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Sitti: OPM’s Bossa Babe
Date: 2/24/2006 1:15:20 PM
Source: Warner Music
By:

One listen to Sitti’s delectable version of “Girl from Ipanema,” and you’d think the beautiful lounge singer is genuinely Portugeuse, the way she wraps her voice around the well-known Carlos Jobim classic. But in fact, Sitti Navarro is a local Pinay who’s just in her tender twenties, with more than ten years of singing expertise to back her up. Sitti, whose name means princess in the Muslim dialect, is truly worthy of her bossa babe title. Lithe, smart and pretty, Sitti was weaned onto song in the usual Pinoy manner: Goaded by relatives, she’d sing a couple of Whitney Houston torchers at family gatherings. The former core commander would also join singing contests and was very active in the school choir. “But I wasn’t really serious about it, I was more into my studies,” the 22-year old demurred.

After graduating from high school in 2001, her neighbor, pianist and accompanist Robbie San Mateo, scouted the young business economics major out, and asked if she wanted to sing at the Stonehouse jazz bar. “It was summer so I gave it a try, I thought it would just be for a month or so,” said Sitti. That month turned into four years, and Sitti remains one of Stonehouse’ big crowd drawers to this day. She has also landed gigs at other lounge spots, such as Kalesa Bar and the Richmond and Makati Shangri-la Hotels, besides hosting events and touring island destinations in the Philippines in Studio23’s The Travel Show.

“I wasn’t exposed to jazz before Stonehouse,” admits the former pageant runner-up. “I was more into mainstream MTV music, pop and R&B. But when I started singing at lounge bars, I got exposed to jazz standards because that’s what the crowd was requesting. And then a couple of years ago, my management asked me, ‘Why don’t you try focusing on bossa nova? Mas bagay sa boses mo.’ So I did, and that’s how I fell in love with bossa nova.”

Sitti was made to sing bossa nova. Her relaxed singing style and soothing voice lingers above the complex harmonies of the jazz and samba influenced Brazilian genre, effortlessly gelling lyric and music together. Sitti’s eyes light up when she talks about music, especially bossa. “What I really like best about bossa nova is that the lyrics, the message and the music is profound. Even if its melancholic at times, it’s still easy on the ears. And now that I’ve graduated, I can focus on my singing more. Mas na e-enjoy ko na.”

In 2004, Sitti got another big break, this time as a recording artist for Warner Music Philippines. After hearing a few demos from Sitti, the major label decided to cut her a solo record. In 2005, Sitti found herself recording her debut album, Café Bossa. The record contains 18-tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards sung and rendered in Sitti’s cool, bossa style. “A lot of these songs are part of my repertoire already, so it was amusing that the songs the label had in mind were the same songs I wanted for the album,” smiles Sitti. The single, a sweet cover of D’Sound’s “Tatooed on My Mind,” is already receiving massive airplay on radio stations, while her bittersweet rendition of Everything But the Girl’s “I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love” and Michael Franks’ “Lady Wants to Know” are just two of many more favorites on Café Bossa.

Sitti, who is teaching herself Portuguese, also does impressive and bouncy takes on OPM Bossa legend, Bong Pinera’s “Samba Song,” Jobim’s “One Note Samba,” Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon, and ”Mas Que Nada,” which was made famous by crooner Sergio Mendez. You’d be surprised and thrilled by her jazzy, upbeat melding of “Close to You/Half a Minute,” and will be smiling along to “Para Sa Akin,” the melodic Emil Pama original which is reportedly Sitti’s second single.

Sitti, who’s a big fan of legendary female bossa jazz artists like Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Lisa Ono and Stacey Kent, says Café Bossa is an introduction to bossa nova, and that her next album will have more originals. “I want people in my age bracket to be aware about jazz and bossa nova, and that there’s more to music besides the standard pop and R&B,” shares Sitti.

New converts and long time bossa fans alike will not be disappointed by Sitti’s debut offering. Café Bossa is indeed a cup of chill in 18 choice tracks. It’s a must-hear album of laid-back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM’s bossa babe.

