Uché's energy level is never not at a ten. The American Idol contestant recently delivered an electrifying performance of "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry during the singing competition's showcase round for its top 40 contestants. Lionel Richie, Katy Perry [1], and Luke Bryan clearly enjoyed it, too, as the judges were on their feet for the entire performance. "You can't teach stage presence. That was a natural gift you had out there," Richie told Uché following the performance.
Uché practically didn't make it onto the show after Richie couldn't quite figure out the singer's style based on his initial audition [3]. (Uché auditioned with both Christina Aguilera [4]'s "Ain't No Other Man" and Smokie Norful's "God Is Able.") After Uché listed Prince, Rick James, and Bobby Brown as a few of his musical influences, however, Richie changed his vote. In the following round, Uché performed "Scars to Your Beautiful" [5] by Alessia Cara. Watch his latest performance above.