Girl power on the airwaves

Now getting very good feedback is a tune entitled Manila. It is the first single out of an album entitled Feel Good Music by a new artist named Amber. In case you are wondering about the marquee-friendly name, please let me inform you that it is truly hers and not the brainchild of a clever agent.

She was born Amber Alejo Rowley. I am sure you also want to know why she is singing about the virtues of Manila. This is because Amber was born in the US of a Filipino mother and American father. She already had a budding career as a singer out there but has chosen to return to the Philippines and try her luck here.

Amber’s Filipino roots and sentiments play a big part in the contents of Feel Good Music. There’s fun, which she associates with the city in In This Place. She calls one cut Jungle because that’s what foreigners think of the Philippines. There’s a Tagalog song, Ikaw ang Buhay Ko, plus Daddy, for all the fathers in the world, the inspirational Feel Good Music and We Need Love and love songs like So Beautiful, See You Soon, He’s Not You, All for Nothing and I Need.

Genesis’ Songs from My Heart

The face, as pretty as ever, is not really new. Neither is the sound as she has already done recordings and countless singing stints in the past as Patricia Javier. But the name Genesis, on the cover, is not familiar and the songs in the album like Songs from My Heart are mostly romantic and inspirational ballads and not the dance tunes she used to do.

Now, Genesis is actually Patricia’s given name. It is how she wishes to be known because it means beginning and she has new beginnings to be happy about these days. Genesis also sees the name as symbolic of her rediscovered faith in the Lord and her life as the bride of American chiropractor Robert Wahler.

The carrier single of Songs from My Heart is Sa ‘Yo Ko Lang Ibibigay. Composed by Tats Faustino, this was first performed by Genesis at her wedding seven months ago. The other cuts are Best Thing, Higit Pa Sa Lahat, Wind Beneath My Wings, Power of Faith, Minsan, How Can I Let You Go, Joy Unspeakable, Greater Than All These and The Best Thing. Bonus tracks are the music minus one of Higit Pa Sa Lahat and Sa ‘Yo Ko Lang Ibibigay.

New singer to watch

I am sure you have also come to believe that these days all of the new singers with great voices must have been discovered in a talent contest. I have to say not all of them. A case in point is newcomer Amy Cruz, whose singing never fails to impress and whom listeners are surprised to find out is not one of the singing champions.

A student at Far Eastern University, the unassuming 20-year-old honed her style with gigs in school and various nightspots. But thanks to the release of her first album, Amy is now geared for bigger shows and hopefully stardom soon.

Amy is under contract with Viva Records, which recently released her album No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do. The title track is a composition by leading hitmaker Vehnee Saturno and has received very positive comments from radio listeners and those who have watched Amy’s recent performances. Other songs in Amy’s CD-Lite album showcase her versatility and powerful vocal range. These are Kung Nakita Ko, Never Had a Dream Come True, Woman in Me and Everytime.

Most-watched music videos

It’s now time to check out the most-watched music videos on local TV. The Pinoy MYX Countdown for the week is as follows: Martyr Nyebera by Kamikazee; Blue Sky by Hale; Wait Forever by Gary V; A Promise by Chicosci; Walang Kadala-dala by Sandwich; 241 (My Favorite Song) by Rivermaya; Sayang ang Lahat by True Faith; Pwede Ba by Soapdish; Panaginip by Mayonnaise; Dahil Ikaw by True Faith; Endless, A Silent Whisper by Urbandub; Jeepney by SpongeCola; Manila by Amber; I Care by Rachelle Ann Go; Jeepney by Kala; Sa Aking Panaginip by Jennylyn Mercado; Di Ko Kayang Masaktan Pa by Ogie Alcasid featuring Regine Velasquez; And By Now by Mark Bautista; Kung Maalala Mo by Erik Santos; and The Ordertaker by Parokya ni Edgar with Kamikazee.