Zendee Tenerefe: Random Girl no more
Three years after a video that shows her singing at a mall went viral, Zendee
Tenerefe, more known as “Random Girl,” continues to work hard for her dream as singer.
Three years after a video that shows her singing at a mall went viral, Zendee Tenerefe, more known as “Random Girl,” continues to work hard for her dream as singer.
From singing in karaokes in General Santos City, Zendee landed a guest appearance on American TV show “Ellen DeGeneres” that paved the way for her to have more opportunities here and abroad. Zendee then became part of several TV shows, including “Party Pilipinas” and “Show Me the Money;” and she also held several shows in Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and the US.
“May mga shows po ako na out of the country pero hindi po nababalita,” she
said. “Nagcompete ako sa Japan, nakalaban ko ’yung original singer ng Japanese song (na na-assign sa’kin).”
She elaborated, “Parang karaoke, special edition ng show nila, so parang siya ’yung Regine Velasquez nila. So kakantahin namin iyon sa videoke, dapat matalo namin (’yung singer),” Zendee said in an interview. “Ako po ’yung
nanalo.”
The singer is now an MCA Music artist. She has released her newest album simply titled “Z.” The first promotional song off it is “Run Wild.” “Siyempre nakaka-proud to be
part of MCA kasi ang daming kilalang international and local artists under that label,” Zendee said.
She personally selected the songs in her album. “Uso po ngayon ’yung mga emo, so kaya ko napili ’yung mga songs na iyon kasi tagos (sila sa puso). Minsan nga, iniiyakan ko pa yung mga lyrics ng kanta ko, kahit hindi ako maka-relate (talaga dahil ’di ko naman na-experience pa ang sinasabi ng mga kanta),” she joked. Zendee started singing at an early age. Her love and talent for music was influenced by her parents, who are both singers. She loves singing in karaokes and that’s how she was discovered. “Noong pumunta kami sa Megamall, may narinig ako na kumakanta na magaling. So ako dahil
mahilig sumali sa contests, ayaw kong magpatalo. So, nagtaka na lang si Mommy na kumakanta ako sa labas.’ ’Yung nag-video sa akin,
nanonood lang siya,” she said about that fateful viral video.
The 24-year-old singer is really driven and competitive when it comes to achieving her dreams. Now that more talents are being discovered online, Zendee continues to make her presence felt by releasing
covers on social media. “Kapag may bago (na kanta), ginagawan ko na ( agad) siya (ng version
ko). Kasi ’yung
mga followers ko, tipong, ‘Tingnan nga natin kung may bago si Zendee...’” she said.
As a viral star, Zendee is very conscious of her numbers online as she is aware of the attention that these videos get. Her Smule duet of “Flashlight” with international singer Jessy J now has more than five million views.
Zendee hopes to make another appearance on “Ellen” in the future. “Kinakausap ko pa din yung
producer (online) para hindi niya ako makalimutan. ‘Sir, have you watched my new video?’ Yung ‘Flashlight’ pinakita ko iyon sa kanya. Second ako sa pinakamaraming views. Pinopost ko talaga para malamangan ‘yung taga-ibang bansa na nag-post din ng video niya. Sabi ko nga sana kaming dalawa (ang ma-invite sa
‘Ellen’) pero ang ininvite nila ay siya, yung top,” she said. Zendee doesn’t mind reaching out to people in order to achieve her dreams. What many don’t know is that boxing champ and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao helped Zendee graduate from college. Zendee has known Manny since her younger years because she used to sing during his campaigns.
“Doon pa lang po ’yung hindi namin kaya. Scholar ako nung elementary and high school. Sabi ko, ‘Sir Manny, hindi po namin
kaya ’yung college.’ Mahal kasi sa school. Meron siyang scholarship
foundation pero hindi na ako nakapasok kasi puno na. Sabi ni Sir
Manny, ‘Ako ang bahala.’ Pumunta ako sa bahay nila para kunin ’yung allowance,” she said. Manny helped finance her education from second year college. Zendee took Information Technology course. “Iniyakan ko talaga siya (Manny). Sabi nya,‘Gusto mo talagang makapagtapos? Aral ka muna.’ Tapos may show sa GMA, hindi pa ako nadiscover noon. Sabi niya,‘Aral ka muna.’ Tapos sabi niya bibigyan daw niya ako ng trabaho. Noong nadiscover na ako, sinurprise ko siya sa show niya at naging member na ako ng show niya. Close talaga kami noon ni
Sir Manny,” she said.
Zendee is willing to campaign for Manny again.
“Kasi po matagal ko na siyang kilala. Ako ’yung singer niya noong tumatakbo siyang
Congressman. Alam ko na napakabait niyang tao.” (With report from Jojo P. Panaligan)