Remember Alex Parkes in the Academy?

[Deleted User] · 25/08/14 - 15:43

Anyone remember Alex winning the BBCs `Academy Contest` the girl who called herself the `Singing Cornish Lesbian`, that aside she certainly had a singing style all of her own, then when the sky appeared to be the limit she packed her rucksack and went trekking in Australia, sadly for her many fans, the music world did not come up to expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UewW-utx63k&list=RDxIG-WlDsFmo&index=3

Billy_Value · 25/08/14 - 15:45

ecckles wrote: »

Anyone remember Alex winning the BBCs `Academy Contest` the girl who called herself the `Singing Cornish Lesbian`, that aside she certainly had a singing style all of her own, then when the sky appeared to be the limit she packed her rucksack and went trekking in Australia, sadly for her many fans, the music world did not come up to expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UewW-utx63k&list=RDxIG-WlDsFmo&index=3

has she died?

shanders · 25/08/14 - 15:45

You've done this thread twice now.

It was Alex Parks in Fame Academy.

Creamtea · 25/08/14 - 16:01

What about her?

Trappedin80's · 25/08/14 - 16:03

Are you going to surprise us by telling us that she's now married with two kids & another one on the way?

[Deleted User] · 25/08/14 - 16:04

Is it just to ask if we remember her? I don't think she had any great talent, she was just different to anyone else at the time.

Ollie_h19 · 25/08/14 - 16:35

I'm not sure 'The Singing Cornish Lesbian' was her strapline as such. Just three random facts about her.

FM Lover · 25/08/14 - 16:48

I have her CD in my collection, I'm the one that bought it:D

gkmacca · 25/08/14 - 16:52

Surely she's not been mistaken for a ray of sunshine?

EuanMebabe · 25/08/14 - 18:09

I found her singing style very annoying, especially the weird break mid-word when she sang "Yellow".

Look at the stars, look how they shine fo-OR you

Not a fan.

gkmacca · 26/08/14 - 08:13

Ollie_h19 wrote: »

I'm not sure 'The Singing Cornish Lesbian' was her strapline as such.

Maybe some other kind of strap.

TrebleKing · 26/08/14 - 09:28

What's she dong now, bricklaying?

grumpyoldjoe · 26/08/14 - 09:34

FM Lover wrote: »

I have her CD in my collection, I'm the one that bought it:D

+1 ;-)

Jerrybob · 26/08/14 - 09:34

Alistair should have won. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoJHG1-f5Tw

EuanMebabe · 26/08/14 - 19:31

gkmacca wrote: »

Maybe some other kind of strap.

:D:D

LostFool · 26/08/14 - 19:36

I never really liked Alex but I really rated Sinead Quinn from the first series. I've even got her CD somewhere.

I usually hate anything like X Factor or Pop Idol but there was something about Fame Academy which made it really interesting. It's a shame the BBC didn't have more faith in the format.

performingmonk · 26/08/14 - 19:37

ecckles wrote: »

Anyone remember Alex winning the BBCs `Academy Contest` the girl who called herself the `Singing Cornish Lesbian`, that aside she certainly had a singing style all of her own, then when the sky appeared to be the limit she packed her rucksack and went trekking in Australia, sadly for her many fans, the music world did not come up to expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UewW-utx63k&list=RDxIG-WlDsFmo&index=3

Is English your first language?

SULLA · 26/08/14 - 19:46

I liked her;-)

80sfan · 26/08/14 - 20:11

Never heard of her

donovan5 · 26/08/14 - 20:24

I thought she was awful,she won because the Beeb was so desperate to portray the show as a serious artist show compared to X-Factor(or whatever it was called then).
And they equated the god awful droning dirge that she put out as serious.

Just my opinion though;-)

wollygobble · 01/09/14 - 22:22

I remember her very well. I thought she was a great singer, but she was persuaded to believe she could be a great songwriter too, which she couldn't.

Hyram Fyram · 02/09/14 - 07:48

True fact: type in 'Alex Parkes'+'fun' into Google and the internet will explode.

Wuthering · 02/09/14 - 09:59

I liked her and think it's a shame her music career didn't work out. She was something different and much more interesting and talented than your average popstar of today (and back then!).

Fame Academy was a good programme, far more mature and watchable than X-Factor, Popstars, or American Idol.

theia · 02/09/14 - 12:54

grumpyoldjoe wrote: »

+1 ;-)

Another 1 here

Metal Mickey · 02/09/14 - 14:11

LostFool wrote: »

I never really liked Alex but I really rated Sinead Quinn from the first series. I've even got her CD somewhere.

I usually hate anything like X Factor or Pop Idol but there was something about Fame Academy which made it really interesting. It's a shame the BBC didn't have more faith in the format.

Alex's "Maybe That's What It Takes" and Sinead's "I Can't Break Down" are both fantastic songs, easily my favourites to come directly from UK TV talent shows...

And yes, Fame Academy was a great format, shame it didn't last... France's similar Star Academy show managed 8 seasons (plus a 1 season re-try a few years later)

LostFool · 02/09/14 - 14:22

Metal Mickey wrote: »

Alex's "Maybe That's What It Takes" and Sinead's "I Can't Break Down" are both fantastic songs, easily my favourites to come directly from UK TV talent shows...

And yes, Fame Academy was a great format, shame it didn't last... France's similar Star Academy show managed 8 seasons (plus a 1 season re-try a few years later)

At least Fame Academy encouraged them to develop their own writing skills rather than just being another karaoke competition. There are loads of FA clips on YouTube.

I used to have a thing for Sinéad back in the day.

Hey there!

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Remember Alex Parkes in the Academy?

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