Divas sing together in new album

I recall a time not so long ago when the word diva conjured up the image of a female opera singer in the throes of unreasonable rage. But because of her great singing and incomparable artistry, all the people around her bowed down to her demands even if it meant taking abuse. But that is only until her voice falters and her audience disappears after which they then gave her the kick in the butt. Back then, nobody, even those who deserved it like to be called diva.

I do not recall when the change happened but all of a sudden female pop singers were being called divas and they did not seem to mind at all. Two years ago charity concert titled Diva's Live in the US of A grouped several of these stars together. It was so successful that the next edition in 1999 featured not only a few divas of note but also an honorary one in the person of Elton John.

By that time, Pinoys have taken also up the practice and were not only referring to Kuh Ledesma when they say diva. Kuh was bestowed that tag by the local media after it was rumored that she was at times difficult to deal with. Today every female singer around is being called one sort of diva or another by themselves or their handlers. Only time will tell how the dictionary will treat the metamorphoses of the word diva from being bad to being excellent, but watch out, at the rate this word is evolving, there might be people who will hate being called a diva some years from now.

But divas they are today and divas they shall be even if only for the new album titled Viva Divas. This features six of the most talented and most popular female singers of today performing some of their best known songs. Included are Sharon Cuneta with Sana'y Wala ng Wakas and One Last Time; Kuh with Night and Day and Baby Bumalik Ka; Zsa Zsa Padilla with Ano Bang Meron Ka and One Chance with You; Regine Velasquez with Isang Lahi and Ebb Tide; Jaya with I Still Believe in Love and Kahit Na; Lani Misalucha with Every Moment is Right and Tunay Na Mahal; and Ella May Saison with If the Feeling is Gone and Hiram Na Sandali.

I know that all of us would have preferred something like Diva's Live where all of these divas will not only be singing solo but will also do duets or trios or sing with all of them together. But since there is still no indication that something like that will happen in the near future, we will just have to content ourselves with listening to them solo in one album.

Britain's EMI Group Plc and US Group Time Warner Inc., last week announced plans to merge and become the world's largest music conglomerate. The news sent shock waves in the entertainment industry as the deal would give these two a very strong hold on at least 25 percent of the entire market with annual sales of more than $8 billion. The move placed under one roof labels like WEA, Virgin and Atlantic and artists like Madonna, the Spice Girls, Eric Clapton, Alanis Morrisette, Michael Learns to Rock and the Beatles.

The merger was the second to rock the music business these past few years. Two years ago Canada's Seagram Co. Ltd., paid $10.2 billion to buy Polygram Music and then merged it with the Universal Music Group. There are four major music companies worldwide at present. Aside from Universal and Warner/EMI, there are also Sony Music and Bertelsmann AG or BMG. Rumors were strong that BMG tried to stop the merger by buying EMI but it looks like Warner, which only recently merged with AOL, again won the war.

Here in the Philippines, the move will bring two Ilacad brothers together again. Chito Ilacad heads EMI, while his younger brother Ricky is top man at Warner. Will Chito soon be working for Ricky? Not likely if those in charge of the region for Warner and EMI will take into consideration the fact that EMI has been very consistent as far as topping the hit charts is concerned. Warner's presence at the lists seems to have become erratic since Ricky and his team took over and the label was able to break only one strong new foreign act, Sixpence None the Richer and nothing at all in the domestic division.