Philippine Sports and Entertainment Portal Online

by: Rhia D. Grana

Sarah Geronimo's "Just Me"
If only to judge from her singing and the cuts in her fifth album titled "Just Me," Sarah, who turned 20 this year, is ready to fall in love. She renders all 16 tracks in her album with just the right emotion in her sweet, melodious voice.

Without a doubt, Sarah's vocally gifted, and in this album, it's good to hear that she displays this without trying too hard. Anyway, she doesn't need to prove anything. She's already way up there.

"Just Me" tackles love in various levels and intensities. And this time, Sarah sings her age. She has grown mature--as an artist and as a person, unlike a few years back when she was barely in her teens, belting out Celine Dion's "To Love You More."

Like her previous hits, the tracks in Sarah's hew album have easy recall; you can memorize the tune and/or the lyrics with three to four playbacks.

"I'll Be There for You," Sarah's duet with Howie Dorough, is very Backstreet Boy-ish (of course!). It's a fun ditty to sing along with. Only, it reminds me of N'Sync's "Tearing Up My Heart." I don't know, but the song just automatically plays in my head when I heard this first track. Sarah and Howie's voice blends just perfectly. Expect yourself to have the last song syndrome after listening to this.

Sarah's sugar-coated rendition of "Just Me" reveals the Pop Star's playful, flirty side; it actually felt like listening to Madonna's "Fever." She showcases her soulful voice with the R&B track "Silence" and "Played." "Movie Love," on the other hand, adds international vibe to the album.

Of course, there are the cheesy, senti cuts that make for good background in those cry-me-a-river sessions like "Look Inside Ourselves," "Remind Me to Forget You" and "Sweet Memories." I imagine the last song playing while chugging a bottle of beer over a break-up.

For those who are suckers for love songs, there's "What Have You Done to My Heart," "One Little Kiss," "You're the Love of My Life," "I Am Falling," "I Belong To You" and "Where Only Angels Fly." 

The songs "Dahil Minahal Mo Ako" is particularly catchy and can be the title of Sarah's next romantic movie, so is "Kahit Mahal Mo ay Iba." (Another Sarah-John Lloyd team-up? Why not?)

With the right mix of songs, "Just Me" is a good listening companion, totally worth your every peso.