The artist who was born in USVI and raised in the BVI, made this disclosure to BVI Platinum News as he prepared to visit Tortola.

“The label said they want to see where I grew up so it´s only right I take them to ‘THA BAY”. I’ll probably be there for like three days shooting and photo shoots before I hop back on the road to continue promoting the single and album to be released in April! Areas for shoot are still left to be decided.”

The enthusiastic young artist said that `Solo´ is said to be vastly matching up to the expectations of his first single and big hit `Replay´.

“At least that´s what I´m hearing. So hopefully the fans support it as much as my team does. It´s doing well. When released, in less than 36 hours it went top 10 on iTunes and sold more than triple what replay did the first week, in a few hours. So I have faith that Solo is going to do well and hope the fans continue to love my music and show their support,” he posited.

Iyaz said that since its release, he has been on the road across cities performing, “and letting them know “island pop” isn´t just something that´s passing through; It´s here to stay. They love the song in Europe, especially in Paris, so I have high hopes for this one.”

While in the BVI, Iyaz will also perform at a talent extravaganza and variety show to be held at the Isabella Morris Primary School where he is a past student.

There, Iyaz is scheduled to perform his hit single `Replay´ and new single `Solo´. The event will take place on Thursday March 4, 2010 at 7:00 pm and will feature other local artists including Milf Mo, Them Island Boyz aka B.V and Drastic and Young Diction of Out Da Box.

Climbing the Ladder

Meanwhile, the artist said of recent he has been performing at numerous shows in several countries including the UK and Europe; and is also promoting his first album which is expected to be launched in April.

He also commented on his experience at the Grammy´s Award Show and being part of the remake ‘We Are the World’.

“Being at the Grammy’s was a great experience for me. I didn´t win a Grammy, but it was definitely a life time achievement for me. I grew up watching all these different celebs walking the red carpet and to be a part of it this year was something great. Hopefully next year it could be me,” the artist jokingly stated.

He said, “The We are the World remake was something awesome to be a part of, just like the Grammy’s. This is a video and song that I grew up watching with my parents. To be there with Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, and all the other celebrities who were there, I was honored to be there lending a voice to the cause. I think it has definitely impacted me personally because this is something that will go down in history not only for myself and my career, but for my island.”

Speaking on his future plans, Iyaz said that he has a few appearances which he cannot comment on presently, but assured that big things are in store for him in the near future.

“I also have a song coming out with an artist named “Charice.” She is David Foster’s artist and the song is called “Pyramid.”

It should be released on the 23 of this month. Also, I´m in the studio working with Miley Cyrus and I´m hoping for a very successful album while continuing to strive for excellence and making feel good music that´s going to reach every corner of the earth.”

The young celebrity also took the opportunity thank everyone who has been supportive of him during this journey.

“I am definitely going to continue to represent where I´m from – British and US Virgin Islands and hope they continue to support me throughout my career as I put Island Pop on the map and let them know that the BVI has a voice too. The new single “Solo” is out now on iTunes and also on billboard.com, myspace.com/iyaz , iyazmusic.com and facebook.com/iyazsmith,” he asserted.

Source: www2.bviplatinum.com

Posted by AnonymousFanatic

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2. Charice Will Soon Release International Album Under Warner Brothers
3. Please Read: Charice’s Pyramid Music Video on YouTube

The 17-year-old international singing sensation, who was invited to perform at the talent show’s grand finale on Sunday, belted out Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and “I Will Always Love You.”

“What was that! That’s amazing. How did you do that?” the show’s host, Gurmit Singh, said after the medley. ” Singapore loves you. We heard so much about you, seen you on YouTube, and finally you are here.”

When Charice told the crowd that she came from the Philippines, some Filipinos in the audience applauded. She also shared how she was discovered by Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah Winfrey on YouTube.

Charice also sang her first international single, “Note to God.” To which, Singh commented: “I tell you my jaw dropped, bounced, and dropped again.”

The pint-sized singer also took the opportunity to promote her upcoming international single called “Pyramid.”

In an exclusive interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Charice described the audience as “the best crowd ever.”

“Natutuwa ako kasi hindi po lahat ay Pinoy. Halos puro Singaporeans po sila… kakatuwa ‘yong host when he told me na, ‘Singapore loves you.’ The best crowd ever,” Charice said.

