Ready for the big time

Add the name Miki Hahn to the list of sweet, young and pretty girls who want to make it big in local show business. The daughter of Will and Marian Hahn has loved performing since she was a little girl. She decided that she would one day be a singing star after she performed on stage for the first time when she was only nine. Now a pretty 18-year-old just graduated from high school at St. Paul’s College, Miki has taken a huge step towards the fulfillment of her dream with the release of her first album, Miki.

Despite this big break, Miki has what may be considered disadvantages for new girl singers in current times. For one, unlike most hopefuls these days and although she has powerful pipes that love to birit with Aretha Franklin’s Chain of Fools and Son of a Preacher Man, Miki has never won or much less joined a singing contest. She enjoys doing rock, soul and hip-hop but is not a member of any band. Then although she ranks the mellow The Look of Love as one of her favorite songs, she is definitely no bossa nova babe.

But it is also a fact that Miki has been preparing for this moment for several years now. In fact, she hasn’t stopped singing since she discovered her voice. She was in the Glee Club throughout high school. She studied music at the University of the Philippines, the Ryan Cayabyab Music School and at the Greenhills Music Studio and continues to take special lessons with Myrna Cruz and Annie Quintos of The CompanY. She has also attended several acting workshops. Then when opportunities present themselves, she accepts gigs. Miki has performed in Streetscape, Dish, Baga Berde, Chef & Brewer and others, often solo with her guitar as accompaniment.

The album Miki is mostly made up of originals with a strong R ’n B vibe. First single release is Huwag Mo Sanang Sasabihin by Arnie Mendaros. Also showing strong potentials as a future single is Oh Baby, a collaboration between hitmakers Keith Martin of Because of You fame and Marcus Davis, who did Kembot with Amber Davis. Mike Luis, ex-rapper-turned-Freestyle member came up with two new songs, Here With You and That Vibe. Other cuts are the oldie When I Think of You, Ugly Girl, Should I?, If, Kahit Paminsan Minsan Lang, Kahit Sandali, and covers of ’80s favorites You Won’t See Me Crying by Gerry Paraiso and I Need You Back by Odette Quesada.

Lani at her best

You can stop missing Lani Misalucha now. Lani has gone back to her Las Vegas gigs with the Society of Seven, but that does not mean her fans will have to wait for her next visit to fully enjoy her vocal artistry. Now available in music stores are the CDs Lani Misalucha Live Volumes 1 and 2. These are collectors’ editions that fully capture the Filipino nightingale at her best. Numbers compiled in these albums are Lani’s biggest showstoppers like her version of Loving You which she sang while lying down on the floor. I can honestly say these are the live performances that lifted Lani out of background singing and multiplex recordings and made her a star.

Among the other cuts included are Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin, Nessun Dorma and the incredible Whitney Houston medley of the hits I Will Always Love You, I Have Nothing, Saving All My Love for You, All at Once, Didn’t We Almost Have It All, Greatest Love of All and One Moment in Time. There are also memorable duets like Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang with Freestyle; When You Believe with Zsa Zsa Padilla; Through the Fire with Janno Gibbs, Lady Marmalade with Jaya, Bing Loyzaga and Pilita Corrales, plus many more.

From the mail

 A reader sent this e-mail asking about the late Rod Strunk. Paul Rodriguez of Muntinglupa writes: The news reports about the suicide of Rod Strunk mention that he was a singer in the States. I would like to know if he was a big star and if he made any hits.

Thanks for writing, Paul. Strunk was known as Rod Lauren in the early ‘60s. He recorded one album and had one hit as a young singing idol. The song was If I Had a Girl. He later became a movie and TV actor.