THE FOUR FINALISTS in "Your Face Sounds Familiar" were presented to the press last Tuesday: Nyoy Volante, Jay-R, Edgar Allan Guzman and Melai Cantiveros. Nyoy was top scorer twice for his great impersonations of Justin Bieber and Luciano Pavarotti. Also Jay-R for his impersonations of Kenny Rogers and local rocker Pepe Smith. EA (Edgar Allan) won once for doing Vice Ganda and, Melai, also once, for her knock out performance as Elizabeth Ramsey.
Nyoy (who recorded the highest number of score with 257 points) also excelled in his impersonation of Sylvia LaTorre singing 'Sa Kabukiran'. The other music icons he imitated were Mike Hanopol, Freddie Mercury, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart, Yoyoy Villame and Michael Jackson.
Jay-R (second highest scorer with 246 points) also copied Tom Jones, Enrique Iglesias, Alanis Morisette, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Vic Sotto and Billy Crawford.
Melai (202 points, just like EA) likewise did Nora Aunor, Shirley Bassey, Cyndi Lauper, Rihanna, Jay Contreras of Kamikazee, Salbakuta and Grace Jones.
Edgar Allan did awesome impersonations of MC Hammer, John Legend, Gary V, Usher, Ricky Martin, Victor Wood, Ed Sheeran, Apple d App and Toni Gonzaga.
What have they realized as the show comes to an end? "Na ang dami pala naming pinagdaanan," says Jay-R. "We went through having prosthetic make up, hairbrushes and wigs, pero ang bilis ng lahat ng mga nangyari."
"Para ngang hindi namin naramdaman," says Melai. "Pero proud na proud ako sa sarili ko na nagawa ko lahat yun. Kasi noong unang i-offer sa akin ito, I had my doubts. Kaya ko ba? Kasi hindi naman talaga ako singer. BaKa mapahiya lang ako rito. Pero na-enjoy ko talaga ito at nagpapasalamat ako ngayon na napasama ako rito kasi dumami ang rackets ko sa mga fiesta. Kagagaling ko lang sa Capiz, pinagaya nila sa'kin si Cyndi Lauper."
Which of the celebrities they impersonated was the easiest and the most difficult? Nyoy: "Easiest for me is doing Aegis with Jolina Magdangal kasi palamuti lang ako sa background, pagita-gitara. Hardest was Justin Bieber, pero blessing ni Lord, dun pa ako unang nanalo."
Jay-R: "Easiest was Stevie Wonder kasi big fan niya talaga ako. At dahil bulag siya, hindi siya masyadong gumagalaw. Pinakamahirap si Beyonce kasi ang taas ng boses tapos nakatangga pa ako."
Melai: "Pinakamadali si Elizabeth Ramsey dahil pareho ang diction namin at comedian din siya. Pinakamahirap yung Fred Panopio kasi lalaki at ang hirap-hirap nung pagyodel-yodel niya."
EA: "Easiest si Daniel Padilla kasi ang pogi ko, pati ang audience tumitili talaga. Up to now, may mga nagre-request na gayahin ko siya. Pinakamahirap si Toni Gonzaga kasi naka-heels ako, kumakanta, naka-gown, e ang laki-laki ng balikat ko."
Who do they think would win? Melai: "Si Nyoy. Kasi tuwing nagpe-perform siya, bumibitiw talaga siya sa pagka-Nyoy at nagiging yung ginagaya niya."
Nyoy: "Jay-R, kasi iba ang naging bonding namin dito. Pero mas gusto kong ako ang manalo, kasi malapit na akong ikasal (to theatre actress Mikkie Bradshaw) at magagamit namin yung mapapanalunan ko."
Jay-R: "I want EA to win. It'll definitely a big boost to his career. I promise him na nga na I will help produce an album for him."
EA: "We all deserve to win. Being in this show is such an honor kasi I realized ang dami palang nagmamahal sa akin. Ang sarap ng feeling na nagustuhan ng mga tao yung pagkanta at pagsayaw ko. Dahil dito, naging total performer ko. I grew a lot performing with my co-stars na puro magagaling. Pero kung papipiliin ako, it has to be Jay-R. From day one, siya na talaga ang lumutang hanggang sa heto, patapos na kami."
They themselves chose the music icons who they will impersonate on Saturday night. "Lahat sila foreign acts, pero hindi pa namin puedeng i-reveal, para surprise," says Melai. "Abangan nyo na lang sa Saturday night when we air live from Resorts World Manila."
Unlike before where the winner is determined by the three resident judges, this time, the grand winner in their final showdown will be through text and online votes. The prize is P2 million, half of which goes to the winner's chosen charity. The other eliminated contestants will also perform in the finals night as special guests: Jolina Magdangal, Maxene Magalona, Karla Estrada and Tutti Caringal.
Because the winner will now be through texting, it's said that Melai is most likely to win since she has a fan base of texters, which she already proved when she was proclaimed grand winner in PBB. "That is, kung nandiyan pa rin yung text voters ko," says Melai.
