AI event at Zouk + Mel’s 2 night stay
On the night of Fri, I could barely sleep a wink after being over tension with my presentation of Kevin in Zouk the next day. After all, it’s my first time being on stage and you just couldn’t believe the pressure and nervousness I was feeling every second till the event starts. Woke up about 10.30am, check on priest to find out if he’s passed the OIAM audition. Still not his turn yet. Got dressed, check of everything I needed for the impersonation before I left to Times Square. Reached Level 6 of Times Square, went into the room, Uptowndragon was busy taking pictures and reports for the news section in his newly created One In A Million/Rentak Juara forum. Just as that, I saw priest preparing to go into the audition room with a couple of others in the same batch. He’s attempting to wow the pre-aud judges by doing Seether featuring Amy Lee’s Broken. As it was his turn to sing and walked into the room, we spotted Paul Moss across the other side of the level and called him out. Had a little chat with him regarding some familiar faces who auditioned for OIAM. This included last years Top 11 finalists Atilia who had a big voice but was eliminated way too early in the comp. A couple of Top 33 finalists also tried their luck but only 1 or 2 made it so far. Dad called soon after that, saying he’ll be waiting across at the taxi stand. Left Times Square and waited at the taxi stand as he asked. Mel has reached Pudu station and dad & I are going there to pick her up. Since he needed to purchase a ticket back to Ulu Bernam to claim the car from the workshop, it’s also a coincident to pick up Mel’s luggage rather than carrying it along to Zouk.
Peggy called to ask on my location. Told her and priest to wait for us at Sg. Wang’s entrance. Pretty jam on the way out to the road to Sg. Wang. To avoid being late, asked dad to stop at the corner at the BB plaza and we’d make it on foot. Faster in a way. Then again, Mel’s right toe is still hurting after which she recently took out her cast for a broken toe. You ah…leg belum sempat cured wanna come down and exert on it sumore ;P. She had to limp a little while walking on lower pavements. Met them at the entrance, decided to have McDs for lunch. After that, Peggy drove us to Zouk. Arrived just on time for the briefing. Noticed a number of contestants with so many types of impersonation. There’s Kellie, Mandisa, Kevin (yes, my other competitor), Paris supposedly and of course Taylor Hicks. Gosh, to me all looked pretty convincing with their skimpy outfits. Felt intimidated alright. Jinee, who was in charge of the briefing and our attendance handed us each a number which we will be on stage performing accordingly to the number given. I got no. 11, okay in a sense that I wasn’t the first or too last person to perform. Nervousness is really slowly building up now. Jinee told us to be ready in the contestants’ section and the family and friends would follow in later. We were asked to walk up the stage as we were being introduced by the emcees of the event, hitz.fms Rudy & JJ.
While the crowds were beginnig to fill in the atmosphere, I started mingling with the other contestants; 2 other guys and the 14 gals. Oh yes, 3 fortunately pulled out which makes the ratio of winning more..a little LOL. The guy who’s impersonating Kevin which I was doing, happened to audition on MI 2 last year before. He got throught the 1st round but don’t remember how far he made it. Problem was, I had no memories of ever watching him on tv before. The other guy surprisingly happened to be one of the BlueHyppo forum members. Noticed Kai Ma Kai Yeh & family, Jo & Uptowndragon have all arrived. Seat at the front portion facing towards the stage have been all taken up. They had to settle with the seats located at the right side of the stage. Not a bad view actually.
Show commenced with opening act by local band Disagree. Sang a 2 unfamiliar songs and ended up with Crumbs. Then it was Rudy & JJ who took the stage and started entertaining the crowd. And I can honestly speak that they’re really good entertainers alright. Started introducing the 1st contestant which she’s impersonating Taylor. Really a good start, though technically there was a slight mishap while she grooved to the likes of Taylor himself, her wig came off LOL. Rudy & JJ immediately got hold of the situation controlled and starting enlightening the crowd. 2nd contestant took on Kellie which she sang her audition song, Since U Been Gone. Not too bad vocal. By this time I was getting very very nervous. All of them sang more than a minute and I’m only doing like 3 liners of When I Fall In Love!!! Gone case there, I had to sing longer…but I didn’t memorise the lyrics of When I Fall In Love!!! Thank god Edmund (who was also imitating Kevin) knew the lyrics and I started practising on it.
