11 Year Old Hits it OUT OF THE PARK with 'And I'm Telling You" from Dreamgirls- Page 3

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 11:58am

That was awsome. For an 11 year old to do that, wow just wow.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 12:10pm

I was most impressed with the fact that she was not a bit nervous. I don't think she was imitating Jennifer Holiday. She put he own little spin on the song. I wasn't "blown away", but God knows, I couldn't sing the song anywhere near as good as she did!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 1:18pm

Twelvy - amen to the Whitney opinion.

Posted: 7/6/06 at 3:44pm

Sorry, alittle behind but... DAMN! that girl, I was near tears. She's amazing. I loved that she wasnt afraid and so powerful. Brandy was so entranced by her. God bless that girl.

For those who havent seen it you have to go to the link below and go down alittle.

Bianca Ryan Updated On: 7/6/06 at 03:44 PM

[WSS2]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 7:20pm

I agree with 12bars and Tutle. This child, in her current state, is heading for nodes.

This is not a song for an 11 yr old to sing. Not only for the content, but because of the vocal dynamics. Hell..it was a strain on Holiday's voice!

Without proper training, she's gonna be taken in by some producer who's gonna make her the 11 yr old belter. Problem is her voice won't make it to 12.

[immortalbroadwayLA]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 7:31pm

I'm profoundly amazed by some of the people on this website who see fit to criticize pretty phenomenal talent in an 11 year old. I'm blown away by the fact that you can't see past an 11 year old emulating another brilliant singer. The girl has a lot of growing and maturing to do. Those who have criticized her speak as if an 11 years old should be self-actualized as opposed to trained and mentored. Damn..some of you people are jaded!!!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 7:52pm

^Agreed.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 7:56pm

"Those who have criticized her speak as if an 11 years old should be self-actualized as opposed to trained and mentored."

Actually, if you read our posts, you will see that training and mentoring are exactly what we're advocating here.

[theaterlover45]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 8:53pm

Well if you're one of the ones who were not impressed with her after she sang that song, then wait for her next performance and see if your mind changes.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 8:55pm

I'm sure her technique isn't going to change in the time span of a week. It's a process. I do hope she's beginning to get some training and guidance from a skilled teacher.

[meggsison]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 9:31pm

She has some voice, I'll tell you that much.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 9:34pm

Yes, Rath, but at the same time, I find it hard to believe you weren't at all impressed JUST because her technique isn't perfect. How many 11 year olds do YOU know that can pull that off?
Updated On: 7/6/06 at 09:34 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 9:35pm

Over the years, I've seen many like her on TV and onstage.

If I knew someone like her personally, I would give her the same advice - take that voice to a skilled teacher. Preserve it.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 10:11pm

Stop creating your own arguments folks.

Nobody said she was NOT talented.

People have said that she is in danger of ruining her voice. People have said she is not mature enough to know what the context of the song is. Period.

If anything, you are finding an out pouring of CONCERN for this child. To continue on this path of unhealthy singing is dangerous. She has a voice. Will it be there in a few years is the real question.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 10:32pm

She is sooooooo great Very talented.

I was blown away when I saw her.

But yes- she needs guidence and the right teacher to keep her on the right path.

Updated On: 7/6/06 at 10:32 PM

[DurtyCurty]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 10:52pm

I loved her performance. I can't jump to any conclusions about her future. I mean I've only seen her perform for a minute and a half. I have no idea of the time and preperation and sacrifice she had made to get to that point (if any). I think it ridiculus to say whether it was "art" or part of the fall of American music. All I know is the combination of her voice, age, the music and the audience reaction had a cathartic reaction from me. No matter what happens to her she has this moment where she had the love of thousands of people on her side, which is something not everyone is able to get.

[Peter]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 11:20pm

On the flip side of the coin of the American Idolesque singers who dont "feel" the songs, are the over-actors and over-the-top singers who fill up their songs with any manner of arm swailing, body flailing motions to sell them. And they try sooo hard to pack emotion into every word sung..too much of this comes across to me as just forced and fake. Many here eat this kind of thing up, whereas too many times I see someone just putting on another phony performance. Did anyone catch Liza on the 4th?? Now even for her, that was over-the-top and for a while there I was thinking killer bees were on the attack.

Updated On: 7/7/06 at 11:20 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 10:37am

I wasn't impressed because her performance was "soulless." There was no feeling in it at all. It was a total calculation, and is typical of this Idolized approach to singing, regardless of age. It's all "vocal gymnastics" and phony theatrics. Stunt singing. Mimicry. And while it's CUTE... as "singing," it's boring as hell to me.

Is she going to grow as an interpreter of song in a week? Or is she going to mimic something else on autopilot? She needs a solid mentor (voice teacher, and coach) to find out if she can begin to UNDERSTAND the song she's performing, instead of just showing off with it. That's the difference between a SINGER and someone parading around with a good vocal instrument. In other words, I don't care if she has a Stradivarius in her voice box, if she hasn't learned how to play it yet, it's not much more than saying, "Look what I got!"

