A rift in the Idol ranks?
By Elisa Chia, TODAY | Posted: 14 August 2006 0950 hrs
SINGAPORE: Are Singapore Idol judges Ken Lim and Jacintha Abisheganaden at loggerheads?
Hot contender Rahimah Rahim's shocking elimination from the singing contest on Thursday may have made most of the headlines, but that hasn't been the only talk of the town.
Viewers have also been wondering if these two judges have had a falling out.
Jacintha first became the target of Ken's ribbing two weeks ago, when in a comment made after contestant Nurul Maideen's so-so performance, he said: "I thought you sounded a little bit like Ja after a few drinks."
The needling continued on the show last Wednesday, once again after Nurul had delivered her song.
"Your performance on stage gives me the impression that you want to be Judy Garland and Jacintha Abisheganaden," Ken said with a straight face, to much laughter from the studio audience. "Not that it's a bad thing, but it just assisted you to be dull and jaded."
In an interview with TODAY, the head honcho of Hype Records dismissed talk that he was at odds with Jacintha, who replaced rocker Douglas Oliveiro in the hot seat this season. Expectations were high that the veteran songbird would contribute witty, sound advice to the contestants, but her showing has so far been less than stellar.
"Jacintha definitely has what it takes to be a judge. She is one of the best vocal talents the local industry has produced.
"She's from a different era, but the experience she gathered is still relevant to the young generation today," Ken said, before adding with a laugh: "You just need some creative effort to understand what she's saying."
So, his comments were not targeted at Jacintha?
"I'm not poking fun at her, lah. It's a valid reference," was his earnest reply.
"It's just that the way Nurul performs, it's very laidback and spaced-out, and that reminds me of Jacintha."
The Idol judging panel - which also includes singer-composer-producer Dick Lee and MediaCorp Radio senior general manager Florence Lian - get along well and often share laughs backstage before the shows, Ken noted.
"Jacintha is a nice person," he said.
"She knows it's not personal. So, there's really no tension." - TODAY