I was so happy because they’re not all a Filipino audience. Almost all of them are Singaporeans. I was so pleased when the host told me, ‘Singapore loves you.’ The best crowd ever,” Charice said.

After her Singapore guesting, Charice is set to return to Los Angeles, California to prepare for the release of her international album. Reports said she will be launching her first global CD on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in January 2010.

By: Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com

Bodyguard Medley – I Have Nothing/I Will Always Love You

Stage view, video from emelyn828: screaming fans 1:10
video from xXJuNyIXxHD 5:19
video from retardeddramaqueen 5:30 (shaky video but pretty close-up shot, lots of OMGs)

Great crowd shot & audience reaction

More audience reaction, courtesy of kikaypac: Bodyguard Medley 8:38 and Note to God 4:09
Video from xjrandomized: Bodyguard Medley 7:22 and Note to God 4:37
Video from enexified: Bodyguard Medley 4:54 and Note to God 3:46

Note to God

video from cyberman00005 (televised version)

Rehearsal Videos

Actual Performance Videos from FV

A Blog about Singapore Idol Finale — The cheers, the tears and what you didn´t see on TV by Christopher Toh IDOL CHATTER

CHARICE GUESTING ON SINGAPORE IDOL SHOW, 12/27/2009

Singapore Idol Grand Finale Tickets: Due to overwhelming public response for tickets to the “live” recording of Singapore Idol Grand Finale, held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Sunday 27th December 2009 at 8pm, there will be new tickets* available at MediaCorp (Terms & Conditions apply), on a first-come-first-serve basis on Wednesday 23rd December, from 6:00pm onwards! Charice is scheduled to sing 2 songs.

For more information about the show, visit their Official Home Page and you can also read the Singapore News about the two finalists, Sylvia Ratonel VS Sezairi Sezali, one of whom (Sylvia) is half-pinay on her father’s side and mom is Eurasian.
Watch Sylvia perform >>> here.

GO GO Charice, take the world by storm as S’poreans are about to experience The Charice Effect!!!

Hope that we can see video of this guesting later this month!

Posted by Eve

Related posts:

1. Singapore Idol Finale – The Cheers, The Tears and What You Didn’t See on TV
2. A Moment with Charice on Singapore Idol
3. Singapore Meet & Greet with Charice 12/27/09

CLICK HERE to watch the ‘Wrong Person’ segment, 12/06.

See the celebrities’ reactions when Reporter Madz Bulol approaches them with his microphone and tape recorder ready-at-hand, but he greets the wrong person. Charice appears at 2:02 but she’s not fooled in the least as she recognizes him right away. Sharp gal, our Charice!

The next videos are the older ones from three months ago, but I thought it’d be fun to include it here again, from the MTRCB Television Awards show this past September. Reporter Madz Bulol approaches several celebrities upon their arrival just to ask them a few questions. The segment is self-explanatory even if you don’t understand Filipino. The guests couldn’t understand either, haha! Watch what happens during Charice’s “interview” at 0:50 and again at 3:12. ROFL at her puzzled expression.

Translation for above video:
Intro 0:20-0:30: Madz Bulol here for Wow Mali Celebrities ‘Good Time.’ Here we are at 1st MTRCB TV Awards Show. Who can we have a good time with? Can they understand me?
Narrator voiceover: Star Studded at Wow Mali tonight…
Charice at 0:50: “Excuse me… what are you saying?”
Charice at 3:12: “Whaatt… I don’t understand.”

WoW Mali is the longest-running, top rated gag show in the Philippines, since 1996. It is now a weekly show on TV5, Sundays at 6pm. Inspired by the America’s Funniest Home Video concept, WoW Mali features a plethora of video footage of practical jokes, bloopers and wacky segments, as well as solicited but equally hilarious video clips from the viewers. The actual stars of the show are men on the street – your average Filipino caught by the candid camera in bizarre and funny situations.  And, as seen in the video, celebrities are on occasion the victims of practical jokes as well. (source: wikipedia)

Hope you enjoy the videos. ~Eve

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2. Charice Interview at CBS – The Early Show Saturday
3. Charice Sings at Big Brother Big Sister Show in L.A.

