Charlie Green not so little anymore

He was a sensation in Britain’s Got Talent. Charlie Green, all of 10 years old, performed Sinatra’s Summer Wind with a buck-toothed impish grin and Rat Pack swagger, captured the hearts of everybody. This means not only the judges, which included the formidable Simon Cowell, but pretty much a lot of Brits, who kept him in the show until the finals.

That happened nearly three years ago. The part British, part Cebuano Charlie has kept on singing and now counts gigs all over the world when he is not busy with schoolwork in his native UK. He is also fast growing up and is now in that cute stage that boys go through on their way to becoming young men. He hit 13 years old last Feb. 16 and if he sings tunes like Baby, would be giving Justin Bieber a big run for his money.

We all know that Charlie sings other types of songs. The truth is he grew up listening to the music of his Dad Roger from whom he learned his show-stopping Summer Wind. This is why despite his age, Charlie does a mean The Way You Look Tonight. Likewise a very good Dahil Sa ‘Yo with his charming English accent.

Charlie has a new album out and he is still singing old songs. Only one song though harks back to the swing era of Sinatra. This is On The Sunny Side Of The Street. The rest of his covers come from one or two generations later. This means that Charlie is actually singing songs by “younger artists” from the past. His age group can associate with the simple love songs which many of his “older” fans still remember with fondness.

Produced by Christian De Walden for Viva Records and titled A Friend Like You, Charlie’s CD includes The Diary by Neil Sedaka; Wooden Heart by Elvis Presley; My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder; Go Away Little Girl by Donny Osmond; For Once In My Life by Sammy Davis Jr.; Let It Be by The Beatles; Too Young by Nat King Cole; Oh My Papa by Eddie Fisher and Ewan by the Apo Hiking Society as a duet with Sarah Geronimo.

Proof that he can also dish out originals with equal aplomb is also present. His duet with Rachelle Ann Go, A Friend Like You is a happy, bouncy number. Then he goes all sentimental with the ballad You’re Always There. What is proving to be his ticket to bigger stardom though is the Hot Dog classic Pers Lab.

Charlie sings the Manila Sound favorite with such innocence and sincerity that instantly captivates listeners. And that means those who recall their younger days with a Pers Lab soundtrack long ago and today’s kids who see the song as new and exciting like their own first love.

Meanwhile fans who want to watch Charlie perform his hit songs live can look forward to OPM Through The Years. Charlie is set to join the powerhouse cast of Basil Valdez, Vernie Varga, Joey Albert, Gino Padilla and the CompanY in the concert scheduled at the SMX of Mall of Asia on July 17. Tickets priced at P2,750 for Gold; P2,000 for Silver and P1,000 for Bronze are now available.

This promises to be a really great show with wonderful OPM tunes. But you are saying that is still a long way off? Maybe. But you can spend your time waiting by enjoying the great job he does in his CD.

Here now are the hit videos of the week as per the latest Pinoy MYX Countdown. Please Be Careful With My Heart by Christian Bautista and Sarah Geronimo; Picture Picture by Tanya Markova; Like Eskimo by Slapshock; Gabay by Callalily; Di Lang Ikaw by Juris; Magbabalik Ka Pa Ba by Nikki Gil; A Call To Arms by Urbandub; Breathe Again by Chicosci; Harinawa by Hale; Kalayaan by Bamboo.

Kahit Na by Kiss Jane; Red Heaven by General Luna; Parang Si Ely Buendia by Soapdish; Yun Lang by True Faith and Armi Millare; If I Just Believed by Eric Santos; Someday by Nyoy Volante; Sayang Sayang by Aljur Abrenica; I Don’t Want To Fall also by Juris; Gusto Ko Lang Ng Girlfriend by Eevee; and Morning Swim by Turbo Goth.