My buddy was commenting about the local show Singapore Idol; a rip off from the American version. The show is supposed to be a search for talented singing performers from within our island city, based on a panel of judges' decisions as well as votes from the population via SMS. He was saying that the 'idols' in the recent group selection could neither sing nor perform. Apparently he felt that the entire show was just one big comedy and William Hung could easily win them hands down!
That led me to wonder if truly there is no worthy talent in our tiny island? Yet already I have came across many talented local people with great voices and charisma. Perhaps such people didn't even join the competition? I remember reading the Straits Times forum once when one of the EMI directors wrote in and said that the judges were unprofessional and incompetent. He mentioned that the judges were trying too hard to mimic after the American Idol judges in dishing out rude remarks. He concluded that they were nothing more than lousy critics who appeared on the show just to further their own personal agendas and not genuinely there to pick out true talents. As a result some potential talents were conveniently written off. The final statement was that at the end of the day, there will be winners but no true idols.
I could not have agreed more with what had been said. Perhaps the whole show is just trying too hard to mimic the original American version that it has lost its own unique local flavour. I mean what is the point of watching a show with no originality?
Singapore has idols but we just don't seem to know how to find them.
3 comments:
Hi,
came across your blog on the navigator bar thingy. just wanted to add my two cents worth on the Idol program. In Australia we also have Idol. Our version being 'Australian Idol.' To be honest, I don't find anything wrong with the program at all. We are currently going through the season (i.e. Australian Idol is being shown on tv, and the singers are in the process of competing for the final position).
I never watched American Idol, but call me a consumerist, or a sucker, or simply shallow, but from the contenders that I have seen on television for australian idol so far, i have no problem with them. in fact, many of them i do in fact believe are very talented.
i agree that the judges themselves will at times say controversial statements for ratings, but to be honest, i feel (and again, maybe this is my shallow consumerism showing) that Australian Idol has more credibility as a program to bring in new musical talent to the music industry, than other reality music tv shows. i mean, again, my ignorance of American Idol is showing, but in Australia, i feel that the judges are allowed to say what they say, if only because their backgrounds justify them. One is a music producer, one is a top ten critically acclaimed singer, and one is a music executive for bmg (record company).
so yeh... not to dump on your parade or anything. just thought i'd add my two cents worth on the "idol" phenomenon.
=)
I have a friend who was just back from Australia and he told me that the Australian Idol show was very much better than Singapore Idol and perhaps even American Idol.
My friend was pretty much amused with the 'quality' of the local show and also felt that perhaps our show is not really dedicated to finding talents. However we still get a big laugh seeing participants making a fool of themselves on stage.
Thanks for sharing your views, really appreciate it! Happy blogging too!
Oh I agree... some of the contestents are obviously in it to get their 15 minutes of fame. and some of them are just plain embarressing. You sit there thinking, 'you're not serious, right?'
Australian idol did a mini concert of the 'worst' contestents.. and i'll give them kudos for giving it a go, and being a good sport. sometimes i wonder whether those who apply are really just in it for the exposure and the fame. who would've thought that the television medium would bring out such crazed lunatics. lol.
i agree that the judges can be harsh at times. but they balance it out ok, i mean, there's always one that's sort've like the mediator, and will tone things done or reprimand the other judges if they cross the line too much. i mean all in all, it *is* an entertainment show.. what do you expect really?
as to finding 'true' talent, what i find reassuring about Australian Idol is that even if you don't get the coveted title, 'Australian Idol' there are still chances for you to get record deals. last year there were 3 other contestents who were able to make records. and when i look at the calibre of singers this year, i'm sure that there will be others who get to make records also. i mean, in many ways to me, it looks like australian idol isn't so much a crass reality tv show as it is an avenue for budding talented singers to 'make it' rather than busking on streets or playing pubs and gigs until that fateful day when a record producer comes across your work.
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