Brightest Stars. Sorting out the 4th episode of the 2nd season. How Alexei Chumakov continues to destroy a good show and common sense.

Greetings! The further the second season of the show Brighter than the Stars moves on, the more emotions it arouses. Except that they are not about the participants, but about the actions of the jury members, who began to violate the rules more and more often and behave less and less adequately. And at the moment – the fourth episode was the apogee of this kind. Why? Let’s find out! My name is Stanislav. You are reading the blog Muztalgia. And that means it will be interesting!

There were enough events in this issue to discuss, so this time I will dispense with the introduction and go straight to the main part – a more detailed analysis of each speech. There will be a lot of letters. There’s going to be a lot of pouting, too. And if you’re lucky, there may be some humor in places. But it’s not certain. And I will note in a standard way: everything written is an exclusively subjective and biased point of view, which, nevertheless, I reasonably and thoroughly argue. I will speak about the participants in the order in which they started singing. Let’s go!

The starting three reincarnated as Beyoncé, performing the super hit Single Ladies . And although I don’t like this singer, I love this song very much and consider it the best in the singer’s singleography and one of the main hits of the 2000s. The contestants did well… very poorly. I didn’t understand who Maria was portraying. She sang quite well, but absolutely different. From Beyoncé’s vocal moves she couldn’t convey any of them. She looked more like some Pelageya. In general, everything was a miss. Except that she tried to convey a few movements from the masterpiece video. But otherwise – nothing.

Dilara looked better. But it was as if she couldn’t open up – something was holding her back. If there were hits with her voice, then because of her stiffness, her magic was lost. But in general, she did not perform badly. Yasmina sang the best, but visual…. So you couldn’t find Michael Krug of that build. But you could find body-positive Beyoncé. Not especially respected casting experts, I appeal to you – are you out of your mind?!?!?

Last season you found Britney Spears with the same shapes. Now Beyoncé. Who are you gonna make fat next? Pink? Milen Farmer? Sabrina Carpenter? I realize it’s not the most defining moment, but contestants who are as dissimilar to the original as possible because of their physical forms – I don’t get the perception. No matter how good they are. So for me in this group, no one did well. I would give my virtual score to Dilyara. A cappella she sang better than the others. Plus she is a very beautiful girl. The jury members let her through to the next round (0-3-1).

The second three portrayed Sergei Mazaev with the song Goodbye, Mom. It’s even interesting – it’s been a long time since they remembered about Mazay, then suddenly they showed it in Bright Stars and in Exactly-in-Act almost in parallel … Who borrowed the idea from whom? I’m not complaining if anything – the artist is quite worthy and original. Besides, the situation here was better.

Maxim – seriously overdone for my taste. He overplayed terribly. I had the feeling that I was watching a comedian’s performance. He seemed to be trying to convey the basic emotions, plasticity and energy of the original, but he did it too grotesquely. As if through a crooked mirror. In every sense. That’s why I didn’t like his interpretation. Ivan did not have a healthy amount of pofigism. He performed normally (especially considering that it was his first appearance on such a stage), but no more. Nothing memorable.

Albert was the most successful in the character. He had some ostentatious sloppiness in his movements and really similar moments in his vocals. I had the impression that this composition is close and understandable to him, that’s why he managed to do everything so naturally. That’s why it’s easy for me to make a choice here – my virtual vote goes to Albert. However, the jury was once again unpleasantly surprised, for some reason arranging a draw and blaming all the responsibility on the eliminated Ivan. Thankfully, he had common sense and chose Albert. At least some logic.

The next three tried to embody the image of Lucy Chebotina with the hit Sun of Monaco. Although I am very superficially familiar with this singer’s work, I generally have a good opinion of her. That’s why it was interesting to see how exactly she can be portrayed? And again everything came out on the thin. Ksenia vocally started really similar! But on the voice all similarities and ended. The manner of movement is different. Mimicry and completely absent. Sang with a completely indifferent face. It was probably just excitement. But it repulsed me.

Amina, uh. was just on stage too. Elizaveta did better than the others. There was a resemblance in appearance, a certain brashness in her voice, confidence in her movements and gestures. Plus – she really put herself out in this image, which I did not see in the other two contestants. So here for me the choice was also obvious – I give a virtual point to Elizaveta. And here the first act of the judges‘ circus began. Once again they could not come to an agreement, creating another draw and shifting the responsibility to the loser Amina. She wanted to ask for help from the audience. Which, by the way, I don’t see anything wrong with – after all, the show is made for the audience. So why not ask them which of the contestants they want to see again?