Charice’s Christmas Offering, The Gift of Songs

MDWK Magazine November 25, 2009

“Charice sings, are you listening?
With FASO, eyes are glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight.
Being in this Christmas wonderland.
Gone away is the hard life,
Here to stay is a new life
She sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a music wonderland.
Later on, we’ll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we’ve made
Walking in this merry wonderland.
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight.
Join us in the
‘Handog ng FASO sa Pasko’ wonderland.”

Yes, the evening of December 6 will be a beautiful, happy night indeed during the Christmas concerto, Handog ng FASO sa Pasko. With the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) performing with majestic choirs and noted Filipino singers led by Filipina singing sensation Charice Pempengco, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium will truly be like a Christmas wonderland, especially for Filipino Americans in Los Angeles.

Charice has been on stage with some of the world’s best artists including Andrea Bocelli. Josh Groban, and Celine Dion. In January 2009, she performed at two presidential pre-inaugural events in Washington, D.C. Charice was one of the headlining acts in the recent David Foster and Friends 10-City North American Tour.

Her international debut album is slated for release in January 2010 and she will appear in the upcoming film Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel which will be out on December 23. She is also part of the official soundtrack for the movie with her rendition of  ’No One’ by Alicia Keys.

At 17 years old, Charice has achieved so much that millions of others could never hope to achieve in a million lifetimes. With the loving support of her family, friends, and countless fans, Charice can truly face the future unafraid.

“Kababayan, maraming, maraming salamat sa suporta . Sana tuloy-tuloy lang po ang suporta. [My fellow countrymen, thank you very much for your support. I hope for your continued support.] Proud to be Filipino,” Charice said in an interview a few days ago, upon arrival in Manila from the US. She shared that while performing abroad, other nationalities notice how talented Filipinos are. “Nakakatuwa kasi di lang mga Pinoy ang nakakapansin. Pag nagko-concert kami may mga Americans, Canadians, sinasabi nila na parang ang dami palang napakatalented sa Pinas,” she said. [“It feels good that it is not only Filipinos who notice this. For instance in our concerts, there are Americans, Canadians, and they say that it is nice to know that there are a lot of talented people in the Philippines."]

Charice announced in that interview that she will not stay long in Manila as she has to go back to the States right away. Yes, to sing Christmas carols to her kababayans in LA at the Handog ng FASO sa PASKO. Don’t miss it! (AJPress)

Submitted by PhoenixSong

Also in this issue of AsianJournal, for complete story, click below:

Pinoy named CNN ‘Hero of the Year’

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino has received international recognition for his innovative effort in educating poor children.

Efren Peñaflorida, who started the “Kariton Klassroom” to bring education to poor children, has been named CNN Hero of the Year, the cable news network announced yesterday.

Posted by Eve

You May Also Like to Read

Handog ng FASO sa Pasko: More than the usual concert

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Vol. 7, which hits retail racks and online stores this week, features a who’s who of young artists like Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Carrie Underwood, High School Musical’s Vanessa Hudgens and Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester. In fact, more than half of the artists had yet to be born when the original album debuted 22 years ago. It would be impolite to name the oldest artist on Vol. 7, who’s still only 26, but Cyrus is the youngest contributor in the series’ history at age 16. Fittingly, she’ll celebrate her 17th birthday the same day the latest collection is released.

“[Vol. 7] is about the torch being passed to a new generation of artists, who now will be the leaders in sending the message around the world that Special Olympics is a movement of hope, acceptance and inclusion,” says Tim Shriver, CEO and Chairman of the Special Olympics. “It’s about extraordinarily gifted artists taking the torch.”

When the original Christmas disc debuted in ‘87, the New York Times called it the “heaviest lineup of big-name rock talent” since “We Are the World.” The album boasted stars like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Sting, the Pretenders, Stevie Nicks and Joshua Tree-era U2 each recording modern versions of holiday classics.

Remember Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis?” It cracked the Billboard charts in 2000, 13 years after it was released, but the song made its debut on the 1987 album. A Very Special Christmas has sold nearly 5 million copies to date and has since raised over $100 million in direct support for the Special Olympics through the Christmas Record Trust.

