Saturday, April 05, 2008 Libre: Ramiele Malubay and Renaldo Lapuz By Mel Libre Seriously Now
TWO Filipinos made their mark in the 2008 season of American Idol and both are out.
The first--–Renaldo Lapuz---did something entertaining, bringing two of the judges on their feet and singing along with him his original tune, “We’re Brothers Forever,” during the audition phase.
While the show’s judges and presenter may have thought of making a laughing stock out of him, Lapuz instead stole the hearts of viewers. When told that he failed in the audition, the man accepted the rejection without any rancor.
Lapuz thanked the judges and the show for giving him the opportunity to share his talent and song. He found it a “privilege to sing to the whole world.”
What did Renaldo do that made him memorable?
For one, he was true to himself. He did not pretend to be someone else. He stuck to his ordinariness, and just gave the audition his best shot.
Secondly, he exemplified humility. He took no offense when asked to sing over and over again while everyone else in the room laughed at him.
Thirdly, he was pure of heart. His message of friendship, peace and hope through the lyrics of his composition and his act of assuring the acerbic Simon Cowell that he is well-liked created a positive impact on everyone who viewed the show live and even those who saw the repeats.
The second Filipino-American--–20-year-old Ramiele Malubay--–was our best bet. From the very start when she auditioned with an Aretha Franklin tune, she blew away all the judges with her powerful voice. She made the cut into the top 12 competing against other highly talented vocalists.
If there was one word she was often described, it was “cute.” But the contest is not just about personality but is also about musicality and, most importantly, originality.
No doubt that, like most Filipinos, Ramiele had a wide range of repertoire, most possibly because of the extensive collection in a karaoke songbook. And her voice only reinforces the truth that, among Asians, Filipinos are God’s musical gift to the world.
But one drawback among most Filipino singers is that, generally, we are afraid to improvise. The karaoke rating system, which most of us are accustomed to, gives high points to those who interpret “plakang-plaka,” that is, note for note.
If you put in some unique improvisations in a song, you will surely score low. Ramiele fell into the trap of playing it safe “note for note” rather than injecting something to her choice of songs.
The judges simply don’t want a clone of this-or-that popular singer. They seek a fresh talent who does not resemble any other and who can put new life to a worn-out pop hit or a timeless classic. Ramiele didn’t fit into that mould.
Don’t we worry, in future seasons of American Idol there will still be Filipinos who will stand out. But winning the title may be farther down the line.
