I Don't Usually Watch American Idol

I don’t watch American Idol, but that doesn’t prevent me from encountering amazing new talent. Two new voices came to me this past week and I must share them with you.

One is a young American singer named Jackie Evancho. When you hear her sing it seems unbelievable that such singing could emerge from a ten year old girl. She sings popular songs as well as gorgeous operatic warhorses such as Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” and “O Mio Babbino Caro”.

Check out “O Mio Babbino Caro” from the Puccini opera Gianni Schicchi:

Then today I receive a heart-wrenching, even more unbelievable video from the Korean version of American Idol. The teenage kid’s name is Sung-bong Choi, who grew up in an orphanage, where he was abused, then lived on the streets selling gum and candy for a decade. He was selling gum in a club and heard a singer he loved, and then learned by himself how to sing. His story is heart-breaking. His singing is incredible.

If this doesn’t move you to tears , I don’t know what would. Note the Korean program host losing her composure.