| Gameface | |
| Type: | Studio album |
| Artist: | Jay R |
| Cover: | Jay R Gameface album cover front.jpg |
| Recorded: | 2002‒July 2003 |
| Genre: | R&B, pop |
| Length: | 55:40 |
| Language: | English, Tagalog |
| Label: | Universal |
| Producer: | Ray Brown (executive), Troy Johnson (executive), Bella Dy Tan (executive), Jay R Sillona, Jean Bellefeuille, Ian Boxill, Shawn Dark, Bryson Evans, Jimmy Martinez, RedOne, The Triangle, Vehnee Saturno, DJ M.O.D. |
| Next Title: | Jay R |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
Gameface is the debut studio album by Filipino pop/R&B singer Jay R, released in the Philippines in August 2003 by Universal Records. He produced the album together with Ray Brown and Troy Johnson, in partnership with NuLife and his record label. To date, the album has reached Platinum status by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), denoting over 30,000 units sold in the country.[1]
The album was made available on digital download through iTunes and Amazon.com on January 23, 2007.[2] [3]
At the age of sixteen, Jay R was already a member of a group called FI (First Impression). The group consisted of five members, including Jimmy Martinez (who came to Manila with Jay R and is now popularly known as Jimmy Muna). When the other members left the group, he and Muna replaced them with Kris Cadevida (later known as Kris Lawrence after winning ABS-CBN singing show Search for the Star in a Million). They did gigs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Michigan. He, also, became the lead singer with his sister Jhing of another band that was led by his late uncle, Robert Sillona, called The Howlers. Later, his sister Jhing would collaborate with him in creating songs. He started performing gigs all around Southern California.[4] He also did back-up vocals for major artists, whose albums were released in the United States, Latin America, Philippines and other territories. Later, he started co-writing songs with these international artists. He has collaborated with Ray Brown, Troy Johnson, Jason Edmonds, 3am, Steve Singer, Gary Brown, Triangle Productions, Dutch Cousin, Chuck Cymone and many other talented producers, even before he got the record deal with Universal.[4]
As a debut artist, Jay R did several concerts and performances to promote his album. In April 2004, he accomplished his first ever three-night solo major concert which was entitled Gameface the Concert at the Music Museum. The concert showcased his vocal rhythm and harmony, performing with Mystreme band, and singing the most wanted hits of different genres. It was staged by popular concert director Louie Ignacio and Mon Faustino.[5] The first concert was so successful, it was immediately followed by another one, entitled Gameface Reload, held at the Folk Arts Theater on September 25, 2004. The second concert featured special guests with big names in the industry, including Regine Velasquez, Ai Ai de las Alas, Kyla and Sandara Park.[6]
Gameface has proven Jay R as a breakthrough artist. It received positive reviews, both from music critics and listeners. It also performed well commercially, certifying Platinum by the PARI to date. Furthermore, it is one of the albums from the early 2000s that have brought back heavy R&B-hip hop to the OPM music scene. It has influenced current Filipino male R&B acts like Kris Lawrence and Duncan Ramos. In addition, he was compared to Gary Valenciano, described in terms of his vocal performance on the album. On September 9, 2004, the 17th Awit Awards was held, wherein he was nominated for three categories (Best Ballad, Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year).[7] He won Best Ballad song, but lost the Song of the Year and Music Video of the Year awards to Parokya ni Edgar's "Mr. Suave".[8] On the same year, he received two nominations on the MTV Pilipinas Music Awards (Favorite Male and Favorite New Artist) —where he won Favorite Male, but lost the other award to Bamboo. He was also named as the Most Promising Male Performer of the year 2004 by Aliw Awards.
Awards and nominations
Gameface was re-issued in 2004 with two new tracks that were used as the album's final commercial singles.
Recording locations
| Country | Release date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Standard (CD) | |
| Repackaged (CD + bonus tracks) | ||
| United States | Standard (digital download) | |