American Idol Auditions - Florida

Wednesday, January 30, 2008.

American Idol - Omaha

So, AI opens up tonight with a custom American Idol corn patch logo. LOL. One chubby girl is shown wearing a shirt that read, "I beat Anorexia". This made me chuckle. This is the first time AI has come to Omaha and there's a huge crowd. The first guy comes in, I think his name was David. He says he's a huge fan of AI and has a photo album filled with pictures of him with Kelly Clarkson. He sings "Never Again" and does a handstand, but of course, he's a horrible singer. The whole time he is smiling and says since he can't go to Hollywood as a singer, he'd really like to audition for a correspondent. Simon allows him to do a mock finale intro, and then tells him to contact his local Fox affiliate and tell them that Simon is requesting that he announce at the finale. He leaves completely excited. I'm curious to see if that will pan out.

I really liked Jason, the guy who kept forgetting his lyrics. I thought he had a very strong voice. He sang, "When You Say Nothing at All". Is it my imagination, or is Simon getting nicer? He gave Jason 3 shots and was actually encouraging.

I also liked Leo, the gay guy who says his mom raised the perfect drag queen, unfortunately, it wasn't one of his sisters. I liked his voice. He sang Donny Hathoway's, (Elliott's now) "A Song For You". He really had a nice tone, or maybe it was just the excitement of me hearing an Elliott song.

My other favorite was David Cook. I swear, if you shave him, he'd look just like Chris Daughtry. He definately has a great voice and tone. I think he actually sounds better than Chris Daughtry and he wasn't too "over the top". He wore a nice sweater but had some funky hair going. I liked him a lot.

There weren't any girls that I was particularly blown away by. I did like Angelica, the girl whose dad she didn't get along with. She said she was distant from him and by their phone conversation, their relationship sounded strained. She pulled off Celine Dion very nicely.

Bucket List

1. Own a new car - Done, 2007
2. Visit Central Park
3. Own hardwood floors
4. Visit Maine
5. Go on a cruise
6. Visit Hawaii
7. See a Broadway Play - Done, 03/2009
8. Visit Italy
9. Parasail
10. Learn to Surf
11. Write a book
12. Learn to Sew
13. Learn to make tamales
14. Sing Christmas Carols
15. Find a Church
16. See Heather married and owning a home
17. Take Katie to Kindergarden
18. Pay off my home
19. Rent a House Boat
20. Attend the entire Lancaster Film Festival
21. See Rome and the ancient ruins
22. Snorkel
23. Kayak through the Channel Islands
24. Ski
25. Have and love a pet
26. Make a quilt
27. Drive across Country
28. Visit New England in the fall
29. Own investment property
30. Ride the Metro
31. Vist the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
32. Visit Monterey and Big Sur
33. Travel in an airplane - Done 03/27/2009

..more to come, as I have time to write.

Katie pulled her 1st thing off the shelf

I was babysitting Katie last night while Heather and David went to the movies to see 27 dresses. I left her sitting on the family room floor for a second while I went to the bathroom. I was gone less than a minute when I came back in to see her standing up, holding on to a table I have in the family room, and my silver bowl and picture frame laying on the floor. Of course, she was grinning from ear to ear.

She's getting big so quickly. I wish I had the patience with Heather that I have with her, or at least the insight to know how quickly it all goes by.

I got David a cute shirt for St. Patrick's Day. It's green and says, "Kiss Me. I'm Adorable". He is part Irish and he is adorable, so it's fitting. : ) I haven't seen David in about a week because he's been so sick. Poor little thing.

South Carolina Auditons

These auditions were fun. I loved Jeffery, although he reminds me of Ruben so I'm not sure how well he will do should he go forward. His sister, Michelle, was lacking.

Not many more stand outs from last night. I thought a couple sounded pretty good, including the guy who had the baby. He didn't fit the mold though, and looked like a business man. I thought he had a nice voice though. Too many people in South Carolina tried too hard and it made them appear strange. I think they failed themselves by trying to show off their vocals too much and going in and out of range.

The black guy, who said he sounded like Clay was good too, but his down on his knees enthusiasm made him seem like a nut. The same with the angry waitress. LOL

San Diego Auditions

Auditions were only an hour last night. No really stand out bad singers. For the most part, San Diego was boring.

Tetiana is a beautiful girl, long dark blonde locks – She sings "someone to watch over me" and she overdoes it. Simon tells her, "you're not as good as you think you are", but she goes through.

Perrie Cataldo of Phoenix, Arizona. Perrie is a single dad. His son, Arian's mother died in 2005 from, "being in the wrong place, wrong time, wrong people, doing the wrong thing, and she paid for it." In with the judges, he began to sing I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men. He had a nice tone to his voice and he made it through.

Michael Lee Johns was the handsome Australian. Simon called him a white soul singer. I felt like he tried too hard. He sand Been Loving You Too Long. I felt like he really drug it out, but the judges loved him.

Valerie Reyes comes in and says that when she sings, people think she's playing a Mariah Carey CD. She has the hair over the one eye, typical of Mariah Carey. She lets it go and she's hideous. She goes in and out of notes. She sounds like she is sucking air. Simon tells her she sounds like a Mariah Carey CD that has been left out in the sun for year.

Monique and Christopher are friends who came to audition together. Monique comes in first, in a striped shirt, combat boots and tights. Simon tells her it looks as if she were dressed by 3 different people. She sings Whitney Houston, "I Believe in Miracles". It would have taken a miracle for her to get through. She cracks and gargles through a few notes before they laugh at her and tell her, definately, "NO!" Her friend, Christopher is up next. He says he's been singing his whole life. He sings "The Greatest Love of All" and is just as bad. They have to call security to get him out the door.

