Thanks to her stint with the late Michael Jackson, Australian guitarist/singer Orianthi Panagaris’ name went up in lights faster than you can say guitar hero. It’s too bad the 24-year-old is undermining her skills with her mediocre career choices.
Orianthi’s album Believe was released worldwide in the last quarter of 2009.
For one thing, she is relying too much on the MJ hullabaloo. Sure, if it wasn’t for that iconic This Is It scene where the King of Pop lets her take center stage to show off her mad guitar skills, Orianthi would just be another little-known backup guitarist.
For her recent stint on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, Orianthi’s promo video just had to mention the Michael Jackson thing again (see video below). We already know she’s a brilliant guitarist, so let’s hope that in 2010 she’ll try to stand on her own two feet and let her strum do the talking. As MJ put it, “It’s your turn to shine.”
If you’ve seen This Is It, you’ll know that her amazing guitar skills can put her at par with Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, and even Van Halen. It makes me wonder why this talented sheila decided to follow the predictable pop/rock princess route. Did anyone else notice that her marketing package is too reminiscent of Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson?
Although her catchy debut single “According To You” peaked at #6 in Australia and #36 in the US, I know she can do so much better than that. I’m talking about intense rock tunes or even pop mash-ups that don’t require the humdrum “I’m an empowered angst-ridden bubblegum princess with cool clothes and hot guys” mantra. It’s like she’s flipping burgers when I know she can whip up a fine gourmet cuisine.
C’mon, Orianthi. Think outside of the box.
