By David Stillwell

Several years ago, I admit to being taken by the vocal prowess of a young Filipino girl, Charice Pempengco. She made the rounds from talk show to talk show spilling out this melodic golden voice that seemed angelic. I remember wondering what will become of her. She sang a duet with Celine Dion and stole the show. Note perfect and inflection perfect she covered hit after hit, but even then it hit me that she was simply mimicking what other vocalists have already produced. She had talent, but had not as of yet found her voice. Then just as suddenly as she had come, she disappeared from my radar.

Music is something that I hold dear. Those who can sing stick in my brain. When I read the online headlines that Charice Pempengco had come out of the closet as a lesbian, I thought okay. Then I saw her, and the transformation from this skinny girl with long hair in gowns was replaced by a woman who looked mannish. I think for me that was the biggest shock. Yet, it was the music I was after. So I listened. My God! The music is fresh. She remade Titanium, and I fell in love with it. It was her. She may have come out of the closet, but it suits her so well. The music is so real. Her turn on the mic with the high hitting ballad Titanium is emotionally charged, and the key is dropped so that it resounds within your heart. You feel the words.

It becomes something new. I have to premise this with the fact that I love the original version of Titanium. I like this remake even more. I listened to a few other of her new releases and was not quite as impressed. They were also remakes and what I want from Charice is for her to make her own music. She still has an awesome voice. The notes are pitch perfect, though the the words, are often not her own. That is what disappoints me. I caught a glimpse of her in her rendition of Titanium, and that is what I want. She has a voice that is pure, and she does not need to hide behind the hits of other artists. If she wants to come out of the closet, come all the way out and let me see who you are as a musical artist. There is so much there, and most of it is untapped. I leave you with Titanium by Charice….

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