My Kind of Country (2023): Season 1, Episode 5 - Mickey Guyton's Performance Workshop - full transcript
Are you wondering how healthy the food you are eating is? Check it - foodval.com
---
First love was this old six string ♪
That was handed down to me ♪
I ain't from the right town or place ♪
♪ But the West wind takes my voice
All across the land ♪
It ain't where you're born and raised ♪
♪ It's the song in my heart
That makes me say every day ♪
Yeah, I'm country made ♪
["You Won't Break Me" playing]
- Tomorrow is my workshop.
- [contestants] Yeah.
For me, this is all
about finding your true, authentic self.
As a Black woman in country music,
it has been extremely difficult for me,
and I found myself hiding who I was
in order to fit in.
It wasn't until I embraced what
made me unique that doors opened for me.
You get about three minutes
to make your mark,
and either you're gonna bring it,
or you're not.
[Landi] We can relate
to being female-fronted musicians.
The music scene in South Africa,
it's predominantly male singers.
So, she's been a massive
inspiration for us.
I feel it's so important,
when you perform,
that you set intentions on
what you want your audience to feel.
And so you're gonna be working
with an amazing creative director,
Jemel McWilliams.
He's really good at getting
to the heart of the artist.
He's worked with Lizzo,
Beyoncé, John Legend.
He worked with me when I sang
the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
- He is everything.
- [laughing]
- Thank you.
- [cheering]
- I gotta clap for that.
- Ah.
Can he work with us too?
- He really should.
- [laughing]
[Chris] We're ready for the next workshop.
We know we gotta really work hard
to progress, so we gotta... [chuckles]
- Yeah. We have to.
- The bar is high.
- Yes.
- The bar is really high.
I am so excited
that we are doing this together!
[exclaims]
Most artists have to get a record deal
to be able to work with
a creative director like Jemel.
This is a huge opportunity.
It's about them bringing out
their individual artistry
in each of these songs.
Jemel is most effective
with making you become vulnerable.
And that is part of what performing is.
- I don't wanna change anyone. You know?
- You don't.
- I don't believe in that.
- Mm-mmm.
I just believe in
helping everyone see their light.
Yeah. Get them to think
about what they're saying
and channel that.
So when they're standing there,
they know what to do with their hands.
'Cause some... [stammers]
I don't even always know
what to do with my hands.
You're just like,
"Close your hand, Mickey."
Look, that left hand
loves to be like that.
It's just, like, right here.
I had Jemel watch video of each
of the artists' performances
so that he could know
what to do with them in advance
when he met them in person.
So, is this a real friendship?
Yeah. I mean, Julio and I
lived together for... eight years or so.
Is that camaraderie projected
to the audience?
I hope so.
So, I will say,
based off of what I saw, it is not.
We played in another band
with a front singer.
- Mm-hmm.
- So, many years of being in that space...
- Yes. That's exactly...
- We're still in that a lot of the time.
Julio and Simon
are used to being backup players.
When you watch the Congo Cowboys,
it's like Chris and his band,
versus them being Chris, Simon and Julio.
All of us are front men.
You will be the singer,
but every single person
is absolutely integral
in the fabric of this being successful.
All right, so let's do this.
Let's grab these guitars.
Let's grab this stuff.
Let's move around. Let's go.
We are at Madison Square Garden.
You have this whole area
of 8,000 people over here,
and that you want them to clap. Right?
So, you get us to clap.
I'm only gonna give as much
as a audience member as you give me.
- [singing in Lingala]
- Going on a ride ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- Have some fun ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- Going on a roll ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- See my girl ♪
All right. Stay in that vibration
and the people will feel that.
And they'll wanna be a part
of this brotherhood.
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
You know, Wandile is, like, cool.
Gives us all vibes.
It's good vibes.
I hope he works on connecting.
Like, I want him to bring us in.
- So the song is titled "Our Lives Matter."
- Mm-hmm.
And I'm talking about the people
that look exactly like me
in South Africa
and all over the world, um,
who share the same pain,
the same struggles.
Every time I perform this song,
it reminds me,
"Wow, we're still in this.
We're still... We're still not free."
In the last workshop,
me and Alisha couldn't find
that middle ground,
and I ended up compromising.
And I know I did a bad performance.
So, I'm just blessed
to get another chance.
I'm performing my own song.
It's time to showcase
what I was really here for.
[singing in Xhosa]
Wow.
- Mmm. Mmm.
- That's the spirit.
I appreciate you
for throwing your whole body into it.
Mmm.
I'm looking at this English translation
and I got it.
Can you read these out loud for me?
- When I'm saying qhuba kwedini, um...
- Mm-hmm.
...that means, "Go on. Strive. Persevere."
- Yeah.
- I'm referring to me.
I'm referring to the young me.
I'm saying qhuba kwedini.
- Qhuba. Carry on. Persevere.
- Whoo! Yeah!
- Yeah, um... [chuckles]
- Come on. Stand up.
I need this... I need this up.
Put that thing around you.
Yeah, that same thing you giving me there.
- Yeah.
- How can you give me this?
'Cause I need
to feel like you could lead us.
Well, I'm still hungry
to make it to the finale,
so I'm gonna take the risk for this one
and show a different side of myself.
Be intentional. Tell me.
[singing in Xhosa]
Yes.
Yeah.
Control it. Control the space.
Control the energy.
Yeah!
Keep playing. Keep playing.
Come down as low as you can.
He was letting me know to go
and drive it with conviction.
Get that power out.
I need to really take that understanding
into the performance.
[Jemel]
Even with your eyes closed, go there.
[song ends]
Come on. Thank you.
- Okay.
- Drama.
Do it on your knees! Let's go!
You're pleading. You're painful. Ah!
I thought that I'd been hurt before ♪
Wait. Stop. Stand up.
And go. You got the key already.
- Where do I write ♪
- Uh-huh.
The Far East and our endeavors ♪
Move. Move around. Move around.
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Here comes the anxiety.
- [chuckles]
How many eyes ♪
Yes, let it go.
To see into time forever ♪
You do not need that as a crutch.
- And you need to flex that space.
- Yeah.
You can't just expect me,
because you're into it,
- to be into it.
- Yeah.
Well, you're talking to somebody. Go.
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
Again.
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- [Jemel] Hello, Betsies.
- Hi.
- Hello.
- How you doing?
- Good.
- Good.
I watched both performances,
and I saw you, like, looking over
a few times with your eyes.
And so today,
I think we can practice some tactics
to trust yourself and your harmonies.
I would love for you, Zel...
You face that wall.
- All right.
- Right.
- And you face this wall. All right.
- All right.
Now, let's sing the song,
and let's connect.
- And let's trust ourselves...
- [Landi] All right.
...by trusting each other.
[Landi, Zel]
There's times when I'm cold and bare ♪
He has the most energy
I've ever seen in one person.
- [chuckles]
- [Zel] But it's good getting pushed.
That's why we're here.
You took more risks in some of your riffs.
What brought you to that space?
- [Zel] Trust.
- She completely trusted me.
- Trust!
- Yeah.
So, I think this is a good exercise
for yourselves.
- Let's get into this. What's up, girl?
- Hey. Hi.
Micaela can sing her ass off.
Micaela has so much self-doubt,
and I want her to say,
"You know what? I do deserve to be here."
The one thing that's super important
that I always love to stress with artists
is facing yourself
and facing your own experiences.
Yeah.
And you have to be brave
enough to do that.
Yeah.
- I've been through quite a bit.
- Mmm.
I don't like to
talk about a lot of the things
that I've been through, you know?
Apart from, like, the bullying and stuff.
Like, I've...
I've dealt with a lot of loss in my life.
And that's been really hard.
- [sniffles] And I'm still dealing with.
- Mm-hmm.
- Um, I... [sniffles]
- Let me hold your hand. Mm-hmm.
Oh. Well, I...
Like, I... I have a younger sibling.
- I had a brother before him. [sniffles]
- Mm-hmm.
- [sniffles]
- Mm-hmm.
He died when I was, like, eight years old.
Um... [inhales sharply]
It was really hard.
[cries]
And at the same time,
it's the bullying and all those things.
- [breathes shakily] So I think, like, I...
- Mmm.
I have, like... [breathes shakily]
I had to deal with a lot
at a really young age.
That's why, like, music
is so important to me.
Yeah. Yeah.
[exhales shakily]
'Cause that's usually where I put it.
- So... [breathes shakily] ...yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
Your brother would kick down doors...
I just know it. I believe it.
If he knew that his sister was holding
onto hurt from the past.
You don't need to shrivel.
You don't need to shrink.
You need to be the opposite of that.
That's part of your healing.
- [sniffles]
- You hear me?
Talking about my brother
was probably the most difficult part
of the journey.
I didn't actually realize
how much I had bottled up for so long.
Because it feels so personal,
I just always kept it to myself.
And I was okay with that for a long time.
Talk to me about the song
that you are going to perform.
I'm doing, um, "Good Kisser"
by Lake Street Dive.
