I'm Still In Love With Love

There are days like that, when you feel a romantic and aware and vulnerable. I allowed what is happening in the news to get to me. I just saw a video from a friend on youtube, titled "Will There Be Peace?", referring to the reignited conflict in the middle East. It got tears welled up my eyes, and it was all too real, so I stopped the clip halfway. Not necessarily in an attempt to run from the reality of what our fellow men are enduring over there, but as a self-preservation act.
There's an instinct, I think, to sometimes try to remain strong for each other, when we realize that other forms of defenses have failed. It's a strategy of the heart, which is rooted in love. - That's when I played Kelly Rowland's "Still In Love With My Ex" from her latest Simply Deep, and it confirmed that thought to me. Despite everything we are led to believe; and despite the wars, our history, and the past hurt, the feeling of love remains for those who have counted in our lives. Them, You, Me, Us. So hatred is really not a possibility, neither is divorce, nor war. They are all illusions. Because ultimately we were one. Married before got divorced. Still in love with our exes.

"Search in my mind, trying to figure it out
And thought I was happy but I'm having some doubts
Think I found the answer and I know I must confess
I'm still in love with my ex"

Kelly Rowland - Still In Love With My Ex

Lemar Wants His Girl To Know How Bad..

This is such a good song on one's admission of not being good enough...At least that's how I interpret it. The lyric goes very deep in showing how a man can feel not adequate, or at least not in tune, with the expected image a girl might have of him.

But in the end -and that's the real tragedy of the situation-, is that what is truly at cause is not him or her, but the lie standing in between them. Like an original sin; the unshakable stain; a truth that was left unspoken on the very first day it should have been laid out. It's really a breakdown in communication we can all experience in our lives in one way or the other, when one thinks this, but it's truly that. And always it's as pointless as it's sad. This song describes my mood this morning..


"She says I never listen and I'm not attentive to her emotions
I say she's got tunnel vision, only sees it her way,
so we never can work it out.
She's all ready to give up and move on, I don't think she knows,
how I wish sometimes she could read my mind."

Lemar - "If She Knew"

Lemar - If She Knew

"I'm On A Natural High"

What a great state would that be. No need for special drug, external stimulation or any other form of reassurance. Just be on the high that comes from existing, and living, and being. And loving one self, or another.

I'm having this song on my mind at the moment, it's by Vanessa Paradis and it's from her 1992 English debut which was produced by none other than Lenny Kravitz. It has her switching between the roles of pop ingenue and 70s newborn hippie. A state to comtemplate..

"All I give
Is all I got
And all I am
Ain't what I'm not
And I ain't gonna lie or beg
For your love
I'm on a natural high"

Vanessa Paradis - "Natural High"

I Love You, "Liberian Gurrrl"..

I have this song in my mind since watching the video yesterday. It's crazy the amount of celebs Michael Jackson was able to put together in one place, from Whoopi Goldberg to Spike Lee and Jasmine Guy. It's like the who's who of showbusiness in the 80s. And the funny thing is that MJ himself is missing in action till the very end! The real story here is that it's been so long since we've had these kind of purely melodic pop songs make a mark on the charts..I miss it!

"Liberian Girl
You Know That You Came
And You Changed My World,
Just Like In The Movies,
With Two Lovers In A Scene
And She Says,

"Do You Love Me"
And He Says So Endlessly
"I Love You, Liberian Girl"'

Michael Jackson - "Liberian Girl"

Zaho nominated at the Victoires de la Musique 2009

What a great surprise for R&B singer Zaho. She's just received a nomination at the Victoires de la Musique in France for her debut album. She's been a major discovery for the year of 2008 for me, with her music which blends hip-hop and Middle Eastern sounds. The result always manages to be very earthy and personal. Her CD tells her story as a woman who left Algeria to establish herself in Canada, and finds a way to reconcile the two ways of thinking from both cultures. There are some great lines in the title song from her album Dima which says (translated from French):

"You are my worst and you are my best
Our story grew with a bitter taste
I carry the weight of my mistakes
You here and me over there,

So far away, I don't forget you
Whereever I go, I see you
It's as if you were there
Right beside me
I got you under my skin and Dima
I think of you"

Dima


Kif'N'Dir

Leona Lewis May Interpret Mariah Carey On Stage

I just read the news that Leona Lewis may interpret Mariah Carey on stage, in a musical based on her life in 2009. What a brilliant idea this is. I cannot think of anyone who better can bring to life the amazing journey and wizardry artistry of Mariah than the lovely and equally talented Leona Lewis.

