The big thing that’s wrong with Philippine Idol (aside from Sir Behn Cervantes’s observation that it overly promotes good singing as “birit singing”) is simply the fact that it isn’t a talent game, not a popularity game even (I believe). Philippine Idol is definitely a money game.
Back when our parents are still in High School, the process for choosing winners to a beauty pageant was through vote-buying. People had to buy tickets/ballots to vote for their bets. Hence, the more tickets sold, the more the votes. If you’ve the money, the higher the probability that you’ll win.
I guess this process is the same for Philippine Idol. If you’ve the money, you can text like hell just to get the highest number of votes. It’s not really about supporters as not all followers of Philippine Idol would spend P2.50 to vote for their bet. Just like me, I’m too cynical about voting through text. Aside from that, I could spend my P2.50 for other things.
I know a contestant who regularly solicited for “vote funds” (I know because my mother donated some bucks). It’s really a heck of money game. Unfortunately, that contestant didn’t make it – beyond the funds solicitation and the talent (I thought this contestant will be part of the top 4).
I guess there are two contestants in the top 4 who are successful at the money game. They should have been voted off in the earlier stage of the show. But until now they are enjoying the competition and even taking pleasure of the prestige of being in the top 4.
In my humble opinion, only Mau and Gian deserve to be in the top 4.
Mau has a great potential because of her very powerful voice. She also registers relatively fine on TV (ala Whitney Houston) except that she really has to lose weight. If she really wants to become a diva/serious singer, she badly needs to diet. We cannot deny the fact that fat people aren’t much accepted as serious singers in the country. Most end up as comedian (which is not bad if that’s what the person wants).
If we talk about Philippine Idol Material, I guess Gian rises above them all. He’s got the voice and the looks (well, he’s not that handsome but he has the appeal). He can dance and act. He is a total performer (Thus, a crush potential. Hehe). He was a former member of a local boy band and a stage performer (Footloose & Once on this Island) that’s why he knows his craft well.
Meanwhile, the two other contestants in the top 4 are quite far from the abilities of the two.
While Jan sings well, I couldn’t explain the awkwardness I feel whenever I watch his performance. I’d rather listen to him than watch his performance. I couldn’t pin point the real problem with his performance – it’s really awkward (Nahihirapan akong panoorin siya. Sobrang bigat ng dating.).
Miguel on the other hand has the potential yet he is too young. He needs more exposures and training (IMHO). I believe that his Philippine Idol experience will greatly contribute in making him a better performer in the future. Maybe two years from now, he can already become a professional performer already.
The bad thing about Philippine Idol is definitely the risk of not getting the real idol. It’s a 50-50 game now (the idol materials vs. the not idol materials). Should either Mau or Gian be voted off this Monday, PI is a dud! I won’t watch it anymore.
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