Ep 17 is up! Spec #11 Step Up & Dance

This is last week's episode. After a non-elimination week, the Top 4 battle it out onstage with two songs each and back-up dancers. Sizzling? You decide.

As per the previous post, this is the closest we'll get to a full episode at the moment. This youtube-r prefers to only upload individual performances rather than the entire show. Thanks for uploading and hopefully 'nazamania' will be back soon to upload the full episodes!

Kicking off the show is Tabitha with Beyonce's 'Crazy In Love'.

Next up, Sezairi with Ne Yo's 'Mad'.

Sylvia is up next with the Pussycat Dolls' 'I Don't Need A Man'.

Now Charlie's up with Chris Brown's 'With You'.

Next up, Tabby goes solo with Pixie Lott's 'Mama Do'.

Followed by Airi's rendition of Usher's 'Caught Up'.

Sylvia does Estelle's 'American Boy'.

Finally, Charlie closes the show with Justin Timberlake's 'Lovestoned'.

And now, the Results....

So what did you think of last week's show? I know I havent done reviews in a while, just don't have the heart to pick apart the show or the performances - gettin' soft hey? Well, its almost 12midnight, just 20 minutes to Idol Day now. I've got one more post to do after this and if I still have energy left, maybe I'll get around to reviewing the last coupla episodes :P

Happy Idol Day everyone!

xoxo, s.

Idol Out : Charles

Bye Bye Charlie :(

"Its okay, to have made it to Top 4, its been amazing."

Humble to a fault and the sweetest, most thoughtful person I've ever met, Charles is really such a gentleman. He went round thanking everybody, including Judge Ken Lim, after the show. Uncle Ken gave a him pat on the back and reassured him that he's a talented guy. This, for me, was the best reassurance Charles could have gotten after weeks of onstage scrutiny by the judges. Perhaps his talent is just not suitable for singing competitions, but really there is no doubt that Charles is musically talented. Perhaps his performances are more suited for 'intimate' environments? But seriously, to have gotten this far, Top 4 out of 4000, is a huge achievement.

Last week's non-elimination gave me a false sense of insulation. Week after week, an idol hopeful has been sent home and its been sad to see them go, but last week it was like Happy Camp, no one was sent home and it was so sool to see all four for another week.

When the Results show started last night, I suddenly wanted it to stay Top 4 forever.Malaque, seated one seat away, felt the same. I mean, Top 4 all the way to Finals lah, then just 'crown' one lor - caaaan la...

Oh well, thats not how the Idol cookie crumbles. And we're now left with 3.

In typical Charlie fashion, here's his exit performance, beatboxing! :), followed by the exit interview.

Thank you Charles for sharing your Idol journey with us, and with me. You are a truly talented and wonderful person - Sherry's a lucky girl and your parents raised you right. Stick to your guns and your dreams and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

xoxo, s.

ps. Charlie's a man of many talents... ages ago, in one of my earlier interviews Charles said he used to love to draw. Check out this cute lil sketch Charlie did of Sezairi - its SO Sezairi :) Pretty good right! It was on the envelope of a note that he wrote to his 'bro' Sezairi.

9pm : Show's Over - Keep Voting!

You have ONE more precious hour of voting time left to go.

In the meantime, us here in the studio are biding the time til the Results Show starts at 10pm when the lines close. Many are preoccupied with texting...noses buried in handphone backlights.

I have cast my votes. Now I'm looking forward to watching the Results Show. Two things I'm lookin' forward to...

1. The Strepsils Music Video that was shot on Sunday. Check out izked's behind-the-scenes vid of the shoot - they all look so nice and the house/cars/location is blardee amazing lor! Sigh...keep dreaming....dreaming....Ferarri, private pool, grand piano, BUNGALOW, double-storey! dayammm!

