Why shouldn’t Ryan sing again?

Ryan Cayabyab’s innovative album titled One has some of the most expressive renditions of classic Filipino compositions. And Ryan, the famous composer, pianist, arranger, producer, musical director, TV star and teacher, sings them all in several voices a cappella.

The album is quite a feat and a tribute to Ryan’s ingenuity and amazing vocal range. This album was released almost 20 years ago. Ryan accomplished so much during the ensuing years but somehow because of the beautiful songs, the arrangements and his singing, One remains one of his best.

I honestly find it puzzling that Ryan never thought of coming up with another One collection. There are so many other songs he should sing and for which he can do justice better than many other singers around. But then he was doing so many other things and he probably thought it better to produce and arrange and sometimes write for other talents instead of for himself. That is, until recently when he came up with One More.

This is another album made up of songs arranged and performed by Ryan alone. And unlike the first One, which includes kundimans like the lovely Saan Ka Man Naroroon, and works by other composers, One More is composed solely of Ryan Cayabyab compositions. Again, unlike the first One, the second this time around is pop and the mood upbeat, humorous, and exultant instead of romantic and sentimental. It is playtime for Ryan and he sounds as though he is enjoying the experience very much.

Da Coconut Nut, a funny song with a "tropical" mood that Ryan wrote for Smokey Mountain opens the album. And because I have seen him doing the promo rounds of various TV shows singing this song, I believe it is safe to assume that this is also the first single release. Nice, interesting choice but I am afraid that given the way local music buyers pigeonhole Filipino music, Da Coconut Nut, gives the impression that One More is a novelty album. In fact, I know people who find it difficult to believe that the esteemed Mr. C. allowed himself to have fun and composed this song.

Why shouldn’t he? Besides, he also wrote all the other cuts contained in the album. Paraiso, Kailan and Mama, which were also first popularized by the Smokey Mountain; Sa May Bintana, which was recorded by James Coronel; Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang, Nais Ko and Paraisong Parisukat, which are among the most enduring recordings of Basil Valdez; and the never before recorded Awit ni Isagani and Hideaway. Ryan recorded only 10 songs for One More, and anybody who listens to it will surely agree that 10 is oh-so-few. Why not 12 or 16 or even 20? But then just as our own Mr. C. chooses to space his albums by many years, he also opts to put out only a few songs in each.

Game KNB the song

I just found out that there is such a musical composition as Game KNB. This is an instrumental ditty inspired by the theme of the TV game show written and performed by Jungee Marcelo. Now I do not know if the TV game show has anything to do with the story of the forthcoming movie Got 2 Believe, just like the way the plot of Final Answer has something to do with the TV game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. I ask this because this tune Game KNB is included in the soundtrack album of what else, Got 2 Believe.

I know that there are many of you out there who are already up to your ears on hearing people say Game KNB and listening to a tune titled Game KNB is the last thing you want to do. Still, this is no reason for you to simply dismiss this soundtrack album as it also offers other things.

Check out two versions of the old favorite Got to Believe in Magic. One is performed by Side A and the other one is by the stars of Got 2 Believe, Rico Yan and Claudine Barretto. There is a sweet cover of I’ve Fallen for You by the Freshmen. Piolo Pascual sings Sana Ikaw with the Stagecrew. Roselle Nava does Laging Ikaw Pa Rin, Tin Arnaldo does Na-Develop and Dianne dela Fuente sings Believing in Magic.