The annual Lip-It-Up show attracted many to Southfield High School’s auditorium on November 13 despite the inflated price of $5 per ticket and $7 at the door.
They came to see students impersonate their favorite entertainers. The panel of judges – former SHS student Ursula Buckanes-Henry, teachers Rita Teague, Sylvia Bailey, and Beverly Hicks and junior Philip Vails – decided that the group of B2K impersonators earned third place, Beyonce impersonator Melissa Stroud deserved second and Janet Jackson impersonator Shari Holly was worthy of the number one slot.
Holly, a senior, imitated Janet Jackson with a performance of “I Get Lonely” from her Velvet Rope album. Holly’s performance was fully equipped with the infamous dobb hat and black suit that Jackson is known for. This imitation Janet Jackson and her two dancers, juniors Cierra Ross and Victoria Reese, had great choreography. The dances kept the audience members dancing in their seats.
Stroud, also a senior, began her Beyonce performance with a dance and lip-sync segment to “Speechless.” When she moved into the presentation of “Baby Boy,” many dancers came from backstage to assist her. Senior Rahsaan Andrews emulated reggae sensation Sean Paul, whom the song features. Stroud and her dancers had their routine and energy down pat.
During the performance senior Aaron Baker came to the front of the stage to entertain the audience with his hip rolling skills. The screams from females in the audience bounced off the walls.
The anticipated performance from B2K sent the crowd into an uproar. Seniors Brandon Sturges, was the group’s J-Boog, Jamere Watley was Omarion, David Warren, was Lil’ Fizz and Brian Lee, was Raz-B. These B2K clones caused their own “pandemonium”. They performed “Bump That”, “Gots Ta Be” and went into the audience to pick out girls to sing “What A Girl Wants.” Their performance was fully equipped with ticking and hip rolling, which elicited constant screams from the audience.
While the scores were being tallied up, the audience was entertained by a lip-syncing performance of Ronald Isley’s “Contagious.” Senior Roger Pearson (Ronald Isley) came in from the right side of the auditorium in a black suit, matching hat that was tilted to the side and an addition to his belly. In the middle of the first verse, Lee (R. Kelly) and senior Orna Jones (Chante Moore) slipped behind the on-stage couch. When clothes were thrown over the couch to set the mood of the song, endless excitement came from the audience. From there, the performance followed the song’s music video.
Lip-It-Up brought many to the auditorium to be entertained, and it was a success in doing so. Even if it was overpriced.