His Genius Wife Is A Superstar Chapter 1653: Call of the Spotlight (Part VI)

The latest challenger delivered a performance that approached perfection, at least by amateur standards. While it remained worlds apart from the eternal brilliance of Enrique Valdez, the humble farmer successfully channeled the core emotions of the piece.

A thunderous standing ovation followed his performance, leaving the poor farmer appearing somewhat dazed by the reception.

Every judge rose to their feet, including Iris Long, despite her notoriously stringent criteria.

Master Beauty and the co-hosts walked onto the stage to join the challenger, standing by his side as they awaited the panel's verdict.

One after another, the scores were revealed. Perfect 10s were awarded by both Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita. Iris was the outlier with an 8.5, though her score didn't shock anyone since she had been the toughest grader in the earlier rounds. Regardless, the farmer secured a 9.5 average—a highly impressive feat for any newcomer.

“Thank you very much, judges!” Bowing and waving to the crowd, the challenger exited the main stage to wait with the hosts on the sidelines.

The moment finally arrived for Master Beauty to introduce the reigning champion, who was fighting to defend her title for the seventh consecutive day. She stepped onto the stage with an air of absolute belonging, radiating a level of confidence that only a week-long winning streak could forge.

The band struck the first chords of the melody.

Iris’s eyebrow shot up in surprise.

The other judges turned to look at her immediately. In the stands, the Black Stars let out collective gasps.

“Whoa, she definitely has guts!” Dominic whispered from his spot behind Iris.

Bringing the microphone to her mouth, the defending champion began the opening verses.

“Caged and chained in a tiny worldWondering what it's like outsideA little bird imprisoned by loveDying little by little insideI want to be freeFree as a birdBut where are my wingsI cannot fly”

The Black Stars joined in, clapping and singing along, though the majority of the audience seemed unfamiliar with the track.

Iris had to exert great effort to suppress a disappointed sigh.

The champion was performing "Rebirth," specifically the English rendition Iris had premiered during the Liberté grand launch in Paris. Since that event, Iris hadn't revisited the version, as it wasn't an official release.

Seeing it performed at a singing contest in the Philippines caught her off guard. She could hear the enthusiastic cheers of the Black Stars echoing through the venue.

‘Maybe I ought to record a clean studio version,’ she mused. ‘Nothing too elaborate, just a gift for my fans.’

Pushing those thoughts aside, she refocused her attention on evaluating the act. Although the band’s arrangement lacked classical instrumentation, they performed well enough.

The champion poured her entire soul into the lyrics.

“From the ashes, I rise like a phoenixA little bird no moreI spread my wings, so big and wideNow I am freeNow I can flyOh, I can fly up in the skyWhile tears flow down my joyful eyesUp I fly, up I soarUntil I brush against the cloudsI'll stay up here and touch the starsI'll reach as high that I can”

Within Iris Long’s entire repertoire, this song contained some of the most difficult high notes. It demanded not just raw power, but sophisticated modulation.

“Oh, dear,” Dina Bendita whispered softly to Iris.

“I can’t look,” Dominic added from behind.

By attempting to mimic Iris Long’s original vocal delivery, the defending champion faltered. Her voice strained visibly, her face contorting as if she were in physical pain.

This time, Iris couldn't hold back a sigh.

She was well aware that her original performance was nearly impossible to copy.

In truth, she had designed it that way; it was her personal legacy. She never composed music just to fill a tracklist. Every piece she wrote was meticulously refined until it reached her standard of perfection.

To her, mediocre work was the mark of the lazy.

Even if a singer managed to replicate the technical aspects of "Rebirth," the raw emotion remained untouchable. The song chronicled her own mystical rebirth—an experience unique to her alone.

Despite the obvious strain, the champion forced herself to see the performance through to the end.

The Black Stars offered loud applause. Their faces showed they knew the performance was flawed, but they cheered out of respect and good sportsmanship.

Teetering on the edge of tears, the defending champion realized her performance had fallen short today.

Master Beauty and the hosts returned to the center stage, their expressions filled with sympathy.

“Now, let’s hear the panel’s thoughts,” Master Beauty announced.

Dina Bendita spoke first. “I think you already know how today went.” She sighed gently. “I just want to say that no matter the outcome, you possess star quality. Keep believing in yourself.”

She kept her remarks brief and avoided harsh criticism.

Albert Alcala followed. “I understand you wanted to showcase your talent to the original artist today. I admire your courage, but choosing this song was a major blunder. This piece is incredibly demanding. It’s packed with high notes and intricate runs. It is not something you attempt in a competition with only a few days of prep. I hope you avoid this kind of rookie error in the future.

“If you want a career in this business, you must practice until you are sick of the song. Only then can you deliver a polished set, especially with difficult material.

“Think of a concert. People pay good money to see you, and if you haven't practiced enough, they will be rightfully upset. Don't let arrogance make you think talent is enough. Hard work is vital. My wife, Virginia, is a legend, yet she still rehearses like her life depends on it before every show, regardless of the venue.

“I can’t say you were great today because you weren't, but I do respect your bravery. Singing a song right in front of the original artist is a massive challenge.”

The champion nodded through her tears. “Thank you, Sir Albert.”

Finally, it was Iris Long’s turn to speak.

“I was quite startled when you chose ‘Rebirth’,” she began. “Thank you for the gesture.”

The defending champion lowered her head.

Iris continued with a nod. “This song is deeply personal to me. It was the title track of my comeback album following my accident.”

“Boss Iris, we love you!!!”

The local Black Stars roared their support. As dedicated fans, they knew the full history of the crash that nearly took her life and left her in a long coma.

Iris blew them a kiss in appreciation before turning her focus back to the contestant.

“Like Mr. Albert, I respect your guts. You sang my song to my face—and not just as the singer, but as the songwriter. I know every inch of ‘Rebirth.’

“Because I wrote it, I know exactly how punishing it is. My critique would be less severe if you had rearranged it into a unique style of your own. Had you done that, we might have been more impressed.

“Trying to copy my version with minimal rehearsal was a mistake. I had to practice my own song extensively before recording it. Even then, it took my producer, JJ, and me a long time to get the perfect take. Let that be your lesson: rehearsal is everything for a performer.

“As many know, I prefer being specific, so let’s break it down. Your high notes were extremely strained, which is dangerous. You’ll ruin your vocal cords if you continue like that. You are singing nearly two octaves above your comfortable range. You can expand your range, but only with a proper teacher and correct technique.

“Furthermore, your runs were unfortunately choppy, which hurt the performance. Your voice is built for power, not necessarily modulation. My advice is to play to your strengths—power belting—especially when time is short.”

Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita both nodded in agreement with her technical breakdown.

“But don’t lose heart,” Iris added. “I genuinely like the quality of your voice. It has massive potential. With the right training and technique, you’ll be able to move beyond belting. It wasn't the best showing today, but it was still a commendable effort.”