Celeb crushin’: Olivia Ong
It’s time once again to swoon over our star hottie pick of the week
If you’ve ever visited one of those newfangled hipster cafes in Singapore (and we know you have) you’re likely to hear Olivia Ong’s ethereal voice croon jazz standards while you sip on your artisanal cold-brewed coffee.
The prolific local songstress released her debut album, A Girl Meets Bossanova, in 2005 at the age of 19, and since then she has gone on to record 10 studio albums, the last one released in 2013. She’s busy writing new material for her next album, a collection of bossa nova tunes in English and Chinese, out this year.
And besides putting in time at the recording studio, Olivia has tried her hand at acting, and played a photographer in 2011 local movie It’s a Great, Great World for her first role.
The singer turned 30 earlier this month and she’ll make her television debut in Channel 8’s new drama series Crescendo — that’s twice the reason to celebrate this week’s celeb crush.
Photos: Channel 8
Dat voice
Her soothing, soulful voice features on the theme songs for some of the biggest local drama series of recent times, including The Little Nyonya’s “Ru Yan” (which won Best Theme Song at the 2009 Star Awards) and The Journey: Our Homeland’s “Home of Our Dreams.”
Judging by this trend, the new production Crescendo will likely be a smash hit too: Olivia sings its opening theme, “Dreams Take Flight.”
Crescendo premieres on October 23, 9 pm on Channel 8; it will be available on Toggle-It-First from October 16.
Click here for more details on Crescendo.
Photo: Channel 8
Related stories:
Dawn Yeoh: Crescendo offers an insider view of showbiz
VIDEO: 'Crescendo' Press Conference reveals the 3 noisy men
VIDEO: ‘Crescendo’ Sailing trip!
VIDEO: Tay Ping Hui: How do you know I’m not a dad?
She did Singapore proud with her appearances on foreign television programmes
Olivia charmed audiences with her live performances on Taiwan’s Here Comes Kangxi and three seasons of One Million Star. She sang Mandarin classics and English pop and R&B hits, including Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move,” “Bleeding Love” by Leona Lewis and “Just Like Your Tenderness” by Tsai Chin, leading One Million Star host Matilda Tao to dub her “the gentle killer.”
Photos: YouTube
This is her country, this is her flag
Having lived in Japan and Taiwan for 10 years did nothing to dilute her dedication to her native Singapore. Olivia posted a heartfelt message on Instagram after learning about the passing of Lee Kuan Yew, and she also talked about how she relied on the Internet to watch the late leader’s videos and learn about his contributions.
"I realised that he is actually a very passionate and out-of-a-box thinker,” she once said. “He really did his best for Singapore and to me, looking around, Singapore is Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Kuan Yew is Singapore."
Photo: Olivia Ong (@oliviaong_owlivia) via Instagram
Related stories:
VIDEO: Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew
Sharon Au feels “really lucky” to play Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
VIDEO: Lim Kay Tong does not fully agree with some of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew's political decisions
She doesn’t shy away from challenging her limits
The introvert stepped out of her comfort zone to take a stab at acting in 2011, and with her television debut in Crescendo airing from October 23, it looks like Olivia might be getting the hang of it.
The prospect of turning 30 might have had something to do with her becoming more adventurous in exploring opportunities in other arenas. “I do feel a sense of urgency — like there’s not enough time to do things,” she once said. “It’s about making sure I am making full use of time.”
Crescendo premieres on October 23, 9 pm on Channel 8; it will be available on Toggle-It-First from October 16.
Click here for more details on Crescendo.
Photos: Channel 8
Related stories:
Dawn Yeoh: Crescendo offers an insider view of showbiz
VIDEO: 'Crescendo' Press Conference reveals the 3 noisy men
VIDEO: ‘Crescendo’ Sailing trip!
VIDEO: Tay Ping Hui: How do you know I’m not a dad?
She’s a good sport
Olivia does goof off now and then, even though she has said she’s not perfectly at ease posing for the camera. And we adore how subtly quirky she is when she does let her personality shine through.
Photos: Olivia Ong (@oliviaong_owlivia) via Instagram
We wish we looked as good with make-up on as she does without
Enough said.
Photos: Olivia Ong (@oliviaong_owlivia) via Instagram
She’s a regular lass
Olivia’s still pretty down-to-earth despite 10 studio albums released and her new acting roles. Frozen yogurt, pizza, kimchi ra-myeon — don’t we all have that in common?
Photos: Olivia Ong (@oliviaong_owlivia) via Instagram
Shopping
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