"Ikaw Pa Rin" - Aicelle Santos video

GMA Records from the album "Make Me Believe" Directed by Milos Curameng Aicelle Santos Make Me Believe When Aicelle Santos first came onto the scene via her runner-up finish in Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 2, it was reasonably clear that she possessed a better voice than any newcomer. It's considerably strong but pliable enough to varying degrees. In a way, one is easily reminded of a young Lea Salonga with traces of contemporary R&B and soul; that is, Aicelle appears edgy early on in her burgeoning career. On her GMA Records debut album "Make Me Believe", Aicelle flaunts her superior voice and opts to concentrate on soulful melodies but going beyond trite formulas and productions for a fuller sound. Here, she demonstrates her ability to adjust her vocals depending on the song's demands. Of course, pop and R&B references are aplenty all throughout but it's marked with that signature Aicelle style: consistent, solid vocal performance. She hits highs with relative ease, it's quite addictive. The album's opener and carrier single "Ikaw Pa Rin" essentially testifies this young woman's significance and position in the music industry. Playing along a straightforward theme and pop-rock production, she wails longingly to the one she loved before ("Ikaw pa rin, ang hinahanap ng puso, ikaw pa rin ang siyang laman ng puso ko...") with such passion that one may think of it as an autobiographical citation. Moments later, she looks as if she's head over heels in love over someone new on the coy and adorable "Lullabies". Title track "Make Me Believe" written by Agatha Obar treads the right direction; her stable voice associating well with the piano-based instrumentation. On the surprising side follows "All Gone (My Lingering's Over)—one of two songs penned by Aicelle herself—which is a buoyant, bouncy track of getting over the breakup blues. "A House Is Not A Home", "Kung Bakit Ngayon", and "Nasaan" are soft ballads shaped using gentle musical backdrops. Emerging next is a stylish version of the Tracy Chapman original "Give Me One Reason". Aicelle's rendition is generally frivolous, poppy, and at times country-sounding. About the only thing bluesy are her crooning vocals. Meanwhile, things slow down again in "Tunay Bang Iibigin" but for good measure. This is a standout track where the generic production, vocal licks, and arrangements are warranted. Aicelle sounds in control and sweet whenever she sings, "Tunay bang ako'y iyong iibigin, tunay bang ikaw ay magiging akin... Sabihin mo, sabihin mo 'pagkat ako'y nahuhulog na rin", proving that a calculated performance reaches further than those brimming with sky high notes. By album's end, it is evident that Aicelle is still drawn to power ballads with another highlight in "All The Man That I Need"; it finds Aicelle singing her heart out in impressive fashion with remarkable arrangements. "Impostora" theme song "Maghihintay" offers a similar source of melancholy with previous ballads. Vocally, Aicelle is strikingly extraordinary. She bawls at times but still manages to soften it when needed. Although very young, she sounds way beyond her years and seems to be miles ahead of her peers by writing songs and creating "Make Me Believe", a good effort that copes with various genre shifts.