Okay, and why did you select that song?
I... You know... [stammers]
...I'm always, like, vulnerable
and emotional, and stuff.
- [laughs] You know?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- So, I think I need to just have fun.
- Yeah.
So, I don't need
to be crying even more. [laughs]
Let's have fun with it.
From the top of the song,
like you deserve it.
Like you're supposed to be here.
And speak to whoever
you need to speak to right now. Let's go.
♪ If I'm gonna tell them everything
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- Tell 'em ♪
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Did you feel that?
- Yeah.
'Cause that woman who just sang like that
was not the same woman
who couldn't speak up.
Yeah.
I think I did have a breakthrough.
Me being guarded
was a very subconscious thing.
And just being vulnerable
is making me tap into parts of myself
that I haven't explored for a long time.
Feels good. I feel all the things.
All the things. [chuckles]
All the good things. [laughs]
- Look at where you are.
- Yeah.
- Don't squander it. Own it.
- [sniffles]
- Your brother is proud. I'm proud. Okay?
- Aw.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
[Guyton]
How did y'all feel yesterday about Jemel?
I think that he took us completely out
of our comfort zone.
That's a very hard thing for me to do.
It was awesome.
I mean, I've known Julio 20 years now,
and I heard a noise coming
out of Julio's mouth
- which I've never heard before.
- Yeah.
And we feel like, from now on, that
we really have to push our performance.
Yeah.
Micaela, how are you feeling?
I don't know. I still don't know.
- [chuckles]
- Yeah. That's okay.
That was a lot to process.
- And I get it.
- [Micaela] Yeah.
Like, you're used
to nobody focusing on you.
Yeah.
And... [stammers]
...you need to get used to it, woman,
- because you're so incredible.
- [chuckling] Aw.
Y'all are all so special
and special to me,
and I just wanna see y'all succeed.
So, each of you guys,
tomorrow is time to show the world
you're artists in country music
and you belong here.
- This is... [chuckles] This is madness.
- Broadway.
[Simon]
We've hit Broadway, and it's a mad scene
compared to anything we've got
down in South Africa.
Whoo!
[Chris] We're feeling pressure
'cause tomorrow is performance.
It's a tough one.
Everyone is just so unique and so good.
[Simon] Can't believe that somebody
has to go home, but...
We came for a competition,
so we need to focus,
and we have to deliver.
Guys, do you think we'll play one
of these bars?
[Chris] Yeah, man.
- [Julio] Eventually. Eventually.
- [Chris] Finally. [chuckling]
[Chris] Shake it a little bit.
Loosen up a little bit.
- [vocalizing]
- Shake it. Shake it.
[vocalizing]
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
Got a feeling that I'm going under ♪
[vocalizing]
I'm sorry. [chuckles]
I'm sorry. It's my fault.
Sorry, I got lost.
If we don't trust each other,
we can't trust ourselves on stage.
- Yeah, the last one.
- The last one. Yeah.
[Wandile]
The further we go into this competition,
the more everybody
is envisioning going the whole way.
It's the same environment
of a rugby field, you know?
So you best believe I'm taking
my sports mentality with me.
'Cause I want to compete
on a higher level at all times.
- Look at the marquee.
- You think we'll get one?
- Nah.
- [Peck] You didn't get a marquee.
I've been to your workshop.
There was no marquee.
[Allen] Let's go.
- [Guyton] Hey, guys.
- There she is.
- What's up, kid?
- Look how beautiful you look.
[Guyton] Thank you so much.
You're dressed like a normal person.
We're not.
[laughing]
We were saying how subtle we all are.
- [Allen] Yeah.
- So subtle.
- It's the leather shorts for me, Jimmie.
- It's a J. Cole with the shorts.
- Tell us about the workshop.
- [sighs]
Man, my workshop was really
about finding your most authentic self
and their intentions and what they want
the audience to feel.
And I think you really will see that.
[audience cheering]
So, first up, we have Micaela.
The workshop with Jemel was
such a breakthrough experience for her.
Like, there was a lot of tears
and emotions,
and it just made you connect
with her more.
- I'm looking forward to this.
- [applause, cheering]
I think the most freeing thing
that I've done is let go.
I just need
to take everything I've learned
- and show them what I can do.
- [Peck] Yeah!
- [Guyton] Whoo!
- Hello, hello, hello. Hi.
I'll be doing "Good Kisser"
by Lake Street Dive.
[chuckles] I hope you guys enjoy.
Here goes.
- Hey!
- Yeah!
If you're gonna tell them everything ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
Tell 'em all the things you told me ♪
In your desperate whisper ♪
If you're gonna tell them everything ♪
Don't leave out the good parts ♪
♪ Tell 'em the way
That you broke my heart ♪
When you told me that you missed her ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- [cheering]
- [Peck] Yes!
Ooh ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser, ooh ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good ♪
A good ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- Yeah!
- [cheering]
Hey ♪
♪ Should I have been
Wasting my time on you at all? ♪
No, no, no, no ♪
♪ Should I have seen
The bright red writing on the walls? ♪
Well, I've still got time ♪
Time ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser, ooh ♪
- [screams]
- Tell 'em I'm a good ♪
A good ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- [audience cheering]
- Yeah!
[chuckles]
She said it was full-on.
Wow, that's awesome.
[Micaela] Thank you.
[Peck chuckles]
Your confidence is growing,
and you're having so much fun up there,
but you still maintain
this soulful depth with it.
- Don't forget vocals. The vocals.
- The vocals are... Forget it.
- It's amazing.
- Micaela, I know you went through a lot
- in that workshop...
- Yeah. [chuckles]
...but it all came through.
- [chuckles]
- [Peck] Great job.
- A hand for Micaela.
- Great job.
Bye, guys.
[laughing]
- Wow.
- Yep.
[Micaela]
Well, the performance went amazing.
It went great! I feel good.
They saw me become
more comfortable with myself.
It feels good to let go and just be free.
I think my brother
would be proud of me. Yeah.
- Who do we have next?
- Dhruv.
- Oh, I love Dhruv.
- [chuckles]
[Guyton] Dhruv, you know,
he's an incredible guitar player,
but that is his protection.
That's his... his strength.
He lacks self-confidence as a performer.
[Dhruv] I'm terrified 'cause it's my song.
It's me who's at stake.
I want to be a better performer,
a better artist, you know, in general.
I learned with Jemel
that music can't only be listened to.
It has to be seen.
It has to be digested a bit.
Y'all give it up for Dhruv!
[Peck] Yeah!
- [audience cheering]
- There he is!
- How you guys doing?
- [audience cheering]
Thank you so much for having me, you guys.
Um, I'm really happy to be here.
Tonight, I'm going to be playing
a song I wrote, and it's called "Write."
I wrote this at a time of my life where
I was struggling to write songs,
and it reminded me of
the thing I love doing most.
Where do I write ♪
The Far East and our endeavors ♪
And how many eyes ♪
To see into time forever ♪
[vocalizes]
♪ The tides underneath
Dancing away ♪
For hours and days ♪
Stop by the house ♪
In the corner, I wait ♪
Let me lie in the sun ♪
Yes!
Let me lie in the sun ♪
♪ Maybe I don't want to have
Another cut on my wrists ♪
♪ I don't want to have
A single fight with my fists at all ♪
Sheesh.
At all ♪
♪ And maybe colors would be heeded
If they needed to miss ♪
♪ Starry are the hours
Of my bucket of lists ♪
- Oh, lord ♪
- Yeah.
Oh, lord ♪
Don't stop the rain ♪
- Don't stop the rain ♪
- [vocalizing]
It sounds like a soundtrack in, like...
for Lion King.
- [laughing]
- [Ale] Yeah.
How does one ask for forgiveness ♪
When we're color-blind? ♪
[cheering]
[Allen] Hey! There it is!
Thank you, guys.
Not only are you so talented,
but you light up the most
when you kind of engage with us
and it opens out
so we can enjoy it with you.
- [Dhruv] Absolutely.
- It's cool that you can do both.
Like he said, open it up,
and then when you close in,
it's like it pulls us in.
Then you open back up, and it's dope, bro.
- Thank you, guys, so much.
- [Guyton, Peck] Thanks, Dhruv.
- Whoo!
- [audience cheering]
- That song was great. Really well-written.
- Don't you love that song?
- It's very well-written.
- That kind of, like, "pre-chorus-y" bit
- that, like... It's so good.
- Yeah.
[Guyton] This next performer, Chuck Adams,
- he holds everything in.
- Yes.
[Guyton]
Jemel was just trying to bring it out.
He has so much inside
that he just needs to let go.
- So, you're gonna love it.
- Oh, yeah.
- I'm looking forward to this one.
- Y'all give it up for Chuck!
- [audience cheering]
- [Peck] Whoo!
[Allen] Yeah!
[Chuck] When this song hit the Billboards,
it was a tough time for me,
uh, dealing with just depression,
and, um, I hung onto the emotion
of this song that whole year.
I've always wanted to put my touch on it.
