Let’s hear it from the girls

The last few months of 2005 saw the arrival of a number of first album releases by girl singers. It was not the best of times for newcomers what with all the big stars rushing their products to take advantage of the Christmas shopping binge. But there are a few who stand out from the rest and should be worth your while listening to for several reasons. Because it produced a hit song, because it is by a potential big star and because of the commendable amount of effort that went into the making of the album. Here are some of them.

It must be because she is also surnamed Cuneta that Faith did the unthinkable. She recorded a cover of Pangarap na Bituin, a song composed by the great Willy Cruz for Sharon Cuneta as the theme song of her blockbuster melodrama Bukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala. Only one or two other artists have recorded the song. Not one of them newcomers save for Faith, who was introduced to the public with Pag-ibig Ko’y Pansinin, hit theme from Stairway to Heaven, another Korean TV series.

Lucky girl. Her interpretation of the modern classic ended up being used as the theme of the Korean telenovela Jewel in the Palace. Maybe the song will also do for Faith what it did for Sharon more than two decades ago. Pangarap Na Bituin, which tells of an aspiring singer’s dreams of stardom is the lead cut in the five-track album titled Pangarap. It also contains Paalam, Hanggang Langit, One More Try and Nakasanayan Ko Na.

Can’t really blame Faith for channeling the Megastar. Why not enjoy the advantages of also being a Cuneta? Meanwhile, she is doing okay with her career and has even joined the large roster of local artists performing in Valentine shows with her own concert at the Aliw Theater on Feb. 14.

If Faith has taken on the one and only Sharon, newcomer Nikki Gil is up against Lani Misalucha with her single debut Sakayan ng Jeep. Composed by Bodjie Dasig, the song was one of Lani’s early recordings and is a light, youthful ditty not usually associated with her flamboyant singing style of the pop diva who has moved to Las Vegas. It is however just right for Nikki, who started out as a model for a soft drink commercial and then turned MYX VJ.

Happily for her, it also turns out that aside from her classic good looks, she can sing with a sweet, breathy voice. Now nobody is about to pass up such a combination. As a result, Nikki is now also a recording artist with her own self-titled debut album. The lilting Sakayan ng Jeep is the lead cut.

The 12-cut CD presents a varied line-up. It has oldies like Let’s Wait A While originally by Janet Jackson, If I Keep My Heart Out of Sight by James Taylor, Baby Now That I Found You by Allison Krauss and the inspirational Pananagutan. The originals are Two Weeks, Forever is Not as Long as it Used to be, Handang Maghintay, Movin’, 1000 Prayers, Paano and Answer to My Prayer.

Also surprising and truly daring is Daisy Reyes’ take on Tao by Sampaguita in her first album Ode to the Irony of Love. I think this feat is more difficult than doing a Sharon or a Lani. Sampaguita is the first and certainly one of the very few female rockers who truly rocks. While most of the others are merely poseurs, Sampy to this day is the real thing. So Daisy, whom we all know as a talented actress and beauty queen and certainly as no rocker, must be commended for doing a good version of Tao in her first album.

Come to think of it though, a listen to the album tells us Daisy does rock but in her own sensual style. That is why she also chose to sing Natalie Merchant’s Kind and Generous and originals like Breaking Point, Deadma and Tanong that all rock in different ways. For the sake of variety, Daisy also features the R&B tinged Give It to Me, the Filipino pop classic Kailan and a cute mix of Latin and pop influences in the single release, I’ll Never Be the One. Would you believe Daisy even goes folksy with acoustic takes on Tanong and I’ll Never Be the One?