On June 13th, Macleans College’s second day of the Talent Quest Prelims picked up right where Day One left off. The energy, excitement, and hype were still running high as four talented bands made their dazzling debut on the Talent Quest stage, once again proving just how much talent Macleans has to offer.On June 13th, Macleans College’s second day of the Talent Quest Prelims picked up right where Day One left off. The energy, excitement, and hype were still running high as four talented bands made their dazzling debut on the Talent Quest stage, once again proving just how much talent Macleans has to offer.
For the first act, we are greeted by the band Walkie Talkie Noggin. The band presented the crowd with the song Creep by Radiohead. The mood shifted instantly as the first chord was stringed, and as the instruments set the beautiful tension of the song, the singer gracefully complemented the music with her iconic vocal, uncovering the raw energy of the song. While the lyrics say, “But I’m a creep, I’m a weirdo, what the hell am I doing’ here? I don’t belong here,” the truth is, this band absolutely did belong there. They owned the stage, and the crowd knew it.
Next up was the band FCON, who took a softer, but no less impressive turn with their cover of Payphone by Maroon 5. Their performance evoked a wave of nostalgia that swept through the crowd. The instrumentals gave new life to the lyric “If happy ever afters did exist,” while the vocalists delivered it with emotion and sincerity. Suddenly, half the audience looked like they were reliving their 2012 heartbreaks.
The next band came quite literally sprinkled with magic. Soul Fairies took the stage dressed in fairy wings and playful headbands, instantly charming the audience before they even played a note. Performing the song Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House, the soft instrumentals and angelic vocals manage to transport the audience to another dimension. The crowd definitely hoped the dream won’t be over, because the vibes were far too good to wake up from.
Wrapping up Day 2 with style, Sensational Six once again blessed the school with their performance. They coloured the stage blue—literally—with matching blue hair, blue accessories, and, of course, their song choice: Blue by Yung Kai. The group fully embraced the mood both visually and musically, delivering wistful instrumentals and dreamy vocals that transported the audience under moonlit skies and into perfect summer waves. They truly lived up to the lyrics of the song, making the crowd feel like they were falling in love.
Day 2 successfully wrapped up Preliminary round Talent Quest 2025 with just as much talent, energy, and heart as the first. From ethereal vocals to skillful instrumental, the acts were as diverse as they were unforgettable, each one a reflection of the hours of practice and teamwork behind the scenes. Daniel Yuan, keyboardist for Soul Fairies, reflected on the experience, saying, “The band really came together nicely, and it was a great time practicing and meeting up with my friends.” It’s clear that for many performers, Talent Quest wasn’t just about the stage, it was about the memories made along the way.
Congratulations to all the incredible performers who gave it their all, and best of luck to everyone hoping to make it through to the finals!
Thursday 26 June
Written by Jocosa Lin Edited by Emma Li, Chiron Yung, Bianca Hun
Photography by Cici Huang, Youci Zhou
