SINGER RACHEL IS GERI’S CHOICE
A CALL centre worker from the Valleys appeared on BBC One singing contest All Together Now last night – and she’s already one of the favourites of former Spice Girl Geri Horner.
Former Adele tribute act Rachel Lee Stephens, from Treherbert in the Rhondda, stunned the 100-strong panel of music experts and performers from across the UK, including the former Ginger Spice.
“I have to say, you’re my favourite,” Geri said to the 24-year-old, following her emotional performance of Jennifer Hudson’s Dreamgirls classic You’re Gonna Love Me.
Rachel, who has been singing her whole life, started performing seriously at the age of 15 after she joined her school choir.
“I had some singing lessons and it just went from there,” the fluent Welsh speaker and former Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda pupil said.
During her time studying performing arts at University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen, Rachel also worked as an Adele tribute act, performing at pubs, clubs and weddings.
“It was a bit of extra money while I was at uni,” she said.
“But I’ve stopped doing it now – mainly because Adele lost weight and dyed her hair and I’m just not willing to sacrifice my food.”
Having finished her studies Rachel decided to apply for the BBC One talent contest.
The show sees acts trying to get as many of the 100-person panel singing along with their performance as they can because the more of the 100 who join in the higher the contestant scores.
Each member of the 100 who joins in scores the act one point – but since the 100 are a broad mix of ages, musical backgrounds, music interests and opinions, getting them all joining in and singing along is no easy task. Rachel managed to impress more than 90 members of the panel, securing her a place in the final and a chance of winning the £50,000 series prize.
Introducing her performance, Rachel addressed the 100 and said: “I’m going to be singing a song with a lot of emotion behind it and it’s got a really big, heart-wrenching story.
“I hope you all grab that the same way I do when I perform it.”
Talking after the performance, Rachel also said: “It was crazy, because walking on stage there was complete silence.
“It was really nerve-wracking but as soon as I started singing I locked eyes with a couple of people in the audience and it made me feel at ease.
“The nerves just disappeared, although I was still a little bit conscious because it’s such a huge song.
“I love Dreamgirls and Jennifer Hudson but I’ve never sung such a big song.
“I thought ‘Well, why not risk it?’ I said to myself ‘You’ve got to just do it! If you don’t do it now, you’ll never do it.’
“I never expected Geri to stand up for me but when she did I was thrilled. I thought: h h ‘Y ‘Yes, I’ I’ve got a S Spice i Gi Girl l on my side.’ How amazing is that?”
As well as impressing host Geri, Rachel’s performance also struck a chord with panel judge and cabaret performer Kiki, who said: “Honey, you know what, everything about that was perfect for me.
“You had just the right amount of dirt in your voice.
“And I have to say, from one plus-size girl to another – I’m so super, super proud of you.”
Catch the next episode of All Together Now on Saturday at 7.15pm on BBC One.
I never expected Geri to stand up for me but when she did I was thrilled.