Sitti performs every Friday night at Stonehouse on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City. Her debut album, Café Bossa, is distributed by Warner Music Philippines and is now available at leading music stores and record bars in Metro Manila.

http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/music/article.aspx?i=9345

Sitti

Beautiful lounge singer and recording artist Sitti performs every Friday night at Stonehouse on E. Rodriguez Ave., QC. Her debut album, “Caffe Bossa,” is distributed by Warner and is available at leading music stores. The album has 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop and jazz standards, rendered in Sitti’s signature cool, bossa style.

http://news.inq7.net/entertainment/index.p...id=68769&col=26

Cafe Bossa by Sitti
By Philip Cu-Unjieng
The Philippine Star 03/12/2006

In the tradition of such established female artists as Nina, Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis, Sitti (Katrina Navarro) is Warner’s new contract artist. This young vocalist’s first CD is Cafe Bossa, and it firmly places her in an intelligently arranged, Brazilian-inspired jazz idiom. I would hazard the guess that if Japan can produce mainstream artists working in this idiom, Warner’s thinking is that it’s high time we produce and promote our own.

You have to give credit to executive producer Ricky Ilacad and manager Garrie Trinidad for the choice of material and musical positioning of this 21-year-old warbler who’s a Business Economics graduate from UP. The expected standards such as Girl from Ipanema, One Note Samba, Wave, Bridges, and Mas Que Nada are present and accounted for; but into this mix, some contemporary tunes are given that Brazilian/Filipino treatment. Among others, we find Janis Ian’s At 17, D’Sound’s Tattooed on My Mind, The Lady Wants to Know of Michael Franks, Soft Melody of John Kaizan Neptune and Julia Fordham’s Invisible War. A real gem is the revival of Bong Pinera’s Samba Song. And there’s the ambitious reworking of Close To You and Half A Minute into a medley – yes, it’s Basia channeling the Carpenters through Sitti.


Sitti sings some of the tunes in their original Portuguese, while the Pinera song is in Tagalog. Personally, I’d like to see her stretch a bit more, add texture to her voice, and scat or improve on the rearrangements. But that’s just me, and I can see how it was important to first introduce Sitti within a more accessible setting – as what this CD substantially provides.

It’s comfortable listening and you can’t fault the sound engineering or the tasteful interpretative qualities of her backing band. While this kind of music may never enter our local mainstream, it’s encouraging to see someone take this kind of positioning and imaging. Mishka Adams proved last year that one can survive and be recognized while maintaining a musical identity that’s off the "main road." May Sitti find similar success and recognition for her talent. Sitti was a finalist in the Supahstah contest of MTV last year and can sometimes be seen on The Travel Show on Studio 23. To catch her live gigs, head to Stone House on Wednesdays and Fridays, the Richmonde Hotel on Tuesdays and the Pavilion Hotel (Boulevard lounge) on Thursdays.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200603121705.htm

Taste the new sound of Bossa Nova


Can’t get that new version of D’Sound’s "Tattooed on My Mind," out of your mind? Find out more about the new girl who gave our favorite pop songs a twist of her bossa, and no she’s not from Ipanema, but proudly a Filipina.


Sitti, whose name means princess in the Muslim dialect, is truly worthy to be BossaManila’s new "IT" girl. Her relaxed singing style and soothing voice lingers above the complex harmonies of jazz and samba influenced Brazilian genre, effortlessly gelling lyrics and music together. Her eyes light up when she talks about Bossa Nova. "What I really like best about bossa nova is that the lyrics, message and music is profound. Even if its melancholic at times, it’s still easy on the ears.

Sitti got the biggest break in her singing career in when Warner Music Philippines decided to cut her solo album, "Café Bossa," that is now available at all music retail shops. The album is currently No. 1 at O Music & Video in Rockwell.

"Café Bossa" contains 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards sung in Sitti’s cool, bossa style. Its carrier single, "Tattooed On My Mind," a cover of D’ Sound, is already receiving good airplay on radio. Her versions of Everything But The Girl’s "I Didn’t Know I Was Looking For Love" and Michael Franks’ "Lady Wants To Know" are two other outstanding cuts in the album.

Sitti also does impressive and bouncy takes on OPM bossa legend, Bong Penera’s "Samba Song," Jobim’s "One Note Samba," Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon," and Sergio Mendes’ "Mas Que Nada". Two more favorites in the CD repertoire include the jazzy, upbeat melding of "Close To You/Half A Minute" and the Emil Pama original "Para Sa Akin."

