Ogie goes both ways in new album

Just like most recording artists these days, Ogie Alcasid probably faced the dilemma of whether to sing oldies or do new materials while making his latest album. Although he built his career on originals like Nan-dito Ako, Mahal Kita Walang Iba and Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang the temptation to make his own collection of oldies must have been strong because time-tested hits are easier to sell and it is what everybody is doing these days.

But then although it takes double the effort, nothing beats making a success out of something that is your own and someday watching other artists sing their own versions of what you created. So to solve his problem, Ogie came up with what he saw as the best solution. He mixed several of his new compositions with some of his favorites from the past and titled his first studio album after nearly three years, Then and Now.

Then is for the Hotdog classic Bongga Ka `day, where Ogie's spirited rendition brings back memories of his early dance hits like Sumayaw, Sumunod and Dance with Me. Then also refers to his medley of If and Aubrey by Bread, which incidentally, is the best track in the album. Then is also for Simply Jessie by Rex Smith, Anyone Can See by Irene Cara, Seals & Croft's My Fair Share, where he duets with Martin Nievera and the minor hit I'll Never Let You Go which was first recorded by Joanne Lorenzana.

But what on earth is Ogie doing with one hit wonder Charlene's I've Never Been to Me. Although he reworked the lyrics a bit to do it from a male point of view, the song still doesn't work for him and despite most things having gone unisex since the song first came out, the sentiments it expresses can only be female. I praise Ogie for his daring but Charlene set certain parameters that not even the most gifted of male singers can surmount.

For his Now side, Ogie performs seven new songs he wrote himself. He is in a serious, romantic mood and while some variety and a little more edge would have made his efforts doubly interesting, I see no reason to fault the guy for being caught up with love. These cuts are Kung Ma-wawala Ka, Sa Iyo Lamang, Kahit Na, I Promise You, I Believe, When I See You Smile and Ikaw Lang.

Congratulations to Trina Belamide for winning the Overall 2nd Prize at the 1999 USA Songwriting Competition. Her composition Happy Valentine's Day came in second to Say `Em Strong by Adrianne Gonzalez of Miami, Florida and bested more than 30,000 entries from all over the world. Trina's share in the more than US$22,000 in cash and merchandise at stake in the contest was $2000 in cash and $3000 worth of merchandise and equipment. Hopefully her victory gave her a foot inside the door and will soon result in interest from US publishers and some sort of exposure in the US market. But even if nothing happens at this point, I can already say that she sure did our country proud.

Trina was the first Asian to win one of the top prizes in the contest. She submitted four songs and one of them was Happy Valentine's Day, which she interpreted herself. Despite the title it is actually about being sad because you are alone on Valentine's Day. "People seem to think less of you if you don't have a date for that evening," says Trina, "but it's a fact that not everyone has a special someone. So you have people who, under normal circumstances, are okay with their lives until February 14 comes and they feel so alone because of all the hype the occasion gets. So I was inspired to write a song for someone who's lonely, broken-hearted or in grief."

Former winners of the contest now compete for the Grammys so this could be a step in that direction for Trina who has been writing songs and winning music contests since her high school days. Aside from the USA Songwriting Competition, this year alone saw her win the local search for the Philippine representative to the Asia Song Festival with her composition No Less, cop second place at the Asia Song Festival held in Malaysia with the same song, and win the grand prize of the Philippine National Red Cross Songwriting Contest with the song Life Power. She was also responsible for Tell the World of His Love, the official theme of the World Youth Day celebration in 1995.