New-Born Stars: Astro Star Quest 2015 Final

After several years not following this competition, I found my way to the Final "live" show again. So there I was, sitting among Astro celebrity guests, coaches and entertainment professionals, behind the Rock Zone, with many tall boys standing in front of me, in anticipation of the show I had been kindly fed information with, courtesy of ex-colleagues who have something to do with the show one way or another. 

An indication of the success that's built up over the years, the supporters and audience receptively add their own enthusiasm with coloured light sticks that illuminated the hall and made the entire event more exciting. 

As the lights dim, and the countdown to the "live" show over Astro Wah Lai Toi starts, my view was again, silhouettes of people, now with illuminated sticks.

I was told that for the first time, the judging format would give each of the 5 finalists: Jacqueline, Debbie, Daniel, Joseph and Apple, 15 minutes to perform their own concert. In between their solos, they would be joined each by an assigned past year winner to duet with.  

"Animals" danced during rendition of "Roar" originally by Katy Perry

I had no favourites in mind going into the final. But I had taken the trouble to watch the music videos circling in facebook-dom, where they each had recorded a cover song.

First up was Jacqueline. I thought she was a strong contender with a strong voice & strong stage presence, although she apparently slipped during a dance routine. But then again, I couldn't see much due to the standing audience in front of me.

Debbie was the next contestant. I can say, she is the least of my favourites as I did not care for her entire packaging. I thought the straight blond hair with big headgears on her head was something she could not carry. Neither could she carry all the English songs that she sang as her pronunciation was apparent of someone who does not really understand English but chooses to mimic somebody singing English.  

When it was Daniel's turn, he lightened the heavy mood set by the previous 2 ladies, as he was a natural showman. Rhythm and a flexible body language was very much a natural state for him and I can say, he is truly a born performer.

From screen capture of Uriah's moving performance, 2 violins and a piano

From Uriah See's facebook: with his mom & brother who accompanied him on stage

The mood became even better when he was joined by guest performer, Uriah See, last year's winner, who has a great star presence. Uriah then went on to perform his new composition, 给爱 （Give Love）for the first time in public, joined by his mother on the piano and his younger brother on the violin. I must complement it as it was a very mature and moving song, away from the norm of the teeny-bopper melody-less songs that fill Chinese radio airtime nowadays. 

Next contestant, Joseph, seemed to be a dfficult one to fathom. He has the best-sounding textured voice amongst all. But he was unable to wow the audience and judges due to his stiff figure on stage.

Apple was said to be the favourite to win for the night. And she came out last, very much a topic of discussion amongst the audience, who identified balloons dropping, and other special effects awarded to the final contestant to perform, as indication for an intended winner. She has a naturally-clear high-ranged voice, but as a performer, it felt as though she was being pushed to be the rock star with her purple hair, but instead of following that built-up momentum, she reacted instead with demure side-to-side swaying.

As a producer of competitions, a difficult one to balance is always the need to create an  entertaining show VS the fairness of a competition. 

This concert format rundown, by obviously placing a strong vocals Jacqueline and ending with the favourite to win, Apple, strongly shown that entertainment value was placed first over what is deemed the fairness of a competition. In deciding the line-up of an entertainement show, we always start with someone fairly strong with upbeat entertainment (in this case, Jacqueline) and give the last performance to the one who is most popular (Apple). 

Apple eventually won, and the judges had hinted it to be so even before the winner's announcement by the MCs.

Nevertheless, despite the weaknesses shown by the contestants who are yet to be seasoned performers, this was an extremely grand concert and an amazing production for them to feel like stars. 

With past year winners lending their might, it was no doubt, a celebration and a reminder to all to keep appreciating this production and its new-born stars every year.