MANILA -- ABS-CBN Studios’ celebrity musical impersonation competition "Your Face Sounds Familiar"returned over the weekend.
The amazing transformations kicked off with the brand new season's hosts Vhong Navarro and Jhong Hilario transforming themselves as Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, respectively. AC Soriano, Krystal Brimner and Vivoree Esclito are new "Your Face Sounds Familiar" online hosts.
On Saturday, the exciting live performances from the celebrity contestants started with the help and guidance of celebrity mentors Klarisse de Guzman (for voice) and Nyoy Volante (for performance).
OPM icons Sharon Cuneta, Gary Valenciano, and Ogie Alcasid also returned as jurors.
Every week, the celebrity performers will transform or impersonate a local or international music icons. After each performance, members of the jury will rank and give points to the performers -- from 1 to 8 points, with 8 being the highest. Each celebrity performer will also give three points to co-performer of their choice. The performer who will get the highest accumulated point will be announced as the weekly winner and will win P50,000. Their points will accumulate weekly until they face off in the grand finals.
For the first episode of the show last Saturday, Gen-Z Totalb Performer Alexa Ilacad was first to transform, successfully impersonating her idol Chappell Roan on "Pink Pony Club."
"Sobrang excited and sobrang grabe rin ang kaba kapag favorite artist mo kasi gusto mong bigyan ng hustisya. So sorry 'te. Sana nagustuhan mo 'yon. Para sa iyo 'yon," Ilacad said after her performance.
Aside from her confidence, jurors stressed that Ilacad is a really good performer.
"I love the confidence and 'yung pagiging sure mo sa performance mo, thank you for that," judge Cuneta said.
"Nakakatuwa ka, revelation ka para sa akin. Ang galing-galing mo sana alam mo 'yon. Ang galing mo, " judge Alcasid said.
Valenciano added: "Nakikita kita nagpe-perform almost every weekend ,hindi ito ang genre na ginagawa mo. So I will put my hands together kasi kakaiba ito, kakaiba talaga ito. So, congratulations."
Second to perform was Jason Dy, who impersonated singer champion Erik Santos. Dy, who recently celebrated his 10th year in the entertainment industry, sang Santos' hit "Pagbigyang Muli."
"Ginagaya ko siya before pero may kaba pa rin. May pressure. Unang-una kaibigan ko and ayaw ko siyang ma-offend. Sana hindi ka nao-offend diyan friend dahil katuwaan lang ito friend. At saka idol ko talaga ito si Erik," said Dy after the performance.
Showing support to Dy was Santos himself, while the judges praised Dy's technique.
"Sobrang galing mo talaga. Gayang-gaya mo siya heart and soul, pati boses. Pero alam mo ang magandang nagaya mo sa kanya identical kayo sa puntong ito -- napakabait niyong pareho. Congratulations Jason, so happy for you," Alcasid said.
Valenciano added: "Lahat tayo may kanya-kanyang vocal box, ang ginawa ni Jason ngayon ay iniba niya 'yung vocal box para ang tunog ay kagaya talaga ni Erik Santos. Grabe talaga, from start to finish."
"Si Erik matagal ko nang baby 'yan. Talagang sabi ko tingnan ko. I guess nakakatulong 'yung friends kayo pero kahit hindi pumipikit kami kanina Jason, si Erik ang naririnig namin. Pati 'yung nuances niya kung paano siya kumilos parang gayang-gaya mo more than a 100%. Nakakabilib. Congratulations on that performance talagang eksakto," judge Cuneta said.
On Sunday night, Dia Mate, the reigning Reina Hispanoamericana 2025, opened the second episode of the show, transforming into South African singer-songwriter Tyla. Mate, whose first love is music performed Tyla's hit "Water."
"Kanina binanggit mo kinabahan ka kasi parang hindi mo kayang mag-twerk. Pero hindi ka pa nagte-twerk parang natural ang paggalaw. At paghalo ang sayaw sa kanta ay mahirap gawin 'yon, but I think you did pretty well, considering na hindi ka sanay sa ganito," Valenciano said.
"Alam ko ninenerbiyos ka but it's so sexy but wholesome, natutuwa ako," Cuneta said.
"Sabi mo 'you are a singer-songwriter hindi ba? But you can also perform as well and very good as well. It worked," Alcasid added.
"The Birit Duo" JM dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano were next to perform as they transformed into global music stars Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. The Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets champions wowed the audience with their duet performance of "The Prayer," with the judges describing their performance as "brilliant."
"Alam kong brilliant silang dalawa. 'Yan ang sinabi ni Gary about the two of you I need you to know and I totally agree. Ang galing nang pagkakagaya mo kay Celine. Ang galing nang pagkakaya mo kay Andrea Bocelli. I hope they both somehow get to see this performance. I hope he will get to listen and he will hear about it. But I hope Celine Dion is able to see and hear. Oh my God wala na akong masabi. ... Congratulations it was so beautiful," judge Cuneta said.
"Gamit na gamit niyo 'yung inner ear niyo pareho. Ang galing ng placement niyo pareho. Kuhang-kuha niyo 'yung essence ni Andrea at Celine," judge Alcasid added.
For his part, Valenciano commented: "This duo whether they are togther or not, this duo is probably one of the most outstanding duos in the Philippines today. ... I think you guys are fabulous. Pinatunayan niyo lang na lahat ng mga sinabi ko na kayo ay isa sa pinakamagaling na duos in the country today."
Last to perform for the first week was BGYO member Akira Morishita, who impersonated Jung Kook of the South Korean supergroup BTS. Morishita impressed the judges with his "Seven" performance.
"Actually totoong inspiration namin sila ever since 'yung training days pa namin, talagang pinapanood namin every performances. Kaya noong naging Jung Kook ako, ARMY sa lahat po ng ARMYs sana nabigyan ko ng hustisya," Morishita said.
"Bilang bagong ARMY member eh talagang thrilled na thrilled ako. Siyempre ang BTS sobrang smooth gumalaw, flawless talaga. Konti na lang nandoon ka na. But really I love the performance so much. Medyo nagtu-twilight zone ako kasi may anggulo parang si Jung Kook talaga. ... At saka ang galing ng BGYO talaga, kung ano man ang training niyo sa banda niyo nadala mo talaga at alam ko marami ka pang maipapakita. Thank you for this number, you made me so happy. Ang galing. Ang galing ng sayaw, ang galing ng kanta," Cuneta said.
"Ang gauge ko ay hindi lang 'yung performance mo kung hindi ang reaksiyon ni Ate Sha. Kung ganoon ang reaksiyon niya, ibig sabihin ay magandang 'yung performance mo. .... Tapos parang hindi ka hinihingal, parang kayang-kaya mong gawin at alam ko mahirap gawin ito. So good job, Akira," Valenciano said.
Next week, "The Comedy Bombshell" Rufa Mae Quinto, The Theater Rak-Star" theater actor-comedian Pepe Herrera, and "The Breakout Crooner" rising singer-songwriter Jarlo Base are set to deliver their first-ever transformation.
The brand new season of "Your Face Sounds Familiar" airs on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live and A2Z. Viewers can also catch it on TV5 every Saturday, at 8:15 p.m. and Sundays, at 8:30 p.m..
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