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Seventh heaven
Updated: Saturday, August 22, 2009
In Teen Idol’s most balanced field ever, each of top 7 has own assets
COOS BAY — As Bay Area Teen Idol has gotten down to its top seven contestants, the competition is closer than ever.
Five of them have taken a top score — none more than once. Six have made the top three at least once, with no combination appearing twice. All seven have shined week after week.
It hasn’t been as balanced in years past. Last year, only two contestants ever placed first: eventual winner Alyssa Birrer and runner-up Star Moralez. The year before, it was Birrer and winner Clint Guevara who traded the top spot back and forth.
In 2006, four contestants got top scores, but Samantha Rogers racked up the most on her way to winning the title.
Another thing that’s different: Unlike the past four winners, this year’s Teen Idol won’t be a student of North Bend High School —there aren’t any left in the competition.
In a year with a wider range of representation from all over the county, it’s Bandon that’s emerged as a power center, with three of the five leading contestants. Destyni Fuller, Thaddeus Miller and Emma Wampler all take vocal classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College through New Artists Productions, a youth theater group in Bandon.
On Saturday, the seven contenders will take the stage of the Blackberry Arts Festival, along with the 10 eliminated contestants and Birrer. Unless there’s another new top scorer, someone could head to next week’s semifinal with something new — an apparent lead.
Star Moralez
16, Myrtle Point
Myrtle Point High School
Top scores: 1-1st, 1-2nd, 3-3rd
Standout songs:
• “Car Wash,” Rose Royce
• “Stormy Weather,” Lena Horne
• “Proud Mary,” Tina Turner
Moralez is a three-time contestant, last year’s runner-up and the only one to reach the top three each week this year. One of her greatest strengths is original presentation — she always makes songs her own.
“I take a bit of myself and immerse myself in the person I want to be inspired by,” she said. “Sometimes you catch the person you should be.”
Thaddeus Miller
13, Bandon
Harbor Lights Middle School
1-1st, 2-2nd, 0-3rd
• “Sold,” John Michael Montgomery
• “Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison
• “One Song Glory,” from “Rent”
Miller is a crowd-pleaser and the undisputed king of stage presence.
“You were definitely born to be on stage,” judge Kim Handsaker has told him.
Miller decided he wanted to be a performer at age 4 and was looking forward to being old enough for Teen Idol for years. It’s everything he hoped for, he said: “That and more.”
Destyni Fuller
14, Bandon
United Valley Christian Academy
1-1st, 1-2nd, 1-3rd
• “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” Andrews Sisters
• “It’s a Heartache,” Bonnie Tyler
• “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Barbra Streisand
In her second year in Teen Idol, Fuller has shown remarkable growth as a performer since last year’s final and an ability to adapt to judges’ recommendations.
“I think my voice has grown,” she said, crediting vocal teacher Ida Jo Gates. “I think she had a lot to do with it.”
Among her other strengths are poise, diction and eye-catching costumes.
Marissa Cato
13, Coos Bay
Sunset Middle School
1-1st, 0-2nd, 1-3rd
• “I Turn To You,” Christina Aguilera
• “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” A Taste of Honey
• “Heart of Glass,” Blondie
Cato can blow a crowd away with the quality of her voice and excels on ballads that don’t call for a lot of movement.
Some consider her the best voice in the competition, but she has struggled to adapt to judges’ advice and some genres.
“I’ve been trying to show that I am getting the eye contact,” she said. “But I’m wearing glasses, so they can’t really tell.”
Emma Wampler
13, Bandon
Harbor Lights Middle School
1-1st, 0-2nd, 0-3rd
• “Alone,” Heart
• “Landslide,” Fleetwood Mac
• “L-O-V-E,” Nat King Cole
Like Cato, Wampler’s strength is a beautiful voice. When she matches it with a confident performance, as she did two weeks ago, she can beat anybody. But sometimes, Wampler doesn’t seem to know how good she is.
“I’m really happy to be in this,” she said. “Everyone is so nice to each other. There are no mean words.”
Ally Putas
13, Coos Bay
Lighthouse School
0-1st, 1-2nd, 0-3rd
• “When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues,” Martina McBride
• “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston
• “Only Hope,” Mandy Moore
Putas is fun to watch and often draws in audiences with her dancing.
“You have the movement,” judge Edward Martin has told her.
She’s also shown she can pull off big songs. But she’s not as fearless as she seems: “The anticipation when you’re called to the front of the stage — it’s overwhelming,” she said.
Amanda Waldrop
14, North Bend
Marshfield High School
• “If I Can’t Have You,” the Bee Gees
• “I Think We’re Alone Now,” Tiffany
• “I Hope You Dance,” LeAnn Rimes
In each performance, Waldrop demonstrates a powerful ability to draw in her audience with her radiant smile.
“Your face comes alive on stage,” judge Dennis Lindahl has told her.
She hasn’t gotten a top score, but don’t count her out — she keeps getting better.
“Some people think I’m gonna pass out when I sing, because I’m so small and I try to sing big songs,” she said.
COOS BAY — As Bay Area Teen Idol has gotten down to its top seven contestants, the competition is closer than ever.
Five of them have taken a top score — none more than once. Six have made the top three at least once, with no combination appearing twice. All seven have shined week after week.