Uh, it's called "Colder Weather"
by, um, Zac Brown Band.
[audience cheering]
♪ She'd trade Colorado
If he took her with him ♪
♪ Closes the door
Before the winter lets the cold in ♪
Yes.
♪ And wonders if her love
Is strong enough ♪
To make him stay ♪
She's answered by the tail lights ♪
Shining through the window pane ♪
[vocalizing]
I wanna see you again ♪
But I'm stuck in colder weather ♪
Maybe tomorrow will be better ♪
Can I call you then? ♪
Well, it's a winding road ♪
When you're in the lost and found ♪
♪ You're a lover
I'm a runner ♪
And we go 'round and 'round ♪
Oh, I wanna see you again ♪
But I'm stuck in colder weather ♪
Maybe tomorrow will be better ♪
Can I call you then? ♪
Oh, cause I'm a ramblin' man ♪
I ain't never gonna change ♪
Yes! Come on!
I got a gypsy soul to blame ♪
And I was born for leaving ♪
Born for leaving ♪
- Yes!
- [audience cheering]
Come on, Chuck.
[Peck] I saw something in you I've never
seen before yet in a performance.
Like a release
that felt really important to you,
and it makes us feel like
we're going through that with you.
And when you look us in the eye,
like, we feel what you're saying.
- Yeah.
- And it's truly so powerful.
Get addicted to that feeling
of letting us in,
'cause I think you're gonna
start liking it more.
- [Guyton] Yes, absolutely.
- Yes, sir.
- Whoo!
- [audience cheering]
- [Landi] Chuck!
- [contestants cheer]
I think we did make some progress
with letting go
for this performance.
I'm getting more comfortable
in that place now,
where I can kind of
turn the switch on and perform.
- Next is the Congo Cowboys.
- [Allen] Mm-hmm.
Jemel really challenged them to
really engage and be artists and be one.
They're not band members. They're
front men, and they need to act like it.
Yeah.
The pressure's gonna be there.
There's no doubt about that.
But Jemel's whole workshop was about
confidence and believing in yourself
and putting yourself out there.
We're gonna shake it like a cowboy.
Y'all give it up for Congo Cowboys!
- [Peck] Come on!
- [audience cheering]
[Simon] Move it!
[vocalizes]
Hello, Nashville!
[audience cheering]
It's so great to be with you guys tonight.
My name is Julio,
and we are the Congo Cowboys!
This is our kind of country.
Now we are ready.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
- Yeah. [chuckles]
[Allen] So are we.
[singing in Lingala]
[vocalizes]
[continues singing in Lingala]
Whoo!
[continues singing in Lingala]
[mouthing words] On three.
[audience cheers]
[Chris] Ophelia ♪
♪ You've been on my mind, girl
Since the flood ♪
♪ Oh, Ophelia
Heaven help a fool who falls in love ♪
[Congo Cowboys] Ophelia ♪
♪ You've been on my mind, girl
Since the flood ♪
Oh, Ophelia ♪
Heaven help a fool who falls in love ♪
[exclaims]
They sound like
they're having so much fun.
[exclaims] Whoo!
- [cheering]
- [Peck] Come on! Whoo!
- Wow, man.
- Wow.
[Guyton] That was so good!
The performance has just
so stepped up, you know?
- Yeah.
- Truly.
I felt like that was the first time
I really saw you guys believe
in everything you're talking about.
- That was dope.
- Y'all give it up for the Congo Cowboys!
- [audience cheering]
- Thank you.
- [Guyton] Yes, Julio! Whoo!
- [Peck] Come on, Julio!
Up next, we have The Betsies.
[Zel] We're gonna definitely take
what we've learned from Jemel
and just trust each other.
It's been a lot for me and Landi, specifically,
because we're so used to
doing things the way that we do.
Jemel noticed
they really rely on each other
and made them literally
turn their backs to each other
and just trust each other.
- Oh, that's good. I wanna see this.
- It's The Betsies.
[audience cheering]
- [Guyton] Give it up for The Betsies!
- [Allen] Yeah!
Whoo!
[Zel]
Guys, thank you so much for the welcome.
We decided two days ago that
we're not gonna use our instruments today.
Just because we wanna be vulnerable.
We've never done that before.
We're gonna sing an original.
Me and Zel, we go through
the same kind of heartbreaks all the time.
So, this song is about
how you let it go eventually,
and it's called "Drinking Your Kind."
Just thinking of the lonely light ♪
That echoes through a time that might ♪
♪ Change the things I know somehow
And this will be my story now ♪
At night ♪
It makes me wanna sit and wait ♪
For a time that it might be too late ♪
To say how much I used to care ♪
For everything that breathes the air ♪
I create ♪
To say the things I never would ♪
And we end up where we could be great ♪
I could never understand ♪
♪ How your heart fit in my hand
When you cried ♪
Whoo!
And how everything I'd say ♪
You would turn around and hide ♪
♪ I never said a word
But somehow you still heard ♪
♪ The things
That traveled through my mind ♪
Lord knows I left my thinking ♪
That night that I stopped drinking ♪
Lord knows I left my thinking ♪
That night ♪
That I stopped drinking your kind ♪
[audience cheering]
Beautiful. I mean, just...
And you know,
we know as performers and stuff,
it's really hard to get up there
- and take away your instruments...
- And put yourself out there.
Put yourself out there
with a song you wrote.
- Yeah.
- [Peck] Thank you for that.
There's a lot of artists
that can sing originals and covers,
but I think y'all's strong suit
is your own songs.
- Yeah.
- You need to always fight to do originals.
- Always.
- [Landi] We'll do that.
[Guyton] Y'all give it up for The Betsies.
- Bye.
- Thank you, guys.
[audience cheering]
- The next artist is Ale.
- Oh.
We saw her really open up
and connect with Dhruv,
and now I'm hoping that she opens up
and connects on her own.
- Mmm.
- Mmm.
[sighs]
For this song, I decided to change
some lines to Spanish,
because I don't feel like I can express
myself completely in English,
and I want the audience
to connect with me.
[Guyton, Allen] Yeah!
[audience cheering]
Hi, Nashville. How you doing tonight?
[cheering]
The song I chose to perform tonight,
it's called "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes.
Whoo!
And, you know,
it's okay to not be okay after a breakup.
So, yeah. [chuckles]
[audience cheering]
I thought that I'd been hurt before ♪
♪ But no one's
Ever left me quite this sore ♪
Your words cut deeper than a knife ♪
♪ Now I need
Someone to bring me back to life ♪
Yeah.
Got a feeling that I'm going under ♪
But I know that I'll make it out alive ♪
♪ If I quit calling you my lover
Move on ♪
♪ You watch me bleed
Until I can't breathe ♪
Shaking, falling on to my knees ♪
♪ And now that
I'm without your kisses ♪
I'll be needing stitches ♪
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
You watch me ♪
[vocalizes]
And without your kisses ♪
I'll be needing stitches ♪
[cheering]
- Yeah.
- Yeah!
Ale, I have been so waiting
to hear you sing in Spanish.
It's so great. I love it.
It sounds amazing.
- Yeah, I just miss my language so much.
- Of course.
I was curious to see how you would take
the performance with Dhruv,
how you really started
to come out your shell a lot,
- and apply it to this one...
- Yeah.
...when you're by yourself.
And it's cool to see that it carried over.
And I'm definitely hoping it sticks,
'cause it looked like it stuck.
- Yes it did!
- Thank you, Jimmie.
- That means a lot to me. Thank you!
- [audience cheering]
Okay.
So we have one more artist today. Wandile.
He is singing a special song today.
He's speaking in his native tongue.
- Oh, nice.
- It is truly powerful. You ready?
- Yeah, I'm ready for it.
- Y'all ready?
- [Peck] I can't wait.
- Okay. One, two. One two.
At this point, it's about
just focusing on what I need to do.
Focusing on the message.
I hope someone hears this message
and is encouraged to continue their fight,
because their fight feeds my fight.
- [Peck] Come on, Wandile!
- [audience cheering]
[Guyton] It was my idea
to make the lights red
to show the passion and the emotion.
Good evening.
I'm gonna be playing one of my own songs,
and, um, I wrote this song
when I attended my first protest.
It's titled "Our Lives Matter"
because they do.
This song is meant to cast out
the spirit of fear tonight,
and I hope that it does for all of us.
[audience cheering]
[singing in Xhosa]
[Simon] Yeah.
[continues singing in Xhosa]
[vocalizing]
[audience applauding, cheering]
[Wandile chuckles]
Thank you so much.
Whoo.
Whatever you felt,
you brought us into your story.
And we felt it, so thank you for that.
[Peck] As a fellow South African,
I just never thought I would hear
the words like, "Amandla Awethu"
- being said on a stage in Nashville.
- Yeah.
- It makes me so proud.
- Yeah. Thank you so much.
"Amandla Ngawethu"
means "power to the people."
- So, yes, power to the people.
- [Peck] Amandla Awethu.
Amandla Ngawethu.
