NINA GIRADO - from WIKIPEDIA

Nina (born Marifil Niña Girado on November 1, 1980[1]) is a Filipino pop singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and commercial model. Dubbed Asia's "Soul Siren" and the Philippines' "Queen of Pop", Girado has released multiplatinum record sales and achieved ten number one singles in the Philippines. She is sister of singer Filbert “King” Girado, Jr. She has released seven albums and performs regularly at bars such as Taboo Ultra Lounge, Bagaberde Grill, Hard Rock Cafe, 19 East, Club-O and can be seen on TV via the musical variety show ASAP on ABS-CBN[1]. Her album Nina Live! is the biggest selling album by a female OPM artist, and the fourth biggest selling album in OPM History[2], next to Eraserheads' Cutterpillow, and Jose Mari Chan's Christmas In Our Hearts and Constant Change. Nina is the first and only female OPM artist (third overall) to achieve a Diamond album award. Thus, some call her Asia's "Diamond Soul Siren".

She has collaborated with foreign artists and songwriters. In 2004, Nina recorded a song for famous international songwriter Diane Warren's compilation album, Diane Warren Presents Love Songs. In 2005, she recorded two songs with American singer Joe Pizzulo, for his album All the Best. Nina has also performed songs with international artists Fra Lippo Lippi, Billy Crawford and Charice Pempengco.

Biography
Nina was born on November 1, 1980[1] in Pasay City, Philippines[3]. She was raised by her parents, Filbert Girado, a Bayanihan Boys Choir member, and Maria Daulet, a pianist, in Quezon City[4] together with her siblings Dew-Anne, Ardie and Filbert "King", Jr. When she was five years old, Nina started singing in a corner of a room, and her father noticed it. Seeing the potential, Filbert trained her massively, and like the traditional way, she was submerged into a drum of water, while belting out her high notes. Later, Nina joined the most popular defunct talent search in the Philippines, Tanghalan Ng Kampeon[5]. She became a champion for seven weeks of the show.

Filbert's plans for Nina 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. Nina 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, Nina disobeyed her father and joined different bands.

At seventeen, Nina became a vocalist of the XS[6]. Her father knew about it and could not stop her. Instead, he insisted that she should maintain good grades. Nina did get good grades, and was even a consistent dean's lister. In 2000, she finished Accountancy and joined bands like The Big Thing, MYMP, Silk and lastly, the Essence. After college, Nina recorded an amateur demo tape with the help of a friend. It was composed of three tracks, including the Steve Perry song "Foolish Heart", recorded in a home studio with only a guitar for accompaniment. Ricky Ilacad, the managing director of Warner Music Philippines, was so impressed he wanted to sign her up without even seeing or hearing her in person. Two years later, her father died of heart attack, and she signed up her first contract with the label.

Voice
Nina's voice is sweet, soft, cold, has powerful vocal belting and can sing in whistle register (a voice like Mariah Carey's). Her lowest note is a D3 and her highest in whistle register is an E7, which she performed on her 2003 Heaven promo single, "Simula". Her highest note in chest voice is a sustained G#5, which she actualized on her Nina Live! single "Through the Fire".

Nina Soul Siren