Nina Girado
Encyclopedia
Marifil Niña Girado better known by her stage name
Nina, is a Filipino
pop
/R&B
singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality. She made her recording debut in 2002 after signing a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines
. Following the release of her debut album, she received numerous awards from different organizations and multiple album certifications by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). She established her position in the Philippine music industry in 2005, after releasing her third album Nina Live!
. The album earned her the first ever Diamond award for a female OPM artist. In the same year, she staged a Nina Live! concert at the Araneta Coliseum
, which became her biggest solo concert to date.
In 2006, she released her self-titled album, which earned her the most nominations (eight) for the Awit Awards
. Later, she was criticized for releasing too many covers, and got in a feud with her ex-boyfriend Nyoy Volante's parents when she filed a lawsuit against them. She regained success in 2009 after performing and touring with the Sessionistas. In the same year, she released her last studio album under Warner, Renditions of the Soul
, which was taken from her Wave 89.1
radio show of the same title. The album was both critically and commercially successful. She signed a recording deal with Universal Records
in 2010, and represented her country in the Pattaya International Music Festival a year later.
In a career spanning nearly a decade, Girado was cited as the artist who popularized the acoustic phenomenon
in the Philippines. In 2004, the Philippine Business Excellence Award named her as the No. 1 Female R&B Singer in the country. In addition, MEGA
listed her as One of the Women to Watch in 2004. In 2009, Nina Live! was certified Diamond by the PARI, becoming the fourth biggest-selling album in OPM history. The album is also the biggest-selling OPM album of the 2000s, and it made Girado the first female Diamond awardee in the Philippine music scene. She was named as the best-selling female recording artist of 2009 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. In 2011, Wave 89.1 Urban Music Awards presented her a Special Achievement Award for her contributions to the music industry. Aside from her commercial success, she has earned eight Awit Awards.
, Metro Manila
, Philippines
. She is the fourth and youngest child of Filbert Girado, a Bayanihan Boys Choir member, and Maria Daulet (née Barinos), who plays piano
. Her parents raised her in Quezon City
, together with her siblings Dew-Anne, Ardie and King. When Girado was five years old, she started singing in a corner of a room and her father noticed it. After seeing the potential in his daughter, Filbert trained her critically. Like the traditional technique of vocalization, she was submerged into a drum of water, while belting out her high notes. Later, she was declared as daily winner on GMA
Lunchdates "Bulilit Jamboree" in 1985. In 1991, she joined the most popular defunct talent search in the Philippines, Tanghalan ng Kampeon, where she became a champion for seven weeks.
Filbert's plans for Girado have changed when she grew older. Instead of a professional music career, he wanted his daughter to earn college degree and to join him in the United States
to find work. She took up Accountancy
at Miriam College
, since she was good at numbers. Her father added to her that she would take up Law
after the course. Because of too much love for singing, she disobeyed her father and joined different bands. He gave up on trying to stop her, and just told her to maintain good grades. She did get good grades, and was even a consistent dean's list
er.
At seventeen, Girado became a vocalist of the XS. In 2000, she finished Accountancy and joined bands like The Big Thing, MYMP
, Silk and lastly, the Essence. After college, she recorded an amateur demo CD
with the help of a friend. It was composed of three tracks, including the Steve Perry
song "Foolish Heart
", "Breathe Again
" and "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
", recorded in a home studio with only a guitar for accompaniment. After listening to the demos, Warner Music managing director at that time, Ricky Ilacad wanted to sign her up even without seeing or hearing her in person. Two months after her father died of heart attack in the U.S., she signed her first contract with Warner Music.
, alongside her first single of the same title
. The album is inspired by contemporary R&B
and pop music
, and it was well-received by critics, with The Philippine Star
stating "Heaven is quite a package. Production is sleek and Nina’s delivery, smooth [...] it is never heavy nor frenetic. It is instead used as a stable base for Nina’s sweet but definitely multi-octave singing voice. This is surely her strongest point and it is really a blessing to know that she can skillfully wield her vocals to conform to the demands of every song." The lead single, "Heaven", did not really become a commercial hit despite peaking inside the top ten of Philippine charts. In December 2002, "2nd Floor" was released as a radio-only single. Even though the song was not commercially released, it charted inside the top ten and won her the Best R&B Song award on the 16th Annual Awit Awards
in 2003. "Jealous
" was released as the second official single and it became Girado's first number one hit, topping various Philippine charts for three weeks. It also allowed her to grab the Best New Artist award on both Awit Awards and MTV Pilipinas Music Awards
in 2003. The third commercial single is her acoustic version of Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart", which became her second number one single as it charted even better than her previous releases. The song was a critical acclaim, being described by critics as "proof of Nina's musicality." "Loving You
", a Ric Segreto
original, became the last commercial single from Heaven. It did not top the local charts, but peaked inside the top five. In October 2003, the album was re-released when it reached the double platinum mark.
In December 2003, Girado released her second studio album, Smile
, accompanied by its lead single, "Make You Mine". The album's sound is bigger and bolder than her debut album's, consisting of upbeat rhythmic jams and powerful sentimental ballads. Its first single was described as a "rich harmonic chemistry of Nina's mesmerizing vocals and hypnotic urban-style beats with a blend of funky strings, an upbeat R&B piece that offers a blissful listening experience." It became her third number one single, making her the first female OPM artist to have three number one singles in a span of one year. The following single, "A Girl Can Dream", features her labelmate Christian Bautista
in its music video. The song peaked inside the top five of charts. "Sayang Naman" is the first Tagalog
single that she released and it became the last commercial single from the album. It reached the top ten of local charts, but is considered to be her least successful single at that time. Smile also gave Girado her songwriting debut when she wrote the song "Can't Say I Love You" in it. The song was described as a "sensually engaging ballad."
In early 2004, Girado became part of the recording for the song "Biyahe Tayo", which was used for the WOW Philippines...Biyahe Tayo! campaign. The campaign was founded for the promotion of Philippine Tourism. Artists who participated in the campaign included Lea Salonga
, Sharon Cuneta
, Francis Magalona
and other famous Filipino acts. In November of the same year, she was chosen by popular America
n songwriter Diane Warren
to record the Cyndi Lauper
original "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend
", which became a chart-topping hit in the country, for Warren's love song
s compilation album Diane Warren Presents Love Songs
. She is the only Asia
n artist featured on the album. In the same month, Warner Music Philippines released a Christmas album
which features her and some of label's in-demand acts at that time, including Christian Bautista, Kitchie Nadal
, Dice & K9, Paolo Santos, Thor and Artstrong. The album was followed by their first major concert as a group, held at the Folk Arts Theater, entitled Pop Ko 'To! The All-Star, All-Hits Concert. In the same year, she appeared on the debut albums of Bautista and her brother, King.
In 2005, Girado temporarily broke away from the urban-influenced sound to record covers of classic love songs. She came up with her first live album, Nina Live!
. The album is composed of classic love songs from the 1970s to the 1990s, which she recorded live at the PHI Resto and Bar in Metro Manila on January 30, 2005. According to her, the idea of the album started when Warner saw her performing on different bars and lounges. The label told her "Why not put it in CD form or in a DVD, so that the people could take home [her] show." The first single, "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways", was released in February 2005 along with the album. It peaked at number one on local charts for twelve consecutive weeks, becoming Girado's biggest hit to date. Before the second single was released, Nina Live! was already certified 3× Platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), eventually selling 90,000 units in the Philippines. "Through the Fire" is the second official single which also peaked number one, but only for a week. The song features her highest recorded vocal register in full chest voice
to date. "Constantly" was released as the third official single and was immediately followed by the final commercial single, "I Love You Goodbye". Nina Live! sold over 300,000 copies in the Philippines in 2009, earning a 10× Platinum (Diamond) certification by the PARI, and grabbing the fourth place on Philippines' best-selling albums list. It also made Girado the first female OPM artist (third OPM artist) in the country to receive a Diamond record award. Aside from over-performing commercially, Nina Live! was well-received by OPM critics. In a review, Titik Pilipino stated "this album only proves that Nina can do wonderfully with covers."
Nina Live! was later released in home video
, and was followed by a concert at the Araneta Coliseum
. In 2005, Girado was listed at #75 on Philippines' FHM
100 Sexiest Women in the World. In the same year, she collaborated with American singer Joe Pizzulo
in his album, All the Best. In 2006, she dated long-time friend and fellow acoustic singer Nyoy Volante, but the two broke up a year later. In February 2006, she was chosen to sing the theme song for I Will Always Love You
, which eventually became the highest-grossing movie of GMA Films
. In June of the same year, Goldilocks Bakeshop
chose her as spokesperson for their 40th Year Anniversary (40 Thoughtful Years), where she recorded the promotional song "Araw Mo
". In the same year, she appeared on Hotsilog: The ASAP Hotdog Compilation, covering Hotdog
's seductive ballad "Lumapit Ka".
Girado released her self-titled fourth album, Nina, in August 2006. She decided to release a self-titled album due to the fact that she has already established her name as an artist, and would like the public to know her as who she really is. She also admitted that Nyoy Volante was an inspiration to the album, saying "[Volante's compositions] were just so beautiful and inspiring that eventually I was encouraged to create an all-original album." Titik Pilipino praised her in a review, saying "Nina does almost everything right [...] She’s more refined, polished." On the November–December 2006 issue of MYX Mag, Mike Luis of Freestyle
reacted positively to the album, stating "The mid-tempo tracks are groove-worthy, the slow jams are sexy, and the two remakes were nicely done." "I Do
", a song that is heavily influenced by R&B-dance
, was released as the album's lead single, but it was the second single, "Someday
", that topped the local charts, staying in the position for eight weeks. "Someday" also received positive response from music critics. The Philippine Daily Inquirer
described the song as an "introspective, traffic-stopping [...] that boasts of a rich melody and Nina’s emotive panache." In 2007, she released the third and final commercial single, "I Can't Make You Love Me", which was both critically and commercially successful. The song topped the radio charts and became a critical acclaim, with the Philippine Daily Inquirer stating "Bonnie Raitt
’s anthemic song for the lovelorn is hard to top, but Nina gives a beautifully dressed-down version."
In August 2007, Girado was chosen by Sean Lim, director of sci-fi indie film Xenoa
, to record the theme song, "Collide", for the movie. The song was nominated for Best Song Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play on the 2008 Awit Awards. In October 2007, she re-released her self-titled album in a special limited edition entitled Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow. The album consists of two discs—the standard edition and a 9-track compilation which features her renditions of Barry Manilow
originals. It is also considered to be a product of her Very Manilow concert at the Music Museum. "Somewhere Down the Road
" and "If I Should Love Again
" were released as commercial singles, and both peaked at number two on local charts. A few days after the release of Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow, Warner and Club Myx
(the label) released her first remix album
in collaboration with DJ Dense Modesto, entitled Nina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto Remixes
. Also in 2007, she became part of Thor's cover album Soul Obsessions... Duets with Thor, singing a Mariah Carey
original, "Whenever You Call". In 2008, Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow earned a Platinum certification by the PARI, making Nina (the album) double platinum.
