As I was walking to the Tv Theatre today, I wondered if tonight's votes would be the same as it has been for the past 4 weeks - that Singapore would be sending home yet another talented female contestant.
Looks like Mae's exit last week has given voters a wake-up call, the person packing their bags this week is Duane. The youngest contestant at 16, Duane has NEVER been in the bottom 3 much less the bottom 2. Tonight he was both, and finally, surprisingly, got the boot.
Duane went from a judges' pet to weekly ridicule and I give him props for taking all that in, especially at just 16. Its not easy standing there and being judged. Despite the judges' lack of support, Duane got support, and apparently in spades as he coasted through week after week - safe from being in the bottom.
I wonder what happened - either his fans decided he was getting slammed too much they decided to not prolong his torture (doubtful) or the fans of the other idols and previously eliminated contestants have rallied together to pool their votes to change the voting pattern.
Well, whatever it is, its still sad to see Duane go. He's such a sweet kid and we've all come to know and love him. Those closest to him took it the hardest - Tabby and Faizal, who together with him and Farhan made up the 'Awesome Foursome'.
Here's Duane's exit song and exit interview.
Haven't watched his performance on tv yet, but what I saw/heard at the theatre LIVE wasn't too bad. In fact, I thought he was rather refreshing, a nice combo of piano playing and stage presence.
Anyway, Duane, the Idol journey may be over, but you made it to Top 6! Thats an achievement and you know you'll always always be a part of the Idol family! Keep dreaming big my dear! Love ya Duane!
xoxo, s.
who's in the top 3 excluding duane ? i didnt managed to catch the results show . ):
ReplyDeletegurmit only mentioned bottom 2, which is charles.
ReplyDeleteFaizal should be out (to be very honest). He has the weakest vocal quality and is very karaoke though he can sing and is a natural performer, but do we want such contestant to represent Singapore as our Music ambassador to the world? Please, no. Just listen carefully, you will realise that he had 5 consecutive poor performances as compared to the rest. It just irks that he is always safe because of the young fangirls who don't know about good music, keep voting blindly for him (while other better contestants deserve their spot in the Top 3). Even if he wins, no one else will buy his debut album except those teenyboopers who can just rip off free mp3 from the internet. Hope Singapore vote wisely next week.
ReplyDeleteI remember Faizal told 98.7 DJs (Dan and Young show) that Mae and Duane will not win or should get the boot. He said Mae is too old to be an Idol (but later changed his phrase to that being she is too mature to be Idol) and he also commented that Duane should focus on his studies first. Wonder anyone remember?
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not think Duane should defeat the girls in terms of his vocal ability and techniques, the other 3 remaining guys fare worse in my honest opinion (they have lacklustre performances and have been pretty inconsistent as well while Duane (like Malaque) is trying to improve.) Well, I really don't see why other guys keep advancing, it's just not fair.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's pity that Duane joined this competition too early. He should get a makeover and get a good vocal coach before joining Singapore Idol. Now that he finishes at Top 6, he will not have any chance of joining Singapore Idol again. The judges should tell him to get a makeover and buck on his consistency first before putting him into the Top 24. And well, Faizal is the worst singer in my honest opinion. Many people whom I know, including my folks, are complaining WHY Faizal is still in. Standards of Singapore Idol will drop if he goes on to win it.
HOW THE HECK COULD YOU GUYS LET THIS HAPPEN??
ReplyDeleteIn my humble opinion, Duane has one of the best voices in the show and it's not fair that he should be out NOW!! At the finals, maybe......
Anyway, I'd just like to say that the judges have been very unfair in bashing him about everything from his dance moves (which I liked), to his singing(which most would agree rocked EVERY WEEK) to his clothes (which I liked, but that's beside the point. WHO CARES???)to his song choices(which most people liked, exept for this week, and SYLVIA CHOSE IT!!!) What's with the one-trick horse stuff???? Florence better get a script done! its just so UNNATURAL to have her booed instead of, well, Ken and Dick. But she deserved it.
So Singapore, I hope you're happy! You got rid of the youngest, cutest, and probably most talented SI contestants!! I'm sorry, but to me, DUANE ROCKS!!!! STILL!!!
