Next Week's Theme : Judges' Choice

Judges' Choice : Surprised?

These 3 certainly were...

Sezairi : Oh. ok.

Sylvia : Huh? Really ah?

Tabitha : What..nooooo.....

Producers and everyone in the know (that would include yours truly and Official Blogger Iz too) worked hard to keep the secret....a secret. The Top 4 were convinced next week's theme was to be 'Jazz'. They even 'spliced' songs and submitted song choices a week ahead, like they always do. Poor things. All that work....pfft!

In the meantime, its Judges' choice for next week's show and according to Uncle Ken, the songs especially chosen for each of the Top 3 were chosen in the hopes that the song would allow audiences to get to know the Top 3 more 'intimately'. I translate that to mean - more emotion please.

Song choices are confidential for now, but here's who chose for whom...check out these pics taken backstage, so 'prize-giving-' or 'cheque-presentation-like'! Each Judge chooses two songs for their Idol contestant.

Tabby's song choices are by Dick Lee.

I like this pic, just add a mortar board on Tabby's head and you have a graduation-perfect pic :) And Dick's the proud lecturer who just crowned her valedictorian! LOL! But that said, they both look good here - nice pic Ash!

Airi's two songs are picked by Flo.

LOL - Looks like a proud mummy giving angpow to her son on first day of CNY!

Airi's expression here is priceless! What song IS that? Flo, are you SURE you want me to sing this?!

Uncle Ken chooses 2 songs for Sylvia.

Can you beat SylSyl's expression? HILARIOUS! And add Uncle Ken's 'almost smile' face next to it! AIYO. I cracked up for about two minutes when I saw this pic!

Thank goodness for Ash's pics. I tried snapping pics with my phone when this was happening but I was shorter than the sound guy, the camera guy, the director lady, the producers, Ash, Iz (these last two are so tall and big they may as well be trees to me!) and basically everyone who surrounded the scene la. So I got me nothin'! Thanks again Ash!

I stayed on for keycheck thereafter to find out what the songs were and suffice it to say, every song that came outta there was totally unexpected. Its going to be a very interesting show next week.

In my opinion, the song choices shouldn't be kept secret, cos I love listening to the original and then imagine how each contestant would reinterpret it. Oh well, not my decision, but I'll keep bugging @siproducer about it - maybe can release one song choice? Please, please, pretty please? I'm sure everyone's dying to know what Uncle Ken picked for Sylvia. LOL. I mean, lookit her face. And Airi's face too! What could elicit that kinda expression right??

Suddenly 1 week seems a super long time. (but then again, juxtapose that against how quickly the last 11 weeks have flown by and well, I shouldn't complain la right?)

xoxo, s.

ps. I would love to see Tabby do a big broadway number, followed by a very simple, unglam, stripped down song, just cos I think we never get to see the girl-next-door side of her - we're always served up the Glamazon. Same goes for Sylvia, a simple, emotive, heartfelt song without all the frills is what I would love to see. As for Airi, I loved watching him dance last night, and a number that includes some moves would be a nice repeat. ;) but thats me. And my initials ain't DFK.

Idol Out : Charles

Bye Bye Charlie :(

"Its okay, to have made it to Top 4, its been amazing."

Humble to a fault and the sweetest, most thoughtful person I've ever met, Charles is really such a gentleman. He went round thanking everybody, including Judge Ken Lim, after the show. Uncle Ken gave a him pat on the back and reassured him that he's a talented guy. This, for me, was the best reassurance Charles could have gotten after weeks of onstage scrutiny by the judges. Perhaps his talent is just not suitable for singing competitions, but really there is no doubt that Charles is musically talented. Perhaps his performances are more suited for 'intimate' environments? But seriously, to have gotten this far, Top 4 out of 4000, is a huge achievement.

Last week's non-elimination gave me a false sense of insulation. Week after week, an idol hopeful has been sent home and its been sad to see them go, but last week it was like Happy Camp, no one was sent home and it was so sool to see all four for another week.

When the Results show started last night, I suddenly wanted it to stay Top 4 forever.Malaque, seated one seat away, felt the same. I mean, Top 4 all the way to Finals lah, then just 'crown' one lor - caaaan la...

