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Asian Idol aspirations
By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA
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, e' j* |- h: Q, V$ K; j# D* E( \) xQuintin Wang's chances of capturing the first Edmonton Asian Idol title are pretty good.
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! I0 [5 l1 Q7 t& D7 TThe 35-year-old earned the highest audition marks yesterday, and only 35 contestants auditioned all weekend for 15 semifinal spots.
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6 v! Y0 \4 o9 ]( CBut 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 $500 prize.1 o k- X1 F- r. v8 w4 R3 A8 o
% T+ A2 ^3 l( s, A; r+ h# yAnd besides, she's enjoying herself.) d: B1 ?0 A5 W3 @: j8 h6 M! ?' |
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"Music is fantastic," she said yesterday. "If you have it in your life, it will be bright. You will be happy."
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9 x+ N" A/ ]% i2 o/ Y0 B; X# EIn spite of the scant showing of idol wannabes yesterday and Saturday at West Edmonton Mall, organizers said it's been a great opportunity for unknown and undiscovered singing sensations to gain exposure.
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Spokesman Lan Chan-Marples admitted the singing competition wasn't widely promoted, but many young singers took interest and spread the word through Facebook.! ?" A2 l! T. o# I$ w9 g
q2 X+ z7 V, @' mKazumi 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.$ e ^- ^$ W% _: E) R! o4 N
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"When I came to Canada, I didn't have these opportunities," Wu said.3 |9 i2 ~2 l; P
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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.
8 z' ]9 k% [7 Z4 ]) R# Fhttp://www.edmontonsun.com/News/ ... 21/4784517-sun.html |
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