The release of the music video for the new single I Love You Girl is not the only piece of good news that should delight fans of XLR8. Watch out for the video launch in Party Pilipinas on Aug. 29. The country’s most successful boy group also recently learned that they are among the nominees of this year’s Star Awards for Music. The members of the Philippine Movie Press Club gave their nod to the boys and their self-titled CD for Group Artist of the Year and Dance Album of the Year. This is quite an accomplishment considering that their debut CD was released only late last March.
This is largely thanks to the boys’ first big hit, You’re So Hot which became this summer’s favorite dance theme. With that in a very good place, they have now moved on to I Love You Girl. This is an R&B love song that is very special to XLR8. This is because, this is their first original. Well, they did not really all write the song. It was actually only MJ Magno, one of the talented singing and dancing twins in the group. He also wrote Dance With Me and Ms. Beautiful in the CD. But hey, now that MJ has opened the door, you can bet that everybody else is now working on their own compositions. Having more of these originals will hopefully put an end to talks that XLR8 is a mere copycat.
Aside from MJ and his brother MM, XLR8 is made up of Hideaki Torio, Caqqrlo Lazerna, AJ Muhlach, Kiko Ramos, Arkin del Rosario and Caleb Santos. They started out dreaming of showbiz stardom, got into XLR8 and after intensive training have fulfilled their dream. They are regulars in the noontime variety show Party Pilipinas every Sunday and have already proven their clout with the crowds they draw during their mall shows.
They have more mall shows scheduled to promote the new single and the video directed by the award-winning Treb Montreras II. They will also be seen in the Recordbreaker tour with Sarah Geronimo. Performances are scheduled at the Arellano Coliseum in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija tonight, Aug. 27; and at the De La Salle Centrum in Lipa, Batangas on Sept. 17. Do check out the local venues in areas near you for ticket prices. Other talented guys like Christian Bautista, Charlie Green and Jimmy Marquez are also performing in these shows.
Meanwhile, cheers to all the nominees for this year’s Star Awards for Music. The fact that the PMPC now also makes it a point to honor music artists is a big boost to OPM. Here are some of those who made the grade.
Album of the Year: Calla Lily by Calla Lily; KC by KC Concepcion; Lapit by Yeng Constantino; Maharlika by Kenyo; Now Playing by Juris; Project 6Cyclemind by 6 Cyclemind.
Song of the Year: Di Lang Ikaw by Juris; Hanggang Sa Muli by Kenyo; Lapit by Yeng Constantino; Nananaginip by Calla Lily; Pusong Ligaw by Jericho Rosales.
Female Recording Artist of the Year: Aiza Seguerra; KC Concepcion; Jaya; Joey Albert; Nina; Rachel Alejandro; Sarah Geronimo; Yeng Constantino.
Male Recording Artist of the Year: Christian Bautista; Erik Santos; Gary Valenciano; Gino Padilla; Martin Nievera; Noel Cabangon; Piolo Pascual.
Duo or Group Artist of the Year: Eurasia; Freestyle; La Diva; The CompanY; True Faith; Side A; XLR8.
Music Video of the Year: Babe, Piolo Pascual, Mae Cruz, director; Beautiful Girl, Christian Bautista, Treb Monteras II, director; Because Of You, Sabrina, Treb Monteras II, director; Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, Noel Cabangon, Galileo Te, director; Kasiping, La Diva, Louie Ignacio, director; Pusong Ligaw, Jericho Rosales, Mark Ocampo, director; Why Can’t It Be, Gino Padilla, Marla Ancheta, director.
Dance Album: Eurasia; Heartaches And Disco Lights; Pop Girls; Masculados Dos; Supahdance 2; XLR8.
Pop Album: As Always, Martin Nievera; Aiza Seguerra Live; As 1, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano; The Jim Brickman Songbook, Erik Santos; Music And Me, Sarah Geronimo; Renditions Of The Soul, Nina; Romance Revisited, The Songs Of Jose Mari Chan, Christian Bautista.
Male Pop Artist: Christian Bautista; DJ Myke; Erik Santos; Gary Valenciano; Jericho Rosales; Martin Nievera; Piolo Pascual.
Female Pop Artist: KC Concepcion; Jaya; Jennylyn Mercado; Nina; Rachel Alejandro; Roselle Nava; Sarah Geronimo.
Rock Album: Calla Lily; Cariño Brutal, Slapshock; In Love And War, FrancisM and Ely Buendia; Lapit, Yeng Constantino; Mornings And Airports, Sugarfree; Project, 6 Cyclemind; Spongecola.
Rock Artist: 6Cyclemind; Calla Lily; Rivermaya; Sponge Cola; Sugarfree; Slapshock; Yeng Constantino.
Acoustic Album: Aiza Seguerra Live; Addicted To Acoustic 2, Princess; I Love Acoustic Too, Sabrina; Lighthearted, The CompanY; Mad About Acoustic, Davy; Intimately Acoustic, Miki Hahn; Renditions Of The Soul, Nina.
Female Acoustic Artist: Aiza Seguerra; Miki Hahn; Nina; Princess; Sabrina; Suy.
Male Acoustic Artist:Chris Cayzer; Davey; Toto Sorioso.
Revival Album: As 1, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano; Aiza Seguerra Live; As Always, Martin Nievera; Byahe, Noel Cabangon; Decades, Piolo Pascual; Renditions Of The Soul, Nina; Romance Revisited: The Songs Of Jose Mari Chan, Christian Bautista.
Compilation Album: Blessings Of Love, Kris Aquino; Greatest Love, Kris Aquino; Paalam Maraming Salamat, Pres. Cory Aquino; Sa ‘yo Lamang; Senti 1; Back to Back, Side A/Freestyle; The Best Of Mga Awit Kapuso.