What? They are not beautiful?

The Susanians and believers of other stars excluded from Yes! magazine’s “2012 100 Most Beautiful Stars” must be asking that question when they go over the “honor roll” and ask some more, “What? They are not beautiful?”

Susan Roces is not the only one who didn’t make it. Some of the others include Ruffa Gutierrez, Sharon Cuneta, Aga Muhlach, Richard Gutierrez, Derek Ramsay and Willie Revillame. Why, didn’t they come up to the criteria that included “star quality,” “A-lister,” and one who “leaves a mark” and “makes her presence felt.”

Anyway, here’s the complete list and it’s up to you who to strike out and replace with your own choices, according to how their names were arranged on the cover (with Anne Curtis as cover girl):

Alden Richards, Alice Dixson, Aljur Abrenica, Andi Eigenmann, Angel Locsin, Angelica Panganiban, Angeline Quinto, Barbie Forteza, Bea Alonzo, Bea Binene, Bela Padilla, Bianca King, Camille Prats, Carl Guevarra, Carla Abellana, Carmina Villarroel, Cherry Pie Picache, Coco Martin, Cristine Reyes, Daniel Padilla, Dawn Zulueta, Derrick Monasterio, Dimples Romana, Dingdong Dantes, Dominic Ochoa, Edgar Allan Guzman, Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, Erich Gonzales, Gabby Eigenmann, Gerald Anderson, Gladys Reyes, Heart Evangelista, Helen Gamboa, Iza Calzado, Jake Cuenca, Jake Vargas, Janice de Belen, Janine Gutierrez, Jennylyn Mercado, Jericho Rosales, Jessy Mendiola, John Lloyd Cruz, JM de Guzman, Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, Joseph Marco, Joshua Dionisio, Joyce Ching, Judy Ann Santos, Julia Barretto, Julia Clarete, Julia Montes, Julie Anne San Jose, Kathryn Bernardo, Kaye Abad, KC Concepcion, Kim Chiu, Kris Bernal, Kristoffer Martin, Kylie Padilla, LJ Reyes, Louise de los Reyes, Lovi Poe, Luis Manzano, Billy Crawford, Maja Salvador, Marian Rivera, Maricar Reyes, Martin del Rosario, Martin Escudero, Matteo Guidicelli, Max Collins, Mylene Dizon, Nora Aunor, Pauleen Luna, Paulo Avelino, Piolo Pascual, Raymond Gutierrez, Richard Gomez, Rita Avila, Ritz Azul, Rocco Nacino, Rochelle Pangilinan, Ronnie Lazaro, Sam Pinto, Sarah Geronimo, Sarah Lahbati, Shaina Magdayao, Sid Lucero, Solenn Heussaff, Sylvia Sanchez, Vhong Navarro, Vic Sotto, Vilma Santos, Wynwyn Marquez, Xian Lim, Ynah Asistio, Zanjoe Marudo, Zia Quizon and Zoren Legaspi.

In praise of Lisa Fischer

First, a brief re-introduction: Lisa Fischer (born in New York City on Dec. 1, 1958) is an American R&B singer/songwriter who rose to fame in 1991 with her debut album, So Intense, which produced the Grammy-winner hit single How Can I Ease The Pain. Before she embarked on a solo career, Lisa accompanied Luther Vandross as a back-up singer on his tours and albums until his death, and provided back-up vocals for other artists like Melba Moore, Billy Ocean, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Teddy Pendergrass and Roberta Flack.

Two weeks ago, Lisa performed with Chris Botti at the Resorts World Manila. It’s a pity that I missed the show. Those who did were all praises for Lisa.

• Jose Mari Chan: When Lisa sings, she melts into the music, and the song and the singer become one. Her voice soars and reverberates in your head. Yet it can whisper low and her notes tug at your heart. One should listen to her recorded version of my song Love Lost, part of the album The Manhattan Connection (The songs of Jose Mari Chan) produced by Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer. What a great honor to have my songs recorded by the likes of Lisa Fischer.

•  Pat Castillo: Yes, she is MAGALING talaga. Lisa’s performance was just awesome. She obviously has deep training since she can use that voice and extended her range to give her additional breadth to phrase a song. I like watching performers who aren’t shouting because I get to understand control and creativity at work. She reminds of Diana Reeves because they both shift their placements very smoothly and singing simple standards gives these women with limited natural range a different approach to their singing.

•  Jacqui Magno: Being a singer who strives to have one’s own style, I try as much as possible to refrain from listening to other singers unless for research of certain songs I’ve not heard of or for lyrics I’d rather hear. As the saying goes, “Straight from the horse’s mouth” is better as most of those posted on the Internet are, more often than not, unreliable.

My coming to hear Miss Lisa Fischer was pure serendipity! Frankly, my schedule the week prior to the show was so hectic that I missed, perhaps, a third of the show by the time I got there. When Chris Botti introduced Lisa Fischer, I became quite intrigued as I’d never heard her before.

Lisa Fischer recorded her own version of Love Lost, part of the album The Manhattan Connection (The Songs of Jose Mari Chan, inset)

The minute I heard her first song, I was in awe! My jaw dropped, my eyes opened wide and I felt as if she has transformed my being in that very instant. I felt a sudden sense of kinship with her that, during the “Meet and Greet” after the show, I called her my ‘soul sistah’! I identified with how she played with her notes as she flew to the highs then suddenly dove down to the lows in a very beautiful and tasteful interaction of crescendo and diminuendo.

Her creative nuances, dynamics, phrasing and overall demeanor were, to me, reminiscent of a true artist and thus awe-inspiring. I’m not a very technical singer as I profess to sing mostly from the heart and Miss Lisa Fischer certainly hit the mark.

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