Rachelle Ann moves on in 2008

The year 2008 turned out to be more memorable than others in the past in a way that Rachelle Ann Go never expected. It was mainly because she saw the end of a serious relationship announced to the media and then her supposed lapses, shortcomings, faults and other sins trumpeted in the tabloids for effect.

She is thankful that the furor soon fizzled out and the obviously malicious intentions collapsed like a dud. A lot of happy memories have now turned unpleasant but it is also a fact that she can now go on with her life. She does not have to deal anymore with that baggage and she now hopes to be a better artist, revitalize her career and take it to a new, more exciting dimension.

“I spent the month of December working very hard,” says the first Search for a Star champion. “Late nga pati mga gifts ko because I was not able to finish them on time. I accepted a lot of bookings and I am thankful that things have really been good. This early, my 2008 schedule is already almost full so I guess it will be mostly work again this year.”

Rachelle Ann is now also taking courses at UP’s Open University. She was a freshman at San Beda when she won the contest but had to give up school because of her commitments. She is now trying to make up for lost time by giving most of her free time to her studies. Hopefully, someday soon, she will have a college degree.

“Mahirap din because there are books to read, reports to write and deadlines I have to meet. Pag puyat ako from a show and I have another one the next day, I sometimes feel like giving up. Once I even got sick during exam week but my teachers were so nice and allowed me to take the tests later. So I just tell myself kaya mo ‘to, kaya mo ‘to.”

 Rachelle Ann is now getting ready to join the other champions, Sarah Geronimo, Erik Santos and Christian Bautista for a Valentine’s Day concert at the Araneta Coliseum. This will be followed by a tour of Canada and the US with the same group. Alongside those, she will begin work on her new album. It will be her first all covers collection and she is very excited.

Although Rachelle Ann’s first hit was a cover of Melissa Manchester’s Don’t Cry Out Loud, she is more closely identified with originals, instead of oldies. From the Start, Bakit, If You Walk Away, I Care, Don’t Say Goodbye and Alam Ng Ating Mga Puso were some of her hits. This time around though she is going all out with revivals with producer Alwyn Cruz, who also did Raymond Lauchengo’s acclaimed Full Circle and Jaya’s new hit Is It Over?

“I like it that I am now more involved with making my album than before,” continues Rachelle Ann. “Nuon, they would just give me the songs at kakantahin ko naman. I have been listening to a lot of songs. I make suggestions and we discuss what we want to include. I want something really different from my other CDs. Just this once for a change of pace. Wish me luck. Iba kasi ito.”

“After this, it will be back to the originals. It is nice to do covers because people love listening to the old songs. But there is nothing like having an original hit. It has been a long time since Bakit came out but I still get a thrill whenever I sing it in a show because even the small kids sing along with me. I just love that feeling.”

Top 20 videos

For those curious as to how the hit lists for 2008 are shaping up, here are the Top 20 videos in the MYX Hit Chart for the first week of the New Year.

Ikaw by Sarah Geronimo; Guillotine by Urbandub; So Perfect by M.Y.M.P.; Happy Birthday by The Click Five; Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; Is It Over? by Jaya; Ngayong Pasko by Erik Santos; Pasko Na Sinta Ko by Christian Bautista; Kamusta Ka by Blue Ketchup; Love Will Lead You Back by Kyla.

Headlines by Spice Girls; One Word by Elliot Yamin; No One by Alicia Keys; Hate That I Love You by Rihanna & Ne-Yo; Last Look by Chicosci; Pasaway by Cambio; Bubbly by Colbie Caillat; Tattoo by Jordin Sparks; Hero/Heroine by Boys Like Girls; and CrushCrushCrush by Paramore.