The newest album in the series features a younger generation of artists, but a wide variety of music styles are represented. Kellie Pickler sets the barn ablaze with a country version of “Santa Baby,” Sean Kingston gives the holidays an island twist with “Little Drummer Boy” and Kristinia DeBarge spices things up with “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Other contributors include Filipina YouTube sensation Charice and the youthful country band Gloriana, featuring Cheyenne Kimball of MTV reality show fame. Album producers include Greg Lapidus, Brian Phillips, Jay Frank and series co-founder Bobby Shriver.

Malibu-based singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat (pictured at right) opens the disc with ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ “My mom would always play A Very Special Christmas albums — like, we have all of them,” says Caillat, who was only 2 years old when the first disc came out. “We’d put them all in, we’d switch them out, we’d put them on random in this big disc changer and they’d all be playing. I honestly love them. They are my memories of Christmas.”

“It’s wild, you know what I mean, being a part of something that you grew up listening to and now you’re not just enjoying it but a part of it,” adds “Jingle Bell Rock” contributor Mitchel Musso, better known as Oliver Oken on Hannah Montana.

The album will be released through Universal Music Enterprises, and thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, all monies directly benefit the Special Olympics.

“Everything is donated,” says Shriver, who is the third child of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, J.F.K.’s younger sister and the founder of the Special Olympics. “The artists donate their time, the studios donate their time, the licenses are donated, the producers donate, the record companies donate. It’s an extraordinary testament to the good will of the people throughout the music industry. All of that results in every dollar, every single dollar, going to help Special Olympics athletes, their parents, volunteers come together in the spirit of sport.”

Deep Recording Roots

Though now a world-famous series, A Very Special Christmas began as the brainchild of Jimmy and Vicki Iovine. Jimmy, who’s often name-checked in Eminem songs (and not in a bad way either), broke into music as an engineer for legends like John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen (and later co-founded Interscope Records). His wife was volunteering for the Special Olympics, so when he decided to produce a Christmas benefit album as a memorial to his late father, she suggested the cause.

Herb Albert and Jerry Moss, the names behind A&M Records, provided the record label funding and distribution, while Tim’s older brother Bobby Shriver — an attorney, activist, politician, film producer and co-founder of (Product) Red, DATA and the ONE Campaign — signed on as producer and still serves as the series’ main constant. (For those wondering, Tim and Bobby’s sister is in fact California First Lady Maria Shriver.) These five founders recruited the biggest names in music to contribute songs, while the late Keith Haring designed the cover art that graces all the Christmas covers. The inaugural disc came out in late ‘87, and five months later, A&M sent over the first royalty check — for $5 million.

After subsequent volumes in ‘92 and ‘97 with artists like Aretha Franklin and No Doubt, the series decided to mix things up with a live album. The Clintons threw a 30th anniversary party for the Special Olympics in ‘99, and highlights of the concert became the basis for Vol. 4. Jon Bon Jovi, a former Christmas Record Trustee, played a major role in the live album and helped produce Vol. 5, while Lost Highway Records — fresh off its Grammy wins for the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack — crafted a star-studded acoustic country disc for Vol. 6.

But that was six years ago. In the years since, there were specialized releases like 2006’s A Very Special Latin Christmas: Noche de Paz and 2007’s 20th Anniversary Music Video Collection DVD, but the new youth-led disc closes the longest gap between the main album series installments. Naturally, this skyrockets the anticipation for Vol. 7.

Hudgens, who recorded “Winter Wonderland” for the album, remarks, “It’s such an honor to be on the first A Very Special Christmas album since 2003 and I think it’s so great and so much fun; and who doesn’t love coming in and singing Christmas songs?”

Kingston adds, “I feel like it’s big, I’m happy to be a part of it. I can’t wait to see the end results.”

Special Olympics, Special Funding

The Special Olympics features over 3 million athletes in over 180 countries, and the Christmas series plays a major part in keeping that second number growing. Through the Christmas Record Trust, album sales help fund Special Olympics programs in countries like Algeria, Jordan, Yemen, Uganda, Russia and China where there’s limited government support for the disabled. The proceeds also provide seed funding for programs in locations like Timor Leste, Cambodia, Laos and Lesotho. In fact, the UN designates a quarter of the places supported by the Trust as Least Developed Countries.

