Obsession (Rachelle Ann Go)

Obsession
Artist: Rachelle Ann Go
Record Label: Viva Records
Released: 2007

4 out of 5 stars!

Rachelle Ann reveals her great potential with upbeat songs in her newest offering from Viva Records, under the genius of Sir Christian de Walden. "Obsession" is set to be released internationally, according to previous reports and write-ups about the album. A mix of upbeats and great ballads gives this album an international taste.

"And Me U," is a great way to start the album, with its funky beats and Rachelle Ann's light vocals. Though, up to this moment, I still do not quite understand what the title really means.

A tagalog track penned by Jimmy Borja entitled "Alam ng Ating Mga Puso" comes next. I initially thought the song was a typical Pinoy ballad, when I heard some light beats that accompanied the beautiful tune. Rachelle Ann justifies the lyrics with a beautiful combination of her vocals and falsettos.

"This Must Be Love," originally entitled "En Tus Brazos," is a powerful ballad adapted to English by Margaret Harris. Rachelle Ann's voice was a bit shaky and lacked its distinct color in this cut, probably not one of the album's best.

What seems to be another English adaptation, "Come One Day" has a great mix of highs and lows, and Rachelle Ann did not fail to hit the notes with her great vocal range. The album even comes with a Tagalized version of the song entitled "Iyong-iyo," as adapted by Baby Gil, but is not listed in the album's tracklisting. Mysterious, isn't it? It might be Viva's unusual tactic, or just a printing flaw.

Jimmy Borja pens another song for the album dubbed "I Will Always Love You Anyway." The song's light tune is very easy to follow, and Rachelle Ann's voice fits in perfectly.

With an entrance that immediately hints you of an upbeat song, "Walk Into My Life" is a reflection of Rachelle Ann's versatility as a singer. Tracks of this genre and style may easily appeal to the international audience. The mystical and intense theme of the song, with Rachelle Ann's powerful vocals, great backups, and head-bobbing beats, make up for a potential international hit.

"And You Love Me" is a dramatic yet powerful ballad. Rachelle Ann's vocal prowess and color is unquestionable in this track.

A lighter song with a catchy tune entitled "My Forever Love" follows. Although not as appealing as the other tracks in the album, Rachelle Ann's consistency in her vocals is still evident, though with a few missed notes and flaws that can be easily excusable.

"I'm Sure" reminds me of an upbeat tango with its intro, then transitions into a song with a funky kick. The arrangement of the song is extremely pleasant and inviting to let loose and jump into the beat.

Rachelle Ann's first single from the album, "Don't Say Goodbye," will definitely appeal to the Filipino taste. Although majority of the album's tracks are catered to a more international audience, this cut suits the Pinoy taste for sentimental and heart-breaking ballads. I have no doubts that this song will be a surefire hit in local charts, and could possibly pierce into international charts if given the opportunity and proper marketing.

Enough senti, Rachelle Ann proposes, as she is accompanied with beats from her intense track, "You Are My Obsession." Among all the album's upbeats, this seems to catch most attention. It is at par with most Western upbeat hits, and may even have the similar appeal as these songs.

The following track entitled "Something in the Air" greets us with haunting whispers and backups. This song and the previous track, "You Are My Obsession," both of which were penned by Steve Singer, give me the idea that Rachelle Ann is evolving into the Philippines' very own version of Madonna, or at least presumably a dance diva.

Shin, as most of her fans call her, does not fail us with this new album. Although most of the tracks were carefully considered for the international music scene, the album does not go too far as sacrificing the meticulous Filipino taste in music to accomplish this goal. I may have doubts about the upbeat tracks easily appealing to Pinoy music lovers, but I am sure that the ballads will hit home to us, and our local charts. In Rachelle Ann's second album entitled "I Care," only the slow ballads were launched as singles, and this may still be the underlying tactic that Viva will use for this new album. It may not hurt, though, if Viva tries to introduce some of Rachelle Ann's upbeat songs to the local market and discover a potential wealth of hits in a genre that is not given so much consideration. Then again, Shin won't fail her fans with her undulating vocals and heartwarming ballads that this album offers. Let us hope that this champion does well with Viva's plans of bestowing her an international singing career. Good luck, Rachelle Ann!