Backstage at Celebrate 2010 - the rehearsal vids!

Bye bye 2009, hello 2010 Idol-style - backstage at Celebrate 2010!

Wah, I've never uploaded stuff to youtube so furiously! And omg, as 12midnight is approaching, upload time is increasing! My fingers are crossed that you'll get to see the Idol Resolutions vids soon. I just recorded them backstage at rehearsals for tonight's Celebrate 2010 concert/show which is going on right now in front of me (Da Mouth right now!).

Btw, our Idols did great din't they? I loved it. And I love that song. I find it so perfect that Airi is leading the song, because he's always wanted to go to New York, and New York kinda represents his dreams. And for him to have won Idol (dream come true), and singing this song, I hope will be a sign that 2010 for Airi, will be another 'dream-achieving' one.

While the 'resolutions' are loading, here are the vids I recorded behind-the-scenes and backstage at Celebrate 2010 rehearsals. Its still crazy to think they learned a new song and choreo for a concert in just 3 days (Monday night to Wednesday!)

These are the songs that the Idol finalists performed for the pre-show which is not broadcast on tv. The songs performed are For Your Entertainment, Just Can't Get Enough and Starstrukk! (yes! its finally getting performed for an audience!! WOOT!)

Performing for the pre-show are :
Sylvia Ratonel, Tabitha Nauser, Mae Sta, Malaque Mahdaly, Nurul Huda, Fathin Amira, Charles Stitch Wong, Duane Ho, Faizal Isa and Farhan Shah.

Hope you enjoyed that, Izked is Celebrate 2010 right now, and he's promised to record more from the pre-show including performances by Juxtapose, heregoesnothing! and Sleeq! Can't wait to see it - am sure he'll upload soon! PLUS Izked and I have a special project which we'll announce soon - its Idol related so I think you'll definitely want to know about this :)

Next post, Idol resolutions and what they've got planned for 2010 :)

Happy 2010 peeps! Its gonna be a good year!

xoxo, s.

ps. Bonus vid for you, Mae and Tabby doing more accents backstage, hilarious stuff I tell you...:)

12 Days To Go....

OMG how time flies....

It's Tuesday, can't believe it was already a week ago that we bade farewell to super-awesome-contender-for-the-Idol-title Tabitha Nauser. I still say Top 3 go to Grand Finals also can waaat? rite?

Oh well, sigh, bygones. Time to focus on the Finals.

Lets get back to Idol business, sorry its been a bit quiet on the blog. Had guests in town from last week, then hitched a ride back to KL without The Husband, so am effectively single-parenting it amidst the dust bunnies, ventolin inhalers, mosquitoes and sweaty pasar malams here. A bit more settled in last night - but got time got sucked into Twitter (dammit, its crazy! before I knew it ...3am! Had been on Twitter/MSN for 5 hours!). But on the upside, I had an amazing chat with @siproducer on MSN and whoa have I got gossip up the wa-zoooo.... which I will spill when I get the okays ;)

Suffice it to say, the show is gonna be blardee amazing.

seriously. i kid you not. excited just thinking about it again!

I can share with you the medley for the opening number - its I Gotta Feeling-Bad Romance-Boom Boom Pow. :) Nice right? Shan't say anymore cos I'll spoil the surprise, except that its gonna be a spectacle with lots going on.

Ok secret-rundown-for-show aside, here are two vids of Airi and Syl trying out their new song choice 'Crazy' and 'Yellow' respectively at last Thursday's keycheck. Airi also presented his own original composition 'Something Personal' at keycheck, but ultimately the choice was 'Crazy' by Aerosmith.

Yesterday (Monday), the Top 2 got to ride the Singapore Flyer. Their profile shoots were shot there last night (more being shot today at their homes, see below) and both were elated to take the ride into the night sky. Here are some pics, courtesy of @siproducer and @izked.

I personally love going on the Flyer, its so peaceful (unless you get a bunch of chatty tourists - I was stuck with a bunch of Korean ones once, aiyo, could not 'ohm' at all, had to shout to my guests about the whole purpose of Marina Barrage)....and the skyline is beautiful. It really is an awesome ride, I recommend everyone go on it at least once. The Top 2, got to ride it for 3 rounds last night :)

Shots taken by @siproducer whilst st SylSyl's place this morning and Airi's place right now :) (Tuesday afternoon).

What else is up this week with the Top 2?

1. Tonight, they'll be walking the red carpet for the premiere of Avatar (looks like a scary movie dude) at 7pm. At least they get to relax right?

