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More contestants, small audience at My Star auditions

Hundreds thronged Lobatse for My Star 2015 auditions on Saturday. PIC KABO MPAETONA
 
Hundreds thronged Lobatse for My Star 2015 auditions on Saturday. PIC KABO MPAETONA

Show producer, owner and chief judge, Keabetswe ‘Master Dee’ Sesinyi, also expressed concern at the quality of contestants who turned up.

“I would have wanted to see more youngsters attend these auditions because it would serve as motivation for them to enter next time, but at the same time I have to say I was impressed with the number of contestants going up. This year we had more than 20, but last year they were a lot less,” Sesinyi said.

On the stage, contestants posted invariable performances with a majority offering far less than expected hence the show was characterised by second chances, as the singers could not convince the judges on the first attempt.

Although generally it was a dull affair, there were a few contestants who brought little sparks and melted the audience and the judges’ heart.

One contestant by the name of Emang put up an outstanding performance to emerge a fan favourite earning the praises of the judges with her performance of Hayes Hunter’s Wanted.

Kgomotso could not stop waxing lyrical after the curvy young woman completed the track. It seems she not only exposed the mediocrity that had earlier prevailed throughout the auditions, but she also set the bar too high for all those who came after her.

Coming closest to her, albeit after a second chance, was Loraine who dished out Beyonce’s Ave Maria.  Perhaps learning from the earlier blunder the youngster pulled hard in the second attempt and added a fresher element to her showing with some good moves on stage. Despite struggling with lower keys, another contestant, Wedu also got the judges’ nod.

Emang might have provided the much-needed spark with a good performance but those in attendance will also vividly recall how one of the contestants by the name of Tlotlo created a lot of entertainment at the auditions.

Judges tried every trick to help her salvage something from the show, but all in vain as she clearly could not master even a single key.

The next auditions will be held in Gaborone on January 18, 2015 after following a country tour by the crew to unearth talent in the remotest areas like Shakawe.

“We tried to cover as much ground as possible because we believe there could be a germ hidden somewhere out there. This time we had more venues than before and I believe that will be shown in the kind of talent displayed as the show progresses,” he said.