dreamfleur Creative Inspiration Suite

Have you seen Disney’s newest film the The Princess and the Frog yet? I love how the movie inspires young people, but especially represents a breakthrough of role models for African American girls.

Check out these interviews of Anika Noni Rose, who plays ‘Princess Tiana’, and hear what she thinks about the film and her role:

“…I think that the heart of the film is the thought that you should always follow your dreams, always. Whatever it is that your heart most wants and makes your pulse race faster- when you find it go for it…”

- Anika Noni Rose, who plays the Princess Tiana in Disney’s the The Princess and the Frog

Anika is a wonderful actress who has appeared on both Broadway and in films like Dream Girls. She says she also always wanted to play a Disney character. Here’s what she told young journalist Chris Yandek about her childhood dream in a recent interview (click here to listen):

“I dreamed of being a Disney voice. I did not have the aspirations to be a princess like actively, but I just wanted to be a voice. So I didn’t care if I was a kitten or like a leaf or shoelace. I just wanted to be in a Disney movie so badly from when I was very, very little, I was very – I feel like Disney has sort of been the soundtrack to my life. I can remember points in my life in the movies that are with that time or a situation or how I felt in the theater. Fantasia was my first movie…”
- Anika Noni Rose

Check out the cool videos below that give a behind the scenes look at Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation and more:
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Talk about dreams come true! 17-year-old singer Charice Pempengco recently blew away the audience of the Oprah Winfrey Show, and the world, with the performance of her first single “Note to God.” The performance was part of Oprah’s Talented Kids series finale.

Renowned songwriter Diane Warren, who wrote the song said “I thought that would be the perfect song, and you did way beyond what I had hoped for.”

Oprah told Charice, “You are a force to be reckoned with. That voice comes from something bigger than yourself. You’re pulling it up out of some place deeper than your little body.”

Click here or the picture below to see the video on Youtube. You can also see Charice’s interview on the Oprah Winfrey Show by clicking here.

Charice also has a role on the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks movie coming out on December 25, 2009.

Charice truly reminds us that dreams really can come true! See more facts about the young singer below.

For more about Charice, check out some facts below about how she got her start:

Dreamer Profile: Charice Pempengco

Charice began getting exposure through videos of herself singing on YouTube, gaining up to 13 million hits!

Born and raised in the Philippines, Charice was discovered at age 4 when her mother, a singer herself, noticed her daughter’s loud, rather enthusiastic version of “Happy Birthday” and decided to teach her proper vocal technique.

By age 7, Charice was competing in local contests and belting out songs by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

In 2007, a web-savvy fan began posting a series of Charice’s performances on YouTube. These included her performances of “I Will Always Love You” and “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from the “Dreamgirls” soundtrack – both of which were broadcast on the Filipino talent show Little Big Star. That led to a performance on the popular South Korean talent show Star King.

Once that appeared on YouTube, she became an authentic internet sensation. Charice soon attracted the attention of American TV shows and appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Several months later, she appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show bringing Oprah and the audience to tears when she sang.

Charice has performed alongside such stars as Michael Bublé, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Katharine McPhee and Josh Groban.

After singing with Celine Dion at her Madison Square Garden show in New York City, Charice confessed, “It was a dream come true. She’s my idol. I felt like the luckiest kid in the world.”

What’s next for Charice? “I want to sing AND dance with Justin Timberlake,” she laughs, speaking of how she would like to branch into different genres such as pop.

Facts from Charice’s Official website

“Get Up” by Mary Mary, is off of their new CD “The Sound” that comes out tomorrow, October 21st. The song is about being your best self and not wasting time to follow your dreams.

“It’s your dreams / Your choice, Your time, Your life
So don’t you, Don’t you / Miss it

What are you afraid of?
Don’t you know what you’re made of?
One of God’s greatest creations
Take this invitation now…” – Lyrics from Mary Mary’s “Get Up”

Here’s a classic moment from the final episode from Season 3 of American Idol. Fantasia Barrino sings about reaching her dreams, and says that she overcame many obstacles to get were she is now:

“I believe in the impossible
If I reach deep within my heart
Overcome any obstacle
Won’t let this dream just fall apart
you see i strive to be the very best
Shine my light for all to see
Cause anything is possible
When you believe…

I can see it in the stars up in the sky
Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
Now I finally realize
You see I’ve waited all my life for this moment to arrive
And finally I believe…”

- Fantasia Barrino singing “I Believe”

I love this video, and all things Disney:

Be sure to watch “A Raisin In the Sun!” I first read the inspiring play by Lorraine Hansberry in junior high, and it is one of my favorite books. The movie premieres tonight, Monday, Feb. 25th 7/8c on ABC. Don’t miss this powerful adaptation of the classic play, starring Sean P. Diddy Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Sanaa Lathan and Young Black Star Justin Martin, who we got to interview for our Black History Special! (Graphic Above from the “A Raisin In the Sun” Website.)

By dreamfleur • February 2008 • No Comments