Ryan’s next big bet for stardom

Filipino pop music is in need of hits. Big ones. The kind that can sweep listeners off their feet, that can set new exciting trends, rouse the moribund recording industry out of its sick bed into greatness again. The situation is so bad we will listen to anybody or anything with the potential to give that big explosive kick to the top.

So we now listen to Ryan Cayabyab. Well, not really to Ryan who does not seem inclined to do any singing these days. In case you have forgotten, Ryan sings and has a remarkable vocal range. He recorded my favorite version of Saan Ka Man Naroroon for his album One many years ago. I have not been able to listen to it for sometime though because it is in an LP and my record player has already conked out. So no singing Ryan for now.

What he offers instead is The Ryan Cayabyab Singers, a group of young people he believes is worthy of carrying his name. Members of The Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) were personally handpicked by Ryan from auditions last June. One hundred seventy aspirants showed up and these were weeded down little by little through more rigorous tryouts, until only seven remained. These lucky few, Mr. C believes, would be the showcase of his new works.

These are Anezka Alvarez, Katherine Tiuseco, Kyla Rivera, Irra Cenina, Jaime Barcelon, Poppert Bernadas and Vincent Evangelista. They were put through an intense training program, singing, dancing and personality development and then sent to the studio to record their debut album. Simply titled Ryan Cayabyab RCS, it is made up of Cayabyab originals, all new, save for two, the minor classic from the Manila Sound era, Hello Joe, Goodbye and the singing group favorite Hibang Sa Awit, the best cut in the CD.

Other titles are Call Me Call Me, Ayoko Na, I’ll Make You Smile Again, Pahamak, Hideaway, Ito Na Nga Ba ang Pag-ibig, Ba’t Di Mo Sinabi, Hiling, Paano Na ‘To and the initial single release Let Me Love You Tonight. Also all arranged by Ryan and featuring Mr. C’s distinctive playing style on the piano, the songs were entrusted with the task of helping propel RCS to stardom.

That is a tall order. For one, it cannot be helped that RCS would be compared to other vocal groups Ryan spearheaded in the past. Think 14K, the San Miguel Master Chorale and the most memorable of the trio, Smokey Mountain with teen classics Paraiso and Kailan. For another, it is also inevitable that RCS would be compared to like sounding, successful groups from the past. If they were a rock band that would be the Eraserheads kicking ass with Ligaya. As a middle of the road group aimed at young adults, that would be The Company, which truly sparkled with its Everlasting Love years ago.

As it is, the music of Ryan Cayabyab RCS reminds me of the Fifth Dimension, which did Up Up and Away, or of the singers of Hugo Montenegro. Theirs is a light contemporary sound, upbeat and romantic, the kind that can make you feel good with very little effort. Then, because Mr. C is at the helm, the singing is perfect with everybody hitting the right notes with the appropriate expression. All of the members of RCS sound like solo career candidates and it would be interesting to watch how they will fare in the coming months.

I’ll Take Care of You

For more light, contemporary sounds of the romantic variety, you might want to check out I’ll Take Care of You, crooner Richard Poon’s solo debut. He played the guitar and sang with the sweet tenor in the pop group U-Turn. As you can see, he has now switched his attention to music for the older, sentimental set.

I’ll Take Care of You combines standards, Moon River, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off and the title cut, Manila Sound, Valera’s Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko, new originals composed by Richard himself, Naaalala and Goodbye. There is one current favorite, which is just as romantic as the oldies. This is Way Back into Love the hit theme from the movie Music and Lyrics which features Richard on the guitar.