Café Bossa is indeed a cup of chill in 18 choice cuts. It’s a musthear album of laid back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM’s bossa nova babe. "Café Bossa" is available under Warner Music Philippines.

Meet Bossa Manila’s IT Girl and get a taste of Café Bossa! Buy the album and get it signed by Sitti herself on her upcoming album launch on April 2, at 4 p.m. at The Podium.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR2006033160202.html

Sitti launches debut album
SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil
The Philippine Star 03/31/2006

Meanwhile, new fast-rising new artist Sitti will launch her first album at The Podium on Sunday, April 2 at 4 p.m. Produced by Warner Music and entitled Café Bossa, the album is made up of pop favorites rendered in Sitti’s mellow bossa nova style. Carrier single is D’Sound’s Tattooed on My Mind.

Other cuts are bossa nova standards like Girl from Ipanema, Mas Que Nada, Fly Me to the Moon, Wave, One Note Samba and A Samba Song, composed by Pinoy Bong Penera and originally popularized by the Filipino jazz band Batucada. There are also Hey Look at the Sun, I Didn’t Know I was Looking for Love, Bridges, Lady Wants to Know and other old favorites.

Buy Café Bossa and get it autographed by Sitti herself on Sunday.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200603311703.htm

Sitti dislodges Regine, et al


By JOJO PANALIGAN

For two weeks now, Bossa Nova Babe Sitti and her debut album, "Café Bossa," rules the top of retail charts across the board while toppling and fending off outputs by big and trendier names as Regine Velasquez, Kamikazee, and Hale.


Warner Music, Sitti’s record company, reports that "Café" is selling up to 500 albums a day collectively in giant record stores in Manila alone including Tower Records, O Music & Video, and Astrovision. During the first mall show in line with promoting the album, "Café Bossa" easily sold a hundred copies in less than two hours.

At the rate things are going, the label projects Gold and Platinum status for the album in a few weeks.

"This is phenomenon we have hoped for but never really expected," says Warner Music big wig, Ricky Ilacad, proudly during the "Bossa" media launch in Romano Mia resto-bar at the Podium. "We can only imagine other record companies scrambling to sign up counterparts to Sitti except that they’d have a hard time. Sitti is an original."

Even radio seems to be taken by Sitti’s music. Although most play the official single, "Tattoed On My Mind" (a D’Sound-original), some have also begun airing an unreleased tracks from the album, "You On My Mind." The last time radio has made a mainstream hit of OPM of bossa nova-influence was in the 70’s via Bong Penera’s and Tito Mina’s "Samba Song" and "Ikaw Pa Rin," respectively.

Sitti, who performs regularly at Stone House Grill every Friday, says that the number of people who have come to watch her show at the venue has jumped from a "few tables to full house."

"People-----including young ones---- just sit there and groove to the beat as if they’ve always been into the genre. People’s interest in it is strange but also gratifying to me. At least, I’m starting to get the message across that there are genres out there outside R&B, hip hop and rock that even the MTVcrowd can sink their teeth into," says Sitti.

With a name that means ‘princess’ in the Muslim dialect, the 22-year- old, 5’10" singer confesses to only have gotten into bossa nova recently when the idea was pitched to her by Warner Music. Signed to the label since last year after she was discovered in MTV’s "Supah-star" talent search, Sitti had been patiently waiting in the side lines for the right "concept" until hitting eureka on music of Brazilian-origin.

When asked if she thinks people regard her music as novelty, Sitti remains unfazed.

"That’s alright as long as they give the music a try. I have no grand ambitions as far as my music career is concerned. I just want to keep on doing bossa nova albums. In the next albums, we plan to do more originals so that people would see that bossa nova has a place in OPM."

Other songs in "Café Bossa" are "I Didn’t Know I Was Looking For Love," "Lady Wants To Know," "At 17," "One Note Samba," and "Fly Me To The Moon."

‘Bossa Nova’ means ‘new beat’ in Portuguese.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR2006040560661.html

Taste The New Sound Of Bossa Nova With Sitti
By Warner Music Philippines
April 04, 2006

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Can't get that new version of D'Sound's Tattooed on my mind, out of your mind? Find out more about the new girl who gave our favorite pop songs a twist of her bossa, and no she's not from Ipanema, but proudly a Filipina.