2. The group performance. Tonight's group song is 'Dance Anthem' by Good Charlotte. I couldn't find a nice good video of the song, anyway, here's what I found la. I heard the girls' interview on 987FM this morning and they said the most fun in choreo this week was during the group song rehearsals, cos they all got to dance/sing together :) Awww!

To be honest I always look forward to the group songs cos its nice to see them in their different 'formations' :) Lets see how they do tonight with this very very cool song!

Keep voting folks....10pm is now less than an hour away! Lines will be closing and once they do, thats it, deal is sealed, so this is no time to be complacent!

Sigh. I can't imagine any one of them going home. I know it sounds cliched, and I know its inevitable, but its just so....hard to decide! Hard to guess even! Each one of them is talented, you HAVE to recognise that. Each one of them is so very loved by their adoring fans. Each one of them can really sing.

Peeps, we're talking about the 0.1% cream of the crop of 4000+ people who auditioned this year. (If you flunked math, here's the equation 4/4000 x 100%)

All things considered, I think Singapore has chosen a worthy Top 4. Its anyone's game at this juncture. And I think whoever ends up being the Idol, will definitely be able and willing to do Singapore very very proud. Aw, suddenly feel choked up! *blinking away almost tears...*

Good luck to my dearest Tabby, Charlie, Airi and Sylvia.... always believe in yourselves, and keep dreaming no matter what.

xoxo, s.

ps. You can catch up on whats happening in studio and backstage via my tweets/twitpics here.

VOTE VOTE VOTE Spectacular 11!

8pm... Lines Are Open!

Just a quick reminder that last week's votes will be rolled over to this week. So tonight's result will be a tally of the votes taken from last Wednesday and tonight.

Last week, the bottom 2 were Charlie and Tabby. Only YOU can change, or maintain, that outcome tonight.

So what say you Singapore? Who's going home tonight? And who have you put through to the Top 3? Time to get those digits movin' - you only have 2 hours to seal the fates of your Top 4.

Voting, performance and song deets are all on the left sidebar for your quick reference, otherwise, for more details, click on these related links :

Top 4 Interviews : Dance History!

Song List for Spec 11

Performance Order Out!

Behind-the-scenes @ keycheck

Official Blog

I'll be off to the studios in just over an hour - exciting!!! So follow me as I tweet/twitpic whatevah's goin' on backstage! :)

HAPPY VOTING!

xoxo, s.

ps. Latest goss - heard on the gossgrapevine that there's gonna be some sorta twist happening....so.....keep yer eyes n ears peeled yo!

The One With The Interviews

Idol Dance History!

Sorry to say, but all four of them have absolutely no formal training in dance. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Nil.

But hey, that doesn't mean they can't move. I realised last Idol Day that I haven't been 'interviewing' them the last few weeks - dunno how it coulda slipped my mind - tsk - so I decided to interview them again, the old-fashioned way. Armed with notebook and pen, I scribbled furiously as they rattled off their answers.

Here are this week's 'dance-related' interviews with your Top 4, in order of performance.

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance history at all. Except that I've always wanted to be a ballerina. But my mom put me in taekwando! (So strange, I'm the total opposite! I always wanted to do Taekwando, but my Mom made me do ballet as a kid!)

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

Having to dance with my cousins at like family gatherings and christmas parties etc. My mom and aunties always liked to watch the younger ones perform. We had a Spice Girl routine cos there were 4 of us, I was Sporty Spice! The first song I ever performed was 'Wanna Be'! I was 4 years old!

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

In kindergarten, they used to have dances at the Christmas parties in Hong Kong (Tabby went to an international pre-school when her family lived in Hong Kong for 2 years, her sister Serena was born in Hong Kong), and I danced with this boy called Christian Zangellini. (Incidentally, this boy was also named as Tabby's first crush in one of her early interviews with Izked.) Aww so cute!

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

I totally don't understand interpretive dance! I'm like wuuuutt??

I think the most fun dance is like salsa and tango - they're so sexy!

