https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/reality-rocks/remembering-the-stars-of–star-search-231733211.html
By Lyndsey Parker | Reality Rocks
Ten years ago this month, “Star Search” went off the air for good. The pioneering TV talent competition, which had its heyday during its Ed McMahon years from 1983 to 1995, underwent an Arsenio Hall-hosted reboot in 2003, but by that time, a little show called “American Idol” had come along and stolen its thunder.
But truth be told, no talent show, not even “Idol,” ever spawned as many superstars as “Star Search” did. Many hugely successful singers got their start on the charmingly cheesy show (including future Idols David Archuleta, Diana DeGarmo, and Kimberly Caldwell; current “Voice” contestant Josh Kaufman; and two “Voice” coaches, Christina Aguilera and Usher). Interestingly, many of these singers didn’t win. But that obviously didn’t slow them down.
Thanks to the magic of old-school VHS technology and advances in new-school digitization, the Internet is awesomely awash in grainy, incriminating “Star Search” footage. Here are the best clips from the series’ most notable losers and/or future stars:
Justin Timberlake (aka Justin Randall)
In 1992, long before he was wearing a suit and tie, 11-year-old Justin opted for a cowboy look (and sound). He wasn’t exactly bringing sexy back, but he sure was a cute kid. Justin lost out to a precocious baby diva named Anna Nardona, who later went back to having a normal childhood; Anna didn’t even realize that she’d won over the Justin Timberlake until VH1 contacted her years later for a “Star Search” flashback special.
Article also includes bios and videos on the following superstars:
Destiny’s Child (aka Girls Tyme)
Britney Spears
Christina Aguilera
Alanis Morissette (aka Alanis Nadine)
Aaliyah (aka Aaliyah Haughton)
LeAnn Rimes
Usher (aka Usher Raymond IV)
Tiffany (aka Tiffany Renee)
Honorable Mention: Bobbie Brown
Bobbie wasn’t a singer — she competed in the show’s “Spokesmodel” category (and, unlike the contestants listed above, actually won multiple times). But she forever has a place in rock ‘n’ roll history as the star of Warrant’s iconic “Cherry Pie” video, ex-wife of Warrant’s Jani Lane, ex-fiancée of Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee, author of the memoir “Dirty Rocker Boys: Love and Lust on the Sunset Strip,” and current cast member of Fuse’s “Ex-Wives of Rock.” And to think, it all started with “Star Search!”
Comments from:
Charles: These shows are all fun! But don’t think they just started lately. Showing my age, I can recall Arthur Godfrey’s show “Talent Search”. It’s a generational thing, but all generations have had these type shows. If any posters can recall, Godfrey had such folks (who all became stars) on his show. Pat Boone, Tony Bennett, Roy Clark, Eddie Fisher, Don Knotts (we all know Barney Fife), even Patsy Cline. Interesting, but a couple guys who were picked to audition, but didn’t make the show were Buddy Holly and ELVIS!!! This show ran on TV until 1958.
Marta: In a way, those old shows were more about talents… Shows like American Idol go for the package – family life, friends, life style – way too much information.
I really feel uncomfortable with those singers who seem to be starving and need the prize money to buy food for them and their families – especially when they look at the camera and say that is their last chance… Like, hello? We all know that to make it as a singer, you either get discovered earlier or you will always be a wedding singer. And there´s nothing wrong with that – the music scene is not all that.
So many stories of singers who make tons of money and are poor a few years later. Even when the money looks big, agents, lawers, accountants, bribes to get into shows, drugs, friends and all take all away from the singers. Young singers participating of shows should just enjoy their 15 minutes of fame, knowing that it will last as long as their are in the show. Even if they win, that won´t mean a thing in this market.
If you think you have talent, keep singing while you go to school, get a degree on something and plan your life counting on what YOU can do for yourself… if anything else comes up, it is a bonus, not the whole plan… That´s life, people…
Zwerp: Well, this certainly proves once and for all the inconsistent track record of talent shows and how impossible it is to point to a single person, even though mass vote, and say “YOU will be FAMOUS GUARANTEED.”
Also, pretty sure You Oughta Know is about getting dumped by Dave Coulier. Subject matter that, fortunately, none of us can identify with.
Passion Flowers: They forgot Alicia Keys.
Imbwitching: Do you notice how the young girls all look so sweet and innocent back then. Unlike now when you even have little toddlers prancing around loaded up in eyeliner and mascara, bright lips and cheeks, and trampy clothes. Back then they didn’t let little girls grow up as quickly. They also showed a person some manners.
Mybi: There is nothing wrong with having a social outlet for people to showcase talents. There is something wrong with the context in which it is done.
On the subject matter of context in reference to the display and usage of talented persons. the methods currently in use are degrading and malevolent in their action on the person of talent.
To the viewer the actions are insidious and destructive
Shows like Star search, American idol. they are the epitome of everything that is wrong with that method of conducting this action.
Many a person has been completely destroyed by these venues of negative dispensation.
To say that there are no good outlets for public showcasing is untrue. It is true also that those GOOD PLACES will not get any of the required audience because of the insidiously destructive nature of the controlling LLC’s and Corporations that have illegally blocked those avenues as viable pursuits.
It is only the intelligent and by virtue of that intelligence. AWARE. Group of persons whom will comprehend the nature of such things.
The rest of the group has ordained themselves under the title of sheeple.
As such their shepherd (Those LLC’s and Corporations) will lead them into the CONSUMER fields for grazing, cultivating and then the slaughter.
Star Search. American Idol. Two of the very, very worst portions of society.
It is a sad day when you awaken from your sleep and cannot see that the greatest and brightest star is the light inside of you.
It is a sad day when you awaken to a world wherein you fixate upon another human being and adorn them as such that they are your idol. You kneel before them (in the audience or at home). You offer them sacrifice (You offer of yourself in their consideration. You pay to vote for them, You follow them).
You are a devotee. They are your star in the heaven. Your idol on the earth. Can you see your position in that dynamic? You are the one on the leash.
Stars and Idols.
This is what you have come to be.
Joe: And before “Star Search” was the “Ted Mack Amateur Hour” on radio and tv in the forties and fifties. AND–before THAT was a showcase called the “Major Bowes Amateur Hour” in the thirties. A contestant on the latter, a native New Yorker nicknamed “Bubbles” Silverman went on to become one of the most famous American opera stars and later manager of NYC’s Lincoln Center – the one and only BEVERLY SILLS!! Also the only opera star to host the “Tonight Show.”
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NEIL YOUNG RAISES $6M IN KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN FOR PONO
http://www.aol.com/article/2014/04/16/young-raises-6m-in-kickstarter-campaign-for-pono/
NEW YORK (AP) – Neil Young has raised more than $6 million through a Kickstarter campaign to fund the singer-songwriter’s digital music project PonoMusic.
Kickstarter closed the campaign Tuesday after it raised $6.2 million through 18,000 supporters. The campaign is the third most-funded project for Kickstarter.
Young’s portable player will cost $399 when it debuts in October. PonoMusic will also launch an online music store. The project promises high quality audio compared with other digital tracks that feature compressed audio.
The Kickstarter campaign was launched last month.
Young, 68, named the company Pono after a Hawaiian word meaning righteousness.
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