MANILA, Philippines ? Sharon Cuneta and Sarah Geronimo represent different generations of stars who can act and sing well?even without the help of the recording industry?s vast technological innovations. Sadly, the duo?s musical careers always take a back seat to their more financially lucrative acting endeavors. So, their new recordings are always welcome treats to music buffs who are tired of listening to the growing number of ?recording? artists who can?t really sing.

There?s a lot of good singing in Sharon and Sarah?s latest albums, ?Musika at Pag-ibig? and ?Music and Me,? respectively, in which they take their listeners on musical trips down memory lane. The Megastar?s refreshing 14-track repertoire is composed of reimagined OPM favorites, while Sarah?s 14-song lineup mostly consists of ?80s- and ?90s-era ballads, as well as a smattering of R&B tunes and movie theme songs.

Sass and sizzle

Sharon?s asset as a performer is her ability to sing any tune as if it were truly her own. For instance, listen to how she turns Gary Valenciano?s signature dance hit, ?Eto Na Naman,? into a leisurely song with feminine sass and sizzle.

Another track that benefits from the Megastar?s empathetic rendering is Joel Navarro?s enduring Metropop classic, ?Suwerte-Suwerte Lang.? Gary Granada?s ?Saranggola Sa Ulan? is anchored by thoughtful, provocative lyrics and complex melodic shifts that take advantage of Sharon?s emotive gifts and full-bodied middle-voice register.

Dina Bonnevie?s ?Bakit Ba Ganyan?,? Regine Velasquez?s ?Paalam,? Agot Isidro?s ?Sa Isip Ko,? Jay Durias? ?Habang Atin Ang Gabi? and Side A?s ?Sana Naman? are judiciously reworked, deftly demonstrating Sharon?s seamless shifts from chest sounds to confident head tones.

The high notes in Nyoy Volante?s ?You?re My You? and Ryan Cayabyab?s ?Iniibig Kita? are beautifully realized, and Sharon?s bits of pianissimo singing in her revival of Mr. C?s ?Magbalik Ka Na Mahal? (from the musical, ?Rama Hari?) are too aurally sumptuous to miss.

Singing style

Sharon infuses a lot of catchy energy and a middle-of-the-road feel into her well-chosen selections for ?Musika at Pag-ibig??and, we?re happy to note that, this time, there?s none of the ?straddled? singing style (bukaka) she has been resorting to of late when she aims for a fuller, note-perfect sound.

Another recent crutch that?s too obvious to ignore?too much whispery breathing in between her lyrics?is still evident in some songs (Ogie Alcasid?s ?Nais Ko,? the Apo?s ?Show Me A Smile?), but they?re no longer as conspicuous as they used to be.

Like Sharon, Sarah Geronimo also has ?technical? crutches to hurdle?the Celine Dion-style vocal affectations, which hinder the versatile Pop Princess from truly finding her own voice and style. But, ?Music and Me? is a step in the right direction.

Sarah, who released her Yuletide album, ?Your Christmas Girl,? last month, is slowly but surely finding a middle ground that places her singing sensibilities in the pop-rock-R&B genre, a musical fusion she obviously thrives in, as evidenced by her confident revivals of Brandy?s ?Have You Ever?,? Coco Lee?s ?Before I Fall In Love,? Faith Evans? ?Never Gonna Let You Go? and Roxette?s ?Listen To Your Heart.?

The 21-year-old actress-singer evinces considerable growth and maturity in her covers of Shanice?s ?Fall For You? (which hints at longing and loneliness), Smokey Mountain?s ?Can This Be Love?? (with very appropriate sentiments), and the theme songs from her blockbuster movie with John Lloyd Cruz, ?A Very Special Love,? and the recent Vilma Santos-starrer, ?In My Life,? as well as her gem of a duet with Christian Bautista, ?Please Be Careful With My Heart.?

Some arrangements are sleek but derivative (Richard Marx?s ?Right Here Waiting,? Debbie Gibson?s ?Lost In Your Eyes?), and others tend to drown out Sarah?s otherwise powerful vocals (?Record Breaker?)?after all, volume isn?t really synonymous with lush musicality.

Down to earth

The Pop Princess? sound may not seem all that original to uncompromising listeners, but we personally root for the soft-spoken songstress, because she has apparently remained down to earth in spite of her mounting fame and fortune. Would that other less talented stars could have Sarah?s integrity and humility.

Moreover, Sarah can sing circles around a lot of young celebrities who insist on ?singing,? despite possessing less-than-serviceable pipes. It?s not like the country is wanting in world-class performers, so let?s leave the singing to real singers, please.