NOT SHARON'S GREATEST, BUT IT WILL STAY AROUND
by Emman V. Papa, Inquirer News Service, November 18, 2001
Latest album
FINALLY, with her latest album in my
hands, I can now proudly say that I have more than a puny idea of
how it is to be enthralled at least once in my life by the megastar,
Sharon Cuneta.
Her new CD starts with "Where's the Good in
Goodbye" by Jim Brickman. The romantic, sentimental song has the
makings of a radio-friendly hit that can be played 24/7.
The title of the second track, "Are
You That Someone," succinctly conveys the message of the entire song
and is easy to sing along with ("Are you that someone/ that special
someone/ sent down to love me/ out of all the somebodys... Say that
it's true/my someone is you"). But this track reminds me a little of
the Colour Me Bad hit "The Earth, the Sun, the Rain."
"My
Heart Beats for You Baby" starts as a soothing love hymn then
intensifies a notch but still retains its emotive romantic theme
("Oh angel eyes it's no surprise/ you constantly take hold of me/ I
can't complain you stay the same/ like autumn rain you ease my
pain").
The strong vocal work toward the end is
hard-hitting, a virtual assault on the heart.
But "In Your
Eyes," a duet with Andy Lau, and composed by Brickman again,
unfortunately rates poorly because of its commonplace lyrics ("Oh my
love/ now I don't know what to say/ you take my breath away, and I'm
yours").
Still, there's a bright side to the song as the
voices of Sharon and Andy blend well effortlessly.
"If Ever"
evokes a peaceful, majestic garden where you can lay back and relax
for as long as you care to. With its laid-back strings complemented
by dolphin-like sound effects, this song will never tire you and
will put you instead into a dream state.
The best song in
the album is "Nananabik Sa 'Yo" by Ryan Cayabyab, who also did "All
I Ever Want" and the last track, "The Same Sad Song."
Snapping my fingers to this cute, feel-good love song, I am
quite convinced that this is about a woman's excitement and longing
for the coming of her Prince Charming, or a reunion of two lovers
separated for a long time.
But the lines "Ngayon ay
kalong kalong ka/ balang araw ang buong mundo'y / matutuwa sa
iyo" and a second listen to the song makes me realize that this
is about a mother's thrill over the birth of her child
("Nananabik sa 'yo/ nang ibuhos ang pag-ibig ko/ malaaman sanang
dahilan ng 'yong pagsilang/ dito sa mundong ito").
This
song is very suitable to Sharon's mixed feelings of excitement,
nervousness and longing just before the birth of her baby Frankie.
Frankie has grown into a beautiful baby ("Balang araw/ ang buong
mundo'y matutuwa sa iyo"). I finally understand why this song is
cute.
"All I Ever Want," another Cayabyab track,
unfortunately, is not the best song in the album. But it makes up
for its shortcomings with simple but nice lyrics and an old school
approach to an OPM hit.
Trademark whispering
In "My Disguise," Sharon begins with only her vocals, her trademark whispering, so that you know right away that this one's a sad song. ("You gave me the reasons/ to hold you so tight/ then turned like a season/ and never said why"). It rides gradually on Cesar Aguas's guitar work, which transforms into magnificent backdrop for the megasinger, who successfully retains the song's tear-jerking premise.
"Love is On" has a little bounce, a dose of pop, and a dash of a teeny-bop ambience. Love here is not just on, but is a high ("I think I'm dreamin'/ forget my breathin'/ whenever you say hello"). Fortunately, the song does not go into Britney Spears mode.
Probably the best track in the album is "You're the One," which has a pervading elegance but also simplicity of mood, outstanding lyrics and the gospel attack of the background vocals near the last part.
Although this latest effort from the megastar is not your typical Sharon album of mostly Tagalog songs, it would still win typical Sharon fans. And even if it is not the greatest Sharon album, it's going to stay in my disc changer for a long time, for when I need to emote and turn sentimental.
