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
May 19, 2011 
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Hey MCL and all!! I’m so nervous for tonight. Silly, right? I just want Haley to get through so bad. With James gone I just want to have someone interesting in the finale so I’m not bored to tears. I’m sorry, but Lauren is so boring on stage! Forgetable performances. But she is cute and funny when she interacts with Ryan. Scotty just doesn’t have the power I’m lookingn for. I keep wanting him to give me more – but I do like his stage presence and how he works the camera / audience. And of course I love his low voice!! So I’m praying for a Scotty / Haley finale. Please..
It’s funny cause I wanted Haley out a long time ago, but glad that wish didn’t come true because she has really grown on me. I loved all her performances last night. Was angry with her judge’s choice. Not too much to that song and it was too low for her. I really hope that didn’t hurt her! And just to be fair to Lauren, I did like “I Hope you Dance”. I thought she sang that very well – but it really isn’t a hard song to sing.
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Well hey there cookiemonster. Nice to see you back here. I think it will be a Lauren/Scotty finale. The two together are a marketer’s dream. Might be boring to some but I can see the potential in this combo.
We shall see soon enough. It would be wonderful if Haley made the finale because she defied all odds to advance this far in the competition.
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Il Volo rocks!! Nice article about them tomorrow!! Hey, I’m Italian. What can I say? I bet Stefano Langone loved them. 🙂
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Looks like Jimmy Iovine has taken them under his wing. http://interscope.com/artist/player/default.aspx?meid=6314&aid=1200
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Wow! I have been checking out the live blog to get the result! I can wait another three hours to find out!
So MCL was right! I don’t know how they pulled this off. Two singers competing for the same fan base and they both get into the finale?
I said that I am not about conspiracy theories and will not start now. I just think it’s so strange to have James go out at top four. I think Haley did well to get as far as she did. She’s not a victim to me! Just think about what happened to Pia.
Now I am starting to believe that they want Lauren to win. All I will say is that TPTB are not doing this girl any favors. She is not ready for this at all. If they try to throw Scotty under the bus, watch out for my wrath!
Vonnie, where are you?
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Boy, too bad I wasn’t a betting woman. That Scotty/Lauren finale i predicted at the beginning of the season is indeed a reality. Haha
Poor Haley. She was in absolute shock. But she went out in style, didn’t she?
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Man…I’ve been MIA for awhile….I’ve definitely read, but just haven’t had time to post.
I LOVED IL VOLO – they were absolutely amazing! There is something about that kind of music that gives me the “goosebumps” They remind me of IL Divo and our beloved Canadian Tenors.
MCL – you totally called it (and yes, I do realize that I am playing spoiler right now for our west coasters – sorry, but I can’t resist and my bedtime is going to be very soon…ha). 🙂
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I should have said I CAN’T wait another three hours for the result!
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Wow, MCL, next time I’ll take your word for it. So are you predicting which one will win next week?
I’m quite disappointed that Haley didn’t make it to the final. From everything I was reading on line today, I thought maybe she had a chance.
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Dearest Mindy,
Hehe, I never wait! You would not be able to tell from my comments that I’m on the West Coast since I always watch the live stream and/or furiously refresh MJ’s Big Blog.
Instinctual reaction: Bummer. I honestly can’t say which combination from the top four I wanted to make the finale because I appreciate all the contestants as people and as singers, but I was hoping that Haley would make it into the finale.
In any case, congratulations to Scotty and Lauren! I wish my high school years were as exciting as theirs. 😉
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Hi cookiemonster!!! 🙂
I’m here Mindy…! 🙂
I think the judges and TPTB are off gasing up the bus!
I hope I’m wrong, but Scotty is going to have his work cut out for him next week.
I am going to vote my little fingers to the bone next week!
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Louise#1 – if Scotty wasn’t so ahead in the voting, I would say Lauren. They have wanted Lauren from Day One. They can mold her. Scotty is set. Let’s see what evolves over the course of the week and I’ll add my prediction after the performance show next week – at the latest.
Was it just me or did y’all sense that Lauren and Scotty already knew they were Top 2 before the results were announced? I mean, there must be contracts on the table already. Meetings behind closed doors and all that.
I am such a conspiracy theorist, but this music business is pretty transparent most of the time.