2. They are doing their last radio interviews this week, Airi's on tomorrow at 9am and SylSyl's on on Thursday at 9am. Betcha Dan & Young are gonna miss being idol-invaded every week :)

3. SylSyl's TP Homecoming roadshow is happening tomorrow at 3-4pm.

4. Tons of newspaper interviews to do tomorrow too from Berita Harian to Straits Times bla bla bla.

5. Thursday's all about vocal training in various combos with alums, guest artistes and each other. :) - I almost pengsan-ed (fainted) when I saw the schedule for Thursday - was like a menu for combo meals. Airi + x, Sylvia + y, Airi + Sylvia + abc, def+y+x+ Sylvia only. etc etc. Siao!

6. Friday's reserved for the studio recording of the winner's single. Yep guys, this is it, this will be the recording that will be released to the public when one of them wins. So Friday is D-Day - they gotta focus and NAIL THAT SONG in the studio. Uncle Ken should be back by then to supervise (I'm guessing), since the song's his baby.

7. Saturday is the last day for vocal training plus its Roadshow Day. Mae, Malaque, Nurul, Amira and Justin will be joining the Top 2 at The Heeren (newly revamped and revealed) at 630pm.

8. And from Sunday onwards, its choreo sessions (again, think combo meal menu) all the way to actual live rehearsals at SIS (Singapore Indoor Stadium). WOOT!

Oh, and Sunday is also Roadshow Day. Tabby, Charlie, Faizal, Duane and Farhan (ie Awesome Foursome + Farhan 'Tabby's Alleged Ahem' if you believe Matt the Wubby ;)) will be joining S&S.

Sounds like a packed week? Thats cos it is! I shall leave you to digest all that info now.

Tickets Anyone? Wanna go watch the Finals at Indoor? Simple.

Follow me on Twitter.

I'm giving away 2 pairs of tickets daily from now til the 26th. Contest runs from 12noon to 12midnight every day, just look out for question on twitter and retweet with the answer :)

Easy? You betcha!

Other ticket avenues :

1. Official Blogger Iz also running a contest

2. MediaCorp TV's Watch & Win contest (this one gives you $$$ too so you can pretty yourself up!)

3. Tune in to 987FM, Singapore Idol's Official Radio Station (and their website)

4. Bug the Idols (or their fanclub reps) til they budge on their Twitter/Facebook pages (Top 2 AND the 10 finalists)

5. Bug @siproducer on twitter

What you should NOT do is go to Reception at MediaCorp and ask - cos they won't have any.

Or bug the Channel 5 interns for tickets like @norasyraf <-- poor dude!

Ok, thats all from me for today - rushing off to take the kids for a swim before it pours, can you believe my friend's parents' built a salt-water pool for their newborn grandson? Talk about OTT! But hey, I shall not complain, The Kids and I get to chill in it today! Ah its so nice to be back in KL!

xoxo, s.

Short week on Idol

Its Monday and tomorrow is Idol Day already!

What a short week this has been. It feels like we've just recovered from 'losing' Charlie and adjusting ourselves to the whole concept of Top 3 and gawd, before you know it, even that's out the window, the buzz-phrase from tomorrow 10.30pm onwards will be 'Final 2'.

So what have your Idols been up to this 'short week' since last Wednesday night? With no roadshow or music video to shoot, you may have had the misconception that our Top 3 were resting on their laurels.... not so.

Thursday was a much-deserved rest day. But come Friday, its back to 'work'. A full day profile shoot followed by individual 'chat' sessions with Judge (Uncle) Ken Lim at his office made for a super long day. (and lemmetellyou, I've had the pleasure of working with Uncle Ken, and I've had work 'chats' with him before, and peeps, next to the word 'loh-sor' in the Singlish Dictionary, you'll see Uncle Ken's face there (probably next to mine hehe). Don't get me wrong, imo, he's very wise and worldly (yes he is!) and I totally adore him and have the utmost respect for him (yes I do, as I do Flo and Dick) - but the man has a way of lecturing you that needs you to commit at least an hour of your life in that white room he calls an office. AT LEAST an hour... I've never been in there for less.)

Saturday was vocal training. Sunday was choreography, more 'chats' and MORE vocal training (this week's songs are tough - as of yesterday's 2nd vocal training session, your Top 3 were still trying to figure out how to sing those individually challenging songs the Judges have dug up!) .

Izked and I managed to catch up with the Idols for a short yak and some makan at Chilli's on Saturday evening. :) It was awesome to just 'hang' for a while in between all the Idol business. The Chilli's people were awesome enough to show 'em some lurve and even gave us a special VIP bill! Awesome not? Its so nice to meet people who follow the show, and so here's a big thank you to the Chilli's managers and our two fab servers for the superb service - glasses always filled and tummies overflowing!

