Certified chart-toppers dominated the Pinoy Idol
scene last week as the remaining seven contestants rendered their own
interpretations of hit songs from the country's biggest OPM bands. The Idol
stage was transformed into a concert arena last week as South Border,
Freestyle, 6Cyclemind, Brownman Revival, Itchyworms, Cueshé, and Pupil mentored
Pinoy Idol's Top 7.
Unlike past gala performances, last week's mentors did not sit alongside judges Ogie Alcasid, Jolina Magdangal, and Wyngard Tracy, but instead stood on the stage's side to witness the performance of their Idol partner.
First up on stage was resident rocker Ram Chaves. Ram was mentored by 6Cyclemind and sang the band's hit song, "Sandalan."
Before kicking off the gala night, 6Cyclemind gave their share of advice to the 25-year-old rocker. "Gawin mo na," they encouraged Ram. "Parang last show na ng buhay mo ‘yun. Bigay mo lahat."
It seemed that the rocker from Cagayan de Oro took their advice to heart, but judge Ogie Alcasid wasn't convinced. "I like the self contained energy that you're doing here," he started. "Parang pinipigil mo na hindi ko maintindihan [pero] honestly, nabitin ako," he continued. "I wanted you to really perform there tonight. But the Ram Chaves tatak nandoon pa rin," he told Ram.
Jolina agreed with Ogie, saying Ram's performance lacked the usual energy that the rocker used to exude. Wyngard, however, liked it. "Tinitignan ko si Chuck Isidro ng 6Cyclemind," he said. "Mukhang bilib na bilib sa'yo at gusto kang i-recommend sa banda. Very good."
Next was Jayann Baustista, who interpreted Itchyworms' "Akin Ka Na Lang." Jayann admitted that the song is one of her favorites from the band, so she chose to interpret it by giving the song a reggae twist. Itchyworms was very impressed with Jayann and only had good words for the 21-year old. "Natuwa kami sa bago mong approach sa kanta namin," they told her prior to the performance.
After her lively take on the rock song, all three judges also showed their approval. "That was very entertaining," said Wyngard. "Ibang version naman ng kanta ng Itchyworms."
Jolina couldn't agree more and added, "Napakita mo diyan na versatile ka, kasi last week soul, tapos ngayon reggae. Very good performance. I like it."
Ogie was also impressed with Jayann's reggae-inspired version. "Iba ka tonight," he observed. "Gusto ko yung nuances nung rasta, nung reggae...na may pagka-jazz. Alam mo, it was very classy," he told Jayann.
Daryl Celis gave a slow ballad interpretation to Pupil's rock song "Nasan Ka." "You really have a great potential to become a singing star," the band told Daryl. The judges apparently had the same opinion as all three of them praised Daryl's performance.
"Pinabilib mo ako ngayong gabi," Jolina happily told the 21-year-old finalist. "Dalang-dala mo yung kanta. Talagang kinilig na naman ako. Umpisa palang ng kanta mo, nakakikilig na," admitted Jolina, referring to Daryl's mellow attack to the song.
"Pupusta ako, ‘pag nirecord mo yan, hit yan," predicted Ogie. Wyngard also showed his approval by saying, "Ang maganda kasi, hindi ka nag-ilusyon na maging si Ely Buendia," he commended. "So, tuloy mo lang ‘yan, sarili mong version. Huwag kang mangongopya para hindi ka maging pirata," he advised. At this point, Ogie interjected, "Daryl, hindi ka na pumipikit. Nakikita na naming yung mata mong napaka-cute."
Twenty-year old Gretchen Espina followed, singing her own interpretation of Brownman Revival's "Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal."
During rehearsals, the band advised Gretchen, "Maniwala ka lang doon sa ginagawa mo. Hanapin mo ung estilo mo."
Although Gretchen gave her all during the performance, the judges appeared to have been dissatisfied. "I will give you an A for effort," Wyngard remarked. "You exerted so much effort sa pag-perform mo, nakakalimutan mo yung pag-kanta mo," he continued. "Masyado kang very conscious about it, so yung kanta mo medyo nag-suffer. [But] it wasn't bad."
Ogie, however, pointed out some good qualities in her performance. "I haven't seen you this comfortable on stage. You were really, really comfortable," he observed. "That was good. You were very sensual, you were relaxed, you were relating to the audience," he commended.
Nevertheless, Ogie admitted his disappointment. "Yung vocals mo nakalimutan mo. Medyo sumasablay ka na kung saan-saan."
