Jepsen makes Canadian Idol Top 22
By Jason Roessle
1:11:58PM, Jun 22 2007
"Surreal" was how Carly Jepsen described standing in front of the Canadian Idol judges, admits the Mission woman who earned a coveted spot as one of the show's Top 22 finalists.
Jepsen made the cut this week, wowing the judges on the popular reality show, and speaking Thursday afternoon via cell phone, said she's excited to be one step closer to fulfilling their dream.
"It's nice to have one of those doors opened," she said, adding that while nothing's guaranteed, it's encouraging to be making this level of progress towards her lifelong ambition of a career in the music industry.
Now that the list has been whittled down to 22, Jepsen said the pace is a bit less hectic than before, but it's still keeping her hopping.
"I'll do a photo shoot, a couple interviews," and spend time practising, she said. And while busy, Jepsen said she works best at the elevated pace.
"I thrive on the 'go, go, go. I can't stand the hurry up and wait,'" Jepsen admitted. "This is what I love, and I'm doing exactly what I've [always] wanted."
The finalists have been split into the Guys and Girls camps, and each group will perform on consecutive days starting Monday evening. Jepsen will perform June 26 on CTV, channel nine starting at 8 p.m.
After each live performance show, Canadians will vote for their favourite competitors and results will be revealed during a half-hour show on Wednesdays, starting June 27 at 7:30 p.m. On the Wednesday evening shows, the two competitors with the least votes from both groups will be eliminated, leaving 18 to compete the following week. The process will continue with four competitors eliminated each week until the Top 10 is finally determined July 11.
The Top 22 is the most important stage of the competition, said a media release from Canadian Idol, as the number of competitors is chopped by more than half in just three weeks.
Jepsen has been performing and impressing crowds with her musical abilities since her days at Heritage Park Secondary School where she performed in many of the school's musicals.
The talented singer/songwriter continued to build her reputation in the local music scene since graduating high school in 2003, competing for a space in the David Foster and Friends Charity Gala in 2006, releasing her first CD of original music in September of the same year, and appearing on stage at the PNE Star Discovery talent search in 2004.
Jepsen began singing at the age of seven, venturing out to win talent searches and performing at local events like the Heritage Park Gala Opening. Born and raised in Mission, Jepsen starred as Orphan Annie from Annie, Dorothy from The Wiz, and Sandy from Grease while going to Heritage Park.
Her first CD, entitled Dear You, features four live tracks from a performance at the Media Club rounding out the seven songs on the disc.
Throughout high school Jepsen continued to write songs, all while starring in Vancouver Metro Theatre's production of Dick Whittington and singing in HPSS' show choir.
She earned a spot at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria in 2003, and spent a year training in voice, acting and dance. By the end of the year, Jepsen was flown to Toronto for the lead finals in the production of Mamma Mia.
The Canadian Idol search took judges Farley Flex, Jake Gold, Sass Jordan and Zack Werner on a three-month, 8,100 kilometre in 11 cities across six time zones.
The Top 22 are contruction workesr, singer/songwriters, lobster fishermen, actors, receptionists, students, day care workers, waitresses and house framers — all hoping to realize the same dream as past successful Idol competitors by making music a full-time career.
