Look out for Maddi Jane, a Child Singer With Serious Chops

It’s hard to believe that Maddi Jane, an 11 year old singer from Chicago, Illinois, was born the same year that I was sporting those ridiculous flared jeans and begging my parents for Backstreet Boys‘ tickets. Self-deprecation aside, Maddi has, by a long stretch of a mile, one of the most dynamic, mature, and downright soulful voices I’ve heard in a long while. While listening to one her YouTube covers, I actually forgot I was listening to a kid.

You might be thinking: “Oh great. Another totally amazing child singer. Just what the world needs.” At least, that’s what cynical me thought. Today, it really doesn’t take long to find the next big child prodigy, from 2010′s “Paparazzi”-belting Greyson Chance to any audition round of America’s Got Talent. And then you have Rebecca Black, who, even months after the odd success of “Friday,” remains in a category, good and bad, all her own. YouTube has given us a barrage of young singers and acts, and throughout time, society has loved nothing more than putting people on pedestals and tearing them down. Let’s face it, the child star-making factory isn’t a new thing to “Hollywood” or the industry, itself. Anyone remember Danny Bonaduce? Yeah, we all saw how that turned out.

Underneath all that “child star” allure, however, is a talented singer. To make a long story short, she’s worth a listen… or two, or three, or four. I can’t help but picture her voice in fifteen, ten — hell, even five years from now. In a sea of cute and impressive child acts, she’s got the chops and even the emotional resonance to not fade from the spotlight. Let’s just hope that spotlight doesn’t chew her up and spit her back out.

Maddi Jane - Just The Way You Are Lyrics

Oh his eyes, his eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
His hair, his hair
Falls perfectly without him trying

He's so wonderful
And I tell him everyday

Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment him
He wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think he don't see what I see

But every time I ask him do I look okay
I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause boy you're amazing
Just the way you are

Oh you know, you know, you know
Id never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searchin for
Then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
because you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for a while
Cause boy you're amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Boy you're amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause boy you're amazing
Just the way you are

Yeaah.