‘Love Always’ album is Shane Filan’s love letter to fans

Ni Len Armea

Kuha ni Jovelyn Bajo

Maituturing na personal para sa sikat na Irish singer-songwriter ang kanyang ikatlong solo album na “Love Always” dahil nilalaman nito ang ilan sa kanyang mga paboritong all-time classics na nilagyan niya ng kanyang sariling interpretasyon.

“This is an album I have been wanting to make for a long time, I love singing ballads and this album is full of some of my all-time favorite songs as well as some fan choices such as the Bangles hit ‘Eternal Flame’ which I never thought about covering but I loved recording, to one of my own personal favorites Bryan Adams’ ‘Heaven’,” pahayag ni Shane.

Espesyal din ito dahil bukod sa ilang cover songs ay mayroon din originals songs sa album na mismong siya ang sumulat gaya ng kantang “Unbreakable” na kasama sa 12-track album.

“Picking the tracks was the most difficult part of the process and I wanted to put my own take on them and I’m really proud of the versions I have done. There are also three brand new original tracks that I’ve written following requests by fans for some new music and I am really proud of how they sit alongside the other songs.”

Inamin ng pamosong singer na isang malaking pagkakataon na makanta ang mga awitin ng ilan sa paborito niyang mga mang-aawit. Pinakapaborito niya rito ang “Heaven” ni Adams dahil bata pa lamang umano siya ay pinapakinggan na niya ito.

“It’s probably because I’m such a big Adams fan. It’s a song I’ve had a big history with over the years,” pag-amin ng singer sa presscon na inihanda para sa kanya ng MCA Music kamakailan sa Marco Polo Ortigas.

Bukod sa kantang Heaven at Eternal Flame, kasama rin sa album ang “This I Promise You,” ng N’Sync, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” ng Crowded House, “Make You Feel My Love” ni Bob Dylan, “Need You Now” ni Lady Antebellum, at “I Can’t Make You Love Me” ni Bonnie Raitt.

Isinama rin ni Filan ang “Beautiful in White” ng Westlife na mayroon ng 70 milyon hits sa YouTube.

Kakaibang kaligayahan ang naramdaman ni Filan nang umpisahan na niya ang paggawa ng bagong album na ito. Dito rin umano naranasan ni Filan na mag-eksperimento ng bagong tunog at bagong atake para sa mga napiling kanta.

“I didn’t put songs there that meant nothing to me, all these songs I’m a fan of the singers.

“Even if it’s an original song or a new song or if it’s a cover version, I’m very picky with my vocals. When it comes to hearing the final mix of the song, I always want to tweak it or change it or do something or change the music,” ani Shane na aminadong “perfectionist” siya pagdating sa kanyang musika.

Aminado rin ang singer na pagkaraan ng limang taon simula nang magdesisyon siyang mag-solo ay mas kumportable na siya lalo na’t nakikita niyang buong-buo pa rin ang suporta sa kanya ng mga fans partikular na ng mga Pinoy.

“I really feel comfortable five years on. The first year was a bit weird and it was a bit scary and it was very new to me. I didn’t realize what it is going to be like or understand it. What I knew is singing, the one thing I love is singing and to be able to get to do that is amazing.

“Going forward every year is just getting better and better, the support I’m getting from the fans is growing every year. It’s going great,” dagdag pa ni Shane.

Kaya naman sa kanyang ikatlong album na Love Always ay talagang maririnig ang mensahe ng pagmamahal ng singer sa kanyang mga fans.

“The album title is actually my autograph, love always. I always write with ‘Love always, Shane’.”

Masaya rin na nagtanghal si Shane sa Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, at Robinsons Magnolia para i-promote ang kanyang album sa kanyang Pinoy fans na dinumog ang lugar upang mapanood siyang kumanta.

“It always makes me happy to be here,” ani Shane.

Huling bumista si Shane sa Pilipinas noog 2014 para i-promote ang kanyang unang album na “Everything to Me” na sinundan ng pangalawang album na “Right Here.”