More mature Yeng in Metamorphosis

Some eight years after she became the first winner of the talent search reality show, Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) on ABS-CBN, Yeng Constantino admits that she is now undergoing changes. I do not know how deep these changes are. But the now matured 24-year-old and the most successful PDA discovery is presenting some of those changes to the public via her latest album that she has chosen to call Metamorphosis.

Easily, the most striking change and definitely the first one that people will notice in Yeng is in her hair. It is now a burning shade of red, a darker version of the carrot-top on Hayley Williams of the rock band Paramore. Yeng looks great in her new hairstyle and if this change also means there will now be a stop to those attempts to convert this rocker chick into just another pop diva, then I am all for it.

Also among the changes are the new songs in the CD. Take note that Yeng’s best asset is her ability to write her own songs. She is very good at this. Remember her first hit, the phenomenal Hawak Kamay? She has also early on in her career, found her own niche, a kind of pop-rock sound that is unlike any other hereabouts.

That is why I cringe whenever she has to do those diva Top 40 songs on TV. I hope that her producers keep her rocking. She can always do her own hits like Jeepney Love Story or Himig Ng Pag-ibig or at least something similar. Now, thankfully, she has written nine new compositions for Metamorphosis and these songs should be enough to keep her in a rock mood until the arrival of her next CD.

Best of the album’s line-up is the perky B.A.B.A.Y. (Ang dali kayang magsabi ng BABAY). The first single release has a nice danceable beat and a great video. I also find Messiah (Sasagipin kita kung kaya ko lang sana, pero di ako Messiah…) quite commercial and should be a good follow-up single. Also sounding like a hit material is Chinito (at kung ikaw ay nakatawa, ako pa ba ay nakikita?), a composition by Jed Dumawawal, which is the only song that Yeng did not write.

Then there is Josephine. Yeng’s real name is Josephine so she could be talking to herself in this one. (Josephine, walang kadala-dala, Josephine na naman ay lumuluha.) The song is obviously an experiment. I am not sure if it is a potential hit single but it is very good and shows that Yeng is testing her limits as a composer. Also included are Hahanapin Kita, Teleserye, Pasensiya Na, Pag-ibig, Sandata and ‘Di Pa Huli. The entire CD was produced and arranged by Eraserheads original Raimund Marasigan who, I must say, did a very good job.

Fans should be happy to know that Yeng’s Metamorphosis comes with a free DVD titled, The Yeng Experience. This is made up of her best videos led by the new hit B.A.B.A.Y. Also included are ‘Wag Na, Jeepney Love Story, Pag-ibig, ‘Wag Kang Magtanong and Lapit. It is a pity that Kung Wala Na Nga, her collab with 6Cyclemind and Kean Cipriano of Callalily is not included. Maybe, this could be in the next bonus DVD. And no matter, Yeng still offers a good batch here.

Incidentally, the B.A.B.A.Y. video directed by Avid Llongoren was one of the frontrunners in last week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown. Yeng is a big favorite among viewers of the music channel and is consistently present every week in the countdown. In fact, she has two songs in this list. The other one is Alaala from the Lapit album. Here now are the Top 20 most-requested Pinoy videos on MYX:

Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat by Daniel Padilla; B.A.B.A.Y. by Yeng Constantino; Raspberry: Girl by Chicosci; Kahit Na by Toni Gonzaga; Buko by Jireh Lim; Wo-oh by Kamikazee; Rainbow by David Archuleta; Scared To Death by KZ Tandingan; Gayuma by Abra featuring Thyro & Jeriko Aguilar; Bago Mahuli Ang Lahat by Never The Strangers.

Alaala also by Yeng; One Day by Angeline Quinto; Burado by Rico Blanco; In This Life by Bamboo; Take A Chance by Luigi D’Avola; Umpisa by Jensen Gomez; If You Ever Change Your Mind by Marion Aunor; Tamang Panahon by Wynn Andrada; Hanggang Wakas by Juris; and This Song Is For You by Erik Santos.