That girl is so special! She's truly the revelation of the last year in music for me, even though I've been familiar with her since 2006 when she was on X-Factor. Here's a recent performance of "Run" by her that makes me go 'wow'. It's really as if times stops whenever she sings.

Madonna - "4 Minutes" ft. Justin Timberlake (the video)

Here comes the video for Madonna's new song "4 Minutes", directed by French duo Jonas & Francois, and featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, which announces her R&B/Urban pop album Hard Candy out at the end of this month.

What can I say about the video is that it's horrid!

Yet, it's pure brillance at the same time.

The best part about it probably is that it manages to capture one's attention, without giving you too much. So at the end, you have to go back and replay it.

Also, it really brings out the urgency and sense of despair of the track...ie: The song is about saving the world in 4 minutes - yet what you get from the video is that everything has already been lost. -- Madonna and Justin might already be dead, without realizing it. They can no longer connect with each other, have to walk in parallel universes, and see each through mirrors...and when they embrace you witness that they are made of plastic flesh.

It's a rather cynical, ironic and chilly portrayal of "4 Minutes", and it leaves a powerful impression on the mind.

Surely, there are lots that is missing in the video - the imagery often seems vacant, the choreography uncoordinated, and even the wardrobe (which is always so spot on in Madonna's works) looks rather..mal-functioning *hehe*. But it precisely does work in my analysis of the video. Because it is about...nothingness. Pointlessness. Like their moving about cars, running in supermarket isles, or engaging in a frenetic dance in the breakdown. All pointless.

I think the most powerful and telling image to support this view comes at the very end, when Madonna gives a peck to partner in crime Justin, as Timbo pleads "save the world!". She has that smile on her face that sums it all up. It reminds me of the one she had in the "Bad Girl" video when the angel of death gave her a kiss before she got murdered by a lover. - It's a smile of both affront and resignement, when one accepts their fate..

..Or basically gets in the "joke".

Madonna, Justin and Timbeland have only 4 minutes to save the world

World Aids Day : Reflection.

Today is World's Aids Day, so I wanted to share a few songs that deals with this topic. This topic has always been a fascinating one for me to hear in song, because more so than others I think it allows the artists to deliver their intimate and personal views around sexuality, prejudice, exclusion, love, life, and death. I guess you could say singing about Aids allows the singer to show their true color : compassion.

Madonna - "In This Life"
Madonna once said in an interview that she lost too many friends to Aids back in the 80s and 90s, and considered herself lucky to have not contracted the disease. From there came her involvement in the cause, and her decision to write "In This Life" on the 1992 album Erotica. It's a stripped jazz ballad about a friend of hers who succumbed to the illness at the tender age of 23. It's always been a favorite of mine for its haunting quality and emotionally charged performance by Madonna. Here she sings it on the Girly Show in Australia.


Delacruz - "Educate Yourself"
Tori Fixx - "Dat Boy"
Salvimex - "Uno Dos Tres"
Here's a fantastic playlist which was forwarded to me via myspace by the Homorevolution Tour 2007, the first ever to showcase gay, lesbian, and bisexual rap & hip hop artists ("HomoHop"). They were featured on MTV's network Logo Pick Up The Mic earlier last year. The following selection of songs were submitted by Delacruz, Tori and Salvimex especially for Aids Day.

My Advice:
A day to relfect. worldaidsday.org

"Idol Christmas" : Past Contestants of American Idol Come Together For The Holidays

Usually, we're used to contestants of reality singing competitions like American Idol or Star Academy to try and distance themselves from the show once their run is over; probably in an attempt to avoid the stigma that used to be attached to such shows, but things seem to be changing..and I say it's about time! Case in point : 10 contestants from various seasons of AI have joined talents to celebrate the christmas spirit on a new compilation called "Idol' Christmas album American Christmas", released this week on Chenoa Records.

