Lea Salonga Albums (12)
'Cinderella: Int'l Tour Cast Album Soundtrack'
Release Date 2/3/2009
Tracks 16
Label Sony BMG Europe
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This is the album Lea Salonga was destined to make. Long recognized as a prodigious talent, Lea Salonga has appeared in a number of musicals outside her native Philippines, including the original Broadway production of Miss Saigon, for which she won a Tony. Although she has tried to crack the Asian and international pop market, she's had less success in that area. It's not because of her voice; it's been suggested that it's because of the lackluster material she sings, which is more easy listening than pop. While Philippine-composed easy listening music can sell in big numbers inside the country, it doesn't fare as well outside the country. There is, however, a potential international market for The Broadway Concert, which was recorded at a Manila concert of the same name. The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra provides musical accompaniment, and the musical director for the show was her brother, Gerard Salonga. The entire album is wonderful, and contains a number of endearing performances. An unexpected highlight is the heartfelt "Too Much for One Heart," a number that she explains was dropped from the production of Miss Saigon. One wonders why it was dropped, as the song is simply beautiful, and Lea Salonga's rendition could possibly even be released as a single. Other songs include "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," from the musical Evita; "I Enjoy Being a Girl," from Flower Drum Song (Lea Salonga appeared in a lauded Los Angeles production of Flower Drum Song); "Nothing," from A Chorus Line; "Someone Else's Story," from Chess; and "I Don't Know How to Love Him," from Jesus Christ Superstar. There are other songs as well, including an overture performed by the orchestra. While an album of Broadway music by any performer won't rival sales of Jennifer Lopez or Ashanti, there is a niche international market that may very well enjoy this album. ~ David Gonzales, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
A continuation of Vol. 1 from her Philippine show in 2000, Live, Vol. 2 features a heartier array of compositions, even though there are only nine in total. Lea Salonga can still belt out "On My Own," a track she had performed as Eponine in Les Miserables, and here reveals the epitome of Eponine, or at least the reason for her successful performance. Salonga takes charge when there is a meaningful script in front of her. Like a magician, she casts spells with her talented and perfectly tuned voice. Though she sounds assured on every musical track here, it is somewhat unnerving to hear her dialogue to the audience between them. The best female entertainers (Bette Midler, in her heyday, comes to mind) demonstrate comedic timing, tell stories, and (in the very least) make the audience feel relaxed. Lea Salonga may have a lot of gifts, but these are not among them. Before revealing a fine version of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "You Must Love Me," she rants endlessly on her love for Madonna. Before taking on the "Streisand Medley," she rambles nonstop on her love for Barbra. Even huge fans of Salonga probably do not get as excited about her as she gets about her idols. There is an unexpected frailty in her dialogue -- on record she sounds nervous and either poorly improvised or poorly written. Luckily, there is a good musical offering to compensate for the conversation she makes. Also featured are John Lennon's "Imagine," Cyndi Lauper's hit "True Colors," and "Tomorrow," the theme song to Annie, a role which Salonga appeared in as a child. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Lea Salonga's (one of Broadway's most marketable personalities) first live album seems long overdue. Recorded live at the Philippine International Convention Center, it includes material performed during two separate evenings. The opening entry of "Someone's Waiting for You," following the overture, is from the 1977 Disney film The Rescuers. What might seem like a strange selection makes sense when we hear the insertion of a young child's voice backed by instrumentals from a fuzzy record. No mistake about it, it is a child who would later do wonders for the stage, and she is singing the exact same song. In no time, the adult Lea Salonga takes over and thus begins an hour of classics and standards, including a "Carpenters Medley," a "Disney Medley," which includes the artist's own song, "Reflection," from the film Mulan. There are two entries, "Even If" and "Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile" from Lea Salonga's solo albums. "Happiness" is a duet with her brother Gerard Salonga, who also played piano throughout the selections and produced the album. While the song is a chipper, likeable little tune, Gerard's talent is best left at the ivories. Lea's voice is right where it belongs, on stage in front of a live audience. While Vol. 1 does not feature the most inspired of musical choices, they are all capable offerings evidently respected by an even more capable singer. ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Lea Salonga is one of the Philippines' most popular and best-selling artists, and she gained international acclaim by winning a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway hit musical Miss Saigon. While her local albums achieve huge sales in the Philippines, there isn't much of a market for them outside of the country. In Love (1998), for example, was released in several Asian territories, but sold in dismal quantities. Since Lea Salonga possesses a magnificent voice, the main reason for the lack of success is probably the less-than-thrilling easy listening material she likes to sing. In Love, for example, consisted of such Philippine-composed material. According to a source at BMG Records Philippines, Lea Salonga prefers simple love songs. My Heart (1999) once again comprises easy listening, Philippine-composed material. The album offers no surprises and in general is pleasant and soothing. Her duet with local male singer Ariel Rivera on "I Don't Love You" is passionate and "Till I Met You" has a bouncy spirit. Once again, though, this album would have a hard time finding a market outside the Philippines. ~ David Gonzales, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
It is either a sign of undying love for their national treasure or a commentary on how soft-boiled Filipinos prefer their music that Lea Salonga's In Love reached double platinum in her home country. Chances are, the sign is double-sided. Every song is penned by Filipino songwriters Odette Quesada and Cecile Azarcon. Soft, smooth, jazzy, and unfortunately dreary, the music would not stand a chance in America. Most of the songs could be used as elevator music, although the powerful voice that accompanies the music might be distracting. There seems to be a sort of bad fortune Salonga brings upon herself by choosing material that is weak in comparison with her abilities. A song like "Even If" would be the lesser track on a Celine Dion album. Here, it sort of floats above the rest like an undeserved medal. Drastically sentimental and lulling, In Love is another set of songs graced by a voice that works as best it can with the material. The easiest advice would be to contact a great producer who could set her in a completely new direction, but it seems that she already took that advice. In 1993, Glen Ballard produced her American debut album, which was somewhat brighter and more memorable, though not even one of his better efforts. Is there anyone who can save this remarkable voice from the depths of dull music and make her the pop star she was destined (and seems to achieve) to be? Good Broadway music is not dull, but this music -- not the voice -- is. Still, it seems particularly cruel that most of Salonga's albums do not make it past the Philippines border -- wouldn't they find a strong Broadway lovers' fan base? ~ Peter Fawthrop, All Music Guide
'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing'
Release Date 1/1/1997
Tracks 36
Label Musiko
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
I'd to Teach the World to Sing collects 16 songs recorded by Lea Salonga, one of the Philippines' most renowned talents, as a youngster in the early '80s. According to the album notes, the songs were first recorded for FGS & Associates. The songs were reissued for this 1997 collection by BMG Records Philippines. There is also one new performance, the love song "Ngayon Pa Lang Tagumpay Ka Na" (Today You Are Already a Winner), a duet that Lea Salonga sings with another local female recording artist signed to BMG Records Philippines, Cris Villonco. Of the album's 16 songs, 15 consist of western repertoire and include renditions of such standards as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "When You Wish Upon a Star," and the hit from the musical Annie, "Tomorrow." She also performs some children's songs, including "Alphabet Song" and "Happiness," and some pop songs, including ABBA's "Chiquitita." She approaches Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All" with much sincerity and passion. She showed talent as a youngster, although she wasn't precocious, as is the young British classical singer Charlotte Church. It is to Lea Salonga's credit that she blossomed into a Broadway star in the musical Miss Saigon. ~ David Gonzales, All Music Guide
