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Eric's Jocelyn Enriquez Rumor Page

This is not a document meant solely to sing praises of Jocelyn Enriquez. Yes, I am a fan, but it is not a blind adulation (I don't even own her CD), contrary to what some of my friends may think. Yeah, she can sing, but some things about her (unconfirmed, to be sure) kind of irk me. None of this means, of course, that I won't jump at the chance to see her perform.

Ms. Enriquez is a Filipina singing artist whose roots trace back to the San Francisco Bay Area. Went to grade school in the SF/Daly City Area (with one of my friends, Lillian). Moved out and went to High School at Pinole Valley High where she was a cheerleader or something. Graduated class of '93. No idea where she resides now. I might have heard something to the effect that she lives in San Jose. I don't know for sure. I lost the magazine that I got at Fiesta Islands that had a feature on her. If you know what I'm talking about, could you please contact me.

She joins the elite few Filipinos who have been on the Billboard Top 100. That's what Filipinas Magazine said when they had a feature on her and Banig a while back.

She has released numerous singles: I've Been Thinking About You, Big Love, Make This Last Forever, Do You Miss Me, A Little Bit of Ecstasy, and another whose name I can't remember. The music she puts out has been labeled as freestyle, but having received years of training with the San Francisco Girls Choir, she can really sing, as evidenced by some of her songs and ballads. She also has two albums out, Lovely, as well as a new album, Jocelyn just released May 13. The new album contains songs such as "Do You Miss Me?" and "A Little Bit of Ecstasy" (I think) as well as a Tagalog ballad. For more information, check out her record label, Classified Records.

I recently had the opportunity to see her perform a new song off her upcoming record, A Little Bit of Ecstasy or something to that effect. It was pretty good, but it got a tad repetitive, but then again, nowadays everything get repetitive. This single's cover, IMHO, is pretty bad. Not bad meaning "good" but bad meaning "bad." I'll have a picture up soon so you can judge for yourself.

I think of all Classified's artists, Jocelyn is the best known. Hopefully, the Pinay Divas (another Classified Records group, straight out of Berkeley) and others like them will do as well as, if not better than, Jocelyn Enriquez. Not that I don't want Jocelyn Enriquez to succeed. I just hope they do, too.

I saw her perform for the first time at Harmony, an Asian talent showcase, and I was kind of disappointed. Her performance was OK. Maybe it was because the soundsystem was jacked up. I just didn't like the fact that her dancers were out on stage much longer than she was. Really didn't need them to hype up the crowd. Could have done it herself. I do, however, look forward to seeing her perform again in the future.

As I mentioned before, I recently saw her perform at the Cal State Fullerton Friendship Games. She performed Do You Miss Me and A Little Bit of Ecstasy. Her performance was cool and everything, but I have one question: Why did she dye her hair blond (or whatever color that was)??? Argh! I liked her better with black hair, but oh well. It did kind of suck to be right next to the speakers and experience a little bit of deafness, but that has nothing to do with her.

As for the hair, I'm glad to find out that was only a wig, just as I would be if that her hair on the "Ecstasy" cover actually is fake.

I also got a chance to speak with her over the phone when she came to do a visit for the local radio station, 102.5 KSFM, known to many as "That Really Crappy Station," and from my standpoint, the visit could have gone much better. The DJ kept trying to mack on her on the air and it was kind of pathetic. "You are so fine" and "You are really beautiful" seemed to make up most of his conversation (even though it really didn't). And the residents of Sacramento didn't seem to be overly enthusiastic about her. They kept asking about the station's whacked ass spring concert, Spring Jam (kinda like KMEL's Summer Jam, except put on by a sorrier radio station). They had a little contest that you could get a free copy of "Ecstasy" if you begged her for one. While this may have worked in SF, it did pretty badly from what the DJ decided to air. When I called she was really personable and cool (of course) and hooked me up with a free copy of "Ecstasy," and I didn't even have to beg. :)

As for her new album, I have yet to get it, but the consensus from those I've talked to is that it's "alright."

Random Things I've Heard About Ms. Enriquez Whose Veracity Ranges From Very Dubious To Nil
The Rumors I've Heard What Glenn Guitierrez Has to Say About Them
  1. She is a onetime customer of Sun Trips.
  2. She bought her boyfriend a car (Acura Integra).
  3. She gots her man in check.
  4. She used to sing in front of the class in grade school.
  5. She wore a white bikini during her Senior Trip.
  6. She's hella fine.
  7. She's not all that good looking.
  8. She's a really cool person.
  9. All that success has gone to her head, thusly she is stuck up.
  10. She at one time dated a woman who was masquerading as a hard guy (read: roughneck), when she discovered this person's true sex, she decided to stay with her/him because she loved her/him. Actually, this might be about someone else, but I have heard it with Ms. Enriquez's name stuck in there.
  11. She's homosexual. (see no.3)
  12. She's a space alien.
  1. Huh?
  2. She owns one herself. In no way can she afford top buy cars for anyone. Her windshield has a big crack in it that she can't even afford to fix.
  3. No man. No check.
  4. She has been singing since a very young age, but I can't confirm "grade school performances" until I talk to her... ;)
  5. Huh?
  6. I'd say so. She does NOT think so. Wait until you see the new pictures.
  7. She's a very talented and charming young lady. Period.
  8. (see #8 =)
  9. No, not at all. But how do you combat that one? The people you are nice to don't notice anything, but the people you may sometimes have to be short with (typical business stuff), will say this. I have known her since the beginning and I can tell you that she has become more mature and in-control of her life. Besides, we wouldn't let her get a big head (we keep large pins around for just such an emergency... POP!).
  10. Someone else (interesting new story, though!)...
  11. Nope.
  12. If so, *I* would have some questions for her myself. But then, maybe I'm a space alien, too. OOoooooo....
Now one thing that I've heard is that she doesn't claim her Filipino identity. Instead, she supposedly claims to be of Latin American descent. This really pisses me off. No matter your ethnicity, if you choose to announce it, it should be at least the right one. If she never said what ethnicity she was that would be cool. But claiming an heiritage that isn't yours is tantamount to saying, "I'm ashamed of my Filipino heiritage," to those who are Filipino that's a little irritating. This is the worst and main rumor from the past two years. It stemmed from 2 things: (1) A disgruntled former partner and (2) when she did an interview on Hot 97.7 with Doctor Dave many moons ago. He asked her why her name sounded Spanish and she explained that many Filipinos have Spanish-sounding names because of Spain's occupation of the Philippines some 400 years ago. That's all. Period. She is a proud Filipina from the Pangasinan Province.

The reason she did a Spanish translated version of the song "I've Been Thinking About You" was because (1) the Freestyle market is heavily Spanish-speaking and (2) I am mostly Spanish myself and have been doing this kind of music for the past 8 years without thinking about the nationality of the singer.

Thank you, Glenn for setting the record straight. I appreciate that you took the time to respond.

 

 

I would like to thank all those who have emailed me to confirm and deny these rumors about Jocelyn, and I'll try to put your responses up.

 

If you want to tell Eric a rumor or refute one then   email him!. 

All graphics "courtesy" of Glenn Guitierrez and Classified Records. Thanks, guys.

 

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