IDOL DAY #3

American Idol 3 times a week!

Today is the first of three weeks of where we'll get to watch American Idol 3 days in a row. We're now at the piano show rounds where we whittle the Top 24 down to your Top 12. Girls will sing every Wednesday night while the boys will sing Thursday nights. Each week, Friday's results show will see 2 girls and 2 boys going home until we hit the sweet number 12.

Top 24 Girls

The girls took to the stage on Wednesday night, kick-starting AI9's voting machine. It was dubbed the '2-Hour Live Event', imo, it was a non-event. For all the talent and unique tones many of the girls had, their piano round was simply boring.

Some of my favourites were Lilly Scott, Didi Benami, Janell Wheeler and Ashley Rodriguez, whose performances I was looking forward to watching. I wasn't a huge fan of Crystal Bowersox, and her adding her harmonica to the mix again, just didn't endear her to me. Like Simon, I had expected more from her. Same goes for Ashley. I had expected more from her, she was the first contestant I fell in love with from the early audition shows, and the fact that she wasn't featured much during Hollywood rounds made me look forward to her piano show debut even more. But alas, her "Happy" performance fell a little short.

The girl that opened the show was Paige whatshername. And therein lies the problem. I can't even remember her last name. She was hardly featured until now, so even with her great voice (which sounded like any other black diva vocal), she failed to leave an impression on me.

Haeley Vaughn annoyed me with her frozen smile and Katie Stevens annoyed me with her granny song, despite stellar vocals. I dunno, maybe its the Blair Waldorf headband or the prom dress, but imo she appeared a little cocky, hope she goes back to likeable in the next show (I'm sure she'll make it through - cute enough and good enough vocally to gain votes).

Michelle Delamor is another contestant you never really heard of. They suddenly turned the spotlight on her when they did the room-to-room results and I was like, Michelle who again? I actually liked her singing 'Fallin'', and from some angles she actually looked like Alicia Keys! Her sister who sat in the audience is GORGEOUS btw! But thats beside the point.

Lacey Brown, the comeback kid from Season 8 did ok. Not the best song choice for a first show, not very wow, but imo enough to make it through. Same goes for Didi 'my fave' Benami. She has a gorgeous tone and she's very likeable and genuine, so I'm sure she'll make it through to the next round. Likewise Katelyn Epperly seems like someone America would vote for despite her 'old-ish', cabaret-ish performance. I have to agree with Kara, I liked her better when she was au naturel cos this girl is gorgeous with that curly hair and sunkissed skin. She SO did not need that PVC tube dress (but its cool that it had pockets) and bright red lipstick. I woulda preferred if she sang like a Taylor Swift song.

Lilly Scott was pretty unique, and confident and comfortable onstage. She should be going through. Janell Wheeler was totally forgettable this time. Like Kara said, when she sang 'American Boy' at Hollywood Week, you could hear her unique tone, but the song she chose this time round just buried it.

The surprise of the night was Siobhan Magnus. Simon said she's a 'quirky little thing' and I think that totally works for her now. The song she chose was kinda dark, but again it worked for her. I just wanna say, girl, get rid of the nose ring, you look like a cow, how 'bout a stud instead? I mean, she's quite pretty right? I actually find her quite fascinating to watch - she seems unpredictable and its kinda like you never know when she's gonna freak out or have a breakdown.

So outta all the girls - who's in trouble?

Imo, Haeley, Paige and Janell could be goin' home. My gut wants me to type Ashley, but I'm willing it NOT to happen - I really hope America gives her another chance - she so preety la!

The rest should be relatively safe. I think between Haeley and Paige, most likely Haeley will go, despite having a story, because Paige has the stronger voice. As for Janell, well, this is an out-there theory, but she and Didi are really similar, and you just need one of them on the show, and based on likeability, exposure, story and performance, Didi trumps Janell this time.

Which two girls do you think will be going home tonight?

Top 24 Guys

Last night, it was the guys turn to take to the stage and maybe its because its the first live round and everyone has the nerves, but again it was SO NOT an 'event'. However, saying that, compared to the girls' show, it had a few more bright sparks.

I totally enjoyed performances from Joe Munoz, Casey James and Michael Lynche. As usual, Big Mike's bubbly larger-than-life personality gave the grumpy panel a much needed perk-me-up midway through the show. And hey guess what, I wasn't the only one who thought Mike's guitar looked like a ukelele next to him! Thank you Ryan Seacrest for the validation! LOL!

