American Idol Hollywood Week Part 1 Recap…And Boy Was it a Doozy!
The happy contestants were all so excited to make it to Hollywood. Well of course they were! But had they forgotten that only 24 actually make it out “alive”? Don’t they remember the sobbing from past seasons? The attitudes? The drama? Well, for the 164 who made it through they were going to quickly be reminded. They also had no idea what was in store because it was a brand new Hollywood week. I could tell already this was going to be a very good, very nerve racking, and very entertaining show.
Day One was upon us. How was the week going to go down? New things and a new format for Hollywood week. Nobody got cut the first two days but those that didn’t get the free pass to the final Hollywood audition would have to sing for their life on the 3rd day. You either made it or got told you were lucky you were getting another shot.
The first one up (how would you like that luck of the draw?) was Brooke the pure lovely lady who had never seen an R rated movie. For the first time ever the contestants also got to play an instrument and sing if they would like. She totally did awesome and went on through for sure to the final day of Hollywood week. She sounded great as she played piano and sang. She was worried about her confidence but I sure couldn’t tell.
So, the instruments helped some and not others. Oh man there were some bad keyboards and guitars and then Jake Mellema hit the drums and sang and I thought Simon was going to pass out. He was a blah drummer but had a nice voice. Randy thought it was funny to see him drum and sing. Simon thought the only thing redeeming about the performance was that they stopped it early. At least Jake had a great attitude.
Then there was David Hernandez. He had a real, real nice smooth voice. He also had great stage performance. He definitely could make it ALL THE WAY. He was the whole package. Randy loved it from note one. Simon thought one of the best he had heard and that David was comfortable up there. He knew that the stage either makes or breaks the contestants and it did not break David. The judges loved him! I totally think he will be one of the Top 24.
Next up was rock and roll nurse Amanda. She was in a bad car accident right before Hollywood week and had some cracked ribs and stitches in her head but she made it to the auditions. Oh Amanda, do we love you or do we love you? She was hot, hot, hot! Her voice was so unique and she was one cool cat. Randy knew she had a 60’s revival thing and thought an artist like her could be big. Simon was glad she was there but cautioned her to pick other songs because he knew what she was going to sing and that could get monotonous and predictable. Very good advice from Simon and she easily made it through to the final round.
Then of course there were the contestants who forgot their words. Simon always tells them to remember them. Well, I think they probably knew them frontward and backwards but their nerves got to them. Still, it was painful to watch them blow it.
Then it was our Latin lover Ghalib who was born in Venezuela. He was kissing the ladies and revealed that he knew four languages. I totally loved him because he was such a kissy face. We need a Latin lover on American Idol! However, we need one that can sing. So, he sang and played guitar but it was seriously lacking and very flat. He just needed to sing in Spanish and it would’ve been way more interesting. So, Paula thought he was shouting but Simon hit the nail on the head saying the problem was Ghalib’s voice. It was corny and terrible. I had to agree. It was a no for the Latin lover but maybe he would pull it together on day two? But probably not.
As the days began to blur Josiah Leming took the stage with his piano and that voice. Josiah the guy living in his car from Tennessee with a slight British accent when he sang. Dang he was good. Randy loved his cool attitude. Paula thought he had something magical about him. Simon thought that his audition was the one he was going to remember. He totally made it straight through. I totally loved Josiah and I loved the song he did!!!! He will be Top 24 for sure. He mentioned he was lost without an instrument so we’ll see if he can hack singing alone without the aid of his guitar or piano. I’m sure they will require it sometime during the audition process!
Okay, there was some serious talent to be reckoned with for this season of Idol. I know they say every year it’s the best talent yet and blah, blah, blah but for serious? It really is the best talent yet. I think when all is said and done and America has voted in the Top 12 that it will be a very, very tough race for the title.
Then there was David Cook who took the stage with his guitar. He had the look and he sounded very good. Okay, on a side note why does everyone have blue tongues? They must all have the same lozenges or Gatorades or something out in the lobby. Back to David Cook though, he was hot. Randy and Paula liked it. Simon wasn’t crazy about it and thought if he lost the guitar he might be lost. Well, good thing he doesn’t have to lose the guitar! Randy and Paula sent him through with Simon saying no. I knew Simon wouldn’t like him. David thought Simon might be hatin’ on his hair. Well, Simon likes a certain sound and he just never really is fond of the male rocker.
