A Couple of Singers

I don't watch television, I don't even have one in my bedroom. I did; but, I never plugged it in for a couple of years. Because I don't watch television I miss out on somethings. A few days ago I was listening to some YouTube videos from the talent shows and came across two little ladies who I did not even know existed.

My mother listened to all kinds of music, even marching bands. I grew up listening to opera, jazz (my personal favorite), rock of all types and just about anything else you can imagine. While I really appreciate that talent it takes to sing opera, it is not favorite type of music. I did have a favorite, a very wonderful singer and actress named Deanna Durbin. Most of my readers have probably never heard of her, she was a star in her teens and left Hollywood to live a life of privacy outside of Paris, she was married to the same man for 48 years until he died.

YouTube - Deanna Durbin - Amapola. I believe she was 17 when she made this.

Well, I have just found out about another amazing young opera singer, Jackie Evancho. Wow, at 10 she apparently took over the world and is now in a movie with Robert Redford. The movie is called "The Company You Keep".

Back to Miss Evancho, I cannot seem to get enough of her voice and am glad to see that she may be treated better by the industry than Miss Durbin was. While watching videos of her singing I have come to believe she is in good hands, her family seems very tight and her mentor is the same person that discovered Celine Dion and knows the business back and forth. I don't think he would ever let this business mess her up, I pray I am right. Here is one of my new favorite songs, well, it has always been one of my favorites but I love her version.

YouTube - A Time For Us - Jackie Evancho. My dear readers, I will never monetize this site and refuse to have any advertisements or make commercial endorcements and this girl sure doesn't need any help from me; but, I strongly suggest you listen to her and I am going to go out and buy every one of her CDs. When I get my tax returns, I pay off debts and always try and get something for me, usually art. I have already put down a deposit on a painting and these CDs will be my other treat.

The second young lady I have just heard is a little different, she sings the type of music that I love, soulful. Miss Carly Rose Sonenclar. Now I know many know about these two from television, so I am a bit behind; but, I will catch up. Miss Sonenclar is a different type of young lady, I can see it in her eyes, this young girl is dangerous. I worked the stage for decades and when I retire I am seriously considering volunteering as a stage hand at local theaters. Miss Sonenclar is part of the reason. She is a true stage creature and knows exactly what she is doing, everything is planned and done to perfection. I am going to play two songs by her, the first is just to enjoy and the second is to explain.

YouTube - Meet Carly Rose Sonenclar - THE X FACTOR USA 2012

Many watched her and she will go far. Miss Sonenclar owned the judges on the X-Factor at her audition; but, it is important to remember that she had already been on Broadway, I am sure she has done more auditions than we could count and she knows how to win them. The second video is of her singing side by side with another young lady so that the judges could decide which kids moved forward in the talent show.

YouTube - Boot Camp 2: Carly Rose Sonenclar vs. Beatrice Miller - THE X FACTOR USA 2012

The video begins with Miss Beatrice Miller, a very sweet and talented young lady. As Miss Miller sings, watch Carly, she is calculating how to eviscerate the young girl. At 33 seconds into the video, watch Miss Sonenclar size up her competition and she start planning how to upstage her. As Miss Miller finishes her turn, Miss Sonenclar starts using some old stage tricks. Firstly, she jumps the song, doesn't leave a gap and switches the rhythm. It is a subtle move, the purpose is to get the judges to forget everything they just heard and focus on her. It is a good move and I am familiar with it. After that she proceeds to use more of the stage than her competition did and go for notes that the other could not.

Both Miss Sonenclar and Miss Evancho are going to be around for a long time. Miss Evancho has already put out four albums and has traveled the world, she could be the opera singer of our lifetime and it is completely natural for her, she was born that way. Miss Sonenclar could be one of our best Broadway stars and I am less worried about someone taking advantage of her, she is too crafty for that; but, I hope she gets the best people around her to make sure.

I am going to leave you with one last person, she was on Canada's Got Talent and was very young, she is maturing in amazing manner.

YouTube - Ave Maria - Faryl Smith

One last story, I actually plan to post again tonight about somethings going on in the world; but, I wanted to post this first. Anyways, when I was in college, I knew a young lady that was going to the New England Conservatory of Music and we were on the bus one day riding home in the rain and she serenaded me with some opera. It was an amazing moment and she went on to perform in the opera. If you have never seen the opera in person, do it. Everyone should hear those voices at least once in person.

UPDATE - One more thing, just in case you think I only young female singers, you would be wrong. Here is woman that you probably have never heard of, she was on "Britain's Got Talent" at 80. Okay, I also really like English Variety musicians, so did Paul McCartney so there. Each style of music has it's style and she exemplifies that style. I like it and most Americans would probably not. Enjoy. YouTube - Janey Cutler - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 4

UPDATE 2 - It occurred to me that some of my readers may watch more television than me and may have missed some incredible talent from around the world. Here is two more singers from Britain's Got Talent that I really love, and, it is more opera.

YouTube - Jonathan & Charlotte - The Prayer IN FULL (Britain's Got Talent Final 2012).

For something that is not opera, here is a guy from Australia that plays bluegrass and insults the judges of Australia's Got Talent. YouTube - Owen Campbell - Angry Busker - Australia's Got Talent 2012 audition 3 [FULL]. Just so you know, he got a second chance and is big seller down under.

LAST UPDATE - Of all these singers and the others that I listen to, I have to say the song I am listening to the most is Miss Carly Rose Sonenclar, this is the song. YouTube - Carly Rose Sonenclar - Rolling In The Deep - X Factor USA (Top 8). I will buy her album the second it comes out. While Miss Evancho is probably one of the most naturally gifted singers I will ever hear in my life, Miss Sonenclar is soulful and theatrical and that is where my love has always been, put on the show and do whatever it takes. Here is the heart of the difference between the two, when singing, Miss Evancho is only thinking about how she sounds, she is making sure she is singing perfectly. Miss Sonenclar is focused on the audience response and adjusting as she goes. One is seeking the perfect note and the other is seeking the perfect response.