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

OMG Justin Timberlake *drool*

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance history. But I've always believed I could dance, like in my head, I believed I was decent. But when I dance, my friends always say, 'you should look at yourself in the mirror. don't dance.'

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

In primary school (primary 5 or 6), there was a 10th Anniversary concert and I was chosen to do a rap. I had like 20 back-up dancers! Actually I was one of the dancers, but then there was a rap part that they incorporated and one of the teachers saw that I could rap, so she made me the rapper. I even have a VCD of it but no way am I gonna bring it out!

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

Prom. In Secondary School. I was 16. It was my first slow dance with a girl, and apparently this girl liked me (or so she alluded), but she didn't tell me. I was such a geek. And she was one of the prettiest girls in school.

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

Lyrical Hip-Hop. (Like the stuff choreographers Tabitha & Napoleon come up with on So You Think You Can Dance! Super amazing stuff!)

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

Leighton Meester!

(for the blur, Leighton Meester plays Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl.)

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance background, but I love to dance and to freestyle.

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

My Mom would always tell me that when I was young, like really little, I would go around dancing to my own tune, like, around the house.

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

In secondary school, there was some kind of Teacher's Day show and they would play some music in the break and people would dance. I can't remember who I danced with though. (I ask her, 'Was this a slow dance?' to which Sylvia said 'No'.)

So when was your first slow dance with a boy then?

To me, having a slow dance is very intimate. My first slow dance was when I was in my first serious relationship with my first boyfriend at 18. (awwww...)

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

Hip Hop, Pop & Lock.

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

Taylor Lautner! I'm not sure if he can dance, but even if he can't, its okay, I'll just dance and hold on to his abs!

(OMG LOL!)

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No, not really. I teach beatboxing at this place called 'Natasha Studio' and the owner, Larry, is a breakdance teacher, so he teaches me a bit on and off. This started about a year ago.

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

Every time I do something clumsy like bump into things or knock over something, my Mom reminds me of the time I danced with her and stepped on her feet, that was when I was 5 or 6 years old.

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

My first real boy-girl dance was a few years ago. I went clubbing with Sherry, and was happily dancing away, doing some really chinky-chinese moves. I didn't realise until the next morning that I must have had two left feet, but Sherry was very encouraging. I don't know why, when I'm on my back or my hands, things seem to go well, but my feet just cannot. Once, during choreo, I was just walking from point A to point B, and Zaki said, "Charles, you really shouldn't dance." LOL!

Sherry goes for hip hop class and she can pull it off quite well, so even like last night, she came over to help me groove! ...... I still have 2 left feet.

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

B-boying definitely! For people in Korea, its like a staple form of dance. There's this move called the 'air-track' and its very cool, they get on their hands and their legs do the windmill and they just like keep flippin'! Its amazing!

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

(after much thought) I'll dance with William Hung or Steven Lim (ugh?! ugly gladiator stripper guy from season 1? Ew!), cos next to them, I won't look so bad! LOL!

Wanna hear something freaky? Halfway transcribing these interviews, I realised I must be clairvoyant cos I actually interviewed them in the order of this week's performance (before the info was released by producers!) How weird is that? Coincidence? I think not. I MUST be clairvoyant....psychic network here I come. Ok, its 2.45am, this post shoulda been out before midnight but I got sidetracked watching 16 & Pregnant on mtv.com. (Thanks a lot Ash! pfft!)

Ok, gotta turn in now...its late..and guess what peeps...its IDOL DAY! Woot!

xoxo, s.

ps. One more WOOT! Cos its IDOL DAY!

pps. Don't forget to catch Tabby and SylSyl on 987FM with Dan & Young in the morning at 9am! Dan & Young, you gotta make Tabby do 'Jessica' on radio!

Performance Order out!

Good morning tweeps! IDOL DAY tomorrow woot!

