*Whatever happened to Melanie Amaro?
The winner of Simon Cowell’s singing competition “The X Factor,” who received a $5 million contract from Epic Records, has released two singles so far since the show wrapped in December 2011.
Her cover of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” released digitally in conjunction with her Super Bowl Pepsi ad (part of the “X Factor” prize), reached No. 3 in dance and club play but never charted elsewhere and news of a forthcoming album has been surprisingly quiet. In contrast, “American Idol” winners, like season 10’s Scotty McCreery whose debut sold more than 1 million copies after its October 2011 release, usually have albums out within five months of the show’s finale.
So where in the world is Amaro? According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 19-year-old British Virgin Islands native has been ordered to undergo a sort of pop star boot camp that involves a strict regiment of exercise and monitored nutrition.
“L.A. Reid is adamant that Melanie get thinner so he’s hired a trainer for her, has her on a strict diet and checks in personally every day to see how much weight she’s lost,” says an insider, who says Amaro is also seeing an etiquette coach (an Epic representative denies the claim). “When she comes back, it will be a whole new Melanie Amaro.”
Indeed, Amaro has been tweeting about her progress both in the gym and at the studio, where she’s had sessions with the likes of Kuk Harrell (Rihanna, Justin Bieber) supervised by Epic’s A&R president Tricky Stewart, and in early March, told Billboard.com that she’s recorded four or five songs for her debut, a mixture of ballads and upbeat pop songs.
“I look for songs that are connected to real life scenarios — love songs, breakups, getting hurt, finding the strength to keep on pushing in life,” she said, emphasizing that she’s not under any deadline to finish her debut. A label rep says the album is due out in 2012 and that several songs are being considered as potential singles but a release date has yet to be determined.
I was wondeering why I did not hear any music form Melanie. Why does Melanie need to go ona strict diet??? Adele is curvy and a bit thick and she is the IT girl now outselling every one on the planet and she is not undergoing some transformation to become a skinny mini. Melanie is fine just as she was on X-factor What about her etiquette is LA Reid trying to say she does not have any manners??? so next thing we know she will be on stage practically showing her tatas and va jay jay like the other female artist who can barely carry a tune. Melanie can SANG!!! her azz off she does not need any of that. LA Reid is known for being a complete controlling a-hole.
Adele is very lucky she is selling music so well, because of what she looks like and sounds like, she can’t get any endorsement deals. Have you heard Adele speak!? She curses a lot and sounds like “My Fair Lady”. Melanie won a 5-year, 5 million dollar contract that is probaby a 360 deal. They are trying to get her ready to make money in non music areas as well. Adele is not curvy, she is HUGE and she herself has lost almost 100 pounds and is still big!
I was always concerned when Melanie won the competion because I know how (this) industry is towards black women. If you are not showing your ass like Rhianna and Beyonce, then you can’t make hit records. Remember L.A. Reid produces Rhianna so you can already know what direction he is going in with Melanie and her personality is that of an introvert. I had always hoped that Josh Krajick would have won the competion…but it is what it is. I wish her the best of luck.
Melanie can murder Rihanna vocally PERIOD!!!!!
In 21st century vocal doesnt matter Grandma. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Britney, Katy Perry would’ve not existed otherwise. Let Meme Amaro sell over 14 million copies, win grammys like Rihanna. You need something call ORIGINALITY which Zzzzz Amaro lacks. She is another Whitney/Mariah wannabe cookie-cuttter singer
Grandma…really? Look, I am fully aware of WHY the singers you named above made it to the top which is why I was concerned for Melanie because she is more conservative. I agree that Melanie needs some originality, because she is competing with Lady Gaga and Beyonce and those are two extroverted forces to be wreckened with.
I agree. She will show her ass, boobs and shake her booty like Rihanna & Beyonce. Another Whitney? Meh :/
LA Reid is a trip… Isn’t he the same dude that told Boyz 2 Men that they were suddenly too old to continue investing in? I think singers like Adele are an exception I look at the success that Ledisi NOW has as of late (still not the same as Adele, but it’s never going to be) and what seems like years to get here – and she will the first to tell you that things may happened faster if it weren’t for her looks and size. Clearly talent is not enough to make it, but we knew that didn’t we? In my opinion Rihanna is above average at best, but she by all recognizalbe standards is considered a pop superstar. Go figure.
Not only is he a trip….He is a fraud and not to be trusted. Don’t believe me ask Babyface and TLC. LoL!
I agree, it has taken Ledisi too long to get the money and props she is getting now. Black people should have higher standards for getting to the top quickly by being realistic. Skin tone has nothing to do with it, look at Brandy. Because she is slim and is conscious of her style image and acting jobs, she has been consistent. Rihanna is not the best singer at all, but because her body is small enough to style very easily, she can stay in the public eye along with her music. Chaka Khan lost 60 pounds and looks fantastic; watch her start making a ton of money again!
Whitney Houston, Monica, Brandy are black and did well without take their clothes off…..and Mary J.
All of the ones you mentioned are solely singers. Rihanna is something different because she, like many in her genre, rely on song and image and theatrics and the really good ones (guess who) can also dance.
Again, different categories of performers. Tina took her clothes off. Gladys didn’t.
WOW, Gayle K, I can agree with you on something!!!!!!