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OMG, MCL! I completely agree with you when you say that they might have already known! When I was watching it, I just got this vibe…it was weird.
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I agree with you MCL, I think both Scotty and Lauren knew before the results that they would get a recording contract. I would not have predicted these two to be in the Finale. Of course, I had my bets on James and Pia. What do I know? I thought Crystal and Siobhan would be the Final 2 for Season 9!
Haley was in a state of complete shock. I think she thought she was in. Well, she’ll probably get a contract out of this. I am not very excited about this Finale. I like some of Country Music and have seen several concerts. But we don’t need boring.
I hope Jimmy Lovine steers Lauren towards some Southern Rock. If she can calm her nerves, she can pull this off. Now all they need is for CARRIE UNDERWOOD to come in and mentor. LOL!
Roseanne, I bet you loved II Volo perform. They are just awesome! I thought about Pia, and yes Stefano, too!
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Oh, it is good to see so many friends here tonight! Vonnie, you have returned to us! YAY!
Now, I hope all TEN Idols will be there to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Idol!
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Great prediction. I guess that’s why they call you the Master Class Lady. Well done!
Congratulations to Lauren and Scotty and their fans. They are both good kids and I am confident that either one will make a great winner. Over seventy million votes suggest the ultimate winner could be the most popular Idol ever.
Haley is an extremely talented young woman. Perhaps the most versatile I have ever seen on American Idol. She grew a lot through her own hard work and dedication to her craft and showed a lot of class throughout her time on Idol, especially upon her exit tonight. She never missed a note. She should have a rocking voted off’e dinner, with all of the top 13 there with her tonight.
I’m bummed that I she won’t get to make the finale, but I’m looking forward to seeing both she and Pia on July 30th on tour in Nashville. I may get to see Kendra Chandelle while I’m there as well. Idol is just the beginning for Haley.
Goldie Locks Rocks!
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Grammie Kari,
That’s not a bad idea. I had hoped that Haley would choose the Allman Brothers’ “Tied to the Whipping Post” for her personal choice this week. It would have rocked!
There is a country duo, a married couple named Joey and Rory, that have a very nice acoustic version of LynYrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” that would be pretty cool for Lauren to try. Even though they are a duo, this song is done as a single female voice and acoustic guitar. It’s probably not showy enough for Idol and these two are very traditional county. Lauren is much more on the pop side of country.
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Grammie- yes I forgot about Pia. Lots of Italiano Blood in this Top 13. I am a full- fledged Italian so I was pumped to hear Il Volo. I did blog about this group in March. Will add another topic soon.
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Gene- I agree. Goldilocks does rock and Haley has an incredible future ahead of her. Idol is a strange machine but, in the end, they relentlessly went after a market and got their dream duo in the finale. Money talks I guess.
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I wanted to leave Jimmy Iovine a Twitter, so I went to his site aside from American Idol. Guess who he is following? Maria Shriver. Little tidbits here.
So, who will be voting next week?
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Gene, you replied, “Not a bad idea.” Was that in reference to bringing in Carrie Underwood? Or that ALL Idol winners should be at this Finale? I didn’t have any Grandchildren when Idol started. Time goes by so fast!
Roseanne, I don’t get emails (regarding your blog) from you even though I did sign up. On the American Idol forums, they wouldn’t let me use you name. It shows up ****. Now, I say the Lady that is a Master Class. This is just recent.
I must say I am very impressed with your Introduction. You are so talented, and so blessed!
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Well, you called it, MCL. I am so bummed that Haley didn’t make it. I really thought she had a good chance with the possibility of Lauren & Scotty splitting the southern/country votes. If only Haley had done Led Zepplin last. If only the judges had chosen a more doable song than “You Oughtta Know” for her.
On MJs Blog so many people are criticizing the girl for making a stanky face when Ryan read the results? How can they be that judgemental? She only just lost the opportunity to make the finale of American Idol. No big whoop, right?
Aw, so sad for her, but she is a bright, funny, gorgeous, talented girl. I really hope she gets what she wants and more.
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You don’t Grammie? Ok I will contact WordPress support and address the email issue.
That’s strange that you can’t even add my name to a comment over on the AI forums. I know you can’t add links to my site or any other site for that matter.
Boy – talk about control freaks. Weird
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Jessica- I have no doubt that Haley will be successful post Idol.
