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GSNN
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Previous Episodes January 16 |
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In the world's ultimate talent search, where the eyes of a nation are upon the best undiscovered singers in the country, where the audience has the power to make or break you, and where a million-dollar recording contract is on the line, there is only one rule: If you can sing it, bring it. Recaps by Chico Alexander, Jason Block, Don Harpwood & Gordon Pepper, GSNN
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Auditions 2 New judges in New York. Forty-one dreams are still alive. But what happens when the Idol train moves to the Windy City? Let's find out... CHICAGO First out of the tunnel of dreams is Mackenzie Wasner (17, Leiper's Fork, TN; student), whose father is an accomplished musician. Her first gig: kindergarten. Her gig tonight... "Whenever You Come Around" by Vince Gill. Could be this season's country voice, being as young and as vibrant as she is. Keith says she's got a blend of strength and vulnerability. It's a sweep! And we're off and running in Chicago. Wild singing, wilder hair. And no, we're not talking about Nicki. Kiara Lanier (21; Chicago; college student/teacher) just sang for President Obama. Yes she can. But can she today? She sings "The Prayer" by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli. YES SHE CAN! The judges send her to Hollywood... with whatever was said. Stephanie (21; Milwaukee; lingerie store worker) follows that with "Dream a Little Dream of Me". Is it a secret dream? Perhaps of a lady named Victoria? In any event, Nicki wasn't wowed, but Keith was. She says no. Everyone else says YES. Melissa Bush (27, Grandville, MI; student/massage therapist) is usually a quiet person, but today, she looks shiny. She'll sing "Downtown" by Petula Clark. And that's where this performance is headed. Hey look, it's Chicago native Haley Reinhart! SHE could've been a judge. Gabe Brown (21, Marion, IA; baker)... It's time to get on the Idol Bus! His mom is a baker, and he's brought some of her wares as a little bribe. He's going to sing "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones. It's almost there, but it's more shouting than singing. But Keith loves it. Mariah wants to hear something else. "We All Die Young". Good for the first, VERY good for the second. You're going to Hollywood, curly. Kevin Nabity (25, Polk City, IA; digital media designer) is a master of the bo, which led to Ninja Rap, which led to marital arts, which led to dancing. Can Ninja Idol score a golden ticket? After thinking he's on SYTYCD, he sings "One Week" by BNL... I'd try my luck at SYTYCD. And just as the judges are coming to terms with the hard bit of their jobs... in comes the parade of losers. Isabelle Parell (15; Centerton, IN; student) is a fan of Keith Urban and his wife. And country music. So this should be a breeze, right? She sings "Baby It's Cold Outside"... with Keith. She's adorable. It's a good song choice, a nice Norah Jones vibe. That'll take her to the next stage. Keith had a concert in Vegas, so it's just Randy, Nicki, and Mariah. Griffin Peterson (22, Oconomowoc, WI, student) aka Griff aka Grr aka G. And Nicki is looking at MORE than just his singing chops. She sings "Washed by the Water" by Need to Breathe. He looks and feels to Nicki like as a star, but Randy thought that the voice was below average. The ladies love him, though, so Griffin is on his way. Curtis Finch Jr. (24, St. Louis, tutor) believes that anything is possible no matter who you are, where you've been, or what you're going through. And it's become clear that Nicki likes nicknames. Smokie Norful is his favorite, so he sings one of his favorites, "God Is Able". You can hear his range on that. That's a good selling point. It's not even a discussion. YES! Next, another Mariah, Mariah Pulice (19; Darien, IL, restaurant hostess) had a rough couple of years. She's a recovering anorexic. She found healing through music. Will she find a trip to LA in "Let It Be" by the Beatles? You can hear the courage in her voice. The judges certainly did. And it's a sweep to end Day 1. Welcome to Day 2 in Chi-Town. We begin with Keith returning to the table to witness Brandy Neelly (17; Louisville, KY; student), a foster-care child. Her birth father was her adoptive mother's brother. A good decision all around, but will it sell in the Toughest Room? She sings "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams, Sr. My sister is not a fan. But she has a very loud voice. Very bombastic. The opposite of Mackenzie from the first hour. Mariah called it "A-plus-mazing". She's going to Hollywood. Josh Holiday (Celeste, TX) sings "Back at One" by Brian McKnight. He's on the plane. Courntey Williams (Greenville, MS) sings "Who's Loving You" by the Jackson 5ive. Andrew Jones (Chicago) sings "Knock on Wood". Both are on the plane. How about Clifton Duffin (22, Country Club Hills, IL; student)? He hasn't been discovered... even by his parents. He sings "Superstar" by Luther, with his parents secretly listening in. ... We've heard better, but mom seems to dig it. So do the judges. He's going to Hollywood. Next up, auditioners marking out for Mariah. Among them, Ieshia Cotton (19, Chicago, professional dancer), who sings "Thank You" by Ashanti. We'll say what we said about Kevin Nabity... stick to SYTYCD... And then things get weird. Mariah said yes... then said no. See you in the summer. Who remembers Johnny Keyser (23, Pompano Beach, FL, musician)? He was in Holywood last year, but he'll "Try A Little Tenderness" for another round. We know Randy didn't think much of him last year, but the newbies like him. And here we are again at diva catfight city. But it's a sweep, and Johnny Five is heading for another Hollywood Round. Kez Ban (nee Catherine Sourbeer, 27, Durham, NC, fire street performer) is about to light the stage, but first... balloon animals! She doesn't expect to win, but she would rather a 17-year-old with a dream win it... Okay, moving on. ... Ohay, she's singing "Pinocchio (I've Got No Strings)". She's actually not bad. Is it Idol caliber? Probably not, but it's more suited to a coffee-house audience. And hey, I work in CH. I'll probably run into her somewhere. But not until she comes back from Hollywood! FOURTH WALL, KEZ! FOURTH WALL! Ashley Curry (19, Homewood-Flossmoor, IL, student) has a twin sister. Ashley's a big musical theatre nut. Her sister... not so much. But she has the confidence in the family. She sings "Mamma Knows Best" by Jessie J. "WEEEEELL THERE'S SOMETHING GOING DOWN." Got that right. Last on the docket is Lazaro Arbos (21, Naples, FL by way of Cuba, ice cream scoop), who speaks in a stammer, and he doesn't know where it came from. When he arrived in the US, it got worse. He sought solace in music. Today, he'll audition with "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon. And when he does... wow. Needless to say, he's IN. Over the last couple of hours, we gave away 47 golden tickets. Chicago blew us away, but now it's on to the next city. And nothing could be finer than ANOTHER Idol in Carolina. Charlotte NEXT WEEK! To see extras from this episode, go to www.americanidol.com. |
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