About three and a half months ago, we bid a tearful farewell to (imo) the world's greatest entertainer. Michael Jackson was more than just a singer, he was an artiste, an entertainer and an inspiration to many the world over. His music transcended race, religion and even language.
My eyes were swollen from crying when I heard the news, when I watched the Memorial, or when I saw his music videos. Even now I tear up, thinking about how there won't ever be any more Michael Jackson songs.
But as much as this week is supposed to be a tribute Michael, its also about our Idols. Despite some of them not knowing his repertoire of songs well (Duane admitted sheepishly its not really his era), they are all super excited about performing the King of Pop's songs because they are, ... say it with me... Le-gen-da-ry!
I asked them some questions, one of them being what would you do if you had 1 min, 1 hour and 1 day with MJ. Everyone replied at some point that they wanted him to teach them how to dance.
Isn't it wonderful how many people MJ has touched with his iconic dance moves? Especially the moon walk. That 'stand & stare-at-the-crowd' stunt that so many artistes (Queen Beyonce included) do at concerts now was pioneered and perfected by Michael. You know, where he just stands stock still, sometimes for a good 5 minutes, and lets the adoring crowd just scream and scream and scream, and the adoration wash over him. I like to think of it as him charging his batteries with their adoration for an awesome show ahead. And it always is an awesome show when its MJ.
Back in 199- (can't remember which year now!), MJ came to Singapore to perform. Can you believe he wasn't allowed to perform in Malaysia back then because he had long hair? Incredulous but true. So I participated in a TV3 phone-in (!!!) contest and actually won a ticket to the concert. It was at National Stadium and I was so far away he was barely 2 inches tall, but I had binoculars and I was riveted. And like everyone else around me, screaming like a mad person and so overwhelmed I found myself crying!
Years on, I'm so thankful for that experience, being able to watch him perform live, because he was indeed, the consummate performer. Looking back, I totally understand why as an artiste and an entertainer, he was such an inspiration to many.
Ok, yarning aside, for the benefit of those who may not have known and loved him as much (yet), I youtubed the videos of the songs the Idols will be performing, so you'll have an idea of what to look forward to next week :)
(I'm so excited eeee! I've been up since 3.30am, working on the profiles and youtubing and I haven't stopped smiling (or tearing up once in a while), MJ's music has that effect on me :) - not bad for just 3 hours of sleep right?)
Sylvia will be singing 'The Way You Make Me Feel'. One of my favourites, it was the first time I saw MJ in a shirt without a jacket (his previous vids always had him in a jacket), and at that time I thought, 'he's actually pretty cute!'
Duane will be singing 'The Girl Is Mine'. I had thought of posting the original version, but then figured, this may be more relevant. This is an updated version that MJ did, featuring BEP's Will.i.am. for the 25th Anniversary of the Thriller album. Not too bad.
Malaque will be singing 'Rock With You'. Iconic single from the 'Off The Wall' album. But I think many remember his shiny outfit and strobe lights more than the song sometimes! LOL!
Amira will be singing 'You Are Not Alone'. A great song, very beautifully written. But to this day, I still can't stomach the video. I found the scenes with his then-wife, Lisa Marie Presley (yes they were married! King of Pop married King of Rock's daughter - everyone thought it was a publicity gimmick), erm, uncomfortable to watch. Not because they were clad in nothing much, but mostly because THEY looked uncomfortable with each other. You can watch and decide for yourself.
Faizal will be singing Billie Jean. I used to love this video because the floor lights up. I was so fascinated by that. I was also 6 when this video came out. I remember the year so clearly, 1983. It was the year both 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean' were nominated for Grammys. No one explained the meaning of the song to me back then, so I always wondered why he kept saying his 'chair' was not his 'son'.
Mae will be singing 'I Want You Back', probably my favourite Jackson 5 song ever. It just makes you wanna get up and dance and shimmy - yes people, I said shimmy! Lookit how cute he was. And lookit those threads! LOL!