And, like you indicated, she is entitled to be upset. She is human last time I checked. People are going to fault her no matter what. (shakes head)
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Grammi Kari,
You ask which of your suggestions I was referring to being good in my previous post.
I was referring to your remark about Lauren trying some Southern Rock next week, so I suggested a particular version of the Mc Daddy of all Southern Rock songs, “Free Bird.” One of my personal favorites is the Allman Brothers “Whipping Post,” but suggesting that Haley should have done it was tongue in cheeck.
The other ideas are good as well. Carrie Underwood would be a perfect mentor for next week.
I’m not sure of the date but all of the past Idols got together at Disney World’s Idol attraction for the first time ever, so it would be nice to see it happen for the tenth anniversary as you suggested.
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Wow, Rosanne! You sure are great at this predicting thing, aren’t you? I admit I’m disappointed Haley didn’t make it, but she should be very proud of what she’s accomplished this year.
I think one of the things that has drawn people so much to Scotty and Lauren is they have very likeable personalities.
I found Lauren’s homecoming the most touching of the three!
Il Volo was such a treat to hear. Hats off to A.I. for having guests of this caliber on the show. What incredible voices. Now they need to invite Michael Buble, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, etc., who have incredible, untouchable vocal talent! I was not impressed at all with Nicole S. Her dancing skills at ALOT better than her singing She was a contestant on Dancing With The Stars a couple seasons ago and was absolutely incredible. I think she won that season, if I remember right.
This has been a crazy, crazy A.I. season, but one of the enjoyments of it is having this site to chat with all of you. I really am looking forward to next week, and am very happy for those two great kids! I wonder what all the Scotty Haters are saying now that Haley’s out? I don’t think I want to know.
ith The Stars
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MCL and Dearest J,
Oh my goodness! Once I got to see the show I just went crazy over Il Volo! Oh my happy, happy ears! That one guy with the red glasses who had that tenor voice was unbelievable! And guess what! No heads raised when they went for the high notes! What voices! I am still on a high, because the show only ended out here a half hour ago.
Remember J? What I told you happens to me when I hear perfect singing? I get that endorphin rush! I recorded the show and have played their song back about ten times! I would love to her both of you discuss their technical skills and give your thoughts! Pretty please?
Vonnie,
Hey girl! I just about wore myself out last night hitting redial on my phone for Scotty. Now I have to confess, I did take a few breaks over the two hours. I mean, let’s face it, I am not a kid anymore!:)
I will be at it again next week. I want our Scotty to win, no offense to Lauren. Goodness, I still cannot believe how this all played out. I honestly thought that their would be vote splitting and one of them would have to go. Lauren was in the bottom two only two weeks ago. What happened? There must be a lot of country fans. Me among them now!
I didn’t have the sense that Scotty and Lauren knew already. I will have to watch it again after reading some of the comments here. I can see both of them being approached about record deals, but that would have nothing to do with winning. Haley sure didn’t see this coming. Her face was just total shock. But then she just sang her face off and that’s the way I would expect her to go out.
All I will say is that if TPTB think they can throw our Scotty under the bus, then they will have a big surprise. He is young, but has poise and maturity beyond his years. I see a steely determination in his eyes that tells me he is one smart cookie. Whatever they throw at him, he will handle.
Gene and Grammie Keri,
I actually was thinking about Scotty for southern rock. That song “”Are You Going To Kill Me Or Not” was a kind of southern rock song. That was Jimmy’s idea. So maybe that is where they will want Scotty to go. I don’t know. I am the last one who should talk about country music, because I don’t know a thing about it.
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Oh my goodness! Typos galore in my last post! I guess that I am tired from all that voting last night.
The biggest typo was the title of Scotty’s song! Of course I meant “Are You Gonna KISS Me or Not”! Yikes!
I had a few others, but am too tired to correct them. But when I saw how I botched Scotty’s song, that I had to correct.
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This elimination took a while to hit me, but it just did… right now. Wow. (sighs) Poor Haley. I’m really disappointed for her, but I’m sure she’ll be okay. She’s a tough girl; I agree with Mindy: no victim here! Still, I was thinking all over again how Haley overcame these incredible odds to make it to the top 3, and what a great story it would’ve been if she’d been able to claw her way into the top 2. That’s how I’d write this story, but that’s my inner novelist talking.