“Athletes in Rwanda who are running for the first time, athletes in Afghanistan, girls who are able to compete for the first time,” says Shriver of the Trust’s accomplishments. “Athletes in China who are getting the message that everyone counts for the first time. Athletes in the United States in cities like New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles who otherwise would be on the sidelines are on the field of play because of the extraordinary gifts and contributions of the leaders of the Very Special Christmas series.”

The Special Olympics website provides information on local programs where athletes can sign up and others can make donations. Even for those who can’t donate time or money, the site features something everyone can do: take the R-word pledge to stop “the hurtful and disparaging use of the word ‘retard.’” (I’m looking at you, Black Eyed Peas!)

Shriver explains, “Going to the website, getting involved personally, taking the R-word pledge by going to specialolympics.org or going to r-word.org, helping us eradicate hateful language from our lexicon, from our schools, from our workplaces, from our television and film studios.”

The Christmas series is special for so many reasons, but Vol. 7 is all the more special with a dedication to Eunice Shriver. The organization’s founder passed away in August, but her feelings toward all the series’ contributors is well known.

“I am full of admiration for the many artists who have helped us,” she said many years back. “It’s a great tribute that these men and women say to themselves, ‘I’ll use my talent to help others.’ It’s not easy because they’ve got so many demands on them and every charity wants them, but they’ve helped us and I’m very grateful.”

Now is your chance to contribute as well. Sure, you could dust off that Bing Crosby Christmas album, but not even naughty kids deserve that. Give A Very Special Christmas a spin instead. It won’t just make your kids happy; it’ll also help bring joy to special needs children around the world.

By David Jenison | Monday, November 23, 2009, www.tonic.com

Charice – The Christmas Song

O Holy Night – another holiday favorite
(this song is not in the album)

Promo video brought to you by SpecialOlympicsHQ

Vanessa Hudgens – Winter Wonderland
Miley Cyrus – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Sean Kingston – Little Drummer Boy
The Carter Twins – Let It Snow
Leighton Meester – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Kellie Pickler – Santa Baby
Ashley Tisdale – Last Christmas

To buy your copy now and listen to album song samples, click HERE

Posted by Eve

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3. David Archuleta Announces Christmas Tour Dates

Foster is in the midst of the “David Foster & Friends” 10-city tour where he’ll be reliving musical highlights from throughout his four-decade career. “I’ve been making all this music for so long, without actually reaching people in a direct way, right? Just in an indirect way. With letters and now with e-mails, you get a sense of how your music is affecting people.”

“But the artists that I work with, they get to go out and enjoy it immediately and connect with people singing songs that I’ve worked on,” he says. “I hadn’t experienced that until the `Hit Man’ show. So, it just made sense to take it on the road.”

By Sandra Barrera, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Foster strikes chord on tour

Thank you, David, for sharing your birthday with us tonight!

Enjoy the videos, which we will add as we find ‘em.

NOTE TO GOD featuring Lisa Smith
You can hear an audible “Ahhh” of surprise as Lisa starts signing and then, “Amazing!”

POWER OF LOVE

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New York (CNN) — Flip through YouTube for five minutes and beyond the bad “Star Wars” parodies and nose-picking tutorials, you’ll notice there are a lot of people out there who can sing. Really sing.  “There’s so much talent,” said long-time record producer David Foster. “Everywhere you go, there’s talent that have no clue how to be heard.”

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In the first part of our interview, David talked about his latest project, Christmas From the Heart

How did you like recording with Filipina star Charice Pempengco on Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas?

Charice, she’s so talented. I first saw here when she was on YouTube, actually. Then there was another time she was on Oprah, and my parents were, like, ‘Come check this girl out.’ It was neat to see what she was all about and how happy she was doing music and how much she loved to do it. And then how huge her voice was. I was, like, ‘Wow, she’s an amazing singer.’

When they said it would work out to do a duet with her, I was really excited, because she does have such a big voice. Even though the song we do, neither one of us is singing huge or anything. But I kind of like that, because I think people would expect us to be competing. It’s like, ‘No, let’s not do that.’ So we sang a more simple, toned-down song. We tried to complement each other as best we could instead of seeing who could sing better. I’m sure she would outdo me by a mile anyway.

But I didn’t want people to think that we were competing or anything. Because I’m known for being on American Idol and competing, and she’s known for having a huge, amazing voice. It was cool that we both tried to keep the sensitivity of the song. Because she can do anything. She’s such an amazing singer.

