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>Regine Velasquez serves up high-brow versions in >‘Covers 2’ >The Manila Bulletin >February 18,2006 > > >By JOJO P. PANALIGAN > >A musician’s album is apt description of Regine >Velasquez’s new CD, "Covers 2." Here, Asia’ Songbird >chooses to re-fashion 16 originals by other artists, >and from different genres and eras, that many of her >loyal fans would never have imagined is to Regine’s >preference. > > >"After doing entirely Original Pilipino Music >favorites in 2004’s ‘Covers,’ I thought it was time to >introduce to people a different side of me by doing >foreign songs," say Regine during the "Covers 2" album >launched feted by her record label Viva Music. "I >wanted to surprise people and at the same time >challenge myself as an artist." > >A product of collaborative research, Regine not only >relied on her broad knowledge of music to come up with >the final track list that made the album. Instead, she >asked friends and her sisters, Cacai and Decca, to >make a list of "songs for consideration" which she >listened to and studied for several weeks before >deciding which gets in. > >Most that did are originally upbeats including Alanis >Morisettes’ "Head Over Feet," Paula Abdul’s "Straight >Up," Elvis Presley’s "Blue Suede Shoes," Abba’s "Take >A Chance On Me," Blondie’s "Call Me," Hall & Oates >"Kiss On My List" and Olivia Newton John’s "Xanadu." > >"Majority are from the 80’s and 90’s kasi yun ang >kinalakihan ko, ang era ko," she explains. "A second >prerequisite, with the exception of ‘Never Give Up,’ >is that a song must not be one that I have sung in >shows before. Third is for a song to still be >re-invent-able. Meron kasing mga songs na wala ka ng >magagawa kasi perfect na ang original version." > >Two tracks in "Covers 2," "Straight Up" and "Blue >Suede Shoes," showed Regine’s versatility to the fore. >Known mostly for belting ballads, Regine junked the >high notes in these two for jazzy and blues-y >interpretations, respectively. > >"I actually felt a bit doubtful when I first heard the >arrangement for ‘Straight Up,’" Regine confesses. "The >idea to turn it into big band was my idea, yes. But >actually hearing it done that way made me think that >maybe it was beyond my league. Fortunately, the track >arranger and producer, Jay Durias, helped keep my >version true to the genre of choice so now it’s one of >my favorite tracks." > >"Blue Suede Shoes," on the other hand, is a bohemian >hats-off to Elvis’ rock n’ roll original made more >interesting by harmonica fill-ins. > >"Who doesn’t know Elvis? No one. Who would think I’d >do this particular Elvis song? No one," Regine says. > >The first single off "Covers 2," "Hold Me In Your >Arms," is by Southern Son; an Australian band that >Regine says has always been a favorite. True enough, >in a previous album, "Retro," the Songbird remade >Southern Son’s first big hit, "You Were There." > >Surprisingly, according to Regine who produced the >album, "Covers 2" is a less expensive project than its >predecessor. > >"Pareho lang kasi ang bayad sa rights ng international >songs whether it’s a big hit or not," says Regine. >"And it’s easier to get these songs than local ones. >Abroad, once a song has been published, anyone can >just remake it as long as rights are paid for. Pag >kumuha ka ng kanta sa atin, minsan ayaw pa ibigay sa >yo ng composer for sentimental reasons or because they >want to use it for something else. Ok lang, >naiintindihan ko naman sila." > >Because "Covers 2" is admittedly high-brow, Regine >asked her family to report feedback of early reviews >from chat rooms in the internet a few days after the >album hit shelves. > >"I don’t usually do that but what people thought of >‘Covers 2’ is important to me," she says. "Happily, >people seem to like it and for that reason alone, I >already consider ‘Covers 2’ successful." > >"Covers 2" is presented by Tissot Swiss Watches in >cooperation with Montre Watch Shop, MYX, Red Box >Karaoke and the Manila Bulletin.

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