"Mr. DJ" is a song written by Filipino composer Rey Valera and recorded by Sharon Cuneta in 1978, when she was 12 years old. The single was produced by Spanky Rigor of VST & Company. It became Cuneta's first and one of her biggest hits. The song drove her rise to stardom; she became an actress and was soon labelled as "The Megastar" in Philippine showbiz.^[1]

Song history

Tito Sotto, who was the vice president of Vicor Music Corporation at that time and Cuneta's uncle, called upon Valera to write a song about disc jockeys;^[2] Sotto suggested that the title should be "Mr. DJ". Valera, who began a recording career as a member of Electric Hair Band, went solo and became a songwriter for other artists including Rico J. Puno before he found success on his solo career. Cuneta had already released her debut single Tawag ng Pag-Ibig ("Call of Love") and the song played on nationwide radio. Sotto however, was not satisfied with that.^[3]

In an interview on the Philippine morning talk show Magandang Buhay ("Beautiful Life"), Valera recalls writing the song while riding a jeepney (usually from Monumento to his home in Meycauayan), and in a cemetery. He found it challenging since he could not figure out what kind song would be fitting for Cuneta, as she was too young to be taken seriously with a love song, and a bit too old to be given a nursery rhyme.

Cover versions

• Joey de Leon (titled "Ang Mister Kong DJ")
• Regine Velasquez
• Kathryn Bernardo
• Madfish, Mga Himig Natin vol. 2 (1995, Viva/Neo Records)

References