Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Vying to be a Superstar
By Ishani Ranasinghe
The call backs have taken place. The judges have spent hours reviewing the tapes and trying to figure out who should be eligible to go into the next round… and the final 30 has been decided. Now they are getting ready to perform in front of a panel of judges with a backing track to qualify for the next round, thereafter the fate of these artistes will rest in the hands of the public.

Last week I spoke to a few of the participants to hear what their experiences have been like so far. It’s always been an all-time dream of Thilini De Visser to take part in a competition of YES FM. And when Radio Super Star came around this was the prefect opportunity for her to do something she loves, “I chose to take part in this competition, because I love to sing.”

Having gone to the auditions expecting three judges to be seated in front of her, she adds that she was “freaking out” when she entered the studio. But once she realised that there were going to be no judges looking at her, she says that she sang with confidence. The confidence probably helped her to get into the next round, “It feels great to be in the next round.” At first having doubts if she would make it to the next round she admits that she is glad that she got through.

“I love singing. It’s a gift I got from birth and I decided to use it,” says Germaine Fernando, who admits to having been pretty nervous going into the auditions, but having summoned up the courage he sang his heart out. But now that he is into the next round, he admits to being more nervous than ever.

For Jayandhi Goone-tilake what prompted her to take part in this competition was her never-ending passion to sing. A first timer to the competition, she says that the experience was exciting and that she feels great about getting to the next round. “I feel grateful for having been chosen by YES FM to take apart in this competition.”

A competition prompts people to take chances… and that’s what Devina Ganesha did. She gave herself a chance. Always having had a passion to sing, she was always too shy to participate in any contest, “then I thought that it was the time to step towards my dreams and make it come true.”
The auditions have been a bit of a nerve-wracker for her, “I was very nervous and excited, it was the first time I have ever sung into a mike.” She is grateful for the people at YES FM who were very friendly and made her feel at home, “but I was still a bit scared and I did gain a lot of experience from just one day.”

Getting chosen to the second round is like a fantasy for her… this is to put it in her own words. “I was so happy as I got to know the news and I am looking forward to working hard in the next round.”

YES FM Radio Super Star being held for the second time is being viewed as a platform that gives opportunity for artistes to showcase their talents, which otherwise would have gone unseen. Confirming this is Eranga Mendis, who took part because he thought it would be a good opportunity to show his talents. As for making it to the next round? He is very happy about it, “I like to thank God first for giving me this opportunity. Also I am looking forward to doing my best in the next round.”

For Shehan Dias the whole experience was “pretty cool.” “I went as I wanted to see how well I will fare in the real world... I guess I’ve done well up to now!” he says. Speaking about the auditions he says he was not that nervous because he is used to lights, camera, mikes, etc., “since I used to sing many solos and I gave it my best shot.” Admitting that the whole thing was kind of fun, he says that he is thrilled to have made it to the next round and hopes to make it as far as he can as this is his first attempt in this contest.

As the thirty contestants go into the next round, they will be vying to be one of the 15 who will get a chance to be heard by the rest of Sir Lanka. Then it will be your turn to vote and it will be up to you to decide who the next YES FM Radio Super Star should be.

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