I didn't take too many pics cos, well, I wanted it to just be some 'laidback' time to hang with the Top 3 without constantly thinking about blog content ya'know? I left the picture-taking to Iz who's camera was flashing non-stop LOL! Keep a look out for his take on our 'idle-pig-out-session'!

Suffice it to say, it was quality Idol time for me at least. Its so surreal that the journey's almost over! While we ate and laughed and ate and laughed, I was mentally sealing the moments in my head cos it can't get much better than this! Poor Airi was in migraine central initially but he came round later and felt much better and it was all good.

Me and Iz picked up the tab - cos we love 'em right Iz? For me, it was just a small 'thank you' to the Top 3 for sharing with me their journey thus far. They've been so forthcoming (all the Idols have been) from Day One. Thank you for not minding my rushed interviews, constant twitpiccing, video-ing, long-windedness and my often MIA-ness (due to my other 'commitments') and always welcoming me with big smiles and open arms.

All you guys, have made this 'job' so easy and so fun! I can't imagine what it would be like if the whole bunch had turned out to be prima donnas!! DIE!

Tonight, the Top 3 will be attending a private screening of the upcoming movie Planet 51 - who says there aren't perks to bein' an Idol, this is what, the like 4th or 5th movie premiere they've been to?

After tomorrow night, the Top 2 can look forward to a full day covershoot with 8Days on Thursday, key-taking for the Finals on Friday and two roadshows this weekend (check the left sidebar). Idol business never idles for long (sorry, HAD to get that pun in here somewhere!)

xoxo, s.

Idol Day on TUESDAY + 2 more vids!

TUESDAY...REMEMBER!

Next week Idol Day is on TUESDAY! Go change all your recording settings so you don't miss recording the LAST Spectacular of the season. That's right folks, next Tuesday's show will be the last one held at Caldecott Hill's TV Theatre. The set at will be torn down and never rebuilt again. The next show after that will be the GRAND FINALS on 27th December at the Singapore.Indoor.Stadium!!!!!!! Woot!!!!!!

Key Words to help you digest that info...

Last Spectacular

Judges' Choice

Top 3 to Final 2

TUESDAY. 8pm

8th December

Digested? Good.

And now for some vids that Ash recorded with his super hi-tech SLR (so envious).

Here's a clearer vid (higher quality) of Charles' exit performance. I watched it again and I still can't believe all those sounds came from one person with a mic. Uh-may-zingg!

This is a recording of one of the producers' interviews with the then newly-minted Top 3. They're all agreeing that next week's show will be intense. Airi also realises he'll have the male dressing room all to himself :(.... but its all goode.

This last one was shot just before the show started. As you can see, right behind that black curtain to the right side of the stage, its all a crazy mess of people walking about, Idols rehearsing their songs, producers, assistant producers, stage hands, just like EVERYONE la is there. Its always a crazy mess here. Notice Airi sitting in a corner, all quiet? He usually is like that before every show - cos he's getting into his 'zone', but last night, he was extra quiet cos he was feeling awful - like many contestants seasons before, he was sick, and had thrown up (not once but twice) - but was prepared to soldier on and deliver the best performances he could.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the vids, thanks much to Ash for taking the time to film and upload them - musta taken forever (cos he started last night and it only went live maybe at noon today!)

xoxo, s.

ps. Remember! TUESDAY 8pm! (whahah, said it so many times it must be ringing in your ears)

pps. Don't ask why they moved it to Tuesday, just remember to tune in!

ppps. Well, if you MUST know, SEA Games starts on Wednesday the 9th, so clash in schedule, thus Idol moves a day earlier. (which also means a shorter week for producers to get the show and all its innards together!)

p4s. No roadshow this weekend ya....this one I dunno why. But I'm glad the Top 3 will have a short weekend break.

Izked's Dance Rehearsal Vid-Lov It!

I LOVE THIS! :)

I was gonna go sleep already, then decided to check one last time to see if Iz's vids/blogpost are up yet and lo-and-behold, this one is up!

And.I.LOVE.It!

The whole vid is great, but to me, the most touching part is right at the end...where you see the Top 4 leaving MediaCorp, and they turn round in slo-mo to wave'bye'. Made me smile, and feel a lil sad too, cos one of 'em's goin' home tonight....

Great job Iz! Props to the Official Blogger, can't wait to see his blogpost later!

Idol Day today. Tx in about 15 hrs ...

xoxo, s.

ps. Airi looks like he could do ballet :)

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.