Blame it on the boogie

In an industry crammed full of wannabe stars and local contest winners hopeful for a big break, what’s an unknown singer to do to get some attention? Send boatloads of demo tapes to any record label around? Efficient but not so effective. Stalk the MTV office in the hopes of catching a VJ unaware and forcing yourself on air? Effective but essentially detrimental to your career. Buy a burger and sit around McDonald’s in the hopes that you’ll be discovered while stuffing your face with deep-fried goodies? Radical, but in this case, the most effective.

McDonald’s and MTV, understanding the public’s shifting attention to all things reality-related, recently put together The Next Big Thing, a search for an R’n’B singer. Much like Star Search, the erstwhile show hosted by Ed McMahon that had so many stage moms lining up, and featured Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child (who went under the group name GirlTyme at the time), except this time the contestants were above the age of consent – The Next Big Thing has all the elements of a good talent search: contestants with great voices and hard-luck backgrounds.

Big Mac To Big Star

Zion Aquino, a 24-year-old with big career ambitions who was having breakfast at the fast-food joint and heard about the contest, quickly gave his demo, hopeful for a good review.

"I joined this contest because I hoped it could be the big break I’d been praying for," explained Abby Vicente, one of the contestants.

Kristine Demeterio, a singer from Cebu, was almost unable to join the show, saying, "I had a cough that kept me from recording my demo. I almost gave up because I thought couldn’t meet the deadline."

Show Off

In a finale show in Market! Market!, after touring several malls and road-testing their performances before hundreds of people, it became clear that these young ‘uns had more talent to spare. From Mariah to Usher, the contestants represented big-name R’n’B hits, even garnering fans along the way. Mitchell Salonga, a contestant with a strong hankering for Marvin Gaye records and fast food, had the most number of fans, complete with screaming girls and large banners that read, "We love you." Even DJ Kim, who spins at Absinthe, considered Mitchell the lead contender, particularly after his rendition of a Boyz II Men mega hit.

But it was Zion (who prefers to go by his first name only, like Madonna), with his smooth moves and smoother vocals, who wowed the judges and won the contest. Performing John Legend’s Ordinary People, dressed in a smart white suit that had suave written all over it, Zion’s act was reminiscent of Justin Timberlake, a favorite artist of his. "I love John Legend," he said of his chosen artist. "He’s full of soul – and full of passion, like a modern Stevie Wonder."

"He delivered the song spectacularly," Richard Francisco, judge and Vicor International label manager said, adding, "And the finale dance clinched it." "Clearly, Zion came out ahead," judge and MTV managing director Jack Madrid said. "He’s got the vocal talent and dancing ability."

Flush from the success of his performance and from the major prizes, which included P250,000 and an iPod Shuffle from McDonald’s, a recording contract with Vicor and an Ericsson k700i phone from Globe Gentxt, Zion was beaming from the stage.

"This is going to change my life," he said, almost speechless, after the show. "I’ve got a recording contract! And I’m performing at Araneta Coliseum!" Life can’t get any better than this.