Jenny Gear
Encyclopedia
Jenny Gear is a singer and former Canadian Idol
contestant.
in St. Johns, Newfoundland in 2003, bringing the panel of judges (which included Jake Gold
, Sass Jordan
, Farley Flex
and Zach Werner) to tears with her rendition of "God Bless the Child
".
She next completed the Toronto
rounds and earned herself a spot in the semi-finals. There, she performed "Tower Of Song" by Leonard Cohen
and received mixed reviews from the judges. Some of the judges' comments include "In true Newfoundland style I can't help but feel that you are slightly a fish out of water in all of this," from Zach Werner and "When I get a sense you're enjoying yourself, I enjoy myself. And that's all it boils down to," from Farley Flex
. The next night, she garnered enough votes to earn herself the fifth seat in the Top 11.
On August 4, the Top 11 performed Canadian hits. Gear excelled with her version of Sarah McLachlan
's "Possession", showing off her incredible range and pitch-perfect control, and after all the voting, was safe from elimination. Some of the judges' comments include "You do put the Canadian in Canadian Idol," from Zach Werner and "It never fails to amaze me the amount of control you have when you're singing. This unbelievably emotional stuff," from Sass Jordan
.
The next theme, Motown, proved to be a challenge for Gear. She sang "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
and although she received mediocre comments from the judges, she was safe and without a trip to the bottom three. Some of the judges' comments include "This girl can really sing," from Zach Werner and "You get up there and you just have this vibe about you, and you be Jenny. You can't judge Jenny Gear. It's just impossible," from Jake Gold
.
For the Top 6, Jenny performed an amazing rendition of "Summertime
" and remained safe from elimination. Some of the judges' comments include "Jenny, that was a really beautiful interpretation," from Sass Jordan and "Jenny I gotta say, I feel vindicated. You've just shown Canada what we first saw in St. John's. That was riveting," from Farley Flex
.
The next theme night was Elton John
and Jenny chose to sing "Rocket Man." Her performance earned her a mediocre response from the judges with comments that included "With the song selection and the arrangement and how level your performance was it was sort of like the words you don't want to hear your surgeon say... whoops," from Zach Werner and "I think you took a song that's extremely hard to sing and you did a damn fine job," from Sass Jordan
. The next night, she had her first and last trip to the bottom two along with eventual Canadian Idol
winner Ryan Malcolm
. When the results were announced the crowd was shocked to find Jenny eliminated.
signed Gear to his talent agency, but they eventually parted ways due to creative differences.
Jenny Gear's debut album "Jenny Gear and The Whiskey Kittens", which was recorded entirely in her grandmother's kitchen, was actually recorded before she appeared on Idol. The CD was released in late 2004 and has been the top seller on Atlantic Music Online for the last two and a half years.
She has appeared on many TV shows including "Breakfast Television
", "MuchMusic
's Going Coastal", "Live at 5", and "Out Of The Fog"." She also appeared in her own special on CBC
in 2004 before the release of her album.
Jenny Gear is currently playing clubs around the St. John's area and working on her 2nd CD.
Most of the members are now pursuing solo careers. Accompanying Jenny at most of her gigs lately is the well known St. John's guitarist Sandy Morris.
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
contestant.
On Canadian Idol
Jenny Gear, of Carbonear, Newfoundland, auditioned for Season One of Canadian IdolCanadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
in St. Johns, Newfoundland in 2003, bringing the panel of judges (which included Jake Gold
Jake Gold
Jake Gold is an American-born Canadian musician manager. He was a judge on the Canadian Idol television program. In addition to Idol participants, he has managed popular Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip and The Watchmen. His management company, The Management Trust, currently works with a...
, Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
, Farley Flex
Farley Flex
Farley Flex is a Canadian music promoter, artist manager, and motivational speaker. He is best known for being a judge on the reality television series Canadian Idol....
and Zach Werner) to tears with her rendition of "God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child
God Bless the Child may refer to:In music:* God Bless the Child , an album by Guerilla Black* God Bless the Child, an album by Kenny Burrell* "God Bless the Child" , covered by many artists...
".
She next completed the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
rounds and earned herself a spot in the semi-finals. There, she performed "Tower Of Song" by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
and received mixed reviews from the judges. Some of the judges' comments include "In true Newfoundland style I can't help but feel that you are slightly a fish out of water in all of this," from Zach Werner and "When I get a sense you're enjoying yourself, I enjoy myself. And that's all it boils down to," from Farley Flex
Farley Flex
Farley Flex is a Canadian music promoter, artist manager, and motivational speaker. He is best known for being a judge on the reality television series Canadian Idol....
