Singapore-bred Sarah Aqilah won. Personally, it was a no-brainer decision, I believe even for the judges.
Based on their performance last night, you could literally put the four finalists, Chirul, Sarah Aqilah, Wawan and Kunjung on a spectrum of good to not-so-good, and the spectrum would be lined firstly with Sarah - the best to Kunjung, Wawan and Chirul - the least, without a shade of doubt.
When I first heard Chirul sang, I think he had a very unique and interesting voice. Even judge Zulkifli from 2 by 2 agrees with the unique tone of his voice. Having said that, he does lack in commercial value, and somehow does not seem to have confidence in his own ability to sing. Void of emotions and passion in his rendition, his singing seems lacklustre and 'lazy' at times, somewhat lost in the power-charged vocals and performance of the other finalists.
Wawan - I think he found his niche - wide open mouth and all-over-the-place- movement of his legs a bit ala Ferhad, but clumsy. Not sure whether he wants to be a rocker or a broadway performer, but performing ala broadway was definitely out for him. But he is an entertaining performer, and if he so wishes to 'perform' he should brush up his skills in some tuned, better choreographed and a bit more stylish dance steps or movements. Otherwise, he looks fuddy-duddy. His vocal prowess is in rock songs whether hard or rock ballads and I think that's where he could go far and command stage presence, which I kind of think he relishes the use of the stage a lot.
Kunjung - love her vocal capability and her stage presence. Personally, she is already a singer to boot, but she would not win Anugerah 2009 simply because she is not born and bred Singaporean. But nationalistic sentiments aside, Kunjung's package is not of the girly lass or sexy sweet young thing that is so part of this industry but then again, she is a great singer and will be much received by Singaporeans if she had earned her prize back in her own hometown.
Sarah Aqilah, well, slim, pretty, marketable and has the voice. What more can you ask for in this type of industry? Our music industry in Singapore is so lacking in such slim pretty lass with the big voice and suddenly here comes Sarah Aqilah. Most of the lasses here that have big voices also comes in big packages, I mean sizes, and though it is NOT wrong to believe that talent is what it should be, the reality is, it is NOT the case. Sarah Aqilah's strength seems to be in slow ballads with the high pitched chorus or ending ala Ziana Zain, but I wish to see her in other renditions and genres as well. She also needs a better makeover of her hair as well as rebranding herself to continually rise in this industry. But please, please do not brown or blonde the hair too much like some other singers have done. It just seem so unsexy and unappealing. Keep it black and sassy. I believe she will be one Singaporean Malay singer that could go a little farther than where the rest of our female singers were not able to venture to if she continues to rebrand, reimage, and reposition herself in this industry.
And so the unofficial judge rests...
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