I have always believed in Roselle Nava’s singing talent. Anybody who can make a hit out of You must be very special. Remember, the Gerry Paraiso composition was originally popularized, and I must add, taken to phenomenal heavens, by the formidable Basil Valdez. It was a difficult cover, which I didn’t think anybody could match, but Roselle pulled it off. So she has got to be somebody extraordinary. And that is how I have looked on Roselle since, somebody whose songs deserve more than a casual listen.
The past few years have seen Roselle hovering in and out of the local music scene, sometimes in and very active, other times, barely heard from. This year though has seen her back in the spotlight, doing the local concert scene as in the Ladies of the ‘90s show, or doing the rounds abroad. She also found time to record a new CD, which should put her back on top once more.
Titled Forever Love Songs, the album shows that singingwise, Roselle has not changed much. She can still charm anybody with that voice, sweet but powerful, expressive even with the simplest of melodies. Then as the title clearly says, the CD is made up of popular love songs and love is a topic that is paramount in her life at the moment. Roselle is engaged to be married early next year and she has the look of a lovely bride-to-be.
As Roselle says in the liner notes, “I bring you a collection of some of my favorite love songs. These songs that have been a big part of my journey to forever. These are songs I listen to when I’m Fixing A Broken Heart, wondering Where Do Broken Hearts Go and in awe of What I Did For Love.”
Fixing A Broken Heart by Indecent Obsession, Where Do Broken Hearts Go and What I Did For Love, which were originally recorded by Whitney Houston, are three of the songs included in the album. These, plus the rest of the contents are songs dear to the Pinoy’s heart. These were hits during the first time they came out. They continue to get airplay on the radio to this day and because falling in love and becoming heartbroken happen all the time, these songs are also played constantly in our personal soundtracks.
The joys of being in love and her anticipation of a bright future, are what makes Forever Love Songs very special for Roselle. Listen and you will find that there is no mistaking the overpowering kind of love that she feels. Listen some more and you will also surely hope that marriage will not keep Roselle away from singing more of these love songs.
The first single out is the dreamy Lost In Space, that was popularized by the Lighthouse Family. Wonder whatever happened to this group. Roselle’s version became a big radio favorite the moment it was released and continues to get great airplay. The other cuts are No More Rhyme, that was first sung by Debbie Gibson, I Love You All The Way by Janie Frieke, Heaven Knows by Rick Price, What’s Forever For by Michael Murphy, What Might Have Been by Lou Pardini, Miss You Like Crazy by Natalie Cole, Looking Through Your Eyes by Leann Rimes and As I Lay Me Down by Sophie B. Hawkins.
The Top 20 videos
And now for some hit titles as chosen by the viewers of the MYX music channel. The top 20 videos in this week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown are: Wala Kang Katulad by Sponge Cola; Your Christmas Girl by Sarah Geronimo; Tell Me Your Name by Christian Bautista; Diamond Shotgun by Chicosci; Bangon by Rico Blanco; Higante by FrancisM and Ely Buendia; Lapit by Yeng Constantino; You by Rhian Ramos; Kasalanan by 6Cyclemind; Balita by Gloc9 and Gabby Alipe;
Other videos right below the Top 10 are Pause by Kjwan; Cariño Brutal by Slapshock; Don’t Know You by Young JV; Iibigin Kang Muli by Zsa Zsa Padilla; You Make Me Feel by Kyla; Bahay Kubo by Hale; At The Hospital by The Ambassadors; Physical by Hi-C; Crazy Crazy by the exciting new group Pop Girls; and Up Up Down Down by the duo Krissy & Ericka.