Thursday, June 30, 2005

Fashion bloopers in Project SuperStar Male Q-Finals 2!


Last night’s Male Quarter-Finals 2 became a Worst Dressed contest when the judges had a field day playing fashionistas. See who made it to the list! *Videos added!

Kwok Kar Peng




The remaining six male quarter-finalists of Project SuperStar (Chia Wei Choong, Raymond Chua Gee Wee, Hoh Wei Jian, Leong Wai Keong, William Tanoto and Hagen Tan) didn’t raise the mercury in our Music-o-Meter, but bless the stars for the five judges who continued tickling us with their witticisms and acid-laced comments!









Fashion Bloopers!


Raymond Chua Gee Wee has all along confessed his singing isn’t as good as his pretty boy looks, but gasp, it seem now he can’t exploit his physical appearance with the judges as well!

Quipped Roy Li Feihui, “Your clothes tonight... there’s something wrong somewhere. The orange shirt isn’t suitable for you and the jacket makes you look very low-spirited.”


Fellow judge Li Weisong added, “Look at his pants! You shouldn’t choose pants like that, because it emphasizes your side-pointing feet.”

Next, veteran producer Xu Huanliang threw in a killer comment that must have really, really hurt. “A good-looking man or woman will never say they are good-looking. That praise should be given to them by others, so don’t say you’re handsome again, ok?” Ouch!

View the video clip here!



Hoh Wei Jian, who seems to be the resident clown with his cheeky antics and facial expressions (click to see how impish Wei Jian is!), received a thumb-down from Fang Zhonghua who found his T-shirt and jeans ensemble too casual. Said the judge, “You came over after a shopping trip ah? I thought you’d have a jacket when I saw you just now. If I knew earlier, I would have lent you my jacket.”

Watch video here!


While the older ones are trying to look younger, the baby of the competition Leong Wai Keong can’t wait to grow up! The mere 18-year-old donned a black blazer over a black singlet and jeans and really just appeared like a boy playing dress-up with his dad’s clothes. The judges thought so too.


Roy Li Feihui said, “You look like a contestant in the Royal Umbrella (An Pei Na) Kids Karaoke Competition wearing a tube top! You have a short stature; don’t wear something so low.”

Dawn Yip continued with her assessment, “Your clothes don’t match your looks at all. You are the ‘cute’ type, so you should wear something cuter.”


Spicy Judges’ Quips!

Every week, I feel so blessed to have such eloquent and wickedly funny judges in the competition to tickle my funny bone. See what other wisecracks they dished out in the Male Quarter-Final 2 last night!

You sang like you lost your soul already!

‘Royal Umbrella (An Pei Na) Kids Karaoke SuperStar Competition’?

“You look cocky; I like it!


Recap of the Male Quarter-Finals 2 broadcast last night

Results given by the judges (in descending order):

Tan William Tanoto – 37 (Highest in the competition so far)

Hoh Wei Jian - 35

Chia Wei Choong – 32

Hagen Tan – 32

Raymond Chua Gee Wee – 26.5

Leong Wai Keong – 24.5

Click on their names to go to their Bios page, where you can view their solo performance last night!

Friday, June 24, 2005

The first four to be eliminated…

The journey has ended for four Project SuperStar quarter-finalists when they were voted out of the competition last night. We met up with Candy Tan, Chen Jiaxin, Darryl Yong and Sugianto twelve hours after their tearful departure. *Videos included!

Kwok Kar Peng




Today is the second time I interviewed the quarter-finalists of Project SuperStar and I knew beforehand that it wasn’t going to be a cheery affair like before. Today, I’ll be facing the first four contestants who were eliminated from the competition last night - Sugianto, Chen Jiaxin, Darryl Yong Tze Wen and Candy Tan Jing Ying.

Recap of the Female Quarter-Final 1 & why we love the judges!

