MJ gives back....

MJ's touching message....

Just a few hours ago, MJ posted these two wonderful videos on Youtube.

Last Saturday, I recorded some heartfelt video messages from Airi, Mae, Nurul and Tabitha especially for him. I approached them because they seemed most affected by MJ's decision to leave.

I posted those messages here on Monday morning (once the embargoed news broke) and the minute MJ saw them, he called each one personally from Hong Kong (thats where he is right now!) because he was so touched.

Now, he's done a full blown personal message to everyone in the Top 13 and the rest of his supporters. Plus he's written a new song, called 'Change', inspired by his Idol journey.

Check out this little montage/music video featuring that 'Change' - am lovin' the photos and vid clips in it MJ!

"Friendships last a lifetime. Thanks for the great memories and looking forward to many more good times with all of you x MJ"

This next vid is a personal message to the Top 13 and all his supporters. I love how he calls Syltra the Guitar Goddess - because she is indeed that.

We will continue to support your music MJ, come see us soon k, don't be a stranger!

Stay in touch with MJ on his myspace page, youtube and facebook fanpage.

xoxo, s.

A touching Vid for MJ by Official Blogger Izked

OMG, had to share this....so touching!

MJ ARE YOU SEEING THIS BABE! We miss ya!

Look out for more at the Official Blog cos Iz is working hard on his super long post that covers the last coupla days from the theme, the photo/trailershoot and MJ's decision to leave. Check out the full post on the Official Idol Blog here.

Big *clap* to Iz for making such a lovely video, please make more! OMG, I am so gonna tear up if you make 'exit' videos next time....

xoxo, s.

ps. If only I knew how to edit videos...but that would mean more Googling for online tutorials. So not doing that this week...I only 2 more days to pull off a magnificent princess party for my daughter....*breaking out in cold sweat*.....have bought out half of Phoon Huat convinced I need like 16 different type of sprinkles for what I believe will be only about 24 cupcakes. Tsk.

MJ speaks...(Meng Jun, not Michael Jackson)

With news of MJ's departure still fresh on everyone's minds, MJ who has been silent all this while since his decision on Friday evening, has finally posted something on his facebook to all his friends, fans and family...

Posted today, at 8.07pm (probably HK time since its only 7.30pm here in Singapore).

Dearest Family, Friends and most amazing Supporters ever,

I hope this email finds you all well and that your enjoying life to the fullest :) Just thought that I would fill you in on the latest with my progress in Singapore Idol.

Although it was a very difficult decision to make, I chose to withdraw from the competition last week. Deep down in my heart, I knew that had I signed the contracts being offered and continued to perform on the show, I would be deceiving myself, all my loyal fans, supporters and you. After reviewing the terms of the contracts very thoroughly, winning the competition in order to secure them (which was my initial purpose for joining the competition) is no longer the same goal that I had initially set out to achieve. I believe that every task we set out to achieve in life has to be accomplished to the best of our ability, and I feel that this decision in the long-run will help me stick to this value and moral that I hold deeply.

This whole Idol journey has been an experience that I will treasure dearly. I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to pursue my passion to the fullest over the last 2 and a half months, through a competition that has enabled me to bond with amazing musicians and wonderful individuals, from which I have learnt countless valuable lessons from. For this, I would very much like to thank the production staff and organizers of this show for giving me their full 200% support & belief.

To all the remaining Idol contestants, I wish you all the best in this competition and you are all Idols & Superstars in my eyes. Know that I'll be there supporting you all the way and thank you for the great memories and experiences that I will never forget... and ofcourse for being my pillars of support and inspiration throughout this competition.

Ultimately, I would like to thank YOU, my dearest friends, family and supporters for your enduring support and encouragement throughout this amazing experience. Through your support and encouragement, I have truly come to believe that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. At times in this competition when I felt weary of my potential and abilities, it was your words of encouragement that strived me to excel and believe in myself. Words truly cannot express how grateful and lucky I feel to have such wonderful individuals like you by my side, supporting me in what I love to do. This experience was not only one through which I have matured and learned many life lessons from, but also one which has re-iterated to me how important it is to cherish all the ones you love and support you (even though you may have never met them), as it is these individuals who help you reach towards your goals and realize your true potential in life. Thank you for touching my heart in one way or another and know that you too have my full support no matter what.

This is just the start of a truly exciting journey ahead. I will definately continue working hard to make music, perform, and strive to achieve my goals on my own terms and beliefs :) If you'd like to continue supporting me and my music, please STAY TUNED to :

1) www.myspace.com/mjkuok
2) www.youtube.com/mjkuokrocks
3) The MJ fan page on FaceBook (search "MJ" under Pages in Facebook)

As I love to mention, if you like my music, please continue to spread the word to others... as I know you have been doing so well all this while ! Thank You again, you truly mean the world to me. I can only hope that you respect my decision and my deepest and most sincere appreciation goes out to all of you. Your the reason I make music :)

Lots and lots of love, all the best to you and your endeavours.

