BBC SHOWS BEST TEEN BEATS
By Ben Sutherland
BBC News, UK
Dec 9 2006
Silva (centre right) ran out top choice for the judges Fans of TV
talent shows would have been familiar with the format – an act
performs, the judges debate the merits of that performance, the
presenter asks them how they feel – and ultimately, one of them is
awarded the winner.
But the final of The Next Big Thing – the BBC’s global search for
the best young musical talent – was different in a couple of ways.
Firstly, all the acts were aged under 18. Secondly, they were all
really rather good.
In this case, selecting the eventual winner would be legendary
producer William Orbit, Rough Trade founder Jeff Travis, African
star Angelique Kidjo and Dirty Pretty Things drummer Gary Powell,
with former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel also giving his input.
And so to the acts. Brazilian six-piece combo Sweet Cherry Fury began
the night with their jaunty, raucous take on boredom in exams, Cold
Blonde Body.
Having flown 20 hours from Sao Paulo – and lost their luggage en
route – they were determined not to let a minor technical hitch that
had delayed the start of the gig put them off.
Lyrical flow
Impressively, performing live at the BBC’s famous Maida Vale studios
in front of industry icons seemed to inspire them rather than make
them nervous – something, on the most part, in common with all the
performers on the night.
They threw themselves into their songs with both intensity and
passion. As Vardy, the lead singer of British three-piece rock group
Skagz put it, "we’re having the time our lives."
Pictures from the final There was an intense performance from Malawian
rap act NiC, a duo who volleyed words back and forth like Sampras and
Ivanisevic in their prime, deciding not to bother with those fancy
passing shots and just belting the ball at each other.
Their angry – if interestingly anti-materialistic – rap stems from
their frustration at attempting to break into the music industry
in Africa. Judge Gary Powell was particularly impressed by what he
described as their "lyrical flow", saying they could be understood
better "than acts in the charts earning millions".
NiC would eventually finish second, a place shared with British duo
Stefan and Mya – whose much more light-hearted song, My Dunks, is
about a fashion victim and his girlfriend, who feels she is always
second-best to her man’s trainers.
Their bickering couple style drew high praise from the judges. "I’d say
you’re like Lily Allen, but you’re much better than that," said Powell.
But everyone brought something different to the final, despite –
or perhaps because of – their widely diverse backgrounds, sounds,
and themes.
Refugee Malikinke delivered a multi-language plea to African men to
think before they sleep around; US multi-member group MLK performed
an eight-word, two-minute celebration of Martin Luther King; while
the Skagz thrashed out their up-tempo rock song about singer Vardy
"getting attacked in the mining village of Whitwell".
Winner
As soon as she stepped behind the microphone, however, the star
quality of the act who go on to win shone through.
Armenian performer Silva not only sang, she also really performed,
coupling her smooth vocal with some well-honed dance moves.
The 17-year-old’s tango-based song I Like – written by her sister and
produced by her brother – would not have sounded out of place on any
hit-centred radio station.
There was genuine camaraderie between the acts But, with a little
polish, the same could have been said for most of the other acts
too. None were noticeably weak – a benefit, perhaps, of having a
panel of music industry experts give their input into choosing the
final seven.
The four judges admitted they had expected the standard to be "much
lower", and were visibly impressed.
As they deliberated and the groups awaited the result, the genuine
camaraderie that had grown between the acts – they had stayed together
in the same hotel since arriving in London earlier in the week,
and cheered each others’ performances – was clear to see.
They all stood huddled together, nervously chatting to each other,
offering congratulatory handshakes and hugs whenever one of them was
mentioned by name by the judges.
When the result was announced, the cheers and applause were such
that any one of them could have been cheering their own win as much
as Silva’s.
Silva herself was utterly overwhelmed by the experience, and accepted
the trophy with tears in her eyes.
Asked if she was happy to have won, she could manage only one word:
"Yes."