beautiful nation.

i want to be beautiful
so beautiful like you
so hard to believe
cinder, ugly.

i read an article in the new paper (13 aug 07) about ch5's newest addition to it's prime time tv slot, live the dream.

live the dream, another template reality singing competition for passionate (sometimes delusional) hopefuls to tantalize young or naive locals to throw their pennies into voting.

i hope you get the idea that i don't find favor in these 'reality' tv shows ala singapore idol.

but after reading the article, and how unforgiving a journalist can be for a person's appearance, i felt the surge of animosity and pity for the contestants.

the article talked about the show's lack of eye candy (quote:"average looking and out-of-shaper crooners") and the lack of x-factor. the article carried on to compare it to singapore idol (of all shows) and the fact that the sms voting system would lure live the dream into the death trap of a popularity contest.

lack of eye candy?
firstly, if you want to compare a bmw7series to a toyota corolla, we all know in terms of luxury the bmw wins hands down.

singapore idol embodied young, pubescent teenagers living the dream of having dozens of equally young and flippant teenagers cheering them on. teenagers. they chose songs they liked not songs that enforce their dramatic voices. they spoke about their favourite neighbourhood hangouts which consists of coffeeshops and prata stalls. they had scandals that involve young puppy love. they are teenagers. fine, some were on the cusp of adulthood. but young. some far too young to even comprehend or have the same type of lives adults have.

live the dream? made of professionals. people who fought for their passions. singing in bars and pubs. if one might think that the singapore's bar/pub singing life is as glamourous and enchanting as the likes of hollywood movies, you have it wrong. struggling, paid peanuts and worn out.

the writer saying these passion driven hard working singers look less aesthestically pleasing then their teen bopper counterparts is just absurd. why not compare the actual context of the competition? the singing?

i dare to say all the finalist can sing incredibly. when i say sing i don't mean 'hold a note' kind of singing. anyone can do that. i'm talking 'america's got talent 11-year-old girl" kind of singing.

lack of x factor?
oh come on. take look at picture perfect international examples of rejects-turned-famous. jessica simpson failed to get into the mickey mouse club which launch careers of justin timberlake and britney spears. there are many other examples of stars that have failed numerous times but become part of the illustrious x-factor club.

these contestants are raw. they might be professional but they are raw and unpolished right now. wait a few weeks, give them a chance. comparing them to stunning beautiful andrea fonseka and gorgeous asian beauty michelle chia is hardly fair! judging them from episode one is an obvious jump to conclusion.

i for one think that fendi from the lot has one of the most unique and soulful voices i have ever heard. his voice made me stop in my tracks. no one from any reality series local or international has ever made me stop and listen. the x-factor? i think he has it.

this is just an opinion, a view on my part. sometimes it comes out wrong, i apologise. in no way am i attacking the writer because i've read alot of her work and i really like her writing. it was an opinion on her part as well, one i don't agree with.

is this world really all about beauty? about skinny pretty people?
would you watch an overweight or pockmarked, girl with a beautiful voice sing?

britan did.
only to make her lose weight in the course of her career.

singapore kinda did.
and she's now the ambassador to a slimming centre.


see, there's just no running away.



maybe he was right after all.