I’ve got to give it up to Haley, though. She is a fighter, and I have major respect for her. The way she turned the negativity and criticism tossed at her into a top-3 finish: that’s unbelievable. Not many people would be able to get back up after being beaten down the way she was.
Just watched the results show video: Haley, you sang your FACE off. I’m proud of you!
On the bright side: I found out that my dad’s a Haley fan! Pleasant surprise for me. 😀 I’m visiting my parents this week, and we missed the airing of the results show, but my mom guessed (correctly) that I’d already read the results. When she asked me who got eliminated and I replied “Haley,” my dad was shocked! He said in a very matter-of-fact voice, “But she’s amazing!”
Well, I’ll be darned. I always love hearing the opinions of casual viewers and non-Internet-going Idol fans. It makes me realize that they often have completely different ideas of who’s the best, who’s the strongest, etc., and they also have no reason to believe anyone thinks otherwise. I like Haley a lot (as do many MCL readers; we’ve grown to appreciate her), but I’m completely aware that she’s not everyone’s cup of tea. (Not immediately anyway.) My dad, on the other hand, didn’t seem to find her polarizing at all. I found that super interesting! 😉
[thoughts to be continued]
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I agree, some are being too judgmental towards Haley’s reaction. I think she was in a state of shock. I don’t think she was prepared to go home.
Gene, I was surprised to find that Bo landed in the Bottom 3 when he sang “Free Bird”. I wonder if Lauren would sing, “Georgia.” I believed it was three years ago. I know the TOP 5 of Seasons 8, 9, and 10 went to Disney World for promotions and $50,000 earnings.
Anita, it’s late and I haven’t checked, but I thought Max and Nicole were runner-ups. I could be wrong. The song was not good at all, but her dance moves were pretty good. Il Volo were a delight. I enjoyed their performances very much!
When Scotty sang a far bars of “Everybody’s Talkin'” I really thought he could pull it off. Idol has to figure out how to make the Finals exciting. I think they want Lauren to win so they can have a girl win for a change. Haley might have been more exciting, but then again, I wanted James in the Finals. Soon it will be over.
Tuesday will be Performance Night for Idol, then Glee; however, it is also the Finale for Dancing With the Stars. I guess I will watch DWTS as Glee will be repeated. Then we have the Idol Finale and SYTYCD on Thursday. That’s all we need is more talent Reality Shows. LOL!
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The point I’m making is that I’ve learned throughout the years that American Idol message boards and blogs represent only a fraction of the viewing public and their opinions, and they tend to provide an extremely skewed view of “popular opinion” at that.
On the Idol message board I moderate, fans have long noticed that the most popular contestant on our board doesn’t always receive the most votes, and some of the contestants with the emptiest discussion forums still manage to stick around week after week. Simply put: there is a disconnect between the blogosphere and the rest of the world.
Fanbase wars, competition rivalry, drudged-up past lives, and all these factors outside the singers’ performance level taint the perspectives of Idol viewers involved in the online community. Offline viewers don’t get any of that, and that’s why I like talking to them to gauge what the general public really thinks.
Also, I’ve learned throughout the years that I cannot hold singers’ fans against them. (No one chooses his or her fans!) That’s why I purposely avoid any comments of the above nature. I don’t want anything to impair my enjoyment of a singers’ performance besides the quality of their delivery.
In other words, I am committed to having a clear conscience that when I dislike a performance, that is not a reflection of what I feel about the singer as a person or of his or her fanbase (or anything else), but it is my true, honest-to-goodness reaction to the performance based on my musical tastes, knowledge, and preferences. That is all. No ulterior motives or rationales.
Thankfully, I’ve managed to avoid most of the craziness this year, and for the first season ever, I can honestly say that I LOVE all of the top four finalists. I truly haven’t a thing against any of them. For sure, that is mostly a testament to all of them as people and singers; musically and/or personally, I am able to connect to all of them on some level. Still, at least a part of that is thanks to the positive mental environment I’ve been able to cultivate and maintain regarding my opinion of them.
One of my mottos is: if singer A doesn’t have a problem with singer B, I (as a fan of the former) don’t think I should have a problem with singer B either. That’s my two cents (and then some).
*
P.S. Dearest Mindy, I will comment on Il Volo in the morning! 😉 =D
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Well shoot…I wanted my two favs in top two; Scotty and Haley!!!
