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Press Releases
Armenian sensation wins The Next Big Thing
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Silva, a 17-year-old singing sensation from Armenia, has won Â鶹Éç World
Service's Next Big Thing competition beating 1,000 entries from more than 35
countries.
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William Orbit (Madonna, Robbie Williams producer), Angelique Kidjo (African
singer/songwriter), Gary Powell (drummer with Dirty Pretty Things), Geoff Travis (founder of Rough Trade)Ìýand Peter Gabriel judged the finalists of the global competition for best young (under-18), unsigned band.
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Upon receiving the award, from presenter Mark Coles, Silva broke down in tears.
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She was chosen ahead of six
other acts from around the world at the final in the Â鶹Éç's Maida Vale studios in London.
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The judges praised her song I Like, composed by her brother, as "fresh and new" and described her performance as "second to none". And William Orbit described her as "fabulous".
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Silva said: "It's terrific, it's unbelievable to be in first place."
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She also said the judges' comments meant she felt confident
she could "make the step up to international level".
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Second place in the competition was split between Londoners Stefan Abingdon and Malawian rapper NiC.
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Stefan Abingdon's song My Dunks - a rock-rap track about a trainer-obsessed
fashion victim and his bitter rows with his girlfriend - was described by Geoff Travis as part of "a great tradition in rock 'n' roll".
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NiC's Take A Look Into My Eyes - an anti-materialistic rap about the difficulties of getting into the music industry in Africa - was lauded by the
judges for its lyrical content and use of a Greek sample.
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Third place went to Brazilian band Sweet Cherry Fury for their song Cold Blonde Body.
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Guilherme, the band's lead guitar player, said: "The judges picked
up our influences - Sonic Youth, the B52s - without us saying it. The judges
really said what we wanted them to say."
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The other finalists were British rock group Skagz, American outfit MLK
and the Dreamers, and Ghanaian singer Mishkini who performed his song in
three different languages.
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The final seven had been selected by a panel of music journalists and experts
from a group of 20 acts who themselves had been pooled from all the entries
submitted via the Â鶹Éç's website.
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The competition is part of a week of programmes from Â鶹Éç World Service,
Generation Next, which explores the real issues in the world according to
under-18s.
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Â鶹Éç World Service Press Office
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