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She is great for her age. I really like the Clay song. I think this song also shows what a great song writer she is for 12.

She's writing with a 6th grade education.
As she matures her music and lyrics will mature unless she gives up writing and performing entirely.

I hope Grace improves her songwriting skills
No doubt it will

As you said, "by today's standards she's not bad". But when you consider she's only 12 and has been writing her own lyrics, with no guidance from a school music teacher or anyone, for less than two years, some of her songs are actually pretty deep.
"I don't know my name / I don't play by the rules of the game"
She's saying "I'm a kid, a tween, on the verge of becoming a teenager, and I have no idea of who I am, what my self-identity is" / "I don't feel like I fit into social norms, I'm not what people expect me to be."
The lines about her sister's friend and getting along "quite nicely", she is envious because she hasn't built any of these "normal" relationships with anyone. And then the friend asked why she cut her hair, this shows that outsiders have noticed her struggles (and maybe her family hadn't) as she's "trying to find my way", as the last line in the song.
When you sit down and analyze it, it's really a pretty self-aware lyric, especially for a "kid". I think she's a lot more mature that anyone gave her credit for.

Yeah, I probably could have come up with a better example if I cared. But Alanis is so annoying, she was the first one to spring to mind.
Shooting has started on my latest movie:
http://www.imdb.com/board/15531336/

That's true in a popular sense, being as many artists continue to release great music under the radio radar after their 15 minutes of fame, but I'm sure you could have come up with a better example than Alanis.
Jagged Little Pill
wasn't the end of her mainstream popularity.

Some people never get any better, regardless of experience. Some even get WORSE. Some use up all their stuff in one shot and have nothing left (See: "Alanis Morissette").
Shooting has started on my latest movie:
http://www.imdb.com/board/15531336/

The majority of them that failed to win also sound like many other artists and musicians and most of them were just singing other tracks.
I've maintained that Grace is unique and different, thus the chance she could have gone on if she lost the show.
Some of the bigger names to come out of American Idol never won the show. But they were also the more unique and better talents of the entire competition.

True, and it only sold about 4K copies.
She did much better after AGT, but not as well as I, and probably her too, had hoped.

And Jackie Evancho actually released an album BEFORE she was on AGT as well.
Shooting has started on my latest movie:
http://www.imdb.com/board/15531336/

She could go back home, have a few more years of a normal life and relationships, and continue honing her craft. She should struggle in a few small indie bands for a while and play hole in the wall venues. Then, and after several more years, she could release a record or an EP on a social media fund raising campaign and work her way up from there.
This is basically the route of all singers that won AGT. None of them got 'instant fame'. Some of them released an album that did OK, but none got the fame they were probably hoping for.
The only exception I can think of is Jackie Evancho, her albums did very well and she's released a few so far. But even she isn't a top star, and I don't think she ever will be.
After her first two or three albums come out, she'll probably be dropped from her label and go the indie route. I could be wrong, I do like her, but I'm going by what's happened to virtually every winning singer in the past, even most of the American Idol winners.

I never heard of her and looked her up.
I am unimpressed.
There's a hundred or more singers out there who sound a lot like her and can do what she does but better.
Grace is something unique. That's a main difference.

Carly Rose Sonenclare lost and did not come out with a record. She missed her window and she has been saying she has a new album coming out for 2 years. So Grace waiting a few years would hurt her career.

She still has a lot of room for improvement. But she's only 12. With maturity and age she should improve. I just hope she gets the chance. I think the best song writing comes from people who live real lives and struggle for a period of time before breaking into music. A lot has been handed to her at age 12I wonder how that will impact her future music. Perhaps it would have been better if she lost. She could go back home, have a few more years of a normal life and relationships, and continue honing her craft. She should struggle in a few small indie bands for a while and play hole in the wall venues. Then, and after several more years, she could release a record or an EP on a social media fund raising campaign and work her way up from there.
Because I think she has what it takes to be something phenomenal as an adult. I just fear that people will lose interest in time. The ukulele bit seems cute now, but that's gonna wear off in short order. And this is coming from a guy who likes her and wants to see her succeed.
It's just doesn't seem to be a good route to take for a musician - the instant fame route. You end up surrounded by handlers, suck-ups, and sycophants. I just hope her parents are smart enough to shield her from a lot of that. Let her release a record or two before she's an adult, but I just hope it doesn't go to her head and ruin what she could be. There is a lot of potential here.

Howie and Access Hollywood disagree with You!I have to say I agree with them. Every one can relate to all her songs.
https://www.accesshollywood.com/videos/howie-mandel-says-agt-winner-grace-vanderwaal-is-a-new-bob-dylan/

Prince was phenomenal. He is missed.
RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Matt Roberts. You were great.

Dude, she's 12 years old. Give her time. Prince was writing songs when he was 9 years old but there is a reason he never recorded them later in life.

The song "Now I Know My Name" is a catchy tune. I like it and find it going through my head sometimes.
The other ones she sang I didn't really care for. But at 12, her life experience is really just beginning. As long as she doesn't end up writing songs about her boyfriends or her ex-boyfriends, I think she'll be OK.

So you're saying she's going to stay 12 forever?
You moron.
If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you doyou are misinformedMark Twain

I wish you knew how dumb you sound. She's 12. Grow up.

If she is a music artist, which I think she is, she will develop more and more. With new experiences comes new music and stories to tell.