I find it strange that at a time when a lot of people around here are turning Korean, you know, Korean food, Korean music, hairstyle, clothes, shoes, etc. etc., why they virtually worship Super Junior and Lee Min Ho or whoever, here comes Sheryl Cruz and she is, surprise, turning Japanese. Nothing against the Japanese, who have proven themselves nice, talented people we can be friends with. It is just that I do not know the reason why the singer/ actress has decided to go Japanese in her new album titled Sa Puso Ay Ikaw Pa Rin.
Now if Sheryl has turned Japanese because there is a ready market waiting for her fourth album, in the Land of the Rising Sun, then I am all for it. The local music industry is literally earning peanuts, if at all, these days and to have somebody like Sheryl break into a foreign market might just open the doors of Japan to other recording artists. And we can certainly use those buyers in that additional market to get our artists and our music heard out there.
The Japanese will surely adore Sheryl. Pretty as the time when she made Mr. Dreamboy a big hit, she looks very Japanese carrying sprigs of cherry blossoms on the CD cover. Why, she even wears a kimono in the other pictures in the album. Then they might find it flattering to find that some of the songs have been translated into Japanese. These are Mananatili, (Itsumademo), Sa Puso Ay Ikaw Pa Rin, (Wasurenaide) and Habang Buhay (Sekai ga Owarumade). Sheryl sings them very well with the sweet, plaintive tones we usually associate with Japanese ballads.
Sheryl turning Japanese is not the only important reason to listen to Sa Puso Ay Ikaw Pa Rin. The album also introduces Sheryl, the composer of Mananatili and The Last To Know. That is right. The former child star has now also added songwriter to her resume and her first efforts, are not bad at all. Maybe she should now further expland her wings and also explore the possibility of writing songs for other artists.
Sheryl is the daughter of Sampaguita Pictures love team Rosemarie Sonora and Ricky Belmonte. It is to her father, a member of the legendary Cruz clan of singers and musicians that she attributes her gift for music. Her mother is the younger sister of movie queen Susan Roces. Sheryl started acting and winning awards at a very young age in films like Mga Basang Sisiw and Roman Rapido. She grew up into a popular teen star associated with Manilyn Reynes and Kristina Paner and with Romnick Sarmenta as her screen love team. She retired from showbusiness after marriage but returned a few years ago after her marriage broke up.
Pinoy MYX Countdown
And now news from the MYX music channel. Here are the Top 20 titles in this week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown of the most requested videos: Awit Ni Ginny by Toni Gonzaga; Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako by KZ Tandingan; Simpleng Tulad Mo by Daniel Padilla; Bahala Na by James Reid and Nadine Lustre; Ikaw by Yeng Constantino; Jacuzzi by Tanya Markova; Businessman by Gloc-9 featuring Vinci Montaner; Halikana by Maja Salvador feat. Abra; Dito Na Lang by Kyla; This Love Is Like by Toni.
Parachute by JayR; Digmaan by Quest feat. Julianne; Mahal Kita Pero by Janella Salvador; Para-paraan by Nadine; Nahihibang by Join The Club; Hanggang Kailan by Angeline Quinto; Tayo by Kley; Just Like You by Jessica Reynoso; Maqulit by Q-York feat. Sponge Cola; and Halik Sa Hangin by Ebe Dancel and Abra.
All For One Beat
Drummer Roy Mercado, who once played in concerts and recording sessions for most of our big name stars, needs help ASAP. He has to have heart surgery very badly and as we all know, that the life-saving operation is very expensive. To help him defray the costs, Roy’s friends and colleagues in the music industry have banded together to put on a show. They are all performing for free so that all of the proceeds from the concert will go to Roy’s medical fund.
The show is called All For One Beat and it will be held at the Music Museum in Greenhills on Oct. 27, 8 p.m. Ticket prices are only P1,500 for Orchestra and P1,000 for Balcony. For those low, low prices you will be able to help Roy and you will get performances by Gary Valenciano, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Basil Valdez, Mitoy, Klarisse de Guzman, Janice Javier, Frenchie Dy, Hannah Flores and Sarah Geronimo with more surprise guests.
Please call these numbers for tickets to All For One Beat and help Roy Mercado: 0929-9589220, 0916-7126413, 0917-8118071, 807-1371, 0929-9589220 or the Music Museum at 721-6726 or 721-0635.