Lived-in conviction in Angeline Quinto’s torch songs

Subtlety has never been Angeline Quinto’s best trait as a singer-performer. But now that she’s learned to incorporate understated warbling into her torch songs and ballads (like her remake of “Hanggang Kailan Kita Mamahalin?”), her songs have become more relatable and notable for their texture and seamless vocal placement shifts.

Of course this is easier to accomplish in a recording studio where settings can be easily corrected, controlled or manipulated. Yes, soft singing can be just as moving as birit (belting), as Regine Velasquez proficiently demonstrated in singles like “Araw-Gabi” and albums like “Low Key” years ago.

In her latest album, “@LoveAngelineQuinto,” Angeline is at her best when she “serves” the song more than her ego or her octave-breaching bravado, and just lets the music take its course. We’re talking about “Para Bang, Para Lang,” a self-penned track (with prolific songwriter Jonathan Manalo) that brings out the hopeless romantic in OPM lovers. It’s as memorable for its catchy midtempo groove as it is for the tune’s easygoing swagger.

The songstress has another ace up her sleeve in Yeng Constantino, who wrote the gorgeously realized hugot numbers, “’Di Na Tayo” and “At Ang Hirap.” It’s easy to understand why the singer performs both tracks with lived-in empathy and deep conviction:

In “’Di Na Tayo,” the singer grumbles about a relationship that’s as uncertain as it is ambiguous. “At Ang Hirap,” about the aftermath of a painful breakup, is about what comes next—but this time, it’s imagined by arranger Teddy Katigbak as a wistfully rendered (and readily relatable) contest piece.

Marlon Barnuevo’s “Parang Tayo Pero Hindi,” Angeline’s stirring Himig Handog duet with Michael Pangilinan, blends well with the album’s running theme about the heady vagaries of romantic love.

With veteran arranger Arnold Buena at the helm, Dodjie Simon’s “Ang Pag-ibig Ko’y Ikaw” sends up the soaring love ballads of the ’80s with a continually ascending melody that benefits from Angeline’s note-scaling trills and prodigious range.

For something more familiar, the collection includes covers of Ogie Alcasid’s “Kailangan Kita” and Jeremiah’s “Nanghihinayang,” but this time around, the spotlight belongs to the new songs—which is no mean feat.

Stellar voice cast for ‘Sing’

Christophe Lourdelet and Garth Jennings’ coming 3D computer-animated screen musical, “Sing,” isn’t just remarkable for its stellar voice cast—which includes Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, Taron Egerton, Tori Kelly and Jennifer Hudson—but also for the rousing songs it compiles for its soundtrack.

The film is about koala Buster Moon (McConaughey) who will do anything to restore his theater to its former glory—by producing the world’s greatest singing competition!

But you don’t have to see the film to enjoy its soundtrack, which includes Witherspoon hamming it up (with coactor Nick Kroll) with catchy versions of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Bananarama’s “Venus”; Johansson stretching her ballad-honed pipes for the punk rock numbers, Dave Bassett’s “Set It All Free” and “I Don’t Wanna.”

Another irresistible track is Jennifer Hudson’s version of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s “Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight,” which is significant for its heart-tugging intensity and Hudson’s show-stopping performing flair.

You’ll also be entertained by MacFarlane crooning à la Frank Sinatra in his revival of “My Way”; Egerton channeling Elton John in “I’m Still Standing,” and Kelly seizing the spotlight with Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing.”

The film features 85 classic tunes from famous singers, but its sole original song, Ryan Tedder and Benny Blanco’s dazzling Pharrell Williams-meets-Bruno Mars number, “Sing,” performed by the exceptional tandem of Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande, is just as exhilarating—and as hard to resist!