Chapter 1653: Call of the Spotlight (Part VI)

The new challenger gave a close to perfect performance, at least for an amateur singer. It was still miles apart from Enrique Valdez's timeless excellence, but the poor farmer still managed to embody the song's emotions.

After his performance, the poor farmer was still a little dazed, even as everyone gave him a resounding standing ovation.

The judges also all stood up, even Iris Long, who had extremely high standards.

Master Beauty and the other hosts joined the new challenger onstage and waited with him for the judges' scores.

One by one, the judges scored the new challenger. Both Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita gave perfect 10 scores. Only Iris gave an 8.5, but nobody was surprised, as she gave the lowest scores in the previous new challenger round. Even so, the poor farmer still managed to acquire an average of 9.5 points, which was already very impressive, especially for a new challenger.

"Thank you very much, judges!" The new challenger bowed and waved his hands to the audience before leaving the stage to stay with the hosts at the side.

Finally, Master Beauty called for the reigning champion who would be defending her crown for the seventh day today. The defending champion stood onstage as if she belonged there. Confidence radiated from her. It was something honed from a week of reigning as the daily champion.

Then the band started playing the music.

Iris raised an eyebrow.

Her fellow judges all glanced at her. The Black Stars in the audience gasped.

"Whoa, she has guts, that's for sure!" Dominic exclaimed from behind Iris.

The defending champion raised the microphone to her lips and started singing.

"Caged and chained in a tiny world

Wondering what it's like outside

A little bird imprisoned by love

Dying little by little inside

I want to be free

Free as a bird

But where are my wings

I cannot fly"

All the Black Stars clapped their hands and started singing along. Most of the audience members weren't familiar with the song.

Iris forcefully stopped herself from letting out a sigh of disappointment.

The defending champion was singing "Rebirth", the English version that she sang for the first time during Liberté's grand launch party in Paris, France. Ever since then, she hadn't really paid any attention to it anymore. The English version of "Rebirth" wasn't an official song that she released.

Seeing it being performed at a singing competition in the Philippines, however, was still quite a shock to her. Iris could hear the Black Stars cheering in the audience.

'Hmm, maybe I should release a clean studio version,' she thought. 'Nothing fancy. Just a treat for my fans.'

Despite these thoughts, she immediately focused on judging the performance. The band's cover version didn't have any classical instruments, but they still did a good job.

The defending champion was trying to sing with all her heart.

"From the ashes, I rise like a phoenix

A little bird no more

I spread my wings, so big and wide

Now I am free

Now I can fly

Oh, I can fly up in the sky

While tears flow down my joyful eyes

Up I fly, up I soar

Until I brush against the clouds

I'll stay up here and touch the stars

I'll reach as high that I can"

This song had one of the highest notes in Iris Long's song repertoire. It didn't require just pure power but also skillful modulation.

"Oh, dear," Dina Bendita murmured beside Iris.

"I can't watch this," Dominic said from behind her.

The defending champion chose to imitate the way Iris Long originally sang the song. However, she didn't succeed. Her voice strained to the point that her expression looked like she was in pain.

Iris couldn't stop herself from sighing anymore.

She knew that her original version was difficult to replicate.

Heck, she did it on purpose. It was her own legacy after all.

She wouldn't compose music just to make up the numbers. Every song she created had to be meticulously polished until she deemed it ready to be released.

Shoddy work was only for lazy people.

Even if others could replicate the technicalities in "Rebirth", they still couldn't replicate the emotions behind it.

After all, it told the story of her own mystical rebirth. It wasn't something that just anyone experienced.

Despite the strain, the defending champion still pushed herself to finish her performance.

The Black Stars gave her loud applause. Based on their expressions, they could tell that the defending champion was far from perfect. However, they still cheered for her in good sport.

The defending champion was almost in tears. She could also tell that her own performance wasn't the best today.

Master Beauty and the hosts returned to the stage, wearing sympathetic expressions on their faces.

"Now, let's hear what the judges have to say," Master Beauty said.

Dina Bendita came first. "I can see that you already know how you did today." She sighed. "I just want you to know that whatever happens, I believe that you have star quality. Believe in yourself."

Her comment was short, devoid of any harsh criticisms.

Albert Alcala came next. "I know that your purpose is to show off your skills to the song's original singer today. While I commend you for your bravery, I still think that you made a big mistake in choosing this song. This song is very difficult to sing. Not only does it have many high notes, but it also has many complicated runs. It's not a song that you use to compete with only a few days of practice. I hope that you won't make this kind of rookie mistake next time.

"If you want a career as a singer in this industry, you need to rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse over and over and over until you're sick of singing the same song. Only then will you present a polished performance, especially when singing difficult songs like this.

"Imagine if you have a concert. Your audience paid big money to watch you, but you didn't rehearse enough. Of course, they're going to be upset. Never allow yourself to be arrogant and think that just talent alone is enough. Hard work is also essential. My wife, Virginia, is already a legendary singer here in our country, but she still rehearses like her life depends on it before her performances, no matter how big or small.

"I can't say that you did a great job today because you didn't, but I still commend you for your bravery. It isn't always easy to sing a song in front of the original singer and do a good job."

The defending champion nodded amidst her tears. "Thank you, Sir Albert."

Finally, it was Iris Long's turn.

"I was really surprised that you chose to perform my song 'Rebirth'," she said. "Thank you for that."

The defending champion bowed her head.

Iris nodded. "This song, 'Rebirth', is very important to me. In fact, it's the title song of my comeback album after my car crash."

"Boss Iris, we love you!!!"

The Filipino Black Stars in the audience cheered for her. As full-fledged Black Stars, they knew the true story behind the car crash, which almost killed her, leaving her comatose for a long time.

Iris glanced at them and sent them a flying kiss in gratitude. Then she faced the defending champion again and resumed her critique.

"Like Mr. Albert, I commend you for your bravery. You decided to sing my song in front of me, the original singer. Not only am I the original singer, but I'm also the original songwriter. I know this song, 'Rebirth', like the back of my hand.

"As the original singer and songwriter, I know exactly how difficult this song is for others. My critique of your performance wouldn't be so harsh if only you sang in a unique style of your own that is completely different from my original version. Perhaps all of us here in the judges' panel would've been more receptive to your performance than it is now.

"Your decision to replicate my original version with so little rehearsal time was, frankly, not the best choice. Even I had to rehearse my own song before I was able to record it in the studio. And even then, it took a long time for me and my producer, JJ, to get a satisfactory recording of my vocals. I think that is the lesson of the day for you. Rehearsal is key as a singer and as a performer.

"Many of you should've already noticed that I like being specific in my critiques, so let's start that now. Your high notes are very, very, very strained. That's not good. You're going to damage your vocal cords in the long run if you keep doing that. It's obvious that you're singing an octave and a half higher than what you're comfortable with. Of course, you can practice until your vocal cords become used to singing in a higher range than you're used to, but that will only happen after a good teacher guides you with proper techniques.

"Next, your runs are choppy, unfortunately. It detracts a lot from your performance. The quality of your voice tends to be more focused on power rather than modulation. So my advice is to focus on your strength, which is power belting, especially if you don't have enough rehearsal time."

Her fellow judges, Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita, were both nodding as they listened to her critiques.

"But don't be discouraged," Iris continued. "I really like your voice quality. It has great potential. With enough training, you'll be able to learn more proper techniques and eventually, widen your vocal skills beyond power belting. Overall, not the best performance today, but still commendable."

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