I was sad to see her go, but the one thing that blesses my heart is that so many of you on here gave her and a chance and then became a fan!!! I love that!
Lauren has started to grow on me, and for me not being a country music fan prior to this season, I am kindof looking forward to this finale (still wish that it would have been Haley) but, when given lemons; you make lemonade.
So I am going to enjoy the finale and watch my and Mindy’s boy Scotty, take this thing!
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Vonnie,
You can count me in there with you and Mindy–I’ll be voting like crazy to try to have Scotty win it all!!! If Lauren wins, I will be even more disappointed than the year that Jordin won.
I’ve been reading negative comments about Scotty, but I love his voice and he’s just so darned likeable!!! If it couldn’t be James, then it HAS to be Scotty!
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I just wanted to post a link on Entertainment Weekly’s site of Haley’s performance. It’s definitely worth another lookie/listen. I didn’t catch the lyrics change: “Oh Randy and J.Lo have you seen ‘em yet? Oh but they’re so spaced out. Buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-Bennie and Ste-ven.” The girl definitely has a sense of humor.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/05/20/american-idol-haley-reinahart-final-performance/
Her exit interview on American Idol is fizzy, full of energy and graciousness:
http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_10/curtain_call/
I hope they get her someone amazing to do a performance with on the Finale. Like … Elton John on piano!!!! Or … Led Zepplin!? Or John Mayer on guitar for House of the Rising Sun? (But please, Haley, don’t let him sweet talk you.) I’d love to see her do something with Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Carole King …
Or how how about Sting, Casey, and Haley for a jazzy number!!!?
I think if she’s gotten Led Zepplin’s attention, she well could have some power on her side.
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WooHoo Louise#1,
Glad to have you on-board! 🙂
Okay Guys! Don’t want to quell any one’s song choices for Scotty…but ya got me worried with him singing Southern Rock; maybe one song??? I dunno? Nope, scratch that!
He is getting the country music fan votes now, plus, he’s got to share them with Lauren who is also getting Country votes!
I’m afraid that if he switches it up now, that would do him in!!!
I think he needs to come back next week with some serious country music; I’m waiting on “Boot Scootin Boogie”, I just think he needs to keep in his lane so that bus doesn’t run over him!!! 😦
I must say this is a breath of fresh air this year for the finale…two fresh faced teenagers who seem to really like each other! Who both have a world of charm, and humble hearts! Not saying Haley didn’t, but there is something about these two that gives me hope in a kinder world!
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Hope you guys don’t mind me posting links. Here’s Haley’s exit interview with EW. I really think this girl has her head in a good place. I hope she and Casey do a duet on tour. I would go just for that! I might steal Casey away from her!
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/05/20/american-idol-haley-reinhart-exit-video/
Usually the Idol voted off does Leno the first night, yes? So she will be there tonight? I think it will be fun to see her jam the former AI band leader.
What are the usually rounds? They usually do Ellen (when?), Jimmy Fallon? His band, Roots, should be awesome to see Haley with.
I am psyched to see what she’s got in store for us.
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Vonnie,
I said that I am not good at deciding strategy and what to sing, so scratch the southern country rock idea! I think Scotty absolutely knows who he is, even though he is young. He loves traditional country and that’s what he will go with for the finale.
It’s great to have Louise on board with us Scotty fans! I am going to wear out my finger hitting redial next week! This is a first for me – country music. Somewhere, Gene is smiling to himself and saying – I told you that you loved country! 🙂
Dearest J,
This one is for you alone. I loved, loved what you wrote in your last post. I could not have said it any better. You basically summed up how I try to approach this competition and all of these great young people.
The one thing I truly dislike is the comments I read online about personal characteristics, looks, attitude, background, religious beliefs about any of these contestants. I really try not to get into any of that and make it all about the singing. I even made a comment to that effect on MJ’s blog when there was some criticism of so-called character traits of a contestant, how they behave, what they think. We don’t know these people! We have never met them! I think it’s a waste of energy and foolish to make judgements about them as people. If I can keep all of that out of the equation, then I have the opportunity to focus on their talent.
This season I am proud of myself for keeping an open mind and being able to embrace someone that I initially did not like. (Haley!) It’s a good thing! I had a number of people that I liked. When Pia was voted off so soon, I was able to stay invested because I liked Scotty, James, Haley and Stefano. There was so much depth in the talent this season and so many genres of music.