Samantha Musa was next – she was accompanied by her sister. Both girls are in love with Simon (as am I) Simon invites the sister to be a 4th judge and has her sit on his lap. Samantha sings "until you come back to me' and she's pretty good. I like her voice. It's sultry and strong.
All four judges said YES, and so it’s off to Hollywood for Samantha.

Blake Boshnack has auditoned 11 times. He was the Statue of Liberty during season 5. His mother has driven him to all these auditions and she's here with him again. I think his gimmicks have kept him from being taken seriously. He actually has a decent voice, but he's become a joke, due to his costumes and several attempts.

Alberto Hurtado had long curly hair and longer nails. He obviously had mental issues. He reminded me of Tiny Tim. He lives in his mom's basement. He had a Fairy Barbie and came in with a large green fan that read, "Big American Idol Fan". He wrote his own song. He was awful and strange and he was shown running off, skipping through the lilies.

David Archuleta is a 16 year old who suffered vocal paralysis several years back. He also was the winner of Star Search at the age of 12. He sang Waiting On The World To Change. He was confident and had a great tone to his voice. Because of his age and good looks, I predict the teenyboppers will keep him around for a long time.

Carly Smithson. She was the one with the boyfriend who had such a slew of tattoos on his head, it was impossible to see his features at all. According to Rickey.org, Carly Smithson has been hyped up for 2 years. American Idol knew about her since Season 5 when she auditioned in Las Vegas, and most likely knew about her long before that. In 2000, Carly Smithson signed a 6-album recording contract with MCA Records (Vivendi Universal) — a major label. Not your independent Hickory Records let’s record our own CD at home label. An actual recording contract that thousands of American Idol hopefuls aspire for. In 2001 Carly Smithson said: “Some people just struggle. I was very, very lucky.” You THINK? Carly Smithson received a $100,000 advance for her first album, plus $5,000 a month in living expenses while the album was being made. She recorded her first CD “Ultimate High” for 2 years, and MCA Records spent a total of $2.2 million on recording, promotion, making a video, and Carly Smithson’s living expenses and her car. Carly Smithson’s CD was a flop. Her debut single “I’m Gonna Blow Your Mind” alluded to oral sex, and just didn’t catch on with anyone. She sold 378 copies.
Now Carly Smithson is on American Idol crying that this could be her year. Her story on television is that she was disqualified and this was her second chance. But we know her real story. And one more thing: one of Carly Smithson’s songs on her album, “Just Missed the Train” was covered by none other than Kelly Clarkson on her debut album “Thankful”.

Honestly, what makes Idol so fun is the undiscovered talent, like Elliott Yamin, the Pharmacy worker, who had no experience and no fan base.

Carly's tattoos are distracting and I didn't feel like her voice was all that.

I'm still loving Farm Boy from last week, and the Britney impersonator.

Can't wait for the Hollywood rounds.

Heath Ledger

So, Heath Ledger died today, and why am I so sad about someone who I never met? He's almost a fictional character, since all I know of him is what he was directed to show me on a big screen. I remember watching the Patriot with Bobby, and I remember how much we bought liked that movie. I remember seeing A Knight's Tale with Bobby and Heather and I remember how much we all liked it. Enough to buy the movie. I remember watching 10 Thing I Hate About You with Heather, several times--and I remember his smile, and even though he was just a celebrity, he brought joy to our home with his movies. I've loved movies forever. I used to take the kids when they were little. I love Celebrity magazines (although the Paparazzi are making me feel quite guilty about this lately). I just saw Heath Ledger in a magazine this week, holding his daughter, Matilda on his shoulders. I wonder what he was going through to make him take the pills. It hurts to think of all these young people out there, who have so much and don't see it. Even if you don't have the money Heath Ledger had, if you have a family and people who love you, you have everything. I don't get people who give it all way and who don't see what they have. I don't get the people who don't look into the face of a tiny person, who needs them like a flower needs the sun, and who don't fight and give everything to stay around for that little person. Heath Ledger was so handsome. He had boyish good looks and a great smile. He had beautiful "surfer" hair and money and fame. He had a 2 year old daughter, whom he seemed to adore. It scares me because he died so suddenly and we're just all reminded that tomorrow truly is promised to no man, and in a day, in an instant, fate can step in and take our life and those we love are left behind. I want so much to see my granddaughter grow up, and to see my daughter settled and grown, and making it on her own. I don't want to miss a thing. I guess Heath's death reminds me that anyone can die and then our life amounts to not much more than a few sentences written down in the paper. No matter how famous, no matter how rich or good-looking--death comes, and then written off. I feel for his mother and father and for his sisters. It's been 5 years and I still think about Bobby almost daily. What is it to lose a child? I never want to know that pain. Will they get to know Matilda? Heath wasn't married to Michelle Williams. They were seperated. Will she have the understanding to allow them to hold on to that small peice of their son? I'll miss Heath Ledger. Seeing him in movies and magazines. I will never feel the loss his family felt, but through his movies, he did bring a small bit of happiness into my home.

Confession

I set up this blog because I wanted to comment Turkey's posts because I'm super obsessed with her life to the point of not being able to sleep at night.

So, yeah. If you believe that, then you really are a narcacist. LOL

Really, though. I did just set it up so I can add my 2 cents. : (