Sitti, whose name means princess in the Muslim dialect, is truly worthy to be Bossa Manila's new "IT" girl. Her relaxed singing style and soothing voice lingers above the complex harmonies of jazz and samba Influenced Brazilian genre, effortlessly gelling lyrics and music together. Her eyes light up when she talks about Bossa Nova. "What I really like best about bossa nova is that the lyrics, message and music is profound. Even if its melancholic at times, it's still easy on the ears.

Sitti got the biggest break in her singing career in when Warner Music Philippines decided to cut her solo album. Cafe Bossa, that is now available at all music retail shops. The album is currently number one at 0 Music & Video In Rockwell.

Cafe Bossa contains 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards sung In Sitti's cool, bossa style. Its carrier single, "Tattooed On My Mind," a cover of D' Sound, is already receiving good airplay on radio. Her versions of Everything But The Girl's "I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love" and Michael Franks' "Lady Wants To Know" are two other outstanding cuts in the album.

Sitti also does impressive and bouncy takes on OPM bossa legend. Bong Penera's "Samba Song," Jobim's "One Note Samba," Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon," and Sergio Mendes' "Mas Que Nada". Two more favorites In the CD repertoire include the jazzy, upbeat melding of "Close To You/Half A Minute" and the Emil Pama original "Para Sa Akin."

Cafe Bossa is indeed a cup of chill in 18 choice cuts. It's a must-hear album of laid back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM's bossa nova babe. Cafe Bossa is available under Warner Music Philippines.

http://www.titikpilipino.com/news/?aid=692

Sitti sitting (& singing) pretty


A LITTLE BIT
by Remy Umerez
People's Journal

QUESTION: If acoustic music in "out," what then is "in"?

Answer: The sound of bossa nova and a chanteuse named Sitti.

Allow Ricky Ilacad, managing director of Warner Music Philippines, to tell us more about the current Cafe Bossa trend now sweeping the country:

"The concept came when we stumbled upon the recordings of Bong Penera and his Batucada group way back in the '70s. The bossa nova beat is the most exciting sound then. Every album produced nowadays contains a revival, why not the bossa nova? We will give it a new twist. We will gather some standard songs injecting the samba beat. Ayoko nang makihalo pa sa acoustic scene or battle of the bands dahil sobra na sa dami ang mga ito. We wanted to experiment into something else and at the same time introduce a new singer."

Sitti Navarro has no idea that her debut album, Cafe Bossa, would become an instant hit. It was in 2004 that her demo tape landed at Warner, and it was good enough to merit her a recording contract.

While waiting for the break, she continued singing at Stonehouse on E. Rodriguez. It was her neighbor and pianist Romy San Mateo who brought her there. She also had singing gigs at Calesa Bar, Richmond and Makati Shangri-La, besides hosting events and touring destinations in the Philippines in Studio 23's The Travel Show. At one point, her manager Garrie Trinidad wanted Sitti to join beauty pageants but she begged off, focusing on her singing.

Unlike talents who are impatient, Sitti (whose name means princess in the Muslim dialect) trusted Ilacad's judgment on the kind of packaging Warner had in mind, even if it meant waiting for a long time.

As the new sound of bossa nova hits the music charts, the popularity of Sitti increases. She is referred to as Bossa Manila's IT Girl.

"What I really like best about bossa nova is that the lyrics, message and music is profound. Even if it is melancholic at times, it is still easy on the ears," she says.

There are 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards in the album. The carrier cut is Tattooed On My Mind, a cover of D Sound.

Choice cuts include: OPM bossa legend Bong Penera's Samba Song, Jobim's One Note Samba, Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon and Sergio Mendes' Mas Que Nada. There is also the jazzy, upbeat melding of Close To You/Half A Minute and the Emil Pama original Para Sa Akin.

Cafe Bossa is a must-hear album of laid-back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM's bossa babe.

http://www.journal.com.ph/news.asp?pid=2&s...ay=13&year=2006

waaaa andami kong hindi kilala...

---

YENG ROCKS!!!

bago lang sya under Warner Music kumanta na sya sa ASAP

Sitti Navarro

Sitti, fast rising singer

Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 04/18/2006

Maganda ang packaging na ginawa ni Ricky Ilacad, managing director ng Warner Music Phils., para kay Sitti na palagiang umaawit sa Piano Bar ng Stonehouse. Sa pamamagitan ni Sitti ay muling binuhay ang tunog Bossa Nova sa kanyang debut album entitled "Café Bossa". Binigyan ng modern arrangements ang all-time favorites tulad ng "Fly Me To The Moon", "Close To You", "Bridges" at marami pang iba. Syempre, kasama rin ang "Girl From Ipanema", "At 17" at "Samba Song".

