Oh how I wish I could pull off some of the songs Charice so easily belts out. But then again, she's different.
Born to a troubled family in the Phillipines, Charice took the world by surprise when a youtube user "Falsevoice" posted one of her many jaw-dropping videos on youtube. That video saw her performing the ever so famous Dreamgirls anthem "And I am Telling you I am not Going" on one of Korea's leading variety TV shows "Star King". She was 14.
Ellen DeGeneres stumbled across the video and was memsmerized by the now 15-year-old. Ellen subsequently extended an invitation to Charice to perform on her show. This would be America's first encounter with the petite diva. Sometime in December 2007, Charice flew to the States where she performed in front of a live audience on the Ellen Degeneres Christmas Special.
She belted out two of her favourite songs - "And I am telling you" popularized by Jennifer Hudson and "I will always Love you" by Whitney Houston. She brought the crowd to their feet. Charice was moved to tears by the encouraging and almost overwhelming response from the crowd. Ellen told Charice that she was amazing.
I was almost left paralysed in my seat as I was watching the video. Her voice reverberated down my spine and I could feel goose pimples all over my body.She was in complete control of her voice. She belted out the two songs flawlessly. Her voice did not fizzle at all. Given the difficultness of the two songs, taking into account the fact that both were sung by two highly reputable vocal powerhouse females, one could easily go off pitch attempting the songs.
Here comes the interesting part. Oprah Winfrey heard about this little big star and immediately expressed interest in meeting her. It was reported that she actually pulled Charice and her mom off the plane, which was bound for the Phillipines from America. LOL XD. In May 2008, Charice made her first ever appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show singing "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. Her performance sent the crowd into a frenzy. Oprah dubbed her the most talented girl in the world.
Oprah with her many connections made things even more exciting for the young Filipino. Oprah requested Grammy award winning song-writer-producer, David Foster ( the same man who produced the Bodyguard medley for Whitney Houston) to let Charice perform on his Las Vegas show in Mandalay Bay. David acceded to Oprah's request after watching some of Charice's videos on youtube. On that night, which would be instrumental in Charice's growing international stardom, David gave a brief introduction before the young diva came out and took control of the stage. Now 16, she did not show a hint of anxiety. Her well-defined composure was almost unbelievable. She was standing in front of a 20 000 strong aundience calmly and gracefully belting out "I Have Nothing and I will Always Love you", both popularly referred to as the Bodyguard medley. She brought the house down! David, who was almost rendered breathless by Charice's voice, said " Wow, a star is born tonight!"
More on Charice Pempengco in my next entry.
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