I think Haley was just fine with how she reacted. There is the initial shock, which is normal. This girl believed in herself and it’s a good part of why she was able to get so far. She triumphed over petty criticism from the judges every week, always believed in her talent and kept on fighting to the end. It’s a great example for all of us. That’s why I don’t want her seen as a victim. I don’t think Haley sees herself as a victim. She sang the life out that song and gave us a memorable farewell performance.
I think there might have been greater interest in a Scotty/Haley finale, because of the contrast with their singing styles. However, I hope that we will get to see all these talented young people in the finale results show. I would love to see James have a nice moment on that stage. It will be fantastic to see all of them back on stage again.
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Jessica T.,
Thank you so much for the Haley links! I don’t mind them in all; in fact, you can keep them coming! 😀
It’s definitely nice to hear Haley talk in an extended interview. I remember Michael Slezak pointing out that Haley had very few sit-downs on the show compared to the other contestants, and I think that’s very true! We got very little of her backstory and her personality in the way the producers edited her footage and allocated her screen time. Anywho, that’s over and done, and as you said, it’s time to look forward to what else is in store for her! 😀 I also completely agree with your Led Zeppelin comment; that is amazing to have a band of that stature in her corner!
Here is a written interview I found with Haley. 🙂
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00040676.html
Also, I just saw this blog topic on MJ’s Big Blog. I did not read the comments, but I have to agree that I’d love to see Haley go the way of Adele. Love Adele. Love Haley’s cover of “Rolling in the Deep.” The bird-like scatting section in that performance is one of my favorite moments of this season. Her head voice is beautiful! Loved it in “Moanin'” too. 😉
http://mjsbigblog.com/nigel-lythgoe-hints-haley-reinhart-record-contract-plus-she-received-25m-votes.htm
I’m not sure when the media rounds begin, but I’m excited for her too! Her exit performance of “Bennie and the Jets” was spot on (I liked the cute lyrical changes as well!), and as some have mentioned, the Idols tend to sing better in their other media performances.
I finally got to watch Haley’s hometown footage, and it is hilarious and touching! That woman who freaked out on Haley (the one with pink-orange hair) was… interesting, but awww, to Haley crying. All these contestants are so sweet! Lauren’s footage made me cry when I saw the storm footage (my heart goes out to all affected <3), and watching Scotty crying in the limo got me all teary-eyed too.
I honestly don't know if I've ever liked all top four contestants of a season this much. They're all lovely people.
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Dearest Mindy,
Awww, I am so glad that Il Volo gave you that endorphin rush! 😀 I, too, love that feeling and celebrate the experience of it. When I stumble upon exquisite singing or writing, I always have to pause and exclaim, “This is SOO good. I cannot believe this. (!!!)” Then I replay or reread the passage (and share it with a friend, hehe). I get excited thinking about that feeling! Music is my anti-drug. 🙂
As for technical thoughts, for you, I will share! 😀 (I do apologize for the delay. I am such a nerd; I always research everything, so I made sure to listen to a few more of Il Volo’s live performances before making an assessment. =P)
First of all, for ease of discussion, their names! Left to right (from the viewer’s perspective): Piero Barone, Gianluca Ginoble, and Ignazio Boschetto. i.e. The guy with the red glasses is Piero.
Based on what I heard, I believe your ears had the right idea. 😉 All three singers are very talented, but Piero has the most solid technique. When I first heard his voice, I thought, “There’s release!” His voice sounds well grounded in support, and his timbre is warm and natural. He’s a tad more understated than the other two perhaps (Gianluca has presence, and Ignazio is a bundle of joy), but the balance in his tone is most striking to me. In opera, as in pop music as well, it’s tempting for singers to overly darken their voices or pump the sound out with a little too much muscle and effort from the vocal folds (the effort should be in the body in supporting, not from the vocal folds) in an attempt to gain “power.” However, of course, the most beautiful and resonant tone for any singer is the most balanced and released for him or her.
My ears tell me that Gianluca overly darkens a tad, and Ignazio’s sound is a little too muscular and ever so slightly strident at times. (Not all the time! Perhaps this is a fatigue issue? In one performance I heard, Ignazio’s voice was clear as a bell, but in others, I heard the faintest amount of stridency.) In any case, Ignazio’s tone is really close to balance. The timbre is bright and warm. If he improves his support, he’ll be all set.
