Merit or popularity?

I was kind of forced to watch Akademi Fantasia(AF) last weekend with Nurul. Not to say I don't dig the local musical talent search shows. I just am not really a TV guy though I love to sit and watch the TV at home in Penang. Miss that silver SONY and sitting on the red carpert in front of it! Heheh!

All the participants were great I do admit. Each gifted with extraordinary talent and guts to sing in front of a large audience. Every week I think, a participant or two( first time happen last week in the history of AF!) gets knocked out. The choice is made by the viewers via SMS. The one with the least is kicked out.

Some participants I admit have outstanding physical features, interesting ethnic background, phylosphies of life etc. The viewers I have to say are so judging this instead of the whole reason why talent search contests are held for. The contest is to chose an individual with talent, outstanding singing ability and of credible performance out of a group to be crowned champion of AF.

It was rather obvious that the past weeks, we have seen the weaker ones staying and some better ones going. Of course it was fair base on the SMS counts. But do the ones going really deserve to go? Kudsia Kahar( a respectable judge on AF) and Syafinaz(Music lecturer and singer) did admit this in the last show. It is quite clear that something is going wrong.

Trust me, if the maturer citizens of America, Singapore or Australia were to check out how a talent show like AF is going on in Malaysia, they would laugh their hearts out. Sure they would think of the mentality us Malaysians possess. They would be bursting with questions. How do we choose good singers? Do we Malaysians know anything about art? Is the music scene in Malaysia that fresh?

We have seen many musicians walk by us in Malaysia. All with extremely great talent and the ability to please the audience. The late P. Ramlee, Saloma, Ahmad Daud, Sudirman are singers that have left a spot in the Malaysian music arena. There are so many like Sheila Majid, Ella, Siti Nurhaliza and more who still here to entertain us. It goes to show we Malaysians are musical. We are experienced with music and we know what we hear is good.

My opinion would be to wise up and make a good choice. Yes, it is insignificant for just that one vote. But atleast that vote was base on credibility of the singer as well as his or hers ability to entertain us.