What's fascinating about this CD, beyond what it generously offers musically, is that it reads like the "who's who" of controversial eliminations on AI since its initial launch six years ago. - Which includes the voluptuous, gospel-voiced Frenchie Davis (season 2), who you may recall was ousted amidst allegations of a lewd business online; or Nikki McKibbin (season 1) who became notorious not for leaving but for how long she stayed despite of the judges' repeated harsh words regarding her talent or lack of thereof...But there are also less infamous talents on the record : like the incredibly skilled tenor voice of Christian-turned-out-pop artist RJ Helton (season 1), whom I blogged about before and who deserves a second hearing; as well as the sultry mezzo belts of Ayla Brown, who made her mark on season 5 despite an early elimination just short of the top 12, thanks to her perfect score storyline as an accomplished basketball player turned dedicated pop diva.
With such an eclectic lineup, Idol' Christmas is sure to satisfy both amateurs of Christmas music, as well as true AI enthusiasts. Below is the full track listing. Click link for audio and purchase info.

1) Jasmine Trias, "The Christmas Song"
2) Alexis Stone Lopez, "Winter Wonderland"
3) Frenchie Davis, "Silent Night"
4) Perla, "Jingle Bell Rock"
5) The Maynard Triplets, "O Holy Night"
6) Ayla Brown, "My Grown-Up Christmas List"
7) Lisa Leuschner, "Santa Baby"
8) RJ Helton, "White Christmas"
9) Nikki McKibbin, "All I Want for Christmas Is You"
10) Lisa Leuschner, "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
11) Ayla Brown, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
12) RJ Helton, "O Holy Night"
13) Nikki McKibbin, "Alone with the Christmas Lights"

Buy: CD Baby (CD & mp3s) and ITunes
Album page: Here

My Advice:
This is a great idea from the record label that deserves applauding. And there needs to be more artists from popular singing competition coming together on project like this for the sake of the fans. Buy this one and support the artists!

The Leak: The Idols of 2007 Come Out To Play

It's finally this season when the winner and finalists of the 2007 edition of American Idol come out with their material, and my curiosity was peaked as to whether any would deliver and possibly recreate the success of Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, and Kelly Clarkson.

#1 Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown - "No Air"
Jordin already has a first single out, the cutesy "Tattoo", which is produced by Stargate, the same team of producers who brought us Beyonce's "Irreplaceable". But there's a new better track by her which just leaked online, and it's quickly climbing in my top 5 this week: The duet with Chris Brown called "No Air", that is reminiscent to Brandy's previous work with Timbaland thanks to its nostalgic and dark exotic feel (ie Where You Wanna Be, I Tried). So, Jordin Sparks with an edge? We shall see..


#2 Blake Lewis - "Break Anotha"
Not be outdone, Blake Lewis has also unveiled a first single, "Break Anotha", a nu-funk track which has been receiving a good buzz online, and which seems to have all the elements of hitmaking so carefully planted & savvily hyped that it'll come across as rather safe to many ears. But what do I know? I previously marked down Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" and we all know what happened to it. Speaking of JT, comparisons between him and Blake seem numerous, don't you think? Besides the looks and kinship for novelty songs, their albums titles are also eerily similar: Future Sex/Love Sounds vs. Audio Daydream. Hmmm. All Blake has to do now is start a public romance with fellow AI-ee Jordin, and pray she'll leave him in time for him to pen his own sob story hit "Cry Me A Friggin' (B)Lake". (Ok, I admit my attempts at humor sucks, but I'm not giving it up.)



#3 Brandy - Sweet Nothings
Since I mentionned her earlier, I thought I'd bring you a new track by now-veteran R&B diva Brandy (who had a short stint in reality television as a judge on America's Got Talent). It's a dancy, yet stylish ditty which has her operating in a sensuous and alluring mode throughout. The highlight is the endless intro where she keeps pleading to her lover "talk to me, talk to me" as a pulsating beat keeps rising. How inviting. This may appear as somewhat new territory for the always well-behaved songstress, but as it turns out she had been beginning her emancipation since 2004's Afrodisiac which included parting ways with her manager mom. A new album is slated for sometime next year.


