Singapore Idol Updates

Quickie Update on our own Idols...

Am camped outside my son's class, he's 2 and a half by the way, in case you think I'm at some primary school. And no I'm not leeching off their internet .....I have a dongle. (@tabithagizelle and @duaneho, one day I will get a BERSCHKAdongle! Note to self, must write to Berschka and ask them to sell dongles)

Update #1a :

Amira's performing at Esplanade today (19th Jan) and tomorrow (20th Jan) with her show choir.

Update #1b :

Farhan and his band heregoesnoth!ng will also be performing at the Esplanade. Check them out at Esplanade Concourse, Thursday (21st Jan) and Friday (22nd Jan), 7.00pm to 8.45pm.

Update #2 :

Sylvia's performing this weekend at Iluma Bugis. Saturday & Sunday (23rd/24th Jan) at 5pm for the launch of Motorola's new phone. Check her out!

Update #3 :

Singapore Idol Airi met up with music execs from Universal over the weekend when he booked out from camp and alls goin' well. From what I hear, they're still on track for an April/May album launch - so yippeeee! As we already know, Airi submitted like 10 songs to Universal to consider for the album, word is, they likey some. So the album will be a mix of his own stuff and some new stuff they'll be recording with him! I'm excited, are you?

And now, for some Idol video updates!

Video #1

Check out our boys Faizal and Duane.

This is Jay Sean's 'Down'. Love the harmonies.

Video #2

This is their second vid together ;) and a little more 'produced' haha. Good job boys. I like the whole vid. Very cute! I'm surprised you guys didn't do the 'elevator' trick...

Enjoy (cos I did :))


Don't you just love 'em? So cute la. Duane boy, love your voice in this one :)

Video #3

This one's been on Youtube for a while now. Justin recorded this at one of the sessions at Ann Hussein's place. I had no idea it was recording sound, and I think neither did Izked. You can hear him talking and me laughing on and off, we were right next to these crazy people. Aaah I miss those days!

Photo updates

(courtesy of @izked's tweetphotos and FannaOsman's FBpics)
Just on Sunday, our very own blonde prawn-lover Farhan Shah threw a fan bash for his fabulous fans. I dropped by unglamourously early, was told it was 4pm, so I strolled in at 4.30pm thinking I'd be fashionably late, only to be told, 'eh supposed to be 6pm la' *Fail*. Oh and get this, I was also told it was a belated bday party, wahlao, I musta been the only one toting a pressie and a card. No matter, Farhair, you likey rrriiiight??

Thanks to the lovely @FANNAosman for sharing her pics with me (and everyone reading this too! btw I had no idea what your pretty friend's name is thus the nick Pretty Young Thing (PYT). :))

Idol Day tomorrow wheeeeeeeeee!

xoxo, s.

New Profile Trailers for the Idols

Check these cool profile trailers for each of your Top 5 :)

I love watching how they've morphed from raw and make-up free faces to the polished look they now have in trailers and on the show. Aw, muh babies have come so far!

Faizal

Trailer VO : Faizal, with his boyish charm and slick dance moves, he's this season's resident heartthrob, will Faizal be the next Singapore Idol?

June 09, looking like a cute Jason Mraz wannabe at his first audition.

Nov 09, looking very cute (and many say Idol-esque) with his charming heart-melting smile.

This endpage pretty much sums up my perception of Faizal's Idol journey this season, its like he's poised to win it. He has the moves, grooves and style.

Faizal's Top 5 Profile Trailer

Tabitha

Trailer VO : Tabitha, with good looks confidence and a powerful voice, she's simply the full package. Will she be the first female singapore idol?

June 09, Tabby looking sweet-faced, (and v. young! not that she looks old now though!) and innocent at her first audition.

Nov 09, Tabby looking super hawt, vamped up and gorgeous! Starlet!

This endpage for me, is about the body language, and it says to me that Tabby is already a star. She looks comfortable, confident and charismatic here.

Tabitha's Top 5 Profile Trailer

Sylvia

Trailer VO : Sylvia she comes from a humble background, this is her chance to change her life. Will sylvia be the first female Singapore Idol?

June 09, Sylvia is fresh-faced and devoid of makeup at her first audition.

Nov 09, Hello Sylvia the Starlet! GORGEOUS!

The song used for Sylvia's profile ends with the line 'I'm a dreamer' and it pretty much sums up this pic. Its almost poetic cos she looks so good.

Sylvia's Top 5 Profile Trailer

Charles

Trailer VO : Charles, beatboxing champion, but thats' not his only talent. Shy sweet and sincere, will Charles be the next Singapore Idol?

June 09, Charles beatboxing at his first audition.

Nov 09, Charles looking very much like a handsome artiste now.

Love the endpage because its where I love Charles the most, 'singing intimately' with his guitar.