Sezairi will be singing his own take of 'Thriller'. But before we do it Airi's way, lets watch the original. This is the full length music video for Thriller. MJ was a pioneer in creative music videos, which were often mini movies. Production quality and special effects for his videos were always top-notch, making every video release very highly anticipated. I'm now wondering where the actress that played the girlfriend is - she looks a lot like actress Nia Long.
Tabitha will be singing 'Who's Loving You' which was also a big hit for the Jackson 5. But the version that inspired her is the next video featuring a young Welsh boy names Shaheen Jafargholi and his audition for Britain's Got Talent. Blodee amazing!
If the boy looks familiar, its probably because he was invited to sing the same song at MJ's Memorial service.
Charles will be singing 'Remember The Time'.The graphics in this music video were the pioneer for that 'sand' movement thing in movies like The Mummy. This is my favourite MJ music video. It beats Black & White by just a blink. I like this one just a little bit better because you get to see a cheeky/sexy side to Michael as he flirts with Iman. Plus there's cameos by Eddie Murphy and Magic Johnson!
Last but not least, Nurul will be singing 'Ben'. MJ wrote this song himself. Its about a pet rat. His voice is just so pure and sweet, you actually feel for the rat. Definitely my other fave MJ song from the Jackson 5 era (apart from I Want You Back).
The group song for the Results Show will be Black Or White, here's the video that features just the song. Remember how I said MJ's vids were like mini movies, well this one is actually no different - to watch the FULL video (featuring a very young Macaulay Culkin), click here (embedding was disabled, otherwise woulda posted it, sorry!).
Well, thats it, those are the 10 wonderful Michael Jackson songs that will be performed right on the Idol stage by your Top 10 Singapore Idol hopefuls + one group song :).
Will they be able to do the songs justice? My fingers (and toes) are crossed that it all goes well. They're all excited about it, so enthusiasm and energy levels are back to 100% :). Do click on the links to their profiles (right sidebar) to see their MJ Week interviews.
Thank you Michael for sharing your music and your talent with the world. Gone Too Soon indeed...
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 just look him in the eyes and stare at him. Yes, stare at him for a whole minute, cos I can't do anything else its so unbelievable that he's there.
If you had 1 hour with him, what would you do? Have a deep conversation with him. Ask him about his career, his transformation from child star to adult star, his life, how he copes with everything. I'd also ask him for advice and tips.
If you had 1 day with him, what would you do? We'll go out makan! I heard he likes KFC, so we'll go eat that - that's cool. Just spend the day together, walking around, stroll along Malibu beach and town and just talk.
Did you believe the child molestation allegations? No, not at all. It's just people trying to bring him down. Things like this always happens to good people.
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? First reaction : Happy. Its a privilege to sing Michael Jackson songs. And right now, people are thinking about him because he has just passed away, so its timely for us to be doing this. It gives us a chance to project our condolences.
Now : I'm very excited! It will be my first time singing a slow song in this competition.
What will you be singing and why did you choose to do that MJ song?
I will be singing Ben. Eventhough I had said Earth Song is my favourite song, but its not really a competition song. I chose Ben because I really don't want to lose my personality, I feel I can relate to Ben. Its a cute song, and I'm kinda cute. It's about a pet rat, and eventhough I'm grown up, I still have a tamagotchi, so its like I also have a pet. I'm confident I can do this song well, I think I can pull it off.
Spectacular 3 : An Asian Feast
Performing :Made In India by Alisha
Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!
Asian Week Interview :
Who is your favourite Asian artiste?
Ramli Sarip! I love his husky voice, its like we have something similar!
Who's the sexiest Asian star in your opinion?
Rini from Indonesian Idol!
Who is your favourite Asian person?
Zubir Said. He wrote the National anthem! :)
Favourite Asian food?
Nasi Lemak <--- woot!
Favourite Asian destination?
Mt Fuji, Japan. Since I was a little girl I've always wanted to go to Japan.
What Asian culture fascinates you the most?
Indian culture, especially Holi which is a day where they celebrate colour. Basically you dress up in white and get coloured when people throw paint and other colourings at you. By the end of the day, you should be covered in various colours.
