American Idol Season 7: Some Things That Happened in Charleston Should Have Just Stayed in Charleston
For the first time ever Idol made it to the lovely state of South Carolina and there to meet Simon, Randy and Paula were 10,000 very eager contestants. Would the next American Idol come from the land of the palm trees? Oliver Highman hoped so but would his singing dreams be eluded by a trip to the hospital? His wife who was 37 weeks along went into labor that morning so day 1 of auditions was out for him. Would she have the baby soon and give Oliver enough time to return to the audition room? We all just had to wait and see.
First up to give us a taste of southern talent was the unemployed but always smiling Ray Henderson…better known as Richard (pronounced Rishaaaaard). He apparently is known as the black Clay Aiken. Well, off you go Richard and dang, he did sound like Clay Aiken. Creepy or impressive I am not quite sure but I thoroughly enjoyed him. He was a little bit over the top and Simon wouldn’t have been surprised if he would have done a magic trick but I was positive he could be tamed. Much to my chagrin they did not send him through. Personally I thought it was a mistake. They totally could have worked with him. Besides, he was entertaining. Sometimes I wonder if the judges know something we don’t…
Next up was DeAnna and an “uh oh” slipped out of my mouth as she confessed she was a waitress from Kellie Pickler’s home town. She sang the song “Fancy”; one Kellie had done during the Idol season and fell to her knees in great passion and anger. Okay, I really didn’t like her for various reasons but the judges were kind. Simon liked the passion and the anger but it was a no from him and the other two judges. Then Simon teased her a wee bit about waitressing and oh my goodness, did she not give him the angry eyes after he joked with her.
I’m still secretly smarting that they didn’t send Rishaaaaard through!!
Our next duo to try out was Crystal Oritz and Randy Stark. They had met on an American Idol website. Apparently he worked a message board and gave advice about the audition process and she had so many questions and they just fell in love. Their song was priceless as they sang the wrong words in their duet. He sang about blue eyes and she about brown. No way! Simon said it was complete torture and wondered what kind of advice he gave on the Idol message boards. Randy had to say no and Crystal honestly wondered if she shouldn’t sing at family events anymore and Simon told her no way. She was grateful for his advice and seemed like she was going to give it up. Then the love birds left. At least they had each other and their Idol message boards.
Then there was the brother and sister duo Michelle and Jeffery Lampkin. I loved them immediately with their bow chicka wow wow’s, especially him because he was so full of energy!! Oh they better send them both through. I don’t need another Rishaaaaard. He had a great voice witha unique tone. Jeffery definitely has a shot at making the live show for sure. Simon thought he was better than his sister but he liked them together because they were funny. Paula thought they were very special. Simon and Paula couldn’t split them up so they sent them through. Oh good. Jeffery is now officially on my Top 12 radar!
It was now update time on Oliver Highman and his wife who was in labor. They were from North Carolina so they weren’t familiar with the city or Charleston and he took a wrong turn. She wasn’t excited about possibly having a baby in the car but seem calm, cool, and collected.
Of course what would be an audition city without all the really bad singers doing a rendition of some previous Idol winners song? The lucky former winner whose song got butchered was Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”. They were all bad, I mean really bad but the lady in the end with the red dress singing her own paraphrase of the song? Priceless I tell ya!
Would Simon, Randy, and Paula find anyone good in South Carolina besides the highly entertaining Jeffery? Thankfully there was Amy Flynn, 16 and captain of her dance team she paraded right in and gave Simon a great abstinence speech complete with “whatev’s”. Wow, she really was 16 and so darling. She chose to sing a Christina Aguilera song. She kind of picked a big song for her voice but Paula really liked her and thought her voice was so pure and innocent and beautiful. Simon thought a lot of people would find her annoying! I guess I could see that but not nearly as annoying as Mikalah Gordon. Now I totally agreed with Simon when he said a lot of people would find her annoying in Season 4. Amy Flynn in my opinion was much more likeable. Simon said yes and Randy thought she had mad potential. Then they told her to go give Ryan the abstinence speech too, a very long speech. Paula loved her and I did too.
