checked -- JSR check bold at end<\/p>\n
Two 'Idol' contestants gear up for grand final<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Unlike last year, this year's grand finalists in Indonesian Idol
\ncaused no controversy because both are perceived to be the best
\nof all 12 finalists, in terms of vocal quality.<\/p>\n
Michael Prabawa Mohede, nicknamed \"Big Mikey\", and Judika
\nNalom Abadi Sihotang, \"Abang Judika\", have been competing
\nhead-to-head for support from the public in the latest final of
\nIndonesian Idol, RCTI officials said.<\/p>\n
After the night of July 29 when the votes of both outnumbered
\nthose of the third finalist, Firman Siagian, Mike and Judika will
\nhave a week to prepare for the crucial night on Saturday, Aug. 13
\nat the Plenary Hall of Jakarta Convention Center, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I'm going to my hometown, Brastagi in North Sumatra,\" Judika,
\n26, said in a press conference on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said that his family in Brastagi told him they had prepared
\na welcoming party. The regent of Brastagi was also scheduled to
\ngreet Judika, who had left his hometown and lived in Jakarta
\nsince 1994.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't been to Brastagi for three years,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Mike, though, said he would stay in his house in Bintaro,
\nSouth Jakarta, during the preparation week.<\/p>\n
\"I will take some rest to prepare,\" said Mike, 21, adding that
\nhe already missed his mother.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not doing any special campaigning. I've been told,
\nthough, that my neighbors fixed a banner to a security post in my
\nneighborhood,\" Mike said. \"The banner says 'Refuse drugs, Vote
\nfor Mike,' or something like that, I think.\"<\/p>\n
Mike, who said his own idol was Bryan McKnight, is a singer at
\njazz cafe Jamz, Central Jakarta. During the Java Jazz Festival
\nlast April, Mike took the stage with the Jamz band.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Judika was twice a member of now-defunct boybands
\nAntero Boyz and Penta Boyz.<\/p>\n
After a preparation week, Judika and Mike will each sing three
\nsongs in the grand finale on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Jakarta
\nConvention Center.<\/p>\n
RCTI and Fremantle Media will open SMS (cell phone text
\nmessaging) facilities for audience votes after the grand finale.<\/p>\n
Later, on Friday Aug. 12, they will enter the Cafe to Cafe
\nBattle, in which each will sing at either open space La Piazza in
\nKelapa Gading or on the rooftop of Plaza Semanggi.<\/p>\n
On the following day, the result of the votes will be
\nannounced and the second \"Indonesian Idol\" will walk on a red
\ncarpet.<\/p>\n
The Idol will automatically be given an album contract with
\nSony BMG Music Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sony BMG managing director Toto Widjojo promised that there
\nwould be lots of new songs in the Idol's album this time.<\/p>\n
Sony's album for the last Idol, Joy Tobing, who withdrew from
\nhis contract later, was full of old songs.<\/p>\n
Toto said that Delon's and Joy's albums had achieved
\n\"encouraging sales\", selling more than 50,000 in a year.<\/p>",
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