By Bolarinwa Akande
It did not matter to the judges that it was the contestants’ first appearance on the show, they scolded the burgeoning artistes for low performance, using words such as ‘cold’, ‘flat’ and ‘average’.
The judges, Bibie Brew, Ade Bantu and TY-Mix spared no words in condemning all the 16 contestants. The move, according to them was for the contestants to step up to the quality of music and musicians which the Project Fame Academy has turned out, since it made debut.
Expectedly, MTN Project Fame judges are known to be blunt in critically appraising performances in the academy. Thus, TY-Mix advised the contestants to work harder – reminding them that the competition has begun already.
However, the music producer singled out Flourish who rendered Whitney Houston’s ‘I didn’t Know My Own Strength’ as the only excellent performance on the night.
Perhaps, ‘the contestants are still adjusting to the reality of life in the academy’, assumed Joseph Benjamin, the co-host. The ebullient Nollywood actor was full of optimism that each of the contestants would perform better next time having received their first baptism of fire.
The audience, who hardly knew the difference, thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They basked in the euphoria of great love and inspirational songs of yester years. For instance, Ogechi, stunning and dashing, was applauded when she rendered ‘When You Believe’, originally sang by Mariah Carey.
Shola roused everyone within earshot. The song, ‘I Believe I Can Fly’, seemed to have been one of his favourite – left for some flat notes here and there. There was also Jeffrey’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the Word’; Lamey’s ‘Hero’, David’s ‘Heal Me’ by Mariah Carey and Michael Bolton respectively.
The atmosphere was emotionally charged when Christian performed ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ and Ricky did Jennifer Hudson’s ‘If This Is Love’. These renditions and many others by Ugo, Kofo, Taiwo, Debby and the rest give the ardent followers of the reality show an assurance of great times to come as the battle for who emerges the next MTN superstar get more intense.
Meanwhile, Olukanni Bolanle, new co-host, showed why the organisers of the show bestowed so much confidence on her. She was all glitz and glamour with elegant dress and impeccable grammar.