Hits and misses in ‘The Voice Kids’’ commemorative album

GAIRANOD (RIGHT, WITH OTHER “THE VOICE KIDS” ALUMNI). Salt-of-the-earth perspicacity.

We’ve often complained about the impropriety of making very young performers sing about romantic love—as Darlene Vibares is made to do in the 13-track commemorative recording, “The Voice Kids: The Album.”

In her faithful but clumsy cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” she sings, “Bittersweet memories/ That is all I’m taking with me/ So, goodbye/ Please, don’t cry/ We both know, I’m not what you need.”

Those are lyrics that are quite inappropriate for a 10-year-old—unless she’s referring to a nanny who has found a new young ward to serve. But, she bounces back in “Girl on Fire,” where she sets Alicia Keys’ woman-empowerment anthem ablaze with her perfervid enthusiasm.

Juan Karlos Labajo also renders a “grown-up” song (“Sway”), but at least he’s three years older, and is served well by a feisty disposition that is more “winking” than worrisome—with a strong presence to boot.

He channels the ebullient energy of Bamboo, his coach, that makes his frisky cover of Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby” as irresistible as Toto Sorioso’s sizzling arrangement. Moreover, that hint of Cebuano accent adds to his charm and personality.

Thankfully, Tonton Cabiles is assigned age-appropriate numbers, like Jackson Five’s “One Day In Your Life.” But, any singer who records songs made famous by exceptional vocalists like Michael Jackson and Luther Vandross is bound to sound like an inferior copycat—unless he comes up with a better-sung cover, or a different version altogether!

His “Dance With My Father” gets off to a shaky start, but eventually finds its footing halfway through the track.

Edray Teodoro is only 13, but her remakes of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Julianne’s “Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib” are among the album’s most polished cuts, thanks to her seamless singing and husky, mature-sounding pipes that don’t break, even in the midst of her most circuitous runs.

Best singer

Without a doubt, the sextet’s best all-around singer is mild-mannered Darren Espanto, whose performing gifts impressively come through in his slick and smooth revival of Justin Bieber’s “Somebody to Love.”

In “One Moment In Time,” The versatile Darren conveys more soul than schmaltz, and shows off his prodigious range when he reaches for the song’s high notes with ease and precision, as if they were scaled by Whitney Houston herself!

Unfortunately for Darren, there’s nothing more attractive than a rags-to-riches tale, especially in this sob-story-loving side of the world. The singing skills of the talent search’s 9-year-old grand champion, Lyca Gairanod, may be rough around the edges, but she’s an exceptional performer who knows how to feelingly “sell” her songs—with salt-of-the-earth perspicacity.

Her distinctive, soulful style is made more captivating by a well-chosen repertoire that suits her spunky personality and never-say-die spirit to a T, like Aegis’ “Basang-Basa Sa Ulan”—it’s guaranteed to put a smile on “birit” lovers’ faces.

Maricris Bermont’s “Narito Ako” is tweaked into a song of hope. And, what could be more appropriate than Sharon Cuneta’s enduring “Pangarap na Bituin,” about a singer’s rise to the top?: “Unti-unting mararating, kalangitan at bituin/ Unti-unting kinabukasan ko’y magniningning/ Hawak ngayo’y tibay ng damdamin.” —Talk about art imitating life—and vice versa!