Japanese Jacky sings in Filipino

Japanese artists performing Filipino songs is no longer a novelty in the Philippines. Probably the most successful of them all was the harpist Tadao Hayashi, who after releasing one hit album after another in the country, decided to make his home here. Unfortunately, Tadao was mercilessly stabbed to death last year in his home.

Then there was Ted Ito who adapted a Japanese song, gave it Filipino lyrics and then recorded what became the phenomenal Ikaw Pa Rin. That song triggered the fad for using Japanese melodies with Tagalog lyrics. This is not so prevalent anymore but there is still plenty of beautiful Japanese songs that can be adapted into Filipino and which might become hits.

Jacky Woo hopes that the next one will be his. The Japanese actor, producer, martial arts expert, businessman and singing star has recorded an album expressly for the Philippine market. Produced on his own Forward Music label, it is titled Naroon Pa Rin and is made up of 10 songs originally recorded in Japanese but which have now been given Tagalog and at times Taglish lyrics. It is unfortunate that Jacky’s album cover contains no songwriters’ credits. I firmly believe that their efforts should always be acknowledged. More so because in this case, the melodies make for the kind of easy, pleasant listening that Filipinos like to indulge in.

Naroon Pa Rin is the album’s lead cut. This comes in two different mixes plus a music minus one track, just in case you want to try singing like Jacky. It is the typical pop ballad and you will find several of them in the album but Jacky, known as the Dancing Aikido Master back home, has also included a few upbeat numbers that listeners can dance to. The other songs are Sa Isang Kisap Mata, Pag-ibig Na Walang Hangganan, Sa Isang Basong Wine, Christmas Eve, My Lady, Kung Nalalaman Mo Lang, Hanggang Sa Muli, Melody and Natapos Man.

Jacky’s Forward Music label is but a part of his Forward Group company which is involved with entertainment and other concerns. This album is just one of several projects he intends to do in the Philippines. Another one of these is film production. Jacky has already released two, Dudurigin Ko Pati Buto Mo with John Regala and Total Aikido. A third, Hustler, where he also stars, is due for release this month. Jacky already enjoys big success as a film producer in Japan. Some of his well-known projects are Hasen No Maris, Bayside Midnight, Let’s Meet at the Camp and Gokudo No Tsumatchi-Revenge. He is hopeful that soon he will also be counting hit songs and box-office hits in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, here are the most popular tunes in the airlanes these days. Sad to say, the list is still living off last year’s leftovers and there will probably be more weeks to go before we get our hands on the new releases. The hits are: Drowning by the Backstreet Boys, Queen of My Heart by Westlife; Everywhere by Michelle Branch; What If by Babyface; Hero by Enrique Iglesias; I Wish You Were Here by Incubus; Brown Eyes by Destiny’s Child; Don’t Say Goodbye, Say Goodnight by Binocular; Ikaw Sana by Ogie Alcasid; and Superman by Five for Fighting.

Over in the US of A, the hit list continues to be R&B heavy with a modest sprinkling of rock music. Here are the top ten singles according to Billboard Magazine: U Got It Bad by Usher, How You Remind Me by Nickelback, Always on time by a Ja Rule featuring Ashanti; My Sacrifice by Creed; In the End by Linkin Park; Get the Party Started by Pink; A Woman’s Worth by Alicia Keys; Wherever You Will Go by The Calling; Hey Baby by No Doubt featuring Bounty Killing; and Ain’t It Funny by Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule.

There are country and bluegrass albums in the top ten but like the singles Hot 100, the list of top selling albums in the US of A is also ruled by various types of R&B. Here goes: Drive by country music star Allan Jackson; Weathered by Creed; [Hybrid Theory] by Linkin Park; Word of Mouf by Ludacris; Silver Side Up by Nickelback; Pain is Love by Ja Rule; Stillmatic by Nas; 8701 by Usher; M!ssundaztood by Pink; and the Grammy nominated blue grass soundtrack of the movie O Brother Where Art Thou? by Various Artists.