vintage is the new ART

Woohoo! Alright, last Saturday aka MARCH 10, 2007, I was actually judging a talent competition. I was actually selected as one of the "song category" judges for the Red Cross Youth Talentime in SINGAPORE!! Wow... It never came across to me that I will be judging a singing competition in Singapore! Alright, as far as I remember, I did judge once in the King Arthur Musical audition in my previous high school (2005). That's a great experience. THis one, is a BETTER experience! I'm like, wow...this is like so cool man... HAHAHA...

BEFORE

So, here is the whole story.. First of all, the person who invited me to be the judge is a complete stranger to me. Totally a complete stranger. I never heard of her, never even see her before. So then, earlier that Tuesday, I curiously checked my hotmail inbox (mind you, i barely check this add. So email me on gmail) and guess what i found?! An email from a person called N** H*** (protect privacy ok...=p). I didn't actually want to open coz I thought it's spam. But then, i figured the subject doesn't sound like spam. So ok, i open it. Ooo...the first thing that caught my eye is "we would like to invite you to judge the song category for the Red Cross Youth Talentime audition." I was like "Whoaaaa... What's this?" Then I check when this email was sent coz i BARELY open the hotmail account. It was the sunday! i was like what?! then i saw that i need to reply by TUESDAY! which is like the day that i open it! I'm like freakin' out! it's like this is soooo cool. so at midnight i took down that person's number and SMS her. but yes, to my disappointment, she didn't reply until the next morning. She told me that i can meet up with her to get the details! oh yes, i was in the train to campus and i just immediately took my organizer out and go change my schedules. haha..so in the end, i met up with her and i accepted the invitation.

ON THE DAY

finally, the day of the judging came. went to dhoby ghaut - red cross house - and went in to find the person i know. went in to the conference room and find that other judges were there too. I just found out that there are more than 1 category. so the judges i saw are actually the modern dance category. anyway, i got to sit and relax a bit. then all the judges were there and then we went to go for briefing. i felt so good when i was actually escorted to the hall where the audition was held. hehe...my own personal bodyguard is there to open the door for me, stop the human traffic when going up the stairs, get my food n drinks.. wow...amazing service..haha.. but i have to comment on the officials. i say they are really nice and friendly to me even the chairman and vice chairman of the event. they're great people *wink*

Anyway, the auditionees...they're secondary 1-4 (gr 7-10) students. mostly are girls. there are 3 categories - song, modern dance, traditional dance - but song got group and duet category also. and i have to judge those 2 categories. I'm telling you, they are good and bad, at the same time. lol.. the great performance are definitely from a POWERHOUSE school - which means got budget and been a champion in previous years. but they are good! lots of funny stories. but there are some points where i felt SUPER bored and tired. no performance excites me! well, if that's the case, they should have known better. the auditionees should have thought this way ----- "ok, the judges just had their lunch. they're tired. i should excite them and give the best performance ever to win this." ---- i mean, it's true! if they had given the best performance that day, i will let them through to the finals. well, we did. 4 groups went through the finals. and 4 duets too.

I absolutely love the malay couple who sang this "my heart" song - english and malay language. they're very emotional and very engaging! but they got background bubbles! aiyoh, these 2 gals are blowing bubbles while giggling. totally a disturbance. i commented on the bubbles. i said, "those bubbles, honestly, is distracting. i'm just thinking, what if those bubbles went in your mouth while you are singing?? (LAUGHTER) I said it's unnecessary. it's enough to have you two sing and capture my attention. just the way you sing it with passion, i already feel that." I will be seeing them in the finals! hope they win!

alright, the singing people are quite boring, i must say. the best ones are the dancing! i absolutely love the cultural dance. they came with these exotic costumes n all. absolutely lovely. and the modern dance people are awesome too. the girls are like so hot! but then, i see them as potential clubbers - sadly. anyway, they're good. their body are so flexible. makes me want to dance again -hix hix-... anyway, i actually wanted to give a standing ovation to 1 cultural dance group - 6 boys doing indian dance. 3 dress as the guy and 3 as the gal! i'm laughing my heads out - oh, we're not suppose to give any reaction, but i couldnt help it!!! these fat indian guy are hilarious. he's the girl. so then the song is actually sung in a duet but mostly girl part. if i remember correctly, it's called "lenja lenja". haha...anyway, this guy is like all around the place doing bollywood stuffs including dancing with "human trees" with the other guy. i felt soooo entertained. i love this guy's confidence and entertainment. hope they made it to the finals.

anyway, judging this kind of stuffs is tiring ok. i imagines the american idol having to judge like millions. i'm like whoaaaa..... btw, i did a lot of critiques, but i gave tips to improve also. mostly, they lack confidence. and the really really BEST ones are not really really really good. so i still give some critiques. but it's ok. it helps them. at least i give a smile afterwards. haha...anyway, there are these bunch of gals that i think took pictures of me. whenever i look at their direction, they will hide their cameras.... haha...oh man, i got fans already! could it be my accent? my look? my words? my tips? well, i don't care...at least it's a good experience! I LOVE IT! and i don't mind doing it again! =)

AFTER

in the end of the whole thing, we reflect on what we have heard and seen. oh my gosh, they actually use the song from high school musical 5 times!!! the song "all in this together"... i HATE THE SONG NOW!!!!! and they also sang "breaking free"....sad to say, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL fans, it all didnt work out. it's like a curse or some sort! haha....those who sang HSM songs are doomed to lose! hahahaha.....i'm serious btw..... a tip for all of you wishing to audition for any competition, DO NOT USE THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL MATERIALS. all are simply annoying and weird! - sadly...haha...everytime the students introduce what they are singing or we hear the first tune, all the judges in the room (all 3 categories in 1 room btw. total of 8 judges and lots of officials and participants as audiences in the room) will like scream and laugh!!!! IT'S ANNOYING, PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!

a tough decision by us 3 judges. we were suppose to come up with 5 finalist, but it didnt happen. none are up to the standard. i guess they just need more practice. hey, there's always next year! oh, the officials actually asked me to be the judge for the Primary school FINALS in next 2 weeks! i got to be one of the judges to determine the champion. it's so cute! LOL!!!

there's more to this event - but i'm super tired now. so better go!

Labels: audition, event, sing

11:57 PM