Christian Bautista collaborates with Indonesian singer-songwriter Raisa to create his single 'Rainbow'—a revival of the original version of the song by South Border. The track marks the first single he has released under Sony Music Entertainment.
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When asked about the inspiration and process behind partnering with Raisa to create the song, Christian details, “‘Rainbow’ is one of those songs that’s always stayed with me. It resonates deeply, not just in the Philippines, but also in Indonesia. Working on it with Raisa gave it new energy and meaning, and it felt right to share it in this way now.”
Raisa shared a similar sentiment behind her choice to collaborate on the track as she shared, “Simply because I love this song—I grew up with this song—and I didn't even know at first that it was a Filipino artist who sang it! When I found out, I was surprised. It has such a special meaning—not just about love but about life. It’s a reassurance of rainbow after the rain. It’s something people can relate to and carry with them every day.”
The track has a laid-back jazzy tone accompanied by it's inspiring and uplifting message that is captured through the lyrics such as "That no matter what happens, life goes on and on" and, "Take a little time baby, see the butterfly's colours"—driving home the impactful message of always staying calm in the face of adversity and giving yourself a break and appreciating life even when the going gets tough.
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The power-packed partnership between Christian and Raisa for this song was made possible when they met coincidentally on a 13-city ASEAN concert in Japan, where they shared the stage as fellow performers.
Bautista recalls, “We got along very well as friends and as performers during that time. It became a natural idea for us to want to collaborate. We talked about the songs we both loved, and ‘Rainbow’ stood out for both of us. That’s when everything started to fall into place. It wasn’t just the melody, its message of hope, comfort, and being there for someone through life’s storms really resonated with both of us.”
Raisa expressed her views on the collaboration and how it came about saying, “Christian is already so big in Indonesia—I grew up listening to him,” Raisa adds. “He's such a great balladeer and vocalist. We finally got to spend time together on that Japan tour. What I admire most is his musicality and his beautiful personality. When the idea to collaborate came up, of course, I said yes.”
Being Asia's Romantic Balladeer, Christian has long held a strong presence in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia, which led him to grow his devoted fanbase through his spectacular live shows and amazing music throughout his career.
Raisa is an acclaimed Indonesian singer-songwriter, known best for her soulful voice and elegant artistry that have made her a standout in the region’s music scene. Her ability to beautifully weave her emotional richness and pop sensibilities together is what has garnered her millions of streams and adoring fans.
Being musical powerhouses in their respective regions, their collaboration has been one that is highly anticipated by their fans.
“This has been a long-awaited collaboration for many of our fans across the region,” shares Bautista. “We’ve both heard from listeners in the Philippines and Indonesia who’ve been hoping for this moment, so it feels incredibly special—not just for us, but for everyone who’s supported our music. We're truly grateful to Sony Music for helping bring it to life.”
The track perfectly depicts the musical chemistry between Christian and Raisa, with their powerful voices breathing life into the lyrics of the track.
Raisa explains the creative process behind the track and the decisions that went into creating it by saying, “With a timeless song like this, you really shouldn't do too much. We kept the arrangement close to the original but adjusted it to fit a male-female duet—some key changes, harmonies, and little details. Every step of the way, we made sure we honored the song. It's such a huge song from the Philippines—we just wanted to do it justice.”
Sticking closely to the original arrangement of the song while infusing contemporary notes and the cross-cultural elements was no easy feat.
The track was conceptualised and created with a collaborative team of both Filipino and Indonesian producers and arrangers, each attuned to the musical sensibilities of their cultures. The duet was crafted to resonate widely without losing its emotional core.
The duo explained that their biggest hurdle was time. They explained that although they did record the track together, they were unable to finish it together due to scheduling conflicts, which led to them having to record selected parts separately. Although they did so, the original chemistry and sonic connection between the pair never falters throughout the track.
As for what's next, Christian teases an upcoming music video to accompany the track, as well as joint performances where the duo will sing together, strengthening the musical bridge between the Philippines and Indonesia.
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