After tearful goodbyes and hugs with the rest of the contestants, the four spent a sleepless night seeking solace from friends and relatives, and then came straight over to MediaCorp this morning for interviews. Candy moaned about the long interviews and begged to be released to go home and sleep. The rest? They seemed to have recovered from their melancholy and shock and are on their way to seeking their new paths in life.



Despite the dreariness, all four sparkled back to life when we put them together for a photo shoot. Smiles shone from their faces as they fooled around with poses (Sugi being the leading livewire) and gossiped about who’s dating who. (Candy accidentally let slip that Leong Wai Keong and Chua Shi Ni are dating!)

After the photo shoot, they snapped back to reality. They will no longer enjoy the camaraderie they found with the remaining Project SuperStar contestants.



Sugianto

The results are released...

Sugi's heartfelt words


What went through your mind when you realized you were eliminated?

Everything blanked out. My mind started rewinding the days, to the times and things I did for this competition. Project SuperStar was everything to me; I did really, really a lot and would sacrifice a lot of things for this. When my name was called out, I feel it’s not justified. I feel sorry for my family and friends because I so eagerly want to make them proud of me. I feel like I let them down.

Do you feel it’s unfair you got booted out?

It’s fair. I’ve been through competitions and there are many aspects in a competition that will decide the outcome. It’s not just your singing. Sometimes you never know; it’s unpredictable. But the most important thing to me right now, is that I’d done my very, very, very best.


Could your family in Indonesia SMS or call to vote for you?

They would be charged for the calls but it wouldn’t be counted in the tally.

What are your plans?

I need to take a short break, could be few days but not longer that a few weeks. I shouldn’t be letting this get me down. I have no time to waste. My life has to go on and I’m not young anymore. I need to stand on my feet and think about what I want to do in the future. Before I was kicked out, I thought if the worst happened, I would go get an engineering job and get some cash in the bank account.



Chen Jiaxin

The results are released...

Jiaxin's heartfelt words


How did you feel on stage, waiting for the results to be released?

I didn’t want it to be myself, but I didn’t want it to be the others too. It’d be very, very sad if anyone leaves the competition. It’s an irony.

How do you feel now? Are you upset that you still have to be interviewed even after being kicked out?

I’m still alright, because one has to be emotionally prepared for this when you join a competition. Eventually, there can be only one male and one female left standing. I’m not upset; it’s after all your job to do interviews.


Why do you think you were eliminated?

It’s probably because of the lack of SMS votes. Even though I got 32 points from the judges and it’s the second-highest, 70% of the overall points still relied on SMS votes. I don’t have any relatives here in Singapore, so maybe that’s why. I’m very grateful to my friends who voted for me.

What would you have done differently, if you had the chance?

Possibly my clothes, because the judges said I look too skinny in the outfit. My voice wasn’t natural enough too because I was nervous and a bit scared when I hit the high notes.

What are your plans now?

I’ll most probably return to Hong Kong for a long stay. My family is there and I miss them a lot.



Darryl Yong Tze Wen

The results are released...

Darryl's heartfelt words


What were your feelings when you were waiting for the results?

I had two opposite thoughts going through my mind. One said I can make it through because I had a lot of people supporting me. The other said I deserve to be out based on my performance. I was a little nervous but I was mainly confident and positive. But when the results were released, it was a clear reflection of how I had performed. I was the lowest-scoring male contestant that night; I think I deserved to be eliminated.

Why did you sing so badly that night?

I was nervous. I wasn’t so sure of my vocal powers when I joined the competition. I told myself to do my best; I didn’t tell myself to improve or train. When the final 24 contestants were announced, I asked the judge Fang Zhonghua how I could improve. He told me I couldn’t sing very well, and I got through only because of my looks. Then I saw the standards of the other contestants and I got demoralized. As I grew more negative, my self-confidence dipped. I gave myself too much pressure on the day of the quarter-finals.

How do you feel now?

I couldn’t sleep the whole night and spent the time trying to collect myself. I’m out and I feel sad, but I also feel a load off. The stress has disappeared and I’m back to my so-called normal life. I feel freer and there won’t be anymore sleepless nights.


