Ayla Brown - Season 5

[Tickety]

my oh my Tickety! everytime Ive posted a comment about a contestant you have done so just before me... and we completely disagree each time! lol ach well no worries!
I felt so disapointed for Ayla.. her reaction was pure heartbreak and sorrow... but I have to say with regards to adding to the Finals... I dont think she really would have. I liked the girl dont get me wrong, but I feel she would have been compared to Katharine or perhaps Lisa, and failed. I always knew it would come down to Ayla and Melissa for the final place, and the reason Im glad it is Melissa, is becuase she will stand out and has a different voice and style altogether from the others. Yes, she may not last that long, but at least she will have added some diversity to the Live shows.

Grrrr Danny! lol, just kidding Nice to meet ya

I do see where you're driving at. I guess it just comes down to personal preference. Somehow Ayla radiated youth and beauty -- she was tall and statuesque, you know? Melissa's pleasant-looking for me at best, and I don't always agree with her um, choice of clothes.

But I totally agree with your last sentence there.

One random thing: I loved Mario too!! But his behavior after leaving the show seemed totally immature, so I'm no longer a fan. ^_^

[davidbird]

No you aren't the only one, trust me! I thought she was a little too mechanical and her voice is average. Right or wrong her backstory is an influence-it's hard for people to emotionally invest themselves in someone who is portrayed as having everything given to her, without emotional struggle- I'm not saying this is who Ayla is, I'm saying that's how she's been portrayed by AI. It's human nature to want to root for someone whose seemingly had to overcome a lot in order to reach for a dream. Even Ayla said " I'm not used to failure."
I don't think she's any more talented than anyone else on the show -she's passable .

I'm so glad some people on this board besides me feel this way. I was definitely an Ayla non-fan, not because of her backstory but because of her mechanical performances, facial expressions, and I found her voice boring. I'm happy she's not on the show anymore. Now if Kevin could just follow suit.

Here ends my evil rant.

[bbnbama]

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/artic...city/city6.txt

Area welcomes `Idol' contestant Brown

BY Lauren Carter/SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
WRENTHAM -- Local `` American Idol'' contestant Ayla Brown was treated to a warm welcome home Sunday, as thousands of area residents turned out to greet the 17-year-old at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, fresh off her Top 16 `` Idol'' run.

Brown was eliminated from the national competition last Thursday night after a performance of `` Unwritten'' by Natasha Bedingfield on Tuesday. Balloons, banners reading `` We Love You!'' and chocolate cake were just part of what waited for Brown at the food court Sunday morning.
Five-year-old Elise Pereira of Plainville, for one, displayed her own homemade gift as she waited for Brown to appear -- three index cards with drawings Pereira colored herself, including a `` Hello Kitty'' reproduction and a picture of Brown wearing a pink top.

`` My daughter's a big fan,'' said Carla Pereira of Elise, who turns 6 in two weeks.

The young Pereira may have had some insider information about Brown's wardrobe, as Brown later entered the food court wearing a pink shirt similar to the one Pereria had drawn, flanked by police escorts.

The first sight of Brown drew thunderous applause and high-pitched screams.


When she took center stage, Brown called the reception a `` great way to come home.''

`` I want to thank you all tremendously for the support you've shown,'' Brown said. `` Coming back home I just see the support '85 it just makes my heart so warm.''

`` I wanted to be that role model for you guys,'' she said.

Several others took the stage to express their pride for Brown, including state Rep. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham; Tom Lynch, principal of the Delaney School in Wrentham; and Brown's grandparents, Bruce Brown and Anne Deaver.

`` We are so proud of her, in so many ways, not just in music, or sports, but as a person,'' Deaver said.

`` And we love you,'' she said, turning to her granddaughter.

Also on hand were `` Ayla's mom and dad,'' as they've come to be known in recent weeks -- WCVB-TV newscaster Gail Huff and state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.

Huff, obviously emotional, said she's glad to have Brown back with her family, though she's less excited about Simon Cowell's ability as a judge.

`` Simon doesn't know what he's talking about anyway,'' she said.

Later, Brown signed autographs for a long line of fans. And apparently you can never have too many Ayla Brown signatures.

Jodi Cullity, 11, of Wrentham, got four -- on her Red Sox bag, a sweatshirt, a King Philip High School jersey, and a photograph of Brown performing at Attleboro's Hottest Act In Town a few years ago.

Cullity said Brown is a family friend who has stayed down to earth despite her recent rise to fame.

`` She cares about her friends and family,'' she said. `` She's not like `oh, I'm famous now, leave me alone.''

Brown may not have had enough votes to win the competition, but Meghan Rico of Wrentham was doing her part.

`` I voted like 80 times,'' the 12-year-old said. `When her CD comes out we're going to be the first to buy it.''

[redsox girl]

I'm so glad some people on this board besides me feel this way. I was definitely an Ayla non-fan, not because of her backstory but because of her mechanical performances, facial expressions, and I found her voice boring. I'm happy she's not on the show anymore. Now if Kevin could just follow suit.

Here ends my evil rant.

I don't underdstand why he was chosen by the judges for the final 24 because he's not good, not good at all-I mean, he isn't awful, his voice is ordinary so why him instead of one of the other thousands of average people who auditoned?
the one thing whcih turns me off as a liastener is a voice wbhich lacks emotion-that's why Ayla was not a favorite for me- I couldn't hear anything in her voice which sounded like she knwew, in her soul, what the words she was singing meant. Other people heard emotion, but I didn't feel any sort of connect to her -nothing. Maybe she 's afraid of letting herself appear to be losing control of her emotions . A lot of singers wind up sounding mechanical for that very reason...
well, thank you for allowing me to share my `evil' rant, as well

[bbnbama]

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/lo...08&format=text

Ayla Brown is seldom ’Idol’
By Heather McCarron/ Daily News Staff
Sunday, April 16, 2006 - Updated: 02:34 AM EST

Five weeks ago, Ayla Brown hardly had a moment that wasn’t scheduled for her as one of the top contestants on "American Idol."

