Who cares about "tall" desi guys on Amreekan Idol who go on to make us cringe ("Eye of the Tiger"? while pretending to run?)-- Canadian Idol shall redeem us!
On June 8, on the third episode of Canadian Idol -- the, well, Canadian version of Indian Idol -- 2005, Devika was one among 32 contestants given a ticket to the next round to be held in Toronto.
I tripped over that last sentence...I always thought Canadian Idol and its North American cousin were inspired by Britain's "Pop Idol". I guess I'm mistaken. Apparently, so is wonderful Wiki:
Canadian Idol is a reality television show on the Canadian television network CTV, based on the popular British show Pop Idol and its US offshoot American Idol.
Hmmm. Well, whatever. The point is, a soulful version of The Righteous Brothers'"Unchained Melody" rocketed Devika Mathur (a.k.a "Rinku") to the top 32. By the way, the judges love her. Check out this fawning action:
After comments like, 'Your sense of pitch is fantastic and your sense of artistry is really lovely,' 'Your a-capella is unbelievable' and 'I don't think you could be more beautiful if you tried,' Devika was seen running with delight towards the judges who handed her the ticket.
'It's Gold!' she exclaimed, to which a judge replied, 'Just like you!'
Our golden girl was a Bombay DJ before she arrived up north as the bride of an Indo-Canadian. She's still involved with radio; she hosts a weekly show on a "multicultural" station (CMR 101.3 FM) in her new home of Toronto. While I'm not a fan of "Rinku's" taste in music (her top concert = Whitney "crackhead" Houston), I can totally get behind the book she loves most. I dig her motto, too:
If it weren't for the last minute nothing would EVER get done!!!
Word. Read more of righteous Rinku's opinions here. And then tell your Wayne Gretzky-lovin' hatin' cousins to support this singer.