In terms of darkening, that is not always easy to tell (my tone is slightly darker for a soprano, but I also had a phase where I overly darkened it, so I had to learn the difference), but when the darkness is natural, the quality of it is unique. If you listen to a Wagnerian soprano, like Kirsten Flagstad or Birgit Nilsson, or a mezzo-soprano like Cecilia Bartoli [thought I’d give a shout-out to our Rosanne’s favorite singer! :)], the timbre is dark, but the tone is surprisingly warm.
Here is Kirsten Flagstad for you. 🙂 (I am amazed by her high soft dynamics by the way!)
Also, here is the version of “O Sole Mio” by the Three Tenors. Of course, that’s not a fair comparison, so I’m not comparing, but I thought you’d enjoy it and hear the difference in their tones as well. I don’t hear any stridency or artificial coloring in any of their voices.
I hope that helps and that you have plenty of happy listening today. 😀
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Also, it should be said that all three singers are still very young, so their voices will mature and perhaps settle more in the next few years. That will be exciting to hear indeed! 😉 It’s so encouraging to see young talent like this.
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Dearest Mindy,
Thank you for your reply to my comment! 😀
I agree with your post 100%, especially this part:
“We don’t know these people! We have never met them! I think it’s a waste of energy and foolish to make judgements about them as people.”
Agreed! To add another dimension to your comment, I wanted to add that even when a singer’s character is above reproach, people find a way to be critical. You could be the most talented singer and decent human being in the world, but someone is always going to find the most arbitrary reason to dislike or dismiss you. (And your list captured these arbitrary reasons well; I hadn’t even thought of all of those, but you’re right!)
I remember reading a comment once that someone wasn’t a fan of Clay Aiken because of the size of his ears, and my reaction was along the lines of “?! And this relates to singing how?” Honestly, this saddens me because as a person and a singer, I admit to wanting to be liked, but I’ve learned, for one, that man’s approval is not what I ought to seek (do I really want that type of person to be my fan anyway?), and for another, one cannot avoid the very thing we’re discussing here: human nature! The conviction I have in my heart that comforts me is that even if a singer’s voice or music is not someone’s cup of tea, if he or she has even an inkling of talent, an open-minded listener with a clear conscience should be able to acknowledge or respect that talent, putting aside likes or dislikes.
Everyone’s brain is wired differently, and besides, tastes are entirely fluid and changing anyway. I could not tell you how many times I flipped my stance on Christina Aguilera’s voice and whether or not I liked it. (For anyone curious, I have reservations about her technique, but I think she’s very talented, and I respect how hard she’s worked to get where she is.)
That’s why, to flip this conversation positively, I’ve learned not to get too discouraged by negative comments because I’ve known the most ardent of critics to turn around and become fans, and even if that never happens, as I said before, the clear-thinking individual should still be able to muster up some appreciation. And if not even that, then remember that someone else’s lack of enjoyment does not diminish your experience or that singer’s skill or beautiful voice.
A quote from the wonderful Kelly Clarkson: “People will say what they say. I just want to do what I love.” [Right on! Keep singing, girl.]
A quote from C.S. Lewis (in a religious context, but I love it): “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”
❤
Lastly, I agree that I hope the eliminated contestants get some good performance opportunities in the finale! I can't wait to see some of these singers again (like Pia!). 😀
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(P.S. I hope no one is offended by the quote I posted! I only realized afterward that someone might interpret it the wrong way, and that would be the very opposite of my intention. I care very deeply about other people’s feelings, so I work my hardest to steer clear of any statements that may be misconstrued or controversial.
I only meant to emphasize the second half of the quote as a clear illustration that you cannot extinguish a light by simply saying that it is dark. That is all. I love you all, and forgive me if I crossed a line somewhere.
Some of you have been open in sharing your faith, which made me feel more comfortable to speak about mine, more so than I ever would be on any other public discussion forum, and I just realized afterward that not everyone reading this is coming from that perspective.)
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One last thought (I do this a lot!): I wanted to say, if you like a singer’s voice or singing, good on you. Don’t let anyone take that away (unless you genuinely change your own mind; as per the fluidity of taste or expanding awareness of faults).
