 鲜花( 1394)  鸡蛋( 16)
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Asian Idol aspirations
By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA& y5 h" l( n; ]# Y# l# K
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Quintin Wang's chances of capturing the first Edmonton Asian Idol title are pretty good.& i6 r1 j+ @9 k6 B+ u/ X
' Y9 a8 }/ w" e/ j$ bThe 35-year-old earned the highest audition marks yesterday, and only 35 contestants auditioned all weekend for 15 semifinal spots.
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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.( c- x: N/ s9 a1 |4 u, H
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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 $500 prize.
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And besides, she's enjoying herself.
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1 j% @" U y7 m M"Music is fantastic," she said yesterday. "If you have it in your life, it will be bright. You will be happy."1 G4 C$ i+ e2 R$ A5 b5 z
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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.
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! t1 z! Y1 d" y% o2 vSpokesman 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.2 D2 m# g, F" X3 ]
; N# b! f7 W9 Q. V3 N4 |1 ^"When I came to Canada, I didn't have these opportunities," Wu said.: }& ]5 k! c7 q+ t H! m) w% v
; B5 N' l5 S% _* o0 F ZThe 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.5 M, F* r8 v G: \; C) l
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/ ... 21/4784517-sun.html |
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