. The next night, she garnered enough votes to earn herself the fifth seat in the Top 11.
On August 4, the Top 11 performed Canadian hits. Gear excelled with her version of Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
's "Possession", showing off her incredible range and pitch-perfect control, and after all the voting, was safe from elimination. Some of the judges' comments include "You do put the Canadian in Canadian Idol," from Zach Werner and "It never fails to amaze me the amount of control you have when you're singing. This unbelievably emotional stuff," from Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
.
The next theme, Motown, proved to be a challenge for Gear. She sang "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and although she received mediocre comments from the judges, she was safe and without a trip to the bottom three. Some of the judges' comments include "This girl can really sing," from Zach Werner and "You get up there and you just have this vibe about you, and you be Jenny. You can't judge Jenny Gear. It's just impossible," from Jake Gold
Jake Gold
Jake Gold is an American-born Canadian musician manager. He was a judge on the Canadian Idol television program. In addition to Idol participants, he has managed popular Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip and The Watchmen. His management company, The Management Trust, currently works with a...
.
For the Top 6, Jenny performed an amazing rendition of "Summertime
Summertime (song)
"Summertime" is an aria composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose Heyward, the author of the novel Porgy on which the opera was based, although the song is also co-credited to Ira Gershwin by ASCAP....
" and remained safe from elimination. Some of the judges' comments include "Jenny, that was a really beautiful interpretation," from Sass Jordan and "Jenny I gotta say, I feel vindicated. You've just shown Canada what we first saw in St. John's. That was riveting," from Farley Flex
Farley Flex
Farley Flex is a Canadian music promoter, artist manager, and motivational speaker. He is best known for being a judge on the reality television series Canadian Idol....
.
The next theme night was Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and Jenny chose to sing "Rocket Man." Her performance earned her a mediocre response from the judges with comments that included "With the song selection and the arrangement and how level your performance was it was sort of like the words you don't want to hear your surgeon say... whoops," from Zach Werner and "I think you took a song that's extremely hard to sing and you did a damn fine job," from Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
. The next night, she had her first and last trip to the bottom two along with eventual Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show Pop Idol. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Dore was the "roving reporter" for the first three seasons...
winner Ryan Malcolm
Ryan Malcolm
Ryan Michael Malcolm is a Canadian singer best known as the winner of the first season of Canadian Idol....
. When the results were announced the crowd was shocked to find Jenny eliminated.
Post-Idol
After the show, Idol judge Jake GoldJake Gold
Jake Gold is an American-born Canadian musician manager. He was a judge on the Canadian Idol television program. In addition to Idol participants, he has managed popular Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip and The Watchmen. His management company, The Management Trust, currently works with a...
signed Gear to his talent agency, but they eventually parted ways due to creative differences.
Jenny Gear's debut album "Jenny Gear and The Whiskey Kittens", which was recorded entirely in her grandmother's kitchen, was actually recorded before she appeared on Idol. The CD was released in late 2004 and has been the top seller on Atlantic Music Online for the last two and a half years.
She has appeared on many TV shows including "Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television
Breakfast Television is a Canadian morning news and entertainment program which airs on the Citytv stations . Each station produces its own local edition of Breakfast Television....
", "MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's Going Coastal", "Live at 5", and "Out Of The Fog"." She also appeared in her own special on CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
in 2004 before the release of her album.
Jenny Gear is currently playing clubs around the St. John's area and working on her 2nd CD.
Jenny Gear and The Whiskey Kittens
Jenny Gear and The Whiskey Kittens, the band on Jenny's first CD, are no longer performing together.Most of the members are now pursuing solo careers. Accompanying Jenny at most of her gigs lately is the well known St. John's guitarist Sandy Morris.
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart peaks | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
|||
| 2003 | "Tower of Song" | 84 | Jenny Gear and the Whiskey Kittens |
| "She's Like the Shallow" | 10 | ||
| 2004 | "Murder in the Southlands" | 8 | |
| 2005 | "Brave Percy" | 1 | |
| "Win, Win" | 22 | ||
| "Pale Slice of Moon" | 6 | ||
| 2006 | "All You Gotta Do" | 17 | |
Trivia
- Jenny Gear appears in the Great Big SeaGreat Big SeaGreat Big Sea is a Canadian folk-rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year-old Irish, English, and French heritage...
video for "Captain Kidd" from The Hard and the Easy album.