Do Singapore Vocalist Suck?

Lovehurts: YOU STAND OUT AMONGST ALL THE COMMENTS. hahaha. always say that the thread should be closed. Lagi best. hahhaa. funny man you! lol.

Personally and its my opinion, ive heard Other singaporeans sing better than taufik and hady. I dont think they can sing WELL. but they can sing.
They must have that X factor for them to win SI.
If someone have good vocals with lousy showmanship, think he will win a singing competition?
Good vocals + showmanship = audience favourite = more votes= winner.

It all comes in a package man not just GOOD vocals alone:)
All u know, a person with a good voice but not EXCELLENT voice, with good packaging will win over the audience:)

so back to the topic, SINGAPOREANS DO HAVE GOOD VOCALISTS. Just gotta do reserach and be more open minded!
Like a softie said, if one has the passion, he'll do anything to make his voice better!

Packaging and singing, different matter. singing is part of packaging for a singing artist:)

Stay happy people! :)
 
RETARDED DRUMMER - Haha! Thanks la! I shall take that as a positive comment! Yeah, I just am very pro-peace lah, I guess. I mean, I've been on Soft for not that long but I've learnt as time went by that you've just really gotta take everyone's comments in here with at least 2 pinches of salt in order to stay happy! I used to get upset too at other people's comments/remarks but ai ya, everyone is entitled to an opinion. And i try my darnest to always respect & remind myself of that.

So, having said that, make peace. Make love. Make music. Make pineapple tarts. Just not war. :cool:
 
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I always see arguments in threads like this.. To be fair, we should come up with a chart of whose side are you on, perhaps? Team A vs Team B

Then at least it looked like a 'controlled-heated debate' not 'arguments' anymore. Maybe you guys got chance to be in The ARENA! Got in TV, just like Hady and Taufik? lol

Ok, and I am just the audience, won't make any silly faces and I shall keep quiet.. ;)

Edit: Some of you really sounds like professional debater..wow
 
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finally mr tim has decided to come out of his shell and send me a PM. long time coming dude! this after i shut you up in a couple of threads back then.

now now, tim. dont get me wrong. if i were gay or a stalker, i'd choose to look at others. not saying that you're ugly or what, pls dont jump to conclusions, but just that if i were to stalk somebody, it wont be you, sorry. i wouldnt want someone who acts "hero" in here say taufik and hady not good la, but sure as hell, when given a chance to say it to their faces, his family jewels would shrink, or someone who brags that their entire social circle would say these 2 fine lads cannot make it. :rolleyes:

/edit

and oh, i dont wanna be involved in tim's cases anymore. apparently this boy's has had enuf of me, sending me a PM, just proves to show he cant take me anymore. so, fine. so if we would kindly revert to the main topic. . .

If you sincerely want to revert back to the main topic, you would hold your completely irrelevant and probably wrong claims of you 'shutting me up' god knows when.

My last post before the whole tirade of facebook stalking and email address mongering included:
I am also saying that neither Taufik nor Hady are the definition of what a singaporean entertainment superstar should be, which is what Singapore Idol is. I hope for the sake of the music scene in Singapore that your opinion on this is not the direct opposite of mine.

So, is Taufik and Hady your definition of what a singaporean singing superstar should be? I haven't heard you, or most other people here answer this, which I think is very relevant to the main point of this thread. And I am not talking about singing ability because if they won SG Idol, OBVIOUSLY they can sing. I'm talking about how they present themselves as artists, how the portray their image. The whole clean, family guy thing, I said in my very first post here that it doesn't work the best.

Oh and velvet, I hope you actually stick to your alleged intention of going back to the main point of this thread.

And just so the cyberspace ego-desiring people like velvet and heckler know, there is nothing wrong with agreeing with someone whose opinions on OTHER matters you disagree with. Take for example Claire_86 (her nick is along those lines), she quite well and rightly jacked me earlier in this thread, I concede that, and I realise my points to her were completely null. But if you can honestly tell me that you TOTALLY disagree with what I mentioned above, i don't think it is that much of a wonder why we barely have a music scene here in SG.
 
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Well, dear Tim.

