It’s Reid alert for James

It has been quite a while. Truth to tell, I cannot recall anybody else since Gary Valenciano back during the ’80s. I mean, since local show business has had a pop idol who sings, writes songs, dances, acts, does all those things well and also looks great. That was over 30 years ago and it is only now that we have come across somebody like James Reid who is all those things and is also incredibly sexy with a killer smile to boot.

James is part-Filipino and part-Australian. He was the big winner of the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Clash of 2010. But it was only last year when he rose to prominence as a hot young star.  This was, thanks to his role as the bratty campus heartthrob, Cross Sandford in the movie version of the sensational Wattpad novel, Diary Ng Panget. The big screen debut of James’ team-up with Nadine Lustre resulted in a huge hit at the box-office, the first of its kind hereabouts for actors who were not seen regularly on TV. Their follow-up project Talk Back And You’re Dead was also successful.

Aside from discovering James as a competent actor, fans also rediscovered him as a singer. This was through the big-selling soundtrack of Diary Ng Panget where James did Natataranta and a duet with Nadine, No Erase. Bahala Na, the theme song of Talk Back And You’re Dead also turned out to be a big hit. The success of these tunes also brought attention to James’ first Viva album. Titled James Reid, the CD showed off his versatility as a singer with R&B Rock With You, country, Loving Arms and pop, the single Alam Ba Niya and with his own compositions Game Changer and You Make My Body Move.

While all those did a lot towards making James the star he is today, they are now all last year’s news. James is up for bigger things this year and he is off to a great start with the release of his new album titled Reid Alert. Cuts included are Hanap-hanap, a duet with Nadine, which will be the theme of their next flick Para Sa Hopeless Romantic, which is based on another popular novel; 10 featuring Canadian diva Elise Estrada and produced by international producer Adam Hurstfield; plus Randomatic; Bon Fire Love Song; and Babalik.

The first single off the album is the dance track Huwag Ka Nang Humirit written and produced by the award-winning tandem of Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana. This is the same song in the video directed by Miggy Tanchanco that everybody is talking about featuring the hot moves of James and his six-packed abs. There is no doubt anymore that because of this video, those who once had doubts about James as the pop idol of the moment have now been won over.

Speaking of Thyro and Yumi, these two cracked the big time when they won the grand prize in the Philpop Music Festival two years ago with their entry Dati. Songwriters out there can do the same this year by joining the fourth Philpop songwriting competition. There are only two weeks to go until the Feb. 28 deadline. So hurry up and get those songs ready for the big battle. A million bucks is at stake for the grand prize winner, plus other prizes for the finalists and runners-up. But more important is to get those songs heard and to make your contribution to the future of Filipino music.

For more information on how to join, visit www.Philpop.com.ph or follow @philpopmusic on Twitter or like the Philippine Popular Music Festival page on Facebook to get updates.

And now here are the Top 20 videos in last week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown. Needless to say, James’ Huwag Ka Nang Humirit is among them.

Teka Break by Sam Concepcion; Diwata by Abra feat. Chito Miranda; You Don’t Know Me by Kathryn Bernardo; Kilometro by Sarah Geronimo; Tulad Mo by Julie Anne San Jose; Huwag Ka Nang Humirit by James Reid; Up Where We Belong by Christian Bautista; Mr. Antipatiko by Nadine Lustre; Hatid Sundo by Gimme 5; Somebody To Love by Darren Espanto.

Runaway Baby by Juan Karlos Labajo; Mahal Kita Pramis by Banda Ni Kleggy; Pangarap Na Bituin by Lyca Gairanod; Girl On Fire by Darlene Vibares; Idol Ko by Kylie Padilla & Mike Swift; Pangako Sa ‘Yo by Daniel Padilla; Take A Chance by Marion Aunor; Paano Ko Sasabihin by Thor; Rainy Day by Itchyworms; and Kagulo by Sandwich.