Idol Chatter & Voice Views

You’ve gotta love Amber Holcomb’s attitude.

Last year, she advanced all the way to Vegas before being cut after a group round performance with eventual finalists Joshua Ledet, Shannon Magrane and another returning Season 12 contestant, Curtis Finch Jr.

After that, she says, there was no way she wasn’t trying out again this year.

“That just ate me up inside,” the 18-year-old with the big smile says of her Season 11 elimination. “I was like ‘American idol beat me. I’ve gotta come back and beat it.’

“I call (last year) my just kidding round,” she adds in her Road to Hollywood video. “This time, I’m going to bring it 10 times harder and show America what they didn’t get to see.”

Well, she’s made it back to Vegas, though viewers at home are still waiting to see … or rather hear.

Idol showed precious little footage of Amber in Season 11, and that’s been the case so far in Season 12 as well.

But listen to her version of “Someone Like You” below and there’s no doubt the Texas teen has singing ability.

Amber graduated from Shepherd High School last spring and now works as a teaching assistant at Grace Crossing Academy, according to her Facebook page.

While at Shepherd, she was a member of the homecoming court, the drill team and the track and field team.

She also took best in show at the school’s 2011 talent show thanks to her vocal ability.

Amber says her voice sometimes surprises people because she’s so small and that her upbeat personality also helps set her apart.

As for musical inspirations — she said in her Road to Hollywood video that Karen Carpenter is one of the most recent.

“I just got into ’70s (music) and I love their (the Carpenters’) songs. I want to live up to those standards.”

Here are three videos of Amber singing, though the last two are a bit dated.

“Someone Like You”

“No Air”

“Teenage Love Affair”