Joy to the world as first Indonesian Idol<\/p>\n
Stevie Emilia
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
After 34,358 hopefuls sang their hearts out in the pitch battle
\nto be the first Indonesian Idol, Joy Destiny Tiurma Tobing was
\nthe last singer standing on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
To thunderous applause before the full house of 7,000 at
\nSenayan sports stadium, Joy was announced to have won the
\nmajority of the four million votes over rival Delon after a
\nweeklong voting frenzy by SMS and premium calls.<\/p>\n
Looking elegant in a blue dress by Adjie Notonegoro, she
\nliterally lived up to her name by crying for joy.<\/p>\n
\"Thank you all,\" was all the student of the Christian
\nUniversity of Indonesia's School of English Literature in Jakarta
\ncould say after the announcement.<\/p>\n
Besides the millions watching at home, those in the audience
\nincluded House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and many
\ncelebrities. President Megawati Soekarnoputri, despite reports
\nshe would attend, was a no-show.<\/p>\n
Joy finished the show by singing Glenn Fredly's Karena Cinta
\n(Because of Love) through tears. Her parents, taxi driver-turned
\nrecord producer Jamarudut ML Tobing, and mother Roma Sibuea were
\nin the audience.<\/p>\n
Joy, a seasoned performer who had won RCTI's Cipta Pesona
\nBintang contest and the Grand Championship Laser Karaoke Pioneer
\nin Asia in Shanghai, China, and Japan, was the heavy favorite to
\nwin after last week's final performances.<\/p>\n
However, some had feared Stanislaus Alexander Liauw Dalon
\nThamrin, better known to all his fans as Delon, would win by a
\nsympathy vote due to the often harsh criticism meted out to him
\nby the celebrity jury.<\/p>\n
The latter, who gained heart-throb status, was gracious in
\ndefeat, hugging and kissing the winner.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever happens, I am sure it's for the best,\" he said
\nbefore the announcement.<\/p>\n
Delon is also expected to get a record deal and take part in a
\ntour of major cities in the country with the other finalists from
\nthe show.<\/p>\n
\"Your career as a singer starts tomorrow, I hope you become a
\nprofessional singer,\" said musician Indra Lesmana, one of Joy's
\nstrongest supporters among the four-member jury, told her.<\/p>\n
As the winner of the show -- jointly produced by Freemantle
\nMedia Productions Asia and RCTI -- Joy won a record deal, a
\nToyota Vios and the right to represent Indonesia at the World
\nIdol later this year.<\/p>\n
Private TV station RCTI began auditions for the show on April
\n9 this year, visiting five cities -- Bandung, Jakarta, Medan,
\nSurabaya and Yogyakarta. RCTI reportedly will start the second
\nIndonesian Idol in December this year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/joy-to-the-world-as-first-indonesian-idol-1447899208",
"image": ""
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