Specifically, I want to say: it’s okay to like a singer or performance with technical faults! There is more to singing than technique. As listeners, we all have find it easier to forgive certain faults than others, so just because I couldn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean that you can’t. (Or just because I did doesn’t mean you have to!)
[My friends are adorable in this regard. They’re always sending me links and asking, “What do you think of this singer?” I always tell them that I’m happy to give my technical assessment, but my blessing is not necessary for them to like something. We all decide for ourselves what we like.]
My only desire is for people to be able to articulate why they dislike something (e.g. “The bass line isn’t strong enough,” etc.). You can’t always get that, but I appreciate when people do, and I always dig deep in asking myself, “Why do I dislike this?” to make sure my conscience is clear.
Life is too short to spend it feeling negative emotions. At times, I wish others would like a singer as much as I do, but if the singers they like give them joy, who am I to take that away? I’ve learned to be happy for them and to be gracious in that.
Clearly, I’ve spent way too much time thinking about this, but it’s helped me to come to peace about these types of situations.
And as I said before, no one is married to their likes or dislikes of the moment, so I’m learning that rather than spending too much time attempting to discern the thoughts and motives of other, I could be enjoying something instead. 😉
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Dearest J,
Oh, now I am in heaven after listening to those two videos! What a high! I never heard of Kirsten Flagstad, but what a voice! Those high notes sound otherworldly!
As far as Il Volo, you have explained the difference I heard between Piero Balone and Gianluca Ginoble. I love Piero’s voice better, it is more pleasing to my ears but I didn’t know why. I have told you before that my ears are way ahead of my knowledge. So Ginoble is a darker tone, is that correct? I didn’t love it as much. Not to say that there is anything wrong with it, I just didn’t like his sound as much as Piero Barone. As far as Ignazio Baoschetto, I heard him as more harsh than the other two. That’s the only way I can describe it. Again, that doesn’t mean bad, but you indicated something he needs to work on, so that may be what I am hearing.
Also, the video of the Three Tenors was so wonderful to see again! I watched as much of them as I could. My Mom got a kick out of it, because she always played opera since I was very young and here I was embracing it. I went totally crazy over these three magnificent singers. This was long before I came to this site, so I had no idea what was going on and why I was so ecstatic and almost addicted to them! I will say that Luciano Pavarotti is my favorite. That voice! There is one high note he hits in a famous opera that I should know, but can’t remember. Of course again I can appreciate Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras. As you said, it’s a matter of taste because they are all unbelievable. I loved opera before I knew why!
I also want to thank you for saying that it’s all right to like who you like. I will tell you that on MJ’s blog everyone was making fun of Il Volo and I felt kind of embarrassed for liking them. Even Michael Slezak took some digs at them. All I can say is that I would listen to them any day of the week over that Nicole what’s her name and 50 Cent the rapper! Oh my goodnes, that was just awful.
I know that Il Volo are young and need more work to become more polished, but I loved hearing them on Idol. What a breath of fresh air. Then I walked around feeling like I was silly for liking them. So thank you so much for making me remember that what I like is what’s important. No one can take that away from me. Let people online laugh at these guys if they want. At least they can sing on key and sound great.
I also agree about the emotional aspect of singing being so important. We have discussed this in the past. You are right. Technically correct singing without any feeling behind it, is just lifeless. I have been able to appreciate singing that is not technically perfect but emotionally strong. Even with Scotty, who has become my favorite, there were technical issues with his singing. As I said here after he sang “You’ve Got a Friend”, it was so powerful and moving for me that I didn’t hear any of the technical issues. I was so overcome with tears and moved by the feeling and depth of understanding and heart he brought to this performance, that the technical things didn’t matter.
What you say means to much to me, because as I have also told you in the past, I hear things differently than most people. So for many years, I thought something was wrong with me and just kept my thoughts to myself. I clearly wasn’t hearing music the same way as other people in my life, so I just assumed there was something wrong with me. Now, thanks to you and MCL, I understand completely why I hear what I do and can embrace it. That’s why thank you just doesn’t begin to say how grateful I am. I will be in your debt forever.
Finally, I was in no way offended by your quote. I do believe in God and it was a beautiful saying that I am going to cut and paste for myself so that I never forget it. 🙂
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