It hasn’t been as balanced in years past. Last year, only two contestants ever placed first: eventual winner Alyssa Birrer and runner-up Star Moralez. The year before, it was Birrer and winner Clint Guevara who traded the top spot back and forth.
In 2006, four contestants got top scores, but Samantha Rogers racked up the most on her way to winning the title.
Another thing that’s different: Unlike the past four winners, this year’s Teen Idol won’t be a student of North Bend High School —there aren’t any left in the competition.
In a year with a wider range of representation from all over the county, it’s Bandon that’s emerged as a power center, with three of the five leading contestants. Destyni Fuller, Thaddeus Miller and Emma Wampler all take vocal classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College through New Artists Productions, a youth theater group in Bandon.
On Saturday, the seven contenders will take the stage of the Blackberry Arts Festival, along with the 10 eliminated contestants and Birrer. Unless there’s another new top scorer, someone could head to next week’s semifinal with something new — an apparent lead.
Star Moralez
Star Moralez16, Myrtle Point
Myrtle Point High School
Top scores: 1-1st, 1-2nd, 3-3rd
Standout songs:
• “Car Wash,” Rose Royce
• “Stormy Weather,” Lena Horne
• “Proud Mary,” Tina Turner
Moralez is a three-time contestant, last year’s runner-up and the only one to reach the top three each week this year. One of her greatest strengths is original presentation — she always makes songs her own.
“I take a bit of myself and immerse myself in the person I want to be inspired by,” she said. “Sometimes you catch the person you should be.”
Thaddeus Miller
Thaddeus Miller13, Bandon
Harbor Lights Middle School
1-1st, 2-2nd, 0-3rd
• “Sold,” John Michael Montgomery
• “Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison
• “One Song Glory,” from “Rent”
Miller is a crowd-pleaser and the undisputed king of stage presence.
“You were definitely born to be on stage,” judge Kim Handsaker has told him.
Miller decided he wanted to be a performer at age 4 and was looking forward to being old enough for Teen Idol for years. It’s everything he hoped for, he said: “That and more.”
Destyni Fuller
Destyni Fuller14, Bandon
United Valley Christian Academy
1-1st, 1-2nd, 1-3rd
• “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” Andrews Sisters
• “It’s a Heartache,” Bonnie Tyler
• “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Barbra Streisand
In her second year in Teen Idol, Fuller has shown remarkable growth as a performer since last year’s final and an ability to adapt to judges’ recommendations.
“I think my voice has grown,” she said, crediting vocal teacher Ida Jo Gates. “I think she had a lot to do with it.”
Among her other strengths are poise, diction and eye-catching costumes.
Marissa Cato
Marissa Cato13, Coos Bay
Sunset Middle School
1-1st, 0-2nd, 1-3rd
• “I Turn To You,” Christina Aguilera
• “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” A Taste of Honey
• “Heart of Glass,” Blondie
Cato can blow a crowd away with the quality of her voice and excels on ballads that don’t call for a lot of movement.
Some consider her the best voice in the competition, but she has struggled to adapt to judges’ advice and some genres.
“I’ve been trying to show that I am getting the eye contact,” she said. “But I’m wearing glasses, so they can’t really tell.”
Emma Wampler
Emma Wampler13, Bandon
Harbor Lights Middle School
1-1st, 0-2nd, 0-3rd
• “Alone,” Heart
• “Landslide,” Fleetwood Mac
• “L-O-V-E,” Nat King Cole
Like Cato, Wampler’s strength is a beautiful voice. When she matches it with a confident performance, as she did two weeks ago, she can beat anybody. But sometimes, Wampler doesn’t seem to know how good she is.
“I’m really happy to be in this,” she said. “Everyone is so nice to each other. There are no mean words.”
Ally Putas
Ally Putas13, Coos Bay
Lighthouse School
0-1st, 1-2nd, 0-3rd
• “When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues,” Martina McBride
• “I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston
• “Only Hope,” Mandy Moore
Putas is fun to watch and often draws in audiences with her dancing.
“You have the movement,” judge Edward Martin has told her.
She’s also shown she can pull off big songs. But she’s not as fearless as she seems: “The anticipation when you’re called to the front of the stage — it’s overwhelming,” she said.
Amanda Waldrop
Amanda Waldrop14, North Bend
Marshfield High School
• “If I Can’t Have You,” the Bee Gees
• “I Think We’re Alone Now,” Tiffany
• “I Hope You Dance,” LeAnn Rimes
In each performance, Waldrop demonstrates a powerful ability to draw in her audience with her radiant smile.
“Your face comes alive on stage,” judge Dennis Lindahl has told her.
She hasn’t gotten a top score, but don’t count her out — she keeps getting better.
“Some people think I’m gonna pass out when I sing, because I’m so small and I try to sing big songs,” she said.
Teen Idol
Blackberry Arts Festival
Fourth and Central streets, downtown Coos Bay
Date: Saturday
Time: 2 p.m.
Themes: ’50s and ’60s or ’70s
Blackberry Arts Festival
Fourth and Central streets, downtown Coos Bay
Date: Saturday
Time: 2 p.m.
Themes: ’50s and ’60s or ’70s
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pril wrote on Aug 22, 2009 8:12 AM: