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Junior, Teen Idols Head To Finals

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: September 27, 2008

SEBRING - The table is set for the Junior and Teen Heartland Idol finals.

Ten singers are probably already singing into their hairbrushes in anticipation of the final rounds for the younger set.

Five Heartland Idol Junior and five Teen Idol contestants will compete for separate $500 prizes and bragging rights on Thursday, at the Downtown Circle.

The adults will also hit the spotlight for another five shows, with the Idol finals set for the only Saturday night show, Nov. 8.

Country music ruled the evening, but where else could an audience also hear live versions of an Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Temple and Ethel Merman tunes on the same night?

Several performers who sang slower and quieter songs to the audience of about 350 competed with traffic, blaring car radios, those who chose to chat on cell phones and even a honking car alarm.

This was at least the second time on stage for the Junior and Teen contestants in front of a large audience, and while some still appeared a little nervous, most singers were much calmer. The quality level of the music and stage presence improved substantially.

No males, from a pool of 10 competitors, made it past the Junior semifinals and only a single male was able to progress to the Teen finals.

Anthony Toler, 15, of Sebring, stifled most his nervous energy and qualified for the finals with a strong version of the Matchbox Twenty tune, "Unwell."

Most of the crowd had never heard of Matchbox 20, and Toler and the crowd didn't seem to mind, when asked by emcee Don Elwell, that the teen rocker was not familiar with 45 rpm records.
Spontaneous applause added to Toler's performance that ended with the performer dressed like a rocker raising his fist to the air.

Judge Melanie Boulay was impressed by Toler's singing ability.

"You're still young," said Boulay. "Just think what you can do."

Four-year-old Annabella Marrero of Lorida was again a crowd favorite.

Dressed in a sailor's cap with white gloves, Annabella nearly forced judges to choose her to appear again at the Junior Idol finals, lest chance of instigating the audience to riot.

As a Junior Idol competitor, she sang and danced to a rousing version of Shirley Temple's, "Good Ship Lollipop."

The judges and Elwell regularly bickered between themselves, both on and off mic.

Judge Jim McCollum received a spattering of boos, which was encouraged by Elwell, when he advised Annabella to hold the microphone closer to her mouth during the next show.

"Maybe she can work on that when she turns 5," quipped Elwell.

Amanda Mercer, of Lake Placid, wore blue jeans and sang the song made famous in the 1946 musical, "Annie Get Your Gun" by Ethel Merman, "You Can't Get a Man With a Gun."

McCollum might not be a big Hannah Montana fan, but enjoyed the Merman song.

"Ethel Merman never had voice lessons and she knew how to belt it out, and so do you," said McCollum.

The Junior and Teen Idol finals are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2 on the Circle, with a first place prize worth $500 for each category. The fourth round of qualifying for Adult Idol contestants will take place after the kids strut their stuff.

Bill Rettew Jr. may be contacted at 386-5857 or wrettew@highlandstoday.com

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