Rachelle Ann’s turn to shine

Should Rachelle Ann Go decide to give up singing, I am sure she will find another successful career as a music VJ or TV presenter or even newscaster. Rachelle Ann is the celebrity VJ of the MYX music channel for April and she seems so at home hosting the various segments and presenting her favorite music videos to televiewers.

However, there is no chance that she will change career paths today or in the very distant future. The girl has always wanted to sing and all that is happening to her now is the fulfillment of a long cherished dream. Besides, we have to admit that she does singing quite well. Think three consecutive hit singles from her self-titled debut album, Don’t Cry Out Loud, You and Me (We Wanted It All), a duet with Christian Bautista and her latest From the Start. The latter was what won her the Silver Prize in last November’s Shanghai Music Festival over entries from 20 countries and which also gave composer Vehnee Saturno the Best Song Award.

Becoming something else is even more unlikely these days especially now that she will finally get the opportunity to shine on her own in her first solo concert. Although she has had a lot of experience performing both here and abroad in the Night of the Champions concert tour since she won the Search for a Star contest in March of 2004, this is the first time that she will take centerstage and be solely responsible for pulling in ticket sales. And take note of the title, Rachelle Ann Go, The Ultimate Champion.

Although she is known as a very hard worker who is totally dedicated to her career, this concert will still be her most difficult job ever. A lot of demanding songs are in the line-up led by her impressive rendition of When You Find Your Voice from her album. She will not only sing. She will also do a lot of dancing. Most of all, she will try to live up in every way to the show’s title, The Ultimate Champion. Those are big words coming from this wisp of a girl and during a time when singing champions keep oozing out of the woodwork from everywhere. Let us all wait and see how she will measure up.

Rachelle Ann Go, The Ultimate Champion goes onstage at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City at 8 in the evening of Friday, April 29. Featured guest performers are Ogie Alcasid, Mark Bautista and Christian Bautista plus the Arti Sta. Rita Choir. Tickets to the Viva Concerts and Events presentation are priced at VIP P700 and Patron P400. These are now available at all SM outlets, the Araneta Coliseum and Viva Concerts. The show is presented by Skechers with Pepsi, China Star, Red Box Karaoke, Odyssey Music & Video, Mix Gems and Freego as sponsors. MYX is the official music channel. Call tel. nos. 911-5555; 687-7794; 687-6181 loc. 715 for inquiries.

Incidentally, a special concert edition of Rachelle Ann’s album has been released in time for the concert. Aside from the original CD, this one now includes music videos of Through the Rain, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Love of My Life, You and Me (We Wanted It All) and From the Start, plus bonus cuts of a dance remix of Don’t Cry Out Loud and We are One People, the other Saturno composition featured at the Shanghai musicfest.

Rachelle Ann’s version of Selena’s Dreaming of You is one of the cuts in the star-studded collection Love Struck. Leading this pack is Songbird Regine Velasquez’ hit revival of Shine. A composition by Trina Belamide the song won second place in the 1996 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival and nearly 10 years later has once again become a favorite of many. Regine also performs Tell Me as a duet with Ariel Rivera in the album.

Love Struck also features other romantic goodies like Maybe by Sharon Cuneta, Can We Just Stop and Talk a While by Gary Valenciano and Kyla, If the Feeling is Gone by Ella May Saison, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow by Mark Bautista, Come in Out of the Rain by Sheryn Regis, Loving You by Agot Isidro, How Did You Know by Chiqui Pineda, Turn Off the Lights by Kitchie Nadal and others.