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Brookie L. Crawford
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Member Since: 3/2007Last Seen: 9/07/2009
Member Since: 3/2007Last Seen: 9/07/2009
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PrintUntapped Talent or Experienced Professional: A Closer Look at the 'American Idol' Top 12 Women
News Type: Other — Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:26 AM EST
Kristy had a deal with RCA, but released this album under the Red-Hen Records label.
Carly had a six-record deal with MCA, but only produced one album before she was dropped.
Brooke release her debut album under an independent label.
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American Idol has promised one of the most talented groups for its Season 7 Top 24. But has Idol found an untapped resource of talent or has this cast had plenty of time to hone their abilities?
If it seems like the women in the Season 7 Top 12 look pretty comfortable singing on stage, it's because they've got plenty of experience.
Three of these ladies have been contestants in singing competitions before. At least four of them have already released an album. And two have successful modeling careers, although a couple of the others have dabbled in it.
Only two – Ramiele Maluby and Asia'h Epperson – appear to be untapped sources of talent. And Amanda Overmyer's experience is limited to playing with local bands.
I already gave you a peek at the Top 12 men and their experience. Here's a little closer look at the experience of the Top 12 women.
Joanne Borgella
Named Miss PHAT on the first season of Mon'Nique's FAT Chance, Joanna went on to become a plus size model. Her credits include Plus Magazine Cover Model in 2007 and a spread in Essence Magazine. I didn't find any examples of prior singing experience though.
Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy was signed by RCA when she was just a teen but at 17 she was dropped when the label put plans for young acts on hold. Then in 2005, under the name Kristy Lee, she released her first album, "Devoted," with Red-Hen Records. In addition to opening for Gary Allan and Neal McCoy, Kristy has done commercials for Sprite and Pier 1.
Amy Davis
In 2007, this model made it to the second round of Nashville Star. Although she has no record deals, Amy has logged in some serious band time singing with 6th Element, a cover band in Northwest Indiana. She also recently started the Amy Davis Trio, an acoustic band and sings backup for the Pink Floyd tribute band, Echoes of Pompeii.
Asia'h Epperson
Asia'h might be cutting her singing chops on Idol. I could not find anything to indicate she had some past singing or performing experience. But if her ability to audition right after losing her dad is any indication, she's got courage.
Alexandrea Lushington
Alex got her start, under the name Miz Alex, as an Apollo Kid on Showtime at the Apollo at the tender age of seven. According to her bio, she's now considered an Apollo Legend. It also says she's performed on BET's 106 & Park and Star Search, but I couldn't find any video of either performance. Alex has received vocal training from the famed Robin Brown, who has worked with such artists as Usher.
Kady Malloy
A couple of years ago Kady came out with her self-titled debut album produced by Nick Trevisick, the same man that brought you Mandy Moore. However, the album is nowhere to be found now. Other than the album, I've found little else on the 18-year-old Houston native who does impersonations.
Ramiele Malubay
This Filipino-American, a heritage she's proud of, started singing when she was 12 and has a voice coach. This little girl with the big voice seems to be an undiscovered talent with no professional past.
Syesha Mercado
Idol is not Syesha's first foray into a reality-based singing competition. She was a contestant on ABC's The One: Making a Music Star in 2006. But since the show was canceled before it really got started we have no idea how far she would have gone.
Amanda Overmyer
This Harley-riding nurse's expertise is limited to singing with several local rock bands to include Steeleto. Amanda has recently recovered from an automobile accident she had just before Hollywood week.
Carly Smithson
Carly has already hit and fallen from the big time. In 1999, Carly signed a six-album deal with MCA that included an advance and monthly living expenses. But when her first album, "Ultimate High," debuted in 2002 and only sold 379 copies she was dropped.
Alaina Whitaker
Winning Reasor's Rising Star competition paved the way for Alaina to compete on American Idol literally – the prize was an all expense paid trip to the audition.
But competition is nothing new. Together with her sister Brittney, Alaina has been performing locally at everything from the Pecan Festival to an Oilers game. Recently the duo won "My Big Break." She's won a handful of competitions herself.
Brooke White
Brooke is another contestant with an album already under her belt. She released her debut album "Songs from the Attic," in 2005 on the New Millennium Records Group label.
It'll be interesting to see how these newbies stand up against those with all this professional experience.
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{"commentId":1473490,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
What do you think -- do these ladies with such extensive professional experience have an unfair advantage over the others?
{"commentId":1473490,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:28 AM EST{"commentId":1474246,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Yes they do but it's not called Amateur American Idol. I like the idea raised in my Idol piece about making some of these people write their own material - that's a better test of whether they have star power unless they are going to just sing covers forever. Oh and another day, another MSNBC link.
{"commentId":1474246,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1474269,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1474488,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
But let's face it everyone that can sing well can't necessarily write.
True and that should be a problem, a strike against them, because if they truly want to move on and be a star at some point they'll have to be able to write their own material.
Otherwise isn't American Idol just one big karaoke contest?
{"commentId":1474488,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1474865,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1474907,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1476635,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
It's a bit like a karoke contest meets talent show plus (due to voting) a beauty pageant.
Lots of musicians sometimes get help with songwriters but I think it's rare for an entire cd to be written by someone else. Alanis and Sheryl Crow both had lots of help with their songwriting which was intersting to me in that their songs were believed by some to be so personal and touching when it might not even be their wrords. But they are the exceptions.
{"commentId":1476635,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1478722,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1501157,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
That's one reason I couldn't get into Sheryl Crow. When people were talking about how her debut album showed how creative and wonderful she was lyrically and then I'd read that most of the songs were written by others I'd say, now wait a minute, you can't have it both ways.
