Dream Chaser - Singing Chinese Song for competition

It was really a wonderful experience to be with a group of more than 200 Chinese while participating in a competition to show your talent on August 10^th 2019 organised by Outlaying Islands Women’s Association supported by Rotary E-Club of Lantau.  Though I am not talented in singing, I just wanted to see the extent of my capacity in singing Chinese songs.  I have lot of experience in taking my daughter for competitions many a times but this was the first ever stage performing competition I registered in Hong Kong.

For CIBS Let’s Speak Chinese programme, I had prepared few songs and recorded them.  Since few of my friends told that it was nice to listen to those songs, I had the guts to submit my Chinese singing skill for audition for Lantau’s Got Talent show in the month of July.  When I received the mail saying that I am selected to enter the finals, I was quite happy to have cleared my first step in this venture. It was the song Ni Zenme Shuo, a song by the Taiwanese singer Teresa Tang.

I started practicing the song around 5 times every day with or without music until the day of the contest.  I edited the song to 3 minutes not cutting the lyrics part to fit the requirement.   Made a powerpoint with the original singer Teresa Tang. I planned to wear the Chinese dress gifted to me by my sister. I borrowed the high heels slippers of my daughter. 

On the day of the competition, I got ready and reached the spot little late as I remembered only the competition time to be 2:30 and missed out on make-up and rehearsal slots.  I was right on time for the rehearsal.  It was in the grand ballroom of Regal Airport Hotel.  The stage was big and I was excited to perform before the Chinese audience for the first time. I just missed out on make-up. Though I planned, I forgot to take those items with me when I left home.

There were 15 finalist for this contest including individual and group.  Most of them were children and their family.  However, there were around five adult teams. I saw Parul with her daughter was also one of the finalist after some time.  I was the only one singing a song using Karaoke track.

We had magic show, Chinese traditional juggling, rubric’s cube show, English poem recitation, martial art show by children.  Rest of them were different types of dances.  Seeing all the performances in the rehearsal, I could foresee all the winners.  However, I was there just to present my first ever solo Chinese performance before Chinese audience. While I was singing the song, I could see few people repeating the words with me.  Once I finished, while walking back to my place, few of them congratulated on my performance.  I felt that I succeeded in my attempt by getting that appreciation though I don’t speak the language. Parul and her daughter danced a Bollywood medley very well with lot of gymnastic poses for a wonderful music.

It was very encouraging to see the organisors taking so much of effort in showcasing the Lantau talents. Out of 15 finalists, five of them were chosen to win the trophies.  Almost all of them were dance groups.  Little 4 years old girl sitting next to me who danced a ballet dance became friendly and she was also chosen in the first five. Happy to see that Indian team of Parul and her daughter were declared the winners of the competition.