To highlight the comments I mentioned, I'll start with the announcer introducing her as the "wedding singer." It was a true statement, but it left a story untold that could fill a book, one that must have weighed heavily on every aspect of her auditioning and performing on The Voice. We'll return to that matter after her final performance. Secondly, her coach's comment, "...at the end you were a world-class singer!" was unknowingly foretelling, but it's the "at the end..." part that deserves mention, because it's a recurrent theme. It seemed every performance ended with her power and range, but then it was over just when you wanted to hear more. I'm not sure whose choice that was, but I have to wonder why it was allowed to stay that way throughout the show, knowing that's what gets the votes.
"Been Around the World" is a great song choice for the right audience. It suits her abilities nicely, the judges liked it for its nuances and jazz elements, and Loren liked it for its "bit of sass." But having once been a media analyst, I have my thoughts on where, and by whom, this song would've been given its due. I can say, with confidence, that the mass audience that watched The Voice was not going to be blown away by this song, no matter how well she sang it! The average talent show viewer is not a BDTR (breaking down the rifts) listener or a jazz enthusiast. I also didn't understand the comments about wanting more of her powerful upper register, which was, again, only at the end. A coach is there for each rehearsal, so why wasn't that issue addressed long before this performance? Moreover, why even mention that about your own team member in front of a global voting audience? I felt she did all that one could ask for with what she was given, and that her appearance on the show had not been handled the way it should have been...something she was no doubt used to by this time.
The Blind Audition clip is too brief to bother with, but a snippet will appear later in the 4th round clip. So let's backtrack to see her portion of the all-too-brief 2nd round montage. Without getting ahead of ourselves, Loren's half of this Battle Round duet, "Need You Now," may have appealed more to the listening viewers than the two song choices that followed, despite how skillfully they were performed. I say that because the longer soaring notes show her power and resonance. The upcoming 4th round is live with the TV viewers voting the contestants through to the next round, and soaring notes get votes. It's also worth pointing out that most viewers have already chosen their favorites by the live rounds, so it was a shame the show gave Loren and Cassadee such limited exposure here, as each deserved more. Let's watch those opening moments of her singing, along with comments that were made before and after her performance.
The remainder of that year centered around the summer Olympics in London, my work, and the preparation for a big international year-end race. On a late October evening, while cooking dinner, I grabbed the TV remote to channel surf for something interesting and came across the third season of The Voice. It had been airing for more than a month. I don't remember exactly what I was cooking at the time, but I clearly recall the moment I heard the name and turned to see the artist I had tried to find in Boston. It was such an unexpected way to happen upon her a second time. Although it was a 3rd round appearance, I hadn't missed much because only snippets of the Blind Audition and 2nd Round performance had been aired. Below is a link to what I turned to see that evening. Why not meet her for yourself!
There was, however, one big disappointment for me in Boston that spring. I had truly regretted not visiting the music school during my first trip and had prioritized it this time. Having learned more about the school and its list of famous alumni, I was so curious about where our young artist was in her development as a singer. But I had no luck in finding her and returned home, having now lost track of her completely. If I had been more in touch with online sites or social networking, I would've seen she had left school during her second year and was now in New York City. She had uploaded songs on YouTube, been noticed, and had subsequently signed with a record label. I guess you could say that validated my thoughts regarding the recorded American Idol audition I had once heard. The irony of my thinking to run the NYC Marathon later that year rather than Honolulu didn't really exist, since I had no idea she was there, and wouldn't have tried to connect even if I had. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying that someone is beyond approach just because they're a recording artist. I had several famous artists as clients, two vocalists who were also stage and film stars, and two actresses with their own TV series and shows in Las Vegas, but each had been given my name first, and that makes a difference. I've always had a knack for noticing talent early, whether it was in athletics or entertainment, and her name had been penciled into a page margin with an asterisk. I would be keeping an eye out for any mention of her.
