Charice's star gets bigger, brighter every day

It is still rumor but given the personalities involved, there is a strong chance that it is true. The rumor is that media mogul Oprah Winfrey is in talks with the people involved in the project for Charice to star in the film version of Miss Saigon. Wow! If there is truth to this and if it happens soon, then Charice is indeed destined to become the first Filipino Hollywood star. Now when I think of Miss Saigon on the big screen, my wish is that Lea Salonga was 17 again so she can do the movie. But since Lea is not 17 anymore then I will be happy to watch Charice.

Miss Saigon or no Miss Saigon though, Charice is already on her way to full-blown international fame. She is now shooting her first full-length role in a feature film, Here Comes The Boom. And take note, the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB.com) bills her right after stars Salma Hayek and Kevin James. She has a recurring role in the high-rating TV series Glee. For all you know, given the positive feedback about her first two appearances, she might end up as a regular next season.

Charice is now working on her second album for Warner Music, produced of course by David Foster. No release date has been mentioned about the CD but a single titled Before It Explodes, which was written and produced by Bruno Mars, is now available for downloads. I do not know if it will also be released ahead of the album but there is also a song titled One Day that was co-written and co-produced by Nick Jonas of who else but the famous Jonas Brothers.

Her debut CD Charice was recently re-issued in a special, repackaged edition for Southeast Asia with all 12 original cuts, plus lots of new pictures and bonus tracks. These include the new single release Fingerprint, an acoustic Thank You with piano accompaniment, a solo version of Pyramid; and a dance mix also of Pyramid. As for those looking for All By Myself, which I thought should have been included in Glee The Music 5 CD with numbers from the second season of the show, Charice sings the song live, along with To Love You More in Hit Man Returns by David Foster & Friends. She receives a long-standing ovation from the Las Vegas audience for her performance.

The first live Foster album, You’re The Inspiration: The Music Of David Foster And Friends, was such a success. I am not surprised that the legendary Foster has done another one. This is a two-disc set made up of an audio CD and a DVD of a Las Vegas concert by Foster and his stellar friends. So you get to listen and at times also watch the Las Vegas concert. The line-up of performers is staggering. The songs, too, are all winners, all of them certified hits created by David as a songwriter, arranger or producer or which he lent his touch in some way or another. It is one of those albums that will sell without playing a single cut. The buyer is hooked once he gets a look at the credits.

The September Medley by Earth Wind & Fire; Forever by Kenny Loggins; We’ve Got Tonight by Martina McBride; I Can Love You Like That and I Swear by All-4-One; Caruso by Lara Fabian; Unbreak My Heart and Last Dance by Donna Summer; Home by Ruben Studdard; Through The Fire by Chaka Khan; Miss Independent by Ne-Yo; Because We Believe by The Canadian Tenors; Secrets by Seal; and others.

You think that is more than enough? Foster, who has won 15 Grammy awards, offers more with wonderful duets or trios of beautiful songs. There’s Brian Bottano and Kristi Yamaguchi skating to the theme of the Winter Games; Loggins and Kenny G in Heart To Heart; Natalie and Ruben in When I Fall In Love; Michael Bolton and Seal with When A Man Loves A Woman; Ne-Yo, Charice and Robert Randolph with Earth Song; Fabian and Bolton in The Prayer; and others.

The album also marks several firsts. This is the first time for us to see and hear Foster new protegee, the 10-year-old America’s Got Talent discovery Jackie Evancho. She sings Pie Jesu. I can’t wait to find out what Foster will produce for her. He gives us a preview of the musical Betty Boop, which he is working on with the song Say You Remember It. And we meet Gary Wright, whose rendition of Dream Weaver is extraordinarily beautiful.