YOUTH '10 Festival
The weather didn't particularly favour the 28th of May. Pregnant clouds loomed overhead, threatening to barrage the earth at any moment. Even so, this proved to be a very fine day for thousands of youths all across the nation as this was the chosen day for the opening of the YOUTH '10 Festival held in the Putra World Trade Centre.
During the three-day-festival many events were held, catering to the broad myriad of interests of the modern youth. Some of the events included were Parkour performances , Cosplay competitions, fashion shows, musical performances by local artists like Siti Nurhaliza and of course, the 3rd annual Battle of the Bands.
120 bands from all over the country gathered to participate in the third Battle of the Bands with each given just 2 minutes to impress the judges. Among these bands was one representing Taylor's College Sri Hartamas, our very own K.I.T.A, an acronym of the band member's names: Kenneth Kwan, Imran Zubir, Tan Kar Reid and Azri Ahmad. All four members had previously performed in Taylor's Got Talent 2010, where Kar Reid did an acoustic cover of the Artic Monkey's “Cornerstone” while the other 3 members performed Jason Mraz's “Make it Mine” together as The Penguins, placing second in the competition. But with little prior experience, how well would they fare against the pool of national talent? With the support of the ever so lovely Ms Dachaini, Student Events Advisor of our college, and a small group of friends, K.I.T.A. would find out.
The Battle of the Bands did not start until evening, when there was a slight drizzle. There were surprisingly many heavy-metal-screamo performances, reflecting the angst-ridden souls of the modern teen. The audience head-banged and cheered to the plethora of songs performed, some of which were originals, played for the first time. When K.I.T.A. went on to play their cover of Ghostbusters, the drizzle had died down and the crowds poured in again. Reminiscent of when Hoobastank played it the previous year at the MTV Asia World Stage, the crowds went wild, enthusiastically responding to Azri's “Who ya gonna call?” with an equally loud “GHOSTBUSTERS!”. It was a very enjoyable performance and it was evident from the pats on the back that the band members received from the volunteers that it was a step up from several of the previous performances. It did not come as too big a surprise that K.I.T.A. would make it through to the next round, 2 days later.
In the second round, many bands had been eliminated and only the tougher competition remained. Among the competition were several bands that were gaining recognition in the local music scene. This time, K.I.T.A. played Justin Timberlake's “Sexy Back”. Kenneth energetically spurred the crowd on with the suggestive lyrics and it made for an excellent performance. Unfortunately, it came as a shocker to all when their rendition of this song did not appeal sufficiently to the all-male judge panel to make it through to the finals. Even so, they placed 13th out of the 120 competitors, doing Taylor's College Sri Hartamas proud. Disappointment is inevitable, but the members of K.I.T.A. harbour no regrets at all. For a band so hastily put together weeks before the heat of the mid-semester examinations, I must say that they did not bad at all. Perhaps next year we will bring the trophy home.
BY TAN WAI HWA
During the three-day-festival many events were held, catering to the broad myriad of interests of the modern youth. Some of the events included were Parkour performances , Cosplay competitions, fashion shows, musical performances by local artists like Siti Nurhaliza and of course, the 3rd annual Battle of the Bands.
120 bands from all over the country gathered to participate in the third Battle of the Bands with each given just 2 minutes to impress the judges. Among these bands was one representing Taylor's College Sri Hartamas, our very own K.I.T.A, an acronym of the band member's names: Kenneth Kwan, Imran Zubir, Tan Kar Reid and Azri Ahmad. All four members had previously performed in Taylor's Got Talent 2010, where Kar Reid did an acoustic cover of the Artic Monkey's “Cornerstone” while the other 3 members performed Jason Mraz's “Make it Mine” together as The Penguins, placing second in the competition. But with little prior experience, how well would they fare against the pool of national talent? With the support of the ever so lovely Ms Dachaini, Student Events Advisor of our college, and a small group of friends, K.I.T.A. would find out.
The Battle of the Bands did not start until evening, when there was a slight drizzle. There were surprisingly many heavy-metal-screamo performances, reflecting the angst-ridden souls of the modern teen. The audience head-banged and cheered to the plethora of songs performed, some of which were originals, played for the first time. When K.I.T.A. went on to play their cover of Ghostbusters, the drizzle had died down and the crowds poured in again. Reminiscent of when Hoobastank played it the previous year at the MTV Asia World Stage, the crowds went wild, enthusiastically responding to Azri's “Who ya gonna call?” with an equally loud “GHOSTBUSTERS!”. It was a very enjoyable performance and it was evident from the pats on the back that the band members received from the volunteers that it was a step up from several of the previous performances. It did not come as too big a surprise that K.I.T.A. would make it through to the next round, 2 days later.
In the second round, many bands had been eliminated and only the tougher competition remained. Among the competition were several bands that were gaining recognition in the local music scene. This time, K.I.T.A. played Justin Timberlake's “Sexy Back”. Kenneth energetically spurred the crowd on with the suggestive lyrics and it made for an excellent performance. Unfortunately, it came as a shocker to all when their rendition of this song did not appeal sufficiently to the all-male judge panel to make it through to the finals. Even so, they placed 13th out of the 120 competitors, doing Taylor's College Sri Hartamas proud. Disappointment is inevitable, but the members of K.I.T.A. harbour no regrets at all. For a band so hastily put together weeks before the heat of the mid-semester examinations, I must say that they did not bad at all. Perhaps next year we will bring the trophy home.
BY TAN WAI HWA
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