With the only credible singer (namely, Samsuri) gone from the competition, the show has all but fizzled like a wooden splint left out in the rain. The only contestant who showed any promise was Fauzie Laily and indeed, his interpretation of Anuar Zain's Permata was pretty good though nothing spectacular. Moreover, he's got a nice "pop" voice which doesn't sound quite as aggravating as Khairil's.
The latter performed Mungkin and though the judges loved it, I found his rendition to be rather jarring and uneven. Honestly, I think his vocals sound abit weird. Equally peculiar is Khairul Anuar, who was no doubt trying to channel Taufik Batisah's Usher-esque moves during his performance but came across as very contrived and cheesy instead. I wonder why then, that guest judge Gani loved it so much.
I'm a tad disgusted that Syakila got thru' and I dislike her not because she's abit on the plump side, but because I really don't find her vocals to be very good. At least, I guess, she wasn't as pitchy as Nurliza, who was deservedly eliminated tonight. Firuz had a very nice and even vocal texture but a couple of "off" notes in his Kaulah Segalanya song was enough to send him packing. The hordes of sms-voting teens and tweens probably didn't like him as much as the more petite-sized Khairul, Khairil and Fauzie, aka. this year's pretty princes of pop. Another instance of looks versus quality? You bet~! ;p
Nevertheless, the highlight of the night wasn't Azmi Sempoi's outrageous green highlights or Rahimah Rahim's turban; it was Ahli Fikir's mesmerising performance of an energetic hiphop number during the judges' break. But then, their dancers were very disturbing -- Too artsy for my taste lah...