Almost three decades ago nang sumikat ang Bossa Nova thanks to Bong Penera and his Baracuda. Sa tagumpay ng Café Bossa album ay nagkaroon na rin ng pangalan si Sitti na ang kahulugan ay princess sa Muslim.

Si Sitti ang siyang one of the 7 winner sa Supahstar MTV sa Diva category. Naging host din siya ng Travel Show. Muntik na isinali si Sitti sa mga beauty pageants. – REMY UMEREZ

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/PINOY200604187307.htm

Sitti lights beyond the “thunder cats”

By Totel V. De Jesus
THE piano bar where young bossa nova performer Sitti Navarro learned and honed her craft is called Stonehouse, a nostalgic watering hole only a cigarette away from Happy Sauna, the legendary landmark known to thousands of hormonally-charged and usually alcohol-driven adult males and adventurous college boys.

Stonehouse, beyond any etymological implications, after all, is home to happy men. And by men, we mean those already at the peak of their careers, proven by their luxury vehicles while parked nearby their drivers play cards, waiting for their bosses till the wee hours. Suave and moneyed, these new breed of mature gentlemen, in the language of today’s youth, are widely referred to as the “thunder cats” or “thunders” for short. (If you belong to the same age range, ask your teenage daughter what these feline-inspired terms mean.)

At any rate, they, the thunders, used to be the only crowd savoring bossa nova by the comely and refreshing Sitti. Accompanied by a keyboardist, Sitti enthralled regulars with the usual piano bar favorites like those from the 1950 to 1960s.

But there was something about her voice that reminded listeners of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendes, of Bikini-clad Brazilians in Rio de Janeiro. Someone suggested for her to learn bossa nova, which she liked at once. Soon, she was singing Jobim’s “Girl From Ipanema” as easy as explaining to someone the way to the comfort room.

Over the years, Sitti has managed to reinterpret other lounge favorites like “Tattooed On My Mind,” “At 17,” “I Didn’t Know I Was Looking for Love,” “Lady Wants to Know,” among others, along the bossa nova strain.

On a more personal level, listening to her first time, gave me the impression that her voice flutters over the notes. She sings as if she’s Brazilian, someone who has been listening to Sergio Mendes and Jobim while still in her mother’s womb.

Sitti was not even in her 20s when she started singing at Stonehouse.

“It was supposed to be a summer job lang but I enjoyed it. The idea also that I was earning already was irresistible so I continued performing at Stonehouse,” she said. Sitti was then on her second year as business economics major at the UP-Diliman. She also had gigs in Calesa Bar and other hotel lounges. She landed hosting jobs, including the Travel Show on Studio 23.

“But I managed to adjust to the situation with my busy schedule. I made sure my studies didn’t suffer,” she said. Eventually, luck came pouring in as Pinoy listeners got bored with the usual acoustic stuff and other generic chill-out acts.

In 2004, Sitti was signed in as recording artist by Warner Music Philippines. The following year, “Café Bossa” came out, easily finding its way to the ears of people her age.

“Pinoy listeners are always looking for a new sound. Chill-out music has become bossa nova,” remarked the album’s executive producer and A&R manager Ricky Ilacad.

Besides perfect timing, it’s different in Sitti’s case.

If memory serves us right, the last time a contemporary singer or group came up with bossa nova was only a year ago, with Radioactive Sago Project’s “Mr. Pogi In Space.” But it wasn’t well received, or even heard, by listeners as far as Lucena City or San Fernando, Pampanga. Its popularity did not even go far beyond the shores of Manila Bay. With the exemption of the still-underrated but excellent Brazilian jazz-inspired group Nyco Maca, other earlier acts trudging the bossa nova genre like Mishka Adams and Isha didn’t create much impact.

Speaking of shores, for first-timers, bossa nova was born on the beaches of Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro, sometime in the late 1950s, when the affluent sunbathing mestizos and mulattos sipped and gulped cerveza while staring at voluptuous bikini-clad Brazilian babes. It is dubbed “the music of the carefree rich” because its subjects were about lustful love, the beach, beautiful women, albeit the bohemian life of the macho Brazilian male. It was the opposite of samba, which the Brazilian working class patronized.

