When KZ Tandingan topped a round in the Chinese singing tilt “Singer 2018,” she went up against one of her idols, British singer-songwriter Jessie J.
Even after blowing away audiences with her jazz and Filipino rap-infused performance of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Tandingan couldn’t help praising Jessie (real name: Jessica Ellen Cornish).
Jessie J is behind hit pop songs “Price Tag” and “Domino.”
A video shared on Tandingan’s Facebook page also shows a surprise meeting with her, which literally took the “X Factor Philippines” winner’s breath away.
“I’m not your competitor, I’m just your friend,” Jessie reassured her.
“Who would compete with you?” Tandingan replied, still in shock.
She tearily narrated how Jessie inspired her to regain her singing voice. “When I was in high school, I almost stopped singing because I couldn’t reach the high notes anymore because I had a polyp in my vocal cords.”
“And then, I heard you, and then I realized, ‘Oh, I didn’t have to hit those high notes to make a difference and sing, so I started singing again.”
Jessie embraced her after Tandingan said, “Who I am as an artist now, a big chunk of that is because of you.”
“Please don’t ever give up or stop,” said Jessie, who also gave advice such as singing a few keys lower when she’s sick.
Tandingan seemed to still be reeling from the moment as she remarked, “I’ve been talking to her for more than three minutes now, oh my God.”
On Instagram, she shared a picture of the meeting and called Jessie J “love”.
“Love never fails to inspire, never fails to make people happy, and she always takes every opportunity to teach,” she described her music idol.
The contest consists of top professional singers competing against one another, with a singer getting eliminated each round and a new challenger coming in on the next episode. Jessie J has been in the competition since week one, while Tandingan entered in week five. /ra
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