Christmas the Jamie Rivera way

Jamie Rivera has this sweet trilling voice so ideal for inspirational songs. Her singing simply makes people feel good. This, plus her success with songs like the Jubilee Song, Heal Our Land and Tell The World Of His Love, has earned her the tag of The Inspirational Diva. And when you say inspirational, can you think of anything more inspirational than the Christmas Season? So it follows that if Jamie is great with inspirational music, then she is also ideally suited to singing Christmas songs.

I know that Jamie has already done one or two well-received Christmas recordings in the past but a new release is still good news. Her latest is My Christmas Gift and it is certainly one of the major releases of the 2013 Season. Featured is not only Jamie, but also a new Christmas song, Christmas Around The World that was composed by Noel Espenida with lyrics by Jamie herself. And where, note that this is what makes it special, an all-star cast of Star Records and ABS-CBN talents sing with Jamie.

Here is the list of artists who participated: Toni Gonzaga, Liezel Garcia, Bugoy Drilon, Marcelito Pomoy, Jovit Baldivino, KZ Tand- ingan, Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto, Vina Morales, Jed Madela, Erik Santos, Janella Salvador and Kathryn Bernardo. I do not know if anybody has already wised up to the idea but this song, along with a Christmas-themed video, should make for a happy, inspiring greeting or TV channel ID. I must say, very nice.            Although it would have been better if the guest singers had more distinctive voices so that the listener knows instantly, who is singing which lines.

This must be the reason why although Christmas Around The World is a big produc- tion, I will not say that it is the best song in the CD. And surprise, neither is one of the inspiring Christmas songs. I believe that Jamie is at her best in the album in the love song Pasko Na Sinta Ko. Composed by Fran- cis Dandan and the great baritone Aurelio Estanislao, this is one of the most beautiful Filipino Christmas songs ever written. It is also very sad and I know sentimental souls who get teary-eyed over Gary Valenciano’s iconic version. What I find most interesting is that Jamie’s rendition gave the song the spirit of hope. Her lilting vocals, ever inspira- tional, seems to be saying, “Hey, I may be alone this Christmas but I am sure you will be back next year.”

My Christmas Gift also includes a hip- hopping Joy To The World, which is the CD’s first single; Christmas Will Always Be Christmas, composed by Jamie and Juan Miguel Salvador of the Rage band; Disy- embre Na Naman, written by Denis Quila with lyrics by Jamie; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, a duet by Jamie and her daughter Reine Mendoza; I’ll Be Home For Christmas; a medley of Oh Holy Night and Silent Night; Let There Be Peace On Earth; and Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

Jamie’s My Christmas Gift has now joined my perennials, the Christmas albums I enjoy listening to year after year because they contain beautiful music, are very well-produced and have now accumu- lated so many happy memories.

Christmas in Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan: The album is everybody’s favorite. It is now 21 years old but has not aged one bit. In fact, I seem to dis- cover something new about it every year. Like that time when alone on my way to the office, I heard A Perfect Christmas played on the radio. And the thought that entered my head was, ang ganda pala. And I definitely need Sing A Christmas Car- ol to get into that rush, rush holiday mood and Count Your Blessings to wind down with. Plus of course, no Filipino Christmas celebration would be complete without Christmas In Our Hearts.

Pasko by The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Miguel Chorale conducted by arranger and producer Ryan Cayabyab. Unfortunately, San Miguel gave up on its music program two years ago so the two-volume set is the first and the last Christmas recording by the group. This is a great album with an all-Filipino line-up of songs. It is an endearing mix of old and new, where the traditionals, Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, get respectful treatment and where new pop works like Paskong Walang Hanggan get excellent introductions.

The Christmas Album by The CompanY: I call this one the party CD. I do not mean for the type of Christmas party where there are dance contests and raffles and all sorts of presentations. Use those non-stop Christmas disco albums for that. Think of a smaller crowd, of close friends getting together for the Holidays and having some fun to the tune of Noche Buena and the Christmas Medley and for those sentimen- tal moments, there are the likes of It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve and Isang Taong Lumipas.