"I have a younger brother with whom I have this sibling rivalry. He auditioned in Ghana and qualified. I am here basically because he has been rubbing it in my face and boasting about it; I am motivated to achieve the same thing".
These were the opening words by 27-year-old Klause Uche Umeh, a major highlight of episode six of Nigeria X Factor singing reality show sponsored by Globacom. Speaking backstage before his audition, the Anambra state-born singer promised that he would out-perform his brother. "I will put up a very emotive and heartrending performance and the judges will have no option than to give me three "yeses" not two, I want three", he confidently declared. And this was exactly what Klause did. He rendered Adele's "Skyfall" so smoothly that the judges gave him three "Yeses". A highly impressed M.I. said, "Wow! This is what the show is about, you got the X Factor", while Reggie Rockstone gushed: Amazing! Amazing grace! It is a 'yes' for me". For Onyeka Onwenu, Klause nailed the song. "What a voice! You are truly a performer. And mine is the cherry on the top. It is a big "Yes" for me", she complimented. Talking to X Factor show presenter, Toolz, after he got the passage to the next round, Klause stated, "It is so fulfilling, now my brother and I can really battle it out". Another performance that got the three judges saying 'Yes' was that of the group "SmoothBoiz" led by 25-year-old Victor who lost one of his legs when a lorry ran over it a few years ago. Singing "Little Boy" by Paul Simon, the group got a standing ovation from the audience and left the judges momentarily speechless. Despite arousing much sympathy and emotions from the judges and audience, 21-year-old visually impaired Mary Musa Owoyemi could not get into the next round. She earned compliments from the judges for her beauty and spirit and for being an inspiration to other physically challenged people. But her rendition of Mariah Carey's "I will be there" could not see her through as only M.I. gave her "an absolute yes from me". For Rockstone and Onyeka, she needed to work more on her singing.
National Mirror