Isabel Granada

In 1998, Philippine female singer Isabel Granada released Out Here on My Own. Isabel Granada has a strong, versatile voice. The album is dominated by middle-of-the-road material but it is mostly more substantive and modern than the easy listening music that dominates most albums by Philippine solo artists.

Some songs strike a balance between a modern sound and easy listening music. The opening song, "Ang Mahalaga" (The Important), for example, is a soothing, pleasant number that leans toward easy listening but also contains a tuneful chorus sung passionately by Granada, which makes the song more appealing.

The moderately paced "Out Here on My Own" also has a modern, middle-of-the-road sound. On this song, Isabel Granada sings over a shuffling, hip-hop-styled backbeat. The song also contains a forceful rap performed by a guest male rapper.

The ballads, "Maling Akala" (Wrong Belief), "Isang Tulog Na Lang" (One Sleep Only), "Kailan Lang" (Only a Few Days Ago), and "Buhay at Pag-igib" (Life and Love), lean toward easy listening but are substantive enough to sound modern and middle of the road. It should be noted, though, that this type of music would have a difficult time finding a wide audience outside the Philippines. In the Philippines, however, even the youth enjoy easy listening music and pleasant middle-of-the-road tunes. The album contains two songs that might appeal to an international audience: "It Doesn't Matter" and "Isang Tulog Na Lang" (One Sleep Only), both of which were composed by Philippine composer Kedy Sanchez. Isabel Granada is a fine, emotive singer. ~ David Gonzales, Rovi