Sorry I've been MIA the last coupla days - have had a string of visitors come stay with us (super fun!) + trimmed the tree with The Kids on Sunday = pounding headache all day Monday that even a sneaky mani-pedi (while kids were napping yesterday afternoon) couldn't cure! So I slept super early last night - like 10pm and woke up fresh this morning at 7am! Had Idol dreams all night - kept thinking...'gotta blog gotta blog'....

So here I am. And first order of business...performance order + voting deets for tomorrow night!

Going first and opening the show...the very hawt Tabbycat channeling another hawt kitten....

Tabby is performing 'Crazy In Love' by Beyonce and I say 'performing' not just 'singing' cos I tell you, its a Per.for.mance. For someone who isn't Duane, (but love B as much), those killer dance moves with tons up squatting and bending and hip/booty-shaking, its tough PLUS she has to sing. So show her lots of lurve and support! To make it more awesome, she'll be backed by dancers for this one.

Next up, Sezairi with Ne-Yo's 'Mad'. Expect some occasional 'slick' footwork here cos its a slow song and Airi's onstage solo for this one. I love this song, so can't wait to here Airi's take on it.

Backed with dancers, Sylvia is up next with PCD's 'I Don't Need A Man' - this is sure to be a hawt performance. Watchin' the PCD vid, I saw lots of hair flippin' and the classic 'bend & snap' move (from Legally Blonde? remember?), wonder if they'll have loads of this. Bear in mind too, like Tabby, Sylsyl has to dance AND sing live, so show her lots and lots of lurve k! Not easy, especially with upbeat songs!

Charlie's goin' solo on this one too, its a slow-ish song, 'With You' by Chris Brown. But watching Chris Brown's vid, you can still see opportunity for Charlie to be showin' off some moves here and there. This is an awesome tune - can't wait!

Tabby's sans dancers on this one, Pixie Lott's 'Mama Do' (some of yous' been asking her to sing this one for ages - happy now right?!). But you've all seen the practice vid she did for this right? Am sure she's gonna ace this one. What I wanna see are what kinda 'moves' she's gonna add to this song. Thigh slapping ala Ms Lott perhaps? Nah, that would look weird on her own right? Maybe just some clapping?

This one's a toughie - Airi's singing Usher's 'Caught Up'. Airi will be backed by dancers, and looking at the tweets he sent out after rehearsal choreo with them and Zaki, it was tough. But I have faith. :) Am sure it will be an awesome performance. And any Usher tune is set to get the audience going! Remember, loads of support for Airi here too cos singing and dancing is super tough - we don't do lip-syncing on Idol!

By now you would have also heard SylSyl's practice try at this song. It was awesome right? (once you tune out them bhangra drums...O.O) So I have no doubt she will ace this one. Sylvia will be sans dancers on this one, but lookin' at the way Estelle grooves in her music video, I can so see Sylvia doin' similar moves. Sylsyl, channel sexy, sultry and that 'squint' that Airi taught you :)

Charlie's backed by dancers for the show-closer for Lovestoned. Its a Justin tune so they've all got a lot to live up to, but if anyone can do it, I bet its Charles cos he's such a hard-worker. Do show loads of love and support for him - I repeat - dancing and singing simultaneously is no joke. And our Top4 aren't professionals like Madonna who has had years of practice at dance and singing live.

So guys, its almost as much a dance-off as it is a sing-off tomorrow night. The trailers are hilarious (see below) - choreo thanks to a very obliging Duane Russell Ho :) (He taught the rest of the Top 6 how to do Single Ladies, yes, back when they filmed the trailer it was still Top 6).

I for one, can't wait to see all the movin' and groovin' on this pseudo R&B week. Lovin' all the song choices and from the rehearsal & BTS clips that Izked has put up (see below), its gonna be hawt! Woot!

xoxo, s.

Vids for your entertainment.....