Charles' Top 5 Profile trailer

Sezairi

Trailer VO : Sezairi, one of the most vocally distinctive contestants, an original who tries to make every song his own. A romantic with a funny side, will sezairi be the next Singapore Idol?

June 09, This is what Airi looked like at Auditions. He was 'nicknamed' Najip Ali.

Nov 09, Don't know 'bout you, but I think he cleaned up good :)

Love this 'Man In The Mirror' shot, cos imo, Airi's all about everything the song conveys when it comes to his music. He always starts with the 'man in the mirror' and thats what I love about him.

Sezairi's Top 5 Profile Trailer

Hope you enjoyed those trailers as much as I did. Now here's a fun video done by Official Blogger Iz! It a music vid of the Idols' trip to Temasek Poly yesterday, apparently, TP realllly rawks (according to your Top 5). Check out the official blog for a full update of the visit, in the meantime, watch :)

Love it right? The Chickie Dance! hilarious!

Thanks to Iz for a great vid!

xoxo, s.

Singapore Idol Top 10 : Faizal Isa

Faizal Isa, 17

29 February 1992

Single

updated : 10 Oct 09

Spectacular 4 : A Tribute To Michael Jackson

Performing : Billie Jean

Fave MJ Song : You Are Not Alone

Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!

MJ Week Interview :

If you had 1 minute with MJ, what would you say/do?
I would ask him like so many questions – at what age did you start singing? Can you teach me how to perfect my moon walk?

If you had 1 hour with him, what would you do?
Sing with him and then ask him for vocal and dance training.

If you had 1 day with him, what would you do?
Hang out with him! Go have breakfast, lunch and dinner with him. Take him shopping and show him around Singapore and be his tourguide. And along the way, ask him about how to overcome nerves on stage and sing better.

Did you believe the child molestation allegations?
I don’t really believe it cos the media can make things up. Lots of people are jealous of him and make up stories just to bring him down. I saw some videos of him on YouTube talking about this stuff, and MJ looks very sincere and he loves children from what I’ve seen.

When you first heard that there would be an MJ themed spectacular, what was your reaction? And now that you’re through and will be doing an MJ song, how do you feel?
When I first heard it, I felt very happy and honoured to get a chance to sing our late King Of Pop’s songs. He has made such a big impact on the music industry. So it’s a real honour, and I see it as a way to give back to MJ, our King Of Pop.

Now, I feel very excited and really looking forward to it. This is a very special theme, only this season we have this theme, (previous seasons of SI did not have an MJ theme) so its something different.

What will you be singing and why did you choose to do that MJ song?
I will be singing Billie Jean. I chose this song because its upbeat and I like to groove to it. I will work hard on both my vocals and my dance moves as I want to showcase them. I won’t be doing the song like David Cook style. I will be following MJ’s style all the way.

Spectacular 3 : An Asian Feast

Performing : Hapus Ku by Nidji

Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!

Asian Week Interview :

Who is your favourite Asian artiste?

Dato' Siti Nurhaliza.

Who's the sexiest Asian star in your opinion?

Coco Lee. She has a phD which means she is beauty and brains - that is SO sexy!

Who is your favourite Asian person?

Lee Kuan Yew. Because of him, Singapore is where it is today, a 1st world country that everyone knows. He put us on the world map.

Favourite Asian food?

Otak Otak!

Favourite Asian destination?

Japan, cos I want to experience Japanese culture and see all their interesting ethnic stuff!

What Asian culture fascinates you the most?

Japanese culture, because they are the most polite people I've ever seen. Also, I think Kimonos are cool.

What Asian trait are you most proud of?

Asians' respectfulness - toward elders and toward one another.

What is the one Asian superstition you've held on to since you were a child?

Do not open umbrellas indoors at night because you may get some spiritual disturbances! (I was told not to ever open umbrellas indoors because then snakes would come find us!)

23 Sept 09

Random facts about Faizal :

• Faizal is friends with hot local r&b duo Sleeq.
• Jason Mraz is his idol, but he's decided to distance himself from doing too many Mraz songs in case he gets labeled a wannabe.
• Faizal is super friendly and is known to start conversations with his fans.
• Has the most number of screaming fans so far at the 2 roadshows he's attended.
• Ken has told him to start a boyband with fellow Top13-er Farhan Shah. What would you call them? The Broom and Mraz?

summerr thinks you'll love Faizal because :

He's that boy-next-door that everyone loves. But I have to say, this pic, phwoar, he is lookin' good. Looks like an Idol to me. (I got a shock when I first saw him as Justin Timberlake - he looked great! I didn't think he would be able to pull it off!)

Eventhough he's young, it looks like Faizal has had loads of performing experience judging from the number of youTube vids he's got. Plus, on stage, he seems to embody that same bounce and stage presence as his 'possible predecessors' Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza.

