THOSE who follow reality shows know the pattern: sponsors release mouth-watering prizes and every young adult angles to be a winner. But to hear the American-born singer and dance artiste, Jeffrey Daniel, one of the judges of Nigerian Idol, tell it; the true cost of being a winner goes beyond the ‘take home’.
Moses Obi-Adigwe’s and Debbie Olu-Rise sure know this now. The true cost never shows up on a balance sheet. The many hours of rehearsals, lining up at audition venues and struggling to be considered… you can’t beat this.
It turns out that Nigerian Idol is getting more popular than envisaged. At least, this is the way to keep the band of young and talented Nigerians waiting for opportunity to exhale.
Though reality shows have
often generated controversy over the years, the Nigerian Idol is still immune from any of such, whether gender or manipulation of voting process.
Based on performances, personality and showmanship, it will be very tough to say who will win this season’s contest.
The two contestants have been amazing in their individual ways. Moses, who is considered a favourite of the audience, is not even afraid what the outcome will be. He believes he is now equipped for the future ahead.
The comeback king, Moses
HE has pitch perfect style. The teddy bear with the powerhouse voice, Moses is full of surprises. He cooks, cleans and loves to swim —but will his vocal talent make you pick up the phone? The judges couldn’t let him go, as he is a powerhouse of vocal dexterity.
Right from when he belted out his first note in the audition rounds, the unique tone and colour of Moses’s voice signalled someone special stood before Jeffrey Daniel, Yinka Davies and Femi Kuti.
It was powerful, with plenty of vibrato and one more thing—he sung at a much higher pitch, at full voice. It was surprising then that the voting audience did not select him for the top 12.
It took the wildcard round, and the intervention of the judges to select him for the top 12 round. After the peaks and valleys of the audition round, Moses finally made it.
His breathtaking falsetto was his number one selling point, and he wielded it wisely.
It gave him the ability to tackle songs by women, which he did time and time again. He also showed that he understood his voice, selecting male singers that complimented his vocal style and range and also showed his versatility as a singer.
“I’m very excited and grateful to God, my family, friends, CFT, CGM and everyone else for their support during the journey and as it winds down, I can’t help but look forward to the wonderful music career I’m going to have, no matter what happens at the grand finale,” he says.
Moses continues, “I’ve learnt to experiment; to compromise between being commercial and maintaining a certain level of musicality.”
He has the advantage of being able to go full throttle on difficult songs, showing a marked preference for Omawumi. He handled them with ease, and it put him in a head-to-head battle with other female singers in the competition — a battle that he won hands down.
His cute and cheerful personality earned him the nickname ‘Teddy Bear’ from Jeffrey, but it the cuddly moniker belied the determination and force of will that he exhibited when on stage.
According to Moses, “the tough times on the show have been a learning experience for me. A couple of times, I’d be the last person to choose a song from the list and I’d have to come up with a concept to make sure I stand out and maintain the standard the judges and Nigerians expect from Moses, the ‘Teddy Bear’.”
He was always a performer, hungry for the spotlight and determined to win. He displayed laser-like focus and took incredible risks with song selections and vocal arrangements that showed his development as an artist. The guest judges loved him, and many were absolutely floored by his talent.
Could this have been as a result of his growing up. May be. “I was an adorable, sharp tongued, witty kid. Kind of independent, read a lot and all my teachers loved me,” he sniffs.
And what would he like Nigerians to know about him?
Moses sucks in some air and breathes out, “to know that I’m a fantastic singer or performer, who is more than willing and ready to give them wonderful music, that will neutralise the Nigerian music industry. To also bring in a troupe of Grammys, to show Nigerian that songs made at home can be chart-toppers abroad.”
You want to know what it has been like, living in the house with all the other contestants?
“It has been interesting, to say the least. Living with everyone, different personalities and characters but there’s almost never a dull moment,” the tall, heavy singer with a deep voice grins.
You want to know what week of music or theme meant the most to him in the house?