Jolina, however, decided to stay on the middle ground. "Okay lang [yung performance]. Hindi masyadong bongga, pero hindi rin masyadong pangit," she said.
Kid Camaya went next with his version of Cueshe's hit song "Stay." The band also had good words to say about Kid. "Mayroon pala siyang tinatago na kaya niya. Kaso siguro naiilang siya, So go beyond your limits. Huwag ka lang pumiyok," they advised.
After being severely criticized for several weeks, 24-year-old Kid was finally able to clinch the three judges' seal of approval. "That was okay. Hindi mo kinopya ang Cueshé," noticed Wyngard. "You did your own version. Although nawawala ka lang ng konti sa pagka-rock, but it was all right."
"Kung kay Wyngard, it was okay, para sa akin, I think it was really, really great," countered Ogie. "Ilang linggo na kitang pinagsasabigan [pero] nakabalik ka na, Kid! I really like those syrupy R&B vocals. It's back, it's really back. And the version was really, really fantastic. Great job!"
Jolina also liked Kid's R&B version. "Tuloy-tuloy lang. Medyo nawawala lang sa tono, pero at least version mo yan. Very good."
25-year-old Warren Antig interpreted South Border's chart-topper "Kahit Kailan," for which the band advised Warren, "Huwag mag-alangan kasi nandoon yung potential, e."
The judges, however, were unconvinced. "I congratulate you for your attempt," Ogie told Warren. "However, I think the attempt was a failure. You were really out of tune," he criticized. "Tama ako sa suspetsa ko, e, mukhang hindi magiging bagay sa'yo yung kanta. I could not hear Warren in that song, I am sorry."
Unlike Ogie, Wyngard was more brutal in pointing out his dislike for the performance. "Parang sinira mo yung song," he frankly told Warren.
"Nung makita kita na ang magiging partner mo ang South Border, na-excite ako kasi naisip ko magkakaroon ng ibang version yung [song]," Jolina pointed out. "Pero hindi ko narinig yung Warren na in-idolize ko nung kumakanta siya ng reggae," she continued, clearly referring to Warren's version of Regine Velasquez's "Urong-Sulong" during the gala performance two weeks ago.
"Medyo hindi maganda yung performance mo ngayong gabi," she remarked.
"Kung baga sa pelikula, ang tawag diyan ay flop," blurted Wyngard.
Last to take the Idol stage was Penelope, singing Freestyle's hit cover song "Weak."
The band was clearly impressed with Penelope and said of her vocal talent, "Asintado sa nota, at magaling yung mga kulot niya. Malinaw. Siguro mas konting puso pa. Mas patagusin pa niya sa tao," they observed.
During the performance, Penelope flavored the song with her impressive vocal stylings—belting out one high note after another. Ogie was amazed with it. "Sabi mo sa interview mo, hindi ka pa nakakaranas ng pain o anuman sa relationship," he told Penelope. "[But] it didn't matter. You really sang that song really well. Napaka-versatile mo talaga. Dito sa R&B swak na swak ka pa rin. Kahit ballad...mag-belt. Nakakatuwa," he admitted.
Jolina, however, felt that Penelope could have shown something more. "Hindi ako na-surprise kasi alam mo kaya mo yung mga ganyang kanta, e. Maganda yung pagkagawa mo. I think it's very good also. Pero hindi ako masyadong ne-excite kasi linya mo yan eh," she told the youngest contestant. "Nag-expect ako ng something na mas iba."
Wyngard agreed with Jolina by saying, "Maganda mong kinanta, pero nakukulangan ako sa soul sa pagkanta. Because probably you're only 16 kaya ganun. We're not taking it against you. Talang ganun. Siguro in a couple of years, mas makakanta mo yan ng saksakan ng ganda."
By the end of the night, only Jayann and Daryl were able to fully impress the judges "kasi silang dalawa inangkin nila yung kanta," Ogie reasoned. "Yung iba, it's almost as if they were aping the original."
The results night put Kid Camaya, Warren Antig, and Penelope at the Bottom 3, with Penelope saying goodbye to the Idol hopefuls in the end.
Next week, Pinoy Idol takes on a big turn as they have their biggest elimination round yet. Pinoy music legend Basil Valdes will mentor the remaining six finalists—Ram Chaves, Warren Antig, Gretchen Espina, Kid Camaya, Daryl Celis, and Jayann Bautista.
Watch another exhilarating performance next week—Saturday for the performances and on Sunday for the results—as Pinoy Idol continues on GMA-7.