DESCRIBING the veteran pop act, Charles Oputa (aka Charly Boy) as a maverick is no longer news.Sometimes it appears the word does not totally capture his antics such as the most recent at the regional auditions of Nigerian Idol in Enugu (Coal City).This time the former president of Performing Musician's Association of Nigeria (PMAN), who was one of the invited judges arrived the venue penultimate Monday with a curious box. On his seat among the judges, with the audition on the way, he brought out a big python from the case, hence the concluding part of the audition went into frenzy.It was gathered that when Charly Boy, also known as 'Area Fada,' requested to bring his pet python, named Abiku, to the judges' table, the unusual request did not go down well with the organisers who tried to talk him out of the idea. But to no avail. At this point, the smooth-talking American musician and fellow Nigerian Idol judge, Jeffrey Daniel waded into the matter by further persuading Charly Boy. While that was going on, the snake's box suddenly flew open and the python raised his head charging at the cameras. The shocked crew took to their heels. It took the call and caress of Charly Boy who chased after the enormous serpent got hold of it and calmed it down. A slow massage that took about 10 minutes and tender words of love from the weird musician calmed Abiku finally, and the reptile quietly slithered to it's box.Thereafter, Charly Boy sat down at the judges table to carry out his duties. The snake experience was as awe inspiring as it was entertaining, making the Coal City experience of the Nigerian Idol competition memorable as 'the show in a show.' It a well served stunt from the enigmatic Charly Boy who now earns a reputation for snake charming among many of his sensational social tags. Indeed, how Charly Boy charmed that his monstrous pet held the crew and the organisers of the show spellbound. Shivers ran down people's spines as the giant snake slithered around the venue. Some were forced to leave the venue with the fear that it was not only a show. Meanwhile, as everyone kept their distance, the middle aged Area Fada fearlessly romanced the animal like an experienced snake charmer, showing no sign of fear while putting his hands in the mouth of the python, caressing the monster.But reports from the several Nigerian Idol venues hint that Charly Boy, as a judge, was equally as unpredictable as he was dramatic as contestants had to really be good to get his 'yes' nod. At the Enugu edition some of the up-and-coming artistes who could not scale through in Abuja and Port Harcourt appeared surprised to meet him again in the Coal City. Some grumbled when they could not still get his 'Yes'. But the pop act and media mogul seemed to have addressed their predicament after the snake show. He said that his 'mystique' stance was to test the elastic limit of the artistes' patience, confidence and seriousness. The python show, as he explained, was a show with a significant message that life is about daring to do the impossible. Somewhat communicating to the contestants that his high stance on aptitude is simply to bring out the best in them, and to prod them to add consistency, dogged character and boldness to their art as that is what would make them notable brands. He equally hinted his desire to see finalists who would be of star quality able to confront future challenges even if they may not be the best singers. 'Those with the driving force to overcome all obstacles in order to rise to stardom.'It is not yet sure whether the python would move with the audition train to Lagos which is the next location of the Nigeria Idol screening.The Idol franchise is a musical platform that cuts across all continents, from the Americas to Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It ha produced world's music stars like Jennifer Hudson, Ruben Stoddard, Carrie Underwood and last year, Nigeria's version of the music talent hunt produced Yeka Onka as champion.
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