Alden sings again

MANILA, Philippines — Alden Richards seems like such a nice guy, so wholesome and well-mannered that you find yourself rooting for him in whatever he does. That feeling is particularly stronger nowadays. With his megabucks earning love team with Maine Mendoza now in shambles or at the very least now the subject of an agonizing death watch for their fans, Alden needs all the support he can get to stay on top.

It is nice to know that he is getting that. A new TV series is in the works now that his action heavy Victor Magtanggol is ending its run. Alden fans that I talked to are hoping that his next one will be a great love story where their idol can be at his lovable and most romantic best. He is also active doing concerts where his singing, much improved and his performance, now quite confident, has drawn much praise. So more shows, please.

Well, followers of the Pambansang Bae were also hoping for his recording of at least a Christmas song, if not an entire album this year. They are a bit disappointed this did not happen. We still have six weeks to go until Christmas Day so this wish might still be fulfilled. But even if not, they are happy about Alden’s third and latest album titled Until I See You Again. Previous releases were Wish I May and Say It Again.

There are no songs like those scream-inducing Thinking Out Loud and God Gave Me You in the album. Those now belong to the past. But Alden, who makes it a point to include at least one religious or an inspirational song in every album he records, serves up two very special tracks in Until I See You Again. These are Christ Is Enough, a strong ballad from the Hillsong catalogue and I Will Be Here by the great contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman.

Breathes there a soul who is not familiar with I Will Be Here. The almost 30-year-old tune is still heard a lot nowadays. On the radio, where Gary Valenciano’s version is a favorite or during weddings, birthday parties and other important occasions. This promise of love eternal is certainly a major selling point for Alden’s album. Not only because it is such a beautiful song but also because this guy’s faith is so deep and so real that you feel it oozing out with this recording.

It is also nice to know that I Will Be Here appears twice in Until I See You Again. One is a regular pop cut while the other is a piano-driven acoustic version that Alden does very well. The other songs in the EP release are Kapag Malapit Ka; Until I See You Again; Superhero Mo, by the Ex Battalion featuring Alden Richards, in a hip-hop mood for the theme from his TV series Victor Magtanggol; and then for those who want to sing along with Alden, music minus ones of every track.

Incidentally, while we are on the subject of I Will Be Here, here is another proof of this same song’s enduring appeal. I Will Be Here is also the main theme of the movie Through Night And Day. Shot in Iceland, the moving love story stars Alessandra de Rossi and Paolo Contis. Alessandra, who is quite a singer and songwriter herself, has released her own version of I Will Be Here from the film’s soundtrack and this is now available on all downloading and streaming platforms.

Alessandra’s I Will Be Here is one of this week’s exciting new releases. Here are others now also out in the market you might want to check out: Knots, a collab by Moira dela Torre and Nieman; Balang Araw by the band I Belong To The Zoo; Wala Nang Dahilan Para Umasa Pa, an original by cover hitmaker Noel Cabangon; After Hours by Paolo Sandejas; Dahan-Dahan by Rob & the Hitmen; Magpahanggang Wakas, by champion Erik Santos and featuring Martin Nievera; Di Ko Kaya by Erik again but this time around with soul queen Jaya; Lihim by Isabella Vinzon; and Branches, another folksy inspirational by the hitmaking duo of the year Ben&Ben.