Amanda Canzurlo (stage name Bloom) not only bears an uncanny resemblance to Linda Ronstadt, who retired in 2009, but can belt out the all the hits made famous by the 73-year-old songbird who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and is now unable to sing.
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Bloom wasn't even alive when Ronstadt sold out the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1979. "I was an '85 baby," she says.
She has been singing her whole life, but in her early 20s had a fringe and people remarked on how much she looked like Ronstadt.
"As a vocalist I admire her, she was never defined by one particular genre. She did it [crossed genres] so well, and with such conviction, which I really loved."
Bloom says it wasn't until she decided to do this show she found out more about the multi-Grammy award winner.
"The songs really are timeless classics. She was blessed to be able to pick the songs she wanted to do."
A desire to bridge the gap and introduce Ronstadt's music to the now generation was the impetus to put the show together. "A lot of mother daughter duos come up to me and say how great it is to appreciate the songs of the mum's teen years."
Blue Bayou, written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, is definitely the singalong point of the show says Bloom.
"It's beautiful to hear people sing along with me. This show is full of nostalgia and triggers a lot of memories.
"We have similar tonal qualities in our voice, which I found surprising. She was more of a soprano than I am, but it has opened up my voice. She is so natural sounding, I could listen to her for hours."
Bloom also feels Ronstadt oozed sex appeal. "She came across as so natural, no costumes, just hoop earrings and a flower in her hair, a sort of naive look really. Some people say I sound like her, but I'm not trying to. It's very much me still. Learning a song I might mimic a vowel sound, but as a whole, I put my own emotional intent behind the songs and sing them the way I would sing them."
Her first performance was at age four at a Baptism. "I got up to sing with the guitarist. It was a difficult thing to do. Now I think, 'how did i know timing', how did I remember the words?'."
She was part of the Johnny Young Talent Time troupe, but used to get frustrated when the others didn't learn things as quickly as she did. "I didn't last long in a group environment."
The first concert she saw was Tina Arena. "When I saw her on that big stage, I know I wanted do that when I got older."
The singer songwriter is currently fundraising for her new song, and will be bringing out a Linda Ronstadt CD. Her new song should be available at the end of the year depending on getting the pledges she needs. "As an independent artist it's hard to come up with up-front costs. Producing your own shows, you are in charge and you can get your vision across, but it's not the most financially rewarding."
Bloom is lending her voice to help raise awareness of the disease which brought an end to Ronstadt's career in 2009. "With Linda she comes across as a bit of a perfectionist, so maybe once her voice was affected [by Parkinson's Disease], her singing would not have met her own standards. In a lot of interviews I've read, she seems to be accepting of it. She comes off as a strong woman.
"At the end of the show I go out and meet everybody and have a bucket on the merch desk. So far we have raised $6000. It brings a deeper meaning to the tour, to be able to help people in Australia."
With 30 studio albums to choose from Bloom says she tried to pick something from every era. "There are a couple of surprises people aren't expecting ... like Linda making an appearance," she says cryptically.
"At one show and 80-something lady was dancing away to the songs. Later she told me it made her feel 18 again. It's very nice to hear the stories from people, very rewarding. So, if you want to see a show to make you feel 18 again, this is the one."