I love my new job - especially the flexible hours. I get a kick out of telling all my pals (most of whom are in finance) that I leave work at 3.30pm and have two extra hours for leisure. It drives them nuts.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Sirasa's Not So Super Star
Sirasa Super Star has been ripped off American Idol - pure and simple. What made American Idol so wildly popular still eludes me - I never found it all that entertaining. But damn, most of those people can really sing and it is a good concept to help out aspiring artistes. But TV program standards in Sri Lanka have sunk to a new low with Sirasa Super Star.
Let me start with the judges - there are three of them (just like American Idol). There's Jagath, Rukantha and Nirosha. Unlike AI - all three are relatively young, well known singers. Of these three, only Jagath is a songwriter/composer/singer and I believe I have seen him in a couple of teledramas as well. Alright then, he's got a little bit of talent going for him.
What about the other two? What makes them qualify as judges? Sure they can sing and so can a few million other people on this planet. Most of them may not have recording contracts or CDs selling at the supermarket - but why choose two people whose sole talent is singing? And even that, it's just recycled pop songs. At times it's painfully obvious that both Rukantha and Nirosha deliberately try to sabotage Jagath's reviews of the contenders and prevent them from proceeding to the second round.
Since of late, Nirosha's reviews have been more decent and positive - she seemed to get a real kick out of ridiculing people before. Initially it was also clear that both Nirosha and Rukantha have somewhat of an inferiority complex when a contender displays more talent and sings better than they do. Jagath was all out to send these folk into the next round but was vetoed by the other two. So what's the point??!!
What's with the whole language barrier on the program? First you tell the contestants they can sing in any language and then the lovely Nirosha requests a Sinhala song. Now what is up with that? Weren't the judges informed that contestants can sing in whichever language they choose? Is Nirosha's ability to judge limited to the Sinhalese language? If so, why not ask her to refrain from commenting when a different language is used? Sirasa really needs to set up clear and precise guidelines for the judges before the show is broadcast.
Even if the program itself is somewhat loosely based on American Idol, Sirasa should at least get a more diverse group of judges. How hard can it be to find three people who wouldn't mind spending a few hours listening to some people sing and getting paid for it in the process? The better option would be for three classical musicians to be elected as judges - but that is not a very realistic option. After all, this is Sirasa we are talking about.....
Every time I get a chance to watch it, I keep hoping some contestant would come up with a more interesting selection like Snoop Dog's "Drop it like it's hot" or any one of Nelly's but to date, I must say I have been disappointed. I haven't heard anyone attempt "The Rose" by Bette Midler or even "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by the very talented Britney Spears.
I hope more people who are planning on singing on this show will think twice before they do. Is it really worth going on national TV and being told off by a couple of pop singers? For those of you who like acting like idiots in front of the camera and love being labelled as losers with no talent - rock on.
Let me start with the judges - there are three of them (just like American Idol). There's Jagath, Rukantha and Nirosha. Unlike AI - all three are relatively young, well known singers. Of these three, only Jagath is a songwriter/composer/singer and I believe I have seen him in a couple of teledramas as well. Alright then, he's got a little bit of talent going for him.
What about the other two? What makes them qualify as judges? Sure they can sing and so can a few million other people on this planet. Most of them may not have recording contracts or CDs selling at the supermarket - but why choose two people whose sole talent is singing? And even that, it's just recycled pop songs. At times it's painfully obvious that both Rukantha and Nirosha deliberately try to sabotage Jagath's reviews of the contenders and prevent them from proceeding to the second round.
Since of late, Nirosha's reviews have been more decent and positive - she seemed to get a real kick out of ridiculing people before. Initially it was also clear that both Nirosha and Rukantha have somewhat of an inferiority complex when a contender displays more talent and sings better than they do. Jagath was all out to send these folk into the next round but was vetoed by the other two. So what's the point??!!
What's with the whole language barrier on the program? First you tell the contestants they can sing in any language and then the lovely Nirosha requests a Sinhala song. Now what is up with that? Weren't the judges informed that contestants can sing in whichever language they choose? Is Nirosha's ability to judge limited to the Sinhalese language? If so, why not ask her to refrain from commenting when a different language is used? Sirasa really needs to set up clear and precise guidelines for the judges before the show is broadcast.
Even if the program itself is somewhat loosely based on American Idol, Sirasa should at least get a more diverse group of judges. How hard can it be to find three people who wouldn't mind spending a few hours listening to some people sing and getting paid for it in the process? The better option would be for three classical musicians to be elected as judges - but that is not a very realistic option. After all, this is Sirasa we are talking about.....
Every time I get a chance to watch it, I keep hoping some contestant would come up with a more interesting selection like Snoop Dog's "Drop it like it's hot" or any one of Nelly's but to date, I must say I have been disappointed. I haven't heard anyone attempt "The Rose" by Bette Midler or even "Hit Me Baby One More Time" by the very talented Britney Spears.
I hope more people who are planning on singing on this show will think twice before they do. Is it really worth going on national TV and being told off by a couple of pop singers? For those of you who like acting like idiots in front of the camera and love being labelled as losers with no talent - rock on.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Dawn of a New Era
After eight terribly miserable months of working in a so-called world
class company, I am now gainfully employed in a field I love. It's a
wonderful thing to wake up every day and actually look forward to
going to work. I hope the feeling lasts forever.
The new office is in a grand location – and walking distance to Odel.
Not that I go there all the time and spend too many days indulging in
cocktails during Happy Hour……but it's nice to work in the city after
being stationed in the most disgustingly remote areas of the country.
I have a huge room at the office and I share this with a girl who has
a very nice "live and let live" attitude. So I personalized the room
with my coffee mugs, potted cacti and motivational banners without
incurring her wrath. We also have a radio on all the time, though we
both don't share the same taste in music and switch from one station
to the other all the time. There are just four colleagues to work with
in my division. There's no "Team Spirit" and "Be a Team Player"
campaign here – everyone does their thing and goes home without a
fuss. There's so much work on most days we barely have time to talk,
and that's fine with me.
The change in jobs has done me a lot of good – I am a much more
cheerful person now apparently, as my friends so nicely inform me.
Well, I was ALWAYS cheerful as far as I know – being employed in a
dump tends to dampen one's spirits sometimes, but it's only temporary!
I also have a lot more time to devote to my interests. I no longer
have to wait for the weekend to read or to indulge in watching an
entire season of "24" or "The West Wing" or play a game on PS2 from
beginning to end or even to go for a walk on the beach. These are all
daily events for me now and have become a very important part of my
life.
The best part of all is that I get to spend more time with my pets –
three dogs and four cats, than I ever did before. That's what I tell
myself when I wash away all the canine and feline saliva off my body.
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