Regine serves up her best

If there is something you can never find fault in Regine Velasquez, it is doing something that is less than her best. The local Songbird spares no time, effort or money whenever she embarks on a project. And the result of all the hard work she puts into anything can really be impressive.

The latest among these is Reigne, her first studio album in years and which comes after the live recording Regine Sings the Classics and those soundtracks that produced two of the most memorable movie theme songs these days, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, an Ogie Alcasid composition for the movie of the same title where Regine starred opposite Robin Padilla, and Pangako, Ikaw Lang also written by Ogie for the picture where Regine also starred with Aga Muhlach.

So after being hemmed in by the demands of a concert with a theme, old songs, and the plots of two romantic comedies, Regine now allows herself the luxury of putting everything she wants and which she believes will delight her followers in a single album.

Foremost among these are the songs included in Reigne. Instead of having only the usual 12 or 14 songs, she has 18 of them. There is no new song by Alcasid, but Regine has songs by some of the most talented songwriters around including the title track and first single To Reach You, a soaring ballad that echoes her earlier hit On the Wings of Love by Lisa Dy and Chat Zamora.

Dadalhin by Tats Faustino sounds like a possible movie theme song. Nang Makita Ka, shows a sentimental side to the writing talent of pop artist Viktoria. Sandcastle by Patty Mayoralago and Babsie Molina is most expressive of the sad part of stardom. Sa Aking Pag-iisa is one of Janno Gibbs’ rare outings as a composer. And Trina Belamide scores with another possible seller with Tayong Dalawa.

Then there is the packaging. Regine spent hours and hours posing for pictures for photographer Jun de Leon to come up with the shots that you will only see on the cover of Reigne. As you will surely notice some of the photos are more revealing than usual, which is one more way of showing how much she values the buyers of her albums.

And if you’re lucky you might even win one of the limited edition 14-carat gold Reigne necklaces Regine is giving away to buyers of the album.

The other songs included in Reigne are This Time by Yman Panaligan; Nasa Puso by Moy Ortiz and Edith Gallardo; Free Spirits by Noel Mendez; Long for Him also by Lisa Dy; Perry’s Will by Jingle Buena and Arnold Reyes; I Know by Babsie and Edith; My Destiny and Let You Be by Toto Sorioso; Bukas Sana by Mario Borje and Raymund Marcaida; Could It Be also by Lisa and Chat; "and What You Are To Me by Reuben Laurente and Markel Luna.

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A starry line-up of talents do battle for the Best Original Song category at the coming Golden Globe Awards. Named nominees by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association were May It Be, the lovely theme composed and performed by Irish song priestess Enya for the fantasy/adventure film The Lord of the Rings; Sting for Until… from the soundtrack of Kate & Leopold; Paul McCartney for the title song of the Tom Cruise starrer Vanilla Sky; David Baerwald for his love song Come What May, that was sang by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor in the musical Moulin Rouge; and Diane Warren for There You’ll Be, which is performed by Faith Hill in the epic drama Pearl Harbor.

The innovative Moulin Rouge, also picked up nominations for Best Picture Musical or Comedy; Nicole Kidman as Best Actress; Ewan McGregor as Best Actor; Baz Luhrmann as Best Director; and Craig Armstrong for Original Score. The other nominees for Original Score are Angelo Badalamenti for Muholland Drive; Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke for Ali; James Horner for A Beautiful Mind; Howard Shore" for Lord of the Rings; John Williams for A.I. Artificial Intelligence; Christopher Young for The Shipping News; and Hans Zimmer for Pearl Harbor.

Whoever wins the Golden Globe already has a foot inside the door leading to the Academy Awards. This sure makes me wonder if Sir Paul will be adding an Oscar to his honors as Bob Dylan won for Best Original Song for Things Have Changed from the film Wonder Boys. Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer got it for Original Score for Gladiator.