Length 01:05:24 Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren
(2008) Best of Nina
(2009) Release date 25 July 2008 | Language English Artist Nina Girado Label Warner Music Group | |
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Released July 25, 2008 (2008-07-25) (Philippines) Recorded 2007—2008
(See recording locations) Producer Jim Baluyut, Neil C. Gregorio Genres Pop music, Contemporary R&B Similar Nina Girado albums, Pop music albums | ||
Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren is the fourth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on July 25, 2008 by Warner Music. It is a cover album consisting of Nina's renditions of familiar love songs written by American songwriter Diane Warren. The idea behind the release of the album started after the success of her single "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend" in 2004, which was initially recorded for Warren's love songs compilation.
Contents
- Background and development
- Critical reception
- Reaction to her covers
- Singles
- Promotion
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Recording locations
- Songs
- References
Upon release, the album received negative response from critics, most reviewers pointing out the over-singing and lack of emotion. Despite criticisms, the album proved to be a commercial hit, certifying gold by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI) on September 1, 2008. It was considered to be a late awarding, since the album sold enough for a gold certification in its first week of commercial release. It has sold over 30,000 units and has been awarded Platinum by the PARI to date. The album has been released internationally, mostly in South-East Asian countries. However, Warner failed to promote it in the mentioned territories because they were busy promoting Charice's self-titled 2010 album.
Two singles were commercially released off the album. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing", an Aerosmith original, was the first single. It featured a mellow arrangement and soft vocal delivery, entirely opposite to the original arrangement. The song became a chart-topping hit and is considered to be one of Nina's trademark singles. "There You'll Be" was released as a follow-up single. Nina personally chose the song, and considers it as a "Thank You" to her fans who were always there to support her. "Saving Forever for You" was released to radio in 2009 as a promo single to boost up album sales.
Background and development
In 2004, Warner Music came out with a compilation of Diane Warren's all-time hits, on which Nina contributed a song—"I Don't Want to Be Your Friend". She was also the only Asian singer that was featured on the album. In a press conference on July 29, 2008 at Red Box, TriNoma in Quezon City, Nina revealed that she is a fan of Warren, and that she wanted to do a record consisting of her hits. Hearing about the interview, Warren willingly agreed and allowed her request. A message by Warren, stating "A few years ago Nina cut "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend", one of my favorite songs. I am very happy that she is now coming out with an entire album filled with the songs that I'm proud of. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a lot of hits together," can be found on the album's sleeve.
In selecting the songs, Warner and Nina wanted to include hits that are familiar to the Filipino listeners, and some of her favorites as well. They thought that people can relate more to the song, if they are familiar with it. For the arrangement, she and her team did only slight changes to not ruin the original mood envisioned by Warren. Bobby Velasco, Alvin Nunez, producer Ferdie Marquez, Mike Luis of Freestyle, Jay Durias of South Border, and Nina's band were assigned to re-arrange the songs.
Critical reception
Despite certifying Gold just a week after its official release, Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren received very few nominations on awarding events and negative response from OPM critics. Resty Odon of Titik Pilipino gave the album three out of five stars, saying "To be honest, what I've been expecting at this point in Nina's career is an album of original compositions suited to her voice. I don't like her being relegated to cover-girl status because I think her big little voice deserves originals." He further stated "there's the risk of Nina having to suffer the inevitable: ruthless comparison with the original interpreters—something I'd rather skip here and leave to more vicious reviewers." However, he praised "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend", saying "It's one song where she didn't have to shout and be a vocal Chinese acrobat."
Reaction to her covers
Despite the success of her original singles, "Jealous" (2003) and "Someday" (2006), Nina's highest-selling album Nina Live! consists entirely of revivals of classic love songs. "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways", the album's first single, became very popular in the Philippines that even though the song was just a cover, it was considered as a Nina hit. Her renditions of "Foolish Heart", "Through the Fire" and "Somewhere Down the Road" also managed to reach the top of music charts in the country. Aside from Nina Live!, she released a cover album in 2007, paying tribute to American singer-songwriter Barry Manilow. It was entitled Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow. OPM critics reacted negatively to this kind of musical process that she was doing. On an interview with the entertainment press at Red Box, Nina defended herself in the following statement:
It's fulfilling to sing any song, maybe a cover or an original song, just the fact that I'm singing is fulfilling enough.
She further expressed about not worrying on being a typecast as a singer known for reusing previous hits, saying that the reason on why she keeps on releasing covers is because of her fans. They were the ones who requested it.
Nominations
Singles
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was the first single, released alongside the album in August 2008. Many compared Nina's version to Regine Velasquez's. However, it can be clearly heard that the two renditions are almost completely different. The Soul Siren has a mellow tone that she put on the words of the song, without the redundant vocal belting that Velasquez did. The music video was aired first on MYX in September 2008. "There You'll Be", a Faith Hill original, was chosen personally by Nina to be the second single from the album in November 2008. The reason on why she chose the song is because she considers it as a "Thank You" to her fans for supporting her. In early 2009, the behind the scenes of the song's music video was posted on Nina's official website, and later in February 2009, was the full version of the video.
Prior to the album's release, "I Could Not Ask for More" was rumored to be the first single. The song was said to have interpreted Nina's professional and romantic state at that time. However, it was canceled for unknown reasons, and "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was released instead. In early 2009, "Saving Forever for You", a song originally recorded by Shanice, started receiving numerous airplay on TV and radio. It was heard in ABS-CBN commercials and was used in an episode of Your Song entitled "Feb-ibig", starring Christian Bautista and Karylle, which aired on February 15, 2009. In September 2010, a late official music video for "Love Will Lead You Back" was solicited over Philippine music channels. The video features footage and clips from the past music videos recorded by Nina. It was said to be her farewell music video for Warner. Later, it was revealed that the song was the first single from her 2010 greatest hits album Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010.
Promotion
Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren was officially launched on July 29, 2008 at Red Box Karaoke, TriNoma, Quezon City. On August 10, 2008, Nina had another album launch on ASAP '08, where she sang the album's carrier single, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". During the next episode of the show, her album received a Gold Record award for selling over 15,000 copies in the Philippines for only a week. On August 18, 2008, Nina guested on a Boy & Kris episode, "Birit by Request", with Christian Bautista and Lani Misalucha. She performed the first single "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing". On August 31, 2008, Nina performed the song again on ASAP '08 together with Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Liezel Garcia. She performed on MYX Live!, hosted by Jett Pangan, singing eight songs from the album, including the two singles. The episode aired on April 22, 2009.
It is considered to be her second album to reach Gold certification in just one week, following her 10x Platinum third effort, Nina Live!.
Track listing
All tracks written by Diane Warren, and produced by Neil Gregorio.
Disc 2: Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren (Minus One)
Personnel
Credits were taken from Titik Pilipino.
Recording locations
Songs
1I Don't Want to Miss a Thing4:09
2I Turn to You4:25
3Love Will Lead You Back4:40