ALBUM REVIEW
Share ko din ito kind courtesy of Mr. Eric Cabahug....Thanks Eric.
SARAH GROWS UP
By Eric Cabahug
I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve listened to Sarah Geronimo’s new album, Becoming, and it is, in five words, unbelievable!
Okay, here are more words. Different, dynamic, daring. And surprising, sophisticated, and soulful. And – you may want to hold on tightly to your seat right about now – sexy.
Yes, you read that right. This latest from the soon-to-be debutante sees “little princess” Sarah trading in her power teen pop for a more mature, adult contemporary sound. You may just have to hear it to believe it.
In the meantime, here’s an exclusive track-by-track lowdown on Sarah’s finest album yet.
1. “I Still Believe In Loving You”
A gorgeously mellow guitar-kissed ballad that calls to mind Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart”. It’s a great opener and excellent choice for carrier single, as it suavely introduces Sarah’s newfound vocal maturity – deeper, richer vocals now framed by elegant, more layered delivery – which is one of the album’s most important milestones. Sample lyric: “I’m not sure I really know why you were leaving/But I’m gonna let your heart go free/You won’t see me cry”
2. “Iingatan Ko (Ang Pag-ibig Mo)” This uptempo track is the album’s only representative of bubblegum teen pop – and it’s quite subdued at that. Sample lyric: “Narito ako ang kaibigan mo/kay tagal nang may lihim na pagmamahal”
3. “You Mean The World To Me”
The first of the album’s many big surprises. This is a pop/salsa number that wouldn’t sound out of place at all in a Santana record. Heck, the veteran artist may even want to sue for the guitar licks used in this track. Sarah sounds both loose and robust. Sample lyric: “Every time we touch it feels like fire/I can’t get enough of this sweet-full thing”
4.“Carry My Love”
This English adaptation of a Spanish original is Sarah’s personal favorite track in the album. It’s easy to see and hear why. It’s the closest this album gets to the classic Sarah birit ballad. A great candidate for Single # 2 and a potential smash hit. Sample lyric: “Our world begins with the dawn/It’s getting us through the midnight stars”
5.“After Love”
Big surprise # 2 – Sarah as a smooth pop/jazz chanteuse! This slinky midtempo groover finds Sarah in her whisperest and sexiest yet. Sample lyric: “Baby it’s hard to be alone/How can I fill the space you left inside of me”
6.“Baby Blue”
An exuberant pop track with a country twang, this song is about a girl who’s had it with her lyin’ playa of a boyfriend. One of the strongest cuts in the album. Sample lyric: “If this is for real/Then why do we keep on running wild”
7.“Alaala Mo”
This is the first of only three Tagalog ballads in the album. Low-key, intelligently arranged, it’s only slightly the hopelessly, completely maudlin track it clearly could have been. Sample lyric: “Alaala mo ang nagbibigay pag-asa sa aking buhay”
8. “And I’m In Love Again”
A bright midtempo chugger with an infectious “do-do-do-do-do-do”-powered chorus that Sarah sings with such soulful glee. Sample lyric: “My heart is slowly gainin’ ground/Forgotten feelings I had found”
9. “Kaibigan”
This musical pledge to eternal friendship is sure to become an anthem for sisterhoods of all ages and persuasions – blood relations, school chums, and even fist-waving activists. Sample lyric: “Pangako ko kaibigan di ka mag-iisa/Tulad ng iyong pagdamay pag kailangan ka”
10.“Don’t You Worry”
Sarah successfully tackles this bouncy, (early) Britney-lite dance track that comes complete with electronically treated vocals. Sample lyric: “I don’t need another guy/I know where it’s at/Don’t you worry now”
11.“Magliliwanag Rin…Muli”
This is the final Tagalog track and, as the title clearly suggests, it’s another inspirational song. And much like Kaibigan, it’s saved from unbearable melisma by a gently caressing arrangement and Sarah’s committed but restrained delivery. Sample lyric: “Mula sa dilim ay mayroong liwanag/Lilipas din luha pagsikat ng araw”
12.“Is This Love?”
