returns: David Foster & Friends concert in 2010. He sang killer studio-quality vocals here in a single take in front of a live audience – absolute peak Michael Bolton. The performance was spiced up by a surprise appearance mid-song from Seal. The pair then transitioned into “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” and their duet was total fire. Talk about a stacked vocal lineup!
Michael Bolton’s career would have looked very different if not for “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.” He penned the song in 1982 with Doug James. At this point, Michael was a small-time artist. The pair pitched the song to be recorded by Aussie soft rock duo Air Supply. Air Supply’s label, Arista, requested to change the chorus lyrics. In a fateful decision, Michael refused to accept the change, and the label then rejected the song. “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” was subsequently first recorded (with the original lyrics) by Laura Branigan. She scored a US number 13 hit with her version. Michael later recorded his version for his 1989 album Soul Provider. The song went to number one in the US, becoming his breakout hit and launching his career as a major commercial force in pop.
