Zaki's whipping time....choreo sessions!

Wa-tissssshhhhhhhh!

(thats the sound of a whip cracking in case you didn't get it -_-)

Now that Ann's all done with the Idols and the alums (everyone knows what they're singing, when and with whom), its over to Zaki to whip them into stage shape.

As reported in an earlier post, Sunday onwards, would be choreo-choreo-choreo until they head to the Indoor Stadium for full rehearsals. On Monday, season 2 alums Nurul Maideen, Gayle Nerva, Paul Twohill, Joakim Gomez and Mathilda D'Silva turned up to join this season's Idols.

I arrived just as Airi was heading off (he wasn't needed for today's sessions), and who JUST arrived but a rather late Mr Paul Twohill. His opening shot was 'Zaki's gonna kill me...again, I'm always late wan!' :) Funny guy that Paul. As it turns out, when we arrive at choreo, its not his turn yet, the girls are still doing their 'diva' thang.

Sylvia, Tabby, Nurul, Gayle and Mathilda are doing a 'diva' number with En Vogue's 'Free Your Mind' and its hawt! Check out the vids below...

While the girls were perfecting their hair-ography (its a Glee term for when people use hair flicks and flips while dancing) and 'bend-and-snaps', I found the boys - Farhan, Faizal, Paul and Joakim Gomez in the ping-pong room, doing what else...playing ping pong.

This is actually the first time I'm getting a chance to actually talk any of the Idol Season 2 alums. I saw them at the charity carwash, but didn't really get a chance to introduce myself. We got to chatting, me and the boyz, and I have to say, I wish I could have seen what their journey was like.

While we swapped Idol stories and inside jokes, and the 2 boys from last season compared notes with the 2 boys from this season ('You're so lucky you got Ann, she's so nice, Babes (referring to Season 1 & 2's vocal coach Babes Conde) whipped us man!'), I was busy twitpiccing :)

Joakim recounted his 'haters' and Paul relived his drama (apparently he was so stressed he once went up to producers in tears, 'I can't do this anymore, just kick me off the show please!'), while Faizal and Farhan grilled them for gossip!

Soon, it was time for the boys to go in for their session. Here is their vid...

While the boys were busy with that, I stepped out for a quick chat with the girls - Nurul, Gayle, Sylvia and Tabby. I have no idea where Mathilda went. Similarly, the girls also exchanged notes, advice and idol goss.

Soon, it was time to go back in to combine both performances - the full segment would be Idol Boyband versus the Idol Divas. Here's the vid, unfortunately, my audio got muted by YouTube for some copyright thing - have asked Izked to help me edit the video a little and upload it for me - will replace it as soon as he does. In the meantime, enjoy the visuals :)

That was Monday.....today (technically yesterday since its 3.45am on Wednesday right now), choreo sessions were solely for the Top 12, and it was like being reunited all over again, and also like being in a 3-ring circus. One group would be in choreo with Zaki, another in the ping pong room playing, and another in the vocal training room watching tv. :) But they were quite efficient today nonetheless.

Some random ping-pong playing ....

The Top12 medley (to be performed at the Results Show) is made up of

Segment #1 - Smooth Criminal - Airi, Faizal & Charles

Segment #2 - Chiggy Wiggy - Malaque, Nurul & Farhan

Segment #3 - Hey Mickey - Mae, Duane, Justin & Amira

Segment #4 - When Love Takes Over - Sylvia & Tabitha

Here are the vids from today's choreo sessions... (missed out Smooth Criminal cos they were done like super fast!)

'Chiggy Wiggy' - Malaque, Farhan & Nurul


'Hey Mickey' - Mae, Duane, Justin & Amira

And here's the full medley item. Tabby & Sylvia's item, 'When Love Takes Over' is the last. I recorded it from two different cam angles so we wouldn't miss anyone out :)

Camera angle #2.

Well, hope you enjoyed all that. That was today's hard work for the Idols. Tomorrow (or today, Wednesday, more choreo sessions lined up. All Idols were asked to report to MediaCorp today at 9.30am. Two more items on the list that need choreo - Hady & the 'Idol Band' and 'Starstrukk' for the Top 12.

The 'Idol Band' consists of Sezairi, Duane & Charles (the ones who play instruments thus 'band') and they'll be performing 'Use Somebody' with Hady. While for 'Starstrukk' the Top 12 will be performing with a guest artiste - guess who? :) In case you're wondering what 'Use Somebody' and 'Starstrukk' sound like, here are the youtube vids.

Charice Pempengco will be performing two songs - 'I Have Nothing' and her own song 'A Note To God'. Here are vids of Charice performing those two songs on Oprah. For more info on Charice, check out her wikipedia page or her website.

Note To God (written by Diane Warren & Produced by David Foster)

Phew, 4.30am, ok thats all for me from now. More tomorrow... good night/morning!

xoxo, s.

ps. To those who are wondering, both Airi and Syl have an EQUAL number of performances for Sunday night - 7 a piece!

My night at Ann's...

Vocal Training at Ann Hussein's...

So it was a Saturday, and I'd missed a full week of Idol activity cos I'd taken The Kids to KL to see The Grandfather. For which I got chided for by some readers, but defended by others (for which I am eternally grateful, nice to know there are people who'll come up to bat for you :)), single-parenting (The Husband was left in Singapore) does not a free blogger make.