This doesn’t sound like a Sarah Geronimo song at all. It’s a simmering midtempo thumper featuring a keyboard line in the chorus straight out of “Gangsta’s Paradise”. And Sarah sings with such sensually quivering passion that if you lived under a rock (or outside the Philippines) the past 6 six years and didn’t know Sarah at all you’d never guessed she’s only 18 and still such a sheltered princess in real life. Sample lyric: “Once upon a summer’s night/You were burning in my life/Dancing to an island’s song/Making love until the dawn”
13.“Peace Is All We Know”
Celine Dion wouldn’t have any problems singing this tenderly shuffling inspirational ditty. Sample lyric: “Lift our spirit high above/We can overcome with love”
14.“So Heartbroken”
The album ends exactly the same way it begins – with a gorgeous mellow ballad that fully showcases Sarah’s newfound vocal maturity. Another soulful gem. Sample lyric: “I’m heartbroken/But I must believe/That someday I will not always be/So heartbroken”
SARAH GROWS UP
By Eric Cabahug
I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve listened to Sarah Geronimo’s new album, Becoming, and it is, in five words, unbelievable!
Okay, here are more words. Different, dynamic, daring. And surprising, sophisticated, and soulful. And – you may want to hold on tightly to your seat right about now – sexy.
Yes, you read that right. This latest from the soon-to-be debutante sees “little princess” Sarah trading in her power teen pop for a more mature, adult contemporary sound. You may just have to hear it to believe it.
In the meantime, here’s an exclusive track-by-track lowdown on Sarah’s finest album yet.
1. “I Still Believe In Loving You”
A gorgeously mellow guitar-kissed ballad that calls to mind Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart”. It’s a great opener and excellent choice for carrier single, as it suavely introduces Sarah’s newfound vocal maturity – deeper, richer vocals now framed by elegant, more layered delivery – which is one of the album’s most important milestones. Sample lyric: “I’m not sure I really know why you were leaving/But I’m gonna let your heart go free/You won’t see me cry”
2. “Iingatan Ko (Ang Pag-ibig Mo)” This uptempo track is the album’s only representative of bubblegum teen pop – and it’s quite subdued at that. Sample lyric: “Narito ako ang kaibigan mo/kay tagal nang may lihim na pagmamahal”
3. “You Mean The World To Me”
The first of the album’s many big surprises. This is a pop/salsa number that wouldn’t sound out of place at all in a Santana record. Heck, the veteran artist may even want to sue for the guitar licks used in this track. Sarah sounds both loose and robust. Sample lyric: “Every time we touch it feels like fire/I can’t get enough of this sweet-full thing”
4.“Carry My Love”
This English adaptation of a Spanish original is Sarah’s personal favorite track in the album. It’s easy to see and hear why. It’s the closest this album gets to the classic Sarah birit ballad. A great candidate for Single # 2 and a potential smash hit. Sample lyric: “Our world begins with the dawn/It’s getting us through the midnight stars”
5.“After Love”
Big surprise # 2 – Sarah as a smooth pop/jazz chanteuse! This slinky midtempo groover finds Sarah in her whisperest and sexiest yet. Sample lyric: “Baby it’s hard to be alone/How can I fill the space you left inside of me”
6.“Baby Blue”
An exuberant pop track with a country twang, this song is about a girl who’s had it with her lyin’ playa of a boyfriend. One of the strongest cuts in the album. Sample lyric: “If this is for real/Then why do we keep on running wild”
7.“Alaala Mo”
This is the first of only three Tagalog ballads in the album. Low-key, intelligently arranged, it’s only slightly the hopelessly, completely maudlin track it clearly could have been. Sample lyric: “Alaala mo ang nagbibigay pag-asa sa aking buhay”
8. “And I’m In Love Again”
A bright midtempo chugger with an infectious “do-do-do-do-do-do”-powered chorus that Sarah sings with such soulful glee. Sample lyric: “My heart is slowly gainin’ ground/Forgotten feelings I had found”
9. “Kaibigan”
This musical pledge to eternal friendship is sure to become an anthem for sisterhoods of all ages and persuasions – blood relations, school chums, and even fist-waving activists. Sample lyric: “Pangako ko kaibigan di ka mag-iisa/Tulad ng iyong pagdamay pag kailangan ka”
10.“Don’t You Worry”
Sarah successfully tackles this bouncy, (early) Britney-lite dance track that comes complete with electronically treated vocals. Sample lyric: “I don’t need another guy/I know where it’s at/Don’t you worry now”
11.“Magliliwanag Rin…Muli”
This is the final Tagalog track and, as the title clearly suggests, it’s another inspirational song. And much like Kaibigan, it’s saved from unbearable melisma by a gently caressing arrangement and Sarah’s committed but restrained delivery. Sample lyric: “Mula sa dilim ay mayroong liwanag/Lilipas din luha pagsikat ng araw”
12.“Is This Love?”
