Another set of Filipino acts is aiming to replicate the success of the girl group 4th Impact who made it to the top 5 in the hit reality show The X Factor UK Season 12.
Since the premiere telecast of its 14th Season on Sept. 2, three Filipino acts have already advanced to the next round of competition.
Leading the Pinoy talents that impressed judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger, and Louis Walsh is the boy band JBK composed of Joshua Bulot, Bryan del Rosario, and Kim Lawrenz Ordonio.
The trio, who went directly to the audition hall after their 24-hour flight from Manila, performed a cover of Sam Smith’s debut single “Lay Me Down.”
British entertainment manager Louis Walsh commended the group for their dedication coming to the UK just to showcase their talent and chase their dreams while part Filipino Nicole Scherzinger praised the boys and boosted their confidence for their outstanding audition.
“You are making the Filipinos so proud right now,” former Pussycat Dolls lead member told the band.
The vocal trio’s performance is currently one of the most watched videos on The X Factor UK’s official YouTube channel with half-a-million views as of this writing. In the Philippines, the band’s audition is one of the top trending videos peaking at no. 6 overall on Thursday, three days after the show aired on RTL CBS Entertainment.
JBK started out as an OPM boy band in 2014 and became a social media sensation for its a cappella cover videos of Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, and Malaysian songs. The vocal group released an independent album a year after it won a reality singing search in the same year.
Meanwhile, two more Pinoy talents are moving to the next level of the show. Joining JBK are X Factor UK hopefuls Elysa V. and Gaga Lord who made instant impact on the four judges.
Elysa V., who came all the way from Australia where her family is based, performed a rendition of Fleur East’s 2015 pop hit “Sax” in full energy.
“For you, your mom, dad, everyone back home in Australia, it’s a Yes,” said Scherzinger after Elysa sang.
On the first week of the show, Gaga Lord, made it to the first round of the auditions, when she performed a cover of Shirley Bassey’s “Diamonds are Forever.”
Gaga Lord (her real name) started her performance showcasing her full and brassy voice that immediately brought smiles to the judges’ faces. Cowell raised his hand and stopped the audition.
“Right now, I feel like James Bond,” Cowell said in jest then asked Scherzinger and guest judge Alesha Dixon to dance and pose with Gaga as if they were Bond girls.
The lady judges obliged and Gaga proceeded with her audition showing off her powerful voice while moving along with the two lady judges.
“That was it! We are in our own James Bond movie. That was amazing. You are fantastic. I love you. I absolutely love you,” Cowell furthered.