Oh well, thats not how the Idol cookie crumbles. And we're now left with 3.

In typical Charlie fashion, here's his exit performance, beatboxing! :), followed by the exit interview.

Thank you Charles for sharing your Idol journey with us, and with me. You are a truly talented and wonderful person - Sherry's a lucky girl and your parents raised you right. Stick to your guns and your dreams and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

xoxo, s.

ps. Charlie's a man of many talents... ages ago, in one of my earlier interviews Charles said he used to love to draw. Check out this cute lil sketch Charlie did of Sezairi - its SO Sezairi :) Pretty good right! It was on the envelope of a note that he wrote to his 'bro' Sezairi.

Next Week's Theme : Super Top Secret

It's 10pm...

..and the lines are closed - you can't vote anymore...

..and traditionally at about this time, I will tell you what next week's theme is....

But not this week...sorry!

Its so SUPER TOP SECRET even the contestants don't know, so we'll have to sit and wait til Gurmit announces it at the end of tonight's show...

(see...told u got twist to look out for right? And if I know the producers well (and I do), they only told me half the twist, so that they (or some photog) can get that shot of me with my mouth wide open when they reveal all on the show....)

Anyway, I've been sworn to secrecy for the past 3 days so another half hour shouldn't be too hard to handle :) Hehe, love that this season's got so many twists ...for both contestants AND viewers alike.

Keep watching! Who have you voted through to the Top 3 this week Singapore?

2 girls and a guy, or 2 guys and a girl? Who's Idol dreams have been snuffed out like a Survivor tiki torch?

Remember, the results tonight are based on the total votes received from last Wednesday night and tonight. So it really is anyone's guess!

Your bottom 2 last week were Charlie and Tabby, have your fervent voting pulled these two to safety, throwing Sylvia and Sezairi into the bottom 2?Or have S&S's fans helped to maintain their status at the top of the food chain? OMG, just thinking of all the possible combos makes my head hurt and my heart thump harder!

Man...I think next week even more 'chee kek' (exciting). I got butterflies in my stomach from typing this post AND thinking about next week....arrgh...

xoxo, s.

ps. Am still backstage - check out my tweets/twitpics here.

9pm : Show's Over - Keep Voting!

You have ONE more precious hour of voting time left to go.

In the meantime, us here in the studio are biding the time til the Results Show starts at 10pm when the lines close. Many are preoccupied with texting...noses buried in handphone backlights.

I have cast my votes. Now I'm looking forward to watching the Results Show. Two things I'm lookin' forward to...

1. The Strepsils Music Video that was shot on Sunday. Check out izked's behind-the-scenes vid of the shoot - they all look so nice and the house/cars/location is blardee amazing lor! Sigh...keep dreaming....dreaming....Ferarri, private pool, grand piano, BUNGALOW, double-storey! dayammm!

2. The group performance. Tonight's group song is 'Dance Anthem' by Good Charlotte. I couldn't find a nice good video of the song, anyway, here's what I found la. I heard the girls' interview on 987FM this morning and they said the most fun in choreo this week was during the group song rehearsals, cos they all got to dance/sing together :) Awww!

To be honest I always look forward to the group songs cos its nice to see them in their different 'formations' :) Lets see how they do tonight with this very very cool song!

Keep voting folks....10pm is now less than an hour away! Lines will be closing and once they do, thats it, deal is sealed, so this is no time to be complacent!

Sigh. I can't imagine any one of them going home. I know it sounds cliched, and I know its inevitable, but its just so....hard to decide! Hard to guess even! Each one of them is talented, you HAVE to recognise that. Each one of them is so very loved by their adoring fans. Each one of them can really sing.

Peeps, we're talking about the 0.1% cream of the crop of 4000+ people who auditioned this year. (If you flunked math, here's the equation 4/4000 x 100%)

All things considered, I think Singapore has chosen a worthy Top 4. Its anyone's game at this juncture. And I think whoever ends up being the Idol, will definitely be able and willing to do Singapore very very proud. Aw, suddenly feel choked up! *blinking away almost tears...*

Good luck to my dearest Tabby, Charlie, Airi and Sylvia.... always believe in yourselves, and keep dreaming no matter what.

xoxo, s.

ps. You can catch up on whats happening in studio and backstage via my tweets/twitpics here.

