When Vodafone launched their first ever music reality show ICON Diva’s Edition in November last year, I was one of those who lauded it as a step in the right direction.

I was excited partly because it seeks to create an all-female group, something which we currently don’t have in this country. Though it was just one of the many reality shows flooding the country, I thought it was unique in every respect and could offer talented girls the opportunity to form a group so they can perform.

Head of Corporate Communications Carmen-Bruce Annan was even the first person who advanced the reason behind the idea of unearthing artistes made up of girls. ‘Somewhere in Ghana, there are three special ladies who have always imagined how they would showcase their talent to the world. We will empower them to make their dream a reality and help them have careers long after ‘020 live’.

I was also happy because we are going to create our own ‘Girls Aloud, Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, Pussy Cat Dolls among others, who have the potential to create their own brand for the rest of the world.

I was fortunate to see clips of the auditions and how some of the ladies who failed to qualify behind the regional levels wept as if their end has come. Those who managed to scale through the hurdle were excited. They made it to the house. Another side was also pruned till the final phase before the ladies were grouped.

I have seen three recorded performances on television-including the eviction process which brought the two female judges almost on a collision course. I have so far not been impressed with the overall performance of the ladies. Their singing has not impressed.

My major problem however is that the ladies are performing their songs backed by instrumentations from the original version. I find it extremely appalling. How on earth do you create an all female band or group who are cannot have a feel of playing with live band music.

How can they hold their own after the show is over and they are to embark on a career? I thought the organisers would have done been reasonable to ensure that the ladies perform with live band music. That is how their strengths and weaknesses will be adequately assessed by those working with them.

All over the world artistes worth their names are performing live. That is how one is able to hold an audience together for a long time. the days of handing out a CD to a DJ and asking him to select ‘track 1 or 2’ have no place in professional music performance. Again, I’m equally surprised that the judges who come from strong music background will entertain such cheap way of selecting a so-called ICON.

The only male judge in the group,Quantus, has worked with Kojo Antwi and everyone knows his credentials when it comes to stage performance. I wonder how many people in their right minds will attend a concert by Kojo Antwi anywhere only to see him perform on a CD. He’ll be verbally stoned to death. Even the other two female judges on the show are artistes with strong appeal for performing with live instruments. How on earth could they allow such mediocrity to be unleashed on the ladies?

I want to believe they can do better than what we are saying. No wonder the ladies just come and sing anything at all without flair or even colour. Again, the show is lucky to benefit from the services of highlife musician and keyboardist Bessa Simone. Nobody needs any telling about his pedigree on stage. He is a master craftsman. So how come in the presence of these persons on the show, Vodafone or whoever advised them did not find it worthy to ensure the ladies get a resident band to perform with. It is really disappointing.

The only girl group in this country at the moment is Dela Hayes and her group. The group’s performances in Accra have often recorded large crowd. Those who attend their concert and not fool who have nothing to do with their time. The difference between an artiste who performs with a live band and one who mimes is that the latter is never taken serious by his audience. They see him or them as just whimpering for nothing. Those who perform live often create intimacy with their audience and carry them along in their performances.

Even organisers all over the world are not going to waste their money inviting a group like Girls Aloud to a concert anywhere in the world only for them to turn up with CDs and expect that the audience will cheer them up. They will be peddled with stones. Our reality shows at the moment sucks just because even those who win struggle to establish themselves. Their claim to fame is only that they either participated in the show or became winners. They don’t do anything beyond that.

There are several of them in this country. Especially Irene and Jane of Stars of the Future come to mind. Until recently when the two of them appeared to be coming up-though I think it is all hype- they have struggled to establish themselves as artistes wanting to put their best foot forward.

I must however say that Jane who changed her name to Efya is gradually pushing herself up, thanks to a candid advice she got to shrug herself off the miming and take up live band. That is serving her very well. I just hope and pray that organisers of the ICONS will see the wisdom in what I’m talking about to quickly introduce the live band side into the show or find a way by which the ladies can benefit from such services.