Insider tips from the Idols

The auditions have now ended and the stage is now set for the lucky few who got the elusive ‘yes’ from the three controversial judges, Ogie Alcasid, Jolina Magdangal and Wyngard Tracy. But far from being over, this only marks the start of the grueling elimination rounds. What should these lucky contestants do in order to be the fist ever Pinoy Idol? Let us hear it straight from the judges. Text by Loretta G. Ramirez, Photos by Mitch M. Mauricio. They have traveled all over the country to look for worthy candidates in the first ever Pinoy Idol competition here in the Philippines. Having heard and seen thousands of hopefuls, the Pinoy Idol jury have formed a concrete idea of what they are looking for in an idol. Conceding to the fact that a lot of Filipinos are musically inclined and considering the Filipino’s addiction to karaokes and videokes, these judges are united in saying that a good singing voice is not enough reason to get a golden ticket – the certificate that grants the contestant an access to the Pinoy Idol competition. Thus, they have sifted through those who can sing and found those who have left a lasting impression on them and have made them want to hear and see more. What are they looking for? During the competition, which starts airing on April 5, the judges’ opinions will be broadcasted live on national television. These will definitely sway the votes of the viewers. So what they think and what they say about a contestant matters tremendously. Consequently if you are a contestant, at this point in the competition, it is important to know what these judges are really looking for. Thus, here are some insider tips from iGMA: The pop and fashion icon, Jolina Magdangal, values the totality of the candidates’ personality. “The Pinoy Idol must possess not only an excellent singing voice and style but also charm and a total personality,” says Jolina in an iGMA exclusive interview. As someone who has been in the business for almost 15 years, Jolina knows that being able to carry a tune or two is not enough to get a shot at stardom. She shares that one should know how to highlight his/her positive points in order to stand out. “Kailangan din na marunong siyang pumili ng tamang kanta na babagay sa kanya at magpapalutang ng talent niya,” adds Jolina helpfully. Ogie Alcasid on the other hand, gives a lengthy discussion on what he is looking for in a Pinoy Idol. "I am definitely looking for someone that I can personally be a fan of. Secondly, I am also looking for someone that GMA can produce as an idol that I guess everybody will emulate ‘di ba? ‘Yung bang hindi lang ‘yung nanalo ng contest but after the contest, this person sells records, this person has sold out concerts, this person ay ginagaya ng masa, now that’s the challenge!” Ogie further explains that he is also looking for someone who will inspire musicians like himself and has even hinted that during the auditions he has found several contestants who fit his requirements. “I think these persons will inspire a lot of musicians, a lot of Filipinos not only here, but I think the whole world.” The final juror is the infamous talent manager, Wyngard Tracy whom iGMA thinks all the contestants will agree is the most difficult person to convince and please. “Ganito na ako nung ipinanganak ako. Ang nanay ko nagco-complain, ang mga kapatid ko, the whole clan. I have always been upfront and straightforward. Hindi ako marunong maging sweet,” confirms the newly proclaimed “Simon Cowell of the Philippines.” And what is he looking for? “Somebody who can sing with an x-factor,” says Wyngard with an air of authority in his voice. He concedes that this is a very difficult task but so far he has a few people in mind. “It is not easy to find, but mukhang meron na kaming nakikita,” was his mysterious declaration. Could that be you? Ask the Pinoy Idol host and judges in person when they visit www.igma.tv/livechat on the following dates: Raymond Gutierrez - April 3, Thursday, 4-6 p.m. Ogie Alcasid – April 11, Friday, 2-4 p.m. Jolina Magdangal – April 24, Thursday 2-4 p.m. Talk about the Idol Invasion in the iGMA Forums. For other features about the show and Pinoy Idol hosts and judges, click on the following features: The Pinoy Idol Jury The Idol Invasion Meet the Pinoy Idol Judges An Idol hosting Pinoy Idol