Music for this chapter: Knockin' on Heavens Door by Raign (cover)
The Prove Yourself Performances are important and it's where everyone goes all out and shows off. Damon and I decided not to do that. I am once again sitting on a stool, this time in a pair of ripped jeans and a Bob Dylan band tee, my hair is braided in a French braid and I'm singing my heart out. I've got the microphone gripped in both hands as I sing my favorite Bob Dylan song.
"Mama take this badge from me, I can't use it anymore. It's getting dark, too dark to see. I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door." The tempo is slow and steady at first before rising in intensity. "Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door.
"Mama put my guns in the ground, I can't shoot them anymore. That cold black cloud is comin' around and I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door." For a song with eighty percent of the same words, the song is full of depth and allows me to slow it down and still show off the progress I've made- or so Damon says. I trust him and when he says sing- I sing. "Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Feels like I am knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Feels like I am knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door. Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door." I finish the song with a smile and wait patiently for Ben to join me on stage.
"Let's start with Uriah," Ben says, sidling up next to me and getting down to it as my performance was rather long, clocking in at over four minutes because of the frequent instrumentals.
"London, watching you grow is seriously like watching one of those time lapse videos of a flower blooming. Every week, you show another facet to your talent, and when I think you can't possibly do something different, you prove me wrong. Singing songs by the greats is always a risky move, but you take the risk and show it who's boss. Good job, London." I smile and thank him.
"Sera?" Ben says and she is frowning which worries me.
"I'm going to be honest, London. I didn't like the song choice at all. You sang well, but your performance was lacking the depth you usually show." I bite my lip at the disappointment, and nod.
"You're wrong," Caroline says, startling me. My attention turns to the blonde celebrity and her eyes are blazing. Uh oh. Seraphina is about to get it. "London has proven time and time again that she can bring a crowd to its knees with her vocals and her ability to perform. Damon's strategy here was brilliant. This relaxed, laid back performance, a nod to her second Live Show, was intended to show you all how far she's come. We do the PYPs for contestants to prove themselves. But London has nothing to prove. She's already proven all she needs to prove." Cheers come up from the audience and Ben turns to Damon. He grins.
"I agree with Caroline. London shocked us all with her audition, such a powerful angelic voice coming from such a small girl. But every time I think, Okay. That's it. We've seen it all. London goes and does something new. PYPs may be important for most of our contestants, but London earned her place in the top four with her fourth Cat Week performance. These next few performances are just stepping stones for her." Caroline beams and raises her hand for a high five. The two friends and co judges high five and Ben goes into the spiel about how to vote for me as I take my cue to leave the stage.
I'm not going to lie. One of the highlights of my entire experience on Rising Star is watching the Masked Charade girls get eliminated the next day. The shock on their petty faces makes my day. I pass the trio on my way to call Nadia to give her the good news and can't resist a scathing comment.
"I guess you were right, America knows when to take out the trash after all." I throw their words back at them and keep walking. Not staying back to waste any more time on them. I should've kept my mouth shut though.
**
In a shocking turn of events, a popular girl group was eliminated from Rising Star last night. The three sisters have been performing together for years and decided it was their year to win Rising Star. Unfortunately, the Masked Charade sisters' act was up. In a Twitter poll that has been trending for thirteen days now people are voting on who they think is going to win the season of the internationally popular singing competition. London Trellis, rumored to be secretly engaged to judge Damon Keller, is the number one vote. Following the nineteen year old is Paul Waleski and in third place is rock band Taking Flight.
Lead singer of The Masked Charade, Emme Colton, came forward with a ballsy claim, stating that "It's hard to win a competition when the judges are biased and have already chosen a winner."
So far, no comment has been made from Rising Star representatives, but as soon as the drama unfolds, we'll report on it!
Hot Goss Blog Post, October 23, 2021
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Fun fact: in the third version of this book, there are like four chapters in which the Masked Charade sisters are extra awful to those around them. But when I was doing the rewrite and then the final copy, I decided they weren't as important as I made them out to be. But then, bullies rarely are.
I would love to hear your thoughts. As always, please keep any feedback constructive. Rude or negative comments will not be appreciated.
Happy Reading!
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London Rising (Wild Hearts Book 1)
Tiểu Thuyết ChungLondon Trellis is 19 years old and a contestant on Rising Star, a national singing competition. Originally from a small town in Indiana, London is spending the next few months filming the show in sunny California. Follow along as she discovers who s...