Good Morning Everyone:
Well it was quite a two night event this week. We had some big surprises, some kids I had never seen before and a few we all expected to ‘go on’ to the Top 24.
We have 164 hopefuls on Tue., night. 2/3s of these will go home. The competitors can use instruments this year. Worked for some; not so well for others! You have 2 chances to please the Judges. If you get a “YES” the first time you sing, you’re thru until the end of the week when you have to sing one more time. If you get a “NO”, you have to perform again the next day or two. After the “YESs” were decided right off, they then brought groups out at 10 at a time to sing acapella. They then asked certain people to step forward and one group made it thru; the rest went home. The first day only 4 of the 40 that performed were chosen!!!
This is going to be very tough this year because the talent is phenomenal not to mention some of the stories we heard along the way.
First up is Brooke White who sang and accompanied herself on a piano. She got a YES from the Judges and moved on to the final choice.
Then came Leo Marlowe – NO (so he’ll get another chance)
Commercial of NEW AMSTERDAM – March 4th premiere…can’t wait!
Alyssa Coco – NO
Jake Melamar, 20 who played the drums and sang. NO Simon also ripped into this kid relentlessly!
David Hernandez, 24 He’s good….YES Sang Love The One You’re With
Amanda (Cute), survived a car crash sang Light My Fire like Janis. YES
Simon then chastised these kids and said, “Remember the Lyrics or you WILL go home!!!”
Ghalab (Antonio!), 27 – NO not good this time; very corny.
Josiah, 18 (the kid who lives out of his car) played a keyboard and sang another original song. The Judges thought he was “Excellent”..me too. Simon said, “Of all the auditions, this is the one I’ll remember the most.” Got a big YES!
Danny Noreiga, 18 – Oh YES
Ramielle, 20 another YES (she’s the little one with the big voice. Kinda like Paris Bennett but better, just my opinion)
Carly 24, the Irish, tattoo girl. YES
Michael Johns, 20 (from Australia, originally) – played the guitar YES
David Cook, 25 YES sang a Bryan Adams song (Simon was NOT impressed with him…gave him a NO)
We then heard more Bryan Adams’ songs; some worked and got YES’s others did not….
Kyle (the Clay Aiken kid) 20, Paula loves him but he got a NO
Here comes the first cut where they sing acapella 10 at a time. They get about 10 seconds to prove themselves. Simon says, “This is going to be brutal but it has to be done! It’s DO OR DIE time.” Needless to say, a lot went home.
DAY 3 – These kids are wiped out. They’ve had little or no sleep because they’re rehearsing all the time. They’ve been given a list of songs that they have to choose one from. They’ve got a short time to memorize it and then they’re out on that BIG stage!
Here we go with some of them that I can remember.
Suzanne and Perry – both go home.
Christy Lee Cook, 24 YES
Jeffrey – funny kid who auditioned with his sister. YES
Angela (has a disabled daughter, Jessica) and lost her dad. NO
DAY 4 – Final Day – Last time to get it right and prove to the Judges that YOU are the next American Idol.
David, 16, YES great voice
Kyle (Clay) YES
Jeffrey Bye Bye
Syesha, 21 sang Chain of Fools – a big YES
Mike Johns sang Bohemian Rhapsody – they loved it YES
Carly 24 – YES (another good voice)
Asia’a (lost dad the day before she auditioned) – YES Simon likes her.
Brooke (beauty queen), Got a No from Simon/Yes from Randy and, after annoying the heck outta Paula…she gave her a NO – bye, bye
Josiah – last one of the day. Had like 2 hours of sleep. Had to sing, Stand By Me. Dismissed the band from the stage and decided to wing it on his own….bad choice. The Judges were NOT impressed with his performance; however, because he had been so good in the past, they gave him a YES
We are now down to the Top 50 and NOW the Judges have to decide who the Top 12 Girls and 12 Boys will be. We have to go thru the dreaded room where these poor kids have to go UP the elevator to see if their future is bright or it’s back to their mundane jobs!
Here we go: (I’ll give you as many as I saw)
Carly, Irish girl – YES (Paula ranted on and on until she told her the good news. Simon said, “You tortured that girl!”)
David Cook – guitar boy – YES
Amanda (the biker/nurse Janis chick) YES (but it will be interesting to see what else she can sing)
David, 16 a big YES (he’s adorable!)
Christy Lee Cook (pretty, talented girl) YES
Brooke White – Now I’m confused with this one cause I thought she had already gone home…apparently not cause she got a YES!
Danny, 18 (the gay kid with the great voice) YES
Ramiele (the little one) YES
Mike Johns YES
Syesha got a big YES (another one where Simon said Paula tortured her).
Robbie – the Rocker – YES
Josiah, 17 – NO….what???? You gotta be kidding! After everything this kid has gone thru and you give him a NO???? I’m really disappointed; not to mention Josiah. I hope he auditions next year. I loved this kid (so did Simon!)
Chakeeze YES (he’ll be fun to have in the group!)
Asia’o YES
David Hernandez, Got a YES (Simon, however would have given a NO)
Last 2 boys go up in the elevator…it’s Colton (who I don’t remember seeing) and Kyle (who I really like)
One goes home – one stays – Colton goes on while Kyle goes home. Now I have to tell you, this is the first time I have EVER seen Simon do what he did. He said, “Colton, you are very talented and I congratulate you for moving forward; however, Kyle I am so disappointed that you did not get thru. Randy and Paula voted for Colton; I voted for you. You have charisma, personality and talent. Please come back. You would have been an asset to the show this year.”) WOW….
We are now down to 2 girls….Joanne (the plus size model) and Cardin
It was a YES for Joanne and Cardin went home. As they were walking out, Simon said, “Can I change my vote?”
They then showed the Top 24 – 12 Girls and 12 Boys
As has been done in the past, there are some of these kids that we haven’t seen before because of time constraints and showing us the nut cases instead of showing us the talent! Anyway, in flashing thru these kids my eye caught a LUKE MENARD(?) – OK, I got my ‘hot’ pick for the season. Haven’t even heard him sing but he kinda looks like Colin Farrell and that’s not a bad thing!!!!
So next week the public decides who stays and who goes. It’s gonna be a fun season. A lot of talent this year. Let’s hope they don’t buckle under the pressure – GOOD LUCK TO ALL.
See ya next week. Joanie