Here are the two trailers for tomorrow's show in case you haven't seen it. Its hilarious! I love Airi's 'you wan-a-piece-o-me' look and Charles' cuteness <--so cute right??? Tabby and SylSyl look like they are ready for a catfight! So serious!

And here are Iz's rehearsal and BTS vids - thanks Iz for making so many cool vids!

This one was shot early nov...you can see Faizal and Duane in it still :) Duane teaching the rest how to do the Single Ladies moves! LOL!

This has got to be one my fave Izked vids...love the choice of song - Sleeq's 'Moviestar'! Woot! and I loved seeing the Top4 all glammed - did you SEE the Ferarri? Hello? Got cameo by vocal coach Ann Hussein also :). My fave scene - Sylvia sprawled on the sofa, shoeless, like a very tired princess! Brill job Iz!

Do look out for Izked's updates soon at the Official Blog - am sure he has tons to report from the weekend/Monday dance rehearsals and the music video shoot on Sunday. :) (sigh, wish I coulda followed too ... oh well... can't wait to see them tomorrow! Woot!)

The One With All The Vids

Good morning people!

I spent all of Thursday night/Friday morning uploading these vids, then couldn't bring myself to put it on the blog cos I was bleary-eyed and dead sleepy.

Anyway, here you go, these vids were shot at key-taking for Spectacular 11 : Step Up & Dance, on Tuesday (Nov24th) evening. Yes, the Idols select songs for the following week a day before the current week's performance. So for one Idol its usually kinda wasted effort la when they get eliminated. But this week - non-elimination - so it's all goode....

Sorry there aren't any vids of Charles, he was first to go for keycheck and out the door thereafter cos he had to get to work. :(

You'll see a little of Charlie in this one though, he was packing up and just singing along with Tabby and then he walked out and left - hahaha, Tabby still singing to herself and didn't realise he left.


Next up at keycheck is Sezairi, so while he's in the room, Tabby and Sylvia hang with Iz and I at the vending machine room. Tabby was recording a message and about to give me a sampler of whatever she was gonna sing, but we got distracted by Sylvia and Iz.

Charles was singing this earlier and Tabby tries out a 'Ne-Yo' song. Very short clip but when I came home and played it back I was just amazed at Tabby's vocals.

We were recording stuff and then suddenly some bhangra drum beats sounded. There was a dance rehearsal just two doors away. But we continued to record anyway, it stops midway, just in time for you to really heat Sylvia 'tarikkkkk' ...awesomeness! Watch! (this is one of Sylvia's confirmed song choices for next week's show)


Sezairi is back from keycheck. Check out his song choices at my previous post here. Sylvia's turn in the room, and while Tabby's waiting for her turn, Airi obliges by accompanying her while she tries out Pixie Lott's 'Mama Do'. One of my fave vids for the night. This song turns out to be one of Tabby's confirmed song choices for next week's show.

Everyone loves singing to Airi's guitar-playing, they all say they sound super good when its just raw with guitar-accompaniment. Tabby now tries out 'Crazy In Love' by Beyonce. This one turns out to be Tabby's other confirmed song choice for next week's show.


Its Tabby's turn to go into keycheck, so Sylvia takes a turn with Airi. I asked her to sing American Boy again because the earlier recording had the drums. But turns out, I actually prefer the way she sang it the first time around. This was good too, hahah, except for the choking at the end!

I actually like this vid very much. Both Sylvia and Airi sound really good together.

Last vid of the night, this one caught me by surprise. I wasn't recording, but when I heard Airi start singing my favourite Coldplay song, I had to record it - loved it! This song always 'gets' me.

Well, hope you enjoyed the vids. That was my night with the Idols at Tuesday's keycheck. My fave time is not the roadshows, but this time, the downtime with them, cos its just a bunch of people hangin' out and singing, and I love hearing them sing, cos they really are just so good unplugged :).

Have a great Saturday ahead! Don't forget to catch them at the roadshow today, 5pm at Orchard Cineleisure!

xoxo, s.