Contestants on The Masked Singer prepare in many ways, but few have the advantage of a Grammy-winning vocal coach. Paparazzo, however, was lucky enough to have his girlfriend, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of TLC, by his side to offer guidance.
Paparazzo’s Big Reveal and Song Choice
During the April 16 episode, Paparazzo was revealed to be actor Matthew Lawrence. He performed “Unpretty,” a song by his girlfriend’s band, TLC. Lawrence, 45, admitted that singing a song so personally connected to Chilli was intimidating.
“Are you kidding me?! I don’t wanna butcher her song,” Lawrence joked. He had to seek permission from Chilli’s bandmate, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, since she co-wrote the track.
Choosing Unpretty for His Performance
When signing up for the show, Lawrence listed his favorite songs, and “Unpretty” was among them. He never expected the producers to choose it, but to his surprise, they did.
“I’ve been singing that song since it came out in 1999,” Lawrence shared. “It’s always been stuck in my head.”
Chilli’s Vocal Coaching and Support
Chilli, 54, provided key vocal coaching to Lawrence ahead of his performance. “She’s such a pro,” Lawrence praised. “Her main tip was to pace myself. If you’re moving around and worried about everything, you can lose your breath. She gave me some great tips to help me perform better.”
Was Chilli Impressed?
Was Chilli satisfied with how Lawrence did on stage? “Yes. Whether it’s real or not, she made it seem like she was very impressed,” Lawrence revealed. He added that her favorite performance of his was “Hallelujah,” which he performed during Shrek Night.
Overcoming Past Trauma
While Lawrence made it far on the show, joining The Masked Singer was a tough decision for him. He shared a past experience that still causes him to fear singing.
“I have a real fear of singing,” Lawrence admitted. “I bombed a big Broadway audition for Cry-Baby. It was awful, and since then, I never really got back on stage.”
However, thanks to his experience on the show and the support from Chilli, Lawrence has gained more confidence in his singing abilities.
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