This doesn’t sound like a Sarah Geronimo song at all. It’s a simmering midtempo thumper featuring a keyboard line in the chorus straight out of “Gangsta’s Paradise”. And Sarah sings with such sensually quivering passion that if you lived under a rock (or outside the Philippines) the past 6 six years and didn’t know Sarah at all you’d never guessed she’s only 18 and still such a sheltered princess in real life. Sample lyric: “Once upon a summer’s night/You were burning in my life/Dancing to an island’s song/Making love until the dawn”
13.“Peace Is All We Know”
Celine Dion wouldn’t have any problems singing this tenderly shuffling inspirational ditty. Sample lyric: “Lift our spirit high above/We can overcome with love”
14.“So Heartbroken”
The album ends exactly the same way it begins – with a gorgeous mellow ballad that fully showcases Sarah’s newfound vocal maturity. Another soulful gem. Sample lyric: “I’m heartbroken/But I must believe/That someday I will not always be/So heartbroken”
Comments
Its a showcase of sarah's vocal talent, soul, pop, contemporary ballad, hip hop(?-track 12) rolled into one....you just gotta love this album!
I like to hear track 4 "Carry My Love" and 9 "kaibigan"... mukhang ito ang mga mag t-top sa charts!...everyone who wanted a birit song will probably like track 4...
kaso wala pa sa mga record bars, I checked yesterday..
Grabe!! ngayon ko lng po to nabasa ah.. whew! all originals! same here kuya joe, gnon din ung naramdaman ko habang binabasa ko ung mga description ng mga songs! I wanna have a copy NOW!!! hahaha.. talagang dalaga na ang princess natin!
c ateh sarah ba naman kumanta eh!
...Can't wait to hear and discover a new Sarah in this album.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANKY OU very much.
Personally, I don't like 'I still believe in loving you' that much, but based on this guy's review of her album I can't wait to hear the other songs. How I'm going to get a copy ...I have no idea. O_o
it just made me more and more excited to get the album and check out all the tracks!!!! seems like this album showcases the "many sides" of sarah's vocal prowess. am definitely getting a copy once it hits the record bars....
thanks ate g astig na astig ang mga song ang sakit naman ito number 14 excited na akong marinig ito
thanks ate G!
Excited na ko to buy the album!
obvious that they put in more resources, the album sounds really good.
meron tracks where the tone is high, low, mid. tapos latin, pop, jazzy, a bit hiphop, ballad. galing.
for casual listeners, i guess magugulat sila. me pesonally, i've followed sarah and i knew she can sing those genres. so welcome change para sa kin.
current repeat track - Baby Blue. i love this song. hehe... parang american pop star ang kumanta. you can't tell the difference - accent, delivery. naiisip ko sya in a reese witherspoon romantic-comedy film OST. hehehe..pwede.
yung inpirational track (Magliliwanag rin..Muli) parang naisip ko - SARAH G. FOR PRESIDENT! hehehheh...
all songs are really good. walang patapon. (well, for me baka isa. hehe).
thanks Scully, mamayang gabi pa ako...
Wow excited na ko! I think I can buy the album tomorrow. Hopefully. Pero medyo malalim ata yung mga words ng review na to. haha! btw, ano nga pla ung ibig sabihin ng review sa #13 song? Does it mean na the writer is saying na sarah is still no match for celine or that the song is too easy that celine can sing it (thereby underestimating celine's singing prowess)? hmmm napaisip lng ako. hehe.
ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!