The judging panel of Vietnam Idol 2008 singing contest – saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan, singer Siu Black and composer Ho Hoai Anh. Anh’s severe comments shock both audiences and contestants.

Vietnam idol has copied the format of its American counterpart - but is it necessary to have judges who make cruel comments?

The judge Ho Hoai Anh, a composer and lecturer at the Hanoi Music Conservatory, has often made comments that shocked viewers and hurt entrants’ feelings.

In Vietnam Idol 2008 Anh made rather cruel criticisms on most of the contestants’ audition performances and his words are much more cutting than composer Tuan Khanh, a judge on last year’s jury; Khanh’s style was more humorous and entertaining.

“I felt embarrassed to hear the jury’s cruel comments, so I can’t imagine how contenders felt standing in front of millions of viewers,” said Idol fan, Nhat Truong, a student of the HCMC Technology Education University.

Anh made comments like “No matter how hard you try you will never amount to anything,” and “I don’t think you should even be here,” to different contestants.

Many contestants said they were deeply disheartened and lost enthusiasm in the next rounds after listening to Anh’s comments.

The organizers of Vietnam Idol should take note of the recent suspected suicide of the 2006 American Idol contestant, 30-year-old Paula Goodspeed.

Goodspeed was found dead on November 11 near the Los Angeles home of one of the show’s judges, pop singer Paula Abdul. The online edition of People magazine, citing police, said the cause of death was a drug overdose.

Goodspeed’s audition performance of “Proud Mary” in the 2006 series of American Idol was mocked by the judges.

The contestant had been apparently infatuated with Abdul since the age of 10.

Vietnam Idol was launched last year in the format of the American Idol reality show: to encourage contestants’ creativity and confidence and to discover new singing talents.

Vietnam Idol accepts amateurs who have not been formally trained - attracting people from all walks of life – from workers, street vendors and students to office secretaries.

They appear on the show for fun and don’t deserve to be hurt in front of millions of television viewers by such scathing comments.

As may be the case in the American show, some contestants, especially as most of them are teenagers, never recover from the psychological shock of being mocked in front of a national audience.

“I think the Vietnam Idol judging panel should say encouraging words to contestants, as it is meant to be for fun rather than a real singing contest,” said famed singer Anh Tuyet.

“Critical comments are necessary, but jurors should think twice before giving comments which could distress contestants, especially teenagers who are easily prone to immature, disastrous actions,” Tuyet added.

“The judging panel certainly can’t expect contestants to know as much about music as someone who studies it at a university,” Truong added.

“A judge’s job is to provide expert opinions, good assessments and in this way steer the development of the local music scene. Competitions that have a qualified judging panel enjoy the confidence of the public,” said composer Ton That Lap, who is a judge on Album Vang, Ngoi sao tieng hat truyen hinh competitions and Bai Hat Viet awards.

Reported by Da Ly - Do Tuan