A perfect proof is bossa nova’s still most popular song, “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Any listener would agree that it is nothing more than the author’s description of a beautiful woman walking on the beach. The first few lines go, “Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking/ And when she passes, each one she passes goes ‘a-a-ah!’

Deconstructing bossa nova, musically it follows the unpredictable chord progression of jazz with drum beats akin to samba.

And all these information Sitti knows by heart, having done her assignment like any avid student would. Ask her anything about bossa nova and she would answer without a pause. “Of course, I did my research, more than learning the songs. It pays to know the background, or the story behind. The more I can relate to the genre,” she intimated, with a chuckle that almost sounded like a bird chirping.

Out on music stores in January this year and officially launched only early April, Cafe Bossa has already conquered the music charts. In Tower Records, it landed the no. 1 spot and never left the top 10.

Suddenly even weeklong international trade exhibits at the PICC or World Trade Center have the album playing the whole day. DJs in bars and lounges play “Tattooed On My Mind” and “At 17” almost every 30 minutes. And no one’s complaining.

Café Bossa has 18 songs, which include thundercats’ favorites like “Fly Me To The Moon,” Jobim’s “Wave,” Michael Franks’ “Lady Wants To Know” and a Tagalog song, “Para Sa Akin.”

Sitti, which, by the way means princess in the Muslim dialect, continues to perform at Stonehouse. She enthused, “I still sing in Stonehouse. I love it there. Syempre, dun ako nagsimula. The crowd there feels like family already.”

She is called by many labels nowadays, like “Princess of Bossa Nova,” “Bossa Nova Babe,” “OPM’s Bossa Babe,” among others. Her gigs are as frequent as Parokya Ni Edgar, Cueshé, Hale, or any popular rock bands today.

And with summer being felt in the bones despite La Nina, Sitti’s songs will continue to be heard on beaches all over the country, beyond bikini-clad babes sipping margarita and suntanned thundercats drinking cerveza.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=g...03_april29_2006

Busy Sitti
by : Dennis Adobas

Navarro is having her hands full with singing commitments and mall tours to promote her album under the Warner Music label.

Monday and Friday nights, Sitti’s the featured singer at Stone House on E. Rodriguez, QC. Wednesday nights, she’s at Tavern on the Square, and Thursday nights at Eskinita. Saturdays are for corporate shows.

Tomorrow, she will be singing at The Avenue in Naga City, Bicol, and should fly back to Manila for a mall tour at Eastwood on Saturday.

Peoples Journal
5/11/2006 18:05 PM

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=n...date=2006-05-11

SITTI DIGS UP BOSSA NOVA ROOTS
A LITTLE BIT
by : Remy Umerez

DO you know that bossa nova girl Sitti made a research on the Brazilian beat which was a hit during the ’70s thanks to Bong Penera’s Samba Song and Flora Purim’s Bridges?


“I felt I have to dig into it para maging truthful ang aking interpretation. I have sung some of them in my music-lounge gigs, kaya familiar sa akin ang mga kanta. When we sent a demo tape to a recording outfit, I included some bossa nova numbers. They must have liked it, which led them to revive the Brazilian beat. I am very happy to re-introduce it to our MTV generation,” explains Sitti (real name: Sitti Katrina Navarro Baiddin).


Para Sa Akin is the only original song in the otherwise all covers album, which has been declared gold. It is a song Sitti considers her own.


Sitti, whose parents split up when she was young, is not merely a singer. She is a Business Economics graduate from UP. At 16, she started singing professionally in lounges.


It was choirmaster Romy San Mateo who encouraged her to pursue a singing career, an advice Sitti never regretted following.

Peoples Journal
6/4/2006 17:24 PM

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=n...date=2006-06-04

CD Cover

Title: Cafe Bossa
Artist: Sitti Navarro
Label: Warner Music Philippines
Released: 2006
Number of Tracks: 18

Track Listing
1. Girl From Ipanema
2. Tattoed On My Mind
3. At 17
4. Hey Look At The Sun
5. I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love
6. Invisible War
7. One Note Samba
8. Soft Melody
9. You On My Mind
10. Lost In Space
11. Lady Wants To Know
12. Close To You/Half A Minute
13. Samba Song
14. Bridges
15. Mas Que Nada
16. Wave
17. Fly Me To The Moon
18. Para Sa Akin

Bossa Manila’s ‘IT’ Girl hits Gold!


