Anugerah Planet Muzik in Singapore - Part 1

Me: Are you excited, Yanie?

Yanie: I still can’t believe it!

Me: Believe it, honey. And I promise you this will not be your first and last visit to Singapore. There will be many, many more to come.

The flight to Singapore from KL took 55 minutes but it felt much shorter. Yanie will be performing at the Anugerah Planet Muzik (APM), the annual awards show showcasing and celebrating the best musical talents from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, this Friday (Channel 4 Ria, Astro).

Watched by millions in three different countries, APM is the region’s most prestigious awards show. I’d say that’s a very big deal for a girl who is only just stepping out into the music industry. Yanie and Diddy’s duet SALING TERPESONA has been chosen as a special feature for the show, and what a feature it will be. The duet will become a quartet as two big names join them midway through the song. But more about that later.

Our first stop was, of course, lunch. Nasi Padang River Valley no less. Badrul, Shonny and Diddy joined us.

Badrul decided that we should have ‘centre portion’. “What’s ‘centre portion’?” I asked him. “Hidang lah!” he barked back at me. And so we had a very lavish spread of ‘centre portion’.

After lunch, we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon doing what everyone who comes to Singapore does: shopping. And Yanie was in heaven! Far East Plaza, to be precise.

Yanie: So many things! So many pretty, beautiful, precious things!

Me: I know, sweetie. And so little time. I have the same problem, hons.

After several hours and far too many shopping bags, it was time to head back to the hotel to freshen up and make our way to Kallang Indoor Stadium for sound check. As with all rehearsals anywhere in the world, downtime is common. You just sit around and goof about and wait your turn. And Syed Azmir, Yanie and Diddy had plenty of downtime whilst Taufiq and Hady (the two gorgeous Singapore Idols) sang their hearts out on stage.

Then it was Diddy and Yanie’s turn, and midway through the song, they were joined by Hady who took over Diddy’s part in the 2nd verse. He has a deliciously yummy tone. I totally fell in love with his voice the moment he opened his mouth. I have resolved to buy his album. What a voice!

The Diva who is supposed to sing Yanie’s part in the 2nd verse is still in Jakarta. She only arrives tomorrow. Who? Come back here and read my next posting to find out.

After the collaboration, Yanie only too happily posed with Hady Mirza, the 2nd season winner of Singapore Idol. I must say, Yanie is doing pretty well. She’s not showing any signs of nervousness or the jitters. She’s just probably very excited and the enormity of the entire event has yet to sink in. Good for her. She needs to just let go and enjoy her moment in the limelight.

Here's the youtube of his 'legendary' performance of Sheila Majid's LAGENDA, just in case you've never heard of him.

By midnight, we were all sung out and ready for a big supper. Sopi, the President of NingClix Singapore, and his best friend Tom met us at the lobby of the hotel and took us to Lau Pa Sat, the late night al fresco eatery down the road. And we feasted on mixed satay, grilled prawns, fried rice, and fried noodles.

Notice anything strange about the meal? The first reader to tell me the correct answer gets a surprise gift from Singapore (no, NOT a Merlion keychain or fridge magnet, I promise).

What a day it has been. Food, shopping, music, hunks with angelic voices, what more could I ask for? Free internet connection, perhaps?

No such luck. I am now in my hotel room uploading this posting and cursing at how I am being extorted of a lot of cash to just have internet connection in my room. $5 for 15 minutes! Welcome to Singapore.