Can someone pleeease explain how there can be one singing competition after another with contestants who're supposed to be the creme da la creme who are unable to sing in tune. How does this happen?!
On Sunday evening contestants in Africa's Project Fame did their first public performances after their first week of being in The Academy and as far as I can see there are only three contestants who have very real and totally unquestionable singing talent right now. These are Daré, Lindiwe and Claudia. I think they're in a different class from the rest.
This doesn't mean I think everyone else is useless though ... although ... naaah ... heh-heh ... I understand the idea that they're all students learning to get better, but I definitely won't be buying the CD compilation that goes with the episode. I think it's a really silly idea releasing a CD with the songs they're singing for their first performance - it's what RJ would surely call a 'double standard'. The show's asking us to go through a process of following the creation of a performer and we're not supposed to be judging them as being professional, but we're being sold their CD? Tsk.
Despite my mutterings and tsk-ings I enjoyed the show. I actually made myself some popcorn for it, tucked up in a blankie and placed my head neatly on my newly-discovered and strategically-placed cushions. I thought the show seemed less fake with the quick succession of singers and they fitted in everything they had to perfectly.
You could see there were nerves that it wouldn't happen - but it did. Some of the Board types need to get on with it though. I'm sure the huge pauses and slow talking some of them have going on isn't necessary. Also, RJ was right - Sipho Mabuse and Richard mustn't stop being honest. When they said the first four contestants had problems with their pitch they were right.
They should have trusted that and passed such commentary for others, because now some don't know what their mistakes are. Someone like Robyn has left thinking she can sing. Nataniël likes her because she's comfortable in her body. Fair enough - she has a good personality and looks very swell on stage.
But she's not even Good Karaoke when she sings! I think she loves the idea of being a singer and all that comes with it and she knows how to do the part - but at this stage she doesn't have the singing ability required.
Neither does Tracey-Lee, and now she's staying on because the contestants voted to keep her in and she's taking the whole thing really seriously (she was crying). Instead of being kind the contestants have been cruel, because it means I'll very possibly have to feel very eeeeuw when Tracey-Lee sings again next week.
Was it just me or was her performance embarrassing for her? I got the sense that the studio audience felt the same way because there were very few cheers once she'd finished and no boo's when the board selected her for probation. In fact - she said the audience response revealed how good she'd been, but there was definitely a difference between their response to her and their response to the others.
Judging how well you've done according to the audience is a very iffy thing to do, though, because while their cheers vary they cheer for everything. As Fiona said, the contestants are very brave and I think the audience is their support - but using them to assess a performance is not a good thing to do because you're judging yourself on a very unreliable thing.
What's really interesting about the Tracey-Lee shebang is that she's obviously a favourite amongst contestants and I definitely think many of those votes were cast for personal reasons and not 'singing ability/performer' ones. Why else would they have chosen the person who so clearly gave the weakest performance? Did they feel sorry for her? Notice also how many of the girls voted for her.
Johan included. Heh-heh. Nasty meeeee. I can't not tell you that I really do think Johan is quite the furthest thing from a rock singer I have ever seen. He has no attitude at all, and to be a rock star you have to have at least a bit of attitude. And it mustn't be fake - it must be real.
How could the board say he rocked? Do they know what rock is? Once more - the double standard - we always want everyone to be sweet and nice but sometimes for the sake of what they're doing they can't be. Rock often expresses something darker - the people who sing it have seen it, and Johan needs to find that if he's to rock.
I must say I was very sorry that Bodea is up on probation this week. I understand why they chose him and despite the fact that he's not particularly versatile I like him for who he is. He's up against Jid'dah and I'd prefer to see him stay because I find him more interesting. Perhaps this probation thing will allow him to realise that if he wants to do well he needs to focus on his skills instead of only the audience, because right now the audience seems more important to him than his singing.
Same thing for Tebogo and Jonathan. All three love performing in front of an audience, and seem to assume that their relationship with the audience is going to pull them through. I think all three would get much better if they focused less on this and more on the skills they need to pull it off.
They all have unique personalities and in a way their singing doesn't need to be totally brilliant - Bob Dylan's singing sucked - but they do need to make some decisions as to what they're going for with their singing, and look at the vocal skills they need. If they don't they could suffer from coming across as the guy at the party whose decided he's gonna lead a sing-along.
As I said at the start I think Daré, Lindiwe and Claudia have a head start on everybody. This doesn't mean they're my favourites though. For instance, I'm not quite sure what to make of Claudia - she may be a little old fashioned for me yet ... she is interesting ... she's the one I mentioned I thought was deep ... *Think, Think* ...
I'd still choose Monica above her for the time being, I think. Simply because Monica's somewhat more edgy. I didn't understand how she got to sing the song she did though. I thought the episode was Big Big Hits and I've never in my life heard the song she sang. It was nice, but I cannot be soo thick that I missed it as being a big, big hit. Not me. Surely?
You know who's gonna do well? Steve. It's going to drive me loopy. Someone told me never to trust someone whose eyes are too close together - and his are! James thinks he's beautiful though. As does everyone else. It obviously has something to do with his body as well. It's not everybody who can wear a jumper like the one he wore and look like a super hero. With them rippled muscles stretching against it, the slight hint of nipples ... I better stop otherwise you won't believe I don't like him.
I could go and on about everything but I have to stop now ... I know there are some I haven't mentioned here - it's because I have nothing to say about them right now. For instance, I have absolutely no idea what to make of Kat, but I really didn't enjoy her Dido. I actually think it's a silly idea to sing Dido. It seems so complicated and so specific to her and when anyone else sings it it always sounds all over the place.
As for whether or not the teachers were correcto mundo in choosing Didge to go back to The Academy - I think so. Despite Sipho's harsh words for him (I really enjoyed this and wished he'd done it more) I think Didge is what the teachers said he was - keen to assess himself.
I enjoyed the friction between the board and teachers and realised that the teachers will always be on the side of the contestants because they're so responsible for what the contestants are delivering. They're also spending a lot of time with them, which will make them precious.
All in all quite fun, I think. I thought this show would find it's legs. This week time forced it to do away with the overly fake stuff and get to the point.
As for favourites so far ... I'd have to say the person who stands out most for me at this time is Daré. I think it has to do with the fact that there's no *bleep!* to him. He's very rooted and when he sings it sounds as if his voice is the whole of him.
That's it. My favourite for now. Who was your favourite from Sunday evening's show?
PS: What's the big deal if you can't sing? I can't and I'm happy. Much happier than if I was trying to sing with what in my case is a very iffy voice. La di daaaa.
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