"Big" Idol shows it's all about heart<\/p>\n
Kenny Santana, Contributor, Jakarta, qnoy2k@yahoo.com<\/p>\n
A new star was born just this August. After months of
\ncompeting weekly to find the next musical talent, Michael Prabawa
\nMohede, 22, known as "Big Mike" to his friends, took the
\nIndonesian Idol title beating out his closest competitor, Judika.<\/p>\n
Meeting him last week at his house in the residential area of
\nBintaro in South Jakarta, The Jakarta Post spoke with Mike about
\nhis passion, his new stardom and possibly the most important
\nperson in his life -- his mother.<\/p>\n
Born in Jakarta on Nov. 7, 1983, Mike led a pretty normal life
\nuntil 2002, when he quit his Japanese language major at Bina
\nNusantara University after two years of study.<\/p>\n
"After a while, it just wasn't what I felt like doing," he
\nsaid, indicating that his passion for Japanese culture wasn't
\nenough to make him stay.<\/p>\n
He then discovered his greater passion: music.<\/p>\n
After a year idling, Mike started to take music courses in
\n2003, met people with the same interest and formed a band.<\/p>\n
The band of six, Dwanka, with a repertoire of jazz, pop and
\nR&B music, did well, playing one gig after another and even
\nwinning several awards.<\/p>\n
One day, a meeting with Peter Gontha -- a well-known
\nentrepreneur, musician and jazz lover -- at a performance in
\nTaman Mini Indonesia Indah opened a new door. The band got to
\nplay live music at JAMZ, Gontha's jazz lounge and bar.<\/p>\n
But not for long -- about 4 months after Dwanka's first JAMZ
\ngig, Mike received the news that he had passed the grueling
\naudition and had been selected to be a part of Indonesian Idol.<\/p>\n
"Last year, I tried out for Indonesian Idol 1, but I didn't
\nmake it. So I tried again this year for the second season," Mike
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
For the duration of the show, Mike was "quarantined" for about
\nthree months with the other contestants.<\/p>\n
"To be with strangers you never met before for months, you
\nhave to control your ego. Of course there were differences, but
\nwe dealt with it," Mike said. "In the end, the whole contest,
\nit's not really only about singing. I learned to be confident, to
\nface people, to become more disciplined."<\/p>\n
Mike added, "I also learned to develop a mentality to deal
\nwith becoming somebody from being nobody."<\/p>\n
The lessons paid off. He rocked and became somebody. With his
\nstrong voice, he impressed the jurors, took the audience by storm
\nand grabbed the Idol title.<\/p>\n
As a reward to himself for winning, the cologne-lover bought
\nChristian Dior's Fahrenheit and gave money to his mom. He would
\nalso like to buy a new pair of shoes and to visit his father's
\ngrave.<\/p>\n
When Mike talks about his mother and late father, one can hear
\npride in his voice. Idol fans, tabloid readers and infotainment
\naudiences are already familiar with Mike's love for his mother,
\nAmin Yudhayani Mohede.<\/p>\n
The media captured photos of the two of them, the tears that
\nglistened on his mother's cheeks when he sang and the joy they
\nshared when he won -- it is just there.<\/p>\n
And it's not difficult to see why. After Mike's father passed
\naway in 2001, Yudhayani had to take over from him and become the
\nhead of the household. She also took over the business that her
\nhusband had created while being mother to their three sons.<\/p>\n
During that time, understandably, the family faced financial
\ndifficulties.<\/p>\n
"It was not as easy as before. When my sons' dad was still
\nwith us, it was easier to get what we needed. But, don't get me
\nwrong, we never felt we were short of anything," said Yudhayani.<\/p>\n
"We feel blessed by God's daily gift. We don't live
\nexcessively, nor too poorly. We have enough, and are grateful for
\nthis."<\/p>\n
Mike said, "To me, mom is a superhero. She works so hard to be
\na single parent. She made it."<\/p>\n
The feeling is clearly mutual.<\/p>\n
"He's a great son," said Yudhayani. "I enjoy talking to him
\nabout everything. And he's always nice to people, because that's
\nhow he was brought up."<\/p>\n
She explained how Mike greeted neighbors from the nearby
\nkampong when he won, even before he had met with their neighbors
\nin the compound. She said Mike was aware that the people of the
\nkampong might be hesitant about approaching him after he had
\nbecome an Idol, so he went to see them first.<\/p>\n
Home certainly plays a central part in his life and character:
\nMike loves hanging out with the kampong people, home cooking,
\nstaying at home and chatting with his brothers and mother.<\/p>\n
"Of course he's more disciplined now, waking up early, tending
\nto his schedule and all, but inside he's the same kid who prefers
\nstaying home, like he was before he won," Yudhayani said.<\/p>\n
But winning can't all be good, can it?<\/p>\n
"The one thing I miss is having long talks with Mike. We don't
\ntalk as much as we used to, that's for certain."<\/p>\n
Still, she understands the situation. "I'm very proud of Mike.
\nThis fame thing is something that we used to see happen to other
\npeople. Now it's happened to us. This is a miracle from God."<\/p>\n
A miracle that hopefully will lead to more chances for Mike.<\/p>\n
Having just finished recording his debut album last week, Mike
\nplans to learn more about music, take sound engineering courses
\nand plan ahead for the future.<\/p>\n
"I'm enjoying all this. And I want to do everything as best as
\nI can," Mike said.<\/p>\n
He has many years to prove himself, but with his talent,
\nhumility and drive to create his own future, he is sure to reach
\nhis goals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/big-idol-shows-its-all-about-heart-1447893297",
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