More OPM songs from EMI Phils.

Nandito Ako, Muli, Bakit Pa, Remember Me, Enveloped Ideas. These are just some of the most memorable OPM hits by one of the country’s leading exponents of quality music; EMI Philippines. The record company promises to uphold their decades-long tradition of providing local hits as they go full force in 2003 with new OPM releases from its current crop of talented and exciting artists.

Multi-awarded Philippine Princess of Pop Vina Morales launches the EMI assault with the release of Sana’y Dumating Ka Na, her duet with Gary Valenciano, with a grass-roots campaign. Sana’y Dumating…is the second single off Vina’s Reflections album. Vina is also riding high on the crest of her successful major concert Revealed at the Folk Arts Theater and her mall tour sponsored by Skechers Sport.

R&B/pop ingénue Kyla continues with her soulful assault via her new single Sa Iyong Paglayo from her self-titled album which also features the hit I Feel For You. As proven in her recently-concluded Skechers Sport sponsored mall tour, Kyla’s hook-laden mix of both R&B and pop music has made her a favorite among audiences anticipating the arrival of a new diva in the local music scene. Her potential to be an international hitmaker became evident in the current chart-topper Wish We Were Two, a collaboration with the influential Fra Lippo Lippi from the latter’s latest release, In A Brilliant White. Kyla is also slated to perform with fellow EMI artist Blue in the MTV Asia Awards to be aired tonight.

The sonic assault further heats up as sexy siren Patricia Javier promotes her new single, Huwag Mo Kong Lisanin. Things can only get hotter as PJ slows things down with her naughty new single.

"They’re the future of rock," said Wolf Gemora of Wolfgang before leaving for the US. He is talking about Slapshock, who was hailed at the recently concluded NU Rock Awards 2002 as Artist of the Year. The rap-metal pioneers are fresh off their major concert held at the Folk Arts Theater, the only rock group that filled the huge venue in recent memory. Their newly packaged album Project 11-41 turns up EMI’s assault on a fast and furious note as it comes with a limited edition bonus AVCD. The rock band is now in Singapore for the MTV Asia Awards where they are nominated for Favorite Filipino Artist.

Medwin Marfil and the rest of True Faith lighten the mood with their new album Grace featuring the single Deadma. Grace puts an exclamation point on the premiere pop band’s 10th year in the business and serves as a reunion of sorts with founding members Francis Guevarra and Ferdie Maquez (the album"s producers).

EMI Philippines put the finishing touches on its assault with the release of Sugar Free’s debut album, Sa Wakas!, featuring the new single Telepono. The group is touted by critics as the next Eraserheads and the next band to-watch-out-for. Sugar Free’s album is a melodic pop-rock alternative confection filled with catchy hooks and honest, heartfelt lyrics. The album will be launched tomorrow night via an exciting mini-concert at Freedom Bar.

The ‘Shimmering’ Diva

These days, divas are everywhere! And I’m not complaining. Rather than have "politicos" crooning I Love The Night Life or My Way in preparation for 2004, I’d take any diva anytime. There’s the pop diva, the divine diva, the soul diva and so forth and so on. And there’s room for one more "shimmering diva" that is Anna Fegi. The moniker was given to her by her fans from Cebu.

But Anna seems to be uncomfortable with the title. "Kahit wala akong title, okay lang sa akin," she says. "I just want to keep on singing. I want to touch as many people as I can through my music."

Anna is opening the year with a major concert at the Hard Rock Café on Jan. 25. Billed Anna Fegi: This is the Moment, the concert will feature Side A and the Manouvres as special guests. Anna will sing a flurry of standards, pop, classic, jazz, R and B and OPM songs.

Anna will also start rehearsing for Dreamgirls, Atlantis Productions’ follow-up to the phenomenal run of the critical and commercial hit The Rocky Horror Show.

Anna plays the role of Deena Jones, one of the two dueling divas in the musical directed by Bobby Garcia with musical direction by Gerard Salonga. Dreamgirls also features Bituin Escalante.

Dreamgirls, with music by Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tim Eyen, took Broadway by storm and went on to win six Tony Awards. From the musical came many hit songs such as We Are Family, I Am Changing and I Am Telling You I’m Not Going. Dreamgirls tells the inspiring story of three female singers trying to make their dreams come true as the musical landscape changes from rhythm and blues to disco. It is loosely based on lives of The Supremes. The musical will open on March 14 at Onstage Greenbelt.

Meanwhile, Anna plans to release her second album under BMG Pilipinas also in March. Her interpretation of Closer You and I, originally sung by Gino Padilla, is included in the Close-Up compilation album billed Closer You And I. Other artists in the album are Kyla, Luke Mijares, Rachel Alejandro, Cooky Chua, Radha, Ariel Rivera, Eraserheads and Chad Borja.

This summer, Anna will perform in the Superstar Leo, of the Star Cruise family, sailing to Hong Kong and China. The classical pop performance is titled The Voice, The Piano and The Sea and features world-renowned pianist Raul Sunico and international Ramon Aycomo as guest.