Halo-halo tunes from Pinoy Fresh

Why settle for one type of song in an album when you can have a variety of sounds that is guaranteed to please anybody. This was probably what Galaxy Records had in mind when it put together Pinoy Fresh, which caters to the Pinoy’s penchant for all kinds of mixed up things generally referred to as halo-halo. This one is made up of halo-halo tunes and, like samplers, hopes to direct the buyer to a more complete listening pleasure after he has made his choice.

Take note of these halo-halo tunes offered up by Pinoy Fresh. I Love You and You’re Still Here are soothing ballads by singer-songwriter Pat Dylan. I do not know if that is his real name or if he is related to the great Bob of Like a Rolling Stone fame but listen anyway to find out how he measures up. Rae, a commercial model debuts with one of the collection’s best cuts, Set Me Free. Let us wait and see where this song will lead her singing career. Magtiwala Ka by Third String provides the acoustic group sound.

Shermaine another model contributes a light combination of pop and R&B with three cuts, Glow, I’ll Be Fine and Sometimes. Kahit Sandali by Mike Bewer represents the guitar-toting folkie. Miskol by Kerubin and Text2 Na Lang Muna by Jenn are the songs that young phone text addicts will go for. Then there are also Leaving Behind by Anna Katrina, Heaven Won’t End by Vince Soriano and to spice things up, a novelty tune entitled, Gusto Ko ang Nota, by actress-turned-sexy rapper Aleck Bovick.

Taking on the main spotlight in the album is another actress but unlike Aleck, this one has turned her sights seriously to singing. She is billed here as simply Stella but many doubtless remember her as variously known as Stella Ruiz or Stella White a few years ago when we had no idea she could carry a tune. Tall and pretty she shows here that she has a voice that matches her looks and the kind of vocal styling so prevalent in the hit charts these days, like Nina’s or Juris’ of M.Y.M.P. She does two sentimental love songs, Cry Over You and Missing You.

Freestyle Greatest Hits

Here now is another kind of halo-halo. These are songs popularized by Freestyle over the past 10 years compiled together in the album, Freestyle Greatest Hits. Now available in a single CD are 16 of the biggest selling hits by the famous pop group. These are the songs from that long ago time before things went sour for singer, guitarist and songwriter Totop Suzara and vocalist Jinky Vidal. Fortunately for the group, the rift failed to destroy Freestyle. The band continues to perform with Jinky and some new members although the popular soloist now has her own solo project in the works. Totop, however, is no Freestyle anymore.

The cuts included are Before I Let You Go, Bakit Iniwan Na, This Time, I Wanna Get Close, Missing You, ’Til I Found You, Mananatili, Good Luv, So Slow, Para Sa ‘yo, Paano, Treat You So Right, Once in a Lifetime, Down and Funky, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang, the monster duet with Pops Fernandez of the Ogie Alcasid tune and the Love Medley consisting of Weak, Incomplete, 6,8,12 and I’d Still Say Yes.

Top 20 Videos

Over at MYX, the Filipino music channel, here is the list of the top 20 videos for the week Aug. 8 to 13. Still firmly entrenched in the No.1 slot is the boy group Hale with its second big seller, The Day You Said Goodnight. The rest of the biggies are: Gemini by Sponge Cola; Stay by Cueshe; I Want to Know What Love Is by Sarah Geronimo; First by Lindsay Lohan; Someday (I Will Understand) by Britney Spears; Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day; End of Me by Marion Raven; I Know by Yasmien Kurdi; All I Need by Side A; Tell Me Where It Hurts by M.Y.M.P.; Maling Akala by Brownman Revival; Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child; Makakaasa Ka by Rivermaya; Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson; Make a Move by Incubus; Cool by Gwen Stefani; Wake Up by Hilary Duff; Wordplay by Jason Mraz; and Don’t Lie by Black Eyed Peas.