Count Thierry Amiel among the myriad young singers launched to fame via the reality TV phenomenon of the early 21st century. Born October 18, 1982, in Bouches-du-Rhône, France, Amiel was studying psychology when he quit school to pursue a career in music. After auditioning unsuccessfully for the television amateur showcases Rêve d'un Soir and Popstars 2, in 2003 he was selected to compete in the first season of A la Recherche de la Nouvelle Star, the French spinoff of the international Pop Idol juggernaut. After narrowly avoiding elimination on the May 29 episode, Amiel gained...