USD Idol winner finds her way back to vocals, tops USD Idol competition
Elizabeth Daniel said she has been singing “for what feels like forever,” belting out Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” for anyone who would listen growing up.
For the past two years, her vocals took a back seat to other pursuits.
“I’ve been running from (singing) for a few years,” she said.
It would be hard to know this watching the sophomore onstage in Aalfs Auditorium, especially after she commanded hits like Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” to win the first-ever University of South Dakota Idol competition March 25.
USD Idol featured 10 competitors performing over the course of three nights, all vying for the top three spots for cash prizes. The event was hosted by the Campus Activities Board, and CAB coordinator Lindsey Herbert said the competition was all about the providing students the spotlight.
“Students know we are putting these events on for them, so they can have a good time here at USD,” Herbert said. “They have more things to get involved with (on campus), more to do.”
Daniel said inning USD Idol and the $300 cash prize has helped bring her back to her vocal roots, to the point where she is in the process of changing her major from psychology to music education.
“One day I sat there thinking why am I avoiding (singing), this is what I love,” she said.
Aside from giving her direction in her career choices, music has also played a part in how Daniel deals with the “rough patches” in life. Her selection of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” for her final song in the USD Idol competition stemmed from her own reliance on its message with her own problems, like more than a month ago, when she was terminated from her sorority.
Daniel said at the time of the termination, she found herself completely lost.
“I lost a lot of money and friends, but with it I also realized the true meaning of loyalty and learned that life is definitely not fair,” Daniel said. “Since then, I’ve found that I’m better off on my own, but my true friends were by my side the whole time and continue to be still.”
Daniel said severing ties with the sorority was a huge curveball and recovering from it was difficult, but said she came out of it stronger and with a new level of self-respect.
This new level of determination for her singing career, especially with the validation she feels from winning USD Idol, is something she mirrors from her favorite artists, like Miley Cyrus.
“I know people give Miley a hard time, but can you blame her for being genuine. She puts on the kind of performance she wants, and I think that is amazing,” Daniel said.
5 songs Elizabeth’s listening to right now:
- Titanium – David Guetta ft. Sia
- Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson
- Torn – Cassadee Pope
- Not Ready to Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
- Human – Christina Perri
Photo: USD Idol winner Elizabeth Daniel performs Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” during the finale. After winning, Daniel has since changed her major from psychology to music education. (Megan Card/The Volante)