After 10 contestants had displayed the best of the best of their respective capabilities, there was a short break of games for the crowd. I’m totally at the state of quitting cos I just can’t seem to get my lyrics right even after a number of repetitions from Edmund. Adding to the suspense was seeing how good the 10 other contestants did as compared my upcoming rojak version… :’(
Breaks over, back to the stage. Well…here it goes, they handed me the mic and with trembling hands, made my way to the stage and greeted the crowd. Priest, Peggy & Mel have been cheering like mad. Deep inside I was really laughing at priest with his wild cheering antics like always do LOL. I was a getting very shaken up being in front of 3 judges (which Paula Malai Ali happened to be one of them!) I wanted to sit on the edge of the stage like what Kevin did when he sang When I Fall In Love but the hitz.fm banner covered up the entire space, so I had to kneel on the stage and sing. Ah..what da ya noe..as I cut to the part after ‘In a restless world, like this is’ I screwed up ‘Love is ended when it’s only begun’…OMG..what an embarassment. Till I finally ended the last verse, the 3 judges gave their comments. The first lady judge by the name of Agnes said I lacked the charisma potrayed by Kevin. Said I should move more and have more expressions on my face. Paula surprisingly gave good comments on my attire section which I made her noticed the first sight she knew who I was doing, but like Agnes, I lacked the charisma. Third judge, if I’m not mistaken, one of the hitz.fm’s director, Sarjan said my lacked of actions and I forgotten my lyrics made me lost some points. I truely agreed with everything they said. Phew, how relieved I was when the process was finally done. Can sit down and watch the remaining 6 do theirs LOL.
Results time, well doesn’t concern me actually cos I knew very well I wouldn’t pass anyway. Out of the 17 of us, only 7 advances to the next round. Rudy & JJ group us into 3 sections. Left and right categories consisted 7 each while the middle one where I was had 3 of us. Sort of like the bottom 3 style of AI LOL. Our group of 3 was the first to cut, followed by the group of 7 on the right. I remember in this group consisted of the first contestant who did Taylor, one who did Paris and another woman who was so good at impersonating Kellie (she did a somehow strip show from a bunny costume to the red tops Kellie wore one of the nights LOL) and another rather short Indian gal who did Eliott Yamin. Edmund also succeeded to the next round.
2nd round was all about answering 5 questions related to the current AI season. Channel [V]’s Joey G hosted this time by asking all 7 of them the 5 questions, one at a time. The remaining 6 are equipped with audio headsets in order not to be heard of the questions. Edmund answered with the most confident. In fact, I think he was the only one who gotten all 5 questions correct. In the end, he, the Kellie, Paris & Elliott impersonator all got through the Final 5.
In the 3rd round, something similar to the 2nd, contestants are also required to answer questions. However, whichever 3 answers the question given correctly will be the final 3. Edmund, Kellie & Elliott impersonator got through finals.
Now for the final round, all 3 of them had to convince the 3 judges in front of them..in 2 minutes, why does either 3 of them deserve to be the one getting the all expense paid trip to LA. Winner is based on the shouts and screams of the crowd. Started off with Edmund showing off his paper clippings on AI. Elliott did a rap song which made the entire crowd grew cheery. Kellie rhymed a poem which I thought was very creative, earned as much cheers from the crowd as well. But alas, the short Indian gal who rapped got the most screams and thus she won the expense paid trip to LA.
After the prize giving session, all 17 of us had to take group pictures by everywhere. It’s weird in a sense that it feels as though we’re the stars getting snapped and flashes everywhere LOL. Well, had that fame of 1 minute on stage. It’s definitely my first and last experience ever.
Had dinner at Jln Loke Yew’s chicken rice shop with Kai Yeh, Kai Ma, Jo, Kenny, Mel & priest who strutted pantingly running all the way from Petaling Street LOL. Then Kai Yeh gave Kenny, Mel, priest & I a ride to the nearest monorail station where all 3 of us took the LRT back whereas priest took the KTM.
