checked -- JSR check bold at end

checked -- JSR check bold at end

Two 'Idol' contestants gear up for grand final

Evi Mariani
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Unlike last year, this year's grand finalists in Indonesian Idol
caused no controversy because both are perceived to be the best
of all 12 finalists, in terms of vocal quality.

Michael Prabawa Mohede, nicknamed "Big Mikey", and Judika
Nalom Abadi Sihotang, "Abang Judika", have been competing
head-to-head for support from the public in the latest final of
Indonesian Idol, RCTI officials said.

After the night of July 29 when the votes of both outnumbered
those of the third finalist, Firman Siagian, Mike and Judika will
have a week to prepare for the crucial night on Saturday, Aug. 13
at the Plenary Hall of Jakarta Convention Center, Central
Jakarta.

"I'm going to my hometown, Brastagi in North Sumatra," Judika,
26, said in a press conference on Saturday.

He said that his family in Brastagi told him they had prepared
a welcoming party. The regent of Brastagi was also scheduled to
greet Judika, who had left his hometown and lived in Jakarta
since 1994.

"I haven't been to Brastagi for three years," he added.

Mike, though, said he would stay in his house in Bintaro,
South Jakarta, during the preparation week.

"I will take some rest to prepare," said Mike, 21, adding that
he already missed his mother.

"I'm not doing any special campaigning. I've been told,
though, that my neighbors fixed a banner to a security post in my
neighborhood," Mike said. "The banner says 'Refuse drugs, Vote
for Mike,' or something like that, I think."

Mike, who said his own idol was Bryan McKnight, is a singer at
jazz cafe Jamz, Central Jakarta. During the Java Jazz Festival
last April, Mike took the stage with the Jamz band.

Meanwhile, Judika was twice a member of now-defunct boybands
Antero Boyz and Penta Boyz.

After a preparation week, Judika and Mike will each sing three
songs in the grand finale on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Jakarta
Convention Center.

RCTI and Fremantle Media will open SMS (cell phone text
messaging) facilities for audience votes after the grand finale.

Later, on Friday Aug. 12, they will enter the Cafe to Cafe
Battle, in which each will sing at either open space La Piazza in
Kelapa Gading or on the rooftop of Plaza Semanggi.

On the following day, the result of the votes will be
announced and the second "Indonesian Idol" will walk on a red
carpet.

The Idol will automatically be given an album contract with
Sony BMG Music Indonesia.

Sony BMG managing director Toto Widjojo promised that there
would be lots of new songs in the Idol's album this time.

Sony's album for the last Idol, Joy Tobing, who withdrew from
his contract later, was full of old songs.

Toto said that Delon's and Joy's albums had achieved
"encouraging sales", selling more than 50,000 in a year.