Thankfully we got to see Kyle Ensely again, the resident politician. Well, he was hilarious with his audition. Paula thought it was corny but she loved his spirit. Simon thought it was abysmal. Paula thought that whatever song he selected he would have the most amazing spirit. Simon walked off and said “no”. I think seeing 164 people one after the other had slightly frayed the poor man. Well, I loved him too! The show needs people like Kyle. But, do you risk sending him through and making him the next Sanjaya? Perhaps…
Now it was day three. It was the people left who didn’t get a free pass to the last day of Hollywood. There were only 48 that got a free pass so 100 plus people had to audition once again and it was cut throat. They were divided into groups of ten and each group of ten came out and stood in a line and individually sang acapella for a few seconds. The judges deliberated and then made their cuts. Oh man! Brutal!!! Of course Simon had to tell them good luck and that it was do or die.
So for the first group only two made it. That was brutal. The next group had Amy the darling captain of the cheerleading squad and abstinence encourager. She had her voice coach help her the whole time but she didn’t make the cut. Then there was Jeffrey the comedian. Jeffrey and his sister who were so full of life and vitality. I loved his personality but his singing was a little off. Then there was Angela the single mom singing for her daughter plus she had just lost her father right before Hollywood week. She sounded very good, much better than Jeffrey I thought but she didn’t make it and Jeffrey did. I think they gave Jeffrey another chance on spirit alone. Would he redeem himself during the final auditions?
Well, with them extremely cut down it was now day four, the final day. They all were up rehearsing with the band until five o’clock in the morning. Wow, the band had amazing endurance. For the final day of auditions they could sing with the band any song they wanted from a list of 200 songs (go band). They also got three background singers, the same set up for the Top 24 live show.
David Archuleta, the darling 16 year old with the pure clear voice chose to sing “Heaven” by Bryan Adams. He was so impressive. I could not believe he was 16 years old and so at ease on that big ol’ stage! Randy thought it was the best he had heard for the whole audition process. Simon loved that he was young, good looking, likeable, and had a good voice. He sailed on through. I think David for sure will be Top 24.
Kyle Ensley sang Josh Groban…a much better song choice for him for sure! Randy thought it was really good. Paula thought it was safe. Simon apologized for leaving him up there the other day and walking off. It was Kyle’s moment and that was wrong of Simon. Very impressive Simon. The man knows when he’s wrong and of course he really knows when he is right! He also thought Kyle had a good little audition. They sent him through too! I really hope he makes the Top 24. We need an Anthony Federov, Clay Aiken, Jon Stevens, Sanjaya kind of guy!
Jeffrey Lampkin however did badly and definitely didn’t make it. Man, he had great spirit but he was all over the place and could not keep it in tune. Jeffrey was a great example of someone during the city auditions that had a lot of heart, spirit; a good audition who you thought might make it far but then ouldn’t cut it on the big stage in Hollywood. I never picked up in the city audition that he couldn’t stay on tune! They gave him plenty of chances in Hollywood though and he it wasn’t just one “bad” audition. The boy couldn’t carry a tune.
Then there was the lovely Syesha Mercado who seemed to pull it together and work it when it mattered. Earlier she had been battling sickness and didn’t make it through at first. Well, this time she nailed it! She was beautiful, she could sing, and man did she have stage presence! Randy thought she was one to watch in the competition. Paula saw she gave the performance to save her life and Simon told her she did it. She just did it. I loved her! She was Top 24 material for sure.
After Syesha came the Australian Michael Johns and he picked “Bohemian Rhapsody” to sing. That was brave. Was that the right song choice for him? Immediately I thought of Constantine. Well, he did really, really well and Randy was totally a fan and Simon thought it was the best audition of the day. He sailed on through to probably a Top 24 spot.