My Advice:
Remember Brandy branding! You want to carve yourself a particular style as a singer, not just record those hits. And in that respect both Jordin and Blake are doing very well with their first single picks. To be continued..

Songs For Moms...Chansons pour mères

This post was inspired by some tragic news in the media about rapper Kanye West losing his mother Donda. Having lost my own mom almost 20 years ago, and knowing how attached we can all be to those special individuals, I thought I'd review some of the best songs I've heard over the years which are dedicated to mums. If you're feeling the slightest bit melancholic about your own, this post for you!

#1 Eddy Michell - "M'man"
This 1987 masterpiece of a song is one of my favorites. Ever. I'd say it's as powerful as the best movies I've seen..except it's barely 3 minutes!!:) It's about a rebellious 14 year old kid who writes a letter to his mom about his needs for independence, and the odd part is that as he's nonchalantly enumerating his first experience smoking, quiting school, or being looked down upon by passersby in the streets, he never ever manages to convince anyone (or himself) to be in control or happy with his situation. The last minute especially is quite poignant, as the singer Eddy keeps shouting "mum! mum!" as if what he really hoped for was rescuing instead of affirmation, but it's already too late to be heard by her. The theme here is loss of innocence and disillusionment; and the impossibility of going back home sometime, which is something most anyone can relate to regardless of age.

"Mum
I promise you, I'll earn you a lot of money, mum
I'm a big boy now, mum
I'm a big boy now"


#2 Spice Girls - "Mama"
As you know the now mature Spice Girls are making a comeback and all the "Headlines" with their reunion tour, so I thought I'd do a trip back memory lane with one of their best ballad ever "Mama". The video stars the mothers of all five Girls, as well as young actresses playing them as children. It's truly a sweet piece, and the storyline of them being bull-headed as kids and coming around as they grew up is quite believable. They would not be the Spice Girls, after all!

Back then I didn't know why,
Why you were misunderstood
So now I see through your eyes
All that you did was love


#3 - Boys II Men - "A Song For Mama"
Let's hear from a "vintage" boy band also making a comeback this month with an album of Motown classics: Boys II Men. "A Song For Mama" is the ultimate tear jerker of a ballad to dedicate on a Mother's Day and show appreciation to your mum for standing by you through your adolescence and identity crisis. Even if you're stoik at heart, you're bound to be touched by the heartfelt lyrics and performance.

Mama, mama you know I love you
Oh you know I love you
Mama, mama you're the queen of my heart


#4 France Gall - "Si Maman, si"

This song is somewhat a 'take' of the Eddy Michell song posted above, but from a female perspective. It was recorded by France Gall in 1977 and it has since become a classic. It's globally about a woman finding herself at a crossroads of life, with time passing by while she feels like she has not accomplished anything in life or in her love life...which prompts her to lament "if mommy, if...if only you could see my life".. Here's a clip of France singing it on a French show in 1993 as part of a medley including other of her hits, It's reported that she was battling cancer at the time, but you'd never know as the emotion is spot on.

Si, maman, si
Si, maman, si
Maman, si tu voyais ma vie



#5 Christina Aguilera - "Oh Mother"

For many kids and adults, memories of their mom and family home can be clouded by much unhappiness, and such is the case for Christina who has extensively talked about the abusive circumstances which marred her upbringing. On her latest Back To Basics -as she did on Stripped-, she dedicates a track to the subject, this time focusing the soulful "Oh Mother" to claiming victory over the past and pledging hope for the future. The video includes footage from her tour and is quite minimal and bare in its treatment, but efficiently conveys the intensity of the message.

