I missed being on stage.

Before today, I was wondering what I got myself into again this time. RIB (Raffles Institution Boarding) Idol didn't start out very well for me. The whole journey started with an audition in which I decide to forget the lyrics to Reflections. But thankfully, they just wanted to listen to our voices so yeah, I got through. 26++ down to 13. But the semifinals didn't get any better. I was so worried about playing the guitar for the first time in front of everyone so doing what I do best, I choked, forgot the lyrics for the first song, I'll Be (Your Crying Shoulder) and subsequently forgetting how the chords for More Than Words.

So how in the world did I get into the finals?

That, I have to thank a lot of people. That, I have to thank Boyle for. I have this feeling in my gut, telling me that he devised this whole special round that I went to after the semis, just to help me. Apparently 3 of us tied. But anywho, that went slightly better. I remembered my lyrics and the rest just went along and I got into the finals. Someday by Nickelback was what I sang. By the way, Elysia was with me all the way. She's by far the most talented person I've met. In fact, most of the Indons are really talented too. But anywho, Elys plays the piano, the guitar, she sings, she's smart and if I keep going, I'd prolly cause a hang in the Internet. By the way, when I say she plays the piano, she's not just some amateur. She can listen to a song and then play it out for you right on the spot. She's really musically inclined and she can tell you what note you're singing in. She friggin' doesn't need a tuner to tune her guitar. She doesn't need ultimate-guitar.com, she's got it all in her. I'm bemazed. Beyond amazed.

When I first stepped into RIB, I thought I'd be stuck with a bunch of nerds for 2 years. I was sad 'cause Asha the singing partner and Stef the dancing partner wasn't with me anymore. But little did I know, I was about to experience something even... bigger. RIB has more talent than IJC times 5. Mind you, RIB only has a population of prolly less than half of IJC. (So technically it's a tenfold of IJC's talent.) We have singers, dancers, breakers, beatboxers, athletes, leaders and uh... the largest source of brain power in this region(?) (Well, prolly at least in Singapore. xD) And ya know wha the best part is? The rest is still yet to be discovered. It's like a friggin' School of Talents lah.

I recall first coming to RI(JC), watching those concerts, being apart of the audience, I felt so helpless, somehow. So yes, it felt good to be on the stage again. Honestly, I'm still shocked... this whole RIB Idol thing. All the other 5 finalists were so good. They have an amazing voice and they really had range. I'm really surprised I turned up on top. I suppose what separated me from the rest was the inner confidence, the one that I didn't realise I have. Of course, there was the support from all my friends that harnessed the faith in myself. Jia Yan, Jac, Olie, Yee Won, Anas, David, Christian, Vanessa, Ben, Jack, Jimmy, ELYSIA, and the list goes on. There were some pretty uh... constructive comments that really helped me too. Boyle, Johnathan, Tay Tay... =) Boyle told me I threw it all away during the semis. And I realised I did by not preparing... And that woke me up. On an irrelevant note, Tay Tay kept buggin' me to get a dress. LoL. But I didn't. Obviously. Not prepared for that yet. Converse, jeans, random tee, tie, vest, hat - that was what I wore.

There were moments when I felt that I was really lost. I really had no idea what I was doing up there. Why was I putting myself through so much mental pain? Trust me, it wasn't that easy. Being on stage can be really scary sometimes and that will probably cause you to choke. When you choke, you screw things up. You're afraid people start talking about you, criticizing your abilities and all. But eventually I tried to put that aside and just give myself a chance to enjoy meself and that's prolly why things turned out better for the special round and the rehearsals and finally, the finals. I grew pretty comfy on stage after awhile. (PS. I'm hungry nowww! I didn't eat before the finals. Was nervous as hell. The dance floor didn't help conserve my energy. xD) I missed being on stage. I'm glad I had a chance again, whether or not I prevailed as the Idol.

Wait. How did I get here in the first place? Cause it's real funny. Back in sec school, I didn't do very well with singing competitions. It was never my thing. I always came in something other than first. (Sudden primary school memory restoration: my music teacher asked me to take part in singing competitions after hearing me sing but I refused.) (PS. Sometimes I wish I continued going for piano lessons. I knew this day would come but I just didn't like piano back then. Note to self: Get kids, if any, to start piano/ballet/tennis as early as possible, like Isabelle / Elys who started at 3 (like OMG!), so they don't rebel and complain.)

I think it was all in the song choice. Prior to this, I wasn't the exactly the one who dared to take chances. I was always keeping my music (and prolly lot of other things) on the safer side.Westlife, S Club, Elton John... Those were my usuals. Easy. Safe. But this time, I wrote myself a whole new path. I went for songs I never thought I'd go for, for the finals at least.

All the other contestants were so good. If I were to do what I usually do, I would have been better off not singing. I performed Underneath Your Clothes and How Do I Live for the finals. I'm still shocked I pulled it off. Those, especially the latter, was the kinda songs I would usually stay away from. I never thought I could pulled it off. But when I did it today, oh God, it felt so good. It's just that kinda satisfaction, ya know? Imagine... The kinda songs I would usually steer away from cause I'd have to falsetto, I sang without having to falsetto. It felt so good to discover a new area in my vocal range. (Imagine what I could have done with it for IJC Idol. Dammit. xD) I guess it all comes down to how it's so important to step out of your comfort zone every once in awhile cause you never know what you'd get. Sometimes, you'd find something you don't like. But other times, you'll find something so great that it'll make all those times of disappointment, or defeat as you might call it, worth it.

Thomas Edison once said, "I didn't fail, I found out 2000 ways how to not make a lightbulb; I only need to find one way to make it work."

It's quite something to see the weeks of preparation coming down to one final day (that started out slow cause I had to wait for my turn and fast when my turn was over). RIB Night. The tutors really did a good job. It was pretty well organized. Prolly from all the rehearsals. So yeah, I guess the hours past midnight were really worth it after all. All the stressing up and worrying and nervousness and all the friends I met along the way... All worth it. The discovery of a part of me I obviously never knew, totally worth it.

It's all about doing whatever you wanna do while you still have the chance to do so, all at this very given moment in time.

Seize the day, live it up!

David aka Bimbo! =)

Muzhi and I

Trung - Anas - Me!

First Row From Top: Ben Lo - Me - Anas

Second Row From Top: Jonathan

Third Row From Top: Chan Mint - Jack

The Talented and Beautiful Elysia and I =D

All in a day's week's work! *SMiLES*

PS. Astronomy Club had a stargazing event yester yesterday. I missed Saturn but I did see the moon. It's so pretty.

PPS. We had King and Queen of RIB today as well. King is Trung from Viet and Queen is Muzhi from Shanghai.

PPPS. I just realised the Idol's from Malaysia. Yay! Go Malaysia! =D

PPPPS. It's 5.30 am now. I have a game of tennis tomro. xD

PPPPPS. It's 6.20 am now and I'm playing tennis in a couple of hours! =)