You just have
such a great spirit with that,
and another extremely famous,
uh, Xhosa, Nelson Mandela,
he would be really proud of that
same spirit that you're carrying on.
It makes me really proud, man.
You're killing it.
It's one of 'em songs you just take in
and you live with it for a while,
and you think on it.
And that's what I'm gonna do.
- So, thank you for that.
- That was so beautiful.
- Yeah, man.
- So beautiful. Thank you so much.
Y'all give it up for Wandile!
[audience cheering]
- Hey!
- [contestants cheering]
[Wandile] I left my soul on stage.
I did exactly what I was told,
exactly what I needed to do,
and I felt the fear go.
I felt it being replaced by power,
conviction and trusting myself more.
Big round of applause
for Mickey Guyton's showcase
- and the artists tonight, everybody.
- [cheering]
- I thought tonight was amazing.
- It was amazing, right?
Yeah, I really did see growth
in a lot of people
that I felt needed growth.
Yeah.
And I see the people that are great
adding new tricks to what they do.
First we have Micaela.
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser... ♪
[Guyton] She's starting to become
more and more comfortable in her own skin.
I think she has grown and taken on
everything we've given her really fast.
- I like her. She's young.
- Yeah.
- She's still learning. She's growing.
- Yeah.
But was today enough?
- [Guyton] Yeah.
- What are we thinking about Dhruv?
Where do I write... ♪
[Guyton] What I love about Dhruv
is his thoughtfulness.
When he chose this song,
it was very intentional.
He's got his own style of country,
but it is country.
He... He maintains his culture,
he maintains his style,
and he's just incredibly talented.
- [Allen] Yeah.
- Absolutely.
[Peck] What are we thinking about Chuck?
Well, it's a winding road... ♪
[Allen] You feel who he is
not only as a musician, but as a person.
Him talking about his depression,
like, I really commend him for that.
For me, this was the most open
I've seen him through the whole show.
Yeah. I saw, like,
anger in his performance tonight.
- Yeah. A great way.
- I mean that in the best way.
It was like a release.
I still do wish
he could open up that much more.
I think he has to work on that
a little bit still.
Ophelia... ♪
[Guyton] The Congo Cowboys.
Simon and Julio are so used to
just being in the background.
And I was really, really excited
and proud of them.
- They really stepped up to the plate.
- [Peck] Oh, my God, yeah.
But I wonder if we have the time left
to see them get to that same point
that some of these artists
are kind of already at now.
And it might not be in the time frame
of this show essentially, you know?
Man, that's what makes this
so tough at this point.
So The Betsies.
I never said a word... ♪
[Guyton] This is the most
out of their comfort zone
I think they've ever been
in this competition.
They got rid of their...
their security blanket,
which is their guitars,
and really put themselves out there.
And I think that was really, really,
really admirable.
They're such deep artists...
- They very much so are.
- ...that it only really comes through
when they sing songs
that they're really connected to.
To me, they're not
the type of group that do covers.
This is the first time I've ever felt it.
They're usually so in control
of what they do,
and so it was lovely
to see them out of control,
'cause that's kind of
where some beautiful art is made.
Maybe they need some time
to go explore being out of control
- in that way a little bit, you know.
- Yeah.
Ale. I love Ale.
I'm without your kisses... ♪
[Allen] But I just felt like
that song didn't really do her justice,
- if that makes sense.
- It was right here. It was linear.
I wanna see her just do an original.
- Mm-hmm.
- We've only heard her do covers
- and, actually, until tonight...
- Yeah.
...and even tonight's,
predominantly in English.
[Allen] You could see the change
when she started singing in Spanish.
[Guyton] Absolutely.
Imagine you were singing a song
all in Spanish that's also a cover song,
and then suddenly you got to do
two lines in English.
- You'd be like, "Yeah!" You know?
- Yes!
- It's, like... It's so great to see.
- "I'm comfortable. I'm me again."
[singing in Xhosa]
- [Guyton] Wandile.
- [Allen] Man.
[Peck] Last week,
I thought he underperformed.
This week, this guy's come in here alone
from South Africa.
He gets on a stage in Nashville
and is just so proudly talking about
Black Lives Matter
and his experiences in South Africa.
And, like, I mean,
that's really powerful and brave.
- [Guyton] He showed the most growth today.
- [Peck] Absolutely.
That was night and day
for me from last week.
- [Guyton] Same.
- It's crazy what one workshop will do.
- We do have one more workshop.
- Mm-hmm.
And so, I also wonder,
are we gonna see Micaela grow to a point
that surprised us in the same way
that Wandile did today?
My only thing with Micaela is,
since she's so young
and we're throwing everything at her,
will she be able to take in
all this information
and figure out who she is quick enough?
I think better more so
than someone older in a way.
- Yeah.
- I love The Betsies.
But it's, like, are we gonna see
The Betsies grow further from a workshop
as opposed to someone like Micaela?
Personally, I'd think Micaela intrigues me
more as an artist just right now.
And even though I do see
The Betsies as an artist
and Micaela as a singer,
if they were to both
stand on stage and sing,
Micaela would automatically
get my attention.
- Yeah.
- Absolutely.
[Guyton]
We have to decide which of the artists
we should continue to
invest our time in and focus on.
Who do we think can win this competition?
[Landi]
Waiting to hear if we're in or not.
If we made it or not.
That's where the nerves kicks in.
Competition is tight.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
- [blows]
I can't even fake being funny.
I'm just gonna be nervous the entire time. Whoo.
- Y'all ready to bring 'em in?
- [Peck, Allen] Yeah.
Hello.
- Hello.
- [Allen] What's up?
- Hi, gang.
- What a day.
- What a damn day.
- It's a good day.
[Allen] Today I felt like
was the first day
you really showed
who the Congo Cowboys are.
Now that you saw who you could be,
you see what you can sound like,
you see what you can do,
y'all should really sit down as a band
and figure out,
"Okay, what direction do we wanna go in?"
And with only one showcase left
before the finale,
I don't feel like it's enough time
for you guys to really have it locked in,
who you are as a... as a band,
just from what we need to see.
Um, so unfortunately
you won't be moving forward.
Lifelong fan in me for sure.
Like, I just... You guys made me so proud.
I feel okay about it
because we gave it our all on the stage.
Yeah. Yeah.
And, um, it's obviously disappointing,
but we had a good time,
learned a lot, and we could leave proud.
The Betsies, you guys are great.
Unfortunately, you know, guys,
you won't be moving forward.
And the reason why is,
I would try, in different ways,
to take your performance
to the next level.
I think explore
what you learned today a bit further.
Like, go a little bit into losing control
- and a bit of the chaos.
- Yeah.
I mean, you made a huge impact on me,
on all of us.
- Yes. Thank y'all so much.
- It's really hard to see you guys going.
- Thanks, Orville.
- Thank you, guys.
We learned as much as we could.
We achieved what we wanted to.
And that's...
that's all there is at the end of the day.
- Okay. To the bar. No, I'm joking.
- [Landi chuckles]
- [Ale] Hey there.
- [Wandile] Hey, guys.
[Guyton] Hey, guys.
First, I just wanna say,
what a beautiful evening.
I mean, everyone tonight
was so, so, so good.
And again, we've been presented
with a very difficult task of course.
Um, Ale,
you came out tonight to show us
more of the artist that you are.
You know, I really loved
seeing you sing a bit more in Spanish,
'cause I can see that that's obviously,
like, your heart and your comfort.
Wandile,
you have just surpassed
every one of our expectations
in this workshop.
I encourage you to give us that much more
and continuously show us
who you are as an artist.
Micaela.
You know, the growth you've made
from the first day I met you,
it's, like,
truly actually quite inspiring.
And I... I just, you know...
Like, I hope you will
continue to trust that
and know that, because it really shows,
and there was so much
depth in your performance tonight.
And, Chuck, um...
tonight especially was really lovely
to see you opening up more.
And I am so excited to work with you.
This is, uh,
our top five going through to my workshop.
What?
- Hey!
- What?
[laughing]
- Yo. Did y'all see Dhruv's face...
- You're kidding.
...the whole time?
[Dhruv] I haven't hugged anyone
that tightly since I got here.
[laughs]
And I think I had a few tears in my eyes.
Mickey's workshop really taught me
how to not just elevate my performance,
but elevate my own confidence.
Believe in myself as a songwriter.
[Micaela] Aw, thank you.
This place has been good for my ego.
[Chuck] With this workshop,
I learned a lot about
what letting go looks like and feels like.
So, I'd like to keep it going.
- [Allen] Hey. [chuckles]
- Yes, sir.
[Wandile]
I'm just excited for the next week.
It's another...
You know, it's another challenge.
Let's go again.
- Cheers to you guys opening your hearts...
- [Peck] So deserving. We're very happy.
...and being on to the road
of your kind of country.
[Guyton] To hear more music
from The Betsies and the Congo Cowboys,
go to My Kind of Country
on Apple Music.