"Oh mother, we're stronger
From all of the tears you have shed
Oh mother, don't look back
Cause he'll never hurt us again"



#6 Kanye West - "Hey Mama"

And to round this Themed Playlist, I'm going to present a song by the man who inspired it: Kanye West. As you may have heard in the news he lost his mom Donda West to some unfortunate circumstances this week. Both had always been very close, appearing together at awards shows and so on, and he dedicated a song of gratitude to her called "Hey Mama" on his Late Registration CD. In the following live clip, he even invites her to the stage and sings it to her as they dance without a care in the world. That sums up the special bond between mothers and children. Hope you enjoyed this one!

"(Hey Mama), I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I'm so proud of you
Let me tell you what I'm about to do, (Hey Mama)
I know I act a fool but, I promise you I'm goin back to school"


My Advice: Whether you're a songwriter or not, dedicating a song to your mom or someone else you love is the best way to capture inspiration. As inspiration starts within (home) and with people we know.

The Leak: Leona Lewis Shows "Spirit" On Debut

What better way to start this new blog than with the young lady who was the reining star of it last year: Leona Lewis. Her debut album Spirit has leaked on the net in the last days, so I thought I'd risk myself in the illegal adventure to be able to report back to you on what's good :)

As you know Leona had an explosive win at UK's X-Factor in late 2006, and thanks to the explosion of online media like blogs and YouTube, she became the first artist to reach global recognition and accolades before ever putting out an album. So expectations for her and her team (led by Simon Cowell in the UK and Clive Davis in the US) were admittedly running high. The songstress spent a full year working with top producers in the US and Europe, and finally this October she released the first single "Bleeding Love" to moderate buzz on the net. But by the time the sultry music video was released and Leona began promo, the magic happened again and sales literally went through the roof (close to 500,000 singles sales in 3 weeks in the UK).

And what about the record, Spirit, which found its way on the web this week (out November 12 in the UK), you'll probably wonder : does she delivers on the hype? The short answer is: yes. And then some..

Spirit, as it turns out, is the type of debut which you'll find transcending, not because it's perfect -it's not-, but because it manages to do exactly what you'd expect it to : which is to capture the essence of Leona as the obviously gifted vocalist, but also her now well-documented story, and provide it as a soundtrack to her modern fairytale introduction to pop music.

Succeeding at that is what makes this album an interesting listen to me...as I'm always intrigued by the story behind the story. But simplicity is always key, and the producers (or Leona herself) were smart enough in not overdoing it. I was actually worried she would fall into the trappings of that as a young vocalist, but she's surprisingly quite disciplined and subdued for the most part -probably due to her classical training-. Her singing also comes off as very honest on record, as she does not try to cover all angles nor cover her imperfections, which allows the listener to listen to the authentic her. I find that approach quite moving from an artistic standpoint, and it's one I always advocate to singers.

The only place I felt she came a bit short, was her incursions into pseudo hip-hop (especially "Take A Bow"), which come off as a forced attempt to fit in in the current market. Instead I would have preferred more covers of the type of classics she did live like "A Million Love Songs", "Could It Be Magic" or "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word".

To end on a positive, sappy note : one thing I was pleasantly surprised to feel from Spirit was just plain love : love from Leona towards music and her fans; love from her producers towards her in some of the arrangements; and love from the usually callous Simon Cowell towards her in the sleek execution of the record (actually, the later could work both days as it appears that every other song she sings on this record could be dedicated to him *grin*).

Definitively go pick up this one when it's out if you're a romantic at heart and a fan of beautiful voices.

Now the song by song review:

1. Bleeding Love: The first single. It took a long time to grow on me!! In fact, at first I thought it was an outrageously dated dud and I actually feared for her (aie aie), then when she released the video and performed it live I changed my mind (hey, miracles do happen). So it's indeed the perfect intro for her to the charts : a mid-tempoish edgy tune that feature some climatic high notes at the end, just what she needs to showcases the many sides of her talent. 8/10


2. Whatever It Takes: This song is super super cute! It's produced by Dallas Austin, and the lyrics and melody have that innocent feel that you expect from a young songstress like Leona who, standing at the start of her career (or a love life), pledging she'll do whatever it takes to reach her goals, as she chants "ta da da" as proof of her naive determination. 9/10

3. Homeless: Reminiscent of Christina's period ballad Hurt. It has Leona showcase her dramatic flair and ability to nuance a lyric, which she passes with flying colors. Definitively "hang on to your wig" when listening to this one, cause it's going to take you a cascading emotional and musical ride. 10/10

4. Better In Time: This is my favorite song on the record, straight up! After listening to this you'll come to the conclusion is that Leona just knows how to sing sorrow. From one bouncy line to the next, she shows emotional depth and command as she swears she'll "smile cause I deserve it" despite being hurt by love. Just mind blowing 10/10.

