Singapore Idol

(wanna join?)

SINGAPORE IDOL

I am not quite sure whether there are many countries left in the world which have not already been overrun by this show and its local spin-offs. I watched a few episodes of the first season (and I suppose there will be many more in the future) in Germany as part of the general hype about the show. Of course, everyone here in Singapore (yes, my friends are well-informed in this matter) holds up in front of me that the last German Idol (Alexander something..) failed miserably in the World Idol Contest. I really try to live with that incredible shame...

A COMMON BASIS

This all speaks volumes. Young people around the world seem to be susceptible to this kind of entertainment. This show propably works everywhere as soon as there is a certain degree of westernized culture around. This is certainly the case in ipod-fashion-fun-rnb-shopping-Singapore. No wonder that the show fell on fertile grounds. Last weekend, there was the first audition of the local second season. Colleagues told me over lunch that the auditions have been extended after the weekend, but everyone seems to generally agree that this was not because of the publicly anounced "overwhelming demand", but just due to the poor quality of the applicants.. ;-)

BABY AND CULTURE

Another quick glance at local culture. A colleague and friend just got the wonderful news from his wife back in India that their first Baby was born two weeks ahead of schedule. On the one side it spared him the worrisome period where he would be concerned about the well-being of his wife and child (he just got the sudden news that the quick ordeal was already over), on the other side he had to live with two days of waiting (during which he could not find ANY sleep according to his remarkable eyerings :-)) until he could finally head off to India..It is so fascinating and wonderful to see someone close becoming father for the first time..really let's you think about your own future in that very moment.

Well, this is of course ubiquitous behaviour, not bound to any culture. However, shortly after anouncement of the birth, money was collected for the child throughout colleagues and friends, which will be passed to him in a hongbao (red envelope). This essentially means that the custom of hongbaos is not necessarily linked to Chinese heritage, but can apply to anyone, if necessary. Also, the lying-in periods are different with regard to cultural heritage. People who follow Chinese heritage generally celebrate new offsprings after 1 month for the first time. As for Indian culture, the child will be shown to friends and rest-of-the-clan on the 13th day. Don't ask me why...

Maik