BYPASSING NYSC AND STRAIGHT TO REALITY SHOWS - EDITORIAL

Upcoming singers singing the songs of veteran artistes at reality shows has produced mixed responses from television viewers. The majority of viewers have nice words for them and feel proud about the singing skills showcased by these budding artistes. But when criticism is directed at them there is confusion as to whether these artistes are on the right track when pursuing music. 

Right now the programme titled ‘Voice Sri Lanka’ and aired on Sirasa Television is a huge hit. Young artistes are encouraged to sing songs by veterans and bring out new ‘flavours’. Most of the songs aired on the show are later posted on Youtube and social media sites. Such efforts to post them on social media have got these youth artistes more recognition than the original singers. However Sirasa has always made arrangements to recognise the original version of the song, the first artiste and the lyrist which is a healthy practice. 

Judges at the show have also praised these youth singers when the new version of the song doesn’t distort the old version. But still there is a set of seasoned veterans who feel that something is not quite right with this new system of producing singers. 

Veteran singer Chandrasena Hettiarachchi views with suspicion efforts by youngsters to do ‘covers’ using songs sung by veterans. He said so when giving an interview to a leading Sinhala Weekend newspaper recently. Singers like Hettiarachchi came through an established system and received a comprehensive training in music at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC).

"Now budding singers are blossoming like mushrooms. If one has the money, technology and contacts a singer can raise himself overnight. But what’s good about Sirasa’s talent show is that so many aspiring singers were shown the door because they lacked skills or when their singing was flawed. It’s always good to have seasoned veterans around who can talk sense and put budding ambitious singers in their place"

According to Hettiarachchi breaking into the music scene was quite difficult back then with only the radio being present as the available electronic media tool to communicate with an audience. He owes his success to the NYSC and his dedicated set of teachers. Some of his contemporaries at this institute were Shirley Vyjayantha (He calls Shirley sir), Chandraleka Perera, Somasiri Medagedara and Theja Amarasinghe. Hettiarachchi along with most of them was involved with the youth singers group of the NYSC. 

But that was those days. Now budding singers are blossoming like mushrooms. If one has the money, technology and contacts a singer can raise himself overnight. But what’s good about Sirasa’s talent show is that so many aspiring singers were shown the door because they lacked skills or when their singing was flawed. It’s always good to have seasoned veterans around who can talk sense and put budding ambitious singers in their place. 

What the veteran singers often underscore is that the improvements to a singer’s ability to sing, enhancing the skills acquired in spending time studying an art and the growing of personal followers happen in a gradual process. Using songs that are existing to do covers must be supervised and controlled. We’ve seen a young mousy female singer who has got into a lot of trouble trying to achieve too much too soon. 

But it’s also encouraging when veteran singers like Sunil Perera and Bathiya Jayakody acknowledge the new ‘tone’ given to their songs by budding artistes. As much as there is encouragement that way there is a call for precaution by singers like Hettiaarachchi to guide budding singers. So the present-day youth have to strike a balance in their approach and preparation when stepping on the stage and trying to establish themselves in the music industry.