But then Chumakov’s ego kicked in. Not only did he shrug off the attempt, saying that it was wrong to do so (although the jury members themselves often began to shift their responsibilities to the eliminated contestants), but he also pressured her, saying that the choice should be made on the basis of a professional opinion. This clearly hinted that it would be better for her to agree with HIS opinion. It was wild! I almost always defend Chumakov here, but here – he frankly overdid it. Alexei, is the crown getting harder to squeeze? In the end, he almost forced Amina to choose Ksenia. Although she even turned towards the other contestant at first. In general – an unpleasant situation.

The final three reincarnated as Eros Ramazzotti performing Cose Della Vita. And here I honestly confess – I almost do not know this performer. His work has passed entirely and completely past me. I’ve heard just a couple of songs. I haven’t seen any live performance at all. That’s why here I’m guided more by his voice and those couple of clips.

Alexei sang beautifully, cleanly. However, it doesn’t sound very similar. The original’s voice is more caustic and nervous. To some extent, even nasty. Alexey sang more melodically and calmly. And that was not enough for me. Ervin was obviously added here for quantity, as his resemblance to Ramazotti is close to zero. Maxim, in my opinion, did the best. Because he not only conveyed the right notes in his voice, but he was the only one who showed emotional looseness and free gesticulation. Therefore, my vote goes to him.

But here I address my indignation to the directors. I had the impression that I was not watching a performance by the three contestants, but a solo number by Alexey with two backup singers. In almost a season and a half, this is the first time I’ve ever seen one of the contestants being allowed to sing only a couple of lines in the very final song. It was clear that everything in this group was decided before the show even started. But why so brazenly and head-on pushing the blatant one through? And to give him a unanimous victory, pretending that he is a copy of the original. Although it’s not even close to that. Again there was a residue. And alas, not the last one in this issue. And not even the murkiest.

Total, after the first round there were two who I would have passed on and two more questionable characters. An average result. But moving on.

Dilyara opened the second round with the hit Halo . And after Sia and Chandelier from the first edition – this is the best performance of the second season! Magnificent staging! With competently made emphasis on the dancers. Which gave the contestant a chance to be apart of them and show all her vocal power! And it is especially encouraging that she felt at ease and gave out the maximum.

She listened to what had been said earlier. Even something regal flashed in her image. Which is typical for the original. I was also pleased with the choruses – Dilara really made them very close to Beyonce. It’s a rare case when I have no complaints at all. This performance can be safely put into a conditional compilation of The Best in the history of the project. If I were to give points here, as in the show Exactly-in-Precision, I would give it the highest. I loved it! Bravo!

Albert appeared on stage next and performed First Snow. But either I haven’t gotten over Dilyara’s performance yet, or it really was weaker than in the first round. It was as if the contestant was cramped within the framework of a quieter song and he forcibly restrained his energy. This made it neither fish nor flesh. And what is most offensive of all – the similarity with Mazai became noticeably less. As I wrote above – the previous song completely hit the participant, and this one passed by. Perhaps Albert is more suited to more driving and emotional things. It was boring. I was not impressed at all.

The concert continued with Alexei and Un’Altra Te . I heard this song for the first time. And here I can only repeat what I wrote after the first round. He sang coolly (for the lack of accent – a special respect!), but on his own wave. I changed my voice, but the necessary causticity never appeared in it. Besides, due to the limited physical abilities of the participant, it was actually a copy of his previous performance. I did not see or hear anything new. Zero progress. That’s why he left me completely indifferent again. I don’t share any enthusiasm about him at all, alas.

The musical part of the issue was rounded off by Ksenia with the song Best Friend. And that’s where it gets really sad. As I said – we should have let Elizabeth through to the second round. Since here not only did not happen evolution, but there was a noticeable stagnation. Again – perhaps it was the excitement. Which is understandable – the girl is only 16 years old. But there are too many minuses to turn a blind eye to them. Most of the song was sung with her voice. She did not remember about facial expressions at all – her face and especially her eyes did not express anything. On the whole, she performed very well. But the problem is that it was absolutely NOT like Chebotina. From beginning to end.