Then Ave Maria, that was cool, getting to sing that. Then, in Spanish, of course, because I’m half-Spanish. I’m over half Hispanic, I guess, because my dad’s a little bit Hispanic.

Do you speak Spanish fluently?

Just a little bit. Both of my parents are fluent, so it’s pretty embarrassing that I’m not. But it’s still a big part of my family. All my mom’s side speaks Spanish. I speak to my grandparents in Spanish. Slowly. And they’re patient with me! But I do speak with them in Spanish and carry on conversations with them.

You had a pronunciation assistant credited on your French song, Pat-A-Pan. Was she in the studio with you?

No. We were just like, ‘These are French lyrics. I don’t speak them, and I don’t think I’m saying them right.’ My keyboardist’s friend spoke French, so the night before, we just called her and said, ‘Hey! Can you help me with these words?’ She just went over them on the phone with me, and I was, like, ‘Thank you, because I’m going to have to record them in the morning.’

It was pretty funny. It was someone I had known already, but I guess they were my coach for the day.

You used several Utah-based composers and arrangers. You and Richard Parkinson, for instance, go back before American Idol.

He used to accompany me sometimes.

Talk about some of the Utah guys you used on the album.

There’s a lot of really talented people in Utah, people who would really make an effort to make the music the best that it could be and as emotional as it could be. What we wanted to do with the music, instead of people who would just be like, ‘We’ll throw together something for you really fast and get our money.’ You know?

There were a lot of people in Utah who were passionate about the project and wanted to make sure the music told the story the best it could and had as much emotion. That was really neat to see, and to be able to work with some of the most talented people in Utah. Kurt Bestor  has worked on a lot of things, not just in Utah. So it was fun getting to work with him, too.

I know you knew Richard, but did you know people like Kurt and Sam Caedon before this album?

No, I just met Sam on this project. Kurt Bestor, I had worked with on a bonus track on the album last year. That’s when I first met him. It was a pretty quick thing, like the last thing I did for the last project. It was all pretty sudden and last-minute, so I was happy to be able to work with him and have some time this time around to let him do his magic.

There are a lot of strings on the tracks he arranged, because you used the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Will you take a string section out on your upcoming christmas tour?

It’s hard, with money and stuff, because it can get pretty expensive when you add more and more to it. It can affect other things on the tour, even just normal things. You have to be careful with the budget. But I think there are some dates where there will be an orchestra or strings, just to add to the performance.

I really feel like real instruments and the live feeling add so much to the music, and to those arrangements, especially. It gives something extra to the people who come out to the shows. While it won’t be the whole tour, I think at least sometimes there will be some live strings there for the performances.

Christmas From the Heart seems to be broken into three sections. You have your traditional hymns — Joy to the World, The First Noel. You have a couple of pop standards — Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Then you have a string of traditional minir-key, European carols — Pat-A-Pan, What Child Is This, Riu Riu Chiu. Were they all songs you already knew?

Most of them I did. The European ones were new to me, but those are some of my favorite ones on the album. Because they’re different. Because they really stand out and catch your attention, and they were really fun to record.

I was struggling, because I was having to record while I was on tour. It’s hard, because you’re in a different mindset when you’re on tour than you are when you’re in the studio. I was using so much energy on tour, so it was definitely a big challenge. But I did my best with it. As long as the emotion in the songs is portrayed to people that’s what matters the most.

I really like the European carols, and I like that captivating sound that they have that isn’t usually in Christmas songs. Those are some of my favorite ones on the album.

I’m a big Christmas music buff, and it’s always nice to hear somebody record a song like Pat-A-Pan that you don’t hear but every 40 or 50 albums.

We were trying to give it a more contemporary feel, a more modernized thing. It’s hard, because it’s a pretty short song. They actually had to add to the song and make it an original arrangement of the song. I really like how it came out. Kurt did a great job with it.

Why did you pick Riu Riu Chiu?

Well, Riu Riu Chiu is in Spanish. I’m not going to do, like, Mi Burrito Sabanero, you know, or any of those kinds of songs, but I wanted to do something in Spanish. I wanted to do songs that people weren’t really familiar with and weren’t used to hearing. Riu Riu Chiu was in Spanish, so it was a way to give to the Latin side of me and the Latin audience. It was mainly to have a Spanish flair added to the album and to have something unique to add to the album, like Pat-A-Pan was.

