Billboard reports that at a Dallas concert, Idina Menzel’s usual practice of inviting kids in the audience on stage for a group singalong of “Let It Go,” went a little differently than usual.
Menzel was apparently surprised to see a boy even in the group. It was eleven year old Luke Chacko:
The youngster really does a fantastic job, slipping in glissandos never present in the original orchestration, and Menzel is visibly impressed.
Me too. That kid is a natural.
“Luke, do you even know what song this is?” Menzel asked the youngster"
Well that was condescending.
It was, a bit, but Luke handled the query nicely: “What kind of question is that?” Menzel softened it a bit in response, explaining that she usually didn’t get boys for this song and relating the story of a boy who had come on stage only to tell her he didn’t even like “Let It Go” and instead was a fan of Justin Timberlake’s song “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” from the “Trolls,” movie. To which Luke responded, “Heck to the no!”
And I’d say that any remaining condescending attitude vanished after the kid sang.
What’s interesting is that these stories usually seem to involve a kid with a great voice but little or no technical skill, duplicating the original sound. But it appears that this boy is the reverse, if he’s adding embellishments not found in the original.
I assume he’s actually acting in musicals, and this might be why he really likes Menzel enough to go her concert.
A more cynical version is that his parents were trying to get him a big break by having him go to this sort of thing, hoping he would be singled out.
Either way, I very much bet that the kid is actually trained and showing off (which is why he goes a bit overboard). Sure, he has a natural talent, but that technical skill suggests he’s worked on it. Even if only with some parents who are also vocalists.