Akademi Fantasia 5: Concert 1 verdict

*Yawn* As I predicted since the announcement of the AF teaching faculty, ALL the students’ vocals were mediocre, and Cikgu Syafi has YET to DO ANYTHING with expanding their vocal talents. Someone just give her a slap on the head and GET HER TO DO WHAT SHE’S SUPPOSE TO DO! OK, I’ll just hold that thought for a while and go through my comments starting with:

Ebi at Akademi Fantasia 5 Concert 1
EBI: It breaks my heart to say this to a fellow Sabahan, but his facial mimic was all wrong for this song, and his voice and performance were pathetic. Ebi gave us a sample of his vocal prowess (or rather, lack thereof) in Diari AF week 1, but I still kept my fingers crossed hoping I was just hearing wrong. As soon as he started singing Sudirman’s “Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini” though, I right away wished that he would be the first person voted out of AF. And I was almost on the spot, if not for the fact that Diya screwed up her performance, and Zana pulled out at the last minute.

Candy at Akademi Fantasia 5 Concert 1
CANDY: I’m glad the members of the jury noticed Candy’s vocal tone, something that appealed to me as well when I first heard it through Tirai AF. Just like Ogy A.D., I couldn’t understand a word of English she said, but I can tell that she gave her best during her performance. If she’s given songs such as — oh, I don’t know — Joss Stone’s, I have a gut feeling that she may just amaze me (save for her English pronunciation). Candy was one of only TWO participants at this point to receive positive reviews from all three jury members.

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Noni at Akademi Fantasia 5 Concert 1
NONI: You see, the major downside to Noni is that although she has good vocal tone, her range is very, very limited. Her performance tonight could have been OK, if not for her attempt to get the audience to join in (when you don’t have enough stage presence and confidence, an effort like this gets very lame). Her lack of maturity doesn’t help with her popularity either, but since she just got out of high school, I won’t bother saying much about that.

  • Based on the VT shown, Aswad has the potential to score this season as one of the top 3 winners of AF. I’m not betting on it just yet, since what was played was the studio version of his voice, not live singing.
  • Oh my God, I see another Mawi fanaticism coming in Heliza. If she was as polite, as intelligent, as pretty, as level-headed, and as mature as she was right now WITHOUT the tudung (veil), I wonder if she’ll still be as popular. In any case, if the AF teachers guide her well and if she heeds their advice, I don’t think anything should stop her from becoming the first ever AF female to win the top spot.
  • Dekna proves that her singing is not as pitchy as Mas AF2, LOL! Too bad Dekna’s voice doesn’t have the uniqueness that Mas has.
  • Speaking of AF teachers — after listening to their vocal performances, can you blame me for hating Cikgu Syafi?! Gah! I’m just so fed up with her! She failed to improve their vocal techniques last season, and she’s not faring any better this time. So it’s too early through this AF season, so what. Even Cikgu Adnan gave better advice than she did when it comes to vocal performances. Listen back to the voices of Mila, Heliza and Afiq to name a few; they have excellent voices, but they were very pitchy and they fail to exert power or sustain them — wouldn’t happen if Syafi did her job effectively. During their singing practices, it’s never enough to remind the students every minute on the importance of breathing, which Syafi doesn’t emphasize enough the way Siti Hajar did. Getting Cikgu Chedd involved in giving these students extra vocal exercises proves my point about Syafi’s ineffectiveness.
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Bosan (bored), I tell you. The show and its people couldn’t match the intensity that was AF2 and AF3. So I wait, yet again, amidst the constant illnesses that are befalling Akademi Fantasia students, and hope that after concert number 2 there is something worthwhile to be excited about.

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Posted on 20 March, 2007 under Elsewhere and tagged with ,

20 comments

  1. Is this the Malaysian American Idol?

    πŸ˜‰

    1. Lorna says:

      Oh, we have our own Idol show, Matt, and even our very own “Simon Cowell”, a New Zealander named Paul Moss who’s one of the very influential persons in the Malaysian music industry.

