KaBaBoom
It was interesting to read in Friday's LIFE section about Singapore Idol. Someone wrote in commenting about the competition and its judges. But it wasn't a nobody... it was actually Hans Erbert, Executive Director of EMI Music, South East Asia. I was like... woah! this guy is somebody! Better listen to what he says, so i read on...
As someone who knows the Singapore music scene fairly well and who has heard some of the judges, my personal take is that this programme is more of a forum for four mismatched judges to promote themselves than to find real talent that will make Singapore proud.
I can see and understand that most of the judges, especially Ken Lim and Dick Lee, probably see themselves as Singapore's answer to American Idol judge Simon Cowell.
But they have not understood what make Cowell unique. Yes, he was straightforward and blunt, but he was never subjective, rude and more to the point, destructive. Some of the lines muttered show a bitchiness and pettiness that makes this reader wonder if they're using this programme to air their personal grievances about some of the contestants.
The judges of Singapore Idol have, for whatever reason, sent a number of excellent talents packing. If any of these people wish to have a recording company give them an objective and fair listening, just tell them to send me their demos.
In the meantime, will Singapore Idol succeed in finding Singapore's first Pop Idol?
A winner? Yes. An idol? Never.
Hans Erbert
Executive Director
EMI Music South East Asia
When i read that, i was like... woah! its so true! while i only disagree with him on Ken Lim(i still think Ken Lim's comments make sense, without being rude), i have to agree with the rest. The other judges aren't really all that great, and they DID send some contestants packing. After watching the second group of the top 30, i have realised that the quality of SI just isn't there. When watching American Idol, during the group stages quite a few people stood out. They had outstanding voices, stage presence and great personality, although maybe not all at once(with the exception of Fantasia). Fantasia, Diana, La Toya... they immediately stood out in the group stages. In the previous AI, Clay, Ruben, Trenyce... they were, even in the group stages, already many times the stars that our local version have. No one has stood out for me in the group stages of SI. The best singers so far in SI, the ones with the best voices and talent, in my opinion, are already out. The three people that really stood out for me during the auditions were,
1 : The girl who sang Fallin by Alicia Keys, but were kicked out by the judges because she 'refused to change'. She said she would change her image a little bit, but not too much. I guess i can understand the judges wanting to package her for the masses, but it was only the first audition, and her voice was superb. They should have let her go through and let the public decide if she needs to change that much.
2: The girl who also sang an Alicia Keys song, If I ain't got You. This girl was sent by the judges to get at least 5 people who like her singing for her to go through. Now, i thought that was weird, cos in AI the judges only did things like that when the singers really sucked and needed to be brought down to earth. This girl sang well, and easily got her 5 people, and the judges let her through. Ah, well. During the top 100, she sang Christina Aguileira's Reflections from Disney's Mulan, which i thought she did a good job. But she was sent packing. She was cute, too.
3: The last guy was the guy who sang Solitaire, but eliminated himself to help to support his family. I have full respect for this guy, and he sang a flawless Solitaire.
Will I still watch every episode of Singapore Idol? Yes. Will i vote if i could? Yes. In group 2 i would have voted Joanna instead of Daphne, who i though was too kiddy and didn't have that great a voice. Its beyond me why Florence though she'd rock the idol world. I though Joanna was, first of all, much cuter, and sang a little bit better.
SI may have lousier singers, but i can still hope, and i still support David Yeo. Go reformed Ah Beng!
As someone who knows the Singapore music scene fairly well and who has heard some of the judges, my personal take is that this programme is more of a forum for four mismatched judges to promote themselves than to find real talent that will make Singapore proud.
I can see and understand that most of the judges, especially Ken Lim and Dick Lee, probably see themselves as Singapore's answer to American Idol judge Simon Cowell.
But they have not understood what make Cowell unique. Yes, he was straightforward and blunt, but he was never subjective, rude and more to the point, destructive. Some of the lines muttered show a bitchiness and pettiness that makes this reader wonder if they're using this programme to air their personal grievances about some of the contestants.
The judges of Singapore Idol have, for whatever reason, sent a number of excellent talents packing. If any of these people wish to have a recording company give them an objective and fair listening, just tell them to send me their demos.
In the meantime, will Singapore Idol succeed in finding Singapore's first Pop Idol?
A winner? Yes. An idol? Never.
Hans Erbert
Executive Director
EMI Music South East Asia
When i read that, i was like... woah! its so true! while i only disagree with him on Ken Lim(i still think Ken Lim's comments make sense, without being rude), i have to agree with the rest. The other judges aren't really all that great, and they DID send some contestants packing. After watching the second group of the top 30, i have realised that the quality of SI just isn't there. When watching American Idol, during the group stages quite a few people stood out. They had outstanding voices, stage presence and great personality, although maybe not all at once(with the exception of Fantasia). Fantasia, Diana, La Toya... they immediately stood out in the group stages. In the previous AI, Clay, Ruben, Trenyce... they were, even in the group stages, already many times the stars that our local version have. No one has stood out for me in the group stages of SI. The best singers so far in SI, the ones with the best voices and talent, in my opinion, are already out. The three people that really stood out for me during the auditions were,
1 : The girl who sang Fallin by Alicia Keys, but were kicked out by the judges because she 'refused to change'. She said she would change her image a little bit, but not too much. I guess i can understand the judges wanting to package her for the masses, but it was only the first audition, and her voice was superb. They should have let her go through and let the public decide if she needs to change that much.
2: The girl who also sang an Alicia Keys song, If I ain't got You. This girl was sent by the judges to get at least 5 people who like her singing for her to go through. Now, i thought that was weird, cos in AI the judges only did things like that when the singers really sucked and needed to be brought down to earth. This girl sang well, and easily got her 5 people, and the judges let her through. Ah, well. During the top 100, she sang Christina Aguileira's Reflections from Disney's Mulan, which i thought she did a good job. But she was sent packing. She was cute, too.
3: The last guy was the guy who sang Solitaire, but eliminated himself to help to support his family. I have full respect for this guy, and he sang a flawless Solitaire.
Will I still watch every episode of Singapore Idol? Yes. Will i vote if i could? Yes. In group 2 i would have voted Joanna instead of Daphne, who i though was too kiddy and didn't have that great a voice. Its beyond me why Florence though she'd rock the idol world. I though Joanna was, first of all, much cuter, and sang a little bit better.
SI may have lousier singers, but i can still hope, and i still support David Yeo. Go reformed Ah Beng!
posted by Unknown at 6:48 PM
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