VOTE VOTE VOTE Spectacular 11!

8pm... Lines Are Open!

Just a quick reminder that last week's votes will be rolled over to this week. So tonight's result will be a tally of the votes taken from last Wednesday and tonight.

Last week, the bottom 2 were Charlie and Tabby. Only YOU can change, or maintain, that outcome tonight.

So what say you Singapore? Who's going home tonight? And who have you put through to the Top 3? Time to get those digits movin' - you only have 2 hours to seal the fates of your Top 4.

Voting, performance and song deets are all on the left sidebar for your quick reference, otherwise, for more details, click on these related links :

Top 4 Interviews : Dance History!

Song List for Spec 11

Performance Order Out!

Behind-the-scenes @ keycheck

Official Blog

I'll be off to the studios in just over an hour - exciting!!! So follow me as I tweet/twitpic whatevah's goin' on backstage! :)

HAPPY VOTING!

xoxo, s.

ps. Latest goss - heard on the gossgrapevine that there's gonna be some sorta twist happening....so.....keep yer eyes n ears peeled yo!

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 :)

The One With The Interviews

Idol Dance History!

Sorry to say, but all four of them have absolutely no formal training in dance. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Nil.

But hey, that doesn't mean they can't move. I realised last Idol Day that I haven't been 'interviewing' them the last few weeks - dunno how it coulda slipped my mind - tsk - so I decided to interview them again, the old-fashioned way. Armed with notebook and pen, I scribbled furiously as they rattled off their answers.

Here are this week's 'dance-related' interviews with your Top 4, in order of performance.

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance history at all. Except that I've always wanted to be a ballerina. But my mom put me in taekwando! (So strange, I'm the total opposite! I always wanted to do Taekwando, but my Mom made me do ballet as a kid!)

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

Having to dance with my cousins at like family gatherings and christmas parties etc. My mom and aunties always liked to watch the younger ones perform. We had a Spice Girl routine cos there were 4 of us, I was Sporty Spice! The first song I ever performed was 'Wanna Be'! I was 4 years old!

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

In kindergarten, they used to have dances at the Christmas parties in Hong Kong (Tabby went to an international pre-school when her family lived in Hong Kong for 2 years, her sister Serena was born in Hong Kong), and I danced with this boy called Christian Zangellini. (Incidentally, this boy was also named as Tabby's first crush in one of her early interviews with Izked.) Aww so cute!

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

I totally don't understand interpretive dance! I'm like wuuuutt??

I think the most fun dance is like salsa and tango - they're so sexy!

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

OMG Justin Timberlake *drool*

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance history. But I've always believed I could dance, like in my head, I believed I was decent. But when I dance, my friends always say, 'you should look at yourself in the mirror. don't dance.'

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

In primary school (primary 5 or 6), there was a 10th Anniversary concert and I was chosen to do a rap. I had like 20 back-up dancers! Actually I was one of the dancers, but then there was a rap part that they incorporated and one of the teachers saw that I could rap, so she made me the rapper. I even have a VCD of it but no way am I gonna bring it out!

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

Prom. In Secondary School. I was 16. It was my first slow dance with a girl, and apparently this girl liked me (or so she alluded), but she didn't tell me. I was such a geek. And she was one of the prettiest girls in school.

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

Lyrical Hip-Hop. (Like the stuff choreographers Tabitha & Napoleon come up with on So You Think You Can Dance! Super amazing stuff!)

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

Leighton Meester!

(for the blur, Leighton Meester plays Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl.)

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No dance background, but I love to dance and to freestyle.

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

My Mom would always tell me that when I was young, like really little, I would go around dancing to my own tune, like, around the house.

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

In secondary school, there was some kind of Teacher's Day show and they would play some music in the break and people would dance. I can't remember who I danced with though. (I ask her, 'Was this a slow dance?' to which Sylvia said 'No'.)

So when was your first slow dance with a boy then?

To me, having a slow dance is very intimate. My first slow dance was when I was in my first serious relationship with my first boyfriend at 18. (awwww...)

