ISS -2008 -Sonia sparkles, Gayathri does miserably yet judges praise her

It was a total disappointment watching a breathier Gayathri sing "Kannan varum Velai". Her voice was so muffled and so much out of tune when compared to the original. The entire performance was a disaster but I wonder why judges didn't want to tell her that. Instead they kept beating about the bush telling her she was OK, good etc.

On the other hand Sonia did extremely well singing "Oru Murai vandhu paarthaya" and though she was given an 89 I don't think she got the praise she deserved from the judges except for Usha Uthup.

It is Gayathri's turn to sizzle on ISS

I am happy Gayathri is still there in the competition and last night's performance would have been a knock-out one if only she hadn't lost control of the words of the song in some places.



Her looks, attire, attitude and her sensuous body language were perfect for the remix song she performed. I don't know what singer Venugopal found it so annoying in her performance that he had to comment so poorly. I had a strong feeling that he was so spell boutnd with Gayathri's performance he could only chide her instead of lauding her. What a loser! I wanted to throw him out of the judges panel for the way he was talking last night. As it is his sissy attitude gets on my nerves. At the end of it all he still says "..but Gayathri you did your part well.." Well that's exactly you need to be saying for a performance as that.

What Venugopal found annoying every one of the other judges loved it. What Venugopal also doesn't know is that the original was a sensuous number in itself and by using a techno remix song of the original and taking it to another sensuous level is in no way doing injustice to it. I can understand when judges were annoyed with the remix of "Inji Iduppazhaga" but then that's how most remixes are made. If the judges are pissed with the remixes they must vent their anger on the people who made these remixes on the first place and not on the hapless contestants. Why then in the world do they have such a "remix-round" in the competition.

Way to go Gayathri.

Meanwhile I am reminder of Roopa's performance in last years Super Star Global where I told her the lyrics to "Thulluvatho Ilamai". Roopa unfortunately lost sight of the lyrics in her performance. Roopa also did tell me that Gayathri had contacted her for advice. Was it Roopa who adviced Gayathri for the remix round. Gayathri certainly did better.

Gayathri of Idea Star Singer 2008 gets married?

This morning Jaya gets a call from her cousin who tells her that Gayathri's marriage photos are splashed all over the web. According to what I have been hearing and reading Gayathri got married in hushed-up-quick marriage just days ago. I Google for the same and dozens of URLs appear in the search results. Click any one of them and they lead you to her marriage pics that look very genuine.

Wonder what's going to happen to the show. Will Gayathri continue or quit? If she walks out there is hardly any competition left for Sonia. I hope that doesn't happen. Gayathri is after all such a fine performer.

Gayathri didn't disappoint one bit

What an amazing performance! Gayathri was at her best, completely poised and relaxed, the mark of a truly great performer. After listening to the original I am beginning to like this one that the Gayathri at ISS sang because the original has a huskier voice sung by the singer Gayathri (also of the same name).

Check out her performance below. Judges were very impressed.



You can compare the performance with the original and judge yourself. Check the original here.

Idea Star Singer 2008 brimming with good performances

After Sonia's duet yesterday it is the turn of Gayathri who makes a comeback with "Kavithai Paadungal" from Punnagai Mannan in the Ilayaraja hits round.



But it was Prashob that stole the show with his Gazhal performance. My only question is should everyone singing the Gazhal give an introduction to the song in Hindi/Urdu?

It is in two parts. Here is the first.



and here is the second.



There were mistakes but Prashob's performance was much better than Vivekanandan's "Chupke Chupke".

This was followed by the "Sing with a 2007 ISS singer" and Rahul did a good job singing his duet with Vani Jayaram. Rahul is getting better with each stage and in my opinion Rahul and Prashob both stand a good chance of winning the competition from among the men.

Roopa vs Gayathri

Like what happened last year with Roopa of SSG I am hunting down video after video and comments of Gayathri on Idea Star Singer 2008 and I must say I am blown away. Jaya's prophecy saying I would be jumping to another singer is almost coming true but not quite.

To me Roopa is a benchmark when it comes to judging singers of these singing-talent shows but then can somebody beat her?

Here are two of the fine videos I found of Gayathri's performances and I must admit she is a talent to reckon with.

This first video is of the song "Sharike" performed by Gayathri. It is followed by Roopa's video and so you can compare the two. My comments follow the two videos.



and Roopa's



With Roopa I found her hand, body and facial expressions dominating her performance. More energy seemed to be spent in those activities. Her singing looked strained when compared to the literally effortless way Gayathri sang the same song. And because Gayathri is more composed and with a great posture most of her energy was diverted to her song. She also seemed lost in the song and the singing as compared to Roopa who was very connected to the audience, judges and Stephen on the keyboard. I must say I found Gayathri's performance much better. It was pleasant for the ears too. I didn't find the relaxed feeling I had with Gayathri's performance in Roopa's.

Here's another song of Gayathri, "Sharapole", which the judges have lauded so eloquently you will have to watch it to believe.



There's another contender for Gayathri on the show and she is Sonia. I have seen some of her performances and they are good. I don't know if I will have the time to check her out too.

I feel somewhat embarrassed about my previous post

Was I flattered so badly? From the dismal reviews I have been getting when I showed the video to sis, who didn't even want to waste one moment on it I am beginning to wonder whether there was really something good about the Gayathri-Vivekanandan performance I wrote about in my previous post. The same old cringe-material did take me for a ride. Gayathri sure gave a good singing performance. She acted well too but the whole thing still sucks, making her enact and perform all those sensuous things. After all what is this competition about? Acting, Dancing or Singing?

In fact Asianet seems to be doing more damage than good to these young singers. I am told they are made to sign contracts that doesn't allow them to perform for non-Asianet programmes for up to two years. And on top of all this act, dance, mimic, do comical things. Roopa, last years SSG winner on Amritha channel told me how participants had to undergo gruelling hours of orientation and grooming. How many of today's singers did all this to reach their current status in the world of music. For almost an entire year (the entire duration of the ISS competition) these kids will have to forgo their careers, be that even music. No wonder several participants left half way to get back to school and college. They might have realised that ISS is only ruining even their singing careers.

I feel sad for not only Roopa but all the other top singers too. Where they just pawns in a game where television channels are at war with one another for selling more products/services, getting advertising and sponsorships via more viewership.

God save these kids.