Born to sing

It is great to know that Jimmy Marquez, one of Viva Records’ high hopes for singing stardom, has released his first full album into the market. Titled By My Side and produced by Christian de Walden of Hollywood, the all-original CD is a brilliant showcase for Jimmy’s incredible voice. Here is one singer who truly deserves this break and it is such a joy to listen to him interpreting one beautiful original after another.

It has been a long, hard climb for Jimmy who has now learned that being good at what you do does not necessarily translate into instant success. Born in Toledo, Cebu, he is a graduate of the University of San Jose Recoletos with a degree in Mass Communications, Major in Broadcast Media. But all he had wanted to do since childhood was sing.

Growing up, he did stage, radio and TV and had stints with various bands in his native Cebu until he was discovered in Manila. This happened when he joined the Search for a Star in a Million Season 2 and emerged as second runner-up. Although he did not win, those who watched that season’s shows were in agreement that Jimmy was the finalist who could really sing.

Proof that they were not mistaken was the silver prize that he won at the Asia New Singer Competition at The Ninth Shanghai Asia Music Festival at the Shanghai Broadcasting Corp. two years ago. Jimmy performed Minsa’y Naging Bahagi Ka and Today, two originals by Vehnee Saturno and bested 20 entries from other Asian countries. A self-titled CD-Lite that includes the Saturno song was released soon after.

De Walden, who has worked with many popular artists all over the world including our own Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go and Mark Bautista, heard him sing and knew that he wanted to produce Jimmy’s first full-length album. He promised to give him all the works. That means searching for the best songs and making sure he does his best in all his recording sessions.

The result is By My Side, the kind of top quality, radio-friendly CD singers aspire for. Jimmy’s style, soothing and sexy is just right for the pop/R&B tunes De Walden chose for him. The first single is the Why is Love Amazing which also opens the album. This is a new work by Jimmy Borja with Lori Barth and Ralf Stemman. Borja gave Sarah her big selling I Still Believe in Loving You. Hopefully, his song will also work magic for the singing Jimmy this time.

The beat picks up a beat with the second cut She Don’t Know then returns to the sweet and easy ballad with By My Side. This is pretty much what happens throughout. Whether fast or slow, De Walden keeps the music in the boy band pop territory. Then Jimmy sings over it with the confidence of a seasoned R&B artist. Check out his falsetto, which by the way, is simply gorgeous.

Save Every Minute is a must for his second single or maybe Touch Me Tonight if you are inclined towards make-out soul. But if you want to kick up your heels and dance, Jimmy also acquits himself very well with the made for strutting My Imaginary Love, Pretty Face and Passion. Other titles included are Everytime You Pass Me By, Come Rain or Come Shine, I Never Let It Get to Me and Everytime.

Meanwhile over at MYX, the No. 1 music channel in the country here are the Top 20 videos in the MYX Hit Chart for the week. Betamax by Sandwich; When You Look Me in the Eyes by Jonas Brothers; Pitong Araw by Hale; Honestly by Rachelle Ann Go; Hear My Heart by Nikki Gil; Bye Bye by Mariah Carey; No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown; Realize by Colbie Caillat; The Best Damn Thing by Avril Lavigne; Beat It by Fall Out Boy.

That’s What You Get by Paramore; Break the Ice by Britney Spears; Take a Bow by Rihanna; Empty by The Click Five; Leavin’ by Jesse McCartney; 4 Minutes by Madonna and Justin Timberlake; Ang Sarap Dito by Project 1; Susundan by Callalily; One Hello by Toni Gonzaga; and Di Na Ganun by Yeng Constantino.