Anyhoo, I made The Husband drive out to KL on a Friday just so he could bring us back here on Saturday in time for the roadshow at The Heeren (6.30pm). But true to form, Malaysian immigration decided to keep just a measley four counters open to serve the gazillion (ok, maybe 400+) cars heading into Singapore, and Singaporean cars, true to form, did not queue.

Long story short, I missed the roadshow, but made it to Ann Hussein's just in time for dinner. Didn't even go home to unpack or change, arrived straight off the highway from Tuas Checkpoint - how committed am I right? Ssshh, we don't like to use the word 'groupie' too often here.

Nasi lemak that was tarpowed over to Ann's very cool home/Gingerbread Studios, was awesome. This was my first time at Ann's - I KNOW RIGHT? The season's almost over and this was my first time there! I love her place. Its two 4-room flats combined into one - 2 Become 1 (cue cheesy Spice Girls music). One side houses the house, the other, the studio. By the way Kak Ann, if you're reading this, it was me who walloped all the teh susu. Couldn't help myself, must have had 4 or 5 rounds - soooo yummy!

Once we got done with dinner, it was everyone into the studio to do the songs. Sorry for the low quality vid, lighting was low so its a bit grainy. Plus the room was small :) Here are your Top 12, workin' out the kinks in their medleys...

So while the Idols were busy going in and out of the studio for vocal rehearsals for their various medleys/solos etc, those not involved would chill outside. Farhan decided to hook up to Ustream, live webcast woot! It was super fun chatting with fans. Someone actually said I looked young - woot!

Here are some vids shot while just waiting around doin' nothing. Tabby slept for the most part and Sylvia was on Ustream for the most part. Somewhere in between Farhan and Justin whipped out some music video maker programme on their macs and they had fun 'filming' music videos for the webcam! Iz got a vid of them making the vid (it was so dark, whatever I video-ed didn't turn out), so look out for it when he uploads it! Am waiting for Farhan to upload his actual vid...

Anyway, in the meantime, here's what I shot with my trusty e71 while people were waitin' around...

I really enjoyed just hangin' out with the Top 12, it was like old times, like when the Spectaculars first began, and we stayed back for late night keychecks, chatting, singing, etc. It was nice to have the whole gang back together :) Syltra and MJ were sorely missed though...

It was also kinda perfect that it happened then, in the midst of the flurry of activity that is 'getting-ready-for-the-finals'. It was a nice 'breather' from the stress of the finals. There was no stress at Ann's, just friends hangin' out and watchin' a little MTV (it was on throughout ok....and in some of the vids, you can see Duane/Sylvia/Malaque step up and dance in the back - they said 'don't film me my cacat dancemoves, so I didn't).

Somewhere along the way, Tabby woke up and she and Duane hooked their headphones up to the same iPod and started singing together :) so cute....

I loved how Tabby knew the super fast lyrics to Check On It...sigh, I miss Tabby bein' on the show. And yes, Tabby went back to sleep shortly after this, ....on a different couch. I saw her tweet later that she 'shouldn't have slept so much at Ann's now I'm wide awake', at about 2am. LOL :)

Well, that was my night at Ann's. Next post - choreo :)

Hope you enjoyed the vids, and can kinda figure out what the line up is for Sunday.

xoxo, s.

Some BTS Vids

Ever wondered what happens on stage during that 1 hour break between Performance and Results Shows?

You've may have seen the pics on SI's Facebook page, but those are static, so thought I'd record some vids and share them with you.

What usually happens is Matt (the very hardworking wubby who keeps the crowd entertained and informed before the show, and in between commercial breaks and this hour-long break) will invite ex-Idol contestants and audience members to play games.

Tonight, Matt invited Duane, Malaque and Farhan up on stage to sing songs suggested by the fans/audience. Here are some vids.

I have no idea what song Malaque is singing, but apparently she sang this for her audition.

In this clip, you'll see Farhan and Duane doing a sing-off, suggested by Malaque, of Duffy's 'Mercy'. Not sure who won the sing-off LOL! Who's rendition did you prefer?


Here's Malaque singing a fan request, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. Imo she sounded pretty good despite having a terrible cold!

While the 3 ousted Idols were on stage entertaining the crowd, our Top 5 were busy practicing their group song choreo one last time with Zaki out at the foyer at B4. Check it out! (Sorry for the shaky cam, was trying my best to avoid the cameraman who was also walking backwards and almost backed into me a few times!)

Here's the group song recorded from my seat. Hope someone uploads the tv version soon. :)

Well, thats all the vids I have for you tonight, hope you enjoyed the show, my tweets/twitpics from studio - oMg 3am - nitey nite!

xoxo, s.

ps. Don't forget to catch Faizal's exit radio interview in the morning at 9am on Idol's Official Radio Station, 987FM with Dan & Young.

pps. Fyi, tomorrow is a super busy day for the Top 4, they'll be doing their profile shoots all morning (call time is 9am), followed by a visit to Ngee Ann Poly at 5.30pm, followed by vocal sessions with vocal coach Ann Hussein. Full day! Don't forget to check out Iz's tweets for the Poly visit tomorrow.