I would think that unless you are a so-called 'indie' artiste, or capable of funding the whole process of being a true recording artiste, right from the process of songwriting, composition and all that, to the actual recording and producing, and proper follow up to promotions, advertising down to managing your image, time and finances and what not - usually an artiste do not have all the flexibility to choose how he wants to portray himself exactly, isn't it?

It's already quite clear that from the time a Singapore Idol contestant starts to try to impress the judges and the show producers and subsequently the television viewing audience, to the final day when he or she slugs it out with the only one other contestant for that coveted title - that the judges, the show's producers and most importantly the sponsoring recording companies involved in signing the winner as their own artiste, all these people practically decide what the image of the singer or performer will ultimately be, after they have done their market and consumer trend surveys in that current period of time, right?

Maybe to you, it doesn't seem to work, partly because you personally prefer the slightly bad boy image, and you have come to the conclusion that their local album sales is not phenomenal (which of course is true) but this reason (dismal album sales) of course cannot just be attributed to the fact that their image is not what you expect them to have isn't it?

You know, I'm rather inclined to say that you have a rather shallow view on things BUT that doesn't mean I'm putting you down eh. It just means that maybe you don't know enough of the industry or how things work, and what contributions there were before this directed to you, have served partly to inform.

I mean, even if some of the so-called information if you (or anyone here) think is false or outdated - the sensible thing is to correct one and another isn't it? Rather than to play childish mind games like some people here are doing, the logical thing is to debate and discuss with substance.

Yeah, sometimes we all can be that keyboard warrior and say things we don't mean, and if I have come across as rude to you - I sincerely apologize.

:)
 
erm tim, the threads where i shut u up were from the "gerald-wow-scammer-case" to the "fake-guitar-seller-case" ... whereby after which, you didnt seem to want to pursue your case further. its not about u being matured enough to drop it. its just plain obvious you had your foot in your mouth and got nothing left to speak. trust me, i got quite a few PMs from guys thanking me for what i've said to u. apparently i'm not the only one with issues against u (or vice versa). i can fwd these PMs to u, but i gotta remove their usernames. tell me if you'd like to have it.

and just something for thots. where i have put you down once, twice and maybe thrice before; you may notice i've never deducted your rep points. and it's asinine that you came and deducted my points with " Get a life, dumba$$ " ... tsk tsk.. dude, u can take all my points away for all i care. they dont mean a thing to me. afterall, like i once told u in another thread, im behind a computer screen and so are you. :mrgreen:

alright man, wish to take no further part in this. i've done all i can. some guys have seen the positiveness and thanked me for being the one to shut u up and some have seen me as rather a pain around here. wanna know me better? PM me your questions, we'll talk more. :mrgreen:
 
someone My bad. If you're an asian singing english said:
pop stars[/B].
ABBA are white, so you don't make sense.
Also, I don't remember a single asian in american idol, maybe at the most a few(who are probably female) that i didn't see because I don't really watch it.

If you want to prove me wrong, name me an asian singing primarily english who is a pop star. Musical talent and passion does not go far in the pop music industry when you're an asian singing english(said that too many times).
Though I will say, that in the english music industry in general, there are pretty much no established asian bands at all, maybe a few hot females scattered here and there, but otherwise no.
Or maybe if race isn't an issue asians just suck at playing english music?
Looks always matter, especially in the entertainment industry.
 
erm...i recall a certain Mr Hung in previous AI..quite ok can still make albums and a movie..not bad i my books..
 
erm...i recall a certain Mr Hung in previous AI..quite ok can still make albums and a movie..not bad i my books..

oh my bad, yea what a real pop star he was right. i mean, everyone took him really seriously right. he totally wasn't a complete joke.
 
hehehehe...he is my hero...hehehehe

anyway...got this from another forum..

Why Asian Pop Stars Have a Hard Time Crossing Over

The world over, in every village and street corner, millions of kids want to make it big in music. Every country has its own “pop machine,” but making the ultimate name (and royalties) for yourself invariably means success in the U.S. market. A few from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Australia have crossed over, but why aren’t there more Asian stars on the U.S. charts?

