Sharon sings OPM in Musika At Pag-Ibig

There is a lot to be happy about with the release of Sharon Cuneta’s latest album Musika At Pag-ibig. For one, it heartens me to know that despite her very busy schedule, she does movies and goes Chinese in a new Mano Po flick; television, her weekly show continues to rate high; and all those product endorsements; she has not forgotten her roots as a singer and would always from time to time return to recording.

For another, Sharon is an excellent interpreter. She is one of the very few who can take any song and make it sound new just like it was her very own. Think Ewan, Maging Sino Ka Man, Both Sides Now. Those were not her originals but she turned her versions into hits. Sharon covering an oldie is like giving a song a new lease on life. These cannot help but become popular again.

So when I saw the line-up of Musika At Pag-ibig, I knew at once that we can look forward to having a few of these Filipino compositions make it to the hit charts again for the first time after many years. I really do prefer to have Sharon do originals. Those become the covers of tomorrow. But given the way the local music industry is being besieged from all directions by foreign recordings and if covers can give sales a boost, I’d be very happy to have them.

For another still, the CD includes some of my personal favorites, including rarely heard ones that I am surprised Sharon decided to record. You know how it is nowadays with covers albums. The singers only want to record hits, which is why we keep getting the same songs in oldies collections. Now, thanks to Sharon and her huge fan following, a lot of listeners will now be able to discover for themselves how beautiful these songs are.

I single out Gary Granada’s touching love song, Saranggola Sa Ulan. I would have preferred his Pag-ibig Lang, but this one is also a very good choice. It also felt good finding Nagbalik Ka Na Mahal by Ryan Cayabyab. If I am not mistaken, this song comes from the musical Rama At Sita.

Also in the CD are Eto Na Naman by Gary Valenciano and Snafu Rigor; Bakit Ba Ganyan? by Boyet Palisoc for Dina Bonnevie; Sa Isip Ko by the brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia for Agot Isidro; Nais Ko by Ogie Alcasid; Suwerte-Suerte Lang by Joel Navarro; You’re My You by Nyoy Volante; Habang Atin Ang Gabi by Jay Durias; Show Me A Smile by Danny Javier; Sana Naman by Naldy Gonzales for Side A; Iniibig Kita, again by Ryan; Tuloy Pa Rin by Ito Rapadas for Neocolours; and Paalam by Louie Ocampo and Basil Valdez.

Here now are the Top 10 videos in the MYX Hit Chart for the week: One Time by latest teen heartthrob Justin Bieber; Automatic by Tokio Hotel; Fifteen by Taylor Swift; Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus; Fireflies by Owl City; Time For Miracles by Adam Lambert; Genie by Girls Generation; Wala Kang Katulad by Sponge Cola; Your Christmas Girl by Sarah Geronimo; and Bad Romance by Lady Gaga.

Out there in the radio airlanes, it is also Bieber with his One Time on top of everybody. The rest are Fireflies by Owl City; Halfway Gone, the latest from Lifehouse; Your Christmas Girl by Sarah Geronimo; Fifteen by Taylor Swift; Cry by Kelly Clarkson; Jai Ho by Davey; Lost In Space by Roselle Nava; One Less Lonely Girl again by Bieber; and Insomnia by Sabrina.

Take note that Jai Ho by Davey, Insomnia by Sabrina, Lost In Space by Roselle Nava and the I Got A Feeling Christmas Medley by Princess, which is hovering just a rung below the magic circle, are all light pop versions of foreign hits. I am sure you must have also noticed that aside from Sarah’s Your Christmas Girl, there is no single with a new original song in the list.

That is how bad the music industry situation is nowadays. I remain lukewarm towards oldies or covers CD but if like Sharon’s Musika at Pag-ibig, it will keep the diminishing profits, or worse, its demise at bay, then let us get those covers playing.