---
First love was this old six string ♪
That was handed down to me ♪
I ain't from the right town or place ♪
♪ But the West wind takes my voice
All across the land ♪
It ain't where you're born and raised ♪
♪ It's the song in my heart
That makes me say every day ♪
Yeah, I'm country made ♪
["You Won't Break Me" playing]
- Tomorrow is my workshop.
- [contestants] Yeah.
For me, this is all
about finding your true, authentic self.
As a Black woman in country music,
it has been extremely difficult for me,
and I found myself hiding who I was
in order to fit in.
It wasn't until I embraced what
made me unique that doors opened for me.
You get about three minutes
to make your mark,
and either you're gonna bring it,
or you're not.
[Landi] We can relate
to being female-fronted musicians.
The music scene in South Africa,
it's predominantly male singers.
So, she's been a massive
inspiration for us.
I feel it's so important,
when you perform,
that you set intentions on
what you want your audience to feel.
And so you're gonna be working
with an amazing creative director,
Jemel McWilliams.
He's really good at getting
to the heart of the artist.
He's worked with Lizzo,
Beyoncé, John Legend.
He worked with me when I sang
the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
- He is everything.
- [laughing]
- Thank you.
- [cheering]
- I gotta clap for that.
- Ah.
Can he work with us too?
- He really should.
- [laughing]
[Chris] We're ready for the next workshop.
We know we gotta really work hard
to progress, so we gotta... [chuckles]
- Yeah. We have to.
- The bar is high.
- Yes.
- The bar is really high.
I am so excited
that we are doing this together!
[exclaims]
Most artists have to get a record deal
to be able to work with
a creative director like Jemel.
This is a huge opportunity.
It's about them bringing out
their individual artistry
in each of these songs.
Jemel is most effective
with making you become vulnerable.
And that is part of what performing is.
- I don't wanna change anyone. You know?
- You don't.
- I don't believe in that.
- Mm-mmm.
I just believe in
helping everyone see their light.
Yeah. Get them to think
about what they're saying
and channel that.
So when they're standing there,
they know what to do with their hands.
'Cause some... [stammers]
I don't even always know
what to do with my hands.
You're just like,
"Close your hand, Mickey."
Look, that left hand
loves to be like that.
It's just, like, right here.
I had Jemel watch video of each
of the artists' performances
so that he could know
what to do with them in advance
when he met them in person.
So, is this a real friendship?
Yeah. I mean, Julio and I
lived together for... eight years or so.
Is that camaraderie projected
to the audience?
I hope so.
So, I will say,
based off of what I saw, it is not.
We played in another band
with a front singer.
- Mm-hmm.
- So, many years of being in that space...
- Yes. That's exactly...
- We're still in that a lot of the time.
Julio and Simon
are used to being backup players.
When you watch the Congo Cowboys,
it's like Chris and his band,
versus them being Chris, Simon and Julio.
All of us are front men.
You will be the singer,
but every single person
is absolutely integral
in the fabric of this being successful.
All right, so let's do this.
Let's grab these guitars.
Let's grab this stuff.
Let's move around. Let's go.
We are at Madison Square Garden.
You have this whole area
of 8,000 people over here,
and that you want them to clap. Right?
So, you get us to clap.
I'm only gonna give as much
as a audience member as you give me.
- [singing in Lingala]
- Going on a ride ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- Have some fun ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- Going on a roll ♪
- [singing in Lingala]
- See my girl ♪
All right. Stay in that vibration
and the people will feel that.
And they'll wanna be a part
of this brotherhood.
Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
You know, Wandile is, like, cool.
Gives us all vibes.
It's good vibes.
I hope he works on connecting.
Like, I want him to bring us in.
- So the song is titled "Our Lives Matter."
- Mm-hmm.
And I'm talking about the people
that look exactly like me
in South Africa
and all over the world, um,
who share the same pain,
the same struggles.
Every time I perform this song,
it reminds me,
"Wow, we're still in this.
We're still... We're still not free."
In the last workshop,
me and Alisha couldn't find
that middle ground,
and I ended up compromising.
And I know I did a bad performance.
So, I'm just blessed
to get another chance.
I'm performing my own song.
It's time to showcase
what I was really here for.
[singing in Xhosa]
Wow.
- Mmm. Mmm.
- That's the spirit.
I appreciate you
for throwing your whole body into it.
Mmm.
I'm looking at this English translation
and I got it.
Can you read these out loud for me?
- When I'm saying qhuba kwedini, um...
- Mm-hmm.
...that means, "Go on. Strive. Persevere."
- Yeah.
- I'm referring to me.
I'm referring to the young me.
I'm saying qhuba kwedini.
- Qhuba. Carry on. Persevere.
- Whoo! Yeah!
- Yeah, um... [chuckles]
- Come on. Stand up.
I need this... I need this up.
Put that thing around you.
Yeah, that same thing you giving me there.
- Yeah.
- How can you give me this?
'Cause I need
to feel like you could lead us.
Well, I'm still hungry
to make it to the finale,
so I'm gonna take the risk for this one
and show a different side of myself.
Be intentional. Tell me.
[singing in Xhosa]
Yes.
Yeah.
Control it. Control the space.
Control the energy.
Yeah!
Keep playing. Keep playing.
Come down as low as you can.
He was letting me know to go
and drive it with conviction.
Get that power out.
I need to really take that understanding
into the performance.
[Jemel]
Even with your eyes closed, go there.
[song ends]
Come on. Thank you.
- Okay.
- Drama.
Do it on your knees! Let's go!
You're pleading. You're painful. Ah!
I thought that I'd been hurt before ♪
Wait. Stop. Stand up.
And go. You got the key already.
- Where do I write ♪
- Uh-huh.
The Far East and our endeavors ♪
Move. Move around. Move around.
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Here comes the anxiety.
- [chuckles]
How many eyes ♪
Yes, let it go.
To see into time forever ♪
You do not need that as a crutch.
- And you need to flex that space.
- Yeah.
You can't just expect me,
because you're into it,
- to be into it.
- Yeah.
Well, you're talking to somebody. Go.
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
Again.
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- You ain't never gonna change ♪
- [Jemel] Hello, Betsies.
- Hi.
- Hello.
- How you doing?
- Good.
- Good.
I watched both performances,
and I saw you, like, looking over
a few times with your eyes.
And so today,
I think we can practice some tactics
to trust yourself and your harmonies.
I would love for you, Zel...
You face that wall.
- All right.
- Right.
- And you face this wall. All right.
- All right.
Now, let's sing the song,
and let's connect.
- And let's trust ourselves...
- [Landi] All right.
...by trusting each other.
[Landi, Zel]
There's times when I'm cold and bare ♪
He has the most energy
I've ever seen in one person.
- [chuckles]
- [Zel] But it's good getting pushed.
That's why we're here.
You took more risks in some of your riffs.
What brought you to that space?
- [Zel] Trust.
- She completely trusted me.
- Trust!
- Yeah.
So, I think this is a good exercise
for yourselves.
- Let's get into this. What's up, girl?
- Hey. Hi.
Micaela can sing her ass off.
Micaela has so much self-doubt,
and I want her to say,
"You know what? I do deserve to be here."
The one thing that's super important
that I always love to stress with artists
is facing yourself
and facing your own experiences.
Yeah.
And you have to be brave
enough to do that.
Yeah.
- I've been through quite a bit.
- Mmm.
I don't like to
talk about a lot of the things
that I've been through, you know?
Apart from, like, the bullying and stuff.
Like, I've...
I've dealt with a lot of loss in my life.
And that's been really hard.
- [sniffles] And I'm still dealing with.
- Mm-hmm.
- Um, I... [sniffles]
- Let me hold your hand. Mm-hmm.
Oh. Well, I...
Like, I... I have a younger sibling.
- I had a brother before him. [sniffles]
- Mm-hmm.
- [sniffles]
- Mm-hmm.
He died when I was, like, eight years old.
Um... [inhales sharply]
It was really hard.
[cries]
And at the same time,
it's the bullying and all those things.
- [breathes shakily] So I think, like, I...
- Mmm.
I have, like... [breathes shakily]
I had to deal with a lot
at a really young age.
That's why, like, music
is so important to me.
Yeah. Yeah.
[exhales shakily]
'Cause that's usually where I put it.
- So... [breathes shakily] ...yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
Your brother would kick down doors...
I just know it. I believe it.
If he knew that his sister was holding
onto hurt from the past.
You don't need to shrivel.
You don't need to shrink.
You need to be the opposite of that.
That's part of your healing.
- [sniffles]
- You hear me?
Talking about my brother
was probably the most difficult part
of the journey.
I didn't actually realize
how much I had bottled up for so long.
Because it feels so personal,
I just always kept it to myself.
And I was okay with that for a long time.
Talk to me about the song
that you are going to perform.
I'm doing, um, "Good Kisser"
by Lake Street Dive.
Okay, and why did you select that song?
I... You know... [stammers]
...I'm always, like, vulnerable
and emotional, and stuff.
- [laughs] You know?
