Hearts on Fire

In 1999 Philippine female singer Geneva Cruz released On Fire on local independent Universal Records (not to be confused with the international label of the same name). Cruz, a former member of popular Philippine teen singing group Smokey Mountain, has a reputation as a quality singer, having won various Philippine and Asian singing contests. Her reputation is deserved, though it's sometimes difficult to tell from listening to On Fire, as the soft and subdued music doesn't test her talents. Cruz has a powerful voice, and in concert she can belt out such songs as Aretha Franklin's "Respect," but the material here doesn't allow for such explosive flights. Still, Cruz makes the best of what she's given. While the album won't overwhelm anyone, there are some special moments. One of them is the nuanced, delicate charm of "On That Perfect Night," on which Cruz delves inside the lyrics and makes you feel the pain of love lost. The soulful, R&B-influenced "I Miss You" almost allows Cruz to show what she can really do. She aims for the stars toward song's end, but it's not quite enough. Much of the material on On Fire is rooted in the easy listening love song, a style of music quite popular in the Philippines, though some songs are substantial enough to be called middle-of-the-road. While the album isn't bad, Cruz is capable of much more.