His Genius Wife Is A Superstar novel Chapter 1653

The new challenger gave a close to perfect performance, at least for an amateur singer. It was still miles apart from Enrique Valdez's timeless excellence, but the poor farmer still managed to embody the song's emotions.

After his performance, the poor farmer was still a little dazed, even as everyone gave him a resounding standing ovation.

The judges also all stood up, even Iris Long, who had extremely high standards.

Master Beauty and the other hosts joined the new challenger onstage and waited with him for the judges' scores.

One by one, the judges scored the new challenger. Both Albert Alcala and Dina Bendita gave perfect 10 scores. Only Iris gave an 8.5, but nobody was surprised, as she gave the lowest scores in the previous new challenger round. Even so, the poor farmer still managed to acquire an average of 9.5 points, which was already very impressive, especially for a new challenger.

"Thank you very much, judges!" The new challenger bowed and waved his hands to the audience before leaving the stage to stay with the hosts at the side.

Finally, Master Beauty called for the reigning champion who would be defending her crown for the seventh day today. The defending champion stood onstage as if she belonged there. Confidence radiated from her. It was something honed from a week of reigning as the daily champion.

Then the band started playing the music.

Iris raised an eyebrow.

Her fellow judges all glanced at her. The Black Stars in the audience gasped.

"Whoa, she has guts, that's for sure!" Dominic exclaimed from behind Iris.

The defending champion raised the microphone to her lips and started singing.

"Caged and chained in a tiny world

Wondering what it's like outside

A little bird imprisoned by love

Dying little by little inside

I want to be free

Free as a bird

But where are my wings

I cannot fly"

All the Black Stars clapped their hands and started singing along. Most of the audience members weren't familiar with the song.

Iris forcefully stopped herself from letting out a sigh of disappointment.

The defending champion was singing "Rebirth", the English version that she sang for the first time during Liberté's grand launch party in Paris, France. Ever since then, she hadn't really paid any attention to it anymore. The English version of "Rebirth" wasn't an official song that she released.

Seeing it being performed at a singing competition in the Philippines, however, was still quite a shock to her. Iris could hear the Black Stars cheering in the audience.

'Hmm, maybe I should release a clean studio version,' she thought. 'Nothing fancy. Just a treat for my fans.'

Despite these thoughts, she immediately focused on judging the performance. The band's cover version didn't have any classical instruments, but they still did a good job.

The defending champion was trying to sing with all her heart.

"From the ashes, I rise like a phoenix

A little bird no more

I spread my wings, so big and wide

Now I am free

Now I can fly

Oh, I can fly up in the sky

While tears flow down my joyful eyes

Up I fly, up I soar

Until I brush against the clouds

I'll stay up here and touch the stars

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