, and consists of successful ballad hits written by Warren. The album was certified Gold by the PARI after one week of commercial release, and eventually, it turned Platinum. Its official singles include the Aerosmith
original, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
", and the Faith Hill
original, "There You'll Be
", which Girado describes as a "thank you" to her fans. She expressed her gratitude in an interview, saying "I still have much to fulfill [...] I owe it to my fans [...] showering me with love and unbridled affection." The album was panned by critics, with Titik Pilipino stating "To be honest, what [they]'ve been expecting at this point in Nina's career is an album of original compositions suited to her voice [...] she didn't have to shout and be a vocal Chinese acrobat." OPM critics reacted negatively to the kind of musical process she was doing, noticing that her most popular albums, Nina Live! and Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow, contain covers. Her most popular singles, "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways", "Foolish Heart" and "Through the Fire", are also revivals. In an interview with the entertainment press at Red Box, Girado defended herself, saying "It's fulfilling to sing any song, maybe a cover or an original song, just the fact that I'm singing is fulfilling enough." She further stated that her fans were the ones who requested it. In the same year, she was featured on the self-titled debut album of Gabby Concepcion
.
In January 2009, ASAP
, a variety show on ABS-CBN
where Girado has been a regular performer since 2003, paired her with other ASAP mainstay artists, who are also in-demand performers in various bars and restaurants, namely Duncan Ramos, Aiza Seguerra
, MYMP
, Sitti
and Richard Poon
, forming a group called the "Sessionistas." The Sessionistas became the most-requested jamming segment on the show, leading the ABS-CBN management to hold an ASAP Sessionistas major concert at the Araneta Coliseum. The concert at the big dome was sold-out, and it was followed with other sold-out concerts in Cebu City
, Batangas City
and on their U.S. tour. On May 8, 2009, she was invited to guest on STAR World
's TV show, Asia Uncut
, becoming the only Filipino to visit the show, aside from Lea Salonga. During the interview, she was officially tagged as the "Asia's Soul Siren."
In an interview with SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon
s Kris Aquino
in early 2009, Girado stated that she would file an estafa (fraud
) case against ex-boyfriend Nyoy Volante's parents Evangeline and Oliver for not paying their debts. She added that in 2007, the couple borrowed ₱1.4 million from her. The following year, Oliver issued several checks as payment for their debt. Some of the checks, however, bounced, she said. She further stated that in July 2008, she entered into a compromise agreement with the couple under which Evangeline immediately paid her ₱300,000 in cash. The couple also agreed to settle the balance of ₱1.1 million in monthly installments—from August 20, 2008 to February 20, 2010. They later gave her nineteen postdated checks which were signed by Oliver. Girado said that although she was able to cash some of the checks, some—which totaled ₱550,000—were not honored due to insufficient funds.
In September 2009, Girado released her fifth studio album, Renditions of the Soul
, another cover album which came from her special weekly acoustic radio show of the same title which aired on Wave 89.1
during Friday and Sunday evenings. The album gave her record-producing debut when she produced all the album's tracks herself. It was well-received by critics, with Manila Bulletin
stating "The 17-track album is more emotionally subtle, yet the songs just have as equally powerful messages like her previous hits [...] Nina’s singing perfectly renders the message of every selection: Love, longing and the purity of emotional surrender." "I'm Yours
" was released in May 2010 as the only commercial single from the album. Warner held a sing-along contest for Nina fans and the winner got the chance to be on the single's music video. However, the single had no promotion, since Girado has left the label during its release. The video barely features her, and just shows some of her photos from the Renditions of the Soul album photo shoot. The album was commercially successful, being able to reach Platinum status in July 2010 despite having the least promotion.
After receiving a Diamond certification by the PARI for Nina Live! in October 2009, Sarah Geronimo
's fans protested Girado getting the award ahead of Geronimo. Girado immediately stated in an interview that she deserves the award, and that there was no conflict between her and Geronimo. In an interview in November 2009, she revealed that she is engaged with her non-showbiz boyfriend, a businessman whom she named Enrico "Coy" Enriquez. Early in 2010, she had sold-out concerts with multi-diamond awardee Jose Mari Chan
, Freestyle, Side A, Richard Poon, Sam Milby
and The Company, including her two-night solo concert at the Music Museum entitled Nina... The Diamond Soul Siren. On June 30, 2010, she performed the song "Bagong Pilipinas", together with other artists, on the inauguration of Philippine President
Benigno Aquino III
. She wore a green Filipiniana
dress for the event. On July 9, 2010, she performed with South Border and Kris Lawrence
on Usher
's concert in Manila as a front act. On September 11, 2010, she performed live on Billy Crawford
's 25 B.C. concert at the Music Museum as a special guest. In October 2010, Warner released her four-disc box set greatest hits
compilation, entitled Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010
. Her cover of "Love Will Lead You Back
" was used as the album's only single. In December 2010, she performed "Hagkan", which was originally recorded by Sharon Cuneta, as theme song for ABS-CBN TV series Sabel. In 2010, she was named as the best-selling female recording artist of 2009 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. In the same year, she also appeared on the albums of Jay R, Kris Aquino and Poon.
concert with the Sessionistas at the Araneta Coliseum, entitled ASAP Sessionistas 20.11. Her performances of "Note to God
" and "Got to Be There
" were applauded by fans and critics alike. She was supposed to portray the roles of Megara and Deianira
on Hercules 12, a pop-emo musicale, but later dropped out due to conflicts with her schedule. On March 18, 2011, she performed three of her past hit singles, including "Someday", at the Pattaya International Music Festival 2011 Galaxy Stage in Thailand
. Before the event, she was given the "Golden Key to the City of Pattaya
" recognition by the city mayor
, and got to hang out with other Asian artists who participated on the music festival. On March 25, 2011, a documentary featuring her and Gary Valenciano
was aired on TvN Asia
(Korea
). In June 2011, issues of maltreatment to her former personal assistant
surfaced the news. She denied the allegations, saying that her former P.A. has always been given proper compensation and that the Volantes are probably the ones responsible for the rumor. In August 2011, she joined the ASAP Sessionistas second U.S. tour which ended in September. In the same year, she was featured on the albums of Kris Aquino and Noel Cabangon.
In an August 2010 episode of Pilipinas Win na Win
, Girado revealed that she was working on a new album, and added that it will be released early in 2011 due to heavy preparation. In a post-show interview, she expressed that the new album will hopefully be released by middle of January, stating "I only have two cover songs in there and the rest are originals. It's going to be sexy-soul
which is like singing from the soul but when you hear it, there's a degree of sexiness to it." She also mentioned including a song about "not giving up on your dreams," that was based from her own experience. It was mid-February and there was still no update on the album's release. According to the February 2011 issue of Woman Today magazine, the album will be released in June 2011. On February 22, 2011, she posted on Twitter a photo of her, recording a new song in the studio. In an interview after her arrival from Pattaya International Music Festival, she mentioned working on her first album under Universal Records
, stating "Expect few pleasant surprises from this new album of mine. We’re working very hard to make this project truly groundbreaking." On April 15, 2011, she wrote a Pattaya Music Fest article on The Philippine Star where she also talked about the album, saying "Late last year, I moved to my new record label Universal Records and I consider it one of the biggest blessings in my career. In a few months, my latest album will be released, and it will showcase a new, yet familiar Nina, which I hope everyone will appreciate." After several push-backs, Stay Alive was finally released on November 19, 2011.
, due to her similarity to Carey's vocal range and musical style. She can even imitate Carey's high whistle register
s, and has performed Carey's popular hits in her different concerts and gigs. She expressed being a fan of Carey by saying that she never attempted to watch concerts before she became a recording artist, until Carey's Manila performance
. Some of her other musical influences include Whitney Houston
, Alicia Keys
, Gary Valenciano
, Ella Mae Saison and Regine Velasquez
. She has also collaborated with international acts such as Diane Warren, Joe Pizzulo
, The Cascades
, Fra Lippo Lippi
, Keith Martin
, Kenji Williams
, Lea Salonga
, Billy Crawford
, Charice Pempengco
and Arnel Pineda
of Journey
.
Aside from singing, she also plays instruments, saying "I play a little bit of the guitar
and the piano
." She first showed her skills on playing the piano in the 2004 Pop Ko 'To! concert. She credits her brother, King, for her interest on it. She can also play the acoustic guitar, but prefers the keyboard more, believing that it is her key to becoming a composer.
". She explains having so much sacrifices for her singing career, stating "I always order Halo-halo
without ice. If I want to eat ice cream
, I have to let it melt first or else microwave
it. I also don’t eat spicy food or mint candies
." She expressed "Of course, it was hard for me [...] But you get used to it." She also sings twenty songs a day for practice. She takes good care of her voice and maintains a healthy diet, and swore it takes her only three days or less to recover from throat infections. In her 2011 documentary on TvN Asia
, it was revealed that despite all the fame and success, Girado still regularly comes back to the Center for Pop Music to train her vocals and make it even stronger. She is also known for doing covers
of popular hits. She expressed herself in a statement, saying "I can say that the songs I sing in my albums very much represent who I am [...] I try to make it my own even if it was done originally by another artist."
Music critics shared the same opinions on Girado's vocal ability. Professional writer-editor Ginnie Faustino-Galgana stated "There is no doubt that Nina is one talented singer. Her vocal range is decidedly wide. Her voice itself has proven itself youthful and adaptable to any beat." Freelance writer Resty Odon said in a review "Nina can afford to do just covers because she has a voice that’s easy to love." In terms of song selection, he adds "She works the range and volume she sounds best in." The Philippine Music Registry complimented her range and control, saying "Her voice range always amazes people, reaching the highest notes with extreme control and with a sentimental timbre. She renders her songs with emotion and soul, thus made her the Soul Siren." She was ranked at #6 on the Top 20 Filipina Divas list by the Female Network.
s with non-basic dance moves and choreography
. It includes videos for her singles "Heaven
", "Make You Mine" and "I Do
". She also dances in her live concerts and stage performances. She has performed a variety of dance genres, from pop to ballroom
. She had a recurring appearance on ASAP
s pop, hip-hop dance segment "Supahdance Plus." At an early age, she took up ballet
classes, but soon stopped to focus on singing. In 2010, she pursued continuing ballet, along with playing tennis, to keep herself physically fit.