Joe Munoz got next to no backstory previously, and 'meeting' him for the first time last night, I thought he was genuine, sincere and a sweetheart. I liked how he looked straight into cam and it felt like he was looking right at you. Nice. Hope he gets through. Although, when he kinda played the 'race/nationality' card by giving a special shoutout to 'mexico' (or somewhere), I got a bit worried. Hope that doesn't have any adverse effects. Remember the flak Sylvia got for acknowledging her Filipino heritage? tsk. Hello, mass appeal, mass appeal, don't pigeon hole yourself so early on k! You'll alienate voters!

Lets all be...*shiny happy people holding hands*

Producers totally milked the Kara/Cougar angle for Casey James. Aiyo, so over it liao, lets move on. I thought he did well. Totally agree with judges that it was the perfect song choice for him. Good job - definitely going through to next week. No way in h*ck will he be out.

Likewise, fellow country crooner Aaron Kelly is also a shoo-in to carry on. I thought he did a good job on the vocals and I followed the performance despite not being too interested in the song - I was just enjoying his voice.

I was also looking forward to seeing how Lee Dewyze would do. I actually really like his voice. Its so manly! Woot! But when I heard he was singing 'Chasing Cars', my first thought was Jonathan Leong, followed by 'omg what a boring song'! I would've liked to hear him sing something else from The Fray or like Hoobastank or even Daughtry. Or like Randy suggested, Kings Of Leon. But he had presence, and he's so likeable. I was on the fence about him before, but when Ryan asked how he was feeling and he replied, "I don't wanna lose this feeling, ever" - he totally won me over. Surprisingly Simon liked him a lot and thought he did great.

I was majorly disappointed with three favourites - Todrick Hall, Jermaine Sellers and Andrew Garcia. Todrick cos he totally butchered Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone'. It wasn't that I loved the song (cos I do), it was just that it was so overdone, it might as well have been a new song with the same title. Totally lost its essence. But I do give him props for trying to be different.

Likewise Jermaine Sellers. He totally oversang his song. Agree with Randy, the melody is so beautiful, he shoulda just sung it straight with sincerity - woulda worked.

I lost interest half way through Andrew Garcia's song. I had been looking forward to his performance all night and he closed the show with a song that not many could connect with. I love his voice, but I have to agree with Simon, it came across a little indulgent.

I hope these three will continue on next week.

Alex Lambert seemed awkward onstage and for some reason reminded me of Judd Nelson/Andrew McCarthy. He has a real 80s vibe about him. But I do love his tone which we never really got to hear in earlier rounds. Hopefully he can up his game next week otherwise its bye bye.

Tim Urban was totally 'buried' (Kara's words) by the music. A last minute replacement for dropped Top 24-er Chris Golightly (check out the screenshot from Hollywood week's announcement of Top24, Chris had made it!), Tim was probably the weakest performer last night, but I have a feeling he'll last another week or two because he's cute. The judges said so themselves, and in saying so, I think have spurred on even more little girls to vote for him mindlessly. I don't mind - eye candy for me too. His performance was like that of an actor who is asked to sing for those Charity shows eg like Tay Ping Hui being asked to sing for President's Star Charity, except it wasn't pre-recorded - maybe it shoulda been :P. But I like him, so I don't mind seeing him again next week, hopefully with a new gameplan.

Tyler Grady. Aiyo. Ouch. Did not work lor. Nice boy. But that song/performance just did not work. I think he could be going home.

John Park. Lagi Aiyo. I get the song meant a lot to him, but it sure didn't seem that way when he sang. He was deadpan most of the way. I thought he had a great voice, but imo that song was totally self-indulgent. I could hardly hear the lyrics in the opening verse, I could not make out what he was singing til we got to the chorus. I only recognised one word 'Jesus' somewhere in there.

Imo, the ones in trouble tonight are Tyler and John, and possibly Jermaine? But we'll see.

Which two guys do you think will be out?

How did Ellen do on her first live show?

Again its pretty obvious that producers are trying to get the viewers acquainted with Ellen. She's getting double the airtime that the other 3 judges are getting, because most times, Ryan will throw her an extra question after 'judging' is done.

