A Little Background on LaKisha Jones
As the women are about to take their turn for Week 2, there’s an informative article by the Associated Press on LaKisha Jones. The article talks about where she’s come from and what she’s gone through to make it as far as she has on the season of American Idol.
Jones, who bears both a vocal and physical resemblance to Aretha Franklin, wowed the judges with a pair of the Queen of Soul’s standards: “Think” and “Until You Come Back to Me.” After her initial audition earned her a trip to the next round in Hollywood, Jones jumped into the embraces of her waiting family, snatched up her daughter and broke into tears.
A really good read if you’re interested.
Source: LaKisha Jones took long road to ‘Idol’
I wish I had a dollar for every black girl singer, like LaKisha Jones, who has been deemed “like Aretha Franklin.” Miss Franklin’s impact has been so strong, ever since she was crowed “Queen of Soul,” even white American has been on the outlook for “the white Aretha,” but has never found her.
In America, there are thousands of black singers who started singing in a Baptist church. They are a dime a dozen, many of whom can sing circles around LaKisha Jones, who is probably “holding back” at the request of American Idol. Take Fantasia. She struggled through the competition trying to interpret Aretha, Martha Reeves, etc. every week, but only came into her own the night she was crowned the Idol winner. That night, Fantasia sang the way Fantasia REALLY sings. She had been holding back until that night, then all hell broke loose.
Likewise, Jennifer Hudson is singing totally different than she did no AI. Her soul has been set free.
Maybe this will happen to Miss Jones, but I don’t think you’ll see it on the show.