In November 2007, Girado won the Monthly Champion title on ABC-5's Shall We Dance?, where she competed against bossa nova
singer Sitti
, and actress-comedian Tuesday Vargas. She and her partner, Efren Ibo, performed a freestyle-jive
inspired by Beyonce
's song "Irreplaceable
". Judge Audie Gemora was impressed with her performance, commenting that she both sings and dances cleanly, while World Ballroom Champion and judge, Ednah Ledesma, congratulated Ibo for bringing out the best in Girado. Another judge, Regine Tolentino, reacted positively and thought that she and Ibo took their dance to another level. The episode aired on December 2, 2007. On January 18, 2009, Girado competed against Iya Villania
and Sitti on ABS-CBN
's Magpasikat, a temporary replacement for the suspension of the noontime TV show, Showtime
. She received positive comments and opinions from the judges, which led her to be the winner, sharing the title with Sitti. Later during the show, it was announced that Showtime would be back on its regular time slot after a court granted a Temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals against the 20-day preventive suspension by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
(MTRCB). In May 2011, she joined The G-Force Project dance recital, performing a burlesque
dance.
, Rivermaya
, Sharon Cuneta
, the Apo Hiking Society
and Francis Magalona
. Since 2007, she has been participating on the annual Earth Day
Jam event. On April 20, 2008, she and her brother King participated on the Philippine Daily Inquirer
s read-along session in celebration of Earth Month. In June 2008, she performed on the first Filipino Exposition in the Middle East
at the Dubai
Trade Centre, patronizing much-loved Philippine-made products and brands on display for three days. In July 2008, she became a representative for "Pose for PAWS," a fundraising event for the animal shelter launched by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
. In December 2008, she performed on the fundraising dinner for Ploning
entitled Plato Para Kay Ploning, after the film was submitted as Philippine entry for Best Foreign Language Film on the 81st Academy Awards
. On May 29, 2009, she supported Friendster
Cares, a benefit concert for the education of less-fortunate kids. In August 2009, she performed on YCONCON: Isang Araw Lang - The Sequel concert at the Araneta Coliseum
, which supports Daniel Razon's "Free College Education" program.
In November 2009, Girado was one of forty Filipino artists who contributed to "Kaya Natin Ito", benefiting the victims of Typhoon Ondoy
. She was vocally coached by Regine Velasquez
and was asked to do an impromptu whistle
as her solo part on the song. All proceeds from the sale of the song went towards the disaster relief efforts of the Philippine Red Cross and Gawad Kalinga
. On June 30, 2010, she was one of the Universal Records
artists who performed the song "Bagong Pilipinas", composed by Ogie Alcasid
, for the inauguration of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino. Alcasid said that he openly accepted the request to write the song to give a new hope for the country and to encourage all Filipinos to unite. Later, she performed on Aquino's victory street party with Kyla
, Jay R and Jed Madela
. On October 22, 2010, she had a concert at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu
entitled Think Pink. All proceeds from the event went to ICanServe
, a cancer foundation. On April 27, 2011, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines
opened its $50 million annex building, and she was one of the guests who performed on the program before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. On June 5, 2011, she performed on the Tunog Wunderground concert, which encourages people to vote for Puerto Princesa Underground River
as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. On July 31, 2011, she performed on a concert in Japan
entitled Moving On, which was produced by GMA Pinoy TV
and IPS for the sixth anniversary of Access TV.
In June 2006, Girado became the spokesperson for Goldilocks Bakeshop
, and released her "considered-to-be" first ever physical single, "Araw Mo
", a birthday song used for the promotion of Goldilocks' 40th Year Anniversary of service. Sales of the single entirely went to charity, the Leukemic Indigents Fund and UNICEF. Aside from Goldilocks, she has done a commercial for Ellips Cologne, with fellow acoustic singers Nyoy Volante, Luke Mejares, and Jimmy Bondoc–each rendering an excerpt from songs identified to them like “You're My You” (Volante), “Let Me Be the One” (Bondoc) and “Because of You” (Mejares) on the commercial. Her songs were also used for Colgate
and Nescafé
commercials. She was even chosen to be the first Filipina to endorse Sennheiser
microphones. She also became a testimony for Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC). Mango
, Levi's and Mark Alexander became her sponsors. In 2007, Girado strutted onstage during "The Lion King
" segment of Furry Tales fashion show, after not being included on the "Penshoppe Denim" segment. She is part of musical variety show ASAP
on ABS-CBN
, and has hosted her own weekly radio show on Wave 89.1
radio station, Renditions of the Soul.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Nina, is a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
pop
Pinoy pop
Pinoy pop or Filipino pop refers to popular contemporary music in the Philippines. With its beginnings in the 1970s, Filipino pop is a growing genre...
/R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer, occasional songwriter, record producer, TV and radio personality. She made her recording debut in 2002 after signing a recording contract with Warner Music Philippines
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. Following the release of her debut album, she received numerous awards from different organizations and multiple album certifications by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI). She established her position in the Philippine music industry in 2005, after releasing her third album Nina Live!
Nina Live!
Nina Live! is a live album and the third album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on February 23, 2005 by Warner Music. The original release date for the album was scheduled on February 22, 2005, but it was moved a day later due to preparation...
. The album earned her the first ever Diamond award for a female OPM artist. In the same year, she staged a Nina Live! concert at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
, which became her biggest solo concert to date.
In 2006, she released her self-titled album, which earned her the most nominations (eight) for the Awit Awards
Awit Awards
The Awit Awards is the longest-running award-giving body of the Philippines that gives recognition to Filipino musical talents, performing artists and producers it was Philippines equivalent to Grammy Awards, organized by the Philippine Association Of The Record Industry .-Objectives and Winner...
. Later, she was criticized for releasing too many covers, and got in a feud with her ex-boyfriend Nyoy Volante's parents when she filed a lawsuit against them. She regained success in 2009 after performing and touring with the Sessionistas. In the same year, she released her last studio album under Warner, Renditions of the Soul
Renditions of the Soul
Renditions of the Soul is the fifth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 27, 2009 by Warner Music. The album contains a selection of the most requested songs from her "all-male hits special" weekly acoustic radio show of the same title, which aired on Wave...
, which was taken from her Wave 89.1
WAVE 89.1
DWAV, broadcasting as Wave 891, is a music FM station owned and operated by Blockbuster Broadcasting System, Inc. in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the Strata 2000 Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, with its transmitter located along the Coca-Cola Plant at Roosevelt Avenue, San...
radio show of the same title. The album was both critically and commercially successful. She signed a recording deal with Universal Records
Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc...
in 2010, and represented her country in the Pattaya International Music Festival a year later.
In a career spanning nearly a decade, Girado was cited as the artist who popularized the acoustic phenomenon
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
in the Philippines. In 2004, the Philippine Business Excellence Award named her as the No. 1 Female R&B Singer in the country. In addition, MEGA
Mega (magazine)
MEGA, subtitled '100% pure Mega Drive' was a monthly magazine, published in the United Kingdom, aimed at users of the Sega Mega Drive and its additions, the Mega CD and 32X. During its time, as one of the main Mega Drive publications, Mega covered the golden age of the Sega Mega Drive; from 1992 to...
listed her as One of the Women to Watch in 2004. In 2009, Nina Live! was certified Diamond by the PARI, becoming the fourth biggest-selling album in OPM history. The album is also the biggest-selling OPM album of the 2000s, and it made Girado the first female Diamond awardee in the Philippine music scene. She was named as the best-selling female recording artist of 2009 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. In 2011, Wave 89.1 Urban Music Awards presented her a Special Achievement Award for her contributions to the music industry. Aside from her commercial success, she has earned eight Awit Awards.
Early life
Marifil Niña Girado was born on November 1, 1980 in Pasay CityPasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. She is the fourth and youngest child of Filbert Girado, a Bayanihan Boys Choir member, and Maria Daulet (née Barinos), who plays piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Her parents raised her in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, together with her siblings Dew-Anne, Ardie and King. When Girado was five years old, she started singing in a corner of a room and her father noticed it. After seeing the potential in his daughter, Filbert trained her critically. Like the traditional technique of vocalization, she was submerged into a drum of water, while belting out her high notes. Later, she was declared as daily winner on GMA
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
Lunchdates "Bulilit Jamboree" in 1985. In 1991, she joined the most popular defunct talent search in the Philippines, Tanghalan ng Kampeon, where she became a champion for seven weeks.
Filbert's plans for Girado have changed when she grew older. Instead of a professional music career, he wanted his daughter to earn college degree and to join him in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to find work. She took up Accountancy
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
at Miriam College
Miriam College
Miriam College is a non-stock, non-profit Filipino Catholic educational institution for girls and young women in Quezon City, Philippines. It offers academic programs from pre-elementary to post-graduate and adult education levels that develop the learning and caring competencies of students and...
, since she was good at numbers. Her father added to her that she would take up Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
after the course. Because of too much love for singing, she disobeyed her father and joined different bands. He gave up on trying to stop her, and just told her to maintain good grades. She did get good grades, and was even a consistent dean's list
Dean's List
A Dean's List is a category of students in a college or university who achieve high grades during their stay in an academic term or academic year. In secondary schools, or high schools, the term Consistent Honor List or Honor Roll is more common, but Dean's List and Consistent Honor List are...
er.
At seventeen, Girado became a vocalist of the XS. In 2000, she finished Accountancy and joined bands like The Big Thing, MYMP
MYMP
M.Y.M.P. is an acoustic band act from the Philippines, which consists of five members. Their career started when Raymond Ryan, a station manager of iFm watched one of their gigs, and met up with a producer to produce their 2003 debut album, Soulful Acoustic, which has since been certified...
, Silk and lastly, the Essence. After college, she recorded an amateur demo CD
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
with the help of a friend. It was composed of three tracks, including the Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
song "Foolish Heart
Foolish Heart (song)
"Foolish Heart" is a rock song written by Steve Perry, formerly of the band Journey and Randy Goodrum, and was performed by Perry from his first solo album, Street Talk...
", "Breathe Again
Breathe Again
"Breathe Again" is a song by American R&B singer Toni Braxton from her self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton . Written by Babyface and produced by L. A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons, the ballad was released as the album's second single, garnering heavy airplay during late 1993 and early 1994,...
" and "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
"Against All Odds " is a song by British singer Phil Collins recorded for soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to "take a look at me now", knowing that reconciliation is "against all odds" while considering it worth trying...
", recorded in a home studio with only a guitar for accompaniment. After listening to the demos, Warner Music managing director at that time, Ricky Ilacad wanted to sign her up even without seeing or hearing her in person. Two months after her father died of heart attack in the U.S., she signed her first contract with Warner Music.