- Yeah. Yeah.
- So, I think I need to just have fun.
- Yeah.
So, I don't need
to be crying even more. [laughs]
Let's have fun with it.
From the top of the song,
like you deserve it.
Like you're supposed to be here.
And speak to whoever
you need to speak to right now. Let's go.
♪ If I'm gonna tell them everything
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- Tell 'em ♪
- Yeah. Yeah.
- Did you feel that?
- Yeah.
'Cause that woman who just sang like that
was not the same woman
who couldn't speak up.
Yeah.
I think I did have a breakthrough.
Me being guarded
was a very subconscious thing.
And just being vulnerable
is making me tap into parts of myself
that I haven't explored for a long time.
Feels good. I feel all the things.
All the things. [chuckles]
All the good things. [laughs]
- Look at where you are.
- Yeah.
- Don't squander it. Own it.
- [sniffles]
- Your brother is proud. I'm proud. Okay?
- Aw.
- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
[Guyton]
How did y'all feel yesterday about Jemel?
I think that he took us completely out
of our comfort zone.
That's a very hard thing for me to do.
It was awesome.
I mean, I've known Julio 20 years now,
and I heard a noise coming
out of Julio's mouth
- which I've never heard before.
- Yeah.
And we feel like, from now on, that
we really have to push our performance.
Yeah.
Micaela, how are you feeling?
I don't know. I still don't know.
- [chuckles]
- Yeah. That's okay.
That was a lot to process.
- And I get it.
- [Micaela] Yeah.
Like, you're used
to nobody focusing on you.
Yeah.
And... [stammers]
...you need to get used to it, woman,
- because you're so incredible.
- [chuckling] Aw.
Y'all are all so special
and special to me,
and I just wanna see y'all succeed.
So, each of you guys,
tomorrow is time to show the world
you're artists in country music
and you belong here.
- This is... [chuckles] This is madness.
- Broadway.
[Simon]
We've hit Broadway, and it's a mad scene
compared to anything we've got
down in South Africa.
Whoo!
[Chris] We're feeling pressure
'cause tomorrow is performance.
It's a tough one.
Everyone is just so unique and so good.
[Simon] Can't believe that somebody
has to go home, but...
We came for a competition,
so we need to focus,
and we have to deliver.
Guys, do you think we'll play one
of these bars?
[Chris] Yeah, man.
- [Julio] Eventually. Eventually.
- [Chris] Finally. [chuckling]
[Chris] Shake it a little bit.
Loosen up a little bit.
- [vocalizing]
- Shake it. Shake it.
[vocalizing]
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
Got a feeling that I'm going under ♪
[vocalizing]
I'm sorry. [chuckles]
I'm sorry. It's my fault.
Sorry, I got lost.
If we don't trust each other,
we can't trust ourselves on stage.
- Yeah, the last one.
- The last one. Yeah.
[Wandile]
The further we go into this competition,
the more everybody
is envisioning going the whole way.
It's the same environment
of a rugby field, you know?
So you best believe I'm taking
my sports mentality with me.
'Cause I want to compete
on a higher level at all times.
- Look at the marquee.
- You think we'll get one?
- Nah.
- [Peck] You didn't get a marquee.
I've been to your workshop.
There was no marquee.
[Allen] Let's go.
- [Guyton] Hey, guys.
- There she is.
- What's up, kid?
- Look how beautiful you look.
[Guyton] Thank you so much.
You're dressed like a normal person.
We're not.
[laughing]
We were saying how subtle we all are.
- [Allen] Yeah.
- So subtle.
- It's the leather shorts for me, Jimmie.
- It's a J. Cole with the shorts.
- Tell us about the workshop.
- [sighs]
Man, my workshop was really
about finding your most authentic self
and their intentions and what they want
the audience to feel.
And I think you really will see that.
[audience cheering]
So, first up, we have Micaela.
The workshop with Jemel was
such a breakthrough experience for her.
Like, there was a lot of tears
and emotions,
and it just made you connect
with her more.
- I'm looking forward to this.
- [applause, cheering]
I think the most freeing thing
that I've done is let go.
I just need
to take everything I've learned
- and show them what I can do.
- [Peck] Yeah!
- [Guyton] Whoo!
- Hello, hello, hello. Hi.
I'll be doing "Good Kisser"
by Lake Street Dive.
[chuckles] I hope you guys enjoy.
Here goes.
- Hey!
- Yeah!
If you're gonna tell them everything ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
Tell 'em all the things you told me ♪
In your desperate whisper ♪
If you're gonna tell them everything ♪
Don't leave out the good parts ♪
♪ Tell 'em the way
That you broke my heart ♪
When you told me that you missed her ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- [cheering]
- [Peck] Yes!
Ooh ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser, ooh ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good ♪
A good ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- Yeah!
- [cheering]
Hey ♪
♪ Should I have been
Wasting my time on you at all? ♪
No, no, no, no ♪
♪ Should I have seen
The bright red writing on the walls? ♪
Well, I've still got time ♪
Time ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser, ooh ♪
- [screams]
- Tell 'em I'm a good ♪
A good ♪
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser ♪
- [audience cheering]
- Yeah!
[chuckles]
She said it was full-on.
Wow, that's awesome.
[Micaela] Thank you.
[Peck chuckles]
Your confidence is growing,
and you're having so much fun up there,
but you still maintain
this soulful depth with it.
- Don't forget vocals. The vocals.
- The vocals are... Forget it.
- It's amazing.
- Micaela, I know you went through a lot
- in that workshop...
- Yeah. [chuckles]
...but it all came through.
- [chuckles]
- [Peck] Great job.
- A hand for Micaela.
- Great job.
Bye, guys.
[laughing]
- Wow.
- Yep.
[Micaela]
Well, the performance went amazing.
It went great! I feel good.
They saw me become
more comfortable with myself.
It feels good to let go and just be free.
I think my brother
would be proud of me. Yeah.
- Who do we have next?
- Dhruv.
- Oh, I love Dhruv.
- [chuckles]
[Guyton] Dhruv, you know,
he's an incredible guitar player,
but that is his protection.
That's his... his strength.
He lacks self-confidence as a performer.
[Dhruv] I'm terrified 'cause it's my song.
It's me who's at stake.
I want to be a better performer,
a better artist, you know, in general.
I learned with Jemel
that music can't only be listened to.
It has to be seen.
It has to be digested a bit.
Y'all give it up for Dhruv!
[Peck] Yeah!
- [audience cheering]
- There he is!
- How you guys doing?
- [audience cheering]
Thank you so much for having me, you guys.
Um, I'm really happy to be here.
Tonight, I'm going to be playing
a song I wrote, and it's called "Write."
I wrote this at a time of my life where
I was struggling to write songs,
and it reminded me of
the thing I love doing most.
Where do I write ♪
The Far East and our endeavors ♪
And how many eyes ♪
To see into time forever ♪
[vocalizes]
♪ The tides underneath
Dancing away ♪
For hours and days ♪
Stop by the house ♪
In the corner, I wait ♪
Let me lie in the sun ♪
Yes!
Let me lie in the sun ♪
♪ Maybe I don't want to have
Another cut on my wrists ♪
♪ I don't want to have
A single fight with my fists at all ♪
Sheesh.
At all ♪
♪ And maybe colors would be heeded
If they needed to miss ♪
♪ Starry are the hours
Of my bucket of lists ♪
- Oh, lord ♪
- Yeah.
Oh, lord ♪
Don't stop the rain ♪
- Don't stop the rain ♪
- [vocalizing]
It sounds like a soundtrack in, like...
for Lion King.
- [laughing]
- [Ale] Yeah.
How does one ask for forgiveness ♪
When we're color-blind? ♪
[cheering]
[Allen] Hey! There it is!
Thank you, guys.
Not only are you so talented,
but you light up the most
when you kind of engage with us
and it opens out
so we can enjoy it with you.
- [Dhruv] Absolutely.
- It's cool that you can do both.
Like he said, open it up,
and then when you close in,
it's like it pulls us in.
Then you open back up, and it's dope, bro.
- Thank you, guys, so much.
- [Guyton, Peck] Thanks, Dhruv.
- Whoo!
- [audience cheering]
- That song was great. Really well-written.
- Don't you love that song?
- It's very well-written.
- That kind of, like, "pre-chorus-y" bit
- that, like... It's so good.
- Yeah.
[Guyton] This next performer, Chuck Adams,
- he holds everything in.
- Yes.
[Guyton]
Jemel was just trying to bring it out.
He has so much inside
that he just needs to let go.
- So, you're gonna love it.
- Oh, yeah.
- I'm looking forward to this one.
- Y'all give it up for Chuck!
- [audience cheering]
- [Peck] Whoo!
[Allen] Yeah!
[Chuck] When this song hit the Billboards,
it was a tough time for me,
uh, dealing with just depression,
and, um, I hung onto the emotion
of this song that whole year.
I've always wanted to put my touch on it.
Uh, it's called "Colder Weather"
by, um, Zac Brown Band.
