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Asian Idol aspirations
By RENATO GANDIA, SUN MEDIA3 J$ [. s+ j% E2 G
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6 P6 }- J; B+ K/ L6 WQuintin Wang's chances of capturing the first Edmonton Asian Idol title are pretty good.
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The 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.
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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 $500 prize.8 u; o+ d2 M* ^4 z" k1 K- G
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And besides, she's enjoying herself.
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5 y4 H) g& U( n. p6 a" T"Music is fantastic," she said yesterday. "If you have it in your life, it will be bright. You will be happy."; _, T/ g; o; S' Z4 E( O/ k! V
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In spite of the scant showing of idol wannabes yesterday and Saturday at West Edmonton Mall, organizers said it's been a great opportunity for unknown and undiscovered singing sensations to gain exposure.8 F( Y/ n0 o) T1 {$ y! ~4 ~( |
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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.
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: y5 p% f0 f7 ]2 q! c8 GKazumi 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.
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"When I came to Canada, I didn't have these opportunities," Wu said.; l2 x3 G+ K1 c' {$ I
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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.
' A& v2 }3 ?' D6 \( C4 phttp://www.edmontonsun.com/News/ ... 21/4784517-sun.html |
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