Auditions: Aspen
January 25
Things are
about to get hot in a place known for being cold.
Tonight, Idol invades Aspen looking for white-knuckle
talent.
DENVER/ASPEN
Open call: Invesco Field at Mile High
Callbacks: Doerr-Hosier Center
Will fresh mountain air mean
fresh mountain talent?
Jenni Schick (24; Sterling,
VA; music teacher) has always been energetic, but she has this thing
against recorders. You know, those flute-looking things you played in
grade schools. She'll start us off with "Heartbreaker". A little bit
pop-tarty to be taking on this kind of song. It's a three-way and Jenni
gets to kiss Steven. Good for her.
Curtis Gray (28; Spring
Hill, FL; server) plays keyboard and vocals for a church group. He'd
love to take some gold out of Aspen with "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to
Yesterday" by Boyz II Men. He's got a nice robust quality to his voice.
Another sweep. Joining him, Richie Law (19, Centennial, CO), Devan Jones
(26, Aurora, CO), Mathenee Trego (25, Centennial, CO).
Hoping to keep the gold rush
coming is Tealana Hedgespeth (19; Loveland, CO; color guard coach), who
has a twin sister who's her best friend. She is more of the character,
but admittedly less of a performer. She's hoping to escape her shadow
with "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge. Well, at least we know
where all the talent in that family went.
Haley Smith (18; Orem, UT)
lives in a log-cabin in the middle of nowhere. She loves it. She has
three new jobs... She's a housecleaner, a busser, and a vegetarian
working in the meat department. Will she get a job as a pop-star with
"Tell Me Something Good". She reminds me of Janis-lite. But she's a
welcome throwback to the judges, so she's on her way.
Elena Snare (22; Fort
Collins, CO; bartender-waitress) works at a restaurant known for selling
Rocky Mountain oysters. Because nothing says yummy like bull balls. She
will sing "Jolene" by Dolly Parton. And cue the cow getting grabbed ...
back there.
Shelby Tweten (17; North
Mankato, MN; student) was diagnosed bipolar in March, though she was
struggling with it since 4th grade. Music seems to have a bit of a
calming effect on her. She'll try to calm us on "Temporary Home" by
Carrie Underwood. It's a mite sharp, but a very beautiful tone. She
strikes gold.
And now, because we haven't
had these in a while, here's a bad-singer montage.
Now let's break the ice with
Jairon Jackson (19, Denver, host), who has a lot of faith in an original
song that people keep telling him NOT to perform (C-Note: Go with
that...). Anyway, it's called "So Hard". And it's so hard to follow
this... he's crazy vibrato. Jennifer calls him "a lover". But the judges
give him the vote of confidence.
Angie Zeiderman (25; Delray
Beach, FL; waitress) idolizes Lady Gaga. She thinks that she's the next
American Idol. We just think she's going to be next. She sings "When
You've Got It, Flaunt It" from "The Producers"... Why. She switches it
to "Blue Bayou"... Better? Good enough.
One more question. Do you
believe... in magic? Magic is... Magic Cyclops (?; Davenport, IA; air
guitarist).... okay, I call BS. That's obviously Sacha Baron Cohen or
something. And in any case, I'm absolutely wasting precious "Jeopardy!"
bandwidth even covering this so...
That's Colorado. Thirty one
singers are feeling a Rocky Mountain high, but which of them will last
in Hollywood? Stay tuned. Meanwhile, the auditions keep it rolling to
Space City Texas. Until
then, good night, Rebecca Dobkowitz, wherever you are.
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