Aicelle Santos
Encyclopedia
Aicelle Anne Santos is a Filipino Soul, R&B, Pop, and Jazz singer-songwriter and pianist, who first emerged in the Philippine music scene
as a contestant in a nationwide search for the next best singer in the first season of ABS-CBN's Star In A Million. She has been known as the "First Undefeated Pinoy Pop Superstar" for achieving eight-straight wins in GMA 7's Pinoy Pop Superstar
as the Philippines' "Ballad Princess."
musical training at the St. Scholastica’s College, and the University of the Philippines
School of Music for Piano. The early training allowed Aicelle to indulge in her original dream to become a famous pianist. However, a shift in focus took place as she realized she would rather be a famous singer than be a known pianist. Aicelle's inspiration on the field came from Walt Disney
's character Ariel from the movie The Little Mermaid
. The movie's theme song "Part of Your World" was the first song Aicelle memorized, which she also performed during her elementary school programs.
While still at her first year of college at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Aicelle joined ABS-CBN
's Season 1 of Star In A Million (2003), her first take on a nationwide televised singing competition. The competition opened many doors for Aicelle. Although she sometimes struggled, she eventually struck a balance between attending university and focusing on her blossoming singing career.
Aicelle took advantage of the minor fame that her Star In A Million appearance gave her and showcased her talents on top performers' settings with a new acoustic group Dream Sequence. Dream Sequence proved to be a success on its own right, and brought its three members to many cities around the Philippines. The Metro’s prime stages Bagaberde, Chef and Brewer, Phi Bar, Fiesta San Miguel in Dusit, E’s Bar in Edsa Shangri-La, and others became the group's main performing stages. The nightly gigs are believed to have been Aicelle’s training ground for improving her vocal and stage performance.
In 2005, Aicelle once again decided to aim for a solo singing career by joining the second season of the Philippine’s TV hit singing competition, Pinoy Pop Superstar
. An eight-straight win during preliminaries put Aicelle on top and on the show's history, as the first 'Undefeated Superstar.' She performed her versions of:
Aicelle got into the finals favoured to win. On PPS's season finale, Aicelle Santos claimed first runner-up and signed a record deal
and an exclusive management contract under GMA Artist Centre. Her story in Pinoy Pop Superstar is somehow related to Sheryn Regis
.
Once again, Aicelle proved her vocal competence when she won "Best Performance of Own Country Song" representing the Philippines in Astana Music Festival in Kazakhstan. Aicelle bested delegates from 13 countries around the world, including Mexico, Peru, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malta, and China. Her winning piece was entitled "Bakit Di Subukan", a Vehnee Saturno composition which is a Tagalog-English song ("If We Just Hold On" in English). Following this triumph was Aicelle’s recognition for "People’s Choice Best New Female Artist" in the 2007 Awit Awards.
Today, Aicelle is visible in the Philippines recording scene with her debut album Make Me Believe
, a 14-cut album under GMA Records
. Ikaw Pa Rin is her hit single in the charts.
Music of the Philippines
Music of the Philippines are performance arts composed in various genre and styles. The music of the Philippines is a mixture of indigenous, other Asian, European, Latin American, and American influences.- Traditional music :...
as a contestant in a nationwide search for the next best singer in the first season of ABS-CBN's Star In A Million. She has been known as the "First Undefeated Pinoy Pop Superstar" for achieving eight-straight wins in GMA 7's Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar was a Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA. The format is loosely patterned on the original Tawag ng Tanghalan....
as the Philippines' "Ballad Princess."
Background
At the age of 6, Aicelle Santos received abecedarianA-b-c-darian
A-B-C-darians, ABC-darians, or abecedarians were the youngest students in the typical one-room school of 19th-century America, so-called because they were just learning their “a-b-cs.” It could also refer to someone teaching the alphabet.-Early references:In his autobiographical reminiscences on...
musical training at the St. Scholastica’s College, and the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
School of Music for Piano. The early training allowed Aicelle to indulge in her original dream to become a famous pianist. However, a shift in focus took place as she realized she would rather be a famous singer than be a known pianist. Aicelle's inspiration on the field came from Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
's character Ariel from the movie The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
"The Little Mermaid" is a popular fairy tale by the Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince...
. The movie's theme song "Part of Your World" was the first song Aicelle memorized, which she also performed during her elementary school programs.
While still at her first year of college at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Aicelle joined ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN
ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
's Season 1 of Star In A Million (2003), her first take on a nationwide televised singing competition. The competition opened many doors for Aicelle. Although she sometimes struggled, she eventually struck a balance between attending university and focusing on her blossoming singing career.
Aicelle took advantage of the minor fame that her Star In A Million appearance gave her and showcased her talents on top performers' settings with a new acoustic group Dream Sequence. Dream Sequence proved to be a success on its own right, and brought its three members to many cities around the Philippines. The Metro’s prime stages Bagaberde, Chef and Brewer, Phi Bar, Fiesta San Miguel in Dusit, E’s Bar in Edsa Shangri-La, and others became the group's main performing stages. The nightly gigs are believed to have been Aicelle’s training ground for improving her vocal and stage performance.
In 2005, Aicelle once again decided to aim for a solo singing career by joining the second season of the Philippine’s TV hit singing competition, Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar
Pinoy Pop Superstar was a Philippine television show featuring a year-long talent search for the best Filipino amateur singers. It was broadcast every Saturday evening on GMA. The format is loosely patterned on the original Tawag ng Tanghalan....
. An eight-straight win during preliminaries put Aicelle on top and on the show's history, as the first 'Undefeated Superstar.' She performed her versions of:
- All The Man That I Need - Week 1,
- I Need You - Week 2,
- Natural Woman - Week 3,
- A House Is Not A Home - Week 4,
- Respect - Week 5,
- Summertime - Week 6,
- A Song For You - Week 7,
- Man In The Mirror - Week 8.
Aicelle got into the finals favoured to win. On PPS's season finale, Aicelle Santos claimed first runner-up and signed a record deal
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
and an exclusive management contract under GMA Artist Centre. Her story in Pinoy Pop Superstar is somehow related to Sheryn Regis
Sheryn Regis
Sheryn Mae Poncardas Regis , better known as simply Sheryn Regis, is a Filipina pop singer, composer, host and actress. Sheryn was a consistent top scorer of Star in a Million, where she eventually ended as runner-up to Erik Santos in January 2004...
.
Once again, Aicelle proved her vocal competence when she won "Best Performance of Own Country Song" representing the Philippines in Astana Music Festival in Kazakhstan. Aicelle bested delegates from 13 countries around the world, including Mexico, Peru, Finland, Romania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malta, and China. Her winning piece was entitled "Bakit Di Subukan", a Vehnee Saturno composition which is a Tagalog-English song ("If We Just Hold On" in English). Following this triumph was Aicelle’s recognition for "People’s Choice Best New Female Artist" in the 2007 Awit Awards.
Today, Aicelle is visible in the Philippines recording scene with her debut album Make Me Believe
Make Me Believe
Make Me Believe is a music album of Pinoy Pop Superstar 2006 1st runner up and GMA Network talent Aicelle Santos. It was released under GMA Records and released 2 succeesful singles "Ikaw Pa Rin and "Make Me Believe"....
, a 14-cut album under GMA Records
GMA Records
GMA Records, created in the last quarter of 2003, is a records company that releases music albums, and many of the albums have been platinum and gold record award albums. In 2005 GMA Records released a film titled "Let the Love Begin" on DVD and VCD, and when that was such a success they succeeded...
. Ikaw Pa Rin is her hit single in the charts.
Contemporaries
- Maricris GarciaMaricris GarciaMaricris Yu Garcia , is a singer from the Philippines, best known for winning Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 3. She first auditioned in Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 1, but did not become a finalist. Two years later, she won with her rendition of Barry Manilow's "One Voice" at the Grand Finale held in Araneta...
- Harry Santos
- Bryan Termulo
- Jan NietoJan NietoJan Kurt Anthony Pasion Nieto, popularly known as Jan Nieto , is a Filipino male singer who rose to prominence as one of the runners-up of Philippine Idol in 2006. With the height of 5' 10½" and weighing 165 pounds , he was dubbed as the "Hunky Idol" during the competition...
- Gian MagdangalGian MagdangalGiancarlo "Gian" Alzate Magdangal , is a Filipino singer, performer, and theater actor currently signed to GMA Network. A former boy band member of 17:28, he rose to prominence as one of the runners-up of Philippine Idol in 2006...
Awards and recognitions
- First Runner-Up : Pinoy Pop Superstar Year 2
- Gold Medal (as Interpreter) - Astana Music Festival in Kazakhstan (Sept. 2006)
- Best Performance of Own Country Song - Astana Music Festival in Kazakhstan (Sept. 2006)
- People's Choice Favorite New Female Recording Artist (Awit Awards 2007)
- Most Promising Female Singer of 2008 at the Guillermo Mendoza Awards (May 2008)
- 21st Awit Awards Peoples Choice for Best Female Recording Artist (Nov 26, 2008)