Then there was Irish singer Carly Smithson who had appeared on season five but couldn’t get her visa from Ireland. After auditioning again Simon thought she wasn’t as good so she went to the doctor and figured out what was wrong with her voice. She was allergic to her dog. So, she got that all taken care of and she picked the song “Alone” to sing and totally made it her own. Dang she was good. She was tight. She had a voice to be reckoned with. She will be Top 12 for sure and will give the women and the men a run for their money if she keeps letting those vocals fly like she did on that song.
Finally we got to see Asia’h Epperson, the gal with the unique and lovely voice whose dad died in a car accident two days before her city auditions. She looked beautiful and she sounded amazing and had wonderful stage presence. Simon loved it. He thought she was terrific. She totally lived up to everything I thought she would be. Asia’h too was definitely Top 24 material.
I had forgotten about the resident beauty queen Brooke Helvie. She took the stage and sounded pretty good until she surprised me and the rest of America with that awful high note. She sealed her deal of fate when they told her not to sing it again because they didn’t have time and off she went anyway. She totally begged Paula because she was the deciding vote and I think Paula was just plain annoyed with her so said “NO”. I wondered if Brooke had not been so annoying and disobedient if maybe Paula would have sent her through. Well, we’ll never know. Then of course she sobbed to the camera that she wished she was given a fair chance like everybody else! What? Come on now girl, you chose the song! That was part of the problem. They didn’t assign “Unchained Melody” to you. Maybe she wasn’t used to being runner-up since she was after all Miss Florida State Fair.
Finally there was one of my favorites, Josiah Leming. He was very nervous because it took him forever to find a song. Then he worked with the band and had a melt down because they never ran through it because he had a certain arrangement in his head. Then he ran into vocal coach Debra and she offered to have him come back with his guitar and work with her but I don’t think he did. The poor kid was exhausted and well, a kid. He was unprepared to audition and sent the band away and chose to sing acapella instead. Oh Josiah. It was bad. Good thing he rocked it every other time. Randy thought it was bad and offered to have the band come back. Paula didn’t think it was the right song choice. Simon gave him tough words about being overconfident and if he was going to dismiss the band he had better do an amazing job. He thought he was being a teensy bit annoying saying it took a lot of guts because it took a lot of guts for everyone to get up there. Also, he thought he lost a little bit of his charm on the performance because he came off overconfident and such. I thought Josiah was just a kid away from home for a year with no support and just misunderstood a teensy bit. I really HOPE they give him a shot and put him in the Top 24. He did get a yes from all three of them so I think his chances are good for that. But, if he can’t just sing and they don’t always let them play their instruments on the live show he could be in trouble!
Finally after four days of auditions it was time to deliberate and of course they won’t tell us until Wednesday night! They left us wondering who they loved, hated, and were split in opinions on. I’m confident tomorrow that David Hernandez, rock and roll nurse Amanda Overmeyer, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, Asia’h Epperson, and hopefully Josiah Leming too will be in the Top 24. Oh and Kyle Ensely who I’m sure Simon does not want to give a spot to!! We’ll see how it all shakes out tomorrow night. Oh, and what happened to the all night partying bull riding make out with anyone crazy contestants from seasons past? Could it be that people were SERIOUS about American Idol this time around? That maybe they’ve seen the success of so many others who have gone before them? The lack of Corey Clark’s is why I am convinced this will be the most competitive season yet.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
American Idol Season 7: Atlanta Auditions Brought out the Best
Only one more day of auditions to see who the might be the next American Idol hopeful’s and Atlanta certainly didn’t disappoint. It kind of had a lot to live up to since they found Clay Aiken, Fantasia, and Jennifer Hudson there. The southern city was by far the best auditions yet with solid voices, unique personalities and a few contestants who were simply the real deal. Could Season 7 possibly be the most exciting season yet even though media claims that Idol is on its downward spiral? Maybe it can be thanks to the largest city in the south.
A whopping 12,000 showed up to try out for a chance to become the next American Idol. Appropriately “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” played in the background as excited people of all ages flooded the stadium. Ryan’s parents even showed up to pay a visit and I must say that his mother was absolutely darling.