Barely three months after the release of "Café Bossa," the debut album of then unknown Sitti is now certified gold (over 15,000 units sold!) and receiving a massive reception from the music fans of bossa-nova from young to adult. Surprisingly, the album sells like pancakes whereas the current OPM hits are dominated by pop-alternative bands.

Sitti got the biggest break in her singing career when Warner Music Phils. executives decided to cut her solo album after hearing her demo CD. Today, her debut effort strongly holds the No. 1 spot in major retail stores nationwide — SM Record Bars, Tower Records, Music One, Radio City, O Music & Video, Astroplus (Podium) and in all Odyssey Music Stores.

"Café Bossa" contains 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards sung in Sitti’s cool, bossa style. Its carrier single, "Tattooed On My Mind," a cover of D’ Sound, is already receiving good airplay on radio. Her versions of "Everything But The Girl’s I Didn’t Know I Was Looking For Love" and Michael Franks’ "Lady Wants To Know" are two other outstanding cuts in the album.

Sitti also does impressive and bouncy takes on OPM bossa legend, Bong Penera’s "Samba Song," Jobim’s "One Note Samba," Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me To The Moon," and Sergio Mendes’ "Mas Que Nada." Two more favorites in the CD repertoire include the jazzy, upbeat melding of "Close To You/Half A Minute" and the Emil Pama original "Para Sa Akin." Café Bossa is indeed a cup of chill in 18 choice cuts. It’s a must-hear album of laid back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM’s bossa nova babe.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR2006061566858.html

Album alert!


by Carlomar Arcangel Daoana,Staff Writer

07/08/2006

Cafe Bossa

Siti

Warner Music

Currently lording over Tower Record’s best-sellers’ list for weeks now, Cafe Bossa introduces the mainstream listeners to that refreshing genre called bossa nova which is part groove and part revery, ideal to moments in summer when you sip margarita by the beach as the sun begins to dip. That doesn’t mean the music is bereft of a mean punch. Siti, a chanteuse to watch for, sings some of the most melancholic songs with a take as refreshing as lime. Just listen to her renditions of emotionally charged songs “At 17,” “Invisible War” and “Bridges” and you’ll know what I mean. Unlike other cover albums that simply rehash the old, Cafe Bossa twists some of the most popular songs such as “Tattooed on my Mind,” “You on my Mind” and “Lady Wants to Know” and makes them sound totally new. That alone makes Cafe Bossa a good pick.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/life/20060708lif2.html

Bossa Manila's ‘IT' Girl hits Gold!

Barely three months after the release of "Café Bossa," the debut album of then unknown Sitti is now certified gold (over 15,000 units sold!) and receiving a massive reception from the music fans of bossa-nova from young to adult. Surprisingly, the album sells like pancakes whereas the current OPM hits are dominated by pop-alternative bands.

Sitti got the biggest break in her singing career when Warner Music Phils. executives decided to cut her solo album after hearing her demo CD. Today, her debut effort strongly holds the No. 1 spot in major retail stores nationwide — SM Record Bars, Tower Records, Music One, Radio City, O Music & Video, Astroplus (Podium) and in all Odyssey Music Stores.

"Café Bossa" contains 18 tracks of contemporary songs and pop, jazz standards sung in Sitti's cool, bossa style. Its carrier single, "Tattooed On My Mind," a cover of D' Sound, is already receiving good airplay on radio. Her versions of "Everything But The Girl's I Didn't Know I Was Looking For Love" and Michael Franks' "Lady Wants To Know" are two other outstanding cuts in the album.

Sitti also does impressive and bouncy takes on OPM bossa legend, Bong Penera's "Samba Song," Jobim's "One Note Samba," Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon," and Sergio Mendes' "Mas Que Nada." Two more favorites in the CD repertoire include the jazzy, upbeat melding of "Close To You/Half A Minute" and the Emil Pama original "Para Sa Akin." Café Bossa is indeed a cup of chill in 18 choice cuts. It's a must-hear album of laid back tunes done in the warm sounds of OPM's bossa nova babe.