Review: Isn't It Romantic?

Isn't It Romantic?
Sony-BMG Philippines, 2006

When Mega announced last year that she would be doing another all-revivals album, I was disappointed. I felt that after Sharon Sings Alcasid, she should venture on an all-new original album. Besides, most artists these days are into doing albums of such concept that you'd wonder when they would stop. Most of them were even mere karaoke versions of certain songs and they were making big money out of rehashing well-loved classics! I was hoping that she wouldn't jump into the bandwagon anymore. Pwede bang tigilan na at ibalik ang tunay na OPM?! Whatever happened to the Sharon Cuneta who spun original hits like Mr. DJ, To Love Again, Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas, Now That You're Gone, One Last Time, etc.?

The Sharon Sings Alcasid CD left a bad taste in my mouth that I couldn't help but fear this next endeavor. Imho, Sharon's vocals were not that good in SSA and the songs were arranged in a way that they all sounded alike. However, upon listening to her old albums, I realized that SSA is just one bad apple in the basket. So being a Sharonian that I am, I got excited this time, especially when I saw its packaging! Aside from the content, I'm the type of person who is into the packaging and over-all look of an album or a video or whatever it is that interests me. When I saw her showing it in her Master Showman guesting, I knew that it is a must-have for any Sharonian! Of course, I was right the moment I took hold of a copy! It was such a beautiful CD! A collectible indeed!

But is this album just all looks? Oh no! It isn't! As soon as you put it in your player, you'd get the instant acoustic feel to it from start to finish! All my fears about the all-revivals concept immediately disappeared. The tracks were perfectly selected and were wonderfully arranged. They were even compiled in a way that they tell a love story - the journey of the blossoming of a love to the heartaches to the hopes of a new love. Unlike SSA, Sharon's vocals were rightfully controlled in this one. Sure, there were 1 or 2 not-so-good tracks but hey, that's what skipping is for! Then again, in an album of 16 tracks which 14 were amazingly done, you'd forget about the bad seeds.

Isn't It Romantic? is very different compared to her Nothing I Want More CD which is of the same genre. For one thing, this album is an acoustic album - an easy-listening one. It has the type of songs that you'd listen to while lounging in a sofa in a dimly-lit room. Walang makalaglag-pusong "belt-out songs". Second, the tracks were carefully selected to come up with a story - from the opening song Isn't It Romantic to its closing song To Love Again, which Sharon excellently sung with a different feel this time. Her earlier rendition seemed so innocent (and naive) then while this new version has the wiser attitude to it. Third, songs from the 70s and 80s were mostly chosen with the exception of Heaven Knows which is from the 90s. The said song seemed out of place in the collection yet nicely done. Fourth, she did all the vocals in this one including the background vocals. Truly, a Sharon first!

Isn't It Romantic? is not just for the Sharonians. It could be well-appreciated by listeners who just want good music. Sharon was able to give justice to the chosen songs. Galing galing! ;-)

Other tracks are It Takes A Man And A Woman (One of my faves in the album! Great rendition!), I'll Have To Say I Love In A Song, Laughter In The Rain, Birthday Song, Terminal, and I Don't Want You To Go (Her first version is included in the P.S. I Love You soundtrack - get it and hear the difference!) among others. According to Mega, there would be a follow-up to this one. My suggestion - an all Sharon songs revival!

It's soooo good to have you back, Mega! :-)


Related Posts:
A Bagful of Sharon Vicor Goodies
A Fanatic Weekend