2002–04: Early music career
In the last quarter of 2002, Girado released her debut album under Warner Music, entitled HeavenHeaven (Nina Girado album)
Heaven is the debut studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 20, 2002 by Warner Music. The album is heavily influenced by jazzy lounge pop-R&B and composed of songs that are reminiscent to the sound of international records at that time. Under the direction of...
, alongside her first single of the same title
Heaven (Nina Girado song)
"Heaven" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her 2002 debut album of the same name. It was released as the album's first commercial single, and her first single as an artist, in August 2002 along with the album by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by Brett Laurence and Gary Haase,...
. The album is inspired by contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and it was well-received by critics, with The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star
The Philippine Star is a daily English-language broadsheet newspaper based in Manila and circulated nationwide in the Philippines. Owned and published by PhilSTAR Daily, Inc, it was founded on July 28, 1986 by veteran journalists Max Soliven, Betty Go-Belmonte and Art Borjal...
stating "Heaven is quite a package. Production is sleek and Nina’s delivery, smooth [...] it is never heavy nor frenetic. It is instead used as a stable base for Nina’s sweet but definitely multi-octave singing voice. This is surely her strongest point and it is really a blessing to know that she can skillfully wield her vocals to conform to the demands of every song." The lead single, "Heaven", did not really become a commercial hit despite peaking inside the top ten of Philippine charts. In December 2002, "2nd Floor" was released as a radio-only single. Even though the song was not commercially released, it charted inside the top ten and won her the Best R&B Song award on the 16th Annual Awit Awards
Awit Awards
The Awit Awards is the longest-running award-giving body of the Philippines that gives recognition to Filipino musical talents, performing artists and producers it was Philippines equivalent to Grammy Awards, organized by the Philippine Association Of The Record Industry .-Objectives and Winner...
in 2003. "Jealous
Jealous (Nina Girado song)
"Jealous" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her 2002 debut studio album Heaven. It was released as the album's second commercial single in February 2003 by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by international songwriters Shelly Peiken and Brett Laurence, and it was produced by...
" was released as the second official single and it became Girado's first number one hit, topping various Philippine charts for three weeks. It also allowed her to grab the Best New Artist award on both Awit Awards and MTV Pilipinas Music Awards
MTV Pilipinas Music Awards
MTV Pilipinas Music Awards is the Philippines' biggest annual music video awards event.-Award categories:*Video of the Year*Favorite Male Video*Favorite Female Video*Favorite New Artist in a Video*Favorite Group Video*Favorite Pop Video...
in 2003. The third commercial single is her acoustic version of Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart", which became her second number one single as it charted even better than her previous releases. The song was a critical acclaim, being described by critics as "proof of Nina's musicality." "Loving You
Loving You (Nina Girado song)
"Loving You" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her 2002 debut album Heaven. It was released as the album's fourth and final commercial single in the Philippines in October 2003 by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by Gerry Paraiso, and produced by Ferdie Marquez. It is a...
", a Ric Segreto
Ric Segreto
Ric Segreto born Richard Vincent Segreto Macaraeg, was a Filipino Italian-American recording artist, singer-songwriter, actor, teacher, journalist and historian who became popular in the Philippines.-Early life:...
original, became the last commercial single from Heaven. It did not top the local charts, but peaked inside the top five. In October 2003, the album was re-released when it reached the double platinum mark.
In December 2003, Girado released her second studio album, Smile
Smile (Nina Girado album)
Smile is the second studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on December 12, 2003 by Warner Music. The album was a follow-up to the tremendous success of her debut album. It resembles the same sound from its predecessor, but only bigger and bolder in terms of incorporating...
, accompanied by its lead single, "Make You Mine". The album's sound is bigger and bolder than her debut album's, consisting of upbeat rhythmic jams and powerful sentimental ballads. Its first single was described as a "rich harmonic chemistry of Nina's mesmerizing vocals and hypnotic urban-style beats with a blend of funky strings, an upbeat R&B piece that offers a blissful listening experience." It became her third number one single, making her the first female OPM artist to have three number one singles in a span of one year. The following single, "A Girl Can Dream", features her labelmate Christian Bautista
Christian Bautista
Christian Joseph Morata Bautista , more popularly known by his screen name Christian Bautista, is a Filipino singer, actor, host, and model. He was a finalist of Star In A Million, a Philippine reality show aired on ABS-CBN channel, winning the 4th place in the competition in 2003...
in its music video. The song peaked inside the top five of charts. "Sayang Naman" is the first Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
single that she released and it became the last commercial single from the album. It reached the top ten of local charts, but is considered to be her least successful single at that time. Smile also gave Girado her songwriting debut when she wrote the song "Can't Say I Love You" in it. The song was described as a "sensually engaging ballad."
In early 2004, Girado became part of the recording for the song "Biyahe Tayo", which was used for the WOW Philippines...Biyahe Tayo! campaign. The campaign was founded for the promotion of Philippine Tourism. Artists who participated in the campaign included Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
, Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
, Francis Magalona
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
and other famous Filipino acts. In November of the same year, she was chosen by popular America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n songwriter Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
to record the Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
original "I Don't Want to Be Your Friend
I Don't Want To Be Your Friend
"I Don't Want to Be Your Friend" is a pop/R&B song written and composed by Diane Warren. It was recorded by singer Cyndi Lauper for her 1989 album A Night To Remember. The song was meant to be the second commercial single released in the U.S...
", which became a chart-topping hit in the country, for Warren's love song
Love song
A love song is about falling in love and the feelings it brings. Anthologies of love songs often contain a mixture of both of these types of song. A bawdy song is both humorous and saucy, emphasizing the physical pleasure of love rather than the emotional joy...
s compilation album Diane Warren Presents Love Songs
Diane Warren Presents Love Songs
Diane Warren Presents Love Songs is a compilation album of love songs written by American Grammy Award and Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated songwriter Diane Warren, released by herself in 2004 to 2006 in various countries...
. She is the only Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n artist featured on the album. In the same month, Warner Music Philippines released a Christmas album
All Star Christmas Collection
All Star Christmas Collection is a compilation album released by Warner Music Philippines on December 25, 2004. It is composed of 11 tracks and performed by Filipino singers under Warner Music Philippines such as Nina, Artstrong, Paolo Santos, Kitchie Nadal, Pido, Christian Bautista, Thor, Dice &...
which features her and some of label's in-demand acts at that time, including Christian Bautista, Kitchie Nadal
Kitchie Nadal
Anna Katrina Dumilon Nadal , more commonly known as Kitchie Nadal, is a singer and songwriter from Manila, Philippines, formerly the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band, Mojofly. Kitchie's popularity in the female OPM niche grew after she released a self-titled solo album featuring her...
, Dice & K9, Paolo Santos, Thor and Artstrong. The album was followed by their first major concert as a group, held at the Folk Arts Theater, entitled Pop Ko 'To! The All-Star, All-Hits Concert. In the same year, she appeared on the debut albums of Bautista and her brother, King.
2005–07: Commercial success with Nina Live!
Nina Live!
Nina Live! is a live album and the third album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on February 23, 2005 by Warner Music. The original release date for the album was scheduled on February 22, 2005, but it was moved a day later due to preparation...
. The album is composed of classic love songs from the 1970s to the 1990s, which she recorded live at the PHI Resto and Bar in Metro Manila on January 30, 2005. According to her, the idea of the album started when Warner saw her performing on different bars and lounges. The label told her "Why not put it in CD form or in a DVD, so that the people could take home [her] show." The first single, "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways", was released in February 2005 along with the album. It peaked at number one on local charts for twelve consecutive weeks, becoming Girado's biggest hit to date. Before the second single was released, Nina Live! was already certified 3× Platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), eventually selling 90,000 units in the Philippines. "Through the Fire" is the second official single which also peaked number one, but only for a week. The song features her highest recorded vocal register in full chest voice
Chest voice
Chest voice is a term used within vocal music. The use of this term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals in regards to this term...
to date. "Constantly" was released as the third official single and was immediately followed by the final commercial single, "I Love You Goodbye". Nina Live! sold over 300,000 copies in the Philippines in 2009, earning a 10× Platinum (Diamond) certification by the PARI, and grabbing the fourth place on Philippines' best-selling albums list. It also made Girado the first female OPM artist (third OPM artist) in the country to receive a Diamond record award. Aside from over-performing commercially, Nina Live! was well-received by OPM critics. In a review, Titik Pilipino stated "this album only proves that Nina can do wonderfully with covers."
Nina Live! was later released in home video
Nina Live! DVD
Nina Live! is the second video release by Filipino singer Nina. It is a recording of her most successful album Nina Live!, which was released in February 2005. It was released in Karaoke-VCD and DVD formats on May 28, 2005 by Warner Music Philippines. Nina Live! is the first ever complete live DVD...
, and was followed by a concert at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
. In 2005, Girado was listed at #75 on Philippines' FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
100 Sexiest Women in the World. In the same year, she collaborated with American singer Joe Pizzulo
Joe Pizzulo
Joe Pizzulo is best known as one of the lead singers for Sérgio Mendes in the 1980s. He had hit singles with "Never Gonna Let You Go" and "Alibis"...
in his album, All the Best. In 2006, she dated long-time friend and fellow acoustic singer Nyoy Volante, but the two broke up a year later. In February 2006, she was chosen to sing the theme song for I Will Always Love You
I Will Always Love You (film)
I Will Always Love You is a Philippine movie starring Richard Gutierrez and Angel Locsin. The theme song of the film, "I'll Always Love You", was performed by Nina.-Plot:...
, which eventually became the highest-grossing movie of GMA Films
GMA Films
GMA Network Films, Inc. is a film production company and a film studio established in 1995 by GMA Network, Inc. in the Philippines....
. In June of the same year, Goldilocks Bakeshop
Goldilocks Bakeshop
Goldilocks Bakeshop is a bakeshop industry in the Philippines which produces and distribute Philippine cakes and pastry. The chain was named after Goldilocks, a character from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears....
chose her as spokesperson for their 40th Year Anniversary (40 Thoughtful Years), where she recorded the promotional song "Araw Mo
Araw Mo
"Araw Mo" is a birthday song by Filipino singer Nina.It was released by Warner Music Philippines in June 2006. The song was written by Juan Ariel Coma, and produced by Neil Gregorio. It was originally recorded for the promotion of Goldilocks Bakeshop's 40th year anniversary of service . Sales of...
". In the same year, she appeared on Hotsilog: The ASAP Hotdog Compilation, covering Hotdog
Hotdog (band)
The Hotdog Band, more commonly known simply as Hotdog, is a Filipino band formed by brothers Dennis and Rene Garcia, that achieved musical fame in the Philippines during the 1970s. Their first album Unang Kagat was released in 1974 by Villar Records. The album led to the 1975 movie by the same...
's seductive ballad "Lumapit Ka".
