Great expectations

Year 2007 has shaped up into what might be the busiest ever in the career of Search for a Star champion Rachelle Ann Go. Barely six weeks into the New Year, she has released her new Obsession. Then she shot a music video for the single Don’t Say Goodbye and started touring the malls to promote the album. As of this writing she will be at SM Dasmariñas on Feb. 25, SM Molino on March 3, SM Bicutan on March 4, Metropolis Alabang on March 11 and SM North EDSA on March 18.

The past Valentine Season also found Rachelle Ann in a whirlwind schedule of what turned out to be successful well-attended concerts: at SM Megamall for the Xavier School Scholarship Foundation with Jose Mari Chan; at the Aliw Theater with Christian Bautista for You and Me; also with Christian at the Centennial Ballroom of the Manila Hotel for DR Productions on Valentine’s Day. She also found time to go to Qatar for a show with other singing champions.

Come April, Rachelle Ann will off to a concert tour of California with Christian. Areas she will visit include Delano on April 8; San Diego on April 13, San Jose on April 14 and Los Angeles on April 15. There are other shows later this year and she is also considering an offer to make her big screen debut in a romantic movie where she will play opposite real-life boyfriend Christian.

Given all that is happening to the 20-year-old singing star, it cannot be denied that Rachelle Ann has joined the big league. And the great thing about it is that everything she does shows Rachelle Ann maturing into a poised performer eager to better herself and is totally dedicated to her work.

Just give a listen to Obsession, which has established itself as a strong foundation for Rachelle Ann’s big blast this year. Her third studio album, it was produced by Christian de Walden. The Hollywood producer first worked with Rachelle Ann in some cuts of her last release I Care. De Walden, who usually works with leading pop stars in Spain, Italy, Mexico and the United States, was so impressed with Rachelle Ann’s style and hardworking attitude, he decided to do a complete album with her. Made up entirely of 13 new originals, Obsession is released on Viva Records’ LA label Viva West and earmarked for foreign sales.

With the aim of presenting the 20-year-old Rachelle Ann as an accomplished artist, De Walden created a mixture of sounds set against Latin and Euro influenced dance tracks and a variety of ballads. Market reaction to the first single is very positive and should turn the album into another big seller. Composed expressly for Rachelle Ann by Tony Ramirez of Mexico, the bittersweet love song Don’t Say Goodbye already enjoying strong airplay. Directed by Monty Parungao, the video, where Rachelle Ann is dolled up in haute couture outfits from the Young Designers Guild, was as of yesterday already No. 6 in the MYX music channel’s daily countdown.

There are lots of exciting follow-up singles in the album. Rachelle Ann can once more charm her way up like she did with Bakit from I Care, with the Jimmy Borja composition Alam ng Ating Mga Puso or go mellow pop with I Will Always Love You Anyway. She can stop the show with power ballads like This Must be Love, and Come One Day, or turn into a dance diva with And You Love Me, Walk into My Life, or You are My Obsession. Other cuts are And Me You, My Forever Love, I’m Sure, Something in the Air and Iyong-iyo. Obsession was recorded in Manila, Los Angeles and Milan with engineers Luca Vittori and Eric Payumo.

Incidentally, Rachelle Ann is nominated in the Favorite Female Artist category of the MYX Music Awards 2007. Fans who want to see her win the trophy can simply text their votes this way: MMA 42 and then send to 2366. Text costs P2.50 per and texters can only vote once per category per day. Voting period lasts up to March 10 and results will be announced at the AFP Theater on March 15. Tune in to MYX for the latest updates.