Karylle in her mom’s footsteps

For many years, she was the sheltered, shadowy figure in the tempestuous life of singer/actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. Then in the surprising manner exclusive to most little girls, she was suddenly grown-up, pretty and eager to show off her singing talent. Last week, it finally happened, Ana Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari released her first album, the aptly titled Time to Shine. And judging from the way she sounds, shine she will, indeed.

I know the expression is trite but it is the most fitting I can come up with to describe Karylle’s arrival. She is like a breath of fresh air, the life-giving kind, in a world in danger of dying from boredom, piracy and the massive influence of MTV. We wondered for a long time about what will give the local music industry that proverbial kick in the pants and get the excitement going again. Where is the new Eraserheads?

Then there was newcomer Kyla singing Hanggang Ngayon and copping the top prize at the recent MTV Video Awards. Next came child actress Aiza Seguerra, now all grownup and singing the Platinum seller Pagdating ng Panahon. So we asked, is a little girl going to be the savior? Then last week, there was Karylle launching her album. And we got the answer. It is indeed a girl, or should I say, the girls, who will get the adrenalin going and save whatever remains of Filipino pop music.

Karylle’s voice is a fuller version of her mother’s. And that is as far as I will go about comparing her to Zsa Zsa. She has her own style and it is a versatile one that enables her to go from Britney Spears dance R&B to a soulful love song in Pilipino. The structure of the entire album is built around this unique quality. Karylle goes from the engaging opener Angel of My Heart to the hot dance number Can’t Live Without You then back to the melancholy Now That You’re Gone and to the dance floor again with Lemme Be the One and so on.

Time to Shine is a sleek, well-produced package with input from well-known producers and songwriters like Iot Rapadas of the Neocolors and Noel Macanaya also known as DJ M.O.D. The first single release is Can’t Live Without You, which is being promoted with a music video directed by Cholo Laurel. The other songs in the album are the oldie recorded by Leif Garret I Was Looking for Someone to Love, Bakit Ba Ikaw, Breaking My Heart, Baby I Love You and the title song Its My Time to Shine.

Another cut included in the album is Calling, a light rock number composed expressly for Karylle by Gil and his writing associate Tal Ofarim. The long-haired pop idol from Europe and frequent Manila visitor heard Karylle sing during one of his visits here. Inspired by her voice and also doubtless by her looks, he decided to write a song for Karylle than he will sing with her in her debut album. The recording of the duet took place here last April.

Karylle is a Management Major in Communications Technology at the Ateneo University. She made her theater debut in the local production of Little Mermaid where she played Princess Sapphire. She was born on March 22. She likes to write poems, window shop and dance. She studied ballet for 12 years. Her dearest dreams are to publish her writings, be the voice of a cartoon character and to do good for others. Watch out for Karylle. Big things are in store for the young singer.

Speaking of Gil, who seems to get better looking in his casual sunshiny way, each time I see him he also has a new album out in the market. This one is titled Best of Gil and is made up of 14 of his early big sellers. It’s Your Love, If You Only Knew, Out of My Bed (Still in My Head), Talk to You, Say What You Want, Round ‘n’ Round (It Goes), Emotions, The Only One, Never Giving Up Now, Close 2 Perfect, Bang Bang, Bang, I am So in Love, Sometimes I... and Goodbye. Not only that, this "best of" compilation also includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks, Do You Believe Me, Live in Your Dreams and I Can’t Help Falling.