Fridae

"My lips are big, but my talent is bigger."
- Fantasia Barrino

Ms Scary has always harboured the not-so-secret desire to be both Singapore Idol and a famous porn star with a moniker like Chi Chi LaRue. So it is perfectly understandable why she feels an affinity for the American Idol named "Fantasia" and her sausage-like lips perfect for sucking coconuts dry.

In fact, when Ms Scary first laid eyes on Ms Barrino during the American Idol 3 series, she instantly knew that the single mother would go far with her husky elastic vocals (a cross between Macy Gray and an early Patti LaBelle) and her signature dance ("The Bobo") which made her appear as if she was a devotee running over hot coals at Thaipusam.

Not contented with being the only American Idol champion who won with an unprecedented 65 million votes, the brassy 20-year-old further distinguishes herself from Idol predecessors (mainly cookie-cutter chanteuse Kelly Clarkson, heart-attack waiting to happen Ruben Studdard and asexual screaming celery Clay Aiken) by releasing a first album that actually retains and showcases her brassy identity along with her unique singing style.

Featuring 13 tracks produced by the legendary Clive Davis and boasting contributions from marquee names such as Missy Elliot, Rodney Jerkins and Jermaine Dupri, Free Yourself is an impressive debut with its sweet blend of R & B, hip-hop, gospel soul and Billboard friendly pop.

Despite a couple of run-of-the-mill you-did-me-wrong type ballads ("Free Yourself" and "This Is Me") and so-nondescript-I-can't-even-remember R & B offerings ("Ain't Gon' Beg You" and "Truth Is"), there's no denying Tasia's (as her family calls her) talent as her voice literally smokes and burns in Free Yourself.

In Ms Scary's opinion, the standout tracks include the Hindi-tinged rump-shaker "Selfish (I Want U 2 Myself)" (Ms Scary's favourite!); a searing rendition of "Summertime;" the single motherhood anthem "Baby Mama;" the Jazze Pha funk-filled duet "Don't Act Right;" the soul-infused version of Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind;" and of course, her first single "I Believe" which currently holds the honour of being the best selling single for 2004 in the US.

So while the music fans worldwide get better acquainted with the reigning American Idol, Ms Scary is going to head on down to the nearest cosmetics counter to moisten her lips with the new tinted M.A.C. lip glosses launched in honour of Ms Barrino - aptly named Fantabulous 1 (a "smoldering copper") and Fantabulous 2 (a "full-on reddened bronze").

Time to prick up your ears and pucker up your lips boys and girls!