Read about Connie's Story HERE

 Kandy's Korner

Promote Your Page Too

Connie's record Deal Falls through HERE

Connie Talbot's Adventure in Singing

Summer of 2007, a little girl walks in to audition for a spot on "Britain's Got Talent." 

   This is the clip from the audition show.Give it a watch.

   She had started singing when she was two, for her Grandmother, who was suffering through Breast Cancer. This was their favorite song, as it's the one they sang together as they watched The Wizard of Oz.  She had learned to sing there, sitting in her Nan's lap and singing for her, because it made her Nan smile. She entered the competition, and was determined to win, for her beloved Nan, who had recently passed away.

  She made it into the semifinals, and was actually a genuine favorite to win. How could she not be? The adorable smile, the human-interest story and everything,  but it was more than a gimmick. Connie could really sing. The girl had a true talent. She even melted Simon's heart, if such a thing is possible.

The Semi-finals are here

No one could believe such a big voice coming out of such a small girl. Many were brought to tears. For the finals, they had planned a performance of "Imagine". They had practiced the song for weeks and felt they had a winning performance. However, at the last minute , Connie insisted on singing Over the Rainbow. It was her Nan's favorite song. It was the song Connie had sung at Nan's funeral for her. Connie insisted this was the song she was going to sing.

Some critics think she lost the competition because of this last minute song switch.

  Well, Connie didn't win. If you watch the American Idol show, you can understand that. The best singer hasn't won that show in years. The exposure from the show though, led to signing a recording deal with Simon's Label; Sony BMG Records. However, the sessions didn't really work out, mostly over the difficulties presented by the demands of being a recording artist, and Connie's age. The deal was dropped, and Connie's Mom and Dad looked for a more child-friendly label.

   The British label, Rhythm Riders, formed an off-shoot label; Rainbow Records; just for her. Arrangements were made to do a lot of the recordings at Connie's Aunt Vicky's house in a spare bedroom, so Connie didn't miss school and to allow life to go on as much as normal for Connie.  The production team, headed by Marc Marot, was trying for a single to be released in time for Christmas that year. The Producers soon scrapped that idea, and instead pushed forward the release of the full Album.  When they listened to what they actually had recorded, the production team knew they had something special.  Connie by this time had done a few more TV appearences, and had won many fans from BGT, and millions of views on the internet. She was a real internet hit.

  The Album "Over The Rainbow" was released on November 26th 2007. In early December it was certified a Gold Record. Here is Connie accepting the Gold Record for her album.

   The early album was re-released with a new song line-up, removing the Christmas songs and replacing them with more pop standards and a goal of world-wide release.

The critics weren't too kind to Connie, dismissing it as a gimmicky, emotionless, childrens album with just pretty songs. 

But, it was adored by the public, and soon reached #1 on several charts. A quick promo tour of Asia, and a few more TV appearances. Over the Rainbow was released in the US in October of 2008, and a quick promotional vacation/tour and back to England.

  Sadly, Connie's beloved Nan, didn't live to see Connie's performance on BGT, or the success of the album. Connie picked the song "Over the Rainbow" for the competition because it was the song she and her Nan would sing together as they watched "The Wizard Of Oz". She believed her Nan was looking down on her, and she was singing it for her. The song she sang at the Finals of BGT was just Connie keeping a promise to Nan.

  This song however, from her CD, is of special note. The song; " I Will Always Love You". Whitney Houston's brilliant masterpiece.  Considered by many to be one of the greatest love songs of all time.  Odd choice for a seven-year old to sing.

  At the end of the song, you can hear Connie say, "That song's for you, Nan."

    That's what makes this story so cool.  

 From the heart and soul of a seven-year old girl, singing to her beloved grandmother. The Grandmother, who is above her, watching over her. In this performance Connie has taken what was all ready considered one of the greatest love songs of all time, and completely redefined it. Completely giving the song a whole new meaning and life.

This version will now become the standard for the song, by which all other versions will now be compared to. And isn't that what the really great singers do? Isn't that the standard by which all great performances are measured?  By how much heart and soul is captured by the recording? Then by that measure, this performance is, and forever will be, unmatched.  Not bad for a little girl.

Now, it appears good things are ahead for Connie. Her teeth came in. Another CD, a video she got to go to Jamaica and make. There's talk of a game coming for Wii based on her, and even rumors of a movie script. A US tour in Summer 2009. It seems Connie's adventure in singing is just beginning.

    But for now, Connie's parents (Sharon and Gavin) are taking things slow, trying to make sure that through it all, she still gets to be first and foremost a child, that she still gets to be a little girl. Good for them. Our hope and prayers are with them, that this happens.

For Connie, all I can say is your Nan must have done something very special in her life for God to send her the voice of an angel to comfort her in her illness.

   Remember, she is watching over you always.

 Robert M Moore's Profile

Create Your Badge