Alab ng Puso and other movie themes

Buhay Kamao the moving action-drama starring Robin Padilla opens its Metro Manila run armed with a rousing theme performed by the famous Rivermaya. Composed by guitarist and lead singer Rico Blanco, the song takes off from Robin’s role as a reluctant boxer fighting against great odds in the picture. Titled Alab ng Puso, it is about coping with adversity. It is about getting up after every knock down to fight again. It is also about the hope of winning in the final round. Try to catch that exciting music video of this song, directed by Joyce Bernal, which also features scenes from the movie in theaters and on television.

Ika’y matutumba, ika’y masasawi/mabibilangan ka ngunit babangon kang muli/walang maniniwala/walang makikinig/wala na raw pag-asang daigdig mong tagilid/padadala ka ba sa agos o hindi..." goes the song. In a way, Blanco’s composition also mirrors Rivermaya’s current situation. The group has just emerged from its most problematic period during which it underwent several crises any of which would have disbanded other groups. Among these were the loss of some original members and the recent change in its record label after seven years. Take note though that from its "patay na kung patay" period Rivermaya has awakened to "Tagumpay/tagumpay/alab ng puso/kailanma’y hindi sumuko/tagumpay/tagumpay..."

Alab ng Puso marks Rivermaya’s debut with Viva Records. The song is now available in the market as a special megasingle release with three different edits full version, radio edit and trailer edit, one Alab Peanut Butter Remix and that gorgeous photo of Robin Padilla as a boxer on the cover. Rivermaya is now made up of Blanco, Mike Elgar on guitar and vocals, Kakoi Legaspi on guitar, Mark Escueta on drums and vocals, and Japs Serigo on bass.

Regine Velasquez enjoyed huge success with the Ogie Alcasid composition Kailanga Ko’y Ikaw which was used last year in the romantic comedy of the same title which starred her and Robin Padilla. This must be the reason why she chose to sing another Ogie song in her new flick, Pangako... Ikaw Lang, which pairs her once more with Aga Muhlach. This time around, the theme song, Pangako is an oldie but definitely one of Ogie’s best.

Pangako is the lead cut of the film’s soundtrack album, which was released last week. The line-up also includes two versions of the Gershwin classic Someone to Watch Over Me, one is a solo by Regine, while the other is her duet with actor Robert Arevalo who plays her father in the movie. Her other duets are Your Friend with Dianne Roque, Now That We’re Closer with Raul Mitra, Thank You for being My Friend with Sherilyn Reyes and the bittersweet Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang with Jaya. By the way, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang is also an Ogie composition.

Also included in the album is Regine’s verison of the Eraserheads tune composed by Ely Buendia, With a Smile, plus a few new works in Itutuloy, Kailan Pa Man, Tanging Mahal, and Sana Nga.

Also cashing in on movie magic is Ivy Violan who sings theme songs from famous Hollywood films in her latest album, titled what else, Ivy at the Movies. There is a problem here though. While the songs are nice and well-produced and Ivy gives her best in all of them, the credits make no mention as to what movies these works come from. There really should be no problem with this if this album is just another collection of old songs. But it says, Ivy at the Movies. So what movies? As a result, checking out the line-up of this album results in a guessing game which I believe only the truly devoted movie and music buff can win.

The first cut Where Do I Begin from Love Story is given. I guess everybody knows that. As for the rest, see how well you can fill in that blank space in the credits that says where the following songs were used. Ready to Take a Chance, People, Best That You Can Do, Tears in Heaven, Someone to Watch over Me, with Side A (the answer here is not Pangako... Ikaw Lang), No More Lonely Nights, with percussion by Rannie Raymundo, I Could Fall In Love, Everything I Do (I Do It for You), I Believe I Can Fly, performed with Regine Velasquez, Finding Out the Hard Way and Someone Who Cares.