Tag: Project Fame

ll 16 contestants in the ongoing Project Fame music reality show have been berated by the judges for what they described as low performance.

Clearly, past performers on the show had taken the bar higher, and the three judges; Bibie Brew, Ade Bantu and TY-Mix, who are being returned for the 7th edition spared no words in chiding the new contestants, even though it was their first appearance.

The judges used words such as ‘cold’, ‘flat’ and ‘average’ to described their performances. Advising them to work harder, music producer, TY-Mix, said that the competition is in full swing already, and that the contestant must bear that in mind.

He however went soft on Flourish who rendered Whitney Houston’s I didn’t Know My Own Strength, saying she did better than the rest.

But one man who thought the contestants were still trying to adjust to the Project Fame Academy was Nollywood actor, Joseph Benjamin, co-host of the show. The ebullient star was sure that the contestants will perform better the next time, having received their first baptism of fire.

Benjamin is emceeing the show alongside new host Olukanni Bolanle, who was elegantly dressed and spoke impeccable grammar.

The audience, who hardly knew the difference, thoroughly enjoyed themselves, basking in the euphoria of great love and inspirational songs of yesteryear.

Looking dashing, Ogechi was applauded when she rendered When You Believe, originally sang by Mariah Carey – So was Shola, who roused everyone within earshot – the song, I Believe I Can Fly, seemed to have been one of his favourite – save for some flat notes here and there.

There was also Jeffrey, who rendered Michael Jackson’s Heal the Word ; Lamey who did Hero by Mariah Carey and David who performed Heal Me by Michael Bolton.

The audience also became emotional when Christian performed When a Man Loves a Woman and Ricky, Jennifer Hudson’s If This Is Love.

Other contestants such as Ugo, Kofo, Taiwo, Debby and others also thrilled the audience their best way.

Reigning star of the MTN Project Fame reality show Olawale Ojo has begun life as a commercial artiste. He has released his debut single, titled: Is Notin.

Since he emerged winner in the last season of the West African talent hunt show, the pop artiste has spent the last three months evolving his sound and honing his craft.

The new song, which was aired on leading radio stations across the country last Wednesday, was produced by DJ Klem.

Ojo’s sweet voice and infectious flow was accentuated by DJ Klem’s uptempo musical milieu.

Birthing an unusual blend of R&B, pop and fuji, Ojo, in collaboration with DJ Klem, unearthed an exciting new musical direction bound to leave audiences and critics spellbound and captivated.

A final-year student of Agronomy at the Ladoke Akintola University, Ojo is the musical director of the university’s church choir.

He draws his influences from the like of Tiwa Savage, Bruno Mars, Neyo, J. Moss and Deitrick Haddon.

As the sixth winner of the prestigious MTN Project Fame talent show, he has now joined Iyanya, Chidinma, Monica Ogah and Ayoola.

THERE was wild jubilation among friends, fans and family members who had thronged the venue of the MTN Project Fame’s grand finale, in Lekki, to cheer Olawale Ojo to victory. Even his father, Mr. Jacob Ojo appeared stunned by the success of his diminutive son, having tried, repeatedly, to discourage him from taking to music. One could tell, that Olawale himself could not believe he had edged out others and is about to be crowned ‘king’ over them, including those, whose musical prowess he had respected on camp.

But the decision had been taken by fans of the MTN-sponsored Project Fame West Africa music reality show who voted for their preferred candidates among the ‘Sensation Six’, as this year’ finalists were called.

With just the collating company, Alexander Forbes armed with the result, the last ceremony continued Saturday night at the Ultima Studio, Lekki, Lagos, as the contestants graced the stage, singing their last songs, each, just to entertain the studio guests.

Amidst the tension and anxiety that pervaded the studio, the last shot at music, by the 400level Agronomy Student of Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, was a near-perfect rendition of Asa’s Beautiful. He had sung it half-way when he delved into the Fuji genre, not losing focus of the theme of the song. He sang his mother’s praise in a high tempo fuji beat and slide back smoothly, to Asa’s slow and sonorous tune as he wrapped up the performance that got the audience clapping and cheering excitedly.

Even though he is more at home with the Jazz genre, perhaps his versatility was what endeared fans to him, gathering the highest number of votes that upstaged other five finalists.

Before then, he had survived the intrigues and suspense engendered by ten weeks of intense competition involving him and the other 17 contestants, who were admitted into the academy, in August. His uniqueness, right from the first performance, was evident such that one of the show’s judges, TY Mix, admitted that the young man always made whatever song he rendered sound better.

The highlights of his stay in the academy were his flawless rendition of Asa’s ‘Beautiful’ and collaboration with Tiwa Savage. He swiftly wormed his way into the hearts of millions of students and the teeming West African audience who daily took to the social media like Twitter and Facebook, to register their admiration for him. Even across the globe, during the finalists’ interaction with the audience on google+, parents and kids still heaped praises on the young man.

‘The Pimp’, as he is fondly called by friends, won for himself, N5m cash prize, a brand new Toyota SUV and a recording contract that is worth millions of naira for his effort in the competition . He becomes the sixth winner of the popular TV show, joining past winners Iyanya, Myke, Chidinma, Monica and Ayo.

Immaculate Patience, the 22-year-old belle from Benue State, was named first runner-up, winning a cash prize of N3m and a car, while Margaret Cephas, a Liberian and the only Non-Nigerian to make it to the top six came 3rd place, winning N2m and a car.

Niniola Apata and Omolayo Babawale, received N2m and N1m respectively for comining fourth and fifth positions, while Roland Ricketts went home with N500, 000 for being number six in the competition.

The show kicked off in June 2013 with a Project Fame tour held in three cities Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos.