Watch Melinda Doolittle’s incredible performance of “Natural Woman” from Saturday night’s concert:
“Nashville is the new LA” is written on Melinda’s shirt. And when I met her at the after show (even though she was about to dash out, she spoke with me for a minute and allowed me to snap this picture) she said her next move was to get back there and take a looong nap.
Currently she is writing and collecting songs for an album. She’s really excited about touring with Michael W. Smith. She’ll be performing on his Christmas tour starting in November. She was originally scheduled to perform with the New York City Young People’s choir at Carnegie Hall, but she’s not going to be doing that gig now.
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Melinda’s “Natural Woman” was one of the highlights of the Idol concert. What makes Melinda amazing is that while she approaches her songs like a technician, she’s still able to bring warmth and emotion to her performances. It’s hard to imagine Melinda fitting into the Top 40 world of today (she would have had mega hits in the 80’s a la Anita Baker, no doubt), yet, there has to be a niche for Melinda somewhere. Whether it’s jazz, gospel or Broadway. Or maybe all three. She’s too fine a talent for the music industry to pass up.
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MJ, thanks for all the videos and commentary on the concert tour for the ISixers.
I cannot get up much interest in S 6, though. Not now and not then.
Melinda is one I really liked and she does a standout job on “Natural Woman” in your video. While I still think Kelly Clarkson’s Idol version is the gold standard (sorry, Aretha!), this one is really strong.
I am one who thinks Idol may be flooding the music market and, therefore, diluting it, but Melinda deserves a shot because her talent and warmth were one of the few reasons I tuned into Idol 6 each week.
(OK, well that and to read the snark in chat.
)
Both Melinda and Chris S suffer from lack of charisma. If Melinda looked like Kat, she’d be a superstar though. Oh well, she should still have a very good career doing what she loves. I know Elliott got the same comments last year but he always sounded “current” to me and very urban. Melinda just puts out that “old fashioned” vibe.
I vote for all three put together! Melinda could star in a big Broadway revue with jazz renditions of traditional hymns and gospel songs. Heh, sorta like gospel meets Gershwin or the bible meets Irving Berlin. We could call it something cheesy like “Let There Be Jazz.” “Ave Maria” could be reworked to a bossa nova beat (I always thought “Sway” was underrated!). Melinda could make a torch song out of “Cum Sancto Spiritu.” And how about “Amazing Grace” arranged as a bebop number?
I know, I know: janerazor, step away from the caffeine!
Seriously, though, MJ, I love that pic of Melinda in her white gown. She looks positively adorable!
This is what song interpretation is all about. Pitch, tone, texture, resonance, impeccable phrasing and an emotional connection to both the lyrics and the music. No one else compared this season as a singer. She was a joy to watch, but more importantly, to listen to.
With appropriately aggressive management she will have many choices. Selling lots and lots of “units” will not be part of the equation for Melinda, and it doesn’t have to be.
Impeccably phrased yourself, RSF.
I hope that Melinda does get the right management. She is my favourite from S6. She has far too much talent to just drift away, but this music business is a tough one. Crossing my fingers that she finds just the right niche.
Go Melinda!
There has to be a place for such a talented class act. If there isn’t, then that just sucks. I think if she teams up with great songwriters she will do quite well.
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mj, does this mean she doesn’t have anything in the works as far as a record deal? I would be SHOCKED if that were the case.
As far as I know, she does not.
I have no idea if she would be interested in it, but I think Melinda could do very well at pop/rock if she got the right songs. Her “Have a Nice Day” rocked and from what I saw typically got great reaction.
MJ any clue what happened with the Carnegie gig? I was considering going to that now I’m not sure. Love Phil but Melinda there also may have been more of a push for me to go.
Another great vid, MJ. I hope Mindy Doo gets a good gig. :)