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Everything You Need to Know About Backbeat’s Cover Artist of the Year Competition
Kelsi Jay, The Daily Sting, Music
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With voting opening this weekend, Backbeat refuses to slide out of Twitter’s trending list. The annual competition has been expanding since 2013 when Triple Threat’s Victor Nikiforov began following and endorsing the event. However, since that year, the competition has grown far beyond the range of just Nikiforov, and most of the internet seems to be holding it’s breath in anticipation for voting.
The top contender this year is Phichit Chulanont, as expected. Chulanont won the competition last year, securing his position as “the internet’s favorite sunshine child”. Though his follower count on Instagram is exceptionally high, Chulanont’s Youtube is full of music videos that never disappoint. Chulanont’s channel also includes occasional reaction videos, makeup tutorials, and adorable footage featuring his many hamsters.
Chulanont’s main competition is Christophe Giacometti, a cover artist famous for his sultry musical style and sensational choreography. Highlights of Giacometti’s Youtube channel include fashion commentaries, drag routines, and criminally seductive music videos. As of two weeks ago, Giacometti officially has more subscribers than Chulanont’s channel, though Chulanont still dominates the Instagram scene.
Other contenders for this year’s award include pianist Seung-Gil Lee, Tripple Threat enthusiast Kenjirou Minami, and folk guitarist Sara Crispino. Though most nominees have proven to be incredibly talented, the main race seems to be between Chulanont and Giacometti, though nothing can officially be seen until voting opens.
Stay tuned by subscribing to the Daily Sting Music channel for further updates, and be sure to vote on December first at backbeat.com/caoty.
Christophe-gc: Three more days!!!
Phichit+chu: Three?
Phichit+chu: It’s Tuesday?
Christophe-gc: *Three days until my new video drops
Phichit+chu: I’m not posting another thirst tweet for you to read
Christophe-gc: But the last one was so pure??
Christophe-gc: Almost made me believe in love
Phichit+chu: It was about Dante, what did you expect?
Christophe-gc: …
Christophe-gc: Isn’t Dante one of your hamsters?
Christophe-gc: Never mind, cher, no thirst tweets this week
Christophe-gc: This week is new music
Christophe-gc: The promo just went up on my Insta actually
Phichit+chu: Music??
Phichit+chu: Two days before Backbeat????
Phichit+chu: Chris wtf?????
Christophe-gc: What can I say, darling, inspiration hit, I had to follow it
Christophe-gc: It’s nothing too crazy, just a cover from some movie
Christophe-gc: 2010 maybe? Had Christina Aguilera?
Phichit+chu: ????
Phichit+chu: No
Phichit+chu: Bitch
Christophe-gc: ...Did the internet’s favorite sunshine child just swear at me??
Phichit+chu: I swear to God I will end you
Phichit+chu: I will end you and burn your whole wardrobe
@christophe-gc: Brace yourselves, darlings! New music drops on Youtube this Friday!
[IMG: Christophe Giacometti wearing dark red lipstick, a mascara brush held between his teeth. The background behind him is dark, face dramatically lit.]
@giacomettea: This is my only motivation to make it through finals
@ldelaigs: I’d sell my soul for eyelashes half that long
@christistan: @ldelaigs I’d sell my soul to be that mascara brush
@haschulavistababy: But right before backbeat?? Desperate much?
@sungilly: @haschulavistababy Chris’s subscriber count begs to differ
@ttthreattt: Ok but the real talk- is this the Mariah Carey cover?
@christimetti: @ttthreattt that was two years ago??? Let it go??????
@ttthreattt: @chrisimetti I’m not over it
Somewhere in Los Angeles, Phichit Culanont was throwing his phone against his apartment wall.
Metaphorically, of course.
YouTube Legend Christophe Giacometti Drops New Music Video Overnight
Derrick Stone, Northwoods Music
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For YouTube legend Christophe Giacometti, there’s no better time to release new music than the day before Backbeat. Giacometti’s new music video, a rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Show Me How You Burlesque,” went online at midnight this morning, exactly twenty-four hours before voting opens.
