ARTS: Online Idol
Screw cowering before Cowell: Erika David, a 19-year-old student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is taking an online exit ramp to Idolatry. The singer determined to become “the first Asian singing sensation in America” is one of five semifinalists in the MySpace-sponsored Colgate MaxFresh Video Music Competition, vying for a recording session with Grammy-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox (the maestro behind Mariah Carey’s album, “E = MC2”). Contestants also get a shot at performing an original tune at a New York City music event before a (hopefully cheering) audience of 50,000-plus.
More than 300 MySpace hopefuls submitted audition videos, with more than 70,000 deeming David’s Alicia Keys cover, “If I Ain’t Got You,” as top five-worthy.
Just as in Cowell Country, the public gets to assist the judges — Cox, Vibe magazine Editor in Chief Danyel Smith and Latino singing star Tito El Bambino (cool name, baby) — to choose the winner. Check out www.myspace.com/colgatemaxfresh for more on David and to swap opinions and offer support.
Don’t let David find out what happens If She Ain’t Got You.
