Maressa Zahirah - My Short, but Meaningful Idol Journey
In the words of my mother, “God is fair – he gives us one thing and takes away another.”
Those words resonate so strongly after I was eliminated from Singapore Idol this past season, after striving so hard and being in the Top 40. It was a long, arduous and tiring journey that will never be forgotten. And now that there's only 10 Idols left in the competition, memories are returning and floodgates are beginning to open again.
I had tried out for previous seasons, and getting the Golden Ticket over and over again never gets old. The excitement was unbearable and I couldn’t help but be totally UNGLAMOROUS on television, screaming and shouting for joy!
I tried to prepare for what was to come. I knew being in the Top 100 again means a second chance to prove to MYSELF that my singing isn’t just appreciated by friends and family, but also the industry experts, namely Dick Lee, Florence Lian and the scariest of all Ken Lim.
On the first day of our “camp,” we were brought to a one-day song-writing course by SoMa.
But boy, I sure wasn’t prepared for all that stress, emotion and for the tear floodgates to open!
My first theatre audition went swimmingly well, if I do say so myself. I only had to sing one verse and the judges already knew I was through. I was pretty worried but I knew I hit all my notes and did all I could to save my butt. I sang “Put your records on” with a more soul and R&B feel to it.
They scared us to hell and back by leaving us in a room back at OCC and then telling the top 80 that we were through.
Oh God – here come the tears!
I had the awful tonsillitis that night and I was so sure I would have been kicked out during the Top 80 round, where we were to sing in groups, but my group (with the sunglasses and all) ROCKED the song “Hot or Cold” even though it wasn’t our first choice.
Syltra Lee, Phylicia and Jessica were my group mates that day.
Oh and no one can ever let me forget my infamous “Inie Minnie Miney Moe” line.. YIKES! (The day after this was aired, a middle-aged woman came up to me and told me she thought I was cute on the show and that she wished me luck. She told me she would vote for me. HAHA)
It was a very tearful goodbye to all those who didn’t make it that day because we spent ALL NIGHT preparing for our group performances together – and let me tell you something the cameras didn’t catch – there were TEARS on the first night because group members didn’t match well!
It was emotionally tiring because we slept at 3am the night before, only to have to wake up at 5.30am and prepare for our long waits and rehearsals. The top 80 had already bonded and yet we had to say goodbye too soon.
After the tear jerking farewells, we were brought back to OCC to find out that there was going to be a DUET round for the Top 60, and I was paired with one of the loudest and in-your-face guys in the competition - Shawnrick.
I spent the night writing a song, and after we head met up with Keith, our pianist, my partner tells me that he “doesn’t feel the song.”
Oh lord.
I spent another hour writing a new song, and asking for a melody.
When I finished the verse and chorus, my partner tells me that he’s listened to our first song and he was happier with that one.
And guess what?
My laptop died at the perfect timing – because we lost the lyrics to that first song, and yep, you guessed it.
I had to re-write the song over again. (insert cussing here)
By the next day, my voice was basically at its worst state it had ever been. We practiced all night, and with my tonsils swollen and red (that means I couldn’t even eat properly), I had to go on stage and perform.
Our song was entitled “Our Best Today”
I’m just glad neither of us screwed up the notes or lyrics.
We were split into different rooms for the results, and thank God – my room made it!
By now, my voice was at its worst. I was unable to speak without squeaking.. but I knew I had to blow the judges away with my LAST performance in the theatre audition, so I picked “Killing me Softly,” to suit my now-raspy voice.
The judges were, thank God, impressed with my performance. I ROCKED it and it even left Dick to say that he liked it!
But after a long wait, watching 39 other contestants sing for their lives, it was time for the judges to tell us our fate.
Jannah Shaharuddin and I were the last two people to be told our fate.
But it was just not meant to be. My good friend Jannah (MDIS – Oklahoma City University, Adv Dip in Mass Communications) got the spot.
It was bitter sweet – I was upset that I didn’t make it, but I was so happy for Jannah. We went through the whole week together, and at least ONE of us will be able to live the dream for us.
Unfortunately, Jannah was ousted after being in the Top 24 last week.
As for me, I'm now the newly elected Communication Secretary for MDIS SC, and I've just recorded a track for an up-and-coming album that's been released this week! :)
I guess things just worked out for me.
Singapore idol? Who needs it, when I have amazing friends and family who want to watch me perform!