That incentive vaguely came to mind a few times in the months that followed, but was instantly revived in mid-December, when I actually did qualify for Boston. Upon arrival there in April, I had every intention to visit the music school, but was faced with commuting 20 miles from the race hub to my lodging, learning the transit system, and preparing for the race. The run was successful, but afterward it was a struggle to gingerly make my way to the train, the bus, and finally a warm shower and bed. The next morning, it was all I could do to make my early flight time, so I never managed to visit the music school. I have no idea what I would've said, but as I sat in the airport, I regretted not finding time to go there and share the bizarre account of how I happened upon her. I had been impressed by the whole story, not just the voice I'd heard. Choosing to apply to Berklee, while already attending a fine university music program close to home, spoke volumes to me. That was the same mindset that had her sleeping in her van just to ensure her place in line. I'm sure she would've been amused that she had been an added incentive for me to make it to Boston, although not quite to the tune of the runners who'd laughed at me. Regardless, her name had been marked in bold, while the laughing trio was never again encountered.
When I entered Berklee College of Music in Google Earth's search window, I saw that it was one block off the marathon course. In fact, as you enter the race's finishing straight on Boylston Street, if you turn right instead of left, you'd be right at the school's front door. It was enough of a coincidence to spark an interest in following the show's auditions. I saw nothing of her on TV, but I did find another article from that same area news source, explaining that she had made it through all the rounds to audition for the judges, only to be sent home. That same news site posted a recording of her audition, and it seemed more than worthy to me; however, the judges apparently didn't like her song choice. The song was from a popular movie, and I would later learn that it was sung by an artist who had inspired our young auditionee as a child. Seemingly hypocritical, the judges advanced another singer performing the same song. Maybe visual presence played a role. But from a sound standpoint, I had liked what I heard, and I felt I had a good ear for music. Regardless, combined with the underlying story, I now had an added incentive to make my way to Boston in the spring and discover how this determined young talent was progressing.
Oahu is the most populous island in the Hawaiian chain, and I had lived on its far west end for about 15 years before moving to Honolulu to avoid the 90-minute commute. Living adjacent to the downtown area, I often chose to bike to the bank or post office, rather than drive. In early 2007, a bike accident left me limping for well over a year. Having already set aside all my physical activities for work, I was now prevented from even walking. Thus, in July of 2008, I chose to gather what I had learned of somatics from my clinical work and apply a focused awareness approach to walking, with the hope of restoring my knee. I was very surprised to find I limped less when I tried to jog than when I walked, and eventually jogged my way back to a full recovery. Walking with some runners one afternoon, I mentioned, "It would be cool to run Boston someday," and they laughed at me. The Boston Marathon is the oldest active marathon, requires stringent qualifying times, and remains on many people's bucket list for a lifetime. I had once been a decent runner, and their response burned inside me all the way home. I registered that night for December's Honolulu Marathon. The April 2009 Boston Marathon registration window thankfully would remain open til February that year. These past events I've described each played a role in how I happened upon our main character, and how our two stories first became intertwined.
The following year, at age 11, I was busy poring over every word and picture in a magazine article about John Thomas, a Boston University freshman high jumper, who became the first man to clear seven feet indoors. I lived near a lumber mill and a bamboo forest, so within days, I had a bamboo crossbar placed between two pine trees, a sawdust landing pit, and was mimicking the young athlete I had read about. That led to a few blue ribbons each annual "Field Day" at school. Knowing my love for the sport, my father asked one Saturday, a few years later, if I would like to meet Olympian Jim Beatty, the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier indoors, and a cover figure for Sports Illustrated magazine? A week later, I was an aspiring middle-distance runner. There were crowning moments in both high school and college, but after graduation, sports gave way to work and family matters. Several years later, I exited a career in corporate media, solemnly gathered myself from a conflicted struggle I saw as endless, and with suitcase in hand and meager funds, I moved to one of those places I had selected as a child and started over. I eventually settled into a career in personal care, adding additional pursuits along the way.
