SINGER SILVA WINS NEXT BIG THING
BBC NEWS
inment/6216088.stm
2006/12/09 09:41:11 GMT
Armenian singer Silva has won the BBC World Service’s Next Big Thing
competition with her song I Like.
The 17-year-old was chosen ahead of six other acts from around the
world at the final, held in the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in London.
The judges praised I Like, which was composed by the singer’s brother,
as "fresh and new" and described her performance as "second to none."
"It’s terrific, it’s unbelievable to be in first place," she said.
She added the comments from the judges – producer William Orbit
described her as "fabulous" – meant she felt confident she could
"make the step up to international level."
Second place in the competition was split between Malawian rapper
NiC and London duo Stefan and Mya.
‘Great tradition’
Stefan and Mya’s song My Dunks – a rock-rap track about
a trainer-obsessed fashion victim and his bitter rows with his
girlfriend – was described by Jeff Travis – founder of UK indie label
Rough Trade – as part of "a great tradition in rock ‘n’ roll."
NiC’s Take A Look Into My Eyes – an anti-materialistic rap song about
the difficulties of getting into the music industry in Africa – was
lauded by the judges for its lyrical content and use of a Greek sample.
Meanwhile, third place went to Brazilian collective Sweet Cherry Fury
for their song Cold Blonde Body.
Generation Next
The other finalists included British rock group Skagz, American outfit
MLK and the Dreamers, and Ghanaian singer Mishkini, who performed
his song in three different languages.
The competition, part of the BBC’s Generation Next season, was aimed
exclusively at acts aged under 18.
The final seven had been selected by a panel of music journalists and
experts from a group of 20 acts – who themselves had been pooled from
all the entries submitted via the BBC’s website.
The judges for the final included legendary producer William Orbit,
Rough Trade founder Jeff Travis, African star Angelique Kidjo and
Dirty Pretty Things drummer Gary Powell.