Imo, Ellen fits in quite nicely on the panel. She seems to know her music well. She mentioned in interviews before that she wanted to be honest but also be nice. I think she really is doing her best to personify this. However in doing so, it comes across like Chandler's inability to break it off with a bad date. There's this episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. where Chandler goes on a date with Rachel's boss and totally hates it but doesn't know how NOT to let her down gently. He ends the horrible date by saying he'll call (but he doesn't intend to). Its the same with Ellen. She says, "I like you but you sounded terrible, that was the wrong song for you, didn't quite get it there, don't think you had presence etc, but, you know, I like you." Its like she's cushioning the blow. I geddit, its a typical human thing to do to not hurt people. It was ok the first few times, but after 12 rounds, it got a bit old and insincere and honestly, a little befuddling - so did you think he was good or not?

Simon, Kara and Randy I thought were in top form.

As the years have gone by, the quality of contestants joining Idol has improved and its gotten so much more technical than in previous seasons. Especially with Kara on board, she and Randy are so technical, its nice to see. And even Simon now talks about creativity and making a song your own etc. In earlier seasons, you would always hear him say, 'that sounded like bad kareeokee' - it was truly just a singing competition. But now, its about finding someone who can be a successful artiste. Thank you David Cook for changing things up and Adam Lambert for amping it even further!

Just 3 hours to go before we get to watch the 1-hour Results show. NO SPOILERS PLEASE :) Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta are on. Woot!

xoxo, s.

ps. Survivor 20 on in 2 and half hours!

pps. The only drawback of having 2-hour Idol episodes is America's Next Top Model being taken off the schedule for a while :( I need my Tyra fix!

American Idol Season 9 airs in Singapore on Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays at 6pm (repeats at 8pm and 12am) on Starworld and on Channel 5 at 10.30pm.

Adding on to : After The Show : Sittin' with the first 6

Sorry Syltra!

Can't believe I didn't add your video - *bang head on wall* so blur.

Here's Syltra's Thank You vid that Iz filmed (but by now you'll all probably seen it somewhere :P) - better late than never?

btw Iz! love the yellow background - makes everyone seem so chirpy. The rest of the room is dead boring white! hahaha!

Syltra blew the audience away with her Black Horse & Cherry Tree. As you can see from this vid, she's bursting with energy, and her performance was exactly that, bursting at the seams with energy and personality.

Ken mentioned she shouldn't keep using her 'agression'. I didn't think she was aggressive, but I kinda understand what he's saying (and so did Syltra btw). I think he's saying that she has to be versatile, that she can't always do this type of full-on, in-your-face, energiser-bunny performances. She will have to be tone it down or colour it up depending on the genre for the week, and not interpret the songs only the Syltra-way (as per what we've seen on Wed night).

I'm sure as she grows with the show, the 'Syltra-way' will evolve (well at least I'm hoping it will).

At the moment, my money's been on this dark horse since theatre auditions, am watching to see if I should need to move my bets (LOL!). Still early to tell, since the other 12 haven't performed - I have a few other bets goin' on there - Gabby, Mae, Airi and this may surprise you.....Jonathan.

Ok, thats the add-on for my post. Syltra, sorry again that I missed you out. My bad.

Oh, and before I go, check out this cool post from Gabrielle. Loved the whole post from the loony (slightly) lipsyncing at the start to the very very profound poem in the middle (it spoke to me too!). And I love how she's still 'playing ball' with her ADD (ay-dee-dee) dog while recording this message - hilarious and so classic Gabby. How can you not love this girl?

Here's the poem for those of you who couldn't catch it...its called Risk....and this is how the cookie crumbles <-- :) this makes me smile...

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to others is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams,
before a crowd is to risk their loss. (like talking to the Idols rite?)
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the
greatest hazard in life is to do nothing.
The people who risk nothing, does nothing,
has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change,
grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are a slave;
and they've forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

Wahlao Gabby read this so fast (ok for listening, difficult to follow type)...I replayed it at least 8 times! hahahha!

"Wait i put the music off cos its very serious..." <-- sorry I know you're being serious, but every time I heard this I LOL, so cute la you!"

Good pep talk Gabs, are you all listening Top 24 (yes all of you!).

Joining Idol is a big personal risk. The risk of self exposure is so great. I personally cannot do that, why do you think I hide behind this laptop (ok, I can't really sing either). I applaud everyone who had the courage to expose themselves by being on Idol. You put yourself out there to be judged by the public, AND the judges on National TV (and some say Batam and JB).

*Clap clap clap*

Have a great roadshow tomorrow Group 2 and an uneventful choreo session on Monday (read : no scolding and diva moments from Zaki).

