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 albums by Delon (runner-up to Joy) and Joy himself had achieved "encouraging sales", selling more than 50,000 in a year.