His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1650: Call of the Spotlight (Part III)
Previously on His Genius Wife Is A Superstar...
"Sing this specific section for me," Iris Long commanded the second participant.
The woman complied immediately before Iris signaled for her to pause.
"Try executing it this way instead," Iris suggested, before demonstrating by raising her pitch half an octave.
The contestant mirrored her perfectly.
Iris gave a small nod, whispering, "Not bad."
She kept guiding the female singer, pushing her to climb another half octave higher. Within two minutes, the contestant finally achieved a stable tone that no longer sounded strained or forced.
"Very good," Iris remarked, a pleased smile appearing on her face.
The woman's eyes began to glow. She gazed at Iris as if she were a magical being capable of granting her deepest desires.
"Thank you, Ma’am Iris!"
With a light chuckle, Iris stood up and made her way back to the judges' station. Both Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita were watching her with expressions of pure amazement.
"In just three minutes, you transformed her from an amateur into an artist ready for a recording studio!" Albert cried out.
"She possessed the talent already," Iris replied. "I merely guided her in applying the correct techniques that suit her voice."
"That was a true master class," Dina whispered, still appearing a bit dazed by the sudden vocal coaching session Iris Long had provided.
Master Beauty and the co-hosts showered the female contestant with praise and chatted for a moment before the final participant of the day was introduced.
The third hopeful was a man. He hailed from a remote, mountainous province where he worked as a farmer. As the eldest son in a large family headed by a widowed mother, they struggled immensely to survive. His physical appearance reflected their poverty; he was so thin he looked practically skeletal from malnutrition.
Upon reading his background details, Iris’s eyes widened in shock. "What?! Is he really only twenty-one years old?!"
Dina looked equally stunned but kept her thoughts to herself, merely letting out a sigh. However, her gaze softened with deep pity as she observed the man.
Iris was about to say more, but Dom gave her a discreet poke in the back as a silent caution. She often lacked a filter and spoke her mind without hesitation. Back in her home country, her bluntness was accepted by fans and the industry alike. Here, however, she was a guest in a foreign land. Because of Dom’s quick intervention, she stopped herself before uttering something that might have accidentally insulted the Filipino audience.
Just as she gave Dom a silent nod of gratitude, Master Beauty let out a dramatic shout.
"Huh?! You’re only twenty-one?! You look like you’re in your forties or even your fifties! You actually look older than Sir Albert!"
Albert Alcala winced at the comparison while Dina Bendita simply shook her head.
Iris started to feel anxious and sorry for the man. Suddenly, the entire audience erupted in laughter.
"Huh?" Iris blinked, looking around to see that everyone found Master Beauty’s remarks hilarious, except for the judges.
She then witnessed how a professional comedian—or rather, "comedienne"—expertly turned potentially cruel words into a moment of shared comedy.
"Wow, that is a talent I simply don't possess," Iris murmured to herself. "And I don't think I'd want to have it, either."
Dina reached over and gave Iris’s hand a comforting pat.
Iris had to admit that Master Beauty was skilled. The host addressed the elephant in the room directly, pointing out the obvious while ensuring it remained lighthearted.
Even the farmer, who had the most reason to be offended, was laughing so hard that he clutched his stomach.
"Huh." Iris found this specific brand of humor difficult to grasp.
Regardless, Master Beauty’s tactics successfully lightened the mood. The tragic story of the impoverished farmer didn't leave the viewers feeling depressed. After all, "Ready, Set, Lunch Party" was designed to be a vibrant noon-time variety show, not a somber drama.
Iris pushed the thought aside. As long as the person being joked about—the contestant—wasn't hurt, then it was acceptable.
Eventually, the strange moment passed, and the third contestant began his song.
The moment the music started, Iris’s eyes brightened. It was a famous English track she knew intimately. The song had been a massive hit for her music mentor, Enrique Valdez, and his band years ago.
The melody was iconic, and the high notes were even more legendary.
It was considered one of the most technically demanding songs in modern music. Dom had mentioned, however, that it was a staple for Filipinos at karaoke gatherings.
Iris turned serious, focusing entirely on the performance. Internally, she respected the man's courage for choosing to sing an Enrique Valdez song right in front of her.
The male singer had a very distinct vocal quality. It was gritty yet possessed a certain clarity. He managed the high notes, though his transitions weren't as fluid as the original version.
When he finished, nearly the entire room stood up to cheer. Among the judges, only Dina Bendita rose. Iris Long and Albert Alcala stayed in their seats, though they joined in the applause.
Standing behind Iris, Dom couldn't resist getting up either. The man had actually sounded fantastic!
Master Beauty and the other hosts worked to fire up the crowd even further. It was obvious they were all impressed by the third performance.
"Now, let’s hear the feedback from our judges," Master Beauty announced.
This time, Iris Long took the lead.
"This song is among the most technically difficult to perform," she stated. "My mentor, Enrique Valdez, composed this at the peak of his band's fame. It is a legendary piece. In my view, there hasn't been a single cover—recorded or live—that has done it justice. That includes yours."
Master Beauty began whispering the translation to the contestant, whose face immediately fell. The audience watched him, fearing his dreams were being crushed.
Albert Alcala tried to step in and soften the blow, but Dina Bendita cut him off with a sharp, warning glance.