Much love to muh LODIs and all the readers, thanks for following this blog! :)

xoxo, s.

ps. feeling all emo now after Gabby's poem ... *sniff* need to go hug the kids NOW.

Singapore Idol Ep 5 is up!!!

Episode 5, the first Piano Show is finally up on YouTube! Enjoy!!!

13 parts! Thanks to Nazamania! Awesome stuff dude!

I'm sure Mae's husband in Australia is lovin' you! LOL :)

xoxo, s.

After The Show : Sittin' With The First 6

After the Show....

The Results Show was such a roller coaster ride. Thanks mostly to Gurmit who kept everyone in suspense at every point. "We'll find out....right after the break!" <-- oldest trick in the book but we, the audience, can't do anything about it right??

Everyone was emotionally spent right after. Amidst goodbye hugs, tears and promises to keep in touch, I managed to track down Uncle Ken (ok, more like I tailed him til I got a semblance of a quote).

All night our beloved Uncle Ken spouted what seemed to me to be some pretty cryptic comments at practically everyone. (I can't quote verbatim right now, I gotta watch the show back! I too excited Twitpiccing all the way to write his comments down, but I do remember thinking, gotta file his comments under 'Things that make you go hmmm?').

When I finally caught up with him, I asked him point blank, "Why so cryptic tonight?"

To which he simply replied, "Where got?"

After a little more nudging, he said, "Whatever I say makes sense, I'm trying to teach them something and I hope they listen."

So contestants, especially those that are through to the Top12, I hope you were listening and absorbing what Uncle Ken said.

One comment I kinda remember, was him telling Syltra that she can't keep using her agression. First thought was : "She aggressive meh?"

And he mentioned somewhere that Nurul resembled a cashier at (his new favourite store) 7-Eleven. To which the quick-on-her-feet-funny-one replied she used to work at a 7-Eleven, the Thomson Rd branch! (thats comedic timing you can't buy guys!)

Anyway....

Once the goombyes were done, the newly minted Idol finalists, went straight back to work. Call time was now. Estimated end time : 4am. (I left waaaaay before midnight, thats crazy long hours to be singing! Welcome to Idol Land guys!)

Producers ushered Tabby, Syltra, Malaque, Charles, MJ and Farhan were ushered right back to work at (not haunted by now, so late even the ghosts are asleep) Training School to prep for the upcoming Spectacular #1 Show, aired live on Wed, Sept 16.

The theme is Chart Toppers (which is like a free-for-all really, but when you have such a vast genre, its very very hard to pick the right song, and we all know how important song choice is right?!)

While taking turns to go in for key check and song selection, Izked the Official Blogger recorded some 'Thank You' vids..... thank you to Iz for filming (and sharing) while I was stoning in the corner bemoaning the loss of my Lumix (which my son broke earlier in the day!)....

Farhan, Farhan, Farhair. I cannot believe Jeric actually cut off a huge chunk of his hair last Friday - its like it all grew back (and more!) in the last few days. One of the producers commented "amazing, it grows back by the minute!"

Apparently when Farhan called his Mom to tell her that he'd made it through, the first thing she said was "Must go cut hair ah!" Way to go Mom!

He was actually still qute affected by Ken's comment that he shouldn't be in the Top 12 and that the spot should have gone to either Jannah or Nurul. He's determined to prove Uncle Ken wrong.

I love how he ends his video message with 'Lets go to McDonald's for shaker fries". So random, so Farhan, so sweet :) Just goes to show the friendships forged in Idol don't end when the journey does. Awwww....

Helllooooooo.....I am so attributing the blurness and sloooowwww speech to the late hour at which this was recorded and the fact that she has been on the go since god-only-knows what time that morning.

Tabby is classic Tabby in this video, a little random, but a lot sweet - who can resist that megawatt smile? That thank you speech is Academy Awards worthy :)

Anyway, the first thing I saw when I went back to Studio 1 (after chasing after Ken) was Farhan and Tabby coming off stage together and my first thought was, "Hah, the "couple" made it through!"

I said as much to them, to which they both scoffed nervously.

Much has been said in the media about these two pairing up. Are they or aren't they? I suggest you guys keep us guessing, its just so much more fun that way. Plus, who knows, some teeth whitening company may want you to endorse their products - both of you have whiter (and nicer) teeth than Sly!

The beatboxer is through and a little shell-shocked. He kept to himself mostly while Malaque, Syltra, Tabby and Farhan chatted amongst themselves (with Iz and I).

