Astro Star Quest
 |
| Astro Star Quest | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Singing Competition |
| Country of origin | Malaysia |
| Production | |
| Production company | Astro |
| Original release | |
| Network | Astro华丽台 Astro华丽台HD |
| Release | 1997 – 31 December 2016 |
Astro Star Quest (Chinese: Astro新秀大賽), also formerly known as Astro Talent Quest is an annual Chinese singing competition in Malaysia organized by ASTRO Wah Lai Toi, which was first held in 1997. The first winner in 1997 was 刘燕燕 Crystal and the most current winner in 2016 is 黄雯俐 Wengdyy. In 2017, it was replaced by the Singapore-Malaysia version of 決戰好聲 The Voice and has since been discontinued and entered history.
Due to the provisions of the competition contract, starting from 2005, the winner, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up will then represent Malaysia at the TVB全球华人新秀歌唱大賽 TVB International Chinese New Talent Singing Championship (from 1997 to 1999 and 2001, only the winner was sent to the competition. In 2000 and 2002 to 2004, the winner and 1st runner-up were sent out to the competition).
Previous Award Winning Contestants[edit]
| Year | Winner | 1st Runner-Up | 2nd Runner-Up | 4th Place | 5th Place | Other Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 黄雯俐 Wengdyy | 周奕斌 Brian | 陈建宏 William | 尹景顺 | 余筱慧 | |
| 2015 | 邱诗凌 Apple | 丹尼尔 Daniel | 徐夢葹 Debbie | 江卓权 | 黄裔媁 | |
| 2014 | 徐凱 Uriah See | 許益凱 Sean | 李宜玲 Elaine | 陈静宜 | 彭世豪 | |
| 2013 | 田育慈 Esther | 王郑浚仁 Rax | 吴宗翰 Justin | 文小菲 | 黎桂金 | |
| 2012 | 赖淞凤 Nicole | 陈雪芬 Chanice | 叶美茜 Maxcy | 许艾文 | 黄诗颖 | |
| 2011 | 颜慧萍 Geraldine | 赵洁莹 Jie Ying Tha | 周艺培 Miko | 黄立强 | 林长金 | |
| 2010 | 張詒博 Peace | 劉佩芯 Stephanie | 陳慧瑩 Fyone | 曾耀祖 | 颜伟伦 | |
| 2009 | 黄毓敏 Min | 劉界輝 Kah Fai | 曾潔鈺 Yoke | 涂富祖 | 钟瑾桦 | |
| 2008 | 颜莞倩 WanChean | 林淑晶 Debbie | 朱浩仁（朱豪仁） | 许佳麟 | 张梦秦 | |
| 2007 | 李政发 Zax | 郑冰来 Wayne | 陈晓燕 Christy | 王翎蓓 | 傅健颖 | |
| 2006 | 郑伟康 Anthony | 陳世安 Andrew | 许慧珊 | 林智勇 | 董美玲 | 6th Place: 庄靖毅 |
| 2005 | 曾国珲 Tate (曾国辉 Tedd) | 符琼音 Meeia | 刘洁琪 | Best Talent Show Award: 刘洁琪 | ||
| 2004 | 吳國菲 Fayse | 王明麗 | 叶咏鑫 | Best Talent Show Award: 黄俊雄 | ||
| 2003 | 吳建億 Kenny | 洪韵诗 | 陈贻兴 | Best Talent Show Award: 陈威全 | ||
| 2002 | 张栋梁 Nicholas | 张英胜 Vincent | 杨爱芳 | Best Talent Show Award: 叶朝明 | ||
| 2001 | 林健辉 Eric | 黄慧仪 | 陈志刚 | Best Talent Show Award: 陈玉芳 | ||
| 2000 | 何芸妮 Winnie | 林凯璇 | 利慧君 | Best Talent Show Award: 彭慧玲 | ||
| 1999 | 李玉钦 Yih Ching | 马嘉轩 Athena | 吴文聪 | 林忠彪 | Best Talent Show Award: 林忠彪 | |
| 1998 | 黎升铭 Christopher | 陈雪兰 | 许文友 | Best Talent Show Award: 黎升铭 | ||
| 1997 | 刘燕燕 Crystal | 谢婉婷 | 梁佑诚 |
Note 1: There were 10 contestants in the finals from 1997 to 2005, the competition format was changed in 2006 with 6 in the finals, and 5 in the finals from 2007 to 2016.
Note 2: ( )The original name in brackets is the winner’s original name at the time of the competition, which has been changed.
Notable Contestants[edit]
While many talents have been birthed through this competition, it also boasts of many contestants who have gone on to become successful artistes in their own path.
