Singapore Idol Top 24 : Benjamin Chow

In The Shower with :

Benjamin Chow

(nickname : Worrymuch)

Benjamin says the 3 words that best describes him are Jazz, Rap and Sensitive. I've seen/heard the jazzy side, and he does come across as a sensitive kinda guy. But rap, hrm. Surprise me Ben.....

Quick facts about Benjamin :

Lives in : East

Occupation : NSF

Favourite MJ song : Smooth Criminal

Favourite Judge : Ken

Single/Attached? : Attached

Who does he think will win Idol 3? Jannah.

If music is your first love, what is your second?

Musical Theater! I've been in love with the theater ever since I was a kid- I remember the first time I played Fagin, from Oliver Twist, almost ten years ago... I never stopped trying to learn as much as I possibly could about the performing arts after that. My favorite playwright of all time is Samuel Beckett, and my favorite musical is probably Sweeney Todd (the original George Hearn broadway version mind you). :)

Secret Single Behaviour : What do you do on your own that no one knows about?

I absolutely HAVE to drown my fries in Mayonnaise. I usually order two large seaweed shaker fries, ask for like five packets of mayo and two packets of curry- and that's lunch right there! My girl keeps telling me i'm gonna die of clogged arteries. (aww, ain't that sweet! the nagging girlfriend, not the clogged arteries)

summerr's take :

With controversy and scandal swirling around him, he's definitely had loads of pre-publicity, but not the kind that you'd be happy about. He has a voice, and he can sing, so hopefully his performance at the Piano Show will put naysayers to rest.

I haven't quite figured Benjamin out yet, he's a little bit of an enigma, but suffice it to say, he comes across as earnest and well-meaning, although a little neurotic at times. He says its just because he wants to improve that he asks so many questions and asks for feedback.

Ben will be singing the Etta James classic, "At Last", which seems to be right up his alley of 'jazzy' classics. Apparently he raps too, that rap at the end of Episode 3, while the credits were rolling, was Ben.

Make a date with Benjamin!

Saturday, 5 Sept : Lot One, 3pm -4pm

Catch Benjamin in person at the second Idol roadshow where you get to meet the second group of 12 that will be performing at Piano Show #2.

Tuesday, 8 Sept : Caldecott Hill, 9am - 930am, 987FM

Tune in to 987FM at 9am to catch Benjamin's first radio interview, alongside Jonathan, Amira and Charlene.

Wednesday, 9 Sept : Caldecott Broadcast Centre, Studio 1

Singapore Idol Piano Show #2, 8pm and The Results Show later at 10pm, on Channel 5.

To vote for Benjamin :

Call 1900 112 1209 or text 9 to IDOLS (43657)

Each call/sms costs 60cents.

Lines will only open from 8pm on 9th Sept 2009.

Find Benjamin Online :

- watch this space -

xoxo, s.

Poor Ben is probably wondering, "Why won't this go away?"

With all the speculation and comments about Benjamin Chow faking it (yes it is apparently still a topic people are discussing - just check the forums and tweets) plus an ongoing police investigation (am assuming they are investigating it since a report has been lodged), Benjamin still needs to focus on the competition.

In case you haven't heard his side of the story, do check out these two articles on Mediacorp TV's Buzz site. These are the only 'interviews' you'll see from him as all Idol contestants are not allowed to do interviews at this stage.

If you missed them, here are the links...

Benjamin Chow - Idol Hopeful On A Crutch

Idol Hopeful lodges police report for hacked Facebook account

I still maintain that the important thing to remember here is that the guy is where he's at in the competition because of his voice. He CAN sing. The Judges don't really do sympathy votes, not at this stage anymore anyway. But if he gets through to the Top24, who knows how the audience will vote, hopefully based on vocals and not the crutch.

Update : Just as I was about to sign off on this rather mundane post, my mobile rings and its flashing 'Benjamin Chow Idol 3'. Speak of the devil. Wonder why he's calling? They caught the hacker? He's calling to confess it was a sham (yea rite, and pigs can fly!)! Watch this space, the day just got interesting...

xoxo, s.

summerr's FB screencap makes it to 8days!

+ is someone in the Top100 from Hong Kong?

8Days a week....

