http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAoABuJS1MA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wold-BKJBsU&feature=related
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1zq6l_louis-armstrong-ella-fitzgerald-sum_music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j6avX7ebkM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4218R-gBmts


And, of course, there is Barbra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd5rsPdZydA&feature=related

Happy Days Are Here Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS9FJwMoJaM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA8OmK3qslw&feature=related

When the Sun Comes Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iF-zSPHwuM&feature=related

Diana Krall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9y1vGxPVAA&feature=fvw

Peggy Lee
Why Don't You Do Right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N30aWEgeNk

Peggy with Frank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR9tc9VbWtI&feature=related

Frank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fziOhukjpkc&feature=related

Ava
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOyycNqiWA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOeWz2k4tTI


I really liked this guy too


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-ZjOEk4-dI

I think that more than American Idol, with its cookie cutter pop stars, this program shows that ordinary people have hidden talents (not only in music, but in other areas of life) that are never fully expressed due to lack of luck or financial backing.

What if we as a culture encouraged everyone to find what they did best and strive to improve their skills and express themselves according to their talents, not necessarily to become famous but to enrich their lives?

Now that arts and vocational programs have been cut back in schools, how many potential musicians, visual artists, craftspeople, clothing makers, public speakers, or actors have never even discovered their own talents and are part of the great mob of people who complain that there's "nothing to do"?

One student I recall vividly came from a bare bones high school and waited till his senior year to take Japanese for his language requirement. He was one of the best in his class, and he said at the end of the year that he was sorry he hadn't had a chance or taken the opportunity to learn a foreign language till that time, because he not only was good at learning Japanese but really enjoyed it.

I've only seen one episode of American Idol but Britain's Got Talent got me hooked a rwo weekends ago. I spent the entire weekend going through the amazing performances.

Your points are so important. It really saddens me that there's no emphasis on personal fulfillment and pursuing your natural talents in our culture, just making money. How many Victor Hugos have we lost? Why are so many people slaving away in Fast Food Joints when they have it in them to make beautiful art and artisan crafts they should be able to subsist on in a decent world? There's a little kid named Aidan Davis dancing his heart out, teaching himself and creating moves I've never seen before. His father is a struggling construction worker. I'd hate the idea of kids like that, of any kids, to end up slaving away for greedy people.

"Now that arts and vocational programs have been cut back in schools, how many potential musicians, visual artists, craftspeople, clothing makers, public speakers, or actors have never even discovered their own talents and are part of the great mob of people who complain that there's "nothing to do"?"

And it's only going to get worse. Very, very sad.

I've only seen one episode of American Idol but Britain's Got Talent got me hooked a rwo weekends ago. I spent the entire weekend going through the amazing performances.

Your points are so important. It really saddens me that there's no emphasis on personal fulfillment and pursuing your natural talents in our culture, just making money. How many Victor Hugos have we lost? Why are so many people slaving away in Fast Food Joints when they have it in them to make beautiful art and artisan crafts they should be able to subsist on in a decent world? There's a little kid named Aidan Davis dancing his heart out, teaching himself and creating moves I've never seen before. His father is a struggling construction worker. I'd hate the idea of kids like that, of any kids, to end up slaving away for a bunch of greedy people who steal elections, kill and demand bailouts whille they sail around on their yachts.

"Now that arts and vocational programs have been cut back in schools, how many potential musicians, visual artists, craftspeople, clothing makers, public speakers, or actors have never even discovered their own talents and are part of the great mob of people who complain that there's "nothing to do"?"

And it's only going to get worse. Very, very sad.