Another classical singing sensation hits the music mainstream. Il Volo, indirectly, made their international debut last thursday on American Idol stage. As they performed 'O Sole Mio' there, suddenly everyone were stunned, including me. As a fan of that type of music - classical crossover - since years, I've witnessed numbers of young and fresh faced singer with powerful operatic voice took the world by storm. Names from Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Il Divo, to the newly made of a talent show, little Jackie Evancho have made classical music more 'welcomed' by the listeners whose ears mostly are friendly to the Lady Gaga or The Killers' beat. So, now let's take a look, sort of names who sing in operatic way and wow the world..
1. CHARLOTTE CHURCH
This is the girl who introduces me to the classical crossover music. I felt in love right away about how she sang and the music backgrounded her sopran voice. Unique, I thought. My first time to hear classical music mixed with pop music (I was twelve years old), thanks to her. Talking about how this Britsih chick made her way in the music business, the TV talent show helped her (as always, TV always did something). She appeared on a UK show called 'Big Big Talent Show'. Everyone were stunned of how a big soprano voice came out from a 12 year-old tiny body. She sang 'Pie Jesu', after the show.. the rest is history. She signed a record deal to a giant record label, SONY. Her debut album 'Voice of an Angel' went gold and platinum in UK, US, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN. This success was followed by other four studio albums. With her music, sha has hit 10 million album sales (really not a bad thing for a teenage girl who is apparently singing much of classical music). She was named by Billboard as its Top Ten best selling female vocalists worldwide for the year 2000, a list that included Madonna and Janet Jackson.
2. JOSH GROBAN
We have young soprano like Charlotte, now the world has Josh Groban. By the grace of David Foster's touch, this young man suddenly became most beloved singer in the universe. His song "You Raise Me Up" was like a hymn for everyone back in 2003. Till now, everyone still can't get enough about this powerful massege containing song. Now, Groban has 5 studio albums, which some of its materials wrote by himself. Appeared in Oprah and Jay Leno many times, duet with some famous singers, dubbed as 100 Most Beautiful People, now Josh Groban has conquered the mainstream.
3 Il DIVO & BLAKE
| IL DIVO |
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| BLAKE |
Classical version of Backstreet Boys. A band, but not dancing. Still they have charming faces (ladies??). Il Divo was formed by the TV personality (then Idol judge), Simon Cowell in 2004, consisting of four men. How can be more beautiful when you hear four melodies put in a song. With that voice, I call it heaven. Years later, the British has his own version of Il Divo, named Blake. These guys are a full package (less dancing of course).
4. KATHERINE JENKINS
What does make you bored of classical singer? Fat body, flat faces. Yeah, when we are talking about classical music, we just talk about 'the music' itself. Well, sometimes you can lie about how the performer looks like. Unfortunately we are living in the 'beautiful-faces' century. Beauty matters. First time I saw this singer name Katherine Jenkins, I thought she was kind of movie actress: pretty faces with strong jaw, blue eyes, and blonde hair and not to mention: sexy spanish guitar body. No one believes her until she sings. Her deep mezzo soprano voice is so tender yet sexy. Katherine has released more than 4 albums. Willing to take the mainstream seriously, now the songbird teams up with hit makers David Foster.
5. FARYL SMITH & JACKIE EVANCHO
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| Faryl Smith |
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| Jackie Evanho |
Appear on talent show is a big deal. You just rocket to best career because of winning a talent show. UK has Faryl Smith ( the top three of 2008 British Got Talent) and US has Jackie Evancho (runner up of 2010 America's Got Talent) Faryl was teen and Jackie was just a child when appeared in the talent show, but they can beat a note like Jenkins or Charlotte Church did.