This morning started like any other. Manic. I woke up late and panicked : it was 8am and I still had two kids to get ready for 'school' (PLAY school), one of which needed my accompaniment which meant I, too, had to haul ass to and get dressed!

But to my surprise, The Husband said he would take The Son to his toddler playgroup as it was Daddy's Week ... so I was suddenly left with a 'free' morning! I suddenly had 2 hours of ME time!

First instinct...head to Borders for my 8Days (loyal reader since forever, and super excited cos usually I have to wait til like 12noon or sometimes THURSDAY to get my hands on a copy!) and head for a nice breakfast somewhere, anywhere, with coffee! Wheee!

Was even happier when I saw who was on the cover - I've loved Ryan since Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place (yes THAT's the full, original title you people!) Waaaaaaay before HIMYM (Alamak...dont know...HIMYM = How I Met Your Mother, where have you been??), there was 2GAGAAPP <-- shortform here does NOT work)

While I indulged in my American breakfast at Coffee Club just outside Borders (so convenient mah!), I almost choked on my scrambled egg when I saw this!

NO, not the article (cos I expected them to do it sooner or later, Idol gossip wat), but the thing I circled in RED! Check it out....

Its MY screen cap, from MY post about Benjamin Chow! Woot!

Remember people, you heard the goss here first k, cos every other site I've seen that has carried this piece of hotnews has been using my screen cap. (must learn to watermark my stuff!)

if you wanna follow the hacker drama, here are the links..

First original post : Idol Hopeful Benjamin Chow gets hacked

Follow up posts :

Update on Ben Chow hacker story

Brothers Cheok Tribute To Ben Chow

How do I know its mine? Well, firstly, the day I took that screen capture, the number of messages on the Inbox was 5, plus, I had to black out the account holder's name (which you can't see in the pic cos well, 1. its blacked out and 2. pic quality is not too good la).

Awesome...8days is 'printing' my stuff....sort of. Perhaps they didn't take it from here, who knows what other sites are carrying this story or who supplied them with the pic. Even the Official Blogger borrowed the screen cap, then later edited and enlarged it (thus cropping off the telltale Inbox 5 bit haha!).

Ah who cares how it got there.... Still awesome. :)

*SNAP!* back to reality and finishing the post!*

Ahem, yes, as I was saying earlier, I love my 8days, and my first run through is always cover to cover, I read all the goss first and then the features later. Was flipping and flipping then my eye caught sight of this pic! And I thought ...hey this guy looks familiar ....why ah?

Ok, of course I know its HK actor Michael Tse. I loved the Ku Wak Chai series (Young & Dangerous) and he was in it. Died SUCH a tragic death (his character, not him duh!)...but anywayyyy....

He reminded me of someone...and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Then, mid-way through my pedicure (I headed up to Snails - best sugar scrub pedicure EVER! - after breakkie) note to ALL : do not go up escalators while reading and holding onto a takeaway latte. Thank god the Wheelock curvy escalators move at a snail's pace - no pun intended, I suddenly realised who he reminded me of, ....it was someone in the Idol Top100!

Can you guess who? :)

xoxo, s.

ps. Ok not identical lookalike la, maybe a cross between Michael Tse and Eason Chan, does that narrow the odds for ya? :)

Brothers Cheok tribute to Ben Chow

Check out what I found on youtube :) Idols supporting their fellow Idol! (awwwwww!)

The Brothers Cheok doin' a shout-out to Ben Chow in light of his hacker plight.

Very cute guys. I had fun watching this lil clip!

Ben, if you're out there, have you seen this? Its buddy support Idol-style!

Sound quality and picture clarity not the best, so don't hold it against the brothers k?

xoxo, s.

Updates on Ben Chow Hacker Story

UDPATE : 3.02pm.

About 12 hours ago, I wrote the post below... "Just when the dust had settled ..."

But now, it looks like we won't get to see Ben's story unfold tonight, its slated for next week's episode of Idol (episode 3, Wednesday, August 19th, 8pm) pending the results from the police investigation into the case.

So super DRAMA. Even the police are involved, got case number and everything. Dang!

I, for one, hope producers will be candid enough to reveal the results of the investigation on next week's ep (or later, depending on when the results come back)(or at least to the media).

