Idol out : Tabitha Nauser

Bye Bye Tabby :( *sob*

Definitely the most talented and confident 17-year old I have ever met. Ever the go-getter, Tabitha was fierce-competition from Day One. Not only was she talented and gorgeous, she had her eye on the prize. She may not have made it to Indoor Stadium, but in my eyes, and many others, Tabitha Nauser is, without a doubt, already a star.

Uncle Ken said that if it were up to the judges, they would have put her in the Finals. But it wasn't. It was up to Singapore. Whether they made the right or wrong choice is debatable, because in my opinion, all 3 deserve a spot at the finals. Quoting Ken again, he said at the start of the show, he wished it could be a Final 3 instead of just 2. I agree wholeheartedly.

Here's her exit interview - recorded on Iz's behalf as he was watching the Idol set being taken apart for the last time.

This was meant to be a vid of her exit performance, but having her Mum and Dad come on stage totally opened the floodgates and she just could not sing. Her Dad is just the sweetest and had given her a dozen white and red roses - so sweet right? How not to be emo and cry?

This next vid, was recorded between the performance and results shows. As always, bubbly and smiley, Tabby's just telling us how she was feeling at that point in time, who knew it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy!

I know there are some that deem Tabby 'arrogant', but that is just so far from the truth. Tabby is just such a lovely girl. She's friendly, open and not at all stuck-up. Her height, good looks and megawatt smile may make her seem intimidating, but she is actually very approachable and always at the ready to take pictures or have a chat with a fan. Despite the many 'haters' comments', Tabby has always been the smiliest, bubbliest one backstage at every show. Don't be so quick to 'judge' based on the barely two minutes of performance you see each week.

Anyway, after the interview, I asked her what would she be up to next (after the Grand Finals and Countdown show performances) and she said she'll be heading back to school to do her MassComm course. But somehow, I don't think this is the last we've seen of Tabby - I'm quite sure a number of broadcasting executives have got their eye on her for their own shows, so fingers crossed many projects come her way, so we can see/hear more of Tabby real soon.

As I was finishing up this post, this music video came on tv, and it was just so poignant and seemed appropriate. So this song is dedicated to you Tabby dear, from me. Eventhough you may be sad, 'don't play that broken-hearted girl', I believe in you and so do a whole lot of people, chin up babe!

.... don't forget to email you-know-who (told your parents about it!) and send in your Amazing Race application the minute you turn 18! Go with Mommy - it'll make for great tv!

xoxo, s.

ps. Don't forget to catch Tabby's exit interview on radio in the morning at 9am on 987FM with Dan & Young.

pps. Right after I published this post, a friend on Twitter sent me this link and omg, what a nice way to pay tribute to a great Idol contender. Watch. Props to campushawn who made the vid.

ppps. All photo credits to Ash & May. Thanks babes for being so chop chop fast with the uploads to Facebook!

Co-ed or Single-Sex Finale?

What a dodgy (almost typed doggy *tsk*) header right?

It was the shortest way I could come up with to sum up my thought. And my thought was/is, what kind of combo will you be sending to the Finals on the 27th.

In just under 11 hours, we will know who the Final 2 are. And I'm curious to see if it will be a Girl-on-Girl thing or a Boy vs Girl thing. And if its Boy vs Girl, WHICH GIRL?

The fight for the Top 2 spots are so close.

Five years ago, when we were at Top 3, I couldn't figure out who was going to the Finale either. I recall being at a Lime (now defunct) magazine covershoot where we shot not one, but THREE possible covers - Taufik+Oli, Sly+Oli and Taufik+Sly. It was consensus that it could be any of the 3 combos.

Well the buzz at that time was that Sylvester would be in the Top 2, but who was going with him? Yep, it did seem at the time that Sly had a lot of fans, he had beaten the odds week after week despite less than stellar performances. The word behind closed doors was that the recording company offering the prize were also very keen to sign on Sly too (which they did in the end), thinking his huge fan base would ensure album sales and a Mandarin album meant regional wings. So all signs pointed to a 'Sly' win....

Well, we all know how that story turned out.

Who knew it would be a landslide win the other way to the 'Soulman'? Perhaps it was the perception that the Sly fans were so strong that compelled others who never voted throughout the season to pick up the phone and cast a vote for the one that 'the general public' thought was more deserving.

The Top 3 dilemma..

I can't comment or draw experience from the second season as I was overseas and couldn't follow it. Anyway, originally I thought I could type my way through my thoughts and figure out at least ONE of the 3 that should be a shoo-in to go to the Final 2. But I've realised....nope, still can't single one of them out. Its THAT close. Tabby, Sylvia and Airi all have rabid fans. All 3 are very talented, equally talented in their own right, and are deserving of that chance at Indoor Stadium.

Will they deliver stellar performances tonight? I certainly hope so. Not just to keep the judges happy, but to reassure the rest of Singapore that there is talent and that the public has made the right choice in choosing them. I think tonight's show is possibly the most challenging, and rightfully so, since its one show short of the prize.

My heart's already thumping as I type this, I can't imagine sending off any one of the three. I really can't. I'm not even sure if I can get through the exit song - may trip whilst filming it on my phone since my vision will be clouded by tears.

Dammit! I WILL NOT CRY.

Cos I look damn unglam when I do.

Ok, anyway, voting lines open at 8pm. Don't get complacent, vote to your heart's content (or til your wallet gives out) and stay tuned for the results at 10pm.

Be sure to follow my tweets/twitpics from backstage tonight, I'll be at studio from about 6.30pm.

xoxo, s.

ps. Come back here at 10.30pm to find out how you can win tickets to the Grand Finals on 27th December.