5. Yesterday: A generic R&B ditty, without any surprises and rather unimaginative arrangements. But Leona's vocals are good on this. 6/10

6. Take A Bow: Ok, this song is not awful, but it's too hard-edged hip-hop in its bare beat production for Leona's classic voice. It would be like having Lara Fabian along side Jay Z, or have Barbra Streisand venture into some Metallica. It just doesn't work, and even though Leona is all but 22 she can't be the new face of hip hop. 5/10

7. I Will Be: Apparently this atmospheric rock-ballad was previously recorded by Avril Lavigne as a bonus track of her most recent LP, and co-written by her alongside omnipotent Swedish producer Max Martin and Lukasz Gottwald, before it was handed to Leona. She does a fine job by it, no doubt. 7/10

8. Angel: Another sweet mid-tempo song, which leaves you with the strange feeling that she could be dedicating it to her mentor Simon Cowell. At one point she evens asserts "I want it, you want it, It's what the people want to see," -gasp!-. I was caught off guard that cheeky line, and forced to ponder: err me? you're asking me if it's what I want? How about pledging the 5th? 9/10

9. Here I Am: Another favorite of mine : it's an ethereal, haunting ballad that will take you right back to the early 90s when Mariah Carey was blasting these kind of inspirational hero-themed anthems by the dozen, yet you never got tired of it. Ms Lewis makes a commanding display of her range here, relentlessly switching from a lush alto to sweet soprano like her spiritual aunt Mariah and taking you a journey you'll not be eager to disembark form. 10/10

10. I'm You: A collaboration with Ne-Yo, which has a definite nostalgic feel to it. It actually reminds me of Toni Braxton's early works with Babyface which consistently included a catchy melodic line, a pulsating emotional track, and a string of pleading vocals. All R&B should be this efficient and good. 9/10

11. The Best You Never Had: A catchy poppy tune all around, but it doesn't make it necessarily memorable. 6/10

12. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: A cover of the Roberta Flack classic. It's one of the most intimate, subdued and profound moments of the record, which makes you look forward to that album of covers which ought to be included in her plans at some point. 9/10

13. Footprints In The Sand: Another stellar ballad, talking about her gratitude towards her loved ones or possibly her fans..And if Leona's fairytale journey til now had been a movie, this track would be a fitting play during the credits : It has her pushing her voice to stratospheric and triumphing highs during the song ends, which brings back images of her crowning on the X-Factor just over a year ago - complete with fireworks, abundance of tears, and a world of eyes watching incredulously yet admiratively at the rebirth of a certain innocence that seemed to have gone missing from pop music since the bad ass chick turn of former pop lolitas Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Not bad a feet for a 4:00 song! 10/10

My Advice :
In an interview, Leona said that Simon Cowell recommended to her that she "follows her instincts", and I'd say that's pretty good advice, don't you think? Especially judging from her song seleciton on the X factor and debut CD, I'd say it's a safe bet. The only thing would be to keep it up, and oh..don't skank it up anytime soon, pretty please?

What's New On My Blog? Actual Advice!

I've decided to bring a new feature to my blog, to make it more fun and actually live up to its name & concept:

Effective today, I'll be ending all my entries with a line of Advice to artists, performers, cd makers, songwriters, singers, celebrities and other folks I'll be blogging about!

What do you think? Isn't it a great idea?! :)

The goal won't to act pontifically as a know-it-all kind of expert, but just to keep it interesting with some down to earth suggestions coming from someone who has an obvious boundless fascination and love for everything singing artistry & career....And what's cool is I don't have any set idea prepared as to what I'll have to say to the different newsmakers I'll be talking about, I want to keep it fresh and different all the time.

