Pop star wannabes on a Far Eastern version of Pop Idol have been getting tips on how to avoid mangling English lyrics – though their pronunciation of the words may well have a tinge of East Midlands about it.
Leicestershire musician Michael Bones has been coaching contestants in the latest series of Vietnam Idol, after being called in to help them master English for an edition of the show with a "World Songs" theme.
The 21-year-old, from Market Harborough, teaches English in a college in Ho Chi Minh City, in the south of the country.
He was invited to help out on the show when representatives of the programme visited the college.
"Their version is a lot more friendly than Pop Idol here," said Michael. "The judges are more gentle – it reflects the characteristics of the people.
"Like all Vietnamese, the contestants were very kind and appreciative of my help.
"I spent two weeks on the programme and I was given VIP tickets to the live show and thanked live on air, which was a great feeling.
"They were all fantastic performers and I will be watching the remaining weeks of the competition closely."
Vietnam Idol is in its fourth season and is one of the country's most popular programmes.
"I took the contestants – some of whom did not have any grasp of English at all – and showed them how to pronounce the lyrics," said Michael.
The songs they worked on included Hello, by Lionel Ritchie, Unchained Melody, by the Righteous Brothers, and The Climb, by Miley Cyrus.
He said he also helped the contestants with their singing technique so they could emphasise the words properly and hit the right notes.
Michael's work with contestants was filmed and shown in the finished programme.
He picked up his love of music while at Robert Smyth School, in Market Harborough, where he was in a jazz band. He also played brass in Harborough Band.
"I used to work for Travelsphere, in Market Harborough, and I always wanted to go abroad. A contact said there was a job going in a language college in Vietnam," said Michael.
"I have been here for 10 months and I love it working at the Apollo English School."
Michael's involvement with Vietnam Idol has led to offers of other work in the past couple of weeks.
"Since I appeared on Vietnam Idol, I have also been contacted to do voice-overs for television," he said. "It's all very exciting."
