Music sensation Charice said Monday that the launch-pad Glee offers Internet artists is invaluable.
The 18-year-old singer, who rose to fame through a series of YouTube videos and was brought stateside by Ellen DeGeneres, told reporters during a conference call Monday that the Fox musical dramedy serves as an important
platform for performers looking to translate Internet fame to a broader audience.
“I think that’s one of Glee’s goals: To help other teenagers to make their dreams come true,” said Charice, who joins series regular Darren Criss (A Very Potter Musical) as performers whose careers have gone more mainstream
after appearing on the show.
Charice, whose YouTube videos have more than 61 million views, said that the exposure on the series has built upon the boost she received after appearing in December 2007 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Oprah Winfrey has also dubbed the young talent “the most talented girl in the world.”
“Glee is one of the best things [for exposure],” said the singer who first appeared on Glee during its Season 2 premiere in September. “A lot of people recognize me right now — ‘I know you, I think I’ve seen you on Glee.’ Glee really helped me, my career and my life.”
As for talk that Glee would next take on Rebecca Black’s “Friday” — which has nearly 110 million streams on YouTube — the singer with a pair of Platinum records in her native Philippines and a Gold release in Japan and Thailand would only congratulate her on the attention the widely criticized track has received.
“I’ve been hearing it everywhere and I just want to congratulate Rebecca on it,” she said.
Charice will sing Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” when Glee returns Tuesday on Fox. Her new single “Before It Explodes,” written and produced by Bruno Mars, bowed Monday.