I asked him how he was feeling, whether he was happy. And he said, if he hadn't gotten through tonight, he would have been happy too because the Idol journey has been so stressful for him so far. But now that he's through, he's super happy, but is just so aware that the stress is going to be even worse after this.

He said of his performance, "Usually once I get on stage and start singing, the (scared) feeling goes away; tonight is the first time I've had the feeling throughout the whole performance."

I asked him what he was 'scared' of and what stressed him out. His reply, "The whole enormity of Idol. The whole Idol thing la."<-- I guess with the Idol brand name comes the pressure to live up to it.

Malaque was the last one the judges put through. It was down to her and Theodore in the final minutes of the Results show which Gurmit stretched into an excruciatingly suspenseful wait.

"My knees were soft!" <-- I wanted to say MY knees were soft!

One of the promo team's photographers had a still camera pointed at her during that moment and was chanting, "I believe in you, Malaque!" (obviously a fan), while Izked's face was white with anticipation, eyes transfixed on Gurmit.

I was pretty sure the judges would put her through if she didn't get the votes, but what I did not expect was for it to be down to her and another deserving contestant (imo) Theodore.

"I still cannot believe it, I'm here!, " says Malaque who's still reeling from making it through, which you can tell from her thank you speech!

Way to go MJ! Clever boy plugged his myspace page :)

Apparently it was an extremely tearful separation for MJ and his BFF Theodore (seen here, prepping together right before the show started) after the Results were announced. An eye witness recounts that the sobbing was way more than when brothers Jon and Gabe Cheok were separated (the latter already quite teruk, I think my heart would have broken if I'da seen that....*sob*)

How'd I miss this moment? I was off chasing after the elusive Uncle Ken for that 'quote'.

MJ's off back to the US as of this morning to sort out immigration and travel stuff. We'll see you soon buddy!

Lastly, good job to the six who've made it through. You're here because you deserve to be....voters put you through because they love you, and the Judges put you through because they think you deserve it too. So don't doubt that.

Work hard and give us a great show at Spectacular #1 on September 16th!

xoxo, s.

ps. Ep5 review will be done once someone (hint!hint!) uploads it to Youtube...

pps. Check out this awesome rendition of Craig David's 7Days by Syarif (sleeq), with Ben (Muthusalam <-- LOL) on guitar. NICE ONE! Thanks Iz again for the vids! Go to the Official Blogger's blog for more vids.

Congratulations & Piano Show 2

Congratulations to the six who are through - Charles, Malaque, Syltra, Tabby, Farhan and MJ!!!

You did it! You're in the Top 12!

And a great big hug to the other 6, thank you for sharing your Idol journey with us.

Next Wednesday, its time for another nerve-wracking Piano Show....here are your 2nd group of 12 competing for the remaining six places in the Top 12, remember those numbers! Like before, voting starts at 8pm on Wednesday night. Click on their names in the right side bar to access their full profiles!

Each call/sms costs 60 cents.

The second group of 12 will be at their first roadshow this Saturday 5 Sept at Lot One The Shopper's Mall at Choa Chu Kang (its right at CCK MRT station) from 3pm - 4pm. Go show your support!

Also catch them on their radio interviews next Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday on 987FM at 9am with Dan & Young.

Monday 7 Sept :

Sezairi, Gabrielle, Duane, Sylvia

Tuesday 8 Sept :

Jonathan, Amira, Charlene, Benjamin

Wednesday 9 Sept :

Samantha, Mae, Justin, Faizal

xoxo, s.

Piano Show 1 : VOTING NUMBERS!

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Vote your favourites through! If you don't vote and they don't get through, don't be blaming anyone but yourself!

Remember what happened to Jeassea Thyidor in Season 1? Everyone assumed she'd get in cos she was so talented, in the end, she was the first to be eliminated along with another super talented singer, Beverly Morata!

SO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITES!

Voting details as follows, click on their links in the right sidebar for their full profiles.

Each call/sms costs 60 cents, lines open at 8pm tonight!!

Happy Voting Idol watchers!

And to the first group of 12, Good Luck for tonight's show, put on a great performance! Much much love to you all...muaks! see y'all later!

xoxo, s.

ps. I'll be tweeting from the radio interviews later at 9am, and again later this evening at the show! Follow my tweets and twitpics!

pps. Check out my previous post about a ghostly Idol encounter.

ppps. Check out the SI Official Facebook fanpage for TONS of pics from the roadshow etc.

IT'S IDOL DAY!!! WOOT!