In the spring of 2013, channel SBS6 launched the talent show Blood, Sweat & Tears. After more than a decade of hit television, this program was a breath of fresh air. They were looking for a real folk singer and not just another smooth pop artist. The candidates were well screened and therefore almost all could sing excellently. It was mainly about appearance. The Hague gypsy singer Rein Mercha
… had, in addition to a golden throat, a gigantic dose of charisma and left many singers behind. In the summer of that year, Mercha releases the CD Full Passion & Emotion as a losing finalist. Only one song, and then also the bonus track, was sung in Sinti. The rest is Dutch-language pop music with a lot of life song influences, which the singer performs well. However, there is more personality in him than this CD shows. Mercha was the subject of a documentary in 2003 in which he showed that he wanted to break through as a gypsy with his folk music. This CD shows that it really is at its best when it remains authentic. (JE)more