What Asian trait are you most proud of?
Our nice hair, beautiful eyes and beautiful skin tone.
What is the one Asian superstition you've held on to since you were a child?
Cannot walk under people's laundry, its bad luck!
And always say a prayer before going to the loo!
Random facts about Nurul :
She only really started singing 2 years ago when a friend suggested she enter a 'Rihanna' sing-alike contest and won (and got to meet Rihanna in person! Woot!)
Has a keen fashion sense and always manages to wear funky outfits.
Is a huge Taufik Batisah fan.
Loves crackin' jokes.
summerr thinks you'll love Nurul because :
She has husky vocals that turns each songs he sings into a sexy song! Plus she's really good at changing up the arrangement to make the song her own, case in point, tonight's performance of this Brit Brit song will be different enough to give it an edge.
As a last minute replacement for MJ Kuok (he has withdrawn from the competition), Nurul had a lot of catching up to do at key checks, wardrobe, vocal training, shoot preparation and special choreo for the trailer shoots! Phew! Lucky Nurul is a fast learner :)
Here's the vid that Izked recorded after the Top 13 announcement was made that MJ had left.
Here's the vid I shot of herlast week during key check...
And last but least, check out Nurul's Piano Show performance and her Idol journey thus far.
Want more Nurul? Check out her Top24 Profile here for more Nurul...
Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!
MJ Week Interview :
If you had 1 minute with MJ, what would you say/do? I’d give him a long hug!
If you had 1 hour with him, what would you do? Ask him to teach me how to dance.
If you had 1 day with him, what would you do? I wanna join him on his concert tour. How awesome that would be!
Did you believe the child molestation allegations? Nope, not at all.
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? At first, I was really excited cos I’ve always wanted to do MJ. He’s the best performer ever, second only to Beyonce of course ;) Now I’m thinking, I definitely don’t want to screw up the song. He’s a legend, so I will have to do the song justice and raise the standards. I’m gonna practice my hardest!
What will you be singing and why did you choose to do that MJ song? I will be singing ‘Who’s Loving You’. Actually I wanted to sing ‘Black or White’ but it’s the group song. It was a tie between the two songs and since ‘Black or White’ isn’t available, I chose ‘Who’s Loving You’. I saw Shaheen Jafargholi sing it on Britain’s Got Talent and I fell in love with the song.
Spectacular 3 : An Asian Feast
Performing :Ting Hai by A*Mei
Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!
Asian Week Interview :
Who is your favourite Asian artiste?
Electrico!
Who's the sexiest Asian star in your opinion?
Rain - the abs...gasp! 'nuff said!
Who is your favourite Asian person?
Taufik Batisah. I like that he knows what he wants and goes for it!
Favourite Asian food?
Sushi. Especially Sashimi!
Favourite Asian destination?
Nepal - it's so beautiful. I really wanna go there.
Maldives - the sand is so white and the water is so blue!
What Asian trait are you most proud of?
Our politeness. We're generally not hurtful. Unlike most Western cultures who will just tell it to your face, we exercise a bit more tact.
What is the one Asian superstition you've held on to since you were a child?
My Mom always said, 'Never cross over (step over) anyone's legs or you won't be able to grow any taller!' <-- omg is that why I'm so short?!
Random facts about Tabitha :
Tabby blanks out, like literally sometimes, then snaps back to reality and will have totally not heard what you just said to her - it sound bimbo but its actually quite funny!
She loves to eat.
Her dad has got George Clooney hair! People in the audience were staring at him as he and Mrs Nauser sat right up front - they thought they'd seen Clooney!
Is an amazing singer - she can SOooo do Beyonce as can be seen in the youtube vid where she sings 'Emotions' (Destiny's Child). And I think she's the only one in this competition who really can handle Beyonce songs.
Stars in the 'Broom & Mop' show with schoolmate Farhan Shah (Tabby's the mop by the way) on YouTube.
summerr thinks you'll love Tabitha because :
She's got an amazing voice and she knows how to use it. She's also beautiful. Tabby's the kind of girl that's so gorgeous, you can't stop looking at her face. She's probably used to people staring at her.
