CypherSounds
'Well, I'll be damned,' he thought, grudgingly impressed.
'Compared to the clowns we had at BMG, these girls can actually hold a note.'
He noticed the telltale signs of auto-tune, but it was used with a deft touch, enhancing rather than overwhelming their voices.
As the performance continued, Brandon's mind drifted to the K-pop groups he remembered from Earth.
The similarities were striking, but the differences were equally apparent.
'The beat,' he mused, 'it's catchy, sure, but it's kindergarten stuff, but i guess that's the bar in this world huh...'
He tapped his foot unconsciously, recognizing the simplicity of the rhythm.
'Any decent producer could whip this up in their sleep.'
His gaze shifted to the choreography. The girls moved with precision, their bodies in perfect sync.
'Decent,' Brandon admitted to himself.
'But it's nowhere near the level of complexity I've seen before. These moves wouldn't cut it in a K-pop trainee showcase.'
As the chorus repeated for what felt like the hundredth time, Brandon couldn't help but cringe internally at the lyrics.
'Four lines on repeat,' he thought, shaking his head slightly.
'Is this really what passes for songwriting here?'
Despite his criticisms, Brandon had to admit that the overall package was polished.
'There's a reason Sinclair Records is on top now huh…' Brandon smirked, 'Devon's in trouble.'
Back on stage the WoW! girls struck their final poses, bodies contorted in provocative stances as they belted out a final "Wow wow wow!"
Strobe lights flashed frantically, and a shower of glitter rained down on the stage. The crowd erupted in cheers, with men whistling and shouting catcalls.
The Master of Ceremony sauntered back onto the stage, his smile wide and artificial.
"Well, wasn't that something? Now, let's hear from our esteemed judges!"
Headmaster Alaric fumbled with a handkerchief, wiping drool from the corner of his mouth. His eyes twinkled mischievously as he leaned into the microphone.
"My, my! What a delightful performance. Such energy, such... vivaciousness! It certainly woke me up!"
He chuckled, his lecherous grin at odds with his grandfatherly appearance.
Director Annabelle cleared her throat, her expression stern.
"Their stage presence was commendable, I'll give them that. However, those four lines repeated ad nauseam started to grate on my nerves. Overall, decent, but room for improvement."
Gerard Sinclair leapt to his feet, applauding vigorously.
"Bravo! Bravissimo! This, ladies and gentlemen, is the epitome of great music!"
He gestured expansively towards the stage.
"The choreography, the vocals, the sheer spectacle – perfection in every aspect!"
Gerald smirked. "I daresay there's no point in even watching the next performance. We've already seen the pinnacle of artistry tonight."
The representatives of the music critics took their turn to comment on WoW!'s performance. A middle-aged woman with striking red hair leaned into her microphone.
"Once again, WoW! has proven why they've been dominating the charts for the past six months," she said, her voice carrying a note of admiration.
"Their ability to consistently deliver catchy hooks and memorable performances is unparalleled in today's music scene."
An older man with thick-rimmed glasses nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, their latest single 'Wow Wow Wow' has been sitting at number one for three weeks straight. It's clear they've tapped into something that resonates with the public."
As the critics finished their glowing reviews, the Master of Ceremony strode back onto the stage, his face beaming with enthusiasm. He turned to face the camera, his voice booming through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what a spectacular performance we've just witnessed! WoW! has once again shown us why they're at the top of their game. The judges' feedback speaks for itself - these girls are on fire!"
He paused for dramatic effect, letting the excitement in the room build.
"But the night is young, and we have more talent to showcase! Let's not forget, this is a competition after all. So, without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to their opponent."
The Master of Ceremony swept his arm towards the opposite side of the stage, his voice rising with anticipation.
"Please, put your hands together for Dev from Cypher Sounds!"
The crowd erupted into applause, a mix of curiosity and excitement filling the air as they waited for Dev to take the stage.
As the applause died down, Dev stepped onto the stage. The contrast with WoW!'s glitzy performance was stark.
No backup dancers, no flashy costumes, just Dev in a simple hoodie and jeans, gripping a microphone.
The beat kicked in, a stripped-down rhythm that felt raw and unpolished compared to the polished pop that came before. Dev closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began to rap.
"Lost my pops when I was just a kid,
Barely old enough to understand why he did what he did,
Left a void in my life, a gap in my soul,
Loneliness creepin', no love no control."
His voice was rough, untrained, but there was an undeniable passion in his delivery. Dev's body swayed with the rhythm, his free hand gesturing to emphasize his words.
"Empty chair at the table, silence in the hall,
Echoes of his laughter, I can still hear 'em all,
But now it's just me, I'm tryna stay strong,
But the nights get cold, and the days feel long."
As he continued, Dev's confidence grew. His eyes scanned the audience, making contact with individuals, drawing them into his story.
Feelin' all alone, tryna find my way,
In a world so big, where the shadows stay,
Missin' my old man, wishin' he could see,
The man I became, and the man I could be.
The simplicity of the performance allowed Dev's lyrics to take center stage. There were no distractions, just raw emotion and truth pouring out through his words.
As Dev reached the final verses of his song, his voice cracked slightly, the emotion of the moment overwhelming him.
But he pushed through, finishing strong.