For many Filipinos who still have to discover the hot treasure trove of salsa music, Marc Anthony is known only as the boyfriend of former Miss Universe and former star of local films and television Dayanara Torres. For those who go to the movies, he was the guy who sang the theme song of the movie Mask of Zorro with Tina Arena. If we were to ask his record label, Columbia, they will probably say, perhaps only to themselves, that they are hoping that Marc Anthony will be as big or bigger than Ricky Martin and will become the male Mariah Carey or Celine Dion.
The chance that he will is not farfetched. Marc Anthony, who is known in Latin circles as the salsa prince explodes with a blinding sort of intensity in his first English-language album. Hey, this guy is good. He puts forth a unique blend of urban soul and Latin machismo and his vocals are strong and filled with emotion. And while Ricky can shake his bon bon and Enrique has the pedigree, all that Marc Anthony has to do is sing to turn his rivals into bland GP pin-ups. His first single I Need to Know packs more heat than any other song in the airlanes these days.
Although of Puerto Rican parentage, Marc Anthony was born in New York and started his career singing house music in English in dance clubs. But it was when he switched to Spanish that his career really took off. His first three albums, Todo A Su Tiempo, Contra La Corriente and Desde Un Principio, all landed in the Latin charts and he became known as one of the youngest and also one of the best exponents of salsa music. In fact, the latter has been number one for more than two months.
With the Latin music invasion of the hit charts of the world burning at fever-pitched, there was no reason for Marc Anthony not to record in English and join the company of Ricky and Enrique and Jennifer and others. He tested the waters with the well-received I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You with Tina Arena from The Mask of Zorro, a song that was originally meant for Ricky Martin. The self-titled English album was released a year later.
The album has come under fire from those who are familiar with Marc Anthony's early recordings for being over orchestrated, over sang and for being more pop than salsa. But the main purpose of the album is to expand Marc Anthony's market, which is not likely to happen if he will remain oblivious of the current demands of music buyers. As it is, there is enough pop in the album to please everybody, a sprinkling of Spanish cuts to spice up the line-up and loads of Latin charm coming from Marc Anthony.
Aside from I Need to Know, the other songs included in the album are When I Dream at Night, another possible single, Am I the Only One, You Sang to Me, My Baby You, No One, How Could I, That's Okay, Don't Let Me Leave, Remember Me, She's Been Good to Me, Love is All, Dimelo (I Need to Know), Como Ella Me Quiere A Mi (She's Been Good To Me), Da La Vuelta and somewhere among these "I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You.
From Puerto Rico we are off to Canada from where comes Bryan Adams. The famous rock artist has recently released a new album that will not only delight his fans but also all those admirers who want to save on their budget and space. This is because, the album titled The Best of Me compiles 14 classic tracks by Bryan Adams plus the new hit single also titled The Best of Me. Old and new, Bryan's biggest sellers from 1984 to the present are all accounted for here. So if you are not a stickler for album concept and just want to listen to the music, you will surely enjoy this collection.
Cuts included are Cloud Number Nine from 1999 Inside Out and When You're Gone, featuring Mel C., from 1998, Back to You and I'm Ready from 1997 The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me is You, Let's Make a Night to Remember and Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman from 1996, Please Forgive Me and All For Love with Rod Stewart and Sting from 1993, Everything I Do, I Do It for You and Can't Stop This Thing We Started from 1991, Run To You and Summer of '69 from 1984.