First up to audition was Josh Jones. To me he already looked like a winner. He was glass cutter by day and had really great hair. But does he have the personality to pull it off? As Josh let loose into a very difficult Queen song Simon had to stop him because he did weird stuff with his eyes and finally made him sing turned around so he didn’t have to look at him. He needed to concentrate on his voice. That poor guy. How humiliating! They better send him through after that torture. Simon thought it was karaoke and didn’t have confidence that Josh could fix the weird wiggy eyes problem but Randy and Paula sent him through on his voice alone. I’m glad they did because he had a really good voice and picked a dang hard song. Plus Simon totally humiliated him so he deserved that golden ticket. Besides, Josh can sing in the mirror and work on the weird wiggy eye thing. It will be okay Simon. At least he didn’t like every other run of the mill pop star. He was unique and you can’t groom that into someone!
Next up was Pinky…well, he had on a pink shirt that had much to be desired but his real name was J.P. Tjelmeland. He had auditioned for the judges in Season 4 and Carrie Underwood was sitting only two seats after him. Boy had he wish he had connected with her. He admitted that people told him all the time that he had star quality and would be famous someday. What? No way!! He sang “Me and My Gang” by Rascal Flatts and it was just bad. I couldn’t understand one word he sang. Oh wait; I understood the word “California”. He plead with the judges and said he didn’t want to do four years of school that he wanted to go to Hollywood. Unfortunately for Pinky, or rather J.P., he was a vocal major which Randy was “NO WAY” to and so was I and the rest of America and now I’m sure his university was too. It was a no to Hollywood. Unfortunataely for J.P., Simon’s pen had more charisma then he did.
Paula just can’t say no! Of course the editing was great as they showed clip after clip of Paula unable to say no. Simon of course was trying to forcer her to say “yes” or “no” or “y” or “n”. Oh Paula! I love you!!!
With that audition out of the way the beautiful 18 year old A’siah Epperson was next up to sing. She had lost her dad two days ago in a car accident. What a determined young lady. Simon thought she had a lovely smile and Paula liked how she was dressed. She picked a song to sing to her dad. She chose “How Do I live” by LeAnn Rimes. I don’t know how she wasn’t bawling??? I mean, Paula and I certainly were!! I loved her voice!! It was very unique and she had great stage presence. So with Paula crying Simon declared his serious like for her. He knew it was tough for her to do the audition and Paula commended her and that she wouldn’t have been able to do what Asia did. Randy thought she was excellent and worked it out during some very difficult circumstances. Simon said her dad would be very proud of her. She certainly was a sweetheart. She then went and bawled in her families arms with her golden ticket and Paula had to turn around and cry and then leave the room. I would have left and cried too Paula.
Then there was ditzy Brooke Helvie. Oh boy. She was a beauty queen…currently Miss South Florida Fair. Oh. My. Gosh. She is so not for real…is she?? Could she be the Kellie Pickler of Season 7? She was dorky and annoying in a most real way. I actually liked her and wasn’t expecting a lot out of her vocally. She wanted to prove to Simon that pageant girls could sing. So, Brooke opened up her mouth and she had a great voice, stage presence and didn’t seem the least bit annoying as she performed. Well maybe she would prove Simon wrong. She made it through and the pageant music played as she screamed, hugged, cried, rejoiced hugged the judges and proclaimed her love for all of them. I loved her! Simon thought she was maybe the most annoying person he has ever seen in his life. He didn’t want her to sing well. But, she did and she got a yes from all of them sending her tiara flattened hair to Hollywood!
After Brooke things weren’t quite as “glamorous”. Set to Fergie’s hit song “Glamorous” all the really bad singers paid tribute to “The Duchess”. Nice editing Idol! They were all bad and I especially liked the Asian “gramorous” girl at the end. She was the icing on the cake.
On a side note…what is Ryan wearing?? A polo shirt? So not hip like he usually is. I liked his t-shirt and jacket from day one in Atlanta!! Come on Ryan! This was your hometown!!
