Ask any Ugandan TV producer what they fear most, and many will confess that it’s a live show. But trust Urban TV when it comes to testing the depth of the waters with both legs. As it did happen, yours truly was part of the live audience at Urban TV’s Coca-cola rated next which took place at National Theatre.
Overtime, my bullsh*t detector has reached an all-time high, I will always be on the lookout for bullsh*t in form of plastic acts, usually displayed by emcees and show hosts. So when Mosh Danzel hit the stage, for his first live show, my bullsh*t radar was all-over the place waiting to drop the bombs. Call it a reality distortion, call it the Mosh matrix or better still, the Cocacola soda I was drinking, I couldn’t spot any single flaw.
Mosh came off so naturally, so comical and so entertaining. He displayed this great connection with the audience and the entertaining oneness of him and the audience was one only expected of great hosts. Was he artificial? Never for a second. Except for a few moments when he lost a word or two, for moments when his microphone played kittywompus, he literally made the show.
Speaking of people who made the show, this young girl, sorry, this dude named Charles. I am literally staking my money on him. When he sang, I felt the urge to give him a standing ovation, other moments, I felt like he was some professional musician camouflaging among the babies.
But of course, we also had the crowd favourites like Sharifa. I keep wondering why people love people with Karaoke genes? All the same, she went home at the end of the day and so did Nabuuma and Apio.
And like the judges said, it was wrong song choice for many. For example, “Aliba Waani” was too big a song for Grace’s age. I highly think, she ought to go home next week, after-all school is soon resuming for the 14 year old. Then we had Hudson choosing to pick Nakudata by Radio and Weasel. Bogus song choice. You don’t pick a song that was done by one of the most popular, most talented artistes in the country and slaughter it without mercy. So on probation this week, we have Pages, Grace and Hudson. For goodness sake, someone send Grace and Pages home.
For the ladies, Eseri paid up with nice legs for what she lacked in vocals. The artful dodger Joshua chose to do a song by one of the judges, Benon’s “I know” song and he swept the judges off their chairs.
But the most entertaining person was Mosha, dude pulled off some strokes that spoke volumes about his private life. Denzel must watch out, this dude is seriously serious being serious at seriously stealing the show.
We had a few jeers for a few vulgar fans, but beyond that, it was a very lively audience, very disciplined. And very natural, unlike most events where fans are so plastic right from the smiles to the cheers.
When everything was said and done, the Host said; ‘end’ and we were like; ‘eh’. Then he was like; ‘go’ and we were like, ‘that early’ and everyone did twaaaa and off we joined the salsa classes that take place just nearby to cover up for a show that was so nice, and ended without our notice, sometimes, for things so good, for things that stop you dreaming, they end so fast, they end so quick, just like the men who ‘come’ so early. Fantastic show, great organization, look forward to the next Sunday.
Ian Ortega.