From 1980 to about 2004 I was a radio DJ, show producer, and concert co-promoter. During my nearly 25 years, which started at WSBU radio at St. Bonaventure University, and ended at WZZZ in Oswego County, with a recording studio in my home, I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing many musical superstars from Kenny Loggins, Joan Jett, and Mariah Carey, to Boyz II Men, Lonestar, Madonna, and Beyonce. And through those years I was witness to rising stars in the recording industry. Some of the artists had to pay their dues and take years to establish themselves, while others burst into instant stardom like a meteor through the August sky.
I recall during my college days being handed a new album (yes, made of vinyl back in those days) from a new artist named Madonna. I played her first release entitled ’Borderline’, and remember seeing the phone lines explode with instant fans. The rest is, as they say, History. Then while producing and hosting my Monday Night Dancetrack show on Star 105.5, I received a new single from Gloria Estefan’s record company, and remembering that I instantly knew that her ’1, 2, 3′ single was bound for #1. Today it still serves as one of her best songs in her catalog.
So there’s a brief background of how I come to think that I may know just a little about the music industry and what makes an artist successful. And having said that, I just came across an 18-year old sensation whose voice can quite honestly be compared to the likes of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. This new artist goes by just one name; her name- Charice.
Charice was born in the Philippines and sang in the streets and local taverns to literally feed herself and her mom. At age 13 she began to appear on TV talent shows in her country, and YouTube videos began to appear that blew viewers away. She was then invited to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show three years ago as part of Oprah’s annual Kids with Talent episode. Following that performance she began to be recognized as a true child prodigy. When Charice began to be mentored by the likes of Celine Dion her destiny was formed and her future was created.
Just a week ago Charice appeared on Oprah for a third time. However this time it was not to tell her story or become noticed. It was a time to celebrate the release of her debut, self-titled album (and nowadays that means on CD and digitally downloadable). On the show she sang her debut single entitled ‘Pyramid’ featuring Iyaz, and at that moment my ears tingled and my heart raced the way it did when I heard the incredible sound of Vanessa Williams or a 16-year old Beyonce of Destiny’s Child for the very first time. Some people can sing, some can play musical instruments, and how they play and sing is a gift. For me, my singing and instrument playing are somewhat limited (unless you think the jingle to the Nestle Crunch bar on the clarinet is the next great thing on commercial radio). For me, my gift is my ears, and these ears of mine know talent when they hear it and recognize a star before they bloom. And my ears had a celebration when they heard Charice for the first time. She is truly the next great thing! At only 18, it is exciting to think that we will be lucky enough to hear Charice sing for decades to come. With world-famous songwriter David Foster now working with and mentoring Charice, her future is in good hands. In fact Charice recently announced that she has chosen David Foster as her god-father. With leadership and mentoring from the likes of Oprah, Celine Dion, and David Foster, not to mention having your god-father as one of the best songwriters of all-time, Charice is bound to be one of those one-name stars that we will celebrate for years to come.
To find out more on Charice and view her latest ‘Pyramid’ music video visit her website at Charicemusic.com
Source: Ed Fayette
Submitted by: Haynakuubosnanamanorasko
Posted by Schoen
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The world has seen numerous rising stars through various reality shows and competitions on the small screen, but Charice may...
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is being discovered now that she release her album and this is just
the beginning. She made #8 on Top 200 Billboard and when Charice
captivate the J. Bieber crowd, her ranking should go up. Charice is the ONE…GREAT MUSICAL TALENT……. Even the traffic here at CM
is getting bigger. I noticed the online users averages 200+
visitors. That’s a good indication of Charice popularity.
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Ed Fayette said it best. Charice is definitely the ONE….THE NEXT GREAT MUSICAL TALENT.
To the Top Baby!
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And i found the answer. It’s in your article. What I realize now is that I have grown liking her and considering her as number one. And as the author put it, Charice will be here to stay for many many years to come. People will learn to grow liking her and will learn to consider her number one in the years to come. A ‘justin bieber’ will not be one to defeat that realization. Charice is one damn talent that will stand the test of time – a.l.a pyramid. She is truly the next great thing!
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it takes a keener ear, eye and heart however to be able to spot it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ce7EPk1t94
and to predict that it could develop into this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5KFBurlMYc&feature=related
or this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mz7HPABKdg&feature=related
and then to imagine how she would sound like 3-5 years from now …
it takes not only a keen ear to spot a star from an early stage, but also a heart that believes in the human spirit and how it can overcome challenges in life. If you look closely, you will be able to see the fighter in that tiny 9 year-old frame, no doubt driven by that fire in her belly. Look at her eyes at around 2:00 and 3:18 for example, and you will see that this girl is driven by something much bigger than that tiny frame suggests.
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She is so sweet and talented that everytime I watch a new video, like the 103.5 ktu chat, I couldn’t take the smile off my face.
Ed Fayette got it right I believe and more and more new fans will feel what he felt. Yes, yes – good times.
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the judges would usually say she had no star appeal or star quality and charice would just smile and would try her best to hold back her tears…
the filipino audience seemingly would recognize those with star appeal than those with innate talent. i think the very reason for holding contests is to look for great talents and not for great looks. but that was what actually happened with charice when she joined her last singing competition in ABS-CBN.
now, taking into consideration all the many great things that are happening to charice right now, i think those judges may have realized that they were wrong.
charice, the most talented girl in the world, has wowed and will keep wowing the world with her big voice. she’s now on top of a pyramid reaching the heavens.
charice is indeed a symbol of filipino talent and pride. her feat is a feat to maintain!!!
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