The Filipino girl group 4th Power have renamed themselves 4th Impact. The four sisters Almira, Irene, Mylene and Celina Cercado revealed the name change on The Xtra Factor, a companion show of The X Factor UK.
Producers of the reality singing programme apparently advised the group to change their name after a copyright claim from another group, though no details were provided.
Eldest sister Almira, 27, said of their new group name: “We were used to 4th Power. When fans were taking pictures with us, they were always like, ‘Can we be 5th Power or 6th Power?’ We still want to maintain the ‘four’.”
The sisters made their first appearance as 4th Impact on the breakfast programme Good Morning Britain on Monday.
“What was it like getting the whole reaction you got?” presenter Charlotte Hawkins asked them. “Because as soon as people heard you sing for the first time, immediately everyone was saying, ‘They’re gonna win.’ There’s that real buzz.”
Almira replied: “Hearing that we’re the favourites is flattering because we never expected this warm welcome from the UK.”
The sisters also revealed that their hometown of Isabela, a province in northern Philippines, has been hit by Typhoon Koppu this week.
“I think there is no electricity in our hometown,” said Almira. “We know from posts from our relatives that their roofs have literally gone off and there are floods everywhere. Their houses are destroyed. I think they are safe — we are thankful for that.”
She added: "Now we are experiencing this glamour on X Factor but then our relatives there are experiencing that. It's very heartbreaking."
4th Impact have made it to X Factor's top 24. This weekend will feature a round dubbed as Judges' Houses, where the acts will battle it out for a place on the live shows.
“We are nervous,” said Almira of the forthcoming eliminations. “No words can express how we feel.”
artslife@thenational.ae
