Wanted Final Showcase 1999

Well it would not have been a Stg. GRAP 'Wanted Showcase' if we didn't have any problem at the door. The venue security (Paradiso) halted us and fetched some body of the organisation to check if we were allowed to bring a photo camera in. The security acted as we were some new kids on the block. Any doormen with a decent memory should know us by now, you would think. The day before we even hitted the venue with an extra video crew at the Double Talk festival. But o.k. let the Final Showcase begin!

The four acts who made it through the trial rounds compete at this evening for the first prize. The young talent laid down one song each on the cd single 'Wanted 99'. See for more info CD review.

The evening was packed. The weekly Bassline party hosted the 'Final Showcase'. And a lot of fans from all over Amsterdam were here to party and support their, family/friends or whatever. All the acts showed they are fanatic and hard working youngsters. 'Ebony Impact' won and was indeed the best out of the three acts. First up were 'Trapminds'. Portraying gangsta style images by two MC's with two mics. What messed up the show were four mic standards on stage without a mic. What are you doing with four mic standards alla Boys-2-Men without mics when only two MC's are gonna perform? Trapminds ignored it, sadly they did not put them away. The standards formed a wall between the audience and Trapminds. Can't blame them youngsters. They still did not know all the faults of the game. But the stage crew should have known better. The show and music wasn't impressive. One of the rappers pulled his sweater off, by doing this he hyped up some ladies. And yes he has a great body. Only his timing was less. He did it at the beginning of the show. It would had more impact if he saved the best for last.

Too late for Trapminds, Murt The-Man-O-Script-once-more-the-host noticed the problem and ordered the stage crew to get those standards off stage.

The third act was also a crew: 'Amon'. The only act with a DJ sadly he didn't do much. And when he had 'nothing to do' he laid back and chilled with the hosting DJ's. Yo silly get up and get involved! Altogether it was something in the rough.

'Ebony Impact' played the game well: their music did not contain particular good qualities and stripped down to the main core of 'Ebony', they don't have any impact at all. But their show was hype. Three dancers came up as masked monks carrying some firework. Later the three lovely girls get rid of their monks clothes started shaking what their mums gave them. The whole show was hype. And their friends shouted to raise the roof. Maybe the show was original for the teens, the older cats had nice happy memories. "Yes we did that too, ten years ago." The dancers were not in good harmony with the two rappers. One of the rappers even stood on one of the dancer's hair, so she could not get up. All about "All That Money", the three kept on shaking their money makers and they won.

These contests are made to give young talent a chance. And get them some stage and studio experience. Some times a diamond in the rough comes into the spotlight. With the idea that the best talent would win. But hey, things never go like they should or you would expect to go. The second act of this night was one 22 year old young lady. AQ was so amazed, like many others, by here qualities he knew for sure she would win. And promised her FL 500,- in advertisement space if she didn't win. Only at the start she was backed up by two dancers. After the intro she carried her whole show at her own. First song was the same as the mid tempo oh so RnB 'I Like Your Style'. The second and sadly her last song: 'Sometimes'. She writes all her music and she doesn't need no dancers, hype stuff or anything else. She can carry everything with her qualities as a great songwriter and a great diva in the making. No diamond in the rough, she's already a diamond. You really have to check her out: Juanita.


Interview with Juanita will follow.

Shanice