Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

http://www.kellyclarksonweb.com/
I'm a fan. I watched the last two seasons of American Idol and was enthralled. Kelly's new CD has taken up rotation on my CD player at the moment. She's got an amazing voice and this CD is a strange blend of the agnst of Avril Lavigne and the power of Faith Hill. And, I must admit,I'm a bit jealous. I envy that Kelly (and Ruben and Fantasia and now Carrie) have had the chance to get up on stage and prove to the world how good they are. 10 years ago I would have been standing in line with the other millions of hopefuls, but now I'm bordering on too old...and I know I don't have "It". But that doesn't change the fact that being on American Idol would have been a dream come true. I love to sing. I've been told I'm good at it. I have been singing for as long as I could remember. I remember driving in the car with my dad when I was about 5 and him teaching me how to stay on pitch while he harmonized. Then he taught me to sing harmony. I was raised on Broadway and oldies (50's & 60's) I used to crank up the radio in my bedroom and sing along to Madonna. When I was in High School, I was in Choir (the one anyone could be in...just sign up and show up) and I was also in Madrigals (an adution only 20 person choir). I was in JuMP Co. (a local musical theater group for kids) I took four years of voice lessons and competed locally. I sang in the church choir. I loved singing. Which is why it was a shock when, after graduating from high school I settled in and had myself a good old fashioned spell of teenage rebellion. I quit. For a long time I didn't sing. I didn't have it in me at the time. Singing is a very emotional thing for me and during the "dark" phase of my life I just couldn't find the spirit to sing. But several years later I have found the music again. I may never sell a million records or be on TV, but I had the honor of singing at White Honors when I graduated from College and I have sang at the weddings of several close friends. I sing in the shower, the car, my bedroom. Music is the window to my soul. Listen to the live version of Beautiful Disaster on Breakaway. That coulda been me...