Girado released her self-titled fourth album, Nina, in August 2006. She decided to release a self-titled album due to the fact that she has already established her name as an artist, and would like the public to know her as who she really is. She also admitted that Nyoy Volante was an inspiration to the album, saying "[Volante's compositions] were just so beautiful and inspiring that eventually I was encouraged to create an all-original album." Titik Pilipino praised her in a review, saying "Nina does almost everything right [...] She’s more refined, polished." On the November–December 2006 issue of MYX Mag, Mike Luis of Freestyle
Freestyle (band)
-Current members:*Joshua Desiderio *Mike Luis *Rommel dela Cruz *Gerald Banzon *Tat Suzara -Former Members:*Christopher "Top" Suzara *Carlo Tapia *Obet Luzon...
reacted positively to the album, stating "The mid-tempo tracks are groove-worthy, the slow jams are sexy, and the two remakes were nicely done." "I Do
I Do (Nina Girado song)
"I Do" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her self-titled third studio album, Nina. It was released as the lead single of the album in August 2006 by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by Joleen Belle, Michael Jay, Carsten Lindberg Hansen and Joachim Svare, and it was produced by...
", a song that is heavily influenced by R&B-dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, was released as the album's lead single, but it was the second single, "Someday
Someday (Nina Girado song)
"Someday" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her 2006 self-titled fourth album. It was released as the album's second commercial single in November 2006 by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written and composed by Nyoy Volante, who was her boyfriend at that time, and it was produced by...
", that topped the local charts, staying in the position for eight weeks. "Someday" also received positive response from music critics. The Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
described the song as an "introspective, traffic-stopping [...] that boasts of a rich melody and Nina’s emotive panache." In 2007, she released the third and final commercial single, "I Can't Make You Love Me", which was both critically and commercially successful. The song topped the radio charts and became a critical acclaim, with the Philippine Daily Inquirer stating "Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
’s anthemic song for the lovelorn is hard to top, but Nina gives a beautifully dressed-down version."
In August 2007, Girado was chosen by Sean Lim, director of sci-fi indie film Xenoa
Xenoa
"Collide" is the official soundtrack single for Xenoa. It was the only song used for the promotion of the film. The song was performed and recorded by Filipino singer Nina. In October 2007, the song was included on her re-issued album Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow...
, to record the theme song, "Collide", for the movie. The song was nominated for Best Song Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play on the 2008 Awit Awards. In October 2007, she re-released her self-titled album in a special limited edition entitled Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow. The album consists of two discs—the standard edition and a 9-track compilation which features her renditions of Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
originals. It is also considered to be a product of her Very Manilow concert at the Music Museum. "Somewhere Down the Road
Somewhere Down the Road (Barry Manilow song)
"Somewhere Down the Road" is a popular song written by Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow and most famously recorded in 1981 by Barry Manilow. Weil wrote the song's lyrics and Snow wrote the melody.-Release:...
" and "If I Should Love Again
If I Should Love Again
If I Should Love Again is the eighth studio album released by singer and songwriter Barry Manilow. The album was recorded at United Western Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California...
" were released as commercial singles, and both peaked at number two on local charts. A few days after the release of Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow, Warner and Club Myx
Club Myx
Club Myx is the dance music show which airs on MYX Philippines. Music videos with party scenes from various clubs in the metro.-Record Label:Club Myx is also the name of the official MYX record label, which was launched in 2006...
(the label) released her first remix album
Remix album
A remix album is an album consisting mostly of remixes or re-recorded versions of a music artists' earlier released material.One of the earliest remix albums was 1971's Aerial Pandemonium Ballet by Harry Nilsson, which was released by Nilsson after the successes of Everybody's Talkin and The Point!...
in collaboration with DJ Dense Modesto, entitled Nina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto Remixes
Nina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto Remixes
Nina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto Remixes is the first remix album by Filipino singer Nina, and the second by DJ Dense Modesto. It was released in the Philippines on October 31, 2007 by Club Myx, in collaboration with Warner Music...
. Also in 2007, she became part of Thor's cover album Soul Obsessions... Duets with Thor, singing a Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
original, "Whenever You Call". In 2008, Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow earned a Platinum certification by the PARI, making Nina (the album) double platinum.
2008–10: Criticism, lawsuit against Volantes and
Renditions of the Soul In 2008, Girado released another cover album, where Warner collaborated with Diane Warren for the second time. It is entitled Nina Sings the Hits of Diane WarrenNina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren
Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren is the fourth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on July 25, 2008 by Warner Music. It is a cover album consisting of Nina's renditions of familiar love songs written by American songwriter Diane Warren...
, and consists of successful ballad hits written by Warren. The album was certified Gold by the PARI after one week of commercial release, and eventually, it turned Platinum. Its official singles include the Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
original, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" is a song performed by American rock band Aerosmith for the 1998 film Armageddon. Written by Diane Warren, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 . The song stayed at number one for four weeks from September 5 to September 26, 1998...
", and the Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
original, "There You'll Be
There You'll Be
"There You'll Be" is a song by Faith Hill, which became a hit single in 2001. Written by Diane Warren and Alan Menken, known for his Disney film scores such as "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", "Pocahontas" and "Tangled", it was featured on the Pearl Harbor soundtrack...
", which Girado describes as a "thank you" to her fans. She expressed her gratitude in an interview, saying "I still have much to fulfill [...] I owe it to my fans [...] showering me with love and unbridled affection." The album was panned by critics, with Titik Pilipino stating "To be honest, what [they]'ve been expecting at this point in Nina's career is an album of original compositions suited to her voice [...] she didn't have to shout and be a vocal Chinese acrobat." OPM critics reacted negatively to the kind of musical process she was doing, noticing that her most popular albums, Nina Live! and Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow, contain covers. Her most popular singles, "Love Moves in Mysterious Ways", "Foolish Heart" and "Through the Fire", are also revivals. In an interview with the entertainment press at Red Box, Girado defended herself, saying "It's fulfilling to sing any song, maybe a cover or an original song, just the fact that I'm singing is fulfilling enough." She further stated that her fans were the ones who requested it. In the same year, she was featured on the self-titled debut album of Gabby Concepcion
Gabby Concepcion
Gabby Concepcion is a Filipino actor and businessman.-Early Life:Gabby was born in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines to Rolando “Rollie” Concepcion and Lourdes Arellano. He is the great grandson of prominent Manila landmark architect Juan Arellano...
.
In January 2009, ASAP
ASAP (variety show)
ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...
, a variety show on 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 ...
where Girado has been a regular performer since 2003, paired her with other ASAP mainstay artists, who are also in-demand performers in various bars and restaurants, namely Duncan Ramos, Aiza Seguerra
Aiza Seguerra
Cariza Yamson Seguerra better known as Aiza Seguerra is a Filipino actress, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She traces her roots from Calauag, Quezon....
, MYMP
MYMP
M.Y.M.P. is an acoustic band act from the Philippines, which consists of five members. Their career started when Raymond Ryan, a station manager of iFm watched one of their gigs, and met up with a producer to produce their 2003 debut album, Soulful Acoustic, which has since been certified...
, Sitti
Sitti Navarro
Sitti Katrina Navarro , also known as Sitti, is a Filipino bossa nova singer. After releasing her first album, Café Bossa, in 2006, other bossa nova acts in the Philippines followed. Navarro is also featured in the segment "A.S.A.P. Sessionistas" of the variety show ASAP...
and Richard Poon
Richard Poon
Richard Poon is a Chinese singer-songwriter and TV personality in the Philippines. He is a former member of U-Turn. He has gone on a successful solo career, and is a well-known jazz singer in the Philippines.-Early life:...
, forming a group called the "Sessionistas." The Sessionistas became the most-requested jamming segment on the show, leading the ABS-CBN management to hold an ASAP Sessionistas major concert at the Araneta Coliseum. The concert at the big dome was sold-out, and it was followed with other sold-out concerts in Cebu City
Cebu City
The City of Cebu is the capital city of Cebu and is the second largest city in the Philippines, the second most significant metropolitan centre in the Philippines and known as the oldest settlement established by the Spaniards in the country.The city is located on the eastern shore of Cebu and was...
, Batangas City
Batangas City
- Foreign Rule :The first Spanish missionaries arrived in Batangas City since 1572. Finally on 1581 Spanish authorities governing the Philippines created a pueblo in the area which included the hill where the present Provincial Capitol of Batangas stands after the formal end of the Coumintang...
and on their U.S. tour. On May 8, 2009, she was invited to guest on STAR World
STAR World
STAR World is an Asian English language cable and satellite television network owned by Star TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation. The channel is the successor of STAR Plus, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
's TV show, Asia Uncut
Asia Uncut
Asia Uncut is a variety chat show hosted by Jon Niermann, the president of Electronic Arts, Asia. The show premiered in March 2009 and is aired in many countries via STAR World....
, becoming the only Filipino to visit the show, aside from Lea Salonga. During the interview, she was officially tagged as the "Asia's Soul Siren."
In an interview with SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon
SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon
SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon is a Philippine primetime entertainment news program broadcast by ABS-CBN and is currently presented by Boy Abunda and Bianca Gonzales. The show premiered on February 16, 2009. On September 9, 2011, SNN aired its final broadcast...
s Kris Aquino
Kris Aquino
Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino , commonly known as Kris Aquino, is a Filipino television and movie personality who gained prominence from her talk shows, game shows, and numerous endorsements. Known as the Queen of All Media and Philippines' Queen of Talk, she is the youngest daughter of...
in early 2009, Girado stated that she would file an estafa (fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
) case against ex-boyfriend Nyoy Volante's parents Evangeline and Oliver for not paying their debts. She added that in 2007, the couple borrowed ₱1.4 million from her. The following year, Oliver issued several checks as payment for their debt. Some of the checks, however, bounced, she said. She further stated that in July 2008, she entered into a compromise agreement with the couple under which Evangeline immediately paid her ₱300,000 in cash. The couple also agreed to settle the balance of ₱1.1 million in monthly installments—from August 20, 2008 to February 20, 2010. They later gave her nineteen postdated checks which were signed by Oliver. Girado said that although she was able to cash some of the checks, some—which totaled ₱550,000—were not honored due to insufficient funds.
In September 2009, Girado released her fifth studio album, Renditions of the Soul
Renditions of the Soul
Renditions of the Soul is the fifth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 27, 2009 by Warner Music. The album contains a selection of the most requested songs from her "all-male hits special" weekly acoustic radio show of the same title, which aired on Wave...
