The ongoing Tusker Project Fame, East Africa, plus other talent finding projects like East African Idol etc, are an exciting and refreshing addition to our TV entertainment. Alongside natural born stars are those tag alongs who make our evening so fulfilling with their out-of-this-world singing and dance styles.
The world over, it’s unbelievable how many of us believe we can sing. Many have grown up hearing from family and friends what amazing voices they have. Unfortunately the world of family and friends can be very small and so our voices may only sound good to this small clique in comparison to their challenged vocals. But expand that circle to the whole Kenyan nation, let alone East Africa, and we experience the shock of our lives.
Of even greater humour is the expression of pure shock on the faces of some when the judges deliver the all-dreaded ‘no’ verdict - so mortified as they watch the judges either grimace in pain, double up in laughter or simply hustle them quickly out of the audition room. Now we know quite a number are there simply for their 5 minutes of fame on TV, but many sincerely hope to catch the judges’ eye and go on to greater glory.
Mark you, sometimes persistence pays overwhelmingly as one Ngangalito will testify. Some judges constantly wanted him out last year but the crowd constantly put him back – so endearing was he – that eventually he finished an incredible number two! But unless you have at least the vocal capabilities, charming personality, good nature and iron-will of Mr. Lito, save your vocals for something closer home.
It’s also true that many wonderful talents have been trodden underfoot in such projects as people who sing beautifully are torn to shreds by subjective judges looking to put a tough front. You realize talent searches cannot accommodate all the interested participants and so some great talents are by-passed for all sorts of reasons. The result? Those who are resilient and self-assured put the competition behind them and go on to develop their talent anyway in more solid and predictable ways which are within their power to control, while the weak-spirited believe they are good-for-nothing as the judges have said and proceed to abandon their talent completely, too distraught to face their humiliation.
Knowing yourself is key. Do you really sing beautifully? Would people pay to hear you sing? Then by all means, even if you were rejected at the auditions, move on. At the end of the day, the auditions happen once or twice a year, and only benefit the top five, ten if you’re lucky. And the real winner is only the number one. So are you going to sit around all year round waiting for Project Fame or Idols to come back? Take the reins and drive your destiny!
On the other hand, a closer, truthful look may reveal that you, in fact, only sound good to yourself, and maybe to family and friends. In that case, save yourself unnecessary trauma in front of the judges and sing at home instead, to yourself and your loved ones. Singing is a crucial part of the human nature and culture. Don’t nobody ever tell you to stop singing. Singing makes us happy, relieves stress, and furthermore God wants us to sing to Him like all the time. So keep singing please, but don’t imagine you will be able to pull crowds with your voice. Just sing to God, to yourself, and your loved ones. And if you can at least carry a tune, then join a choir. You will be amazed how wonderful we all sound when we sing along with others! Just don’t expect to be the soloist…
Still, what would those auditions be without all the drama of clueless vocals trying to sound like the Mariah Careys of this world? I honestly don’t envy the judges their role. Figure having to sit through all that! Then separating the wannabes from the real talent, the jewel beneath the ore? No wonder they get so stressed up they end up being mean. Sometimes it’s the only language we understand. Ask Simon Cowell (though he could be less harsh) or our very own mushrooming meanies.
At the end of the day, these talent searches are a Godsend to our aspiring artists. At least every year, someone’s music career begins this way, some find out they can actually sing better than they thought, and the training received in ‘the house’ is forever invaluable (well, scrap some of the irrelevant drama played out in those houses). I can’t wait to see the Southern Sudanese join the competition this year.
This is a great way to go, and I wonder why no one has thought to do a Christian music project like this. Some of the best singers in the world are gospel singers, it’s a known fact. So maybe Christians should organize a talent search of the same scale, since many Christians find it difficult to participate in the secular arena due to their faith. After all, even if they do participate and win, what will they then record? Secular music? A few might but others will not.
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