The last contestant of the day was London Weidberg. I love that name!!! She was from Charleston and had been singing since she was a little girl. She lost her dad 3 years ago to cancer and had to put her music on hold. Now she was a full-time musician and I’m sure she was looking for her big break. She had a good voice but I kind of wished she sang another song to show her range. They also didn’t love her song selection but liked the tone of her voice. Simon thought it was a good audition but there were thousands like her with a good voice and good looks all over America. They sent her through though and day 1 was done with fifteen contestants making it through to Hollywood. I’m glad London made the cute. Unlike, sniff sniff, Rishaaaaard.
What was Paula wearing on day 2? Usually I’m pretty okay with her grooviness but the long gloves were a bit much for me. So first up was Lindsay Goodman. She was an air force pilot who flew the big C-17’s. She grew up wanting to fly and wanting to sing. She was absolutely darling and so very sweet and pretty. She sang “Black Velvet” and was very nervous. I felt bad for her because you could see the tightness in her mouth as she sang. I didn’t like her vibrato either (but hey, look at Christina Christensen…she made it on the show for Season 1 with all her vibrato) and I felt for her and her nerves. Both Randy and Paula said they liked her voice but Paula was very concerned about her nervousness. Simon thought she was a very good cabaret singer, not quite ready. Oh poor Lindsay. How cool though that she was foxy and a pilot!
Then there was Aretha. Aretha from Buffalo, New York. Her mother came to this country from Jamaica and was amazed by Aretha Franklin’s voice so she declared that the next daughter she had would bear that name and that voice! Well Aretha felt she was as good as Fantasia and all the other Idol’s out there. She chose Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing”. Well, at first I thought she might be good but then she changed keys and was all over the place. Simon didn’t like the funny light blue dress, the belt, or her voice. Aretha thought she was amazing and that she had a beautiful voice. Paula pointed out her pitch wasn’t very good and she changed keys. Paula loved her confidence but Simon told her she just couldn’t sing and she was like yes I can. She just could not believe she did not make it. Maybe it was the dress…or the belt…
But never fear! Next up was Joshua Boson and he was the definition of over the top singing. He chose the big and huge “I’m Telling You”, the song that landed Jennifer Hudson an Oscar. Wow, was he scary. What do you even say to that?? What do the judges even say to that? They couldn’t even look him in the eye after he was done warbling. Of course Joshua was ticked he didn’t make it and went off about how the show was rigged and how he was so great. Simon told him that he was rude and deluded. Well, he told all of America that his talent was too big for American Idol to hold. He was looking to be the next world idol.
Finally we found out about the very nice and very sweet Oliver Highman who became a new daddy on the first day of auditions. At 27 years old he was a proud papa of a new little girl named Emma Grace. They allowed him to audition on day 2 and I really liked his voice and who he was as a person! I loved Oliver Highman!!! Oh, but there was a high note that wasn’t the best but still! I loved him! Simon thought he was corny and old fashioned and not very good. Randy didn’t like the vibrato. Paula thought he had a good voice but it didn’t work in the audition. I really can’t believe they didn’t send him through! He was so sweet and a total gentleman though as he showed off his new baby. Why didn’t they send him through??? Oh come on now. He had a nice voice and he could have worked on his vibrato and stuff. Well, for reasons unknown to me they sent through Kayla from Dallas but not Oliver from North Carolina!!! I will not let them live that down…ever! Maybe it was because I was still stewing about Rishaaaaard.
Next week the judges and Ryan take us to Omaha, Nebraska. My what strange cities and states they have picked for this season of Idol. We’ll see if the land of corn gives us more Jeffery’s or more Joshua’s. Let’s hope for some Jeffery’s. I need me some more Jeffery! Until then I will fondly remember the unemployed but happy Ray Henderson, a.k.a., Rishaaaaard.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