Tall, statuesque even, (she has the best posture out of all the girls in Idol), she carries herself with a grace that belies her young age. But once you get talking to her, she's chatty and unrestricted (read : blonde moments).
But I hope people will see beyond the pretty face and really appreciate her vocals because this is where she really really shines. Powerhouse is the word.
This vid was shot by Izked right after she got into the Top 13.
This vid was recorded by me at last week's choreo session - sample of what she'll be singing tonight.
And last but not least, a look at Tabby's Idol journey thus far and her performance at the first Piano Show.
If you wanna know more about Tabitha, check out her Top24 profile here.
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.
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 MJ to write me a song in a minute.
If you had 1 hour with him, what would you do? Ask him to teach me how to dance.
If you had 1 day with him, what would you do? Get him to bring me to Neverland and go on all the rides!
Did you believe the child molestation allegations? No, I don’t believe them, I think people were just after his money.
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? Initially, I thought ‘oh crap!’ cos MJ songs are very difficult to pull off. Good MJ covers are an ART! So there’s lots of pressure. Now that I’m here, I think this theme gives me an opportunity to really show what I can do. Its my style. His songs, the way they are written, is like my style. The musical aspects of the songs are really appealing to me.
What will you be singing and why did you choose to do that MJ song? I will be singing Thriller, but I’ve given Abang Indra (music director) a real headache cos I’ve totally rearranged the song in my own way, I’m doing an acoustic version. But then, Ann Hussein (Idol vocal coach) said it was good, so I’m happy.
Spectacular 3 : An Asian Feast
Performing :Jeritan Batinku by P. Ramlee
Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!
Asian Week Interview :
Who is your favourite Asian artiste?
Maliq and The Essentials
They are an Indonesian jazz funk band . I'm interested in the whole jazz/funk/soul type of music. They play Live in Bahasa, and its so cool, cos usually bands in Bahasa sing rock or pop only.
Who's the sexiest Asian star in your opinion?
Alicia Pan
Who is your favourite Asian person?
Tan Sri P. Ramlee because I grew up watching his movies. The music that he writes/sings during his shows really brings forth a lot more emotion than just acting could.
Favourite Asian food?
Satay! (Iz also loves Satay! Trivia : Iz's mom works for Airi's aunt at Lau Pasat Stall #12 - Jumain Sataysfaction) <-- must try!
Favourite Asian destination?
Bandung, Indonesia.
Because the people there are real. Bandung's like in the mountains, its like a ghetto-semi-city, and everyone's friendly, no pretenses, everyone's genuine. Its great there!
What Asian culture fascinates you the most?
Japanese culture. They're very polite. I also like to watch them eat, they're so passionate about their food - like they slurrrrrppp their noodles!
What Asian trait are you most proud of?
Our humility. Its that one important thing that all Asians, regardless of race and religion, naturally have.
What is the one Asian superstition you've held on to since you were a child?
I was told that if you lie down on your tummy and lift your legs up, your parents will die young. Since young til now, I never lift up my legs, because you just never know.
Random facts about Sezairi :
Airi loves his kuayteow goreng - now after trying his, I love it too!
Is really the Guitar Hero - he can play practically anything, any genre on the guitar thanks to the music course he was taking at LaSalle.
Airi and his 'brothas from different mothas' Jonathan, MJ and Theodore nicknamed themselves the 'pendejos' (which urbandictionary.com defines as a Spanish slang word for stupid, idiots, ignorant, useless people - what are you trying to tell us boys?)
In case Idol doesn't work out for Airi, he's planning to put a demo out because according to him, music is definitely his calling.
He can do a seriously good Topman model 'broken limbed' pose. :) Its hilarious!
Airi also does a lot of impersonations and he's pretty good with accents - especially the black ghetto 'kick-yoah-a**' accent.
The boy has 4 guitars! FOUR!
summerr thinks you'll love Sezairi because :
His smoky vocals are exceptional when paired with his soulful guitar playing.
