Read on and you'll know why I have this in my blog

It’s time to sing the blues now

THE BANGSAR BOY

By NIKI CHEONG

WILL my Wednesday and Thursday nights ever be the same again? Last week, for the first in a few months, I didn’t rush home from work to catch the repeat of American Idol with my dad – the season’s over!

Excuse the dramatics, but really, what else is there to do on a weeknight?

I’m not addicted to these shows, but I am suffering from withdrawal. Makes you wonder what life was like pre-Idol, doesn’t it?

Come to think of it, I’ve always been a fan of such TV shows. Even before Astro, I remember sitting in the TV room at home with the family watching shows like Bintang RTM – slim microphones, corny songs and badly choreographed dances that came with it.

And who could forget the hit show that was Asia Bagus! Week after week, my family would religiously plonk ourselves in front of the television to watch the contestants from around Asia compete – Kris Dayanti and Amy Mastura among others.

I’m not quite sure what the appeal was (I still don’t know) but I guess these sort of shows have their secret appeals which is why the are so successful. After all, they appeal to such a broad spectrum of people.

I will never forget the sight of my house a couple of years ago during the glory days of shows like Akademi Fantasia when my dad would be watching the show as intently as six-year-old Adam and nine-year-old Sara, my nephew and niece. These are two kids who barely used to be comfortable speaking Bahasa Malaysia, yet they were singing away to Menuju Puncak (with all the dance moves).

I still remember the first time I heard the word ‘AFUNDI’ as Adam perpetually jumped up in front of me going “Afundi Adam!” and my reply, accompanied by a puzzled look was, “Who’s Afundi?”

But it’s hard to blame him because even I have got caught up with this whole reality TV phenomenon. That said, I’ve only probably followed one or two seasons of Survivor! ever, and maybe a couple of seasons of Amazing Race. Yet, there’s just something about Idol.

I remember when Malaysian Idol was still showing barely a couple of years ago and how I got hooked on to it. In fact, it would get to such a severe conditions that I would have to budget my phone calls to make sure I saved up enough to SMS vote for my favourite contestant.

Sham, a friend of tai che, even helped me out. Working for telecommunications company, she had allocations for calls and SMS. I got her to vote for my favourite – Nita who ended up second runner up in the second season of Malaysian Idol – and it was quite funny to receive a message from her one day going, “I spent the whole day voting for Nita. Feel like my thumbs going to drop off.”
Of course, that message was in the form of an SMS.

I’m still unsure of what exactly is the hook to these shows – is it the performances, songs or the drama. Yet, what is nice to note is that shows like these transcend geographical boundaries.

I followed online the Australia Idol show a couple of years ago when I watched a few episodes while I was Down Under for holidays; my friend in Britain used to message me weekly with updates on Pop Idol and I have arguments with people in the United States on why I thought Blake Lewis should have won the most recent American Idol.

Closer to home, I love how it gives us city folks and those in smaller towns something in common – reality singing contests locally, whether its Idol, One In A Million, Astro TalentQuest or Akademi Fantasia for example, enjoy great ratings and its contestants have fans all across the country.

Perhaps its true then what they say about music, in that it speaks in a universal language and appeals to everyone without prejudice. The different people who have won the contests – Vince Chong, Jaclyn Victor, Mawi – are testament to that.

Now, if only I can find something else to feel good about to deal with my addiction ? er ? I mean, withdrawal.

Article published in The STAR on Saturday June 2, 2007.