Gee and Kay battle it out
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Photos by Suwitcha Chaiyong
and courtesy of KPN
Did you know
The first KPN competition was held in 1983.
TV singing competitions are always highly competitive. To compete with high-rating programmes like The Star and Academy Fantasia, the KPN Award show is attracting viewers with a new concept called Battle Series. The 10 finalists in Battle Series are divided into two teams. While the blue team uses image to stand out, the red team focuses more on singing talent.
Student Weekly recently had a chat with two 16-year-old contestants from the red team — Jeeraporn Wisescharoen (Gee) and Budsarin Ngamdee (Kay) — to hear about their singing experiences.
Student Weekly: Why did you choose to participate on KPN Award?
Kay: I have confidence in this show because it’s the only contest where the winner receives His Majesty the King’s Royal Trophy. It’s a great honour.
Student Weekly: Does it worry you that KPN contestants don’t get as much attention from the public as singers from the other TV contests?
Kay: A little bit, but this show emphasises great singing ability. If I was on another show, I wouldn’t feel comfortable.
Gee: KPN Award has great singers like Bird Thongchai and Jennifer Kim taking part. The competition focuses on singing rather than looks, so it’s suitable for me.
Student Weekly: How do you guys practise your singing?
Gee: My parents noticed that I was interested in singing when I was in Pratom 4, so they let me take singing lessons. I just stopped my singing classes this year because I’m too busy at school.
Kay: My father taught me how to sing and I practise by myself. I’ve taken part in some small singing competitions, but I’ve never won first prize.
Student Weekly: Is there anything about your singing that you’d like to improve?
Kay: A workshop coach told me that I should relax more when I sing. I also learned some techniques so that I don’t damage my vocal cords.
Gee: To make my voice more powerful, I try to sing while I exercise.
Student Weekly: How do you feel about the Battle Series concept?
Kay: I like it. I want to know if viewers prefer a good voice over a fancy image.
Student Weekly: Which competitor is the scariest?
Gee: Oat Thanapakorn. He’s so creative and his singing technique is terrific.
Kay: Maikaew Petchkaew has similar strengths to me. She’s good at singing English language songs.
Student Weekly: Kay, how did you manage to learn English so well?
Kay: I was an exchange student in the US for 10 months. I learned how to pronounce words properly by listening a lot and imitating what I heard. It took me five months to be able to speak fluently.
Student Weekly: Do you have any special message for our readers?
Gee: Please watch the show and vote for the one you like best!
Vocabulary
- competitive (adj): trying very hard to be better than others
image (n): the impression that a person, an organisation, etc. gives to the public
trophy (n): an object such as a silver cup that is given as a prize for winning a competition
emphasise (v): to give special importance to something
workshop (n): a period of discussion and practical work on a particular subject, in which a group of people share their knowledge
strength (n): a quality or ability that somebody has that gives them an advantage
imitate (v): to copy somebody or something
fluently (adv): in a smooth and skilful way
Idiom
take part in something: to be involved in something