Do you think the ‘rumour’ about your relationship with contestant Silver Ang Zi Hui affected your chances?

I actually don’t know. The rumour is just a rumour. We are just good friends because we can connect well. People assume we are together just because we are good friends.

What are your plans now?

I’m going to serve my National Service soon. Then I’ll seek formal training in singing, music composition and dance, either locally or overseas like Taiwan. My parents have told me they are willing to sponsor me all the way.



Candy Tan Jing Ying

The results are released...

Candy's heartfelt words


Are you upset that you are out of the competition?

Yes, I’m very sad, not because I’m out as I know my performance was not perfect that night. I’m sad because my friends are eliminated one by one. But competitions are cruel.

How did you feel waiting for the results?

I was quite relaxed, since I already know I’d be booted out. My performance wasn’t good and the judges gave me the lowest points.


What do you think were the reasons that caused your elimination?

Luck is one factor I think. When I was on stage, I already knew that I’d be out sooner or later. I was also relaxed, so the judges felt my singing was emotionless.

If you had a second chance, what would you do?

I wouldn’t let my voice become too deep, and lose more weight. I look fatter on TV. Change my outfit too.

What are your plans?

I just want to have a long sleep now! I’ll take a break, because my voice is a little tired. Then I’ll go back to singing in cafes.


Recap of the Female Quarter-Final 1 & why we love the judges!

Thursday, June 23, 2005

“If you drop your pants, you might become famous!”

Woah! Did a Hong Kong Category III director approach Project SuperStar contestant Sugianto to do a porno film???

Kwok Kar Peng


Sugianto
Drop your pants and become famous? What a scintillating piece of advice to give a young singing talent, huh! But before you go ‘tsking’ and shaking your head, don't worry, it's not something that won't pass through the strictest censor.

Sugi had dressed in a hip-hop style for last night's Project SuperStar Male Quarter-Finals 1 but something was still amiss. So judge Roy Li Feihui suggested that he wear his pants one or two sizes bigger for that street look. "Wear a belt and your pants won't fall off, don't worry. In fact, if you drop your pants, you might even become famous," Roy said with a straight face.

And good ol' Sugi responded with a priceless stunned and frozen look. This judge is doubtlessly a man with a wicked sense of humour as Sugi isn’t the only guy to receive such constructive advice last night.

Darryl Yong Tze Wen
His next ‘victim’: Darryl Yong Tze Wen. The lean and muscular Darryl sure knew how to play on his best assets when he wore a rugged sleeveless shirt that highlighted his bronzed skin and firm biceps. Singing the ballad Ai Wo Bie Zou, he gazed sexily into the camera, causing heart palpitations in many a female heart. But choosing the right song is just as important, as judge Roy told Darryl, “The way you are dressed tonight, I think it’s more apt if you sing Tuo Diao (Take It Off)!” referring to Alex Toh’s song where he danced out a strip-show while singing.

Apart from these wacky moments gladly provided by Roy, the night was a very tense one for the six male contestants – Sugianto, Darryl, Hong Junyang, Leon Lim Yu Zhi, Jason Tan Kok Khian and Lim Wei Lian. Two of them will be voted out at the Results show tonight at 11.30pm, together with another two female contestants whose performances will be broadcast earlier at 8.30pm tonight.

Jason Tan Kok Khian

Hong Junyang

Leon Lim Yu Zhi

Tan Wei Lian


Who will be given the golden handshake? Stay tuned to Channel U’s Project SuperStar tonight at 8.30pm and 11.30pm to find out!

Recap

Points received from the five judges (in descending order):

Hong Junyang - 32.5
Leon Lim Yu Zhi - 31
Tan Wei Lian - 29
Jason Tan Kok Khian – 29
Sugianto - 28
Darryl Yong Tze Wen - 25.5

Click on their names to go to their Bios where you'll get to watch their Quarter-final performance video!