Siolim Lad Wins Kingfisher Voice of Goa 2010

Siolim Lad Wins Kingfisher Voice of Goa 2010

The village is famous for the ‘Sangodd’. The boating spectacle has caught the eyes of many. This village has also gifted Goa with personalities like Remo Fernandes, who now needs no introduction, and the famed cartoonist Alexyz. Now something unique has happened to the village in the last two years.

Kingisher Voice of Goa this year has produced an undisputed winner. Melvyn Noronha has an exceptional voice, an enthusing sense of dressing and a marvelous smile. Add to this the prominent vibrato in his voice, and notably something not achieved through training, all this added up to giving him the title this year. Last year there was a young lass in Tavia Machado, who was the winner of the Kingfisher Voice of Goa title and she hails from Siolim. This year the village can claim a back-to-back victory. Siolim emerged triumphant once again with Melvyn claiming the honors and this time right under the nose of Remo Fernandes, who performed for the finals.

The Konkani round was won by Gladrin Fernandes from Nagoa, Verna. Her performance was one that was both trilling and entertaining. The judges were of the unanimous opinion that if there was a voice that could match that of the nightingale Lorna, it could be Gladrin’s. What is also most appreciable about her is when Gladrin introduced her songs; she always made it a point to emphasize on the name of the singer and also of the composer and lyricist. Mostly the latter two are forgotten.

Tremendous talent, superlative enthusiasm and even a whole bundle of nerves gave us a thrill of a lifetime at the Kingfisher Voice of Goa final this year. The Konkani category finals were held on October 15 and the English category finals on October 16. Both drew a large audience who were there to see the best talent chosen from around Goa. The finalists, mostly young talent as well as enthusiastic young-hearted individuals, put forth a performance that were several notches better than their previous performances, that could also be described as excellent. There were 10 contestants in the English round and 12 in the Konkani round.

To be at the jury desk would be a tough job. The contestants went on to ensure that exactly that happened. As each contestant came up and sang, the job for Sigmund de Souza (music composer, performer and journalist), Edwin Braganza (guitarist and vocalist) and Belinda Fernandes (guitarist and vocalist) became more and more complex in the Konkani round while Belinda and Sigmund were joined by Ravindra (Ravi) Faria Coutinho (guitarist and vocalist) in the English round in the now byzantine task. Overall, there must be a word of praise going in favor of the judges, they came up with what could be considered, a much unbiased decision, one which must be applauded and hailed.

The final four in the Konkani category were Ulfa Kwaja, Clint Furtado, Priyag Salmalkar and Gladrin Fernandes while in the English round the last four chosen were Anais Gonsalves, Salisha Ferandes, Nikita Fernandes and Melvyn Noronha. A word of praise must also go out to Norman Cardozo who accompanied most of the contestants with some superb backing on the keyboard. Sachin Chatte kept the mood and the participants upbeat on both the days.

On the day of the Konkani final, there was a great entertaining performance by Anselmo Fernandes. This young lad kept the crowd in splits with a duet that he performed all by himself. He could sing the high pitch and the male pitches with ease. Showing great energy on stage were the band Forefront with the upbeat and mellifluous Agatha on vocals. At the finals of the English category, we also witnessed a scintillating tribute to Michael Jackson by Kingfisher Voice of Goa 2006, Joanne Fernandes. There was also a commendable performance by Kingfisher Voice of Goa 2009, Tavia Machado.

There were original compositions in plenty sung during the competition. Caetano Agonda was praised for his Konkani comedy song, he composed himself. But there was Salisha Fernandes who sang her original compositions right from the auditions to the finals. She also was among the last four to be chosen in the English round. She won the prize instituted by Remo. She will have her composition orchestrated, mixed and recorded by the legend himself and she can then use this to play on the radio stations, on an album or wherever she chooses.

The entertainment for the evening began with Goa’s ambassador to the musical world singing three songs he has specially composed for Rajendra Talak’s new movie ‘O Maria’. This was the first time ever the songs have been sung on stage. This included a song on the nature and beauty of Goa, more on the lines of a ballad. The other was based on Goan folk music and was a duet he sang with Queeny, a young lady with a pleasant voice. The last one was what he thought is probably Goa’s first hard-rock Konkani number.

Lorna began her performance with a song that described all she has done for Konkani music. She praised God for helping her take Goa and Konkani to the world. The emotion of the song spoke for itself “This voice cannot be bought with.” It also included a tribute to Chris Perry.

Remo then came back to thrill the audience with his Microwave Papadums. He got the crowds rocking to mostly his own compositions. In the end, he had the crowd grooving next to the stage as he ended the night with ‘O Meri Munni’, a song he kept going for over 20 minutes.

The prizes were given away by the Chief Guest Rear Admiral Pillai, Flag-Officer-Commanding, Goa Area, Indian Navy in the presence of Mr Govind Tiwari, Divisional Vice-President of UB Group, Roussel de Miranda of Hype Entertainment, and the jury of the day.