      But they discontinued Malaysian Idol after its second season due to very intense competition from other reality talent shows in our country. Who knows, maybe this year they’ll have it back.

  2. You’re right, AF5 seems to be even worse than AF4. The quality simply isn’t there anymore. No more goosepimples watching Felix AF3 with “cinta seorang teman,” Marsha AF3 singing that English song while playing piano, Linda AF2 singing “leaving on a jet plane.” Not even close to the standard set by Vince AF1.

    Malaysia’s “One in a million” is closer to AI format.

    1. Lorna says:

      Hah, it’s not even fair to compare them with Vince, Marsha and Felix — they’re, like, up there, while the AF5 Sabahans are, like, “where?”

      1. haha.. yeah lorna your right on!

        πŸ˜‰

  3. lavender_sakura82 says:

    man! i think astro really overdid it this time…i am simply yawning the night away when i watch the concert. nobody really stands out that night. and to make it worst, astro repeatedly showed the concert every afternoon now…man, talk about persuasion overboard. i even don’t know their names…simply a forgetable season compared to the AF1, AF2 and AF3.

    1. Lorna says:

      If their performances in the next concert are still as sad as concert 1, I’m having my mute button on standby so that my baby can sleep. Yes, it’s that bad.

  4. cindy says:

    The only AF I watch was the 1st Season, I got so crazy that I left my work early every Friday just to make sure I’m sitting in front of the tv to watch by the time it’s aired. I spent dunno-ho-much on txt msgs (votes).

    By the 2nd season, I got sick of it. For me, it’s just another irritating show. Sorry to all the AF fans. πŸ˜› I just don’t like the voting system for the winner. I’d rather give a real talented judge to judge them instead of public votes.

  5. papajoneh says:

    my favourite Lorna AF review!
    I only got hooked during the Linda right to Felix and of coz during my own Kampung Membakut boy hit it. My sms bills skyrocketed. hey, i cna even buy a new h/p just from the bills alone. gosh.
    anyway, that was then. for this AF5, well, i just watch when we accidentallay pressed the channel 4 while surfing for good astro show. furthermore, i can always come here for the post mortem. thats what Lorna for πŸ˜‰ thanks fren.

  6. gaman says:

    I think the title should say Concert 2. πŸ™‚

  7. cindy says:

    Hi Lorna,

    I just noticed that your surname is “Timbah”… somehow the name “Lydia Timbah” comes to my mind and I swear I know her but I can’t remember where???

    I remember vaguely calling her “Kak Lyd” but I can’t remember where??? *cries* Was she ever a student in SMK Kuhara? Did she stay at the school hostel? Because I was in SMK Kuhara back in 1991 and was staying in the hostel too. OMGOMG, I hate not being able to remember where I saw/know her. πŸ™

  8. cindy says:

    Oh nevermind, I just remembered now (was thinking about it while having Maggi as breakfast this morning. LOL!)

    Lydia Timbah was in SMK Kuhara back in 1991, she stayed at the hostel for like a week for her Orientation (form 4). Correct? πŸ˜€ She was one of the Freshie who stood out during the Orientation coz she was pretty and she looked tough! πŸ˜€

    Aww.. send my regards to your sis, ya? I bet she don’t remember me anymore. πŸ˜›

  9. Talking about the quality of AF finalists voices, I have never heard a voice as good as Bintang RTM’s winners.

    Apart from Vince, I think all are just popular with no real substance.

  10. Lorna, haven’t seen anything new in a while. I’m worried about you (as a blogger that is).

  11. wheres the updates?… still waiting.. hope everything is ok

  12. Two days, Lorna. How long are you going to make me wait? πŸ™‚

  13. mila_cute says:

    it seems good… and i thing Mila is the best student in that session and of course among all the champion. I really wonder that Roslan Aziz have made the greatest job!!!! Anymwy… WELL DONE MILA!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!! >>> i hope we will meet once……

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