They have the looks, the talent, the cutting-edge fashion and dance moves. In recent years, they’ve been coached by some of the same producers and talent-shapers behind big U.S. acts. So why are Americans not buying? People who know the music industry have a variety of theories.

A Smaller Launching Pad
With booming populations and rising affluence, Asia is a leader in world markets. You would think that American execs, hungry for sales, would go for artists already filling stadiums in their home countries. Yet despite the continent’s high population density, the Asian music market is half the size of Europe or U.S. markets. Many CDs in Asian countries—especially China— are pirated. So an Asian artist can have a huge following, with small sales. U.S. record execs are not impressed.

Buy American
The U.S. used to have a vibrant record-store culture. But with the advent of MP3s and the IPod, the overall U.S. record market has suffered. Much of US record sales are in mass retailers. Ever seen a Wal-Mart or Target “exclusive” album? With the exception of Arnel Pineda, the Filipino lead singer of Journey, there are no Asian faces. The people who frequent the big-box retailers tend to prefer mainstream, American acts. Records are just another casualty of the sea change in how Americans shop. We prefer the biggest, most recognizable brands, and they’re just not Asian.

Fundamentally Other
This brings me to another reason why APop stars may have trouble: the “fundamentally other” phenomenon. Many non-Asian people are so fascinated by the seeming mystery of Asian cultures that they forget the “people” in “Asian people.” I’ve written much about Asian actors struggling for non-stereotyped roles—you know, the ones that emphasize the human condition over ethnicity. Asian singers croon about love, lust, and regret, like singers everywhere. But it’s possible that American consumers just don’t feel they can relate to the emotions behind an Asian face. Or perhaps they can—and the record execs are still afraid they can’t.

Token Syndrome
Closely related to Fundamentally Other is the Token Syndrome. America likes “ethnic,” but in a group setting, there has to be just the right “blend.” And it seems there’s rarely room for more than one Asian. Last summer, Audrey Magazine reported on Melissa Reyes, the talented Filipina-American singer who competed in the reality series Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll. Throughout the competition, the show’s handlers pointed up the resemblance between Reyes and Dolls’ lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. Asia Nitollano, a mixed-race dancer with a contrasting African-American look, ended up winning.

Cultural Barriers
Don’t hate me, but now I’m ready to play the other side of the race card. Real cultural barriers can get in the way of entertainment success. From blog and fansite commentary, I’ve learned that some APop stars just aren’t connecting with American consumers. English pronunciation is a big problem. I can speak on this with some authority. I majored in music in college, and know first-hand the difficulty of pronouncing the lyrics of a song in another language. Crossover stars like BoA have recorded in Asian languages other than their mother tongue before tackling English. Pop singers can’t just sing a song straight, like an opera number—they have to meld the lyrics in a street-worthy, kickin’ back style. It’s a tall order when you’re still learning English. The multi-nation marketing results in a lot of tongue-twisters, not to mention the strain of navigating different customs on tour. It’s hard to please everyone.

Copycat
Musicians walk a fine line between creativity and conformity. Stick with a tested recipe, but add your own spices. But perhaps the APop stars are copying the recipe too well. Some commentators feel that with the exception of looks, there’s not much to make Asian acts different. Perhaps they’re trying so hard for that “American” sound that they miss bringing something different to the table.

The Outlook
There is hope out there for Asian stars. Those who create pop stars in the West are looking in the East, as Asia becomes more prominent on the world stage. But the competition is stiff. Reality shows and Internet promotion can help, as consumers vote by phone or wallet. Attitudes toward Asians are changing, and doors will continue to open. But the competition is brutal. Among APop stars, only those with the strongest will and the greatest flexibility will clear the hurdles America has set for them.
 
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If you want to prove me wrong, name me an asian singing primarily english who is a pop star. Musical talent and passion does not go far in the pop music industry when you're an asian singing english(said that too many times).

How about Sun Ho?

China Wine China Wine China Wine!

Hahahahaha!!!! :mrgreen:
 
Velvetrevolver, the amount of misconception you have about probably everything your miniscule mind can hold amazes me. Alright if you think you managed to put my foot in my mouth, good for you. Want a cookie or a doggie biscuit for it?
 
finally after trying to prove each other wrong and diverting from topic to topic i hope all of you have realised that whichever team wins not a single one of you by doing so has contributed to improving our music scene.