Then every once in awhile you get the sassy and rambunctious girls like Eva Miller who sincerely thought she was the whole package. The judges liked her personality and such but then she pranced around to a Vanessa Carlton’s song like my five year old niece. I almost wanted to tell her to go play with her Polly Pockets. In fact she danced and spun around so much her contestant number fell to the ground and she slipped on it landing squarely on her backside. She got up and kept going though and by that point Simon thought it was a joke. Then she was like this is not a joke. She loved Simon. Why would her routine be a joke? She had a crush on Simon. She accidentally fell. She was dead serious. She swore on it and Simon really thought it was a joke. But she was more than serious and then I think Simon might have felt a teensy bad. The poor girl. Well, she left the audition, tore up her “number” and stomped on it like a four year old. Eva needed to put on her big girl pants after that.
Alexandrea Lushinton was only 16 years old and brought her entire family and probably the neighbors from down the street. She did not look 16 years old! I liked her style and I really, really like her voice. Randy thought she was excellent; Paula and Simon really liked her too! She was definitely through to Hollywood. Alexandrea will make it far I think. She could make it to the live show for sure!
Then I wondered about all those contestants saying at the age of 16 or 17 they didn’t know what they were going to do now that they didn’t make it through to Hollywood. Delusions of grandeur I say, delusions!!! I’ll tell you what you are going to do! You’re going back to high school and live a normal life like the rest of us!
Thankfully we were introduced to the 9th grade repeater Nathan Hite. He’s 16 now…are you sure you weren’t a threepeater?? Well, I liked him at first because he was a total sassy pants. Probably part of the reason he can’t make it past the 9th grade. He was not so bad vocally; I thought he’d be much worse. He sounded like every other garage band kid out there. Too bad he’ll be 20 when he graduates from high school… He of course was sassy to Simon who then wanted to know if he wanted to listen or be a smart “bleep”. Simon called him on his smarty pants and told him he wasn’t funny and he was a bedroom singer. Well, no golden ticket for Nathan. He should be hoping for a high school diploma really. That really is something that is within his reach.
Like a breath of fresh air was Amanda Overmyer, the nurse who was also a rocker. She was groovy, laid back and I totally loved her. After her workday with patients she jumps on her motorcycle and heads out. She was so, so likeable. She knew she was at a crossroads in her life and was at peace with that. Either she would make it to Hollywood or keep with her nursing job. She was cool with either one. She knew she would stand out but would they dig it or not was the real question. She chose to sing Janis Joplin of course. Simon wanted to hear less of the put on gravelly voice so she cleaned it up and it was much better. They loved her. What a voice! She was authentic and real. I think the first REAL female rocker on the show. Randy said a trillion percent yes. He loved it and believed it and so did I. She was the real deal. Paula thought she was the female Chris Daughtry. Miss Amanda shall make it far me thinks.
Dang, Atlanta had some serious talent!!!! What else could they have up their sleeve??
Finally there was Josiah Leming. He quit school at 17 years old and hit the road with his car and guitar. He’s been on his own for about a year now and his home is his car and wherever the wind blows is where he goes. He doesn’t think of himself as homeless. Getting teary he admited that it was scary and lonely sometimes but it would be worth it to him someday to follow his dreams. He really had come from nothing. He sang an original song and had a great contemporary voice. Probably the most contemporary voice out of the bunch today. He totally sounded like what you hear on the radio right now. Simon thought he sounded British when he sang and it messed him and Randy up because he hailed from Tennessee. Paula adored him. Randy liked him but thought he might like him more in a band than as a lone singer. Simon had him sing Snow Patrol’s “Chasing Cars”. It was really quite surreal how much he sounded like he was from Britain. Well, British accent or not he got a golden ticket blessed by all three of them and me!! Running out the door he was all alone with no one to congratulate him but Ryan. I have a feeling that will be the last time no one is around for Josiah Leming. We will surely be seeing a lot more of him.
