Lava Flow

A nationwide craze, of both the participants with lively enthusiasm, and the audience providing the most essential X-factor in any competition - the unfaltering support, cheers, movitation and applause.

Lots of credit must indeed be given to the organisers for coming up with the "baby" of this year. Earlier this year, MediaCorp announced that their biennial talent-scouting event Star Search would not be held this year as scheduled. They are holding if off at the moment due to some makeover plans. As such, the local talent-scouting scene desperately need some fresh ideas to continue where the Singapore Idol left off last year. "Strike the iron while it is hot." Carry on from the success of the Singapore Idol and the crowd would grow.

This inaugural event has many attributes that signify several issues and trends. Judges no longer have all or most of the say in the determination of the final results and the winners. The viewers have the upper hand now. After the initial auditions, from the Quarter Finals all the way till the Grand Finals, viewers' SMS votes would account for 70% of the final score. For the Grand Finals, the male and female winner would have their try in recording singles and the records' sales would contribute to 30% of their score. The most heart-breaking and decisive couple of hours would be when both of them pit against each other on the final day, singing "live" in the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Due respect must be given to everyone and anyone who is involved in this, from the organisers, to the participants, even the ones who are eliminated right from the start and who might have became the laughing topics of others, to the judges, to the viewers, and of course the supporters, friends and families of those who had made it to the last 32. You can laugh at the guy who sang like a monkey during his audition, but the very least he is better than you is that he has taken a bold step and give it a try. BUT as long as one is self-aware and exercise self-discretion and self-responsibility, no one can fault him.

More exposure, experience, and that is REAL experience indeed-in front of strangers and might be lots of them, not the regular friends in KTV sessions. Critics hit hard, unpleasant comments splash across. Learning experience or failing experience, it's up to each to ponder, reflect and decide upon. Afterwhich, is there going to be plans and efforts for improvements and re-evaluation? YES or NO, both works, no right or wrong here.

Who is THE SuperStar? Someone whose image, appearance and singing piece together to fit into a typical Singaporean's idol? OR someone who has the excellent ability in the musical arena but looks plainly regardless of his/her dressing? OR someone dashing/appealing and posesses the ultimate x-factor and carries average vocals? Much debated about I feel. Again, the decision lies with the majority of the viewers, and the finalists' supporters. An up and coming style and structure in the entertainment industry-let the public decide what they wish to see, and the results would show for themselves. Afterall, it's them who would lend their ears and wallet as well to the records. Does that mean talented composers cum singers have an even tougher road ahead? I really wonder when we would see another talented composer here again. Then again, there's always the National Song Writing Competition, which sad to say, is much less known among Singaporeans.

Another form of art. But many deem it to be on the depreciation mode. Time would reveal everything. Maybe we can term it Modern Art?

Seriously hope that by the year 2010, I would have garnered my courage and passion to advance further in the arts arena, by giving a try in serious composing.