Return To 'Perfect Pitch'

[Mike Nye]

Mike,
Funny you should mention Whitney Houston. She had a tremendous amount of movement in her lower jaw. Did she have it as a child or get it later in life? Whitney managed to do quite well with her given abilities...I'll try not to go into therapy over this Jack

I was referring to her NOT eventually being a drug addict found dead in a hotel bathtub . . .

Jaw movement ? ? ?

[David Elliott]

I agree with Jack and feel the same way. Shelooks like a sweet child. Just want the best for her. I just don't have a lot of faith in human nature. Dollar signs tend to cloud judgement sometimes.

Boy, Ain't that the truth...?

Well, my thoughts are much the same. But I think the redeeming (and refreshing) thing about Jackie, is her "normalcy" in spite of her skyrocketing into national (and worldwide) fame as it were, and the very manner in which her parents are doing their best to keep her that way! Oh, I'm sure she's "raking in" the money, I know the reason I didn't go see her a couple months ago was because the tickets "started out" at about a hundred bucks (at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles) and I understand the place was packed! But I live in the past of course, and remember when we used to get in to see CHET, when it was only $20 or so!

Here is another example of Jackie’s talent, and of her parent‘s “standards” in music, etc. This song was originally released by Lara Fabian with the title of “Broken Vow”, and was a hit, and Jackie loved the melody, but the song (lyrics) had to be completely “re-written” by the composer, because Jackie’s parents did not “approve” of some of the wording, and didn’t feel it was “appropriate” for an 11 year old girl to sing. Not only was it re-written (to fit Jackie), but she learned it in it’s entirety in French!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQDtEk3jJes

David

[Mike Nye]

Yeh Jack . . .

There are alotta BAD things that can happen to kids with MONSTER TALENT if their parents are judgmentally challenged . . .

Mike

[David Elliott]

"Hi David,
Thanks for your post but I must admit, I'm uncomfortable watching this kind of intense expression etc. coming out of a child just 11 years old. It all seems very exaggerated and unnatural to me since she can't be anywhere near feeling that emotion at her age...Jack"...

Jack,
I think I would have to disagree somewhat. I believe it depends on the individual, whether or not it is "unnatural."
If you listen carefully to some of the interviews of Jackie, it immediately becomes apparent that she is not a "normal" 11 year old child, and on a number of them, she displays a much higher intellect than the adult "interviewer!" Yes, she is often very serious acting, and frequently has a very "intense expression" as you described it. But then again, many operas are of a very serious nature, tragedy, death, etc. and it's part of the genre of that art form and many adult opera singers often display those same chacteristics that you described. One of the links I posted of Jackie singing "Nella Fantasia" for example, is a very sad, melancholy, story, so I think it would only be logical, that she would have that demeanor while performing it! There is also another interview/conversation with Jackie on YouTube, in which she says that she feels "possessed" by the music, when she is performing! I don't believe this is exaggeration or "unnaturalness" on her part, but merely because most of us don't really know how to react to a very young person, who is mature beyond her years, and is probably the closest thing to a real child "prodigy" that we will ever encounter!

Give a listen to this song, written by her uncle, Matthew Evancho...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUrBztgzZA

A very unusual family to say the least!

David