American Idol, Episode 2: Chicago Auditions
Thursday night, American Idol continued it's season premiere with the Chicago auditions. The Minaj/Carey feud continued to boil and judging by the previews for next week it's going to boil over in Charlotte. There was less emphasis on the ladies and more emphasis on the talent in this episode. They showcased a whopping 16 Golden Ticket recipients, including one that would melt the heart of even the most jaded Idol watcher. If you didn't get choked up watching the audition of 21 year old stutterer, Lazaro Arbos, then I may have to question whether or not you are a living, feeling, human being.
Let's take a look at those 16 lucky contestants:
Mackenzie Wasner, 17, comes from a musical family. Her dad has been playing piano for country music star, Vince Gill, since before she was born. The bubbly blonde wowed with a tuneful version of Gill's "Whenever You Come Around." The song isn't very memorable, but she did a great job of making the a capella rendition her own. I could see what Keith was saying when he compared Mackenzie's voice to Dolly Parton's, but I thought there were a few too many runs, but agreed with Mariah, that the talent was there and just needed to be honed.
Kiara Lanier, 21, had recently sang for President Barack Obama. After she was quizzed about the experience, including an awkward question about how Obama smells, Lanier launched into a note perfect rendition of Celine Dion's "The Prayer." She tried a little too much vocal showboating and it sort of let her down when she reached for the higher notes at the end, but she excelled on a difficult song.
Stephanie Schmiel, 20, sang "Dream a Little Dream." I remember that she was blonde and cute, but that is about it. Her audition was overtaken by the Minaj/Carey Monster that featured Keith quite a bit. It's not a good sign when you are overshadowed by the judges ridiculata.
Gabe Brown, 21, comes from Marion, IA, and apparently was discovered during Idol's Audition Bus Tour. He is a curly haired moppet, who fancies himself a real rocker. He scream/sings a pretty good rendition of "Gimme Shelter." Mariah asks him to sing a few bars of something softer and he can't go more than thirty seconds without going back to the shouting stuff. Gabe has the potential to be a good rock singer, but I worry how he would fare with Idol's theme nights if he makes it to the live rounds.
Isabelle Parell, 15, was the first of two impossibly poised teenagers that we see audition. She sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside," immediately winning brownie points from Christmas Loving Carey. She also had Keith sing the other part of the duet. I was a big fan of her husky, smoky vocal. She proved that you don't have to sing a million runs in order to get the judges and the public to sit up and take notice of you.
Griffin Peterson is a good looking 22 year old, who Nicki decided to start calling "Grrr." He sang a great rendition of a song I had never heard before called "Washed by the Water." He had a really great Amos Lee/Ray Lemontagne quality to his voice. Nicki and Mariah liked his voice and his female appeal. Randy wasn't feeling the vocals, which just goes to show how laughably out of touch he is.
Curtis Finch, Jr., 24, brought two friends and a phenomenal Gospel tinged voice. I loved how he transitioned from banter with the judges to his audition song, "God is Able." Idol has had singers like Curtis in the top 12 for the past couple of years, but I think there could be room for Curtis in this year's. It's best not to ignore a guy who had Mariah Carey testifying.
Mariah Pulice, 19, formed an immediate kinship with the same named judge. Apparently, Mariah keeps track of how popular her name is. I am not surprised. According to the Lady Carey right now Mariah is the 62nd most popular name. Contestant Mariah came to her audition with an anorexia backstory. She and her family discussed how she is in recovery, before she launched into a prettily adequate version of "Let It Be." I'm not sure if she would have gotten through without the backstory.
Brandy Neelly was the second mature teenager that auditioned. She sang a ridiculously amazing version of "Your Cheatin' Heart." It was a great, unexpected song choice. She did really interesting things with it, zigging and zagging, embellishing just enough to show the judges what her voice was capable of, but not embellishing too much. I'm expecting big things from Brandy.
Josh Holiday, 24, gave the judges a passable rendition of "Back To One." It wasn't very memorable. There was nothing spectacular or offensive about it. I'm predicting that Josh will be early Hollywood week cannon fodder.
Courtney Williams and Andrew Jones were shown pretty quickly. Neither one of them left a very lasting impression on this guy. Courtney's "Who's Loving You" showed lots of potential, but I probably would have told her to come back next year, and Andrew's "Knock On Wood" showed that he had rhythm, but I'm not sure about the vocals. Maybe the judges were mesmerized by his mad stepping skillz.
Clinton Duffin, 24, told Ryan that his parents, who came along to the audition, had never heard him sing. So, of course, Ryan, probably under strict instructions from Uncle Nigel, snuck them into the audition where Clinton was singing one of his mom's favorite songs, "Superstar." Clinton definitely possesses some raw talent, but I think the judges should have told him to take some vocal lessons, keep on practicing and come back next year, but how could they say no in front of Clinton's teary eyed mom and pop? I did find myself loving Keith Urban about a thousand times more when he started tearing up. Nothing hotter than a man not afraid to cry in front of 17 million people.
Johnny Keyser, 23, was an Idol reject from season 11. He came back and wowed the judges with his version of "Try A Little Tenderness." The song is a tough one to really showcase your vocals on, but, as Keith noted, Johnny did a good job. Time will tell if Johnny will be a Colton Dixon level comeback story.
The final two auditions were my favorite. I loved 27-year-old, Kez Ban, a relatively inexperienced fire performer and street entertainer. I was pretty much enamored of her the minute she came on camera. She was so aware of the whole process, it was great. I also loved how she said that she shouldn't win American Idol. A bubbly 17-year-old, who claims it is their dream should win. I fell more in love with her when she got in front of the judges and sang a jazzy, laid back rendition of "I've Got No Strings" from Pinocchio. She then performed an original song called "Wandering" that was maybe the best original song performed on Idol. Words can't do her audition justice, so you can watch it here:
Finally, the audition everyone was waiting for. Lazaro Arbos, 21, had been stuttering since he was 6 years old. His parents said there was a time where he just didn't talk. They tried therapy, but nothing seemed to help. He didn't have many friends and watching Lazaro try to articulate his feelings broke your heart in two. Then, he sang a triumphant rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I mean, it's something you have to see, so here it is. Grab some Kleenex, because, if you have a heart, you're probably going to need it.
In total, 46 contestants made it to Hollyweird. Next week, the judges head to Charlotte and that is where the weaves, wigs, and Hello Kitty mirrors really hit the fan. Are you excited to see the famous fight in all it's HD glory? Or, do you think these womens should just shut up and do their "job?" Also, should someone tell Mariah that is not appropriate to wear her nightie to work? Let me know in the comments.
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