Things haven’t changed much for the 17-year-old from Wrentham, except she is no longer competing on the popular FOX TV star search after having been voted off just short of making the top 12.

Her calendar is crammed with scheduled interviews and performances, and the phone is still ringing.

"In April, there are just six days she has nothing (scheduled)," said state Sen. Scott Brown, Ayla’s dad, during an interview Thursday at his daughter’s school, Noble and Greenough in Dedham. "In May, there are 13 days she doesn’t have anything. We’ve got some dates in August and September already. A lot of the stuff we’re still working things out."

In New England, Ayla Brown might as well have come home with the "Idol" title judging from how much her appearances are in demand.

"She’s the only contestant from New England who ever got that far," said Ayla’s mom, Gail Huff, a news reporter for WCVB-TV News.

"Things are definitely busy," said Ayla, who on Thursday was the star of a Web chat event she participated in from a school computer lab.

"It’s actually been busier now than it was when she first got home," said Brown, R-Wrentham, who finds himself serving not only as dad, but also as manager.

Ayla remains under contract with "American Idol" until Aug. 23, Brown explained, so every engagement must be OK’d first.

Amid it all, Ayla is finishing up her senior year at Noble and Greenough. She’s also getting ready to join the women’s basketball team this fall at Boston College on a four-year basketball scholarship, and, demonstrating what she says is deeply important to her, making sure there’s time for things like hanging out with her 15-year-old sister, Arianna -- going to a movie; watching Arianna, a star equestrienne, showing her horse for the first time, or just enjoying one of her sibling’s culinary creations with the rest of the family.

Ayla’s "Idol" fame is evident when she’s out and about in public. She said she is often approached and asked for autographs and to pose for photos.

"A lot of time it’s younger girls," she said with a smile. "Mothers say I’ve been a role model for their children. It’s been really nice."

She likes the idea she is having a positive influence. Her favorite engagements, Ayla noted, are those that involve sharing her experiences with her fans -- the core fan group ranges in age from 6 to 14.

"I love speaking to younger people," she said. "I talk about working hard to get a scholarship. I talk about ’American Idol’ and the process. I do ’American Idol’ trivia."

The message, she said, is "not only telling them they should work hard, but letting them know they can do it all."

"Idol" fame has brought the inevitable question about whether Ayla is going to make a CD. While she is under contract with "American Idol," there are no formal record deals in the works. But, said Ayla, "We are exploring the options."

Brown confirmed there has been contact with two record producers in New York. "And she’s working on lyrics," he said.

There have been offers from other areas as well. The Miss Teen USA pageant wanted Ayla to enter the pageant -- an invitation she has declined.

Disney wanted Ayla to perform at a grand opening of a Six Flags park -- an invitation she had to turn down because it would have brought the FOX network up against ABC.

But there are important invitations Ayla has been able to accept.

On May 20, she will introduce pop singer Natasha Bedingfield -- whose song, "Unwritten," was the last one she performed on "Idol" -- at the KISS-108 music festival at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield.

Tomorrow, Ayla will perform as part of events slated with the Boston Marathon.

Later this year, she will perform at the Big E, an annual exposition in West Springfield.

As for the continuing "American Idol" competition, the family is still watching.

"It’s especially fun for us because we spent so much time with these kids," said Huff, noting she watches with a different perspective knowing the performers and all that goes into preparing for each show.

Ayla and her family find it difficult to choose a favorite among the remaining contestants.

"I love all of them," Ayla said.

Huff admits to being shocked by the elimination of 29-year-old Mandisa on April 5, and she agrees with "Idol" celebrity judge Simon Cowell that this year’s competition is unpredictable and the outcome is "up in the air."

Asked if there are any regrets about her own participation on "American Idol," Ayla leaves no doubt. "No, definitely no regrets."

Anyone wishing to mail Ayla can send it to P.O. Box 566, Wrentham, MA 02093. Her performance schedule will also be posted online at ayla-brown.org.

[naimaddict]

The funny thing is Natasha's Bedingfield's song "Unwritten" always reminds me of Ayla! I think she made me like that song
She has a really great vocal and she's SO MUCH better than some of the remaining finalists, it was ridiculous that she didn't even make it to the final 12!

[bbnbama]

The funny thing is Natasha's Bedingfield's song "Unwritten" always reminds me of Ayla! I think she made me like that song
She has a really great vocal and she's SO MUCH better than some of the remaining finalists, it was ridiculous that she didn't even make it to the final 12!

I didn't even pay attention to that song when it came on the radio before and now that Ayla has sung it I always think of her and I've really paid attention to the song and the meaning in the chorus is really pretty profound ( thought I'd never say that about a Natasha Bedingfield song!)

[muggle]

The funny thing is Natasha's Bedingfield's song "Unwritten" always reminds me of Ayla! I think she made me like that song
She has a really great vocal and she's SO MUCH better than some of the remaining finalists, it was ridiculous that she didn't even make it to the final 12!

I can't help but think that had that song been more popular when she sang it, she would have fared better. I had never heard it, but as you mentioned, every time I hear it I think of her now. She did an admirable job on a song that was obviously designed to be sung in a studio, not live.

[bbnbama]

IMO, not liking the hair but best of luck to her in basketball...I'm sure we'll be hearing more about her in the sports arena!

[Tickety]

Yeah she looks better with her hair down, don't you think? Her face just screams classic beauty, though.