Episode 15 is up!

Episode 15 : Spectacular 9 You Asked For It + Results

Woot! This week's episode is now up! Watch your Top 5 sing for their lives in this week's Spectacular 9 : You Asked For It!

Thank you nazamania.

Watching the end of the Results show over, watching Faizal sing his exit song...sigh....I feel really sad cos he was one of the most determined and focused contestants. He really wanted this. REALLY. It's his dream and it tugs at the tearducts when you see someone's dream journey come to an end.

Faizal Mraz, I wish you all the best. Hone your diction and expand your repertoire beyond Mraz k. I expect to see a LOT more of you as you and your career matures. I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of him. Make use of this window of 'fame' to get out there and get heard :)

Lotsa love babe... (see you soon!)

xoxo, s.

ps. :( Am so gonna miss that big smile and hug that greets me whenever I see him. He really is just the sweetest and most polite, well-mannered 17 yr old. I once commented that he always folded and hung up his clothes very neatly at trailer/photoshoots and he said very earnestly, "I always take care of my clothes because from young, I always get sponsored the performing clothes, so must take care cos have to return." So sweet and considerate right? There are some artistes out there who have been doing this for years and people still have to pick up after them.

Idol out : Faizal Isa

Unbelievable.

Are you surprised? I was still surprised after half an hour. I believed Faizal to be invincible. Seriously. I thought he'd go all the way to Final 2 judging from the amount of support he gets wherever he goes. His fans are rabid (and I say that in the most positive kowtow way possible).

The scream-o-meter always hits RED whenever he makes an entrance, be it at a mall, on stage, or even off a bus. I did not expect him to go home tonight.

Plus, I thought he did okay considering he was quite ill - lost his voice, couldn't hit the notes he wanted to - the song was a good choice and in typical Faizal fashion - a hit with his fans. I enjoyed it too, although I could see that his energy level wasn't his usual, probably owing to him being sick.

Here's his exit song and his exit interview with Idol TV (unedited version, think of my cam as the b-roll...all NGs included!).

Kudos to Faizal for making it this far. He's just 17. Top 5 is a great achievement. Imo, he's grown so much as a performer too from the time we saw him at auditions to now. Yes he needs some work on his diction, but I think he's got everything else going for him. A few more years of training and who knows where he'll be :) He went from Mummy's boy to Singapore Idol's resident heartthrob.

I also give him major props for being so focused, eyes on the prize, amidst the negative comments from the Judges week after week, especially recently. He has also never failed to take care of his family, friends and fans with many kind words and that great megawatt smile.

I'm gonna miss Faizal and that smile, I love his smile, it has a way of making you feel important. Definitely not the last we'll see of this sweet boy.

We love ya Faizal Isa! The Idol family will always continue to be the 'wings behind your back' too! ;)

Btw, Faizal's Idol journey may have ended,but we'll still be seeing him next week! Yay! Faizal will be back for the group performances on Spectacular 10's results show with Nurul, Amira, Farhan, Duane and Malaque. Justin and Mae are in US and Australia respectively and won't be able to make it :(

xoxo, s.

ps. Thanks to Ash for the great pics. Check out Ash's pics on the SI Facebook page.