[audience cheering]
♪ She'd trade Colorado
If he took her with him ♪
♪ Closes the door
Before the winter lets the cold in ♪
Yes.
♪ And wonders if her love
Is strong enough ♪
To make him stay ♪
She's answered by the tail lights ♪
Shining through the window pane ♪
[vocalizing]
I wanna see you again ♪
But I'm stuck in colder weather ♪
Maybe tomorrow will be better ♪
Can I call you then? ♪
Well, it's a winding road ♪
When you're in the lost and found ♪
♪ You're a lover
I'm a runner ♪
And we go 'round and 'round ♪
Oh, I wanna see you again ♪
But I'm stuck in colder weather ♪
Maybe tomorrow will be better ♪
Can I call you then? ♪
Oh, cause I'm a ramblin' man ♪
I ain't never gonna change ♪
Yes! Come on!
I got a gypsy soul to blame ♪
And I was born for leaving ♪
Born for leaving ♪
- Yes!
- [audience cheering]
Come on, Chuck.
[Peck] I saw something in you I've never
seen before yet in a performance.
Like a release
that felt really important to you,
and it makes us feel like
we're going through that with you.
And when you look us in the eye,
like, we feel what you're saying.
- Yeah.
- And it's truly so powerful.
Get addicted to that feeling
of letting us in,
'cause I think you're gonna
start liking it more.
- [Guyton] Yes, absolutely.
- Yes, sir.
- Whoo!
- [audience cheering]
- [Landi] Chuck!
- [contestants cheer]
I think we did make some progress
with letting go
for this performance.
I'm getting more comfortable
in that place now,
where I can kind of
turn the switch on and perform.
- Next is the Congo Cowboys.
- [Allen] Mm-hmm.
Jemel really challenged them to
really engage and be artists and be one.
They're not band members. They're
front men, and they need to act like it.
Yeah.
The pressure's gonna be there.
There's no doubt about that.
But Jemel's whole workshop was about
confidence and believing in yourself
and putting yourself out there.
We're gonna shake it like a cowboy.
Y'all give it up for Congo Cowboys!
- [Peck] Come on!
- [audience cheering]
[Simon] Move it!
[vocalizes]
Hello, Nashville!
[audience cheering]
It's so great to be with you guys tonight.
My name is Julio,
and we are the Congo Cowboys!
This is our kind of country.
Now we are ready.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
- Yeah. [chuckles]
[Allen] So are we.
[singing in Lingala]
[vocalizes]
[continues singing in Lingala]
Whoo!
[continues singing in Lingala]
[mouthing words] On three.
[audience cheers]
[Chris] Ophelia ♪
♪ You've been on my mind, girl
Since the flood ♪
♪ Oh, Ophelia
Heaven help a fool who falls in love ♪
[Congo Cowboys] Ophelia ♪
♪ You've been on my mind, girl
Since the flood ♪
Oh, Ophelia ♪
Heaven help a fool who falls in love ♪
[exclaims]
They sound like
they're having so much fun.
[exclaims] Whoo!
- [cheering]
- [Peck] Come on! Whoo!
- Wow, man.
- Wow.
[Guyton] That was so good!
The performance has just
so stepped up, you know?
- Yeah.
- Truly.
I felt like that was the first time
I really saw you guys believe
in everything you're talking about.
- That was dope.
- Y'all give it up for the Congo Cowboys!
- [audience cheering]
- Thank you.
- [Guyton] Yes, Julio! Whoo!
- [Peck] Come on, Julio!
Up next, we have The Betsies.
[Zel] We're gonna definitely take
what we've learned from Jemel
and just trust each other.
It's been a lot for me and Landi, specifically,
because we're so used to
doing things the way that we do.
Jemel noticed
they really rely on each other
and made them literally
turn their backs to each other
and just trust each other.
- Oh, that's good. I wanna see this.
- It's The Betsies.
[audience cheering]
- [Guyton] Give it up for The Betsies!
- [Allen] Yeah!
Whoo!
[Zel]
Guys, thank you so much for the welcome.
We decided two days ago that
we're not gonna use our instruments today.
Just because we wanna be vulnerable.
We've never done that before.
We're gonna sing an original.
Me and Zel, we go through
the same kind of heartbreaks all the time.
So, this song is about
how you let it go eventually,
and it's called "Drinking Your Kind."
Just thinking of the lonely light ♪
That echoes through a time that might ♪
♪ Change the things I know somehow
And this will be my story now ♪
At night ♪
It makes me wanna sit and wait ♪
For a time that it might be too late ♪
To say how much I used to care ♪
For everything that breathes the air ♪
I create ♪
To say the things I never would ♪
And we end up where we could be great ♪
I could never understand ♪
♪ How your heart fit in my hand
When you cried ♪
Whoo!
And how everything I'd say ♪
You would turn around and hide ♪
♪ I never said a word
But somehow you still heard ♪
♪ The things
That traveled through my mind ♪
Lord knows I left my thinking ♪
That night that I stopped drinking ♪
Lord knows I left my thinking ♪
That night ♪
That I stopped drinking your kind ♪
[audience cheering]
Beautiful. I mean, just...
And you know,
we know as performers and stuff,
it's really hard to get up there
- and take away your instruments...
- And put yourself out there.
Put yourself out there
with a song you wrote.
- Yeah.
- [Peck] Thank you for that.
There's a lot of artists
that can sing originals and covers,
but I think y'all's strong suit
is your own songs.
- Yeah.
- You need to always fight to do originals.
- Always.
- [Landi] We'll do that.
[Guyton] Y'all give it up for The Betsies.
- Bye.
- Thank you, guys.
[audience cheering]
- The next artist is Ale.
- Oh.
We saw her really open up
and connect with Dhruv,
and now I'm hoping that she opens up
and connects on her own.
- Mmm.
- Mmm.
[sighs]
For this song, I decided to change
some lines to Spanish,
because I don't feel like I can express
myself completely in English,
and I want the audience
to connect with me.
[Guyton, Allen] Yeah!
[audience cheering]
Hi, Nashville. How you doing tonight?
[cheering]
The song I chose to perform tonight,
it's called "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes.
Whoo!
And, you know,
it's okay to not be okay after a breakup.
So, yeah. [chuckles]
[audience cheering]
I thought that I'd been hurt before ♪
♪ But no one's
Ever left me quite this sore ♪
Your words cut deeper than a knife ♪
♪ Now I need
Someone to bring me back to life ♪
Yeah.
Got a feeling that I'm going under ♪
But I know that I'll make it out alive ♪
♪ If I quit calling you my lover
Move on ♪
♪ You watch me bleed
Until I can't breathe ♪
Shaking, falling on to my knees ♪
♪ And now that
I'm without your kisses ♪
I'll be needing stitches ♪
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
♪ Needle and the thread ♪
[singing in Spanish]
You watch me ♪
[vocalizes]
And without your kisses ♪
I'll be needing stitches ♪
[cheering]
- Yeah.
- Yeah!
Ale, I have been so waiting
to hear you sing in Spanish.
It's so great. I love it.
It sounds amazing.
- Yeah, I just miss my language so much.
- Of course.
I was curious to see how you would take
the performance with Dhruv,
how you really started
to come out your shell a lot,
- and apply it to this one...
- Yeah.
...when you're by yourself.
And it's cool to see that it carried over.
And I'm definitely hoping it sticks,
'cause it looked like it stuck.
- Yes it did!
- Thank you, Jimmie.
- That means a lot to me. Thank you!
- [audience cheering]
Okay.
So we have one more artist today. Wandile.
He is singing a special song today.
He's speaking in his native tongue.
- Oh, nice.
- It is truly powerful. You ready?
- Yeah, I'm ready for it.
- Y'all ready?
- [Peck] I can't wait.
- Okay. One, two. One two.
At this point, it's about
just focusing on what I need to do.
Focusing on the message.
I hope someone hears this message
and is encouraged to continue their fight,
because their fight feeds my fight.
- [Peck] Come on, Wandile!
- [audience cheering]
[Guyton] It was my idea
to make the lights red
to show the passion and the emotion.
Good evening.
I'm gonna be playing one of my own songs,
and, um, I wrote this song
when I attended my first protest.
It's titled "Our Lives Matter"
because they do.
This song is meant to cast out
the spirit of fear tonight,
and I hope that it does for all of us.
[audience cheering]
[singing in Xhosa]
[Simon] Yeah.
[continues singing in Xhosa]
[vocalizing]
[audience applauding, cheering]
[Wandile chuckles]
Thank you so much.
Whoo.
Whatever you felt,
you brought us into your story.
And we felt it, so thank you for that.
[Peck] As a fellow South African,
I just never thought I would hear
the words like, "Amandla Awethu"
- being said on a stage in Nashville.
- Yeah.
- It makes me so proud.
- Yeah. Thank you so much.
"Amandla Ngawethu"
means "power to the people."
- So, yes, power to the people.
- [Peck] Amandla Awethu.
Amandla Ngawethu.