At the age of ten, my parents gave my sister and me an encyclopedia set. Her interests were elsewhere, so the books were mine, and they became my window on the world. My favorite volume was "E", because of its colorful and fact-filled section on "Earth," and within weeks, I had created a list of places where I would like to someday live. Over time, books and maps were replaced by websites, soon complete with video clips and live cams. Even now, half a world away, I still browse for seasonal home sites, only now it's with Google Earth, which is where the seeds of this story first took root.
The life and career of a performing artist are seldom easy. Some find ways to self-sabotage, and some are handed defeat by others. It's a brutally competitive industry known for glamour and bright lights, but sometimes having a dark side as well. Some will find themselves in the right place at the right time, while others struggle to find their own measure of success. Many come to accept less just to keep doing what they love, while others decide it's time to move on. Even if that fire within is reduced to an ember, the slightest impetus at the right moment can reignite it to burn bigger and brighter than ever. This is just such a story, one that follows the pursuit of a dream, hindered by obstacles never imagined, including some that lie within.
The story begins as my own, to provide context and explain the connection to what soon becomes someone else's story. It is one observer's account of the lofty aspirations and achievements of a talented young artist, soon derailed by disappointment and rejection, only to begin anew and evolve toward a realization beyond anything imagined. The central figure will remain unnamed for a short while to provide some viewers with the challenge of connecting the dots. Hopefully, this story will prove informative, but more importantly, provide a measure of insight and inspiration. Pursuits and dreams come in countless forms and can often lie hidden within those we least suspect of owning them. Perhaps stories such as this one can inspire those individuals to stay the course.
My part in the story becomes merely a backdrop, yet connected enough to inspire the telling of this story in a befitting manner. Thus, to better understand that backdrop, allow me to briefly turn back the clock, because childhood events lay the foundation for what will later create the first connection between this observer and the story you are about to see unfold.
Adam seemed to hint that there was a bit of holding back, which suggests a confidence issue, and that would make sense given past events. Moreover, I wonder if it was even her decision to be on the show. While still at Berklee College of Music, she had uploaded songs on YouTube that garnered attention, which soon led to her signing with a label. At that young age, it must have seemed a dream come true. However, the music industry can be a harsh environment for aspiring young artists, regardless of their talent. A whirlwind of contracts, broken promises, greed, and demands that can show the darker side of the industry were all there to greet her. Unknown to me at the time, Loren had seen all that and more. Her backstory shows up often in various media during the course of this story, and they all seem to present that content in a misleading or inaccurate fashion. It's my understanding that producers from "The Voice" approached Loren's label looking for new talent, and Loren was offered up. With no album releases and a lot of unkempt promises, I can't imagine a talent show audition being something she would have had in mind. Not being voted into the second live round had to hurt all the more. She'd had enough! At her own request, the label dropped her. Exhausted and dejected, Loren Allred walked away from the recording industry. She had remained true to herself through it all, relying solely on her talent and her gutsy determination, and she left with her values intact. When I see someone in these situations rise above it all, it endears them to me right away! I'm well aware of the anxiety and depression that can follow, and the emotional scars that are left. But often there is victory in defeat, and maybe this is where the first seeds of transformation were actually planted, although it would never have seemed so at the time. You might compare those seeds to the smoldering ember I spoke of in the introduction. Ironically, after winning my year-end event, I would bid farewell to marathons. However, an ember remained in me also, and would later spark an alternate quest that would create what I perceived as a shared moment in time, as explained later in the story.
We've now arrived at the final performance in the live-vote Playoff Round. I'll save most of my comments until after, because there's a lot to unpack. But I'd like to express a few thoughts beforehand. First off, I love the song, and I like the way Loren performed it. "Been Around The World" shows off her skill set, and it's definitely in her wheelhouse. However, it brings up that same issue of "at the end", so I'll offer, again, that her 2nd round duet, "I Need You Now" was the only time her voice was allowed to soar a bit during the song, and also let us hear those beautiful flips and transitions. A similar type of song might have fared better in the live-vote round. Also, again, it's unfortunate that the viewers didn't see this lengthy introduction to Loren earlier in the show. The video is a bit blurry and is also "Loud," so adjust your sound volume ahead. Enjoy this live performance of "Been Around the World."
