(UPDATED) It was the first time she had heard of the song.

So one can easily imagine the pressure on KZ Tandingan after she was given only 3 days to learn Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone" before her performance for this week's "Singer 2018."

"Naging challenge iyon sa akin kasi hindi ko talaga alam iyong kanta," acknowledged Tandingan, known for imbuing her covers with a soulful twist and in her efforts to make each one unique.

Speaking with ABS-CBN News' MJ Felipe, the Kapamilya singer also said that she had to hastily learn the song's guitar chords as she was asked to perform with an electric guitar.

She pointed out that it was her first time ever to do so onstage, "so medyo na-pressure ako [pero] tinanggap ko iyong challenge."

As seen in the episode aired Friday, the result was an energetic take on the hit, used as part of the soundtrack of the animated film "Cars."

She began by changing the first line from "I'm American made. Bud Light. Chevrolet" to "Filipino made. Spotlight. World stage." and concluded with a Tagalog rap.

It proved to be a fitting opener that no doubt had the Chinese audience, as well as her fellow contestants who were all seen jumping along with her, hyped up for the rest of the night.

To remain in the contest, Tandingan only has to avoid a last-place finish. She is competing with 7 others, including British pop star Jessie J, who was absent from Friday's episode due to illness.

In the previous episode, Tandingan finished fourth thanks to her dramatic rendition of "Say Something." She once claimed first after she wowed with her cover of "Rolling in the Deep" that included a Tagalog rap.

• READ: 'Nagulat ako': How KZ ranked after 'Say Something'
• READ: A Great Big World, humanga sa pag-awit ni KZ ng 'Say Something'