Last night on American Idol the judges were in New York City. The auditions haven’t been held in New York for three years and after last night I can see why. It was two hours of the most unusual contestants I’ve ever seen. Hard to know where to start but Ian Benardo (seen on So You Think You Can Dance 2) certainly did when he opened the show. Ian sang “Gloria” and as Simon said – it was “just rubbish”. Kind of summed up most of the show!
There were some highlights of the New York auditions. Thirty-five contestants got tickets to Hollywood. One of the first to get her ticket was Sarah Burgess from Ohio. Instead of going to school like her parents thought, she went to New York to try out for Idol. Through tears she explained she wanted to audition but her parents, especially her Dad, didn’t understand and wasn’t supportive. After a terrific audition singing “Call Me” she got all four judges approval to Hollywood. Two best friends – Amanda and Antonella both auditioned and I thought Antonella Barba was good. Kia Thornton belted out Aretha’s “Ain’t No Way” impressing the judges and earning a ticket west. Sixteen year old Jenri Bejarano and Rachel Zevita, an opera student, both earned the judges approval. Chris Richardson who sang -A Song for You and Ottawa-born Jory Steinberg were both impressive. A familiar face from last years Hollywood rounds was Nicholas Pedro. He bowed out after failing to learn the lyrics to Build Me Up Buttercup. The judges gave him a return ticket to Hollywood after an amazing rendition of Fly Me to the Moon. A few questionable contestants got moved to the next round – Pocelana and Amanda Coluccio who were both borderline from what I heard.
Contestants we sure don’t need to see again in a New York minute were Fania Tsakalakos (another Greek Idol like Constantine? Not even close!), Ashanti (who’s gone to Hollywood twice – give it up for heavens sake) Clifton Biddle and Sarah Goldberg who I think was the most annoying contestant ever to be shown. The last contestant to close the show – Isadora (Julie Furman) who sang (I think that’s what she was doing) Lady Marmalade. Isadora thought she was a fantastic pop artist – she may be – but not in this lifetime.
Then there was the heartbreaking audition of Nakia Claiborne. She was the ball of energy with the contagious smile from Virginia who sang “Dancin in the Streets.” The judges had her sing another slower song and it was not good. The judges thought her pitch was off and gently tried to let her down. Through tears she said she was tired of hearing no and her pain was so touching. This is the part of the auditions that I guess makes good television but I find so hard to watch- it’s so sad.
Guest judge last night was songwriter Carol Bayer Sager who made some priceless facial expressions for the camera. I enjoyed the few comments she made to the contestants.
Next week the Idol judges go south to Birmingham – home of Ruben, Bo & Taylor. The good news – both shows next week are only an hour. The bad news we’ve got two more weeks of auditions until Hollywood. Here’s hoping for some good singing!