In August of 2008, I was immersed in a familiar habit ... yes, there are unfamiliar ones. I was sitting at my desk, transfixed by Google Earth's images of places of interest. Each site was then web-searched for facts and data as I looked for a part-time home location. On this occasion, I was searching for towns at 7000ft (2133m) or higher, but most were expensive ski resort towns, so I lowered the standard a bit. A few of you will already know where I'm going with this. Those runners' laughter still rang in my ears, but I'm a pragmatist, and I knew that ramping up from a bit of jogging to marathon fitness in only a few months was a foolish plan. Injury aside, just finishing would be a challenge, so I was thinking ahead. I had returned to running with the goals of becoming competitive again and validating the work that I do by serving as an example. Thus, searching for a part-time home at altitude made perfect sense in that regard. I could never have imagined that my attention would suddenly land upon a small town news item that had absolutely nothing to do with my search. It was about a local Utah teenager with big dreams and a lot of determination, hoping to audition for the upcoming season of American Idol. I had enjoyed the TV show's first season, which provided a much-needed break from a year of post-9/11 news, but I hadn't followed it much after that. I was about to resume my search when I saw that she had driven to the audition site and slept in her vehicle, hoping to be among the first in line for registration. She had risen at 4:00 a.m. and found a line had already formed, but still managed to register early. I clearly recall thinking that I would be proud if that were my kid...showing that kind of determination. Just as I was about to return to Google Earth, I saw the word "Boston" from the corner of my eye. She had been accepted to a prestigious music school in Boston and would attend that fall.
Maybe you guessed from the start that it was Loren Allred I had happened upon that day in 2008, and was finally seeing four years later. If so, then you may already be familiar with much of what's to come. Hopefully, I can offer additional knowledge and insight, and perhaps you can offer the same. However, please keep in mind that this is not a biography, but simply this observer's chronicled account of Loren's development and transformation, as seen and heard through my own eyes and ears. Let's return to that October evening and its surrounding events. As for this 3rd round performance of "You Know I'm No Good," I was too surprised to notice much detail during that first viewing. All the searching upon first discovering in 2008, the failure to find anything during the second stay in Boston, and now she suddenly appears in my living room! When I replayed it, however, two things stood out for me. It's an Amy Winehouse song, so the sultry part was a big ask, although she handled it pretty well and closed powerfully. But what I mostly noticed was the subdued "Thank you" directed at Adam's gesture of support, and what I sensed as a look of resignation on her face, as if to say ..."Why bother anymore?" or perhaps "Why am I even here?" Maybe she was just expecting Nicole Nelson to win this Knockout Round, which was certainly possible at that point, given Loren's lack of exposure on the show. It had to be a difficult decision for Adam, and it was obviously a big surprise for Loren. What might have been the start of a run for her would be hindered by the early lack of exposure and some poor guidance.
***Important note: The YouTube video links will take you directly to the performance mentioned. Please avoid viewing related clips in the side panel. Otherwise, you will destroy the chronology and flow of the story. Copyright issues prohibit me from embedding the videos on the website. If you avoid even looking at the thumbnails, you will enjoy the story much more.
2012 was a good year for me. I had returned to Boston and, on the race's second hottest day ever, managed a 2nd place finish (division), despite zigzagging the entire course to catch the water sprays and shade. I don't do well in extreme heat, and "survival" seemed more important that day than a top finish! The awards ceremony that evening took place in the lavish Copley Plaza Hotel ballroom, before a huge Kenyan entourage, and with several U.S. Olympians seated beside me. It was a memory I'll always treasure.