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

Hip Hop, Pop & Lock.

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

Taylor Lautner! I'm not sure if he can dance, but even if he can't, its okay, I'll just dance and hold on to his abs!

(OMG LOL!)

Any dance history? Formal lessons?

No, not really. I teach beatboxing at this place called 'Natasha Studio' and the owner, Larry, is a breakdance teacher, so he teaches me a bit on and off. This started about a year ago.

What's your earliest memory of dancing?

Every time I do something clumsy like bump into things or knock over something, my Mom reminds me of the time I danced with her and stepped on her feet, that was when I was 5 or 6 years old.

When was your first boy-girl dance and who was it with?

My first real boy-girl dance was a few years ago. I went clubbing with Sherry, and was happily dancing away, doing some really chinky-chinese moves. I didn't realise until the next morning that I must have had two left feet, but Sherry was very encouraging. I don't know why, when I'm on my back or my hands, things seem to go well, but my feet just cannot. Once, during choreo, I was just walking from point A to point B, and Zaki said, "Charles, you really shouldn't dance." LOL!

Sherry goes for hip hop class and she can pull it off quite well, so even like last night, she came over to help me groove! ...... I still have 2 left feet.

What's your favourite style of dance? What do you enjoy watching?

B-boying definitely! For people in Korea, its like a staple form of dance. There's this move called the 'air-track' and its very cool, they get on their hands and their legs do the windmill and they just like keep flippin'! Its amazing!

If you could dance with anyone at all, who would it be?

(after much thought) I'll dance with William Hung or Steven Lim (ugh?! ugly gladiator stripper guy from season 1? Ew!), cos next to them, I won't look so bad! LOL!

Wanna hear something freaky? Halfway transcribing these interviews, I realised I must be clairvoyant cos I actually interviewed them in the order of this week's performance (before the info was released by producers!) How weird is that? Coincidence? I think not. I MUST be clairvoyant....psychic network here I come. Ok, its 2.45am, this post shoulda been out before midnight but I got sidetracked watching 16 & Pregnant on mtv.com. (Thanks a lot Ash! pfft!)

Ok, gotta turn in now...its late..and guess what peeps...its IDOL DAY! Woot!

xoxo, s.

ps. One more WOOT! Cos its IDOL DAY!

pps. Don't forget to catch Tabby and SylSyl on 987FM with Dan & Young in the morning at 9am! Dan & Young, you gotta make Tabby do 'Jessica' on radio!

Meet Jessica + 1 Random Vid

SNL* anyone?

Who knew one of our Top 4 (actually more than 1, but only 1 in these vids for now :)) had improv/skit-worthy acting chops? LOL.

*for the blur, SNL = Saturday Night Live (a skit comedy type show on American TV - loads of celebs from Taylor Swift to Britney go on it and lay down their acting chops for all to see)

Check out our very own, hawt babe, Tabitha Giselle Nauser hammin' it up as a character she created called 'Jessica'. Don't ask her why the name 'Jessica' - I did, and she doesn't know why, it just 'came' to her. Sounds blonde enough tho', and if you watch the 2nd vid, you'll wonder if it has any connection to another blonde Jessica who was confused by tuna and chicken.

Anyway, just watch ....

In our next instalment, we plan to recruit one more character, possibly an African American one...played by...juz wait n see yo'....*suspense not?*

Ok, now here's the random vid...its like a behind-the-scenes of an upcoming music video Izked is working on for tomorrrow night's theme - Step Up & Dance. Its supposed to be ala American Idol where they dance around while their names are announced. Notice how Sezairi 'flies' in and almost knocks Sylvia over - you can't catch this kinda thing on your weekly Idol show!! LOL!

Btw, on the vid, when you hear me say 'I can't believe you said that' - it wasn't meant for Tabby's comment about 'being a conservative Asian girl', but actually for Izked's request to have the girls 'grind' Airi! Helo! Family show brotha! LOL!

Hope you enjoyed the vids!

xoxo, s.

ps. Wonder if the 'Jessica Cali' stuff can be submitted to SNL?

pps. Sorry Charles doesn't feature in the BTS vid, he had left quite early on after the roadshow.

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!)