I gave him the nickname Guitar Hero ages ago (and some people thought I meant MJ) and his skills are really shining through now. If Syltra's the Guitar Goddess, then he's the Guitar God, as can be seen from the vids that are up on youtube, if Airi's not singing for himself, he's usually accompanying one of the other Idols on guitar.
Soft-spoken, very musical and intelligent, he's not your High School Musical hero or cookie-cutter cutie, but Airi is definitely one to watch - hopefully his talent moves everyone enough to vote for him.
This vid was shot by Izked right after the Top 13 results were announced.
And this is the vid I recorded featuring a sample of 'You Give Me Something' which he'll be performing tonight.
Finally, here's a look back at his Idol journey and wonderful performance of 'Sunday Morning' at the Piano Show.
If you wanna know more about Sezairi, check out the previous Top 24 profile I did for him here.
Voting details : Not available yet. Watch this space!
MJ Week Interview :
If you had 1 minute with MJ, what would you say/do? Smile and say ‘Michael! I wanna dance like you!’ and then dance for him J If you had 1 hour with him, what would you do? ‘Michael, can you teach me how to dance?’
If you had 1 day with him, what would you do? Spend the day at Neverland with him and ask him to give me a tour of the place. Did you believe the child molestation allegations? I totally don’t believe it. I believe MJ loves children. He believes in children and writes songs for them. Children are his inspiration. He wouldn’t do that to them. 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? Initially, I thought ‘OMG! This is my one chance to show off all my MJ stuff on a stage! Yes!’. Now I’m just pretty much excited and looking forward to the performance. When we were young, my brother and I used to impersonate MJ’s moves, and now I get a chance to do it onstage? What? I’m so excited!
Spectacular 3 : An Asian Feast
Performing :Bakit Pa by Jessa Zaragosa
Asian Week Interview :
Who is your favourite Asian artiste?
Charice Pempengco. She's from the Philippines, and is only 17, but has a big, huge voice!
Who's the sexiest Asian star in your opinion?
Daeng Nurfaezah
Favourite Asian food?
Chicken Karaage (a type of Japanese fried chicken)
Favourite Asian destination?
Bali, Indonesia.
What Asian culture fascinates you the most?
As a Malay, I respect my culture, but the culture that fascinates me the most is the local Balinese culture. They are so very friendly and polite!
What Asian trait are you most proud of?
I like that Asians are generally very nice, respectful, humble and down-to-earth.
What is the one Asian superstition you've held on to since you were a child?
My grandma always used to tell me, when elders tell you NOT to do something, you should always listen, because they have an instinct that something may happen.
Random facts about Amira :
Amira likes to sing in the bathroom. (Who doesn't? The accoustics are fab!
She goes by the nickname 'shawty phat' online - aw what a cute nick.
Has a thing for hairstyles. Amira likes experimenting. She's had the Shirley Temple curls, corn rows, cropped hair and something that looked a bit like an afro (from what I can see on facebook!).
Has an awesome Facebook fanclub run by her incredibly enthuasiatic Aunt!
Her dad is a well-known and established musician - free vocal coaching at home!
Her facebook updates are crazy cryptic stuff that I still can't decipher (I'm thinking it must be the age gap thats stunting me.
summerr thinks you'll love Amira because :
She's a little Chillipadi Powerhouse. Petite and young, Amira is probably second only to Tabby in terms of 'belting' power.
I love her new look, but I hope she'll keep things young and leave the power ballads to Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. I prefer it when she plays up the youth card. Let's see what she does with Christina Aguilera's 'Hurt'. (see below vid clip for a sample)
This vid was recorded by Izked right after Top 13 was announced.
I recorded this sample of 'Hurt' last week at their choreo session.
Lastly, here's one more look at Amira's Piano Show performance and her idol journey thus far.
If you wanna know more about Amira, do check out her Top24 profile here.
summerr loves her tv. in fact, she's downright passionate about it. This blog grew to be the Unofficial blog of Singapore Idol 2009. This year, its going OMG! Hope you'll enjoy the inside scoop on this year's big reality must watch!
