In 2000,
Yamani released her debut album,
Bakit Ba? (Why Is It?), which is dominated by easy listening love songs. Nine of the ten tracks are slow, with only one moderately upbeat tune, "If You Love Me." This doesn't make for a well-rounded album, and
Bakit Ba? sorely lacks diversity.
Yamani is a young singer, and judging by the album cover she is either a teenager or in her early twenties, and her voice still needs development. Yet, she has talent and it's possible that one day she will be an accomplished singer. On
Bakit Ba?, though, she seems to be searching for a style that suits her best.
The songwriting material on
Bakit Ba? is quite bland, and the songs tend to sound alike. The songs sound like so many other Filipino love songs that have been recorded in the past, seemingly cut from the same mold. One song with substance is "If You Love Me," co-written by the great
Edith Piaf, and
Yamani seems happy to have something credible to sing. Her voice isn't the strongest or most versatile of vehicles, but she nearly soars on the easy listening "O Kay Rupok" (Oh, It's Easily Broken). She doesn't sound assured on "Sigurado Ka Ba Sa Kanya" (Are You Sure about Him?).
She sings in a lower register than usual on "My Love Will See You Through," as though attempting to sound more mature. By trying to sound mature, she nearly succeeds in doing so. ~ David Gonzales