This past Thursday marked NEIU’s annual talent show, consisting of acts including singing, rapping, dancing, and miming.
Armed with double-sided signs reading “CUT!!!!” and “Action!! YOU ARE A STAR!!” the audience was allowed to voice his or her opinion on who they thought had talent, and who lacked it. There was trouble throughout the show, such as technical difficulties causing the microphones to unexpectedly turn off in the middle of some performances, but the biggest problem stemmed from none other than the emcee, Nelia, who proved that you don’t have to be able to sing to be considered a singer. Opening the show with an original number, she was met with the “CUT!!!!” side of the signs from various audience members who assumed that she was one of the participants. Her emcee skills were not much better, incorrectly referring to Northeastern Illinois University as “Northeastern University” the entire night, despite tossing, and sometimes whipping, NEIU memorabilia at the audience that clearly read “Northeastern Illinois University.” While the judges deliberated on the winners, she sang once again, this time to “Mercy” by Duffy, which only elicited even more booing and “CUT!!” signs from the audience, making them wish that she would have performed a mercy killing instead. Luckily, what the emcee lacked in singing ability the participants of the show made up for in talent, originality, audience appeal, and presentation, all elements that they were judged on.
Coming in third and winning $250 was rapper and early childhood development major, Ariel Lime, aka Lil’ Bit for her original rap “Baddest Chick/These Streets.” Second place for second year in a row and winning $500 was the salsa and hip-hop dance duo, students Tabitha DeLoa, and Angel Martinez.
Student, Mercedes Gomez won first place with the most original act of the night, winning $1100 for her energy-fueled hoop dance. When asked if she thought she would win, she replied “I hoped, I prayed, I practiced.” Also receiving recognition were, Biology major, Otis Taylor for his mime act, as well as Sociology/Media major William Sides, who received the award for “Most Unusual Act” for his original Atari music piece “Get Yer Ju-On!”