, another cover album which came from her special weekly acoustic radio show of the same title which aired on Wave 89.1
WAVE 89.1
DWAV, broadcasting as Wave 891, is a music FM station owned and operated by Blockbuster Broadcasting System, Inc. in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the Strata 2000 Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, with its transmitter located along the Coca-Cola Plant at Roosevelt Avenue, San...
during Friday and Sunday evenings. The album gave her record-producing debut when she produced all the album's tracks herself. It was well-received by critics, with Manila Bulletin
Manila Bulletin
The Manila Bulletin , is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It bills itself as "The Nation's Leading Newspaper", which is its official slogan...
stating "The 17-track album is more emotionally subtle, yet the songs just have as equally powerful messages like her previous hits [...] Nina’s singing perfectly renders the message of every selection: Love, longing and the purity of emotional surrender." "I'm Yours
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz song)
"I'm Yours" is the first single released by Jason Mraz from his third studio album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The song was originally released on a limited edition EP called Extra Credit as a demo in 2005 to promote his second studio album Mr. A–Z. It was performed in his 2004 and 2005...
" was released in May 2010 as the only commercial single from the album. Warner held a sing-along contest for Nina fans and the winner got the chance to be on the single's music video. However, the single had no promotion, since Girado has left the label during its release. The video barely features her, and just shows some of her photos from the Renditions of the Soul album photo shoot. The album was commercially successful, being able to reach Platinum status in July 2010 despite having the least promotion.
After receiving a Diamond certification by the PARI for Nina Live! in October 2009, Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Gerónimo
Sarah Asher Tua Geronimo is a Filipino recording artist, actress and dancer. Geronimo started her career appearing in children's variety shows such as Pen-pen de Sarapen, Ang TV and NEXT...
's fans protested Girado getting the award ahead of Geronimo. Girado immediately stated in an interview that she deserves the award, and that there was no conflict between her and Geronimo. In an interview in November 2009, she revealed that she is engaged with her non-showbiz boyfriend, a businessman whom she named Enrico "Coy" Enriquez. Early in 2010, she had sold-out concerts with multi-diamond awardee Jose Mari Chan
José Mari Chan
Jose Mari Chan is a Chinese Filipino singer, songwriter and businessman in the sugar industry. He was born in Iloilo City on March 11, 1945. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1967...
, Freestyle, Side A, Richard Poon, Sam Milby
Sam Milby
Samuel Lloyd "Sam" Lacia Milby , is a Filipino-American who joined Pinoy Big Brother as a housemate...
and The Company, including her two-night solo concert at the Music Museum entitled Nina... The Diamond Soul Siren. On June 30, 2010, she performed the song "Bagong Pilipinas", together with other artists, on the inauguration of Philippine President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III , also known as Noynoy Aquino or PNoy, is a Filipino politician who has been the 15th and current President of the Philippines since June 2010....
. She wore a green Filipiniana
Filipiniana
Filipiniana, based on the definition by Isagani Medina from “Collection Building: Filipiniana,” in his In Developing Special Library Collections, Filipiniana: Proceedings , refers to Philippine-related books and non-book materials...
dress for the event. On July 9, 2010, she performed with South Border and Kris Lawrence
Kris Lawrence
Kristofer Lawrence Cadevida , better known as simply Kris Lawrence, is a Filipino-American singer.-Early life:Lawrence was born in Los Angeles, California on Sept 1st 1982...
on Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
's concert in Manila as a front act. On September 11, 2010, she performed live on Billy Crawford
Billy Crawford
Billy Joe Crawford is a Filipino-American recording artist, singer-songwriter and philanthropist.Crawford is a Bilingual Filipino Singer. His second language is English and he is conversational in French. Crawford not only lived in New York City, USA, but also in Paris for five years and for one...
's 25 B.C. concert at the Music Museum as a special guest. In October 2010, Warner released her four-disc box set greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
compilation, entitled Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010
Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010
Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010 is the first official greatest hits album by Filipino singer Nina. It was released in the Philippines on October 13, 2010 by Warner Music, at the time that she has left the label. The tracks are arranged nearly in a chronological order...
. Her cover of "Love Will Lead You Back
Love Will Lead You Back
"Love Will Lead You Back" is a song performed by Taylor Dayne. Released as the second single from Dayne's second album Can't Fight Fate , the ballad debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 27, 1990. It reached number one on April 7 that same year and spent 15 weeks in the Top 40...
" was used as the album's only single. In December 2010, she performed "Hagkan", which was originally recorded by Sharon Cuneta, as theme song for ABS-CBN TV series Sabel. In 2010, she was named as the best-selling female recording artist of 2009 by the Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation. In the same year, she also appeared on the albums of Jay R, Kris Aquino and Poon.
2011–present: International exposure and Stay Alive
In January 2011, Girado was given a Special Achievement Award by the Wave 89.1 Urban Music Awards for releasing notable chart-topping hits and reaching Diamond certification with Nina Live!. On February 5, 2011, she had a pre-valentineValentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
concert with the Sessionistas at the Araneta Coliseum, entitled ASAP Sessionistas 20.11. Her performances of "Note to God
Note to God
"Note to God" is a song written by Diane Warren and first recorded by American R&B singer JoJo in 2006 for her album The High Road. On May 18, 2009, Filipina pop singer Charice performed it on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Charice's recording of the song, produced by David Foster, served as the first...
" and "Got to Be There
Got to Be There (song)
"Got to Be There" is a 1971 single released by Michael Jackson on the Motown label. It was the singer's first solo single following his successful tenure as the lead singer of The Jackson 5. Jackson's solo career began in earnest after its success. The single, written by Elliot Willensky and...
" were applauded by fans and critics alike. She was supposed to portray the roles of Megara and Deianira
Deianira
Deïanira or Dejanira is a figure in Greek mythology, best-known for being Heracles' third wife and, in the late Classical story, unwittingly killing him with the Shirt of Nessus...
on Hercules 12, a pop-emo musicale, but later dropped out due to conflicts with her schedule. On March 18, 2011, she performed three of her past hit singles, including "Someday", at the Pattaya International Music Festival 2011 Galaxy Stage in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Before the event, she was given the "Golden Key to the City of Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
" recognition by the city mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, and got to hang out with other Asian artists who participated on the music festival. On March 25, 2011, a documentary featuring her and Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
was aired on TvN Asia
TvN Asia
tvN Asia - a joint venture developed by Fox International Channels, operator of more than 140 channels in 32 languages across the globe, and CJ Media, Korea’s leading media major in 2008 expands its reach throughout Asia, bringing original programming, non-linear and mobile solutions from the...
(Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
). In June 2011, issues of maltreatment to her former personal assistant
Personal assistant
A personal assistant or personal aide is someone who assists in daily business or personal tasks. It is common in design to have a PDA, or personal design assistant....
surfaced the news. She denied the allegations, saying that her former P.A. has always been given proper compensation and that the Volantes are probably the ones responsible for the rumor. In August 2011, she joined the ASAP Sessionistas second U.S. tour which ended in September. In the same year, she was featured on the albums of Kris Aquino and Noel Cabangon.
In an August 2010 episode of Pilipinas Win na Win
Pilipinas Win Na Win
Pilipinas Win Na Win was a noon-time variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show was presented by its main hosts Rico J. Puno, Rey Valera, Marco Sison, and Nonoy Zuñiga with their co-hosts Pokwang, Valerie Concepcion, and K Brosas. The show premiered on July 31, 2010, and aired...
, Girado revealed that she was working on a new album, and added that it will be released early in 2011 due to heavy preparation. In a post-show interview, she expressed that the new album will hopefully be released by middle of January, stating "I only have two cover songs in there and the rest are originals. It's going to be sexy-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
which is like singing from the soul but when you hear it, there's a degree of sexiness to it." She also mentioned including a song about "not giving up on your dreams," that was based from her own experience. It was mid-February and there was still no update on the album's release. According to the February 2011 issue of Woman Today magazine, the album will be released in June 2011. On February 22, 2011, she posted on Twitter a photo of her, recording a new song in the studio. In an interview after her arrival from Pattaya International Music Festival, she mentioned working on her first album under Universal Records
Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc...
, stating "Expect few pleasant surprises from this new album of mine. We’re working very hard to make this project truly groundbreaking." On April 15, 2011, she wrote a Pattaya Music Fest article on The Philippine Star where she also talked about the album, saying "Late last year, I moved to my new record label Universal Records and I consider it one of the biggest blessings in my career. In a few months, my latest album will be released, and it will showcase a new, yet familiar Nina, which I hope everyone will appreciate." After several push-backs, Stay Alive was finally released on November 19, 2011.
Influences
Since she entered the Philippine music industry in 2002, Girado has been compared to Mariah CareyMariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, due to her similarity to Carey's vocal range and musical style. She can even imitate Carey's high whistle register
Whistle register
The whistle register is the highest register of the human voice, lying above the modal register and falsetto register...
s, and has performed Carey's popular hits in her different concerts and gigs. She expressed being a fan of Carey by saying that she never attempted to watch concerts before she became a recording artist, until Carey's Manila performance
Charmbracelet World Tour: An Intimate Evening with Mariah Carey
Charmbracelet World Tour: An Intimate Evening with Mariah Carey is the name of Mariah Carey's 2003–04 worldwide concert tour. It takes its name from Carey's 2002 album Charmbracelet, which had been released six months earlier.-History:...
. Some of her other musical influences include Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
, Gary Valenciano
Gary Valenciano
Edgardo Jose Martin Santiago Valenciano , better known as Gary Valenciano or Gary V., is a Filipino musician. He is also dubbed as Mr. Pure Energy. He has released 26 albums, and won the Awit Awards for "Best Male Performer" 11 times. In 1998, he became UNICEF Philippines first national Ambassador...
, Ella Mae Saison and Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...
. She has also collaborated with international acts such as Diane Warren, Joe Pizzulo
Joe Pizzulo
Joe Pizzulo is best known as one of the lead singers for Sérgio Mendes in the 1980s. He had hit singles with "Never Gonna Let You Go" and "Alibis"...
, The Cascades
The Cascades
The Cascades were an American vocal group best known for their single "Rhythm of the Rain", recorded in 1962 and an international hit the following year.-Career:...
, Fra Lippo Lippi
Fra Lippo Lippi (band)
Fra Lippo Lippi is a New Wave band from Norway. They had several hits in the 1980s, such as "Shouldn't Have to Be Like That", "Everytime I See You" and "Light and Shade", and recorded a new album as late as 2002...
, Keith Martin
Keith Martin (musician)
Keith Martin is an American R&B singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, currently living in Surabaya, Indonesia, Indonesia. Martin is best known for writing and singing romantic love songs...
, Kenji Williams
Kenji Williams
Kenji Williams is a Filmmaker, Electronic music Producer, and Violinist.-Early career:Born in 1974, and classically trained in Violin since the age of 7, Kenji Williams performs live ethereal- style violin, with a laptop and drum machine transmitting self-produced classics to the dance...
, Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
, Billy Crawford
Billy Crawford
Billy Joe Crawford is a Filipino-American recording artist, singer-songwriter and philanthropist.Crawford is a Bilingual Filipino Singer. His second language is English and he is conversational in French. Crawford not only lived in New York City, USA, but also in Paris for five years and for one...
, Charice Pempengco
Charice Pempengco
Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco , popularly known by the mononym Charice, is a Filipino recording artist and actress who rose to popularity through YouTube. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the Most Talented Girl in the World, she released her first international studio album Charice in 2010...
and Arnel Pineda
Arnel Pineda
Arnel Pineda is a Filipino singer-songwriter who has served as the lead singer of the American rock band Journey since 2007. Pineda has had a successful musical career in the Philippines for the last 25 years.- Biography :...
of Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
.
Aside from singing, she also plays instruments, saying "I play a little bit of the guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
." She first showed her skills on playing the piano in the 2004 Pop Ko 'To! concert. She credits her brother, King, for her interest on it. She can also play the acoustic guitar, but prefers the keyboard more, believing that it is her key to becoming a composer.
Voice
Girado was a singing champion on Tanghalan ng Kampeon, with winning pieces like "Better Days" and "Love Takes TimeLove Takes Time
"Love Takes Time" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, and produced by Walter Afanasieff for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey . It was released as the album's second single in the third quarter of 1990...
". She explains having so much sacrifices for her singing career, stating "I always order Halo-halo
Halo-halo
Halo-halo is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and evaporated milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served in a tall glass or bowl....
without ice. If I want to eat ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
, I have to let it melt first or else microwave
Microwave oven
A microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that heats food by dielectric heating, using microwave radiation to heat polarized molecules within the food...
it. I also don’t eat spicy food or mint candies
Mint (candy)
A mint is a candy characterized by the presence of mint flavoring or real mint oil, whether it be peppermint oil, spearmint oil, or another natural or artificial source...
." She expressed "Of course, it was hard for me [...] But you get used to it." She also sings twenty songs a day for practice. She takes good care of her voice and maintains a healthy diet, and swore it takes her only three days or less to recover from throat infections. In her 2011 documentary on TvN Asia
TvN Asia
tvN Asia - a joint venture developed by Fox International Channels, operator of more than 140 channels in 32 languages across the globe, and CJ Media, Korea’s leading media major in 2008 expands its reach throughout Asia, bringing original programming, non-linear and mobile solutions from the...
, it was revealed that despite all the fame and success, Girado still regularly comes back to the Center for Pop Music to train her vocals and make it even stronger. She is also known for doing covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of popular hits. She expressed herself in a statement, saying "I can say that the songs I sing in my albums very much represent who I am [...] I try to make it my own even if it was done originally by another artist."
Music critics shared the same opinions on Girado's vocal ability. Professional writer-editor Ginnie Faustino-Galgana stated "There is no doubt that Nina is one talented singer. Her vocal range is decidedly wide. Her voice itself has proven itself youthful and adaptable to any beat." Freelance writer Resty Odon said in a review "Nina can afford to do just covers because she has a voice that’s easy to love." In terms of song selection, he adds "She works the range and volume she sounds best in." The Philippine Music Registry complimented her range and control, saying "Her voice range always amazes people, reaching the highest notes with extreme control and with a sentimental timbre. She renders her songs with emotion and soul, thus made her the Soul Siren." She was ranked at #6 on the Top 20 Filipina Divas list by the Female Network.
Choreography
Girado has recorded music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s with non-basic dance moves and choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
. It includes videos for her singles "Heaven
Heaven (Nina Girado song)
"Heaven" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her 2002 debut album of the same name. It was released as the album's first commercial single, and her first single as an artist, in August 2002 along with the album by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by Brett Laurence and Gary Haase,...
", "Make You Mine" and "I Do
I Do (Nina Girado song)
"I Do" is a song by Filipino singer Nina from her self-titled third studio album, Nina. It was released as the lead single of the album in August 2006 by Warner Music Philippines. The song was written by Joleen Belle, Michael Jay, Carsten Lindberg Hansen and Joachim Svare, and it was produced by...
". She also dances in her live concerts and stage performances. She has performed a variety of dance genres, from pop to ballroom
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
. She had a recurring appearance on ASAP
ASAP (variety show)
ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...
s pop, hip-hop dance segment "Supahdance Plus." At an early age, she took up ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
classes, but soon stopped to focus on singing. In 2010, she pursued continuing ballet, along with playing tennis, to keep herself physically fit.
In November 2007, Girado won the Monthly Champion title on ABC-5's Shall We Dance?, where she competed against bossa nova
Bossa nova
Bossa nova is a style of Brazilian music. Bossa nova acquired a large following in the 1960s, initially consisting of young musicians and college students...
singer Sitti
Sitti Navarro
Sitti Katrina Navarro , also known as Sitti, is a Filipino bossa nova singer. After releasing her first album, Café Bossa, in 2006, other bossa nova acts in the Philippines followed. Navarro is also featured in the segment "A.S.A.P. Sessionistas" of the variety show ASAP...
, and actress-comedian Tuesday Vargas. She and her partner, Efren Ibo, performed a freestyle-jive
Jive (dance)
In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance...
inspired by Beyonce
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
's song "Irreplaceable
Irreplaceable
"Irreplaceable" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles for her second studio album, B'Day . The song was written by Knowles, Shaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Espen Lind, Amund Bjørklund, and produced by Stargate and Knowles...
". Judge Audie Gemora was impressed with her performance, commenting that she both sings and dances cleanly, while World Ballroom Champion and judge, Ednah Ledesma, congratulated Ibo for bringing out the best in Girado. Another judge, Regine Tolentino, reacted positively and thought that she and Ibo took their dance to another level. The episode aired on December 2, 2007. On January 18, 2009, Girado competed against Iya Villania
Iya Villania
Raelene Elaine Ebaler Villanía , better known as Iya Villania, is a Filipino-Australian actress, host, singer, dancer, and model. She has hosted on TV shows like ASAP Mania, Us Girls and as a VJ for MYX music channel.-Early life:Villanía was born in Camperdown, Australia but grew up in Sydney...
and Sitti on 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 Magpasikat, a temporary replacement for the suspension of the noontime TV show, Showtime
Showtime (TV show)
Showtime is a late morning/noon-time variety show airing on ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show premiered October 24, 2009. It also currently airs worldwide through The Filipino Channel. The first season's grand finals was aired on July 24, 2010, Saturday at the Ynares Center, Antipolo City....
. She received positive comments and opinions from the judges, which led her to be the winner, sharing the title with Sitti. Later during the show, it was announced that Showtime would be back on its regular time slot after a court granted a Temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals against the 20-day preventive suspension by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board is the government agency responsible for rating television and film for the Philippines. Recently, the MTRCB was given the additional task of rating various video media . It is under the executive powers of the Office of the President...
(MTRCB). In May 2011, she joined The G-Force Project dance recital, performing a burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
dance.
Philanthropy and other activities
In 2004, Girado was honored as the Singing Ambassador of Goodwill by the Center for Pop Music Philippines for performing for the less-fortunate institutions, fund-raising concerts and inspirational talks to students. She also became part of the recording for the song "Biyahe Tayo", which was used to promote Philippine Tourism (WOW Philippines), mentioning the different provinces, scenic spots, and events of the country. She recorded it along with legendary Filipino acts including Lea SalongaLea Salonga
Lea Salonga-Chien is a mezzo-soprano singer and actress from the Philippines well known for originating the lead role of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World awards.She was the first Asian to play the roles of Éponine and...
, Rivermaya
Rivermaya
Rivermaya is one of the most influential, critically acclaimed and significant Filipino rock band formed in 1993. They are one of the several bands who spearheads the 90s Philippine alternative rock explosion...
, Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, better known as Sharon Cuneta, is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed as Megastar of Philippine Entertainment, fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry....
, the Apo Hiking Society
APO Hiking Society
The Apolinario Mabini Hiking Society, later popularly known as Apo Hiking Society or, simply, Apo, was a Filipino musical group. The group had its fledgling beginnings in 1969 at the Ateneo de Manila high school, with thirteen members: Lito de Joya, Sonny Santiago, Gus Cosio, Renato Garcia, Chito...
and Francis Magalona
Francis Magalona
Francis Michael Durango Magalona , also known as FrancisM, Master Rapper, MC The Mouth and The Man From Manila, was a Filipino rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter, producer, actor, director, and photographer. He was the first Filipino rapper in the Philippines to cross over to the mainstream...
. Since 2007, she has been participating on the annual Earth Day
Earth Day
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
Jam event. On April 20, 2008, she and her brother King participated on the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Philippine Daily Inquirer
The Philippine Daily Inquirer, popularly known as the Inquirer, is the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, with a daily circulation of 260,000 copies. It is one of the Philippines' newspapers of record...
s read-along session in celebration of Earth Month. In June 2008, she performed on the first Filipino Exposition in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
at the Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
Trade Centre, patronizing much-loved Philippine-made products and brands on display for three days. In July 2008, she became a representative for "Pose for PAWS," a fundraising event for the animal shelter launched by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society is a non-government institution situated in the Philippines. Its advocacies focus on the different issues concerning animal rights and welfare...
. In December 2008, she performed on the fundraising dinner for Ploning
Ploning
Ploning is a 2008 Philippine romantic family drama film based on a popular Cuyonon song of the same title about a girl's hidden feelings in a man's point of view. It starred veteran actress Judy Ann Santos and was directed by Dante Nico Garcia, who won a directing award in Singapore through the film...
entitled Plato Para Kay Ploning, after the film was submitted as Philippine entry for Best Foreign Language Film on the 81st Academy Awards
81st Academy Awards
The 81st Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , honored the best films of 2008 and took place February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST...
. On May 29, 2009, she supported Friendster
Friendster
Friendster is a social gaming site that is based in Malaysia, KL. The company now operates mainly from the three Asian countries namely in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore....
Cares, a benefit concert for the education of less-fortunate kids. In August 2009, she performed on YCONCON: Isang Araw Lang - The Sequel concert at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
, which supports Daniel Razon's "Free College Education" program.
In November 2009, Girado was one of forty Filipino artists who contributed to "Kaya Natin Ito", benefiting the victims of Typhoon Ondoy
Typhoon Ketsana (2009)
Typhoon Ketsana was the most devastating typhoon in the 2009 Pacific typhoon season with a damage of $1.09 billion and 747 fatalities. The storm was the twenty-seventh tropical storm, eighth typhoon and the second major typhoon in the season...
