Coco Lee exposed

Exposed is just what the sultry Coco Lee is in her new album for Sony BMG Asia, which is the aptly titled, Exposed. The second English language release from the Asian pop star reveals a lot of the very sexy Coco. To start with, there are the revealing outfits she wears on the photos on the cover, an open leather vest in the front picture, sequined netting in the back other exposures inside. But as she says, "Pop music these days is about being sexy."

Then there are the songs, most of which she wrote herself. "That is why this album took so long, I was writing a lot," Coco explains. Her first full-length album in English, Just No Other Way came out in 1999. She also lets loose in her songs. No Doubt is about flirting. Cool is about a woman who stays in control. Touch, is a romantic gesture about missing somebody. Belly Dance is for shaking her bootie, which she loves to do. And sexiest of them all is So Good.

"I am 29 and I have the right to be sexual," is Coco’s explanation for So Good. Of course it comes with a matching steamy video. "The director wanted me to wear just something to cover my nipples, but I said ‘no way,’ so they made this little skin-colored bikini for me to wear and it is just as sexy." And sexy it indeed is with silhouette shots, suggestive movements and Coco purring "So good, so good."

"I guess I really went overboard with that one," continues Coco about So Good, which is her new single release. "It is really raising a lot of eyebrows. My mother’s English is not very good so it was just OK when I had her listen to it, but my stepfather is American so I was going like umhum, umhum just avoiding him."

That must be why although she was ranked No. 3 in the A Style Magazine list of 21 Sex Symbols for the 21st Century and No. 17 in the FHM Magazine Singapore listing of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World and has a lithe, trim figure she maintains with dancing and regular workouts, Coco, who is considered the most successful Asian crossover pop star today, will never, never pose nude for Playboy. "I’m afraid I stop at nudity. Look at the video. Wearing a bikini is just as sexy."

Coco was recently in town for some appearances to promote Exposed. She was born in Hong Kong but moved with her family to San Francisco as a child. She returned when she was 19 to embark on her singing career. Since then she has released 16 albums and performed with top Western acts like Michael Jackson, Julio Iglesias and Ricky Martin.

Among her best known recordings are A Love Before Time, the theme from the Academy Award winning motion picture Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, All Around the World from the Charlie’s Angels II Asian soundtrack, Before I Fall in Love from Runaway Bride and Do You Want My Love.

Coco has also appeared in films. She appeared opposite John Lone in Master of Everything. She is also considered a fashion icon and spokesperson to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among the youth. She now divides her time between Asia and the US of A.

A Collection of Songs from the Heart

Just in case you have been wondering about how Nina got her hands on Love Moves in Mysterious Ways, here is your answer. It was originally recorded by Julia Fordham and her version topbills the compilation release titled A Collection of Songs from the Heart. The album is actually made up of hits from the past that have recently recaptured the fancy of listeners because of new versions like Hands to Heaven by Breathe which was covered by Christian Bautista.

You will also find Somebody by Depeche Mode; Human by Human League; Different Seasons by Johnny Hates Jazz; Rush Rush by American Idol judge Paula Abdul; Missing You by John Waite; True by Spandau Ballet; Angel by Fra Lippo Lippi; Special Kind of Something by Kavana; Beautiful in My Eyes by Joshua Kadison; Born for You by David Pomeranz; Lovin’ You by Minnie Riperton; I Could Fall in Love by Selena; You’re in Love by Wilson Phillips; Maybe by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack; Simply Jessie by Rex Smith; and Because of You by Keith Martin.