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Asian Idol aspirations
By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA
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Quintin Wang's chances of capturing the first Edmonton Asian Idol title are pretty good.4 J$ z3 Q. o. g% a' s9 z
" n$ b4 Y- G7 t( g; M( KThe 35-year-old earned the highest audition marks yesterday, and only 35 contestants auditioned all weekend for 15 semifinal spots.
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9 ?9 l9 s2 w! G1 e9 [& X( C+ RBut 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 $500 prize.
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And besides, she's enjoying herself.
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"Music is fantastic," she said yesterday. "If you have it in your life, it will be bright. You will be happy."
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In spite of the scant showing of idol wannabes yesterday and Saturday at West Edmonton Mall, organizers said it's been a great opportunity for unknown and undiscovered singing sensations to gain exposure.) F1 P/ @9 Q: u0 C0 n# _& e! W
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Spokesman Lan Chan-Marples admitted the singing competition wasn't widely promoted, but many young singers took interest and spread the word through Facebook.
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Kazumi Wu, 31, heard about Asian Idol from friends. The young mom said she was a lead singer and occasional bass guitar player in a band in Osaka, Japan.
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" K7 N$ h O- Y6 _- ^; H/ v"When I came to Canada, I didn't have these opportunities," Wu said.1 T' @' m/ R) x+ V! P! F1 U
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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.
4 L; y$ {2 b( H+ L: j. B- zhttp://www.edmontonsun.com/News/ ... 21/4784517-sun.html |
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