The Great Unknown is the twelfth studio album by Filipino singer Sarah Geronimo. It was released in the Philippines on December 4, 2015, through Viva Records and debuted at number two in Philippines iTunes pop music album chart behind Adele's25. It was made available for purchase on December 4, 2015 despite releasing new tracks from previous album, Perfectly Imperfect.
Background and development
On August 24, 2015, songwriter Yumi Lacsama posted a picture of her with Thyro and Sarah on her Instagram account. The picture showed all three them smiling with Thyro holding up a paper with what netizens thought as words written for a new song. Weeks after, Yumi posted another photo of Sarah in the recording studio. The album also features the songs of promising songwriters in the industry.
Recording
In the album's line up songs, Geronimo collaborated with singer Yeng Constantino and rock band, Hale. Geronimo also worked once again with Yumi Lacsamana and Thyro Alfaro, who wrote the carrier singles of her previous albums such as Ikot-Ikot for Expressions album and Kilometro for Perfectly Imperfect.
Singles
On December 4, 2015, Sarah teased her new album by performing the ninth track "Tala" in her concert "From The Top" and the song went viral in social media. It became the most streamed song in the album and it immediately ranked top spot in Pinoy Charts on Spotify Philippines. Viva Records released the lyric video on December 19, 2015 and Sarah Geronimo performed the carrier single on TV at the ASAP Live Stage on January 31, 2016. The music video premiered on June 10, 2016 at MYX & June 11 at MTV Pinoy. It peaked #1 on MYX Daily Top 10, Pinoy MYX Countdown, MTV Top 20 Pilipinas & MTV Today's Top 10. And also, "Tala" placed at Pinoy MYX Countdown and MYX Hit Chart Year-ender Countdown "The Great Unknown" is the second single of this album released on September 24, 2016 and its music video premiered at MYX and at MTV Pinoy on September 26. "The Great Unknown" peaked 7 weeks at number one on Pinoy MYX Countdown & 30 days at number 1 on MYX Daily Top 10: Pinoy Edition. Also, "The Great Unknown" peaked at number one on MTV Top 20 Pilipinas & MTV Today's Top 10. And also, "The Great Unknown" placed first at MTV Top 20 Pilipinas 2016 Year-ender Countdown. "Kaibigan Mo" is third single of the album release on January 27, 2017 performed live on 3rd Fusion Music Festival in SM Mall Of Asia Concert Grounds.The music video will release on February 3, 2017 premiere on MYX.It peaked #1 on MYX Daily Top 10:Pinoy Edition & Pinoy MYX Countdown "Misteryo" is the fourth single of this album and music video premiere in MYX on April 9, 2017 "Ako'y Para Lamang Sayo is fifth single of this album release on September 15, 2017
Release
“The Great Unknown” is produced by Civ Fontanilla and Sarah Geronimo and is released by Viva Records. The album was released December 4 and is now available on iTunes for download worldwide and can be listened to on music services like Spotify, Deezer, Rdio and Guvera. The lyric video for Tala was uploaded on official YouTube channel of VIVA Records last December 18, 2015. VIVA Records also uploaded the lyric video for Misteryo last December 26, 2015.
Critical reception
Rito P. Asilo of Inquirer.net wrote, "...the 10-track collection is a career-boosting showcase for the Popstar Princess’ ever-expanding skills as a vocalist, as well as her continually evolving interpretive ability as a performer...The 27-year-old singer-actress evinces growth and shines even when she isn’t compelled to show off those steely pipes with attention-seeking birit notes.', Ronald Constantino wrote in Tempo that "Sarah Geronimo continues with her amazing musical reinvention with the release of her twelfth and brand new album entitled “The Great Unknown,’’ and here, our musical Popstar Royalty takes the best bits from her two previous hit albums and expands on it further." Journal.com praised Geronimo's choices of songwriters and wrote, "The Great Unknown is exclusively an all-original affair and Sarah meticulously picked the best songs from the most promising of songwriters."
Promotion
The release of the album coincided with the singers' two night major concert in Araneta Coliseum, From The Top. To promote the album's release, Viva Records announced that Sarah G will be singing one of her new tracks in the concert. Geronimo will hold launch events at various shopping malls starting at Trinoma Mall on January 23, Glorietta Mall on February 6, Market! Market! on February 12, Harbor Point on April 9.
Accolades
At the 38th Catholic Mass Media Awards, The Great Unknown won Best Secular Album. In December 2016, The Great Unknown also won as the Album of the Year at the 29th Awit Awards. In May 2017, The Great Unknown album earned Sarah the recognition as Female Recording Artist of the Year in 48th GMMSF Box Office Awards.
