Vote: Is Jackie Evancho changing her sound?
In the non-surprise of the summer, Jackie Evancho made it through to the top 10 on NBC's "America's Got Talent" Wednesday night. Earlier this week when Evancho inspired us to look at how common it is for children to emulate their heroes when they are first starting out, several opera singer friends suggested that the 10-year-old must listen to a lot of Sarah Brightman.
"America's Got Talent" only allows its cast to speak to reporters from their hometown while the program is still airing, so we can't ask Jackie herself. So we did some more YouTube diving.
An old interview from a Pittsburgh-area news broadcast said that Evancho likes Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli, but what is even more interesting is comparing performances. The song Evancho sang on Tuesday was "Time to Say Goodbye," a Bocelli and Brightman signature.
From the first few seconds of Brightman's performance, the mystery of Evancho's strangely mobile hands is solved. It's a classic Brightman tic.
What's not at all like Brightman, bizarrely, is the voice. In Tuesday's performance, Evancho's voice was even darker and more adult-sounding than it was three weeks ago. "America's Got Talent" vocal coach Yvie Burnett assured me that the performers work with the talent they have and don't try to change it, but the difference between Evancho's two "America's Got Talent" rounds is not something that would happen without coaching. It may not be the show that is encouraging Evancho sing like this, but someone is.
You can compare for yourself with these videos, but to my ears, when you factor out physical maturity, Brightman's voice is much lighter and sounds more like Evancho a year ago.
Which voice do you prefer -- Jackie's original or the new, more grown-up sound?
-- Marcia Adair
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Jackie Evancho is a HORRIBLE SINGER!!!!! I can't believe that people would even dare to call her an opera singer!!!!!!! While she may sing on pitch she is a microphone singer and will probably remain that way for the rest of her life as Sarah Brightman has. In truth she is a pop singer who as trying to pass off semi-operatic songs as acceptable. Honestly every time I hear that girl's voice I want to die!!!!!!!
Posted by: Samuel Waters | October 09, 2010 at 02:45 PM
Samuel,
Jackie does NOT want to be called an opera singer, she repeatedly corrects interviewers when THEY say it.
Why so bitter?
Methinks jealousy.
Almost nobody [statistically] likes opera.
Almost everybody likes Jackie.
I'll wager you hated the Beatles too.
Posted by: Hunter | October 12, 2010 at 04:54 PM
So who cares if her style ranged over the course of the show!? The girl has an extraordinary talent and her parents had the good sense to get her training as soon as they realized it! I too had an unusually mature voice as a youngster - I can recall so many people telling me "You sound just like an adult!" when I sang in public - and I also had a very unusual range. And so what if she mimics singers she likes? I could sound like Peggy Lee, or Judy (both Garland and Collins) or Helen Reddy when I was her age, 'cause that's who I listened to! That's nothing new: it's normal for talented kids to imitate adult artists before they figure out their own, unique style. I just hope she has tons of sensible and protective people around her as the vultures circle and inevitably descend.
Posted by: J. C. Raja | October 22, 2010 at 12:15 AM
I understand her great talent, but where did the adult voice come from? Did they steal it from an adult?
More than anything...her physical actions/facial expressions are like an grown up..it is nauseating considering she is only 10 years adult.
Good job parents for making this kid grow up so fast.
Posted by: Sam | November 30, 2010 at 06:17 PM
She looks angelic, but don't think she can even lip sync well It may have been her voice, but she wasn't singing on the big O. I do wish her well...her talent and beauty and (seemingly) good heart will get her far.
Posted by: db | December 22, 2010 at 04:36 PM
I think it's true. It could be true. Shes got a gift from God, I don't think America Got Talent lies, I agree with JRCHICO. She's a little angel. O:)
Posted by: Some Ramondon Girl | February 11, 2011 at 07:16 PM
This kid is the real Opera singer, and she should have won.
But she is a big star now, glad for her.
Posted by: beatrice | March 26, 2011 at 10:56 PM