Free Regine Concert

Whenever Regine has a new album, expect her to appear in different malls to promote her album. This Sunday, she'll be at the Piazza, McKinley Hill (a stone's throw away from where I live). Sweet!

It's been a while since I last heard her perform live. Her 20th anniversary concert was the last one I saw. It was pretty memorable because during the first 15 minutes of the concert, she didn't have a voice. 'twas breakin' in places. The gods must have heard her plea. She came back after with a vengeance. She hit the high notes effortlessly during the "What Kind of Fool" number. And then it was high notes after high notes.

I'm really excited to see her again.

News Flash: My friend, Nikks, just called to inform me that she has a surprise for me. It turned out that she scored some tickets to Regine's concert. Woohoo!

Regine's Fantasy

Got the latest double-CD album of Regine Velasquez today. I reserved a copy at Odyssey and they texted me today that I can now get it. Sweet! The only problem is, I don't have a CD player at my place.

Anyhoo, the album comes in two versions: one colored featuring a wet look Songbird in a pool (probably at her house in QC) and the other one is a sexy black and white Regine in a skimpy pair of unbuttoned shorts. Which one do you think I got for myself? =oP

Aside from the CDs, you can also get 10 B&W postcards of a more daring Regine. Who would've thought that this lady was once a barrio lass? Good job to the photographer, Mark Nicdao.

Now, CD1 has 12 cuts: You Don't Know (the carrier single), Been Waiting, Always, This Time, True Romance, Sana'y Laging Ganito, OK Lank Ako, Fairy Tale, Smile, Funny One, S.M.I.L.E. and Walang Iba.

CD2 has 10 covers: Fantasy, All My Life, I Go Crazy, What About Love, Papa Don't Preach, You and Me, Without Me, Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop, Love Will Keep Us Alive and Dying.

I can't give you a review yet but expect one soon.

Low Key, A Music Review

Got my CD today from Nikks as her early Christmas gift. Thank ya, Nikks!

Here's my review of "Low Key", the latest album of Regine Velasquez from Universal Records:Tell Me That You Love Me - the carrier single and a sure-fire hit. This would make a Regine fan out of anyone. It has that magic that only the Songbird can deliver! The last line, "So far away", is just so freakin' beautiful.

And I Love You So - a Don McLean original. I think this song hits home so much for our dear Songbird. Listen carefully to the lyrics.

I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love - another piano intro. I'm beginning to see a pattern here... The chorus part is wonderful. Can't wait to sing this song using the free minus-one CD. Only 350 pesos for a double CD. Regine loves her fans, eh?

I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me - I love this song. She also customized the song.

No Walls, No Ceiling, No Floor - my favorite in the album. Easy listening. Just the voice that has been in my heart for more than 20 years now.

Good Friend - nice song. A nice barkada song.

How Can I Tell You - Regine kinda sounded different here. I think she's channeling Lani Hall in her voice.

Of All the Things - I think this song has been revived so many times already. Next track please.

Longer - What? She already sang this song in her past album, "R2K", as part of a medley. Next time, no rehash of a rehash, gurl.

At Seventeen - the intro doesn't sound like the melody of the original intro. And my dear, Reg, it's "Lacking in the social graces" not "Locking in...".

She's Always a Woman - Regine has sung this song many times in her tv shows and past concerts. But lemme say, I really like everything about this arrangement, even the bonus whistling from our Songbird. She dedicates this song to her Mommy V, by the way.

Never be the Same - not familiar with this song at all so I can't compare it with the original.

Strawberry Fields Forever - I know that Reg loves the Beatles. I don't like this song much.

Weeping Willows, Cattails - now, what's wrong with "Pussy"? I don't get it why they have to change the title. Gordon Lightfoot, the composer, would be fuming mad if he finds out. As far as the song is concerned, there's sumpthin' Evanescence-sque in her voice here.

Leader of the Band - if Reg dedicated the song, "She's Always a Woman", to her mom, this time, she's giving tribute to her Papa, Mang Gerry. Is it just me or she sounds like Allison Krauss here?

Walk in Love - this song fits Reg's voice to a tee. It's nice to drink while listening to this song or dance slowly with your loved one. Y'know, the pa-sway-sway dance ;oP

Clouds Across the Moon - I admit the first time I heard this version, I didn't like it. It has grown on me now. Acquired taste?

Christmas Is - I would've loved a slower Christmas song from Brickman/Velasquez team a la "My Grown-up Christmas List" or "Breathe of Heaven" by Amy Grant.

Did Regine get the inspiration for her cover album from Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten"? Be the judge.

Low Key

Regine Velasquez has just released a new 2-disc album, under Universal Records, called "Low Key". It is quite refreshing because for the first time, the Songbird didn't give us her signature earth-shattering notes like in her recent hits, "Dadalhin", "Till I Met You" and "Shine".

Because of a leak in the actual recording of the album, YouTube has a raw version of "No Walls, No Ceilings, No Floors". If that's any indication to what the album is all about, I'm pretty excited now. Regine's voice is soothing and very pleasant. Good news to most listeners because they can now sing along to her music anytime, anywhere. "Birit" is not required anymore.

I can't review the album yet 'cause my friend, Nikks, hasn't given me her Christmas gift yet ;oP

What I can do now is help in the promotion of the album. Here's the list of songs (some of them are my favorites too):

1. Tell Me That You Love Me
2. And I Love You So
3. I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love
4. I Never Dreamed Someone Like You Could Love Someone Like Me
5. No Walls, No Ceilings, No Floors
6. Good Friend
7. How Can I Tell You
8. Of All the Things
9. Longer
10. At Seventeen
11. She's Always a Woman
12. Never Be the Same
13. Strawberry Fields Forever
14. Weeping Willows, Cattails
15. Leader of the Band
16. Walk in Love
17. Clouds Across the Moon
18. Christmas Is

The last song is cut from Jim Brickman's latest album. It's about time that Reg started to collaborate again with other artists.

Aside from that, the second CD is a minus one. We, Filipinos, ♥ singing!

I also heard that this album will be released in Asia.

Lastly, special thanks to Lester of RegineMultimedia.com for providing me with the image. Regine looks so fresh in this poster, don't ya think?

Regine in Toronto

Thanks to Inahpatrizia for uploading this vid of Regine singing "What Kind of Fool" in her recent concert with Lani Misalucha in Toronto, Canada.

I've heard so many versions of this song from the Songbird and this is one of those nice ones. Her voice is in tip-top shape too.

But she deffo needs new material. She's been singing this song forever.

Songbird's Best of Me

The Songbird Regine opened up her tv special with a few lines from "The Best of Me", a David Foster composition. It's a slower version of the Olivia Newton-John classic. "No one will ever touch me more, And I only hope that in return, I might have saved the best of me for you". Not too sure if she's singing for her fans or for her Baba, Ogie Alcasid. George, her doggie, made an appearance in the intro too. The venue is Regine's new house in Quezon City. The first thing I noticed is how clear the voice recording is. Raul Mitra, as expected, is her musical director.The first upbeat song of the night is Kenny Loggins' "Conviction of the Heart". In case, you're wondering, Regine was born on the 22nd of April, which is commonly known as the Earth Day. The KL song is the unofficial anthem of the celeb.

Reg followed it up with one of my favorite songs from last year, "Bubbly". The Claire Marlo medley was next. If I'm not mistaken, she did this the last time in her concert, "Hush".Then a long musical introduction ensued. I immediately thought, that has got to be "Hotel California". A very unexpected song from Reg. Weird song choice.

The "Per Te" number was one of the most memorable moments in the show. Songbird is in her element here. Her fans know that she ain't scared of heights. She proved it once more when she sang on the edge of a very high point. The only thing that I didn't like is the subtitle that they included.GMA will release an animated film entitled "Urduja". Reg rendered her voice for the feisty heroine and she sang the theme song of the movie too. Joey de Leon did a good job as the lyricist. The movie is Mulan-ish.

When Kyla & Jay-R began their song with Reg, I was, like, "What the hell are they singing?" Then the line "This is it!" came and it dawned on me. This is another Kenny Loggins hit.

I noticed that Regine requested the roof structure of her house to resemble "R". Should it be "C" 'cause her real first name is Chona? =oP
"Hindi Na, Ayoko Na" is one of my favorites in her 1990 album. I'm super happy that she sang this again. She messed up the lyrics though. But anyhoo, the performance was really good. Excellent control of voice.We heard Mommy V in "Dance with Me" and we see Mang Gerry all the time roaming around the concert venues but it's the first that we hear the two together singing with their daughter. It's like listening to a videoke session at the Velasquezes.When "Footloose" came, I sensed a pattern. Hello? Who the hell gave a Kenny Loggins CD to Regine?!!!

The only duet of the night came from the lovers. Ogie & Reg did an Oscar-winning song called "Falling Slowly" from the movie, "Once". I like it.
When I heard "Got to be There", an MJ hit (pre-whiteness), I thought she'd do an MJ medley.

To cap the night, Reg sang "The Best of Me" in full, this time. And for her last song, she delivered "In the Name of Love".And yep, she jumped into the pool. Gown and all. What an exit!
Lastly, thanks to 1inheart for uploading the vids to YouTube.