Notable abroad examples would be Gary Chaw (1999 Finalist), Nicholas Teo (2002 Winner), 陈威全 VChuan Chen (2003 Finalist), Andrew Tan (2006 1st Runner-Up), and Peace Teo (2010 Winner).
Notable local (Malaysia) examples would be Eric Lim (2001 Winner), Vincent Chong (2002 1st Runner-Up), 许佳麟 Danny (2008 Top 5), 曾潔鈺 Yoke (2009 1st Runner-Up) and 钟瑾桦 Alvin Chong (2009 Finalist).
Notable local (Malaysia) radio DJs that were or currently still are examples would be 叶朝明 Jack Yap (2002 Finalist), 庄靖毅 Jym Chong (2006 Finalist), 曾耀祖 Joe Chang (2010 Top 5) and Jie Ying Tha (2011 1st Runner-Up).
Competition Requirements[edit]
This competition is aimed at showcasing and unearthing talents among young Malaysian between ages 18 to 28 (age upper limit varies over the years) who are able to converse in Mandarin or Cantonese.
The competition started with audition where it is also open to all former finalists of Astro Talent Quest & Astro Star Quest (except former winners). The contestant must not be a recording artiste where he/she has released or in the process of releasing any solo and/or group album after the age of 12 years; or has intention to release a solo and/or group album within six months from the date of the finals of the contest;
For the first round of audition,
(Requirements differs over the years)
The contestant has to sing a song in any language or any Chinese dialects with a minimum duration of 90 seconds recorded into a video clip format for competition entry.
OR
The Contestant must sing from a selection of Chinese/Mandarin pop songs. The contestants have to perform a song with no instrumental accompaniment.
Selected contestants will enter the second round audition.
For the second round of audition, the contestant then must prepare his/her own CD/VCD/DVD minus one version containing the selected songs (one fast and one slow number) to be performed and will be judged before qualifying for the next round of competition. The contestants are required to use their own costumes and make-up as well.
Competition Format[edit]
In the initial format, the final ten contestants are selected by judges who will battle it out for the title on one night performing one song and a talent time performance each. The top three will then be chosen by a panel of judges, where after they would be subjected to a series of tests which assesses various aspects of their vocal and singing ability, such as vocal range, musical timing, vocal flexibility to adapt to different music styles, etc. The judges then determine the winner, first runner-up and second runner-up. The talent time performance was eliminated as of year 2005.
As of 2006, with the change of name from Astro Talent Quest to Astro Star Quest a new format was introduced whereby all contestants would go through vocal, body gesture, hosting, speech management and dance trainings in addition to other challenges along the way to reach the finals with 6 contestants. The following year in 2007 onward, the finals narrowed to 5 contestants instead. Although SMS voting was introduced (for the popularity award), the judges still held absolute decision in the contestants' fate.
From year 2008 onward, the contestants were facing more challenges with the introduction of a "Player Kill" (PK) session among the contestants, with past winners, secondary school students or stars.
In 2011 onward, Astro collaborated with CTV Taiwan where top 5 finalist will then represent Malaysia at the 華人星光大道 Chinese Million Star. Contestants were sponsored for their flight ticket to Taiwan.
The competition reaches its 20th anniversary in 2016 with the Final happening in the New Year's Eve on 31 December 2016 at Desa Park City. This particular year, the contestants were required to produce MTV as one of the competition segments. In the MTV production, the contestants were obligated to cover the selected songs with new improvisation (music arrangement improvisation) and different interpretation, with an aim in their unique portrayal as a new artist.
Guest Judges and Artistes[edit]
Guest judges and artistes are invited every year including Wang LeeHom, Jay Chou, Jordan Chan, Tension, F.I.R., JJ Lin, S.H.E, Rynn Lim and Yoga Lin.
The competition also judged by some renowned music industry personalities namely 李伟菘 Lee Wei Shiong from Singapore and Malaysian music producer Alex San.
| Year | Artist |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Past Winners |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 | |
| 2013 | |
| 2012 | |
| 2011 | |
| 2010 | Yoga Lin |
| 2009 | Janice Wai Lan |
| 2008 | Zax Lee, Eric Lim |
| 2007 | S.H.E, Rynn Lim, Andrew Tan |
| 2006 | Kenny Koh, Nicholas Teo, Eric Lim |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | F.I.R, JJ Lin, Kenny Koh |
| 2003 | Tension, Nicholas Teo, Z-Chen |
| 2002 | Jordan Chan, Eric Lim |
| 2001 | Jay Chou |
| 2000 | 熊天平 Panda Xiong, Chi Hsiao Chun, Island |
| 1999 | Wang LeeHom |
| 1998 | |
| 1997 | 巫启贤 |