Sharon sings Walang Kapalit

Sharon Cuneta has added Walang Kapalit to her list of hit movie themes composed by Rey Valera and arranged by Willy Cruz. She is set to perform the song for her upcoming film of the same title. Directed by the famous Joel Lamangan, the romantic comedy tells the story of a long-separated couple who rediscover their love for one another while on the verge of getting their marriage annulled. Sharon plays the wife while awardwinning hunk Richard Gomez is cast as her estranged husband.

The Sharon-Valera collaboration started 25 years ago when the singer-composer, known for his sentimental love songs, wrote a tune called Mr. DJ for the would-be-Megastar. Mr. DJ made a singing star out of the then 12-year-old Sharon who then moved on to greater fame as an actress and TV personality. She has since recorded many more Valera songs like Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko and Sinasamba Kita, but the ones that her followers consider their all-time favorites are those used as themes for several of her most successful films.

This phase in their long-association began when Sharon recorded the song Maging Sino Ka Man for the box-office recordbreaker where she teamed up with Robin Padilla. After that, it soon became common practice for Sharon to sing a Valera composition for her films and Maging Sino Ka Man was followed by Kung Kailangan Mo Ako with Rudy Fernandez, Tayong Dalawa with Gabby Concepcion and Pangako Sa ‘Yo with Bong Revilla, Jr. Sharon now adds the lovely Walang Kapalit to this list. From the looks of it, there will soon be a new Sharon Cuneta hit song that will be followed by a blockbuster film at the box office come May 14.

Walang Kapalit is the lead cut in the album of the same title made up of Rey Valera compositions arranged by Willy Cruz and performed by Sharon. The big movie themes are all present: Maging Sino Ka Man, Kung Kailangan Mo Ako, Tayong Dalawa and Pangako. The other Valera goodies included are Malayo Pa ang Umaga, Sorry Na, Puwede Ba, Naaalala Ka, which was also used in the Maging Sino Ka Man soundtrack, Kumusta Ka, Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo, Sa Kabila ng Lahat and Daigdig ng Alaala.

Sharon has come a very long way since her Mr. DJ days. So has the artistry that found a heaven-sent partnership with the songs of Rey Valera and the arrangements of Willy Cruz. Incidentally, Willy, whose first composition for Sharon was Init Sa Magdamag, also went on to write some of her other enduring hits like Sana’y Wala ng Wakas, Bituing Walang Ningning, Pangarap Na Bituin, Sana’y Maghintay ang Walang Hanggan and many others. Sharon, Valera and Willy have likewise notched and will still create other successes on their own but this collection of beautiful love songs remains one of the most loved and enduring.

New dance hits

There are a lot of new dance hits in the airlanes these days. This must be due to all those proms and graduation balls currently going on. In the great tradition of the Ketchup song Asereje, which has now been put to rest, these are trite, nonsensical and of a very short shelf-life. I already hear the next ones just waiting to take over. But for the moment, they do serve their purpose. So enjoy Cheeky Cheeky, Pata-Pata, Chihua-hua and all the others with all your might while you can.

Love-struck Pinoys though still go mainly for the heart-tugging love songs and these are what dominate the local hit charts these days: Passenger’s Seat by Stephen Speaks; Heaven by DJ Sammy; To Love You More, the remake of the Celine Dion hit which is the big surprise of the moment performed in the Star for a Night album featuring the eleven finalists by winner Sarah Geronimo; Jealous by the fast-rising Nina; Kung Ako Na Lang Sana by another exciting newcomer Bituin Escalante, which will be used as the theme in a Sharon Cuneta-Aga Muhlach starrer currently in the works; If You’re Not the One by Daniel Benningfield; All I Have by Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J; Pangarap Kong Ibigin Ka, the Ogie Alcasid composition that is also the theme from the forthcoming film of the same title sang by Regine Velasquez; Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word by Blue featuring Elton John; and Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park.