Don’t miss the Grand Showdown of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” with host Billy Crawford and jurors Gary Valenciano, Jed Madela, and Sharon Cuneta on Saturday (June 6) after “MMK” and on Sunday (June 7) after “Rated K” on ABS-CBN and find out who will win. For program updates, like www.facebook.com/yourfaceph, follow @YourFacePH on Twitter and Instagram, or visit yourfacesoundsfamiliar.abs-cbn.com. Use the hashtag #YFSFGrandShowdown when posting your comments online while watching the show.
Nyoy (who recorded the highest number of score with 257 points) also excelled in his impersonation of Sylvia LaTorre singing 'Sa Kabukiran'. The other music icons he imitated were Mike Hanopol, Freddie Mercury, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart, Yoyoy Villame and Michael Jackson.
Jay-R (second highest scorer with 246 points) also copied Tom Jones, Enrique Iglesias, Alanis Morisette, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Vic Sotto and Billy Crawford.
Melai (202 points, just like EA) likewise did Nora Aunor, Shirley Bassey, Cyndi Lauper, Rihanna, Jay Contreras of Kamikazee, Salbakuta and Grace Jones.
Edgar Allan did awesome impersonations of MC Hammer, John Legend, Gary V, Usher, Ricky Martin, Victor Wood, Ed Sheeran, Apple d App and Toni Gonzaga.
What have they realized as the show comes to an end? "Na ang dami pala naming pinagdaanan," says Jay-R. "We went through having prosthetic make up, hairbrushes and wigs, pero ang bilis ng lahat ng mga nangyari."
"Para ngang hindi namin naramdaman," says Melai. "Pero proud na proud ako sa sarili ko na nagawa ko lahat yun. Kasi noong unang i-offer sa akin ito, I had my doubts. Kaya ko ba? Kasi hindi naman talaga ako singer. BaKa mapahiya lang ako rito. Pero na-enjoy ko talaga ito at nagpapasalamat ako ngayon na napasama ako rito kasi dumami ang rackets ko sa mga fiesta. Kagagaling ko lang sa Capiz, pinagaya nila sa'kin si Cyndi Lauper."
Which of the celebrities they impersonated was the easiest and the most difficult? Nyoy: "Easiest for me is doing Aegis with Jolina Magdangal kasi palamuti lang ako sa background, pagita-gitara. Hardest was Justin Bieber, pero blessing ni Lord, dun pa ako unang nanalo."
Jay-R: "Easiest was Stevie Wonder kasi big fan niya talaga ako. At dahil bulag siya, hindi siya masyadong gumagalaw. Pinakamahirap si Beyonce kasi ang taas ng boses tapos nakatangga pa ako."
Melai: "Pinakamadali si Elizabeth Ramsey dahil pareho ang diction namin at comedian din siya. Pinakamahirap yung Fred Panopio kasi lalaki at ang hirap-hirap nung pagyodel-yodel niya."
EA: "Easiest si Daniel Padilla kasi ang pogi ko, pati ang audience tumitili talaga. Up to now, may mga nagre-request na gayahin ko siya. Pinakamahirap si Toni Gonzaga kasi naka-heels ako, kumakanta, naka-gown, e ang laki-laki ng balikat ko."
Who do they think would win? Melai: "Si Nyoy. Kasi tuwing nagpe-perform siya, bumibitiw talaga siya sa pagka-Nyoy at nagiging yung ginagaya niya."
Nyoy: "Jay-R, kasi iba ang naging bonding namin dito. Pero mas gusto kong ako ang manalo, kasi malapit na akong ikasal (to theatre actress Mikkie Bradshaw) at magagamit namin yung mapapanalunan ko."
Jay-R: "I want EA to win. It'll definitely a big boost to his career. I promise him na nga na I will help produce an album for him."
EA: "We all deserve to win. Being in this show is such an honor kasi I realized ang dami palang nagmamahal sa akin. Ang sarap ng feeling na nagustuhan ng mga tao yung pagkanta at pagsayaw ko. Dahil dito, naging total performer ko. I grew a lot performing with my co-stars na puro magagaling. Pero kung papipiliin ako, it has to be Jay-R. From day one, siya na talaga ang lumutang hanggang sa heto, patapos na kami."
They themselves chose the music icons who they will impersonate on Saturday night. "Lahat sila foreign acts, pero hindi pa namin puedeng i-reveal, para surprise," says Melai. "Abangan nyo na lang sa Saturday night when we air live from Resorts World Manila."
Unlike before where the winner is determined by the three resident judges, this time, the grand winner in their final showdown will be through text and online votes. The prize is P2 million, half of which goes to the winner's chosen charity. The other eliminated contestants will also perform in the finals night as special guests: Jolina Magdangal, Maxene Magalona, Karla Estrada and Tutti Caringal.
Because the winner will now be through texting, it's said that Melai is most likely to win since she has a fan base of texters, which she already proved when she was proclaimed grand winner in PBB. "That is, kung nandiyan pa rin yung text voters ko," says Melai.
Don’t miss the Grand Showdown of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” with host Billy Crawford and jurors Gary Valenciano, Jed Madela, and Sharon Cuneta on Saturday (June 6) after “MMK” and on Sunday (June 7) after “Rated K” on ABS-CBN and find out who will win. For program updates, like www.facebook.com/yourfaceph, follow @YourFacePH on Twitter and Instagram, or visit yourfacesoundsfamiliar.abs-cbn.com. Use the hashtag #YFSFGrandShowdown when posting your comments online while watching the show.