Sofia makes more bossa

In spite of many years working in the local music business, I still feel amazed at how a single hit can change a newcomer into a star. Sofia, one of those girls who jumped into the bossa nova bandwagon is one recent example. I thought that all she had to offer was a sweet voice that can sing in tune. But look at her now, not only is she looking prettier, gone, too is her tentative approach to her music.

This is most evident in Sofia, the two-disc edition that compiles her first and second albums Bossa Latino Lite and In Love with Bossa Nova. The difference is volumes. Obviously more confident with herself and more aware of what sounds best for her, Sofia goes to more extremes with her second album. In Love with Bossa Nova stays within the formula but the Brazilian entries are not the usual Jobim hits found in local bossa nova albums. Instead, it has honest to goodness Brazilian folk songs like Falsa Banana, So Em Teus Bracos, and the first single Moro Na Roca which comes in two mixes. She does these extremely well.

As for the pop cuts, which Pinoys seem to like best done Latin style, these are You are the Sunshine of My Life, Sad to Belong, I’ll Never Fall in Love Again and The Birthday Song. Sofia duets with R ‘n B artist Thor in I Will and Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, revives a Bong Piniera hit from the ’70s, Tell Me, and features the always nice to hear Astrud Gilberto goodie, So Nice (Samba de Verao). Other cuts are Hulog ng Langit, Night and Day, I’ll Take Care of You, Warm Impressions, Unexpectedly and What a Wonderful World.

This two-disc release is a good opportunity to find out how Sofia’s success started. Bossa Latino Lite hews more to the pop bossa feel popularized by Sitti, the girl who fuelled this phenomenon. I would have prepared some editing in the contents of the first album where I believe a few cuts do not really do justice to Sofia. But I don’t think anybody cares about things like that now. That album has sold gold and Sofia received her first gold record award recently on GMA 7’s S.O.P.

Sofia’s debut album has traditional bossa nova tunes like Waters of March (Aguas de Marco) and Desafinado and pop tunes rendered in vocal and instrumental versions like The Look of Love, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Just the Way You Are, At Seventeen, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Just No Ordinary Day and others.

Hotdog Bossa Samba

Well, it happened to the music of VST&Co and I must say most successfully, too. It was also done to the music of Cinderella and later as the bossa fever raged locally, to every Filipino hit song that could be tweaked into the Latin rhythm. So what is to stop the same thing happening to the tunes of the Hotdog. Truth to tell, Hotdog music or I must say the works of the brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia are very adaptable to the bossa, requiring only a very small change in arrangement. And recently the Hotdog bossa nova finally hit the market.

Entitled Hotdog Bossa Samba, and produced by Dennis and Rene themselves, the album must be the most relaxing ever made by the legendary band from the ’70s. It has lots of memorable oldies popularized by the Hotdog and other artists like Ella del Rosario, O Lumapit Ka and Tito Mina, Ikaw Pa Rin. Most of all though, I am sure you will enjoy listening to disco favorites Bongga Ka ‘Day and Annie Batungbakal with a Latin twist plus Bitin Sa ‘Yo, Ikaw ang Ms. Universe ng Buhay Ko, Pilipina, O! Cebu, Dying to Tell You, Manila, Langit Na Naman and Behh, Buti Nga.

MYX’s top Pinoy videos

From MYX, the No.1 music channel in the country, here is the countdown of the top Pinoy videos for the week: Magbalik by Callalily; Tuliro by Sponge Cola, Inosente Lang ang Nagtataka by Rivermaya; Sunburn by Sandwich; Sundo by Imago; Love Team by Itchyworms; Tatsulok by Bamboo; Don’t Say Goodbye by Rachelle Ann Go; Lando by Gloc9; Ikaw Lamang by Silent Sanctuary.

Stay by Chris Cayzer; Shooting Star by Hale; Will You Ever Learn by Typecast; Dear Kuya by Sugarfree; Wala Nang Iba by The Bloomfields; Sorry Na Pwede Ba by Brownman Revival; Sa Ilalim by Kjwan; All This Time by Rufa Mae Quinto; Lunod by Danita; and Difference by The Dawn.