. She was vocally coached by Regine Velasquez
Regine Velasquez
Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez , better known as Asia's Songbird, Regine Velasquez, is a Filipino singer, actress, record producer and TV host...
and was asked to do an impromptu whistle
Whistle register
The whistle register is the highest register of the human voice, lying above the modal register and falsetto register...
as her solo part on the song. All proceeds from the sale of the song went towards the disaster relief efforts of the Philippine Red Cross and Gawad Kalinga
Gawad Kalinga
Gawad Kalinga , which means to "give care" in Filipino, is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement....
. On June 30, 2010, she was one of the Universal Records
Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc...
artists who performed the song "Bagong Pilipinas", composed by Ogie Alcasid
Ogie Alcasid
Herminio Jhay Alcasid, Jr., more popularly known as Ogie "Eric Ordoñez" Alcasid , is a Filipino singer, songwriter, composer, television presenter, comedian, parodist, actor, and entrepreneur.-Recording career:...
, for the inauguration of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino. Alcasid said that he openly accepted the request to write the song to give a new hope for the country and to encourage all Filipinos to unite. Later, she performed on Aquino's victory street party with Kyla
Kyla
Melanie Hernandez Calumpad Alvarez , better known by her stage name Kyla, is an R&B singer, songwriter, producer, TV host, and occasional actress from the Philippines....
, Jay R and Jed Madela
Jed Madela
John Edward Tajanlangit , better known by his stage name, Jed Madela, is a Filipino recording artist and TV host. His hit songs as a solo artist include How Can I Fall, The Past, The Search is Over, and Love Always Finds a Way....
. On October 22, 2010, she had a concert at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu is a large shopping mall at the Cebu Business Park in Cebu City, Philippines. It is the first Ayala Shopping Center located outside Metro Manila...
entitled Think Pink. All proceeds from the event went to ICanServe
ICanServe Foundation
- ICanServe Foundation, Inc. :ICanServe Foundation, Inc., formerly Information on Breast Cancer and Other Services , is a non-stock, non-profit organization that advocates early breast cancer detection through breast self-examination...
, a cancer foundation. On April 27, 2011, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines
Embassy of the United States in Manila
The Embassy of the United States of America to the Republic of the Philippines is situated in the Chancery Building of the Manila American Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Manila...
opened its $50 million annex building, and she was one of the guests who performed on the program before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. On June 5, 2011, she performed on the Tunog Wunderground concert, which encourages people to vote for Puerto Princesa Underground River
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about north of the city centre of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. The river also called Puerto Princesa Underground River. The national park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island. It is...
as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. On July 31, 2011, she performed on a concert in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
entitled Moving On, which was produced by GMA Pinoy TV
GMA Pinoy TV
GMA Pinoy TV, incorporated in February 2004 by GMA Network and its subsidiaries GMA International & GMA Worldwide and launched in 2005 primarily in Japan and USA, is a 24-hour international Filipino television station. The channel is targeted towards Overseas Filipino and their families in the...
and IPS for the sixth anniversary of Access TV.
In June 2006, Girado became the spokesperson for Goldilocks Bakeshop
Goldilocks Bakeshop
Goldilocks Bakeshop is a bakeshop industry in the Philippines which produces and distribute Philippine cakes and pastry. The chain was named after Goldilocks, a character from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears....
, and released her "considered-to-be" first ever physical single, "Araw Mo
Araw Mo
"Araw Mo" is a birthday song by Filipino singer Nina.It was released by Warner Music Philippines in June 2006. The song was written by Juan Ariel Coma, and produced by Neil Gregorio. It was originally recorded for the promotion of Goldilocks Bakeshop's 40th year anniversary of service . Sales of...
", a birthday song used for the promotion of Goldilocks' 40th Year Anniversary of service. Sales of the single entirely went to charity, the Leukemic Indigents Fund and UNICEF. Aside from Goldilocks, she has done a commercial for Ellips Cologne, with fellow acoustic singers Nyoy Volante, Luke Mejares, and Jimmy Bondoc–each rendering an excerpt from songs identified to them like “You're My You” (Volante), “Let Me Be the One” (Bondoc) and “Because of You” (Mejares) on the commercial. Her songs were also used for Colgate
Colgate (toothpaste)
Colgate is an oral hygiene product line of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and dental floss.-Duraphat:Duraphat is a professional strength paste intended for the treatment and prevention of dental caries....
and Nescafé
Nescafé
Nescafé is a brand of instant coffee made by Nestlé. It comes in the form of many different products. The name is a portmanteau of the words "Nestlé" and "café". Nestlé's flagship powdered coffee product was introduced in Switzerland on April 1, 1938 after being developed for seven or eight years...
commercials. She was even chosen to be the first Filipina to endorse Sennheiser
Sennheiser
Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG is a private German audio company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of both consumer and high fidelity products, including microphones, headphones, telephony accessories, and avionics headsets for consumer, professional, and business...
microphones. She also became a testimony for Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC). Mango
Mango (clothing)
Mango, stylized MANGO, is a clothing design and manufacturing company. Isak Andic is the president.Its goal is "to be present in every city" in the world...
, Levi's and Mark Alexander became her sponsors. In 2007, Girado strutted onstage during "The Lion King
The Lion King
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series...
" segment of Furry Tales fashion show, after not being included on the "Penshoppe Denim" segment. She is part of musical variety show ASAP
ASAP (variety show)
ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...
on 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 ...
, and has hosted her own weekly radio show on Wave 89.1
WAVE 89.1
DWAV, broadcasting as Wave 891, is a music FM station owned and operated by Blockbuster Broadcasting System, Inc. in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the Strata 2000 Bldg., Ortigas Center, Pasig City, with its transmitter located along the Coca-Cola Plant at Roosevelt Avenue, San...
radio station, Renditions of the Soul.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | SOP SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare) SOP was a Philippine noontime music/variety show aired by GMA Network. The show airs from 12pm-3pm on Sundays. The show is broadcast from Studio 4 at the GMA Network Studios. The show title stands for "Sobrang Okey, Pare!" a Filipino expression which connotes enjoyment and appreciation of a... |
Herself | 2002–2003 |
| 2003 | ASAP ASAP (variety show) ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays... |
Herself | 2003–present |
| 2004 | Masikip sa Dibdib Masikip sa Dibdib Masikip sa Dibdib is a 2004 Filipino comedy film, directed by well-known romance/comedy director Joyce E. Bernal. The film was released to Philippine theaters on April 14, 2004... |
Singer | Feature film, cameo appearance |
| 2004 | MYX Myx myx or MYX is the music channel of ABS-CBN brand and the #1 music channel in the Philippines. It is also a part of Studio 23's program line-up. In 2007, MYX North America was launched in the United States.... shows |
Herself | Celebrity VJ (May 2004) |
| 2005 | Idol Ko si Kap Idol Ko si Kap Idol Ko si Kap is a situational comedy television show in the Philippines aired every Saturday evenings by GMA Network from 2000 to 2005. The show was part of the network's GMA KiliTV block... |
Lisbeth | Guest star (1 episode) |
| 2005 | Daddy Di Do Du Daddy Di Do Du Daddy Di Do Du was a Filipino sitcom produced by M-Zet Productions, Inc. that aired on GMA Network every Sunday evenings. The show was part of the network's GMA KiliTV block and was one of the must successful original Pinoy sitcoms of recent history.-Plot:... |
Carol | Guest star (1 episode) |
| 2006 | Quizon Avenue Quizon Avenue Quizon Avenue is a sketch comedy show in the Philippines. It stars Dolphy and his sons Epi Quizon, Vandolph and Eric Quizon. It casts KitKat, Ya Chang, Pokwang, Jenny Hernandez, Sondra Lim, and Franzine Foronda. The show is aired on the ABS-CBN channel.-About Quizon Avenue:Quizon Avenue was first... |
Nina Alajar | Guest star (1 episode) |
| 2009 | Asia Uncut Asia Uncut Asia Uncut is a variety chat show hosted by Jon Niermann, the president of Electronic Arts, Asia. The show premiered in March 2009 and is aired in many countries via STAR World.... |
Herself | |
| 2009 | Channel V Philippines Channel V Philippines Channel [V] Philippines is a 24-hour music-entertainment television network owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, a partnership with TV Xtreme Broadcasting Company as a new network provider starting on March 1, 2009.... shows |
Herself | V.I.P. Artist (November 2009) |
| 2010 | Diz Iz It! Diz Iz It! Diz Iz It! was a Filipino pre-noontime variety show produced by the Television And Production Exponents Inc. of Malou Fagar and Tony Tuviera and GMA Network... |
Herself | Celebrity judge |
| 2011 | Showtime | Herself | Substitute judge |
Studio albums
- HeavenHeaven (Nina Girado album)Heaven is the debut studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 20, 2002 by Warner Music. The album is heavily influenced by jazzy lounge pop-R&B and composed of songs that are reminiscent to the sound of international records at that time. Under the direction of...
(2002) - SmileSmile (Nina Girado album)Smile is the second studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on December 12, 2003 by Warner Music. The album was a follow-up to the tremendous success of her debut album. It resembles the same sound from its predecessor, but only bigger and bolder in terms of incorporating...
(2003) - Nina (2006)
- Nina Sings the Hits of Diane WarrenNina Sings the Hits of Diane WarrenNina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren is the fourth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on July 25, 2008 by Warner Music. It is a cover album consisting of Nina's renditions of familiar love songs written by American songwriter Diane Warren...
(2008) - Renditions of the SoulRenditions of the SoulRenditions of the Soul is the fifth studio album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 27, 2009 by Warner Music. The album contains a selection of the most requested songs from her "all-male hits special" weekly acoustic radio show of the same title, which aired on Wave...
(2009) - Stay Alive (2011)
Other albums
- Nina Live!Nina Live!Nina Live! is a live album and the third album by Filipino singer Nina, released in the Philippines on February 23, 2005 by Warner Music. The original release date for the album was scheduled on February 22, 2005, but it was moved a day later due to preparation...
(2005) - Nina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto RemixesNina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto RemixesNina in the Mix: The Dense Modesto Remixes is the first remix album by Filipino singer Nina, and the second by DJ Dense Modesto. It was released in the Philippines on October 31, 2007 by Club Myx, in collaboration with Warner Music...
(2007) - Best of NinaBest of NinaBest of Nina is the first compilation album by Filipino singer Nina. It was released exclusively in South Korea on July 15, 2009 by Warner Music Korea...
(2009) - Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010Diamond: Greatest Hits 2002-2010 is the first official greatest hits album by Filipino singer Nina. It was released in the Philippines on October 13, 2010 by Warner Music, at the time that she has left the label. The tracks are arranged nearly in a chronological order...
(2010)
See also
- Nina Girado videography
- List of awards received by Nina Girado
- Music in the Philippines
- List of best-selling albums in the Philippines
External links
- Official website
- [ Nina] at Allmusic
- Nina at ASAP OnlineASAP (variety show)ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...
- Nina at Audiostreet