Sharon and the return of Nothing I Want More - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby Gil

It has been two years since Sharon Cuneta last released an album, When I Love with the hits Both Sides Now and Starlight, but her latest more than makes up for the long wait. Produced by Eugene Villaluz and arranged by Homer Flores, the album is a collection of hit songs from the ’80s. All of the tracks are huge favorites and many of us know them by heart. Of course, each one comes with loads of special memories not only for Sharon but for many of us as well.

Leading the line-up is the title track and first single release Nothing I Want More, a composition by arranger and musical director Jun Latonio and former Circus member Tillie Moreno. The song was an entry in the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival of 1982 where it was interpreted by New Minstrels members Eugene and Louie Reyes.

That competition is a very different Metropop from what we have at present. This new one has already been around for a few years but it still has to produce a hit or even a single memorable song from among its winners. Back then the winners invariably go on to reap more honors abroad like Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika and even the non-winners turn into hits like, Anak. Truth to tell, many of the Filipino songs considered modern classics today were entries to that Metropop.

Nothing I Want More is one such song. It won the Grand Prize at the Metropop and was named entry to the Seoul Song Festival of that same year. Out there in a foreign land, the song reaped an even bigger success when it bested songs from other countries to also win the Grand Prize. Take note that it was only one of several songs from that era to win in an international competition. It was indeed a great time for Filipino music.

Nearly 20 years later, it is heartening to find that the local Megastar has revived the historic Nothing I Want More for her latest album. It is also most interesting to know that Eugene and Louie themselves did the backup vocals for Sharon’s version of their song. And the result effectively showcases the song’s inspiring message of unconditional friendship that it was before.

The album also contains Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder, Careless Whisper by Wham, Don’t Forget Me by Toni Tenille, It’s Only Love by AMB Junior, a medley of Even Now and Somewhere Down the Road by Barry Manilow, Please Don’t Ask Me by John Farham, He’s Out of My Life by Michael Jackson, Smile Again by the Manhattan Transfer, Maybe by Roberta Flack, The Promise by Debbie Boone and Lift Up Your Hands by Basil Valdez.

Sharon’s Nothing I Want More comes in a special jacket and will only be available in this container for a limited number of copies. Postpone getting it now and you might end up with only a regular case. The same goes for you if you get a pirated copy for you will miss out on the impressive packaging. So don’t buy from the pirates and get your own copy of this album now. The songs are truly beautiful. Sharon sings with so much feeling. You cannot help but enjoy this one.

Madz in Love

Another album composed of old favorites and really made for romantic daydreaming is Madz in Love. This one features the internationally-acclaimed a cappella singing of The Philippine Madrigal Singers led by choirmaster Andrea O. Veneracion, performing 12 of the most beautiful love songs we have ever heard.

This one is another album that anyone, you, your parents, grandparents, friends and best of all lovers will surely play over and over again. That is what I’ve been doing these past few days and I am also somebody who welcomes Limp Bizkit. And as in Sharon’s case, don’t believe anybody who says that this is all mush. I grant that it may be mush, but who can resist beautiful mush? Besides, this is a huge improvement over the Ray Coniff Singers.

Contained in Madz in Love are the following songs: What Matters Most, Only You, An Affair to Remember, I Could Have Danced All Night, When I Fall in Love, (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear, One Hand, One Heart, Wind Beneath My Wings, Till There Was You, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Night and Day and Moon River.