Always in good CompanY

I like the way that Moy Ortiz put it in his liner notes for Lighthearted, the latest CD by The CompanY. “Amidst the chaotic cacophony of 21st century living, it is quite healing to get back to the basics, de-stress and just take it easy.”

And take it easy is just what the country’s foremost performing group does in the very light Lighthearted. The CompanY is known for its extraordinary vocals. The members can really sing and they harmonize beautifully. They can also be counted on to put their distinctive stamp on any song. Be it originals like Everlasting Love or Muntik Na Kitang Minahal, which I must say, have become much loved standards, or covers of anything, they will make it sound like something by The CompanY.

And that is just what Moy, Annie Quintos, Cecile Bautista, Sweet Plantado and Jay Marquez did with 14 of today’s hits. For the uninitiated or those who live in the backwoods of Timbuktu, let me tell you that the rule nowadays is you are not hip if you do not like these sounds. Okay let us say, you do not really have to like them, but you surely must have listened to them a few times these past few months and know some people who think these are the coolest songs ever.

Take a look at the trendy tunes that The CompanY have chosen to include in their Lighthearted album. Empire State Of Mind, by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys; Do You Remember by Jay Sean; Thinking Of You by Katy Perry; One Less Lonely Girl/Boy by Justin Bieber; Fireflies by Owl City; Half Of My Heart by John Mayer; Fifteen by Taylor Swift; Let’s Just Fall In Love Again by Jason Castro; Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat; Smile by Lily Allen; You Belong With Me also by Taylor Swift; Two Is Better Than One by Boys Like Girls; Good Girls Go Bad by Cobra Starship; and Where Are You Now by Honor Society.

With Sunny Ilacad, who did those hit CDs by Princess, as producer and arranger, Moy as vocal arranger put The CompanY through their paces singing songs they never imagined performing. Think Taylor Swift or Owl City, let alone recording these. But as the age-old rule has always emphasized, you can do anything with a beautiful melody.

And that, is what all these songs have in common. Beautiful melodies. You can slow these down, quicken, set to a new beat or strip them down to the basics, etc. And at the end of the day, these will still be what they were at the beginning, beautiful melodies.

So while they may have started out with unfamiliar titles at the start, The CompanY soon found themselves facing only beautiful melodies. And after over 20 years in the business, they certainly know their way around those.

Check out how The CompanY fares with their first stripped down to the bone album when they launch Lighthearted at the atrium of the Shangri-La Mall in Ortigas Center at 6 p.m. on March 28. Singer-harpist Noelle Cassandra is also set to perform.

MYX’s Top 20 videos

And now from MYX. Baby by newest teen hearthrob Justin Bieber is this week’s No. 1 choice in the MYX Hit Chart of the Top 20 videos of the week. The kid is only 16. He got his break on his own by posting his video on YouTube only two years ago. Then what do you know, he was soon making hits everywhere and even got to sing the Lionel Richie part in the Haiti edition of We Are The World.

Next on the list are: Beautiful Girl by Christian Bautista; Sorry Sorry Answer by Super Junior; Oh! by Girls Generation; The Only Exception by Paramore; World Behind My Wall by Tokio Hotel; Right Here Waiting by Sarah Geronimo; Whataya Want From Me by Adam Lambert; Alice by Avril Lavigne; Telephone by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé.

Makapiling Ka by Sponge Cola; Wag Kang Magtanong by Yeng Constantino; Bingeul Bingeul by U-Kiss; Unang Tikim by Kamikazee; Martilyo by Gloc-9 and Letter Day Story; Do You Remember by Jay Sean; When I Look At You by Miley Cyrus; Rude Boy by Rihanna; Angels Cry by Mariah Carey and Ne-Yo; and Breathe Again by Chicosci.