Close Up Music Award 2004 

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Close up with Visith, the next big thing

Panyasith Thammavongsa

FANS have been told to look out for the next big thing in Lao music after a country boy from Savannakhet province beat a line-up of young hopefuls in Vientiane to win the Close Up Music Award 2004.

Mr Visith Keokitikhoun won the award with a stunning voice and a good stage act during his performance at the contest finals on Wednesday night at the National Culture Hall.

"I was up against some very good singers and I did not have much hope," Visith told reporters with clouds in his eyes. "But that did not take away my confidence."

Visith, 19, was born in Savannakhet province and is now studying at the National University of Laos. He said he liked singing when he was a child, even though people usually told him not to give up his day job.

He was selected from about 190 young hopefuls and competed with the top 20 and then the top 10 contestants in the final rounds.
"Most important for the song contest was voice, followed by stage act," said Miss Kay Si, one of the five judges at the contest. "I selected Mr Visith because he has a very good voice and an extremely wide vocal range."
Ms Kay Si, who is also a famous Lao singer, told the Vientiane Times that every one of the ten contestants in the final round were very confident and it was not easy to select a winner. In the end, the crowd favourite won the night.

She urged the other young singers to keep trying because they all had good voices but little experience on stage.
Ms Vilayvanh Saysanavongphet, another judge of the Close Music Award 2004 said it was the second year the contest had been held. "We selected a pop song because most of the contestants who applied to our contest were pop singers," she said. "Last year we selected both pop and folk songs."

The winner received 3 million kip with a trophy and was awarded with his own debut CD album to be produced by the composers and producer of the songs of famous acts like Over Dance and the Cells. The second and third place singers, Mr Sisouvanh Phetsiliseng and Mr Bounyadath Xaysongkham, received 2 million and 1 million kip respectively.
The Close Up Music Award 2004 is organised by the Mekong Orchid Company, the marketing firm for Unilever Thai Trading, which aims to provide young and aspiring Lao youth with an opportunity to show their talents and the chance to become popstars.