{"commentId":1501157,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1501236,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1474941,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
Well the news of Carly's past record deal is starting to surface across the net. Here's an article calling it a "secret past."
I really wouldn't call it a secret past. It was pretty easy to find. But it does raise the question? Should Carly past singing career make her ineligible for idol?
{"commentId":1474941,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"vacelts"}
- 2 votes
#2 - Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:34 PM EST{"commentId":1477074,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Should Carly past singing career make her ineligible for idol?
Yes. Seems like she already had her chance.
{"commentId":1477074,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1478717,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1483729,"authorDomain":"bicker"}
No, of course not. The rules are very clear. If Idol was INTENDED for singers who have never had any professional experience then the rules would prohibit professional experience. They don't. They are so explicit about what is and is not permitted that they clearly intend to allow folks who have had such background to compete.
Carly hasn't had her chance yet. Until she receives the top-shelf attention of a major label's promotion of her album release, she hasn't had her chance.
{"commentId":1483729,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"bicker"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1484079,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1484167,"authorDomain":"bicker"}
No, not top-shelf attention. An album that sells only 379 copies is an album that a record company didn't do any promotion for.
{"commentId":1484167,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"bicker"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1484257,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1478744,"authorDomain":"O-K"}
Good report. I may have to watch the show next time.
{"commentId":1478744,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"O-K"}
- 2 votes
#3 - Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:59 PM EST{"commentId":1480415,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1483186,"authorDomain":"mscoultas"}
Lest we all forget..
1st) American idol is a popularity contest more than it is a talent contest. The person with the least votes always goes home. So, for example when Sanjaya recieved more votes than Chris Sligh, he stayed. If it was a pure talent contest, than judges would send someone home, not the public. 2nd) There are no rules about every contestant being an amatuer. As long as you do not have a current record deal, you have as much chance as anyone else. 3rd) The owners of A.I. didn't "seed" the final 24 with professionals to give them a second chance. For example, Carly's first record company spent millions promoting her and still her album failed. No record company in their right mind would throw more money at a failed artist. 4th) Just because you or I think the right person got in or didn't get in, there are hundreds of thousands of people who think just the opposite. Case in point? The singing challenged who flock to audtions every year, truly believing that they should be on the show. They think they are talented and many times, firneds and family have reinforced their delusions because they also cannot recognize true talent. Last year, Sanjaya stayed around after Chris Sligh got voted off had nothing to do with talent, just popularity. Sanjaya had a stronger voter base than Chris.
{"commentId":1483186,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"mscoultas"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:25 PM EST{"commentId":1483235,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1485565,"authorDomain":"bicker"}
The music industry, overall, is a popularity contest. The objective is to find someone who can capture the attention of America, and become a new star. I would think that the only folks ineligible would be folks without talent or folks who already have been stars.
{"commentId":1485565,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"bicker"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1485686,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1485734,"authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
The question of having semi-pros try out has come up before therefore all auditioners know that they will be competing against people with more experience. Just as an actor prepares before trying out for a role, singers need to and should prepare accordingly, but considering that only 4 or 5 of the 24 have no previous experience, it seems that it is actually the amateurs who dropped the ball, not the show, which chose the best from what they were given. Lets assume half of the 100,000 people trying out have experience, to end with a 24 made of only 4-5 amateurs shows you who was prepared and who wasn't. They all had the same chances of making it to the 24, they all sang the same number of songs. But I will agree that simple math would tell you that the pros have an advantage, but not because of previous experience, the amateurs simply should have done a better job, considering they knew what they were up against. However, over all, the rules of chance are hinting towards a semi-pro taking the title.
{"commentId":1485734,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
- 1 vote
#5 - Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:41 AM EST{"commentId":1485767,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1487892,"authorDomain":"bicker"}
No, absolutely not. I would feel cheated if I was watching people who were any less talented than the most talent people not currently under contract. (That's probably why the rules are worded that way.)
{"commentId":1487892,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"bicker"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1488370,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1485827,"authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
Not necesarily, because as you said, most of their albums went nowhere, so they are tehnically still unknown to 98% of America. So sad that that one album only sold 379 copies, how many of those were friends and family, lol. I trust that the show chose they best out of what they were given, and that is exactly what they promised, to take 24 of the best singers they could find and let Ameria choose they person the want to be their American Idol. If the best happens to be people with some experience, then so be it. And if America does feel cheated, they only have to pick up the phone and vote off the people they feel don't deserve to be there. That is the beauty of this show, you can vote for whomever you want, for whatever reason you choose to do so. And being a proud Canadian, I have to bite my lip and admit that our Idol contest is a joke compared to AI.
{"commentId":1485827,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
- 1 vote
#6 - Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:11 AM EST{"commentId":1486082,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
{"commentId":1486198,"authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
There aren't many big differences, the show works much the same way. It's the feel of the show that leaves you with the sense that you are watching the little brother of a famous star trying to follow in footsteps much too big for him. The audition round is not nearly as entertaining, the judges, much less charismatic, the mere size of the stage exemplifying the little brother status. While the talent gets better from year to year, the contestants always seem to be the kids who you remember beating up on the playground, and don't exude the same star power that AI contestants do once you get to say, the top 12. Idol has imitations around the world, but none feel quite as much as an imitation as Canadian Idol. It gives the impression we are just trying too hard. However all of this is only my opinion, and may be somewhat uninformed, because I haven't watched since season one, when Malcolm something-or-other won. 'Nough said, lol.
{"commentId":1486198,"threadId":"220072","contentId":"1303426","authorDomain":"ashleymay100"}
- 1 vote
#7 - Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:43 AM EST{"commentId":1486302,"authorDomain":"vacelts"}
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