We listened to a bunch of different versions and arrangements, just to see what people did to make them interesting. There were some that were really interesting, or really simple, like little kids singing them, or a guy on a guitar. It was like, ‘Okay, let’s see how I can make it my own version.’

Submitted by:  Mischele

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Siyempre proud ako sa kanya. And natutuwa ako sa kanya, happy ako for him,” Charice said.

She said she was among those first few people who saw on video-sharing Web site YouTube a teaser about Pineda’s guesting on “Oprah.”

She said: “Ang totoo noong time na ‘yon kasi lagi po kaming magkasama ng executive producer ng Oprah. At lagi ko pong nao-open sa kanya na mayroon pa ding na-diskubre sa YouTube na Filipino singer.”

“Ako, nauna kong nakita ang teaser sa YouTube. ‘Yong iba hindi pa nila alam na nasa Oprah si Kuya Arnel.”

Charice, 17, said she wasn’t able to see Pineda before or even after his guesting since she’s also busy with her work.

“Last namin pong pagkikita ay ‘yong nag-guest kami sa [musical variety show] ASAP. Siguro mga months ago na po,” Charice said.

Charice, who is now taking a rest in Manila, is set to fly to the United states on Thursday for the “David Foster & Friends” show. She will also attend the premiere of “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.”

Her first international album, meanwhile, will be released in the US January of next year.

By Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com

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2. ARNEL PINEDA OF JOURNEY EXPRESSES PRIDE IN CHARICE!
3. Arnel Pineda guests the second time around in Oprah

“Christmas from the Heart” is David’s first Christmas effort and comes out across U.S. on October 13. It includes “Joy to the World” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” among other Christmas favorite tunes. Featured guest in the album is YouTube singing sensation
Charice.

“This album represents my love for Christmas time, and what it really is all about,” David said. “This is a special time of year that we spend with family and loved ones. It means so much to each one of us. I hope you can all feel that in the music.”

Beside dropping a Christmas set, David Archuleta  is also working on a pop album to follow up his self-titled effort “David Archuleta”. The runner-up of “American Idol” season 7 has started recording session for the album last summer while he was touring with Demi Lovato.

David Archuleta’s Christmas tour dates:

• Nov 24 – Salt Lake City, UT at Abravanel Hall
• Nov 25 – Salt Lake City, UT at Abravanel Hall
• Nov 27 – Ann Arbor, MI at Ann Arbor Symphony / HillAuditorium
• Nov 29 – Santa Rosa, CA at Wells Fargo Performing Arts Center
• Nov 28 – Bakersfield, CA at Rabobank Theater
• Nov 30 – San Francisco, CA at Warfield Theatre
• Dec 02 – Anaheim, CA at The Grove
• Dec 04 – Rexburg, ID at Hart Auditorium of BYU University
• Dec 06 – Beaver Creek, CO at Vilar Performing Arts Center
• Dec 08 – Kansas City, MO at Midland Theater
• Dec 09 – St. Paul, MN at Fitzgerald Auditorium
• Dec 11 – Waukegan, IL at Genesee Theater
• Dec 12 – Cleveland, OH at Playhouse Square
• Dec 13 – Montclair, NJ at The Wellmont Theater
• Dec 15 – Baltimore, MD at Lyric Theater
• Dec 17 – Mashantucket, CT at MGM Foxwoods Casino
• Dec 18 – Stroudsberg, PA at The Sherman Theater
• Dec 19 – Boston, Ma at House of Blues
• Dec 20 – Westbury, NY at Capitol One Bank Theatre at Westbury

Source: Aceshobiz.com

To Mr. David Archuleta… Good luck to your new album “Christmas from Heart” and enjoy your Christmas Tour —CHASTERS

Posted by Madz

Related posts:

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2. Charice Pempengco Reveals Christmas Duet with David Archuleta
3. David Archuleta Already Tops The Christmas Chart

“Don’t Stop Believing” clearly was the appropriate number for Journey to sing in front of the already standing audience of Oprah. Jaws dropped as Arnel executed powerful chords that drowned even the loud cheers from the crowd.  After the number, the band members talked about their experience when they first heard Arnel in a YouTube video back in 2007.

