Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Opting for the best
By Ishani Ranasinghe
The callbacks have taken place… out of the hopeful hundred odd participants 30 have been chosen to go into the next round of YES FM Radio Super Star. Here they will have to choose five songs from a list provided by YES FM and sing it along with a backing track before the panel of judges. The judges will then cut down the group to a final tally of 15, who will then present themselves and their tracks to Sri Lanka through YES FM.

With so many contestants taking part, getting to the first 30 is an achievement. We spoke to a few to hear about what they had to say about it and what type of songs they will be singing at their next round of auditions.

“Ecstatic, surprised and happy at the same time,” this is how Druvi De Silva (35) sums up how he felt when he got to know that he was one of the thirty being called in for the second round of auditions. The songs he chose? “I chose songs that were easy to improvise,” he says adding that “Back At One” and “Beautiful Day” are two of the songs in his list.

Twenty-one- year old Eraj Fernando says that his choice mainly focused on whether or not it suited his singing range. “I also like singing these songs,” says Eraj naming his choice of songs, which includes “Winds Of Change”, “Beautiful In My Eyes” and “Give Me One Reason”. What was it like to find out that he was in the first 30? “Excellent,” he says simply. There were many more like Eraj who based their song choice on what they felt comfortable singing.

For example nineteen-year-old Shamir Zavahir, taking part in the competition as a spur of the moment decision adds that his choice of songs were based on what kind of music he liked singing. “I am singing songs by the bands I really like,” he adds. Being quite enthusiastic about getting a callback he adds, “It has been really great and I am very thrilled and happy.”

“I really don’t like fast music,” says Rukshan Senanayake who opted to sing ballads such as “Amazed” and “My Love”. “These are songs that are more R‘n’B related,” he says adding that when he first heard about him being chosen he was really excited considering that more than 150 contestants took part.

For a bathroom singer who has never trained Vindhya Manohara (22) says that it’s simply wonderful that she has made the cut. On her choice of songs are songs she feels she is able to handle. “Colours Of The Wind”, “Save The Best For Last” and “Never Had A Dream Come True” are three of the songs she will be performing at the second round of auditions that is being held today. “I feel that these songs fit my voice pretty well,” she adds.

Sharing the same sentiments on how she chose her songs is nineteen-year-old Dinali Wijesinghe. For her, each song being of a different tempo played a role in her choice of songs. “Angel”, “Flash Dance” and “Power Of Love” are three of the numbers she opted to sing at her auditions. As to how she felt about being one of the thirty, she quite calmly says, “I am happy.”

With so much talent being displayed at the auditions, they all seem quite hyped to get into the next round of auditions. Whilst the whole filtering process is being done, the day when the public gets to hear them is just around the corner. They will then sing for you and you will decide for yourself who should be the YES FM Radio Super Star.

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