Yours always,

MJ

Click here to see the original note on his fanpage.

xoxo, s.

Breaking News! MJ pulls out of Idol!

Resident Idol hottie MJ Kuok has decided to pull out of Idol :(

Sigh. I've been keeping this to myself since Saturday. And so have the other Top 12 Idol contestants and everyone in the know on the Idol production.

MJ did not turn up for the trailer/photoshoot over the weekend (notice he's not in the group picture that was MMS-ed to me?), and everyone was abuzz with why.

The official reason released by his camp is that "MJ has pulled out due to personal matters, and to please respect his privacy." As of now, according to Official Blogger Iz, he's on a plane to HK to see his grandfather and cousins. :(

It must have been a really tough decision to make, especially at this stage when he's already invested so much in the competition.

MJ is one of the most hardworking and humble contestants on the show. He has never complained about the long hours or the waiting (of which there is plenty) in between shoots, keychecks, vocal training etc.

His only gripe, and this was only a small one, was about the 'character' he was assigned to play for the recent shoot - he was slated to play Elvis when he would really rather have played Justin(Timberlake, not Jap). But the sweetheart that he is, he went along with it at the 2am fittings anyway. (Don't tell me he pulled out cos he had to be Elvis! <--siao! no way! he's much too easygoing to be that picky!)

I, personally, will miss MJ. To me, he's one of the most genuine contestants. You know he's really listening when you speak. He's also the one Idol who'd come up to you and ask you how your day has been or how your weekend was. That says a lot about him as a person - he's caring. He's also the most polite (Teddy too), and that says a lot about his upbringing - his Mom musta done a good job raising him.

(Alamak, I look so groupie, which is why I normally don't take fanpics or post pics of myself, but anyway, just felt like it just this once.)

I started to hear rumblings a few days earlier that all may not be well. Friday morning, those rumblings got louder, and I hoped and hoped that it would not come to pass.

But by evening time, MJ's Idol journey was over.

That same evening, an announcement was made to let the other contestants know, and cameras were there to record every shocked face.

This shocking piece of news was to be embargoed until today and 8days got the scoop - it is reported in the issue thats on stands this morning. The proper announcement will be done at the Media Conference happening shortly at 2pm.

The remaining Top 12 were asked to keep this top secret and not to contact MJ to respect his decision and his privacy and let the issue settle down.

2 Idols were very affected by his departure. Sezairi, his pendejo bro, and Mae. Sezairi especially had already received a big blow when Teddy and Jon left the competition. The four of them had formed a little clique and called themselves the 'Pendejos'. Google that to find out what it means.

Friday night, Sezairi cried. He's the only pendejo left standing. *sob*

The other person extremely affected by MJ's leaving, was Official Blogger Izk. I noticed Iz wasn't his usual bubbly self most of Saturday.

Since they weren't allowed to contact him, I decided to record some vids for them so he'd get to see them. Here are the vids I recorded with Airi, Iz and Mae, its their message to MJ, so MJ dear, I hope you get to see this wherever you are. We miss you so very much and wish wish wish you were still in Idol.

After producers announced that MJ was pulling out, Idol contestants were probably thinking "So is this gonna be a Top12 or is someone comin' in to take MJ's place?"

In walked the answer : Nurul.

MJ was voted in by the public, so I supposed it was only right that his place go to the person with the next highest public votes. And that lucky person is Nurul.

I have heard from more than one person, that when Nurul walked in, although some yelped in joy that their friend was now in the Top 13, a few were visibly less than keen - Nurul represents a new threat to the throne, especially to the girls, with her husky vocals and groovy moves. (Let the claws come out! meowrr!)

What's Nurul's take? She's just happy to be given another chance. Apparently producers broke the news to her in the most dramatic fashion ever - hope we see this on tv - and almost gave her a heart attack whilst doing it. However, she does feel like she's not wanted by some people in the competition. Lets see if this feeling goes away or gets worse. My money is on the latter. Will check back with her soon.

I asked her how she felt about the whole MJ leaving, here's her vid.

Lastly, I also decided to grab ask Tabby if she'd like to send him a message, she was his duet partner. Their song was such a hit with Flo, she's waiting to put it on radio once Tabby & MJ pass her a proper recording of it. Here's Tabby's vid.

On Saturday, I was one of those who received a touching mass message from MJ (sent out to the Idols, me and Iz) that made me tear, here's an excerpt :

"I have (met) amazing people like you and I hope that we can keep in touch :) Give me a call anytime and know that I'll be supporting you and your dreams always, just like u've been supporting mine x MJ."

That's just classic MJ. Polite, considerate and sincere.

We love you MJ, don't ever ever leave the music industry - you are so talented, you've got a bright future in this ahead of you. We'll definitely keep in touch cuz, and I wish you well in all your future endeavours. You will always always be part of the Idol family wherever you are. Muaks!

xoxo, s.