Giacometti is currently trending on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, as well as Tumblr. His fellow internet sensation, Phichit Chulanont, has yet to make a statement, however, fans and rivals alike seem to be actively anticipating it. Though Chulanont and Giacometti have been the fan favorites for Backbeat’s Cover Artist of the Year, it’s suspected that this music video could push Giacometti’s name to the top.
Phichit+chu: You had to strip didn’t you
Phichit+chu: Like God was the thong really necessary????
Phichit+chu: I can’t believe you
Christophe-gc: Absolutely.
Christophe-gc: Is that a question?
Christophe-gc: I mean I can’t believe your makeup tutorials, so we’re even?
Phichit+chu: Please
Phichit+chu: We are so far from even
Christophe-gc: And what do you propose I do to remedy that?
Phichit+chu: …
Phichit+chu: The lipstick you bought for your subpar striptease
Phichit+chu: What was it?
Christophe-gc: MAC, Shiny Pretty Things, Straight Fire
Christophe-gc: Why?
Christophe-gc: And subpar??
Christophe-gc: My ass has never been subpar and you know it
Leo de la Iglesia @leodelabackbeat: Are you ready for voting? Because we are! Polls are open for the next week, cast your vote here !
The morning after Leo’s much-anticipated tweet, Phichit went live on Instagram. He was standing in front of his bathroom mirror, makeup sprawled across the counter as he went through his morning routine.
“If you didn’t already know,” he said as he pulled out his primer. “Backbeat opened last night. Now I won last year and I’d really love to win again, so if you haven’t voted yet, now would be an excellent time. You can close Insta for a second, I’ll be here when you get back.”
He paused for a moment before glancing back down at his phone. “Do I really think I can win?” he read. “I mean, I hope so. It probably depends on how many live streams I do.”
He reached for his foundation, laughing as he read through the chat stream.
“I mean, sure,” he said. “You all have wonderful ideas. I mean, I could just start streaming naked, I’m sure that would push me over the top.”
“Was that shade?” he clarified two seconds later. “Of course not. Everyone has their talents in life. For example, I’m good at winged eyeliner and cover music. Chris, on the other hand, is good at being a slut. All viable skills, children.”
He paused for a minute to double check his foundation coverage before moving on to a contour.
“When am I releasing new music?” he read from the screen. “When I feel like it. And when my new lipstick comes in. For now you’ll have to wait.”
“Is music dropping before Backbeat closes? Absolutely not, I’m not crazy. I’m hoping to release before new years, though.”
He stopped reading for a minute as he examined his cheekbones. “Those look even, right? I think they’re even.”
He set his brush down and started to read through the chat again.
“Do I have any other plans for new years? Well, I guess that depends on who wins Backbeat. But for now, I’m just planning on chilling at the apartment, probably binging old drag race episodes.”
He read the next comment and laughed. “No, I’m not doing drag. Not yet that is. Maybe someday.”
“Would I do drag with Chris? If he asked? Absolutely.”
He started to grab an eyeshadow palette but stopped when he saw the latest question on his phone.
“Are you and Chris secretly dating?”
For a second, he just stared at the camera in disbelief.
Then he laughed, shaking his head.
“Trust me, if I were dating Chris Giacometti it wouldn’t be a secret.”
Christophe-gc: So drag, huh?
Christophe-gc: You should’ve said something sooner, cher
Phichit+chu: I’m not that serious
Phichit+chu: Tbh I mainly sid it to convince people I don’t hate you
Christophe-gc: You don’t??
Phichit+chu: No??
Christophe-gc: Well damn
Christophe-gc: And if I win Backbeat?
Phichit+chu: I’ll kick your ass next year
Christophe-gc: All this talk and it’s gonna be Gilly
Phichit+chu: Well if Seung wins you can come over on New Years and watch drag race with me
Phichit+chu: And we can cry together
Christophe-gc: Ah but darling who would I kiss at midnight??
Phichit+chu: I have a nice poster of Adore Delano
Phichit+chu: Limited edition
Christophe-gc: Alright if we don’t win, I’ll hold you to that
Christophe-gc: Oh and for the record I’m glad you think I’m a talented slut
The next week, Christophe Giacometti was named Backbeat’s Cover Artist of the Year.
Phichit Chulanont pretended to be surprised.