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Asian Idol aspirations
By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA8 O+ {" N# q3 U
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' q+ n3 n- K0 {3 S9 }Quintin Wang's chances of capturing the first Edmonton Asian Idol title are pretty good.
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The 35-year-old earned the highest audition marks yesterday, and only 35 contestants auditioned all weekend for 15 semifinal spots.
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* R }/ ?8 F; U! g/ D- \But to win the local competition, which wraps up Feb. 3 with the finals, he's going to have to beat his longtime singing partner - his wife Yan Long.
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Long, 33, prefers to compete alongside her husband. But she said she agreed to compete separately so they would have two chances at nabbing the $500 prize.1 n# n8 C% H5 E9 o4 |2 r8 m
& c7 N& L+ ~% k) dAnd besides, she's enjoying herself.
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"Music is fantastic," she said yesterday. "If you have it in your life, it will be bright. You will be happy."' g' b5 d+ Y6 `- a8 L" t# w
. p& @( u3 }- O. U6 f+ z. P1 YIn spite of the scant showing of idol wannabes yesterday and Saturday at West Edmonton Mall, organizers said it's been a great opportunity for unknown and undiscovered singing sensations to gain exposure.
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B. K2 X/ U9 }! v! Z" r4 iSpokesman Lan Chan-Marples admitted the singing competition wasn't widely promoted, but many young singers took interest and spread the word through Facebook.
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Kazumi Wu, 31, heard about Asian Idol from friends. The young mom said she was a lead singer and occasional bass guitar player in a band in Osaka, Japan.
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"When I came to Canada, I didn't have these opportunities," Wu said.
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The 15 semifinalists will be announced today. They will compete Feb. 2 at the AgriCom. On Feb. 3, eight finalists will do a sing-off for the title of Edmonton's first Asian Idol.+ @3 G% w# G7 E/ W4 s& Z# P
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/ ... 21/4784517-sun.html |
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