You can't deny that the camera loves him though (just need to get rid of the pimples first - remember to always wash away the heavy stage makeup sweetie! Its toxic!!!).

Here's the vid Izked shot after Top 13 announcements.

And here's a recap of his Piano Show performance and his Idol journey thus far. I'm sorry but I didnt get to grab a sample of his song for tonight as he was sick the day I recorded the vids for the rest (he later came for Group choreo wearing a mask - so considerate! - but I'd already left by then!).

If you wanna find out more about Faizal, do check out his Top 24 profile here.

Find Faizal online :

Faizal's facebook fanpage

xoxo, s.

IDOLS : Don't Fall Sick

Just a quick shout out to the lovely Top13 Idol hopefuls...

Its been crazy since you guys were crowned Top 13. Back-to-back 15-hour days and a press conference plus a cover shoot for 8Days (out on Monday woot!), not to mention various profile shoots, vocal training, key check, choreo bla bla bla bla....It's probably be taking its physical toll on your right about now, sumore just before your big performance next Wednesday.

So go get them drugs (approved ones of course), and keep those bugs at bay.... take care of your voice!

summerr recommends ....

Season 1 contestants used to DOWN this like straight from the bottle right before a performance (not all, but some swear by it).

Sly used to always have a bottle in his bag. I actually bought a bottle for Taufik once when he ran out. So it must work. (I personally take 4 TABLEspoons of this before bed if I feel a sorethroat comin', and like magic, its back to good the next morning).

The thick syrup coats the throat and soothes the sore.

Ask Jon, it helped him feel a little better when he was sicky before Piano Show 2 :)

xoxo, s.

ps. Faizal was really sick yesterday and he had an extra interview for Berita Harian, so if y'all see him out there, sayang him k! Poor kid, Iz said got mask and all..aiyo!

<-- faizal wearing the shirt a fan bought for him and passed to him at the Roadshow!

Singapore Idol Top 24 : Faizal Isa

In The Shower with :

Faizal Isa

(nickname : Shimmer)

Faizal comes across as a very sweet guy. He's not the noisy, rowdy type. He comes in for rehearsals, does his own thing, hangs out a little and leaves.

Producers initially dubbed him the 'Jason Mraz' guy. Quite obvious why, he looks a little like Mr Mraz, and he sings Mraz songs too.

Eventhough he's young (just 17!), he seems very committed to the Idol competition. Faizal is always the first to reply on any given 'assignment' including this one (I messaged each of them with my questions).

Quick facts about Faizal :

Lives in : North

Occupation : Student

Favourite MJ song : You Are Not Alone

Favourite Judge : Flo

Single/Attached? : Single

Who does he think will win Idol 3? Jonathan.

If music is your first love, what is your second?

Spending time with my family, mummy's boy after all, and Shopping for new outfits. I love to look for unique clothes and accessories like necklaces and watches. Those two are a monthly "must-buy" and hats too for sure.

I usually head to Bugis, Orchard and Flea Markets (mostly on the North-South Line of The MRT).

Secret Single Behaviour : What do you do on your own that no one knows about?

I wriggle my toes wildly when I'm nervous on stage before performing. And now especially, with this Singapore Idol experience, my toes are wriggling even more wildly!

summerr's take :

Faizal was one of those contestants I couldn't place when I looked at him. I couldn't remember any of his earlier auditions. But on solo day, he made his mark.

Another one to watch, Faizal could possibly be big competition amongst the boys. He is also very likeable and approachable, two key factors that all Idols should possess since this is, in a big way, still a reality show.

Here's a vid I found of Faizal from 2 yrs ago (he's be only 15!!!) performing This Love by Maroon 5. So young and already so polished on stage. Just needs a little work on his diction.

Here's Faizal doing Jason Mraz's sleeper hit "I'm Yours". Recorded recently, you can see how he's grown up (someone commented he's grown another 2 inches since the start of the Idol competition!). I love this one.

Make a date with Faizal!

Saturday, 5 Sept : Lot One, 3pm -4pm

Catch Gabby in person at the 2nd Idol roadshow where you get to meet the 2nd group of 12 that will be performing at Piano Show #2.

Wednesday, 9 Sept : Caldecott Hill, 9am - 930am, 987FM

Tune in to 987FM at 9am to catch Faizal's first radio interview, alongside Mae, Samantha and Justin.

Wednesday, 9 Sept : Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Studio 1

Singapore Idol Piano Show #2, 8pm and The Results Show later at 10pm, on Channel 5.

Faizal will be performing "This Love" by Maroon 5.

To vote for Faizal :

Call 1900 112 1207 or text 7 to IDOLS (43657)

Each call/sms costs 60cents.

Lines will only open from 8pm on 9th Sept 2009.

Find Faizal online :

Faizal's facebook fanpage

xoxo, s.