In the meantime, even more rumours have been circulating about how this 'fire' got started in the first place. Suffice it to say, if producers can capture this drama on-air, its reality tv gold - so Ep3, bring it! (No pressure SI Producer :))

xoxo, s.

ps. I wonder why New Paper hasn't picked up this story yet? Its right up their alley - Idol bashing, juicy gossip etc :)

-------posted at 3 this morning-----------

Just when I thought the dust had settled on the whole BenC-got-hacked-drama, I get a bunch of texts, tweets, fb messages and phonecalls about it.

Some were just airing their views - aiya sure fake wan, give the guy a chance, focus on the vocals bla di bla. Comments following my last post clearly shows the two camps are quite divided : the ones who believe in him and the ones who believe its fake.

So apart from 'view-airing', the latest I've heard from the grapevine is this...

Medical records have been summoned.

A police report has been lodged.

Fingers are being pointed, within the Idol community (shocking! NOT! I mean, of course la the first suspects are 'jealous' contestants vying for the same trophy DUH!)

This 'scandal' is so 'what everyone's talking about' that Producers may be editing a special piece on it for tonight's episode! (hopefully clarifying the situation once and for all so Benjamin can continue his journey in peace)

As it stands at 3.15am, I don't have a confirmation. You'll just have to tune in to find out. 8pm. TONIGHT. Don't miss Ep 2.

For the record, I think Benjamin really, really needs a break from this. Come on, I mean the guy was on air for like less than five minutes and already he's got faeces hitting the fan. Not liking someone is all fair in a competition. But hacking their personal accounts - is JUST SO LOW.

So lets all just grow up, and move past it, right after we see how it unfolds on tonight's episode of Singapore Idol.

Latest on the Ben Chow drama!

APOLOGIES!!!

THIS POST HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY REMOVED PENDING SOME UPDATES.

CHECK BACK IN THE AFTERNOON.

xoxo, s.

Scandal Already? Benjamin Chow's FB page gets hacked!

Idol Hopeful Benjamin Chow's Facebook Account Gets Hacked! (alamak!)

Barely ONE day after the premiere of Singapore Idol, a scandal is a-brewin'!

Last night's premiere episode followed a number of heartfelt stories, one of which was about 19-year Benjamin Chow, a former dancer who hurt his leg but through some medical boo boos is now facing early onset arthritis, thus the crutch he uses to get around. His vocals were impressive and he made it through to the next stage (Theatre Auditions).

I mentioned him in my review of Episode 1. He was the guy who had a booming voice (Ken said 'This is not a shouting competition") and I thought spoke so well (perfect diction!) I thought he would charm the pants off anyone.

But not everyone I suppose. Someone's apparently hacked right into the poor guy's facebook account and wreaked havoc. The hacker updated Benjamin's status as follows :

My greatest act yet. Hey guys, well I've been quite successful as of late, and I just wanted to tell you all that. MY LEG ISN'T BROKEN! I'm absolutely fine and I only used this as a stage to trick the Singapore armed forces (Suckers!) I'll keep up the act, but don't bring me to no X-ray professional!

Apparently some of the comments from his friends on facebook following the post advised him to remove it before he got into trouble, especially with the Army, while others applauded his move.

Last I heard, Benjamin has been posting messages from another Facebook account to try and clear his name.

Personally I doubt anyone who goes on a show like Idol would post an announcement such as this. Also, who'd want to get in trouble with the Singapore Armed Forces? That's like suicide no? It's quite obvious someone is out to get him.

However, if this was indeed self-inflicted, what a brilliant (and diabolical) way to drum up some attention to oneself.

So what do you think readers? Was it a hater out to get poor 'Crutch-boy'? Or an elaborate publicity stunt which started with fake crutches that probably won't end here?

I wonder what kinda drama/scandal/gossip Episode 2 will yield? Singapore Idol Episode 2 airs this Wednesday (just 2 days away now) at 8pm. From here on in, Wednesday will be Idol Day! woot!

xoxo, s.

ps. I wonder if this will make it to News on tv? Or will they just deem it 'Idol' fodder :)

pps. For what its worth, I thought Benjamin could sing, and would really like to see how far his vocals can take him.

UDPATE : 5.22pm, Monday 10/8/09

Benjamin's facebook page is now apparently gone *poof*.

Time to start anew Ben :)