Buble brings back the romance at the Big Dome

Michael Bublé, the Canadian artist who revived interest in old favorites, returns to the Philippines for a special one night only stint. Titled It’s Time after his latest album, the concert is part of the Michael Bublé – World Tour 2005 performing sked and will be held at the Araneta Coliseum on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 12. Tickets are available at the Araneta Coliseum Box Office or SM Ticketnet outlets at any SM Department Store. Ticket prices are P3500, P2500, P1500 and P800 plus service fee.

I suppose the concert will be mainly made up of songs from It’s Time, which is Bublé’s second album and also not. Take note that after his first album Michael Bublé made him an instant star in many parts of the world. He recorded a Christmas CD with only six or seven cuts and then reissued the debut CD with a bonus video disc. Then, many of you doubtless also remember the local release of the soundtrack of a movie he starred in, Totally Blonde, which he termed "bootleg" and totally disowned. So It’s Time is not really his sophomore outing but it is his second release, produced by his discoverer David Foster and frequent collaborator Humberto Gatica.

The first album endeared him to romantic Pinoys for his swoony renditions of timeless favorites like The Way You Look Tonight, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, That’s All, Kissing a Fool and others. His second hews to the same mold but also finds him branching out a bit to spread his wings in other directions. For one, he has included his own composition Home, a song he co-wrote with Amy Foster-Gilles. This is proof that his style also works with new songs, especially one so charming and heartfelt as Home.

Those who like his first album will be glad to find other Sinatra stuff like I’ve Got You Under My Skin, The More I See You, Try A Little Tenderness and A Foggy Day in London Town. But then he also takes on soul with You and I and How Sweet It Is, country in You Don’t Know Me, rock in A Song for You, Save the Last Dance for Me and Can’t Buy Me Love, Latin in Cuando, Cuando, Cuando and the vocally-demanding Feeling Good, first popularized by the star of stage musicals Anthony Newley. Bonus bits: Bublé has Nelly Furtado as guest in Cuando, Cuando, Cuando and trumpet heartthrob Chris Botti in A Song for You.

Bublé’s Pinoy fans made his first visit here a success. I am sure they will do the same again. And hurray, it will be easier getting a parking space around the Big Dome in Cubao then it was during that rainy evening at the PICC more than a year ago.

Voices of Love

Michael Bublé’s rendition of the Wham! hit Kissing a Fool is one of the featured cuts in Voices of Love, a collection of "the most romantic songs from the most beautiful voices today." This is great news for those on a tight budget because you can now enjoy these great voices without having to buy all of their albums.

And when you say beautiful, it only follows that the album line-up will also boast of the likes of Norah Jones’ Don’t Know Why, Josh Groban’s To Where You Are, Stacey Kent’s What the World Needs Now is Love, Joss Stone’s Fall in Love with a Boy, Russell Watson’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters, George Michael’s (who was formerly with Wham!) The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and many others.

I am especially glad that the compilation includes the late Eva Cassidy’s Time After Time and the divine-sounding Alison Moyet, two artists whose albums are seldom available in the local stores. I like to think albums like Voices of Love can serve as an introduction to these extraordinary artists.

Top 20 Videos

On the local front, the Top 20 videos in the Pinoy MYX Countdown on the week of Sept. 19 to 24 are: Kahit Pa by Hale; Gemini by Sponge Cola; Especially for You by M.Y.M.P.; Sorry by Cushé; F.U. by Bamboo; Mang Jose by Parokya ni Edgar; Ang Ating Araw by Dicta License; The Day You Said Goodnight by Hale; All I Need by Side A; Love Can’t Wait by Sarah Geronimo;

What I Do Best by Sheryn Regis; Stay by Cushé; Here I Am Again by Rachelle Ann Go; I Need You by Mark Bautista; Makaaasa Ka by Rivermaya; Tumatakbo by Mojofly; I Love You Goodbye by Nina; Quick to Panic by Sheila and the Insects; Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons and Kwarto by Sugarfree.