This was written by an ex-colleague, for a magazine that is regretfully, no longer with us. I am pretty sure this was a real interview. Obviously what went to print, if it did at all, has been edited for kindness. This was the original draft. – CL

Newly crowned Asian Idol HADY MIRZA may be a big singing star, but he isn’t quite so big on ‘big’ words.

WORDS BY LW
BIG QUOTE:
”Um, success to me is to, um, continuously strive for more success.”

First off, what would you like to say to your Singaporean fans who voted for you as their Asian Idol?
It’s because of them and also the voters from the other countries that I managed to win. For Singaporeans, I think they’re the ones who helped me a lot. If not for them, nothing would’ve been possible.

 Do you think the accolade of being the Asian Idol will be your career’s peak? Or do you have greater heights of success to scale?
(confused) Huh? What’s ‘accolade’?

What we mean is, do you think you’ll become an even bigger star in time to come?
Oh, Asian Idol was a huge platform for all of us. For me, I was just there in the spirit of nationalism and tried my best. Hopefully I will be able to expand to Indonesia and Malaysia, but not too far away lah.

Voters were given the chance to cast two votes each. Some claim they only voted for you because you were the least likely to cause an upset over their favourites. Your thoughts?
(nervous laughter) Um, everybody has their own opinions. I don’t know. I just went there to sing my best and do my nation proud.

Um, ok… So you’re hoping your win will lead to more interest and support from the public for homegrown music here in Singapore?
(long pause) Um…I hope …um… Asian Idol spurs on not only Singapore but other countries as well. Who knows who could be the next successful winner?

But…that isn’t answering the question! Ok never mind. What’s your definition of success?
Success to me is to…um…(long pause)… provide for my family and, um…(even longer pause)… to, um, continuously strive for more success.

Sigh. That just doesn’t make any sense. Moving on, some journalists think that you tend to be a little repetitive in your responses during interviews. True?
(dazed) Repetitive? Could you repeat the question?

Are you a repetitive person by nature?
(totally lost) Um, repetitive by nature?

Yes. Are you?
(utterly clueless)

Argh! Do you say the same things more than once?
Oh! No I don’t. It’s the journalists who ask the same questions!  I can only give different answers if they ask me what I had for breakfast. Like that then I can answer differently every day.

Right. Okay, hypothetically speaking, if Bono were to invite you to join his world-famous band U2 on the one condition that you publicly shun all local idol singing competitions, would you do it?
(puzzled silence)

’Hypothetically speaking’ – it means to imagine a situation.
But, dude, why would Bono want me to do a thing like that?

He wouldn’t. But hypothetically speaking, what would you do?
Dude, Bono wouldn’t do a thing like that lah!

Oh yes how foolish of us to ask. As a celebrity and torch bearer of national pride, do you ever feel pressured to say the ‘right’ things in the press?
There is always right and wrong. I think on my part, I don’t have a reason to offend people. Maybe I’m conservative because I’m Singaporean lah! But I just say what I honestly feel on my part.

So honestly speaking, do you think ex-SI contestants like Jonathan Leong and Paul Twohill are far less successful than you?
(shiftily) Um, this one you can ask their management. I don’t know!

So much for honesty. Any words of encouragement for Jon and his career?
Yes, we always encourage each other.

Yes, yes I get it. But what are your exact words of encouragement to him?
We always push each other to be our best!

Oh. My. God! Anyway, thanks for your time. This has been an immensely fruitful interview.
You’re welcomed. Whoa man, your questions like going to University siah. So cheem!