This was quite rightly pointed out by Ivan and Marina. However, once again Alexei decided to show that everyone in the judge’s box is equal, but it is his point of view that is more equal than the others. And therefore there are only two opinions – his and the wrong one. And began to openly bully Abramov. Pushing his position with kindergarten level arguments. Sit on the chandelier and sing! … Yes, justification of the level of First get it! Alexei, if you have a bad memory, then I will remind you – in the first season of the contestant impersonating Miley Cyrus flew no lower. At the same time – not for a second did not leave the image and the voice corresponded to the original completely. In spite of any height changes and movements. Therefore, Ivan’s remarks that we have a show of reincarnations here, not the best performance, are absolutely logical and justified.

Chumakov, apparently, and himself has already realized that made a fool of himself by pressing for Ksenia’s admission to the next round and decided so fatly and ineptly to shift the arrows to another. Wild shame! It is doubly offensive that most of the discussion was taken up not by Xenia’s impressions of her performance, but by the bickering of the jury members. Especially considering that the contestant was standing on the stage and trying to squeeze out a smile. I don’t know what happened to Chumakov – whether he started taking something or stopped taking something, but probably this thing was so strong that it made him shake so much!

Now we need to put everyone in their places. For the first time in the entire second season, it’s easy. Fourth – Xenia. For a very young girl, she did everything more than worthy. But not for a show of reincarnations. Still, the main thing here is to remain similar to the original. And that’s the part she failed to do. The third one is Albert. Honestly, I have nothing to say. He was average. I’ve almost forgotten him. Too gray and unimpressive. Second – Alexei. He tried his best, I can’t take that away. But the lack of differences in two performances and no potential progress in the possible next ones are not inspiring at all. The best this time, and with a huge gap, I will call Dilyara. Is there any need to comment here at all? Just look at her performance again and all questions will fall away. Meanwhile, the viewers in the studio voted like this:

The judges had to choose between Dilyara and Alexei. But there was too little circus and thrash in this episode – we need to add more! That’s why all this nonsense continued here. The jury members continue to question their professional suitability for this season. Think about it for the third (!) time in one episode – they could not come to a common opinion. And although here Chumakov (conditionally) shared my position and also spoke in favor of Dilara, but the way he did it – simply does not stand up to any criticism.

To say that Alexei should concede the victory to Dilara because he is a man and she is a woman! What kind of heresy is this?!?! Not only is it stupidity of an unbelievable level, but we are facing a contest where everyone is trying. Regardless of gender, race and other differences. The important thing is that Dilara performed BETTER than Alexei. And Chumakov’s blatantly sexist wording made all her efforts null and void. As if she deserved the victory not by her own strength and talent, and she can get it only if she is conceded! At this moment I have no censorious words left for this character! To humiliate a contestant in such a way – you have to try hard! I don’t know who, but I felt disgusted!

But even here the jury members did not stop and decided to break the rules again and give the victory to two contestants at once. This brazen violation of the rules is also seriously annoying. During the entire first season – they were not broken once. But here – in four episodes they have already broken them twice and split the victory in two. Why would you do that? Because this not only shows your failure as jury members, but also devalues the work of the participants, making them not full-fledged winners, but half-winners. In the first season there were also many cases when we wanted to let two contestants through, but the rules remained inviolable. Now – if you want, you can ignore them altogether. What’s next? Will the audience vote be devalued? Or in the final concert the victory will be divided between several participants? In the context of the show, this is more than alarming!

General summaries from what we saw. The concert itself is not bad. Strong average level. It is possible to watch. And even with a certain pleasure. Another thing is tense – with each episode the jury members and their inadequacy have to devote more and more time to the show. If it goes on like this – the musical numbers will become something secondary, and the foreground in Vivid Stars will be Chumakov and his personal desires and complexes. Alexei, please be more modest! This show is not about you. Just do your job, with which you have become noticeably worse than before, and do not pull the blanket on yourself.

I didn’t think I’d write this, but maybe we should invite Vorobyov or Lazarev to the jury more often? When they replaced Chumakov, everything was quiet and calm. No scandals and increased in times wounded egos … And the bickering among the jury members is beyond reason and ordinary good taste. This is a music show, not Malakhov’s studio! Don’t do that anymore! I really hope that the positive vibes of the first season will make themselves known again. I sincerely wish they would!

Be sure to share in the comments your opinion about the second season, your emotions and expectations for this and the next episodes. I read everything carefully every time and respond as much as possible. And don’t forget to rate the material – it’s not difficult for you, and it’s very important for me for further motivation and its promotion in the feed, because my publications almost stopped getting there. I’m also waiting for you in my channels in Yotube (Muztalgia Video) and Telegram (Muztalgia Lite). And don’t go anywhere – there are still many different topics for discussion ahead).