Aiza sings Mr. C
I listen to her passionate rendition of several Ryan Cayabyab songs and I think. What a diva this girl would make. You know the type. Big hair. Hourglass figure. Killer heels. Skirt slit up to there. Neckline scooped down to kingdom come. And a voice so full of emotions. The local music scene has not had one of those in a long time and we can certainly use a new star diva who can sing like that now that the industry is in dire straits.
That is all wishful thinking though. Something not likely to happen at anytime, ever. The beautiful sound belongs to Aiza Seguerra, who though extremely adorable is definitely not that sort of diva material. Her latest recording is Araw Gabi: Mga Awit Ni Maestro
Ryan where she explores a wide range of originals by Cayabyab. In the process, Aiza herself transcends her limitations and presents a new amazing image as a true song stylist.
Aiza first made her name as a very good child actress. It later turned out that aside from being very smart for her age, she had this wonderful singing voice. And that was how we saw Aiza growing up, as a singer with incredibly clear, sweet tones. Her recording of Pagdating Ng Panahon, so simple and so heartfelt, is considered a milestone in local music history, not only because it was a huge seller, but also because it popularized this light, folksy style that became a big rage in the country.
And that was how it has been for Aiza all this time. She is a competent actress — in films, television and theater. She is also very much into singing, toting her guitar to regular gigs or once in a while doing the big venues like the Araneta Coliseum in concert. There have also been times when she made headlines, like when she married her girlfriend Liza Diño in much-publicized rites, not just once, but twice here and in the US.
T hat was a big leap for Aiza and I say she made another one just as big when she decided to record the famous songs of the legendary Cayabyab. For one, while certainly enduring, these are covers of old songs and Aiza is not really known for that. For another, they mostly require piano-based arrangements and it is very hard to imagine Aiza without her guitar. And there are the songs, mostly show-stopping ballads that require singers with a wide vocal range like Basil Valdez and Celeste Legaspi.
We now have the results and I am glad that Aiza made this leap. She stripped down Cayabyab and made every song her own. She effortlessly turned Kay Ganda Ng Ating
Musika into a ballad,
made Limang Dipang Tao sexy and made a grownup out of the teenybopper lament Kailan. Then she showed off in all their glory her thus far hidden high notes, while also playing around with her warm low tones. Aiza made beautiful music in the album and the only problem I can think of with it, is with what does she follow something like this?
And now as Aiza herself wrote, “Heto ang mga awiting nagpasaya, nagpaiyak, nagpangiti, nagpalungkot, nagpaibig at nagparamdam sa atin kung gaano kasarap ang mabuhay at magmahal. Ang mga awit ng nagiisang Maestro
Ryan Cayabyab. Sana po magustuhan ninyong lahat.”
Here now is the complete song line-up of Araw Gabi: Mga Awit Ni Maestro Ryan. Araw Gabi, Ryan’s wedding song first recorded by Nonoy Zuñiga; Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka that was composed for Basil Valdez and the track where Ryan himself plays the piano; How Can I, first recorded by Martin Nievera; Kahit Ikaw’y Panaginip Lang, originally a duet by Richard Tan and Bambi Bonus; Paano Na Kaya, the winning song by Bugoy Drilon; Can This Be Love, Kailan and
Mama, hits that Ryan composed for the teen group Smokey Mountain.
Iduyan Mo, the theme song of the movie Aguila also originally recorded by Basil, is where I think Aiza is at her best; Limang
Dipang Tao, originally written for Celeste Legaspi; Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako, also first performed by Celeste in the musical
Katy; and Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika, the song that won the Grand Prize in the first
Metro Manila Popular Music Festival in 1978 where it was performed by Hajji Alejandro.
Now for a look at how Filipino artists are doing in last week’s Pinoy MYX Countdown from the MYX Music Channel. Here are the Top 20 videos week ending May 22: Perfectly
Imperfect by Sarah Geronimo; In Love Ako Sa ‘yo by Darren Espanto; Kung Maibabalik
Ko Lang by Julie Anne San Jose; Me And You by Nadine Lustre; Tanong Mo Sa Bituin by Maris Racal; Mr. Right by Kim Chiu; Sa Piling Mo by Silent Sanctuary; Bakit Ganito Ang Pag-ibig by Maja Salvador; Pag Kasama Ka by Gimme 5; A Thousand Years by Christian Bautista.
See You by Hale; Ako’y Tinamaan by REO Brothers; Caught In That Feeling by Jason Dy; Imposible by Gravity; If I’m Wrong by Lunar
Lights; Ceiling by Typecast; Hanap Hanap by
James Reid and Nadine Lustre; Nasa Sa ‘yo by Rivermaya feat. Gloc-9; Dusk Til Dawn by Glaiza de Castro; and Panaginip Lang by Alex Gonzaga.