Gang Starz goes highlife

The excitement, disappointments and cheers of most singing competitions were on display last Sunday on TV3’s Gang Starz when all 12 groups treated studio audience and viewers to cover versions of highlife and hiplife songs by some popular Ghanaian artistes.

Some groups were ready to soar while others taxied behind.

The Afro group brought back the fever and stir that Nkasei’s Tuobodom caused when it was released in 2005.

They left a lasting impression on the minds of all who watched the show. Judge Jackie said they brought art and expression to the stage through their costume and stagecraft.

Inspite of their names, Sparx and Flames failed to ignite the fire in the audience. They were not impressive with their vocals.

The two groups could not set the house ablaze when they performed Ofori Amponsah’s Emmanuella and Kwabena Kwabena’s Aso respectively.

2Hot were also caught in the same net after they sang KK Fosu’s No-1. Jackie said they did not match up to their name.

Natives were obviously the peoples’ choice judging from the cheers in the crowd as they appeared on stage. They put up an impressive performance with co-ordinated vocals.

They went far to impress all three judges when they did Gyegye Me So by Ewuresi featuring OD4.

G Girls started off well with Rex Omar’s Dadadida but were at sea with the song’s lyrics.

The looks on their own faces at the end of their performance said it all that they had put up a terrible performance.

For LS3, perhaps the song they chose, Yopoo by Mzbel, gave them the chance to merit some cheers from the crowd.

They performed as if they had been engulfed by fear and shyness. Judge BB did not pass any comments because he did not know where to put the blame - whether on the sound engineers or the girls but for Jackie and David they did just fine.

Pipers did quite well with Praye’s I And My Shoddy and had fair comments from the judges.

Certainly, 1Accord must put in more effort vocally as well as finding ways of winning the hearts of their audience.

For David and Jackie their performance of Wutah’s Esikyere was impressive but not for BB.

Da Soul’s performance of 5Five’s African Girls was described by Jackie as creamy and this cannot be disputed as they got their act together in style with the judges not having much to say.

Undoubtedly, Blaze’s performance can be tagged the best for the night. They made their mark and refreshed the stage with their outstanding performance of Daddy Lumba’s Obi Ato Me So Buor Remix featuring Okyeame Kwame.

BB was amazed at their performance and said Daddy Lumba would be proud of them.