Mamaroneck teen wows Britney and Will.i.am in Malibu
On “The X Factor” last night, after L.A. Reid was finished screening the six finalists in the “Over 25” category, it was time for the teens—and Mamaroneck’s Carly Rose Sonenclar.
(Mamaroneck 13-year-old Carly Rose Sonenclar faces Britney Spears and Will.i.am at Spears’ Malibu home. Photo by Fremantle/Syco)
From Reed’s Los Angeles home to Britney Spears’ hilltop Malibu mansion and the teens: Diamond White, 13, from L.A.; Reed Deming, 13, from San Antonio, Texas; James Tanner, 15, from Groveport, Ohio; Arin Ray, 17, from Cincinnati; Beatrice Miller, 13, from Maplewood, N.J., and Mamaroneck’s Carly Rose Sonenclar, the 13-year-old eighth-grader from Rye Neck Middle School.
Spears’ guest judge was Will.i.am who declared, after hearing Carly sing Karmin’s “Brokenhearted”: “She’s possessed. She’s like a little caterpillar. And then you think she’s going to turn into a butterfly? Dragon! Burning up the… scorching the town!”
Britney said she was concerned that Carly wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure.
Yes, she’s 13, but does Britney know that Carly has been on Broadway, doing eight shows a week?
Before she sang, Carly talked about achieving this goal, a journey that began when she first started singing at age 2. It’s funny to hear 13-year-olds talk about how they’ve wanted this “all my life,” but it’s true when you think about it.
That segment was followed by a segment where Carly met Britney and Will.i.am, of Black Eyed Peas fame.
Britney asked Carly if she was competitive.
“I’m competitive. I’m kind of soft-spoken, but when I sing I kind of forget about all that,” she said.
“To have a performer, especially Britney Spears, as my mentor is just crazy, but definitely intimidating, I’m not going to lie. I’ve prepared a lot for this song, but I don’t think there’s anything that could really prepare you for this. This needs to be the best performance of your life.”
Then she stepped out and began to sing, words that might actually sum up what America’s about to hear: “This is more than a typical kind of thing…”
We’ll learn the results next week, when each of the judges—Simon Cowell (groups), Demi Lovato (young adults), L.A. Reid (over 25’s) and Spears (teens)—whittle the group of 24 to the 16 acts that will move on to the live shows and face the American public.
I’ll be chatting with Carly from L.A. this afternoon. Check back here later for that conversation.
And tell us what you thought of Carly on “The X Factor” last night. Take our poll.