Scenario A : So my team wins. Singapore artists suck! ok.. life goes on.

Scenario B : So my team wins Singapore artist dont suck! ok life goes on..

And then?

Someone enlighten me for the purpose of this thread? I dont understand.

So far it has

1) Dispatched different opinions ( The only purposeful thing )

to

2) People flaming each other

3) Wasting bandwith

4) Helping our scene remain the same. Congrats.

At the end of the day if you think our scene sucks or not is not the point. The idea is how you are going to help it. Scene sucks? Ok it needs help here..
Scene dont suck? But can be improved...

Instead of just complaining or droning on and on about whos right whos wrong how our scene sucks and how it doesnt why not look at the solution that will put Singapore's scene onto the music world map? No?
 
Get back to topic?

What topic?

It's already clear that nobody here cares about TS's whining about him not being able to find a vocalist that match up to his standard and uhhmmm.. . wondering if all the singers in Singapore 'suck'.

Mr Tim here comes in and says that maybe TS is on to something and makes an example out of the two Singapore Idol winners, whom he thinks do not deserve the title as 'singing superstars' and bla bla bla and yada yada yada.

And some more yada.

Others (moi included) come in and tell him hey this is how it goes, this is how the industry works and bla bla bla.

And more bla bla bla.

So, isn't it all connected? We have not veered much from topic, isn't it?

And Mr Tim - yeah, I wholeheartedly agree that neither Taufik nor Hady is what you can define as true singing superstars BUT Singapore Idol DOES NOT really DEFINE the SINGAPORE MUSIC SCENE.

It's a freaking television show devised to primarily earn money through SMS voting, Idol merchandise and all that shit.

Right?
 
I never said the show defined the music scene here, how can any show possibly define a music scene?

People here fervently defend Taufik and Hady, and say that unlike my own personal opinion, those two have made it. So I say, are Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza the ideal definition of what a Singaporean singing superstar should be?

I am talking about those 2 as individual artists, and perfect examples of portrayals of the 'good, homely bring-home-to-mom' kind of image, and how this image has complete inability to fully penetrate the market and the music scene.

That is as clear a breakdown as I can give of basically what I have been trying to say, barring my irrelevant and obviously flawed points about money and adverts and of course the series of unrelated bashing.

This is my opinion, and it is very well on topic with what this thread is even about.
 
Yes... but aren't these two boys products of Singapore Idol?

They are so-called artistes because of the Singapore Idol show, without which they would probably still be unknowns.

Taufik and Hady, I believe, released albums and are managed by the very same record company that have direct dealings with the Idol franchise, and as it has been said here time and again - these two artistes have little control over their image as singers and performers.

Besides, your definition of things (like a 'Singaporean singing star') might be different from what others perceive, isn't it? Everyone's expectations are different right...?

Before we go 'off-topic', I'd say that personally say that there are definitely Singaporeans who can sing, and with a high degree of proficiency too.

Just that Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza have more than just that singing ability.

They appeal to a wide range of audience, they have the ability to perform and engage audience, they carry the image that their recording companies want fairly well, and one of them is deemed appealing enough to endorse big brand names and be a spokesperson for their products.

Their less than glittery record sales is just part of the story, but somehow is relevant to the topic of why the Singapore music scene is not really flourishing - Singaporeans don't really value locally produced music that much, and it will stay that way for a while.

But we can all do ourselves a favor by finding out a little bit more about this thing we call 'music' because music isn't just about performing and singing and all that - without the business side of music, there ain't gonna be much music at all, right?

So, let's not brush things off just anyhow and stop and actually read what's being written.

Lots of people just come in and go ehhh.. what's going on, stop trolling, stop whining, go back to the topic when IF you read through (or at least skim through) - you'd see that it's all interconnected.

;)
 
I agree generally with most of that post.

Alright, I have a different opinion on what image a singer in SG should have from some people in soft and apparently those who call the shots in this matter in record companies. And IMO for the music scene's sake I hope their opinion begins to change in the future.
 
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