Journey guitarist Neal Shon was actually the first one who “stumbled” on the video when he was searching online. “He sounded amazing!” Shon exclaimed. Drummer Deen Castronovo had a more personal observation. He said, “It was frightening just to hear that voice from a little guy. It was just strong. But the best part of it was how humble the man was. What a humble human being. A beautiful heart.”

Arnel admitted that he had never dreamed of singing  with Journey, seemingly an impossible thing for one who grew up in poverty.  “I’ve seen enough pain and poverty in the Philippines and I did not dream that big,” he said. “All I wanted to do was get out of it and live decently.”

Now that he was out of it and traveling with the band he admired, did it dawn on Arnel that everything was now real?  “It’s amazing, unbelievable, fantastic,” expressed Arnel. “All the superlative words. Until now, it’s not real. I feel like an alien right now and I’m not supposed to be here. But I’m here!”

Such are the humble words from the now internationally known Arnel who had wowed different crowds in the past two years. With the acquired wealth and fame he received, he announced that it was his duty to give something back. With his foundation, this was now possible.

“I put up a foundation called AP Foundation to help underprivileged kids in the Philippines,” Arnel said proudly. But regarding the things he bought for himself, he meekly said, “A home for myself and my family because that’s what we ever dreamed about, having a good-spaced house.”

As a parting song, the band played “Faithfully,” which the show’s audience applauded heartily. It was the song that first won the public’s attention for Arnel two years ago.

SECOND FILIPINO TO GUEST. Arnel is actually the second Filipino to be featured in the popular U.S. talk show. The first was  Charice Pempengco, now as internationally famous as Arnel for her powerful voice.

Journey Live with Arnel Pineda in Oprah, Part 1

Journey Live with Arnel Pineda in Oprah, Part 2

Journey Live with Arnel Pineda in Oprah, Part 3

ALONE – CHARICE & ARNEL – A Sensational Power Duet

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David said his earliest memory was when he went Christmas caroling with his cousin.  They wore Santa Claus hats.  Another early memory was just spending time with the family. He thinks those memories are always good to have, but it’s very hard to do that now as they are all spread out. It was great to make those memories, he added.

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Related posts:

1. David Archuleta Announces Christmas Tour Dates
2. Charice Pempengco Reveals Christmas Duet with David Archuleta
3. David Archuleta Talks About ‘Christmas From the Heart’

Included in the show were reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, 2009 ice dancing pairs World Silver Medalists Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin, 2009 U.S. champions Alissa Czisny and Jeremy Abbott, and 2009 U.S. pair champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker, all contenders for the upcoming 2010 Winter Games.

In This Song (including intro)

Video with lyrics, uploaded by TheJannie5

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Note To God

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Breathe Out

Video uploaded by TheJannie5

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Charice pictured with KSM Band members and Jordin Sparks (3rd from right)

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Promo Video

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Behind the Scenes – Charice, Jordin Sparks, and Michelle Kwan

Related posts:

1. Skate for the Heart on NBC, 01/31/2010
2. Skate for the Heart featuring Jordin Sparks, Charice, Honor Society, & KSM
3. Cohen joins cast of “Skate for the Heart”

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The Intro / And I am Telling You / No One

Video uploaded by LantaoIsland

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SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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The Climb

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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I HAVE NOTHING / I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU (Bodyguard medley)

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Billie Jean

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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MY HEART WILL GO ON

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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HALO

Video uploaded by LantaoIsland

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The Power of Love

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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LISTEN

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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I WILL SURVIVE

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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Para Sa’yo Ang Laban Na To (This Fight Is For You) by Manny Pacquiao, acapella

Video uploaded by LantaoIslands

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full stage shot & short Halo clip

Video uploaded by silliaek

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AFTER CONCERT WITH FANS

Thank you to uploaders, and many, many thanks to LantaoIslands for his herculean effort in capturing all of the songs, and then uploading late in the night for all of our instant viewing pleasure. They are awesome and you have our gratitude. Please stop by his channel to thank him.

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AND CONGRATULATIONS ESPECIALLY TO CHARICE!! WE APPLAUD YOU ON YOUR FIRST SOLO CONCERT IN AMERICA!

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2. Charice Wows ‘em in Vegas
3. Charice Live in Vienna, Austria