She probably won't find her mentor, because most people don't care if she can interpret a song emotionally or not. They only care about the "big sound" and the riffs, and she could be singing the phone book and it wouldn't matter. That's the part that disgusts me. Not this gifted child, or her potential as a singer. But the audience's "religious" and over-the-top reaction to such a "disconnected" performance. The vocal "tricks" are all they seem to want, and that's very depressing to me.

This child has a shot at becoming an incredible singer, but she's NOT THERE YET. Not by a long shot.

...And yes, she's wrecking her voice singing that way. It's thrown deep into the back of her throat (ala Dudley Do-Right) to get that "big Aguilera" sound. Completely manufactured.

But that's what many people want and expect, I guess. I'm sure as hell not one of them.

Updated On: 7/7/06 at 10:37 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 11:11am

best12, I couldn't have said it better myself. I completely agree.

It reminds me of Charlotte Church (but with a different sound). Frankly, I never warmed to her. By the way, where is she anyway?

[QOM]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 11:22am

I just read this entire thread and then watched the clip (having never head of this girl before now).

The first thought that came into my head:

MANUFACTURED

[fairygodmother]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 6:33pm

my first reaction was terror...scariest effing thing i've seen for a long time. puts in mind of those ads for children's clothes that make the kids look like baby prostitutes!

let me start by saying that I am NOT saying that the kid can't sing - she's got a great instrument, obvious musicality and a lot of confidence. I would cry with happiness if a kid like that came to sing with me - it would make a change from all of the tone deaf shouters who come my way. Its just - why? who's said that THAT was a good idea? who's pushed her to sound like that? or not stopped her from imitating someone the polar opposite of herself - a 40 year old black gospel momma.

i mean, i'll put myself forward and hand on heart say that i've been guilty of trying to pretend i can wail like a diva, and god i'd love to be able to belt like that girl can, but I just don't understand the obsession of very young kids to want to sound so unlike themselves.

its not that i'm saying a white kid can't have a gospel feel, but its the imitation of someone to the point where your performance makes no sense. the amount of kids who think they are singing just like alicia keys when all they've done is take away all the consanants and fiddled about until you can't hear a. a note or b. a word that makes sense.
she's even doing holliday's random "huh huh" which barely made sense when she did it!

plus the song. don't get me started on the song. so wrong for a kid, even of 15 or something.(although wasn't holliday stupidly young when she first did it?)

a lot of people have said "no heart, no soul, no feeling" and its because its coached to death, in the same way that a stage mum will stand at the side of the stage and do all the handy little sign-language actions in sync as their over made-up moppet belts out "toMOrrow...toMOrrow".


"sing out, Louise......."

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 7:13pm

She has INCREDIBLE pipes. But I think she needs a new vocal coach. Diction was questionable. Potential harmful things going on there. Like the guy said to Pavarotti.." Dont let anyone mess with that instrument!"

[Popular]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 7:23pm

I thought this thread was going to die but I see that it's not... so I'll just keep shaking my head and laughing at how you all think you know everything about her from a 2 minute clip.

Get a new vocal coach? How do you know she even has one. Go ahead and keep assuming things, it's quite humorous to read.

It's too bad they are redoing her website right now, otherwise you guys would have more audio clips to prey upon.

SHE IS ELEVEN!!! She has an AMAZING natural gift and an even more amazing support group and family that will do their best to steer her in the right direction now that she's gotten a little publicity (did any of you catch her on BEST OF... on VH1?) You should put all your worries about her future at ease.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 7:34pm

Popular...are you a voice teacher? Have you studied years of vocal ped?

Anyone who has extensive training in voice and vocal care can tell you JUST BY LISTENING that this kid is headed twords danger. Do you realize how fragile a voice is? Do you realize how many past kid belters now can't sing cause they blew their voice out night after night?

An amazing set of pipes is one thing. Using an amazing set of pipes is a different and much more important thing.

And what does this do? it only encourages other 11 yr olds to sing in their front rooms just like her and belt away without any training. And then..they get the opportunity to blow their voices out as well. What a swell party!

It's great that people love and support her and want to see her continue to blow her voice out just for their personal enjoyment.

But where are you, her fans, gonna be in three years when she can't sing? Has nodes?

Exactly.

Updated On: 7/8/06 at 07:34 PM

[Popular]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 7:43pm

I'm not a vocal coach. I'm not even saying that you are incorrect in thinking that she's not singing in the healthiest way because, you're right, what do I know?

What I AM saying is that she's very young and that she's only very recently discovered that she has a voice. She's in a transitional time where she has decided to do something with it (get training, preserve, promote herself...whatever)

I think we all agree at the very least about her potential.

I'm done discussing this.