P.s This is a SINGING COMPETION. Not everything is based on comercial appeal and looks, got it??
Agree with the above poster, Faizal is the least marketable in my opinion - no one will buy his debut album even if he is good looking because his vocal quality is weak, he does not have what it takes to be a marketable singer. Sezairi is another least marketable singer - his singing lacks soul and is boring despite having the fake emotion and grooves - just listen carefully to his vocals, it lacks the range, power with forced and unnatural emotion. And well, Charles' voice is not bad but he cannot sing and his diction is not good. In my honest opinion, the guys are mediocre if to compare with international talents (just listen to them without seeing their handsome faces), they will fail to compete globally or even regionally (even if one of them wins Singapore Idol). Since Duane's family and fans want to spare him from further attacks by stop voting for him, the fangirls of the 3 guys should STOP wasting their parents' hard earned money on mediocre talents who will NEVER make it far even after they win!
ReplyDeletei completely agree, faizal has very weak vocals. so what if he's cute. there's plenty of cuter guys who can sing out there. he's not going to make it far at all. unlike hady or taufik.
ReplyDeleteif Duane was good, judges never save him so yea. just sthu (= its a competition of polling.. so singapore poll, and he get the lowest so ya its life.
ReplyDeleteif there was a contestant who didnt to deserve to go out, it was syltra(the first eliminated peep for top 13) seriously.
-pyro-
Yeah..I also strongly disagree with the namecalling. But honestly, I also agree with most of the people that Faizal's vocals are weak. Not fair for him to win it, since there are other more competitive contestants who will be marketable out of Singapore. Even if he has the looks, he will still not go far since his vocals are not outstanding. The point is, he has a weak voice who keeps going flat most of the time.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be some last minute change of presenting the bottom "HALF" in the results show last nite - as it turned out that Gurmit presented presumably the bottom 2 (Charles and Duane) although he keeps saying the bottom "HALF"... why not just put the bottom 3 since there was already 3 stools prepared?! which will then make it the bottom "HALF" - cos 2 out of 6 does not make "HALF"???? What gives???
ReplyDeleteIn the radio 98.7 interview with Faizal on the day before Mae got the boot, he said that Mae is too old to be Singapore Idol. Then he quickly changed his words back to "she is too matured...." He also said that Duane should go back to study. I wonder if he is genuinely sad when Duane and Mae are out.
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeletethanks for reading the blog and posting your comments.
Just wanted to say that Faizal is a very sweet boy and genuine person. He truly has a bond with Duane and Duane's departure from the show has upset him. But he is also a very focused and determined individual and he is concentrating on the competition now.
I'm not sure if his relationship with Mae ran as deep as his bond with Tabby, Farhan and Duane, but I'm sure he was also sad to see her go because she was the big sister of the group - and they were indeed a group, they were good friends, ARE good friends...all of them, 'the Idol journey' being the common bond.
I'm sure his choice of words etc had no underlying malice or ill will. they're speaking LIVE, and I guess he felt the word 'old' wasn't what he wanted to say - havent you ever slipped up before? I definitely have. :) so give the boy a break k? The journey has been long and arduous for ALL of them.
s.
Hi may I know the title of Duane's exit song?
ReplyDeleteDuane's exit song was the one he sang during MJ Week...The Girl Is Mine by Michael Jackson.
ReplyDeletes.
BTW, I felt he did well on MJ week with that song although the judges didnt like it (what's new?!) cos I thot he put in his own style into it, it was cool & breezy, easy listening... one thing I know, Duane interprets each week's song very well and sings them like he means it.. He connects with his audience and that is important.. He listens to the lyrics, he puts in the right attitude and he does not over-do it, some contestants try too hard to put in too many runs, not necessary! Anyway, a great talent and 100% entertainment on Singapore Idol - without him, I think it would be so boring to watch all those past weeks... perfect-looking people with good looks each week (no change) can be boring too! as for Duane, I can see his transformation each week - he gets better looking and he ups his game each week too!! You Go Duane!! Its only the beginning... you have greatest potential and there are many people in Singapore who believe in you and LOVE you!! Duane Rawks!
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