Last night on American Idol the judges traveled to Memphis where over 16,000 contestants showed up. There were two good things about this show – one it was only an hour long and two the contestants seemed to be less delusional than in the previous episodes. Highlights of the show were Jason “Sundance” Head son of singer Roy Head (Treat Her Right 1965) His Dad was a great singer and known for his on stage “splits”, Sundance doesn’t dance but he sure can sing. Simon called his voice one of the best in the auditions. My other favourite was Melinda Doolittle a 28 year old professional back-up singer who belted out Stevie Wonder’s For Once In My Life and blew away all three judges away. Going to Hollywood – Philip Stacey who missed the birth of his second daughter while in the audition line-up and sang My Girl for his family. Danielle McCulloch and Sean Michel (who looked like Castro) all made it through to Hollywood (although I wasn’t too impressed with the latter). Contestants we didn’t need to see more of were Janita Burks (and her skimpy dress) singing Disco Inferno, Christopher Rivera’s wretched rendition of Superstition and Tamika Simms (Meekie).
Tonight the judges are in New York for another two hour Idol preliminary show. After seeing the previews it looks like it’s going to be a long night.