You just have
such a great spirit with that,
and another extremely famous,
uh, Xhosa, Nelson Mandela,
he would be really proud of that
same spirit that you're carrying on.
It makes me really proud, man.
You're killing it.
It's one of 'em songs you just take in
and you live with it for a while,
and you think on it.
And that's what I'm gonna do.
- So, thank you for that.
- That was so beautiful.
- Yeah, man.
- So beautiful. Thank you so much.
Y'all give it up for Wandile!
[audience cheering]
- Hey!
- [contestants cheering]
[Wandile] I left my soul on stage.
I did exactly what I was told,
exactly what I needed to do,
and I felt the fear go.
I felt it being replaced by power,
conviction and trusting myself more.
Big round of applause
for Mickey Guyton's showcase
- and the artists tonight, everybody.
- [cheering]
- I thought tonight was amazing.
- It was amazing, right?
Yeah, I really did see growth
in a lot of people
that I felt needed growth.
Yeah.
And I see the people that are great
adding new tricks to what they do.
First we have Micaela.
Tell 'em I'm a good kisser... ♪
[Guyton] She's starting to become
more and more comfortable in her own skin.
I think she has grown and taken on
everything we've given her really fast.
- I like her. She's young.
- Yeah.
- She's still learning. She's growing.
- Yeah.
But was today enough?
- [Guyton] Yeah.
- What are we thinking about Dhruv?
Where do I write... ♪
[Guyton] What I love about Dhruv
is his thoughtfulness.
When he chose this song,
it was very intentional.
He's got his own style of country,
but it is country.
He... He maintains his culture,
he maintains his style,
and he's just incredibly talented.
- [Allen] Yeah.
- Absolutely.
[Peck] What are we thinking about Chuck?
Well, it's a winding road... ♪
[Allen] You feel who he is
not only as a musician, but as a person.
Him talking about his depression,
like, I really commend him for that.
For me, this was the most open
I've seen him through the whole show.
Yeah. I saw, like,
anger in his performance tonight.
- Yeah. A great way.
- I mean that in the best way.
It was like a release.
I still do wish
he could open up that much more.
I think he has to work on that
a little bit still.
Ophelia... ♪
[Guyton] The Congo Cowboys.
Simon and Julio are so used to
just being in the background.
And I was really, really excited
and proud of them.
- They really stepped up to the plate.
- [Peck] Oh, my God, yeah.
But I wonder if we have the time left
to see them get to that same point
that some of these artists
are kind of already at now.
And it might not be in the time frame
of this show essentially, you know?
Man, that's what makes this
so tough at this point.
So The Betsies.
I never said a word... ♪
[Guyton] This is the most
out of their comfort zone
I think they've ever been
in this competition.
They got rid of their...
their security blanket,
which is their guitars,
and really put themselves out there.
And I think that was really, really,
really admirable.
They're such deep artists...
- They very much so are.
- ...that it only really comes through
when they sing songs
that they're really connected to.
To me, they're not
the type of group that do covers.
This is the first time I've ever felt it.
They're usually so in control
of what they do,
and so it was lovely
to see them out of control,
'cause that's kind of
where some beautiful art is made.
Maybe they need some time
to go explore being out of control
- in that way a little bit, you know.
- Yeah.
Ale. I love Ale.
I'm without your kisses... ♪
[Allen] But I just felt like
that song didn't really do her justice,
- if that makes sense.
- It was right here. It was linear.
I wanna see her just do an original.
- Mm-hmm.
- We've only heard her do covers
- and, actually, until tonight...
- Yeah.
...and even tonight's,
predominantly in English.
[Allen] You could see the change
when she started singing in Spanish.
[Guyton] Absolutely.
Imagine you were singing a song
all in Spanish that's also a cover song,
and then suddenly you got to do
two lines in English.
- You'd be like, "Yeah!" You know?
- Yes!
- It's, like... It's so great to see.
- "I'm comfortable. I'm me again."
[singing in Xhosa]
- [Guyton] Wandile.
- [Allen] Man.
[Peck] Last week,
I thought he underperformed.
This week, this guy's come in here alone
from South Africa.
He gets on a stage in Nashville
and is just so proudly talking about
Black Lives Matter
and his experiences in South Africa.
And, like, I mean,
that's really powerful and brave.
- [Guyton] He showed the most growth today.
- [Peck] Absolutely.
That was night and day
for me from last week.
- [Guyton] Same.
- It's crazy what one workshop will do.
- We do have one more workshop.
- Mm-hmm.
And so, I also wonder,
are we gonna see Micaela grow to a point
that surprised us in the same way
that Wandile did today?
My only thing with Micaela is,
since she's so young
and we're throwing everything at her,
will she be able to take in
all this information
and figure out who she is quick enough?
I think better more so
than someone older in a way.
- Yeah.
- I love The Betsies.
But it's, like, are we gonna see
The Betsies grow further from a workshop
as opposed to someone like Micaela?
Personally, I'd think Micaela intrigues me
more as an artist just right now.
And even though I do see
The Betsies as an artist
and Micaela as a singer,
if they were to both
stand on stage and sing,
Micaela would automatically
get my attention.
- Yeah.
- Absolutely.
[Guyton]
We have to decide which of the artists
we should continue to
invest our time in and focus on.
Who do we think can win this competition?
[Landi]
Waiting to hear if we're in or not.
If we made it or not.
That's where the nerves kicks in.
Competition is tight.
- Yeah. [chuckles]
- [blows]
I can't even fake being funny.
I'm just gonna be nervous the entire time. Whoo.
- Y'all ready to bring 'em in?
- [Peck, Allen] Yeah.
Hello.
- Hello.
- [Allen] What's up?
- Hi, gang.
- What a day.
- What a damn day.
- It's a good day.
[Allen] Today I felt like
was the first day
you really showed
who the Congo Cowboys are.
Now that you saw who you could be,
you see what you can sound like,
you see what you can do,
y'all should really sit down as a band
and figure out,
"Okay, what direction do we wanna go in?"
And with only one showcase left
before the finale,
I don't feel like it's enough time
for you guys to really have it locked in,
who you are as a... as a band,
just from what we need to see.
Um, so unfortunately
you won't be moving forward.
Lifelong fan in me for sure.
Like, I just... You guys made me so proud.
I feel okay about it
because we gave it our all on the stage.
Yeah. Yeah.
And, um, it's obviously disappointing,
but we had a good time,
learned a lot, and we could leave proud.
The Betsies, you guys are great.
Unfortunately, you know, guys,
you won't be moving forward.
And the reason why is,
I would try, in different ways,
to take your performance
to the next level.
I think explore
what you learned today a bit further.
Like, go a little bit into losing control
- and a bit of the chaos.
- Yeah.
I mean, you made a huge impact on me,
on all of us.
- Yes. Thank y'all so much.
- It's really hard to see you guys going.
- Thanks, Orville.
- Thank you, guys.
We learned as much as we could.
We achieved what we wanted to.
And that's...
that's all there is at the end of the day.
- Okay. To the bar. No, I'm joking.
- [Landi chuckles]
- [Ale] Hey there.
- [Wandile] Hey, guys.
[Guyton] Hey, guys.
First, I just wanna say,
what a beautiful evening.
I mean, everyone tonight
was so, so, so good.
And again, we've been presented
with a very difficult task of course.
Um, Ale,
you came out tonight to show us
more of the artist that you are.
You know, I really loved
seeing you sing a bit more in Spanish,
'cause I can see that that's obviously,
like, your heart and your comfort.
Wandile,
you have just surpassed
every one of our expectations
in this workshop.
I encourage you to give us that much more
and continuously show us
who you are as an artist.
Micaela.
You know, the growth you've made
from the first day I met you,
it's, like,
truly actually quite inspiring.
And I... I just, you know...
Like, I hope you will
continue to trust that
and know that, because it really shows,
and there was so much
depth in your performance tonight.
And, Chuck, um...
tonight especially was really lovely
to see you opening up more.
And I am so excited to work with you.
This is, uh,
our top five going through to my workshop.
What?
- Hey!
- What?
[laughing]
- Yo. Did y'all see Dhruv's face...
- You're kidding.
...the whole time?
[Dhruv] I haven't hugged anyone
that tightly since I got here.
[laughs]
And I think I had a few tears in my eyes.
Mickey's workshop really taught me
how to not just elevate my performance,
but elevate my own confidence.
Believe in myself as a songwriter.
[Micaela] Aw, thank you.
This place has been good for my ego.
[Chuck] With this workshop,
I learned a lot about
what letting go looks like and feels like.
So, I'd like to keep it going.
- [Allen] Hey. [chuckles]
- Yes, sir.
[Wandile]
I'm just excited for the next week.
It's another...
You know, it's another challenge.
Let's go again.
- Cheers to you guys opening your hearts...
- [Peck] So deserving. We're very happy.
...and being on to the road
of your kind of country.
[Guyton] To hear more music
from The Betsies and the Congo Cowboys,
go to My Kind of Country
on Apple Music.