Coca-Cola Rated Next:3 make it from Arua to Kampala

Apr 11, 2015

Yesterday, three contestants made it through to day 2 of the Coca-Cola rated auditions in Arua. Today, all three have made it to Kampala for the national level.

By Caroline Ariba

Yesterday, three contestants made it through to day 2 of the Coca-Cola rated auditions in Arua.

Today, all three have made it to Kampala for the national level.

First to audition was the curvy Neema Kichonza Angel, who prefers to be called Angel. Her attempt at doing Irene Namubiru's Nkuweki, was shaky as she choked on the words.

2015 Coca-Cola Rated Next Arua finalist, Angel Neema Kichonza singing during Saturday auditions

Luckily, at this level, one could do more than one songs and thus came her chance. She did a
Congolese song from the group Makoma, but Judges Siima Sabiiti, Ken Daniels Kayongo and Esther Nabaasa thought it was still not there.

"I actually thought you were better in the Luganda song," Kayongo said. However, he was not amused that she had forgotten the lyrics and said no to her. But Siima said that Angel wielded star power, and thought that she wanted to sing so bad that money was the least of her priorities.

"In all these three years, I have never met anyone that says that it is not about the money!" she exclaimed. And since she also thought that her voice was good, it was a yes from Siima. So with one yes and a no, Neema's fate was in the hands of Judge Esther, who after several considerations, and promises to do better from Angel, said yes!

Next was Esther Lamono, with a rather confident performance, doing the John Legend hit song All of me. All three judges were impressed.

2015 Coca-Cola Rated Next Arua finalist Esther Lamono, an IT expert singing during Saturday auditions

It left Siima thinking she sounded a bit like Shakira, Ken Daniels thinking she sounded like a country music singer and Esther simply saying; "I enjoyed your performance!" It was yes from all three without a single moment of doubt.

Then the fella who yesterday performed with a guitar was back, only this time round, he had left his guitar behind.

"Yesterday, they said that I might be hiding behind the guitar, so today, I left it behind," he said. He started off with a French song from a singer called Mpoa, but the judges were not impressed. Quickly, Siima chipped in, mumbled some French words to him, and next thing we knew he was singing Ray Signature's Kasenyanku.

"You took a Luganda song and made it sound Lingala, you know; like a Pepe-kale tune…" Ken Daniels said. Esther thought his tone was good, and like Siima and Ken Daniels, she said yes.

It should have been the last audition of the day, but no, there were fellas that insisted they wanted to audition and had gotten the date wrong. Sadly all did not make it, and that was it for the day, or rather for Arua.

A tip for the other regions though; the judges worried there weren't enough preparation in the Arua leg, and that impaired auditions. Next week it is Lira.

2015 Coca-Cola Rated Next judges: Siima Sabiti, Ken Daniels Kayongo and Esther Nabaasa

LIVE BROADCASTS

CRN3 "We are coming for you" will be airing every Sunday 7pm with a replay on Monday at 11am. This however starts next week, April 19.

The 6 LIVE shows kick off in July.

WHO ARE THE THREE JUDGES?

* SIIMA SABITI - Radio personality with classical music background and training

* KEN KAYONGO A.K.A Kenso Daniels - Singer,rapper & founder of R&B group SWAHILI NATION

* Esther Nabbasa - Winner TPF,songwriter too

WHO IS THE SHOW HOST?

* Malaika Nnyanzi - TV personality

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

Sh50 million and a record deal with SWANGZ AVENUE