In the Name of Love

In 1994, Philippine female artist Geneva Cruz released In the Name of Love. When the album was released in 1994, Cruz was approximately 17 years old and her voice reflects her youth on most of the album's songs. She is passionate and competent, but she isn't a prodigy. She sounds stronger on some songs than on others. The bouncy opening track, the catchy "Ang Gaan Ng Feeling" (The Feeling Is Very Light), has an adventurous string section (presumably played on synthesizer) that features a spirited Latin sound. "Dati Na" (Existing for a Long Time) contains searing electric guitar playing influenced by jazz-rock fusion. Cruz's youth is heard clearly on the ballad "Why Do I Love You" where she sings accompanied by tender acoustic guitar, and her voice is mostly unobscured. She sounds younger than 17 here. She doesn't sound mature on the album's four other ballads, either: "In the Name of Love," "When Love Wasn't Here," and "Huwag Nang Mangamba" (Don't Feel Uneasy). "Just Wanna Get Close to You" is an upbeat, dance-inflected tune on which Geneva Cruz sounds stronger and more mature than on the aforementioned ballads. "Inakup...Arekup..." (Oh My Mother...Ouch...) is a delightful song and features a perky melody perched atop a bouncy, reggae-inflected backbeat. Geneva Cruz's performance is charming. She also renders a strong performance on the vivacious remake of Michael Jackson's "Rock With You."