So without delay, I'm going to start this concept with this very post:

My Advice :
You never achieve anything without trying: So if you are an artist visiting this blog, and want me to review your material; If you're an amateur singer and want me to review your voice, or have questions; If you're a visitor and just like my concept and want to hear more, e-mail me for more info.

I'm Resurecting My Blog

So it's been over a year since I last updated this blog, and now I've decided to bring it back from oblivion. No particular reason why. Just let the fun begin. Holla!!

Little Kids With Extraordinary Voices!

I meant to do this post for a while now, so here are some are some extraordinary kids who can really sing:

Charice Pempengco - "If I Were You" (13, Phillipines)

Talk about goosebumps. Not only is then 11-year old Charice winner of Phillipines' Little Big Star talented beyond belief, but her connection to the music is something to leave you breathless and even a bit shaken: It's one thing to imagine that a girl so young to have a talent like this, but to be able to emote and nuance emotions the way she does, one needs to have a rich enough interior life, which isn't something we necessarly associate with childhood. We like to imagine life for them to be simple, full of blacks and white, but every once in a while when we sit down and pay attention to what children have to say, a completely different story is revealed.



More Charice
I Will Always Love You
Run To You


Jessica Sanchez - "I Surrender" (11, USA)

Jessica Sanchez is another oddity when it comes to kids' voices: she was first discovered on America's Got Talent this year with a rendition of "I Surrender" which brought out the splendor and timelessness out of the Celine Dion song. What is more surprising about Jess was her ability to reach to the audience and pull them into their performance; something not even our most seasoned divas have enough skills or heart to do it as naturally as her...There's also another mindblowing performance of little miss Sanchez where she tackles "Adagio" by the great Lara Fabian (*gasp*), and she gives the song a run for its money! And she was only 9 years old when she did it!! LOL..I know. You won't believe it when you hear her lower tones, cause she sounds like a 30 y old. But really that's the secret for any singer at heart reading this: if you want to develop a good voice, work on your lower tones first cause it's the foundation that supports the rest of your range. A lot of popstars focus too much on the high notes, hence why they get such fragile instruments that damage too easily.


More Jessica
I Surrender
Adagio (at age 9)


Tori Kelly - "Keep Singing My Song" (11, USA)

Tori Kelly may be tiny, but she's already such a diva!! Molding herself after the bold and excentric Christina Aguilera, down to her vocal mannerisms, Tori will floor you with her talent while making you grin at her enthusiasm and spirit for the competition! She appeared on America's Most talented Kids singing "Keep Singing My Song" which her overly proud yet nervous dad watching from the sidelines.


More Tori
It's Love


Danielle White - "Keep Singing My Song" (13, USA)

It's a retake of the Christina's song, but this time by Danielle White whom I first discovered on the ill-fated American Idol Juniors where she gave an unforgettable rendition of "Colors of The Wind". It felt as if all nature's beauty -the chirping sounds of the birds, the falling rivers and the blooming roses- were expressed through her tender tone. It was truly something else. Danielle ended up winning a spot in the group formed on AI juniors, but unfortunately or fortunately that led to nowhere. Now she's back in her hometown, songwriting and hopefully preparing a career as a popstar of tomorrow!


More Danielle
Colors of The Wind
Close To You


Robin Schlotz - "Queen of the Night" (13, Germany)

This adorable kid singing is boy soprano Robin Schlotz of the Tölzer Knabenchor, who has become somewhat of a youtube phenomenom thanks to his rendition of the opera piece "Queen of the Night", which Mozart reportedly wrote as a challenge to future sopranos. Indeed, this aria contains the highest ever written note for a human voice (F6) which Robin tackles with great spirit and bravado! But what I found most moving in the performance, was his attempt to connect to this very complex piece and render it with nuances and emotions..When you close your eyes, you almost forget it's 'just' a kid singing this, and all the sudden all the magic of this piece is recreated: authentic, direct, beautiful, and trenscanding.



More extraordinarly talented kids:
Clique - Stand up for love