Olinda Cho recovers from lyric slip-up to reach Top 14 in Hong Kong singing contest

Competing in a foreign singing competition is tough. Doing so in a language you don't speak fluently adds another layer of pressure. Singapore Idol alum Olinda Cho recently demonstrated remarkable poise under these exact circumstances, advancing to the Top 14 of Hong Kong's Midlife, Sing & Shine! 4.

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While performing with in-ear monitors, she suddenly found herself unable to hear the band’s accompaniment clearly, causing her to momentarily lose her place in the song.

During the show's "Classic Love Songs Night," Cho performed Faye Wong's Cantonese hit "Easily Hurt Woman." Mid-performance, she momentarily forgot the lyrics. Despite the setback, Cho maintained her composure, recovered smoothly, and finished the song, earning praise for her professionalism. She later admitted to Shin Min Daily News that nerves or a technical issue with her in-ear monitors might have caused the lapse.

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Unexpected situations like these are simply part and parcel of performing.

Cho emphasized that unexpected situations are part of performing and that giving up was never an option. She believes a singer should be judged on their recovery and ability to complete a song, not solely on a mistake. Preparing for the song was a significant challenge, involving a month of intensive rehearsal in Hong Kong to master the lengthy lyrics, Cantonese pronunciation, and emotional nuances.

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She believes a singer should never be judged solely on a mistake, but rather on how they recover from it and complete the song.

Judges had previously noted Cho seemed less comfortable performing in Cantonese compared to Mandarin or English. When asked why she didn't choose a more familiar language, Cho explained that contestants have limited song choices due to a ranking-based selection system. By the time her turn came, most available songs were in Cantonese, and "Easily Hurt Woman" was one she was already familiar with, making it the most practical choice.

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At the beginning, I honestly had no idea how I was going to memorise all the lyrics. I wasn’t just learning the song itself, I was also learning the language, the pronunciation, and the emotional world behind the song.