Well, Atlanta was ripe with talent and for sure some Top 12 contenders. There was 18 year old A’siah who lost her dad just two days before her audition, Alexandrea with the soulful voice, Amanda the Rock-and-Roll nurse, and finally Josiah Leming with his British accent. Hey, even the ditzy Brooke could contend for a top spot and if Josh can control his wiggy eyes Atlanta may have produced a serious amount of competition for the Season 7 American Idol crown.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
Remembering Heath Ledger: Your Boyish Grin Shall Not Be Forgotten
I cannot quit thinking about Heath Ledger. Am I the only one of my friends who has this problem? I think not, no, I know not. Why has his death shaken me up so badly and why do I seek out new information and articles surrounding his death when mostly they reduce me to tears? The only other time I have felt so deeply the loss of someone I did not know was when Princess Diana was killed over ten years ago in a car crash. I was shocked then and I am shocked now. If I’m feeling this way about a man I never personally met and who had no clue who I was, then I simply cannot imagine how his close friends, loved ones, and family members are getting by.
Thinking back on Heath the past few days there are definitely a few images that are burned into my memory that I have kept mulling over and over again in my mind. The first image I keep recollecting is from his role as Gabriel Martin in The Patriot. I keep seeing his giddy boyish grin with a mouth full of ink from kissing his beloved. That grin that he had. So sweet, innocent, and mischievous in a good and healthy way. Then there was his love struck role in A Knight’s Tale as Sir William Thatcher, or Sir Ulrich Von Lichtenstein of Gelderland if you so pleased. The marriage of modern rock and medieval times is what caught my fancy in that movie along with the charm of the up and coming Heath who was totally and adoringly smitten with a lady he simply should not have been able to have. His Golden Years dance sealed the deal for me.
Yes he was in the memorable role of Patrick Verona in 10 Things I Hate About You that made him a bonafide teen heart throb but it was in the movie Lords of Dogtown where I really began to sit up and take notice. Such a versatile actor he was picking interesting characters that were never a waste of neither his time nor mine. He was just one of those actors you liked to go see no matter what movie he did. It didn’t matter. As long as he was in it you knew it would be an interesting piece that wasn’t your usual run-of-the-mill release.
So why am I so shocked and saddened at his very untimely and certainly tragic passing being the perfect stranger that I am? Was it because it was so unexpected? He was after all a seemingly down-to-earth and good natured guy who had an adoring gaze upon his daughter and was friendly to the public eye. He wasn’t racking up D.U.I.’s or doing jail time. He wasn’t out seeking the paparazzi frenzy. He was as much out of the lime light as he could be, so quiet and doing his own thing. He wasn’t the person I pictured to “be here today and gone tomorrow” on the slippery slope of young Hollywood. In fact, I never, ever considered him part of young Hollywood. He was his own entity, unique and extremely engaging and attractive. Attractive in the way that makes you want to know more about him. He was just that kind of person you wanted to tune in and sit up and listen. You liked him because of who he was. Then, at the age of 28 with a young daughter to raise and to love he is gone. Of course we are going to sit up and take notice and grieve because there was much more work for Heath to do but no more time left to do it. Life is fragile and uncertain and his loss urges us all into a time of much needed reflection for none of us knows how much time we have left. So to answer my question of why I am so shocked and so sad over the loss of someone I don’t know? I think it is quite simple really. I wish, oh how I wish that he had been granted more time. That he was heading back to the set or location to wrap up his latest movie. That he was kissing his daughter hello and calling his sister to say hi. I just wish his life hadn’t been so short. He was just way too young to die. That’s it. He was too young and his future was rich with potential. The “what if’s” are endless but they have been forever silenced by truth. He’s gone and he is not ever coming back.
My heart goes out to those that loved him, knew him and especially his family that cherished him. To his daughter who doesn’t know what’s happening quite yet at the tender and innocent age of two. She will have her mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles and many others who will tell her over and over and again and again what a wonderful man her daddy was. And she will get to look back on his movies, his pictures, and interviews to catch a glimpse of the man that loved her so fully for as long as he was given to love. Can this compare to the real thing of having him right there by her side? No, it cannot. But this is how it will be. I know he will not be forgotten. He cannot be. It simply won’t happen. Why? Because he had a family that will never forget and will never quit speaking of their love for him. His story will be told not just to his daughter and nieces and nephews, but to his grandchildren, and their children, and their children to come. Truly he will live on, just as he said he would. In the bright and shining smile of his beloved daughter Matilda.
© Copyright 2007 Blindigo Magazine | Article written by Niki Tschirgi
← Go Back — More Articles →
