Vocal Masterclass Discussion Thread Of The Canadian Idol Top 10 Performances

July 14, 2008 by Masterclass Lady 11 Comments


Canadian Idol

Canadian Idol

And so it begins. Another strange season of Canadian Idol. It didn’t help that a David Bowie theme night christened this year’s Idol agenda; if anything, it contributed an even more bizarre aura to this year’s edition of Canadian Idol.

I just don’t get it – I truly don’t. Theo Tams is the only developed, well-rounded musician in this Group of 10. His vocal skills are impeccable, his instincts are creative and intelligent and he exudes a wonderful and confident charisma on stage. And he still did not receive unanimous confiirmation from the judges.

The other performers have miles of technical territory to cover to reach Theo’s level. Many of these singers cannot, well, sing. They have had little to no vocal training and, in many cases, the performances suffered tremendously because of the singers lack of performing skills. Yet, the entire panel of judges were showering some of these singers with gratuitous praise and kudos.

I would like to add a notable mention to Amberly Thiesson and Sebastien Piggot – they do show promise and I feel were unjustly served this evening.

I may be offering a Vocal Masterclass article later on in the week, but, until then, please add you commments. I, for now, am speechless.
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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11 Responses to “Vocal Masterclass Discussion Thread Of The Canadian Idol Top 10 Performances”

  1. paulman July 15, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    Thank you! I agree with your comments, and now at least I know I’m not crazy 😛 While I may not be as big a fan of Theo Tams as you are, I think all your observations are bang on! (except that I think some of the other Top 10’s might be close to him, vocally)

    My favorite quote of yours is, “Many of these singers cannot, well, sing.” I know what you mean!!! (I’m guessing you’re using some hyperbole, though)

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  2. masterclasslady July 15, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    Thanks for your comments Paulman. A couple of other singers have potential to improve, but, honestly, the others have to work really really hard to convince me that they belong in this Top 10.

    I understand that many really good singers were turned away at the preliminary auditions, so it puzzles me as to what the CI franchise is looking for in a “singer”.

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  3. thetomboy July 15, 2008 at 6:27 pm

    Yep, MCL – I wasn’t thrilled after last night’s performances, either. Having 8 guys and 2 girls turned out to be worse than even I’d thought – as it makes so many of the guys forgettable – many of them just blend together.

    I don’t think Katherine St-Laurent was as good as the judges made her out to be last night, but I think she has potential. Theo is saving the show, isn’t he?

    I also hear that ratings are down 30% from last year – hardly a surprise, is it? I look forward to your Masterclass article if you can muster up the strength to write it – I know you can! 🙂 There’s a chance that the contestants might actually read it and benefit from it.

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  4. masterclasslady July 15, 2008 at 7:46 pm

    I may write one towards the end of the week. The AI tour has kept me very busy but, as a Canadian, I feel that I should continue the articles for CI.

    As long as Theo doesn’t leave tonight, I’m good with the results.

    Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

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  5. idolina July 15, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Masterclasslady, I completely agree. With the exception of Theo, they can’t sing! Mookie gets consistent praise from the judges, but he’s also consistently pitchy.

    Prior to top 10, the judges rarely gave props to the “singers” in the group. And while Drew isn’t the greatest singer in the world, he’s better than most of the remaining 10, yet the judges keep going after him for not being “animated” enough. They repeated what they did to Martha last year, and now are left with a group of singers who can’t sing. I’m very disappointed.

    I voted for Katherine, Theo and Drew last night, but not nearly as much as I have voted in previous seasons. I am not surprised that ratings are so down this year.

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  6. masterclasslady July 15, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Idolina – I meant to metion Drew in my blog topic. I though he was wrongly maligned last evening. Ridiculous really, considering the lavish praise pured forth on some of the others.

    I didn’t watch the Results show tonight but, apparently, one of my students was on the show. I wish they would tell me when they are going to be on camera. haha

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  7. idolina July 15, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Yes. MCL. Very frustrating to watch the CI judges. Martin Kerr is another one who succumbed to their harsh criticism. Although he wasn’t perfect, I could actually hear him sing, something I can’t say for much of the top 10 who are lacking technique in a major way.

    They have stacked the competition with rock singers, and the only thing they are proving is how truly a rare talent David Cook is. LOL. Cook proves that you can be artistic, charismatic, and sing rock music with good technique. I know that the CI judges have a bias in favour of “star quality” (whatever that is) over singing, but there has to be a better balance. Do you remember how they treated Martha Joy last year? Well they did it again this year and ended up with a top 10 full of pitch problems, and a top 10 who lack the presence that really counts….the presence that only my ears can sense. 🙂

    Anyway….hate being so negative, so there’s always Theo! He’s pretty good and comes nicely packaged.

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  8. masterclasslady July 15, 2008 at 11:00 pm

    Hi again Idolina. This is the second year in a row that this has happened. Last year’s show was awful and, yes, I do agree that Martha Joy was treated very poor;y and uncriticzed unjustly.

    And, yes, these rockers are just validating the enormous talent that is David Cook and, of course, David Archuleta. In fact, let’s look at the entire Top 10 this season on AI – what a talented diverse group of musicians. Eaxh of then represented different genres or styles – it was just great.

    I hope Theo takes the prize in the end -he is just outstanding. Some of the others may improve, as I have said before, but, they have a lot of homework to do in order to catch up to Theo

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  9. paulman July 16, 2008 at 4:55 am

    Hi again, MCL. I’m just listening to Theo Tams on his Myspace music site, and I think I’m starting to understand what you’re saying about him. He does seem vocally quite a bit ahead of the rest of the Top 10. I still hold out hope that maybe one or two of the other Top 10’s will improve and rise up to the challenge, though 😛

    For example, Amberly Thiessen seems to have a lot of potential and technical(?) talent. I’ve never been trained in voice (just other classical instruments), but she seems to have a lot of control over her voice (I’m jealous). My impression so far is that she’s a lot more comfortable singing at soft to moderate volume – I think she really needs to explore the full dynamic range in her singing (and start belting out some notes)?

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  10. masterclasslady July 16, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Hi Paulman:

    Overall Theo and Amberley have the most potential in this very strange season of Canadian Idol. This may change, but not by very much.

    I will have a listen to their MySpace pages later on this evening. Thanks for adding the links. Most appreciated!

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  11. masterclasslady July 16, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Oh – can’t forget Drew and Sebastien.

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