Sharon sings Alcasid

As per the comic strip contained in the interesting CD cover, this album was born when Sharon Cuneta asked Ogie Alcasid to write a song for her. The singer/songwriter answered, "Why just one song? Why don’t you do a whole album?" And so here it is Sharon Sings Alcasid where the Megastar performs songs composed or popularized by the leading singer-songwriter of today, Ogie Alcasid.

The album’s concept is a continuation of one that Sharon started many years ago with Viva Records. These were the albums Sharon Sings Valera and Sharon Sings Canseco where she recorded works by two of the three composers who played a big role in her rise to prominence as a singer and actress. Rey Valera wrote Mr. DJ, Maging Sino Ka Man, Pangako Sa ‘yo and others. The late George Canseco composed Langis at Tubig, Dear Heart, Ngayon at Kailan Man plus others. The third composer is Willy Cruz who was responsible for Pangarap Na Bituin, Bituing Walang Ningning, Sana’y Wala ng Wakas and also others.

The difference with the new CD is that it not only contains songs composed by Alcasid but also two written by other writers but which Ogie recorded early in his career. These are Sa Kanya by Ito Rapadas and Nandito Ako by Aaron Paul del Rosario. The latter comes in two versions, one a solo by Sharon and the other, a duet she does with Ogie. But no matter, this is still music by Alcasid and it is nice to find Sharon turning them into her own.

This also corrects an oversight that has existed for many years because I do not recall Sharon having recorded any song by Ogie in the past or used one in any of her movies. Well, she does 14 of them now. I missed my favorite Ogie song, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw from the film that starred Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla but maybe Sharon can do that in some future album.

Sharon Sings Alcasid has these songs: Sana, Ikaw ang Pag-ibig, Hanggang Ngayon, from the movie that starred Richard Gomez and Regine Velasquez, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, Ikaw Sana, Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka, from another movie that starred Christopher de Leon and Regine, Kung Mawawala Ka once a duet by Ogie and Aiza Seguerra from the soap series of the same title, Dito sa Puso Ko, Mahal Kita Walang Iba, Tanging Ikaw Lamang and Pangako.

Sharon has just returned from a successful six-city tour of the US of A where Ogie was a featured performer. She is now bracing herself for activities earmarked for the promotion of the Sharon Sings Alcasid album.

The week’s top videos

Meanwhile from MYX, the Filipino music channel, here are the week’s top videos from local artists: Tell Me Where It Hurts by M.Y.M.P.; The Day You Said Goodnight by Hale; I Wanna Know What Love Is by Sarah Geronimo; Hallelujah! by Bamboo; Stay by new band Cueshe; Same Ground by Kitchie Nadal; Di Na Ba Kita Mapipigilan? by Jaya; Through the Fire by Nina; I’ll Never Go by Erik Santos; and Basang Labi by another new band Nerveline.

MTV vs piracy

From MTV comes this piece of important news. MTV, the world’s largest television network together with leading technology solutions provider HP, recently announced a joint campaign to support original Filipino music in an effort to stop music piracy. Rather than put the spotlight on the battle against piracy itself, MTV and HP have decided to shift the focus on the power and influence of the Filipino artists and why it is important to give their work the respect and recognition they deserve. The three-month campaign will be capped off with a big concert featuring top Filipino artists.

Entitled MTV and VH1 Present: Right to Royalty by HP, this will be held on July 29, Friday at The Fort Open Field in Taguig. Among them are the Apo Hiking Society, Barbie Almabis, Cynthia Alexander, Geneva Cruz, Grace Nono, Jay-R, Joey Ayala, Kuh Ledesma, Makiling Ensemble, Nina, Noel Cabangon, Paolo Santos, Pinikpikan, Radha, Seven Shots of Wisdom, Side A and True Faith. Many more are expected to sign up for the show and help this worthy cause. Incidentally, VH1 is a daily 90-minute block about the power of music that airs daily on MTV Southeast Asia, MTV Indonesia and MTV Philippines.