Jordin Sparks

Last year’s American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks shares her thoughts on fame and faith with Davina Morris

With season seven of American Idol, currently building towards crowning a new star, last year’s winner better enjoy the limelight while it lasts.

After all, there’s always that danger that each triumphant contestant on the popular reality TV show will fade into the background once the next season commences. Granted, some Idol winners (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino) have maintained successful careers.

But the heat has definitely faded on the likes of previous winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard. Is last year’s winner, Jordin Sparks concerned that her career might suffer a similar fate?

“That is a bit scary, but it’s not something I really think about,” says the 18-year-old talent. “It is strange to watch the current season of Idol. Watching all these new talents, there is the temptation to feel a bit like, don’t forget about me!”

“I obviously want to sustain my career for as long as possible and I’m working really hard. But no matter what happens, I know I’m not gonna quit singing. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t sing at all.”

For now, at least, Sparks doesn’t have to worry about fading from the public’s attention. And with true talent, good looks and youth on her side (she was the youngest Idol winner, taking the title when she was just 17), she has many of the key ingredients to allow her to sustain a career for the foreseeable future.

She’ll soon have the opportunity to showcase material from her self-titled debut album, when she embarks on a tour with R’n’B star Alicia Keys.

“I’m really looking forward to that,” she says excitedly. “Alicia Keys is such a phenomenal talent and I never would have dreamed that I could tour with her.”

Sparks’ excited tone was a reminder of just how much the Idol experience can change the contestants’ lives. While many critics lament– often rightly so– on the perils of reality TV, there is no denying that such shows give a huge platform to aspiring stars.

“One thing I think is great about Idol is that it provides an opportunity for those who don’t necessarily have the means to just walk into a studio or have the connections to get to a record label. I think it’s a great thing that people can get an opportunity through the show.”

But now, the real test begins for Sparks, as she embarks on her career, outside of the hype of the show. Only time will tell whether her debut single Tattoo will make waves in the charts.  After all, it sounds a lot like Beyonce’s hit, Irreplaceable…

“Yes it does.”

How refreshingly honest. You wouldn’t get most acts readily admitting that their tune sounds like someone else’s!

Sparks continued: “It was produced by Stargate, who also produced Irreplaceable so yeah, they do sound similar. Tattoo was the first song I recorded and I really love it.”

Music aside, Sparks, who is a devout Christian, has also been deemed as somewhat of an activist. Whilst on Idol, an image of her standing with a ‘stop abortion now’ poster began circulating the Internet, which, some felt, earned her the ‘Christian vote’. But Sparks doesn’t attribute her anti-abortion stance to her faith.

“I don’t judge anybody, but I personally think it’s wrong,” she says. “I did a research paper on it in school and seeing the pictures of what takes place during abortion…it was really gruesome. I just don’t think it’s right.”

One wonders if her opinions and her faith are easy to sustain in the music business.

“Being a Christian does creates a sense of pressure, as it sometimes gives people a reason to want to see you crack or mess up. But thankfully, so far, I haven’t had any problems.”

Well, for all those hugely conservative folks, here’s something that might tarnish Sparks’ clean-cut persona: Guess what she did for her 18th birthday?

“I went and got a tattoo.”

Heaven forbid!

“Well, I actually got it the day before my birthday, so my mum had to sign the consent form for that,” Sparks laughed. “So the day after my birthday, I went and got another tattoo and I was able to sign for that one myself!”

Still, they weren’t wild tattoos…

“I got one behind my ear that says ‘PJ’, which is my brother’s name. The other one is on the inside of my left wrist and it’s a Bible verse. It’s like a daily reminder.”

It’s 1st Timothy, chapter four, verse 12, in case you were wondering. Amen to that.

The single Tattoo and the album are out now on Sony BMG

Words: Davina Morris
www.davinamorris.com

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