“Neo Soul and the Nigerian week when I did Oliver Twist by D’Banj. The Neo Soul song (‘Pretty Wings’ by Maxwell) was by an artist I love, and it was such a beautiful song. I almost felt like I couldn’t carry it, but I got on stage and it just worked out well,” he says, giving a cool, gracious smile.
His favourite place to sing, make or write music?
“Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen… then everywhere else, in that order,” he cooed, his gentle look glisters as he explains patiently his dream for the Idol title.
As the third season of Nigerian gears up to announce its season three winner, it is clear that this 22-year-old boy (who celebrated his birthday on the show) has what it takes to be at this stage in the competition, but Nigeria has to make the decision to make him their choice. The grand finale airs today, and the winner will be announced with all the attendant spectacle. Will Moses be the season three winner?
The rise and rise of Debbie
THOUGH 23, she’s a bold vocalist. Debbie’s romance with music is in perfect synchrony with her daring stage presence. She loves a challenge and Idol will see her all the way to the top, she hopes.
She walked in to audition in front of the judges, her guitar clasped in her hands, dressed in a pair of pedal-pusher roll up jeans, ankle cuff gladiator sandals, and a sleeveless white tank top.
She had just told the camera with a quiet confidence that, “I believe I will win,” when she was asked about her chances on the show. And here she is, five months later, one step away from where she predicted she would be.
“I am glad I made it. I thank God I made it this far. My dream is finally coming through and the world will hear me easily. It’s a fulfilling feeling and I’m filled with gratitude to God, to my extended family and Nigerians,” she says smugly.
“Throughout this show, I took risks. From the auditions to the top 30 (when I split), to all the gala shows where I always re-mixed every song. Taking risks can be scary, but it was worth it, because ‘it’s risky to not take risks’,” she says. “I had to make up my mind to be strong because nothing good comes easy. There were very tough and annoying times, but when the going gets tough, the tough gets going and I’m tough!”
“It has been yet another learning opportunity. Living with other people with different backgrounds and so much talent, helped me learn so much. I’ve learnt to be patient, that winners don’t quit, practice makes perfect and that the battle is not always for the strong,” she says.
Her smile grew genuine, as she spoke, the soulful singer, apart from her melodic voice, was just a gift to the show. She had wormed her way into people’s heart with her renditions.
Debbie has been able to survive one of the most difficult, tasking and mentally exhaustive phases in her life to reach the top two stage in Nigeria’s biggest reality television show—Nigerian Idol.
Her favourite place to sing, make or write music?
She snaps, glaring at a moving object, and suddenly, says, “my room and the terrace at the contestants’ house. Those are the places I get to think well, without any distractions.”
What week of music/ theme has meant the most to you and why?
“The week we did highlife songs. I was happy that I could connect with the Nigerian legends/Highlife songs and still put a little of myself (remix) into it,” she giggles.
SHE and Moses Obi-Adigwe (the other finalist in the competition) faced down each other last Sunday evening in a riveting night of competition and Debbie held her own, showing new depth and maturity as she showed Nigeria one last time, what she was made of.
Musically, she has made some daring choices, opting to audition with a self-composed song that captivated season three judges and got her a golden ticket to the top 90 stages. Her now infamous split in the top 30 stage singing Rihanna’s Umbrella in a two-toned yellow/green pedal pusher leotard was unforgettable and guaranteed her a spot in the top 12.
As an artist, Debbie is like a whirlwind on stage constantly moving her hands and her body, probably a hangover from her athletic tendencies. As a singer she has made some interesting choices. From Westlife to Chuddy K her selection of songs has varied showing inklings of a true musician.
On tonight’s grand finale show, the winner will be announced, but win or lose, Debbie has proven that grit, determination and sheer goes a long way in getting to the top of any game.
“I want Nigeria to know that I am multi-talented and hardworking. I am disciplined and unique. When given anything to do (especially music), I always put my signature on it,” she says, totally absorbed by her last performance, which elicited thunderous applause.
| Author of this article: BY GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR |
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