Power singing from Rachelle Ann

In true champion fashion, Rachelle Ann Go is holding the fort for power singing in the radio and TV hit charts against the onslaught of the current band explosion. That is quite a feat given the fact that listeners have lately been showing a strong preference for Filipino originals Ulan, Narda and 1, by a diverse selection of groups, Cueshé, Kamikazee and 6Cyclemind.

One proof of this is the latest Mobile MYX list of top picks. Nine titles are by bands. Para Sa ‘yo by Parokya ni Edgar, Ulan by Cueshé, Kung Wala Ka by Hale, Hanggang Kailan by Orange and Lemons, Makita Kang Muli by Sugarfree, With a Smile by South Border, Papa Cologne also by Parokya and Astro by Radioactive Sago Project. Then, there entrenched in No. 2 is Rachelle Ann’s cover of Beverly Craven’s Promise Me, topped only by Pag-agos by the indie band Up Dharma Down.

Promise Me is one of the cuts in Rachelle Ann’s new album, I Care. Now a big seller, thanks to the excellent market reaction to the first single release, If You Walk Away, the album boasts of an international line-up of songwriters and producers. Interestingly, this seems to be the trend among the recordings by our singing champions. Both new albums by Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista also credit works by foreigners.

It is of course best for everybody to stick with the locals, whom I must say are no less talented and do create beautiful music. But if working with experts from other countries will expose our talents to new styles and the latest in technology, then I am all for it. They will surely apply whatever they learn to their future projects and the process can only redound to the good of everybody.

This I believe was what happened to Rachelle Ann when she was recorded by producers who had no idea of what fans expect from our champions. Christian de Walden, who works regularly with Latin superstars Martha Sanchez and Paulina Rubio, allowed Rachelle Ann to seek her own singing style and then selected the songs that suit her best.

With Luca Vittori of Milan as engineer, the sessions produced the power ballad If You Walk Away plus Baby It’s Time and Rachelle Ann’s first dance recordings, Good Love, Palm Reader, Number One and The Sweetest Vice. De Walden also recorded Days to Come, which is Rachelle Ann’s first encounter with Eurodance. The song was then mixed at the trendy Studio di Ripetta in Rome by Vanni G and David Bacon, two of the top DJs in Italy.

Charles Williams came from California because he wanted Rachelle Ann to record It Wasn’t Enough, a song about a young woman finding the guts to get out of a bad relationship. Along with this came Window of My Heart, which became a duet for Rachelle Ann and fellow champion Mark Bautista. Then there was the song Angel, which came from Germany.

The Filipinos involved in the project were no less stellar. Consistent hitmaker Vehnee Saturno was behind I Care. Actor and musician Chuckie Dreyfus came up with Bakit which was produced by Moy Ortiz of CompanY. Ferdinand Dimadura composed and produced Strange are the Ways of Love while singer-songwriter Yman wrote Thank You.

The unique mixture of Filipino sensibility and cosmopolitan flair eased Rachelle Ann across the dreaded sophomore album rut. Because of this she rests assured of more hit singles from I Care and the experience has also prepared her for more exciting challenges in the future.

Rachelle Ann’s If You Walk Away tops the MYX Chart of most requested videos for the week. The others are Ulan by Cueshé; You Win the Game by Mark Bautista; Everything You Do by Christian Bautista; Narda by Kamikazee; 1 by 6Cyclemind; I’ll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me by M.Y.M.P.; I Still by the Backstreet Boys; Stickwitu by the Pussycat Dolls; Kung Wala Ka by Hale.

Just the Girl by Click Five; Don’t Forget About Us by Mariah Carey; Check On It by Beyoncé; L.O.V.E. by Ashlee Simpson; Una by Spongecola; Bakit Ba Iniibig Ka by Erik Santos and Regine Velasquez; Fire by Kitchie Nadal; When You Tell Me That You Love Me by Westlife and Diana Ross; When I’m Gone by Eminem; and Sugod by Sandwich.