Thursday, January 7, 2016

American Idol Farewell Premiere

     The fifteenth and final season of American Idol has started.

     That's really sad. And at the same time, wonderful. Last summer I wrote an in-depth post about what AI has meant, 
     But based on the first episode, it should hopefully go well. There were all these tweets reposted by the AI account from people like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood watching, and then plenty of fans, too. That was entertaining.
     I was watching with Trevor in the family room, which is exactly the same place we all experimented with this singing show during the first night of auditions in season 6. So that was a nice bit of symmetry.

     There were the debates and discussions with Annette and Sarah during rehearsals for the spring co-op play during season 6(which was actually a parody of Idol, adding to the fun). Then there was the email group with Mom, Damon, Trish, Mike and Vonda (and Clay!) for a couple years, adding greatly to the experience. Arguing with people on Webkinz during season 8, and then talking over episodes with Sam, Jon and Josh. I kept reviews for a while on here; watching season 12 alone in my frozen dorm room in Ross during my freshman year, then took a break for a couple seasons before returning.
     Me, Annette, Julie, Quinton and Alton were all planning on trying out at some point, but life kind of gets in the way of plans like that. 

      The  auditions started in Atlanta with a girl named Michelle, and she sang LeAnn Rimes's "Blue" pretty well. She was kind of annoying, but her voice was good enough to get one of those golden tickets. her family was watching on a couple of video monitors, and they all crashed into the audition room to rejoice, which was funny to see. A good bit of audition craziness they can use later in montages.
     Next was  Josiah Siska the Golf Cart Driver singing Johnny Cash; he did really well. Harry added sound effects to the performance, which was funny. And then the guy's mom asked him to sing a Beauty and the Beast song in the car on the way home, which was perfect. (That's a great movie. I need to watch it again.)
     Lindita the personal trainer wasn't my style of music, but she sounded fine. I was okay with the judges letting her though; Trevor squawked at this decision. Also, I don't really care if you have lost a ton of weight in your inspiring journey to the audition room or whatever....but they do need some of those types of stories to fill space.
     Keith hopping in place to reduce stiffness was really hilarious. And his "Do you think this would be distracting?" And then Harry was being an intimidating statue in the corner and JayLo lounged on the table. Billy Bob the hillbilly was a good colorful contestant, but they were totally right, his voice was way too inconsistent to advance. But he could play guitar. And singing Waylon Jennings was a cool touch.
     Lee Jean was a friendly teenager from New Orleans, and he was pretty good. He did an Ed Sheeran song, and he can play guitar really well, too! I was glad he advanced.
     The show then shifted to Denver, where our first Colorado contestant was Jeneve Rose Mitchell, a cowgirl who lives on a ranch without electricity. Idol is about the only show they watch, and they fire up a generator to power the TV. Her voice wasn't that great, but it was decent. And it's really rare that you see someone play a cello. Especially a bluegrass cello, while singing. It made for a bewildering rendition of The Band Perry's "Chainsaw", but it was a pleasant type of strangeness. (Unlike this bluegrass version of Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder and Lead", which was bizarrely upbeat.)
     Sonika Vaid from Massachusetts did an amazing cover of one of Carrie's early songs And Ryan's comment to her dad was great: "Hey, listen, next time we FaceTime, do your hair."
     Joseph  Kohlruss from Arizona was awful, and somehow pitiful. But we need those people the audience can laugh at.
     Reanna the police officer was really good. And the bit where she handcuffed Harry was really entertaining. She sang a Patsy Cline breakup song, where Harry commented, "You're talkin' about leaving, and I'm like, I know! I can't move!" And just as she's leaving, Keith asks what else she has up her sleeve of tricks. "I have a Taser," she replies instantly, deadpan.
     Sylvia the Talker from Georgia was hysterical. And that was some LOUD YODELING. Also, the intro of inspiring stories was just perfect. I was like, "Hey, yeah, I remember him! And her! Hey, there's Lazaro! He was great!" And then Ryan's voiceover, "This next contestant....isn't any of those things." They rejected her really politely, though; Keith was like, "I love your accent, I could listen to you tell stories all day." "My favorite part of when she talked about the show goat Jim," Harry added after she'd left.
     Shevonne was okay, not great.
     Kory Wheeler was a no from me, but they let him through.
     Lauren was a definite no for me, her voice was just too weak. But the judges singing the Laverne & Shirley theme song was pretty awesome.
     Going back to Atlanta, Joshua Wicker wasn't my style of music, but he was okay. His pregnant wife meeting Harry was a nice story. He was "compelling," according to Keith, and JayLo said that his voice had "a lot of pretty colors in it."
     Jordan & Alex Sasser were....interesting. They were husband and wife, with their little daughter, and she played a pink ukelele. It was a little too fast, but kind of catchy. The song was Bruno Mars, "Count On Me", I think it's called? What Mrs. Boyer and Jed based the SGYC Camp Song on. Keith thought it was "too light, everything seemed to be just on the surface." He was too Broadway, and singing Celine Dion? Really? They let him through, not her. That led to some wedded drama afterwards.
     Going back to Denver, there was this painfully earnest homeschooled guy named Kerry whose mom died of cancer. It was fine, I guess, but a no from me. And he was weird looking. JayLo said that his performance was "kind of quirky, but also kind of dark and a little scary." Yet they let him through anyway. Really, guys?
     Alabama Shelbie was an irritating hairdresser. She did Carrie's "Last Name". It wasn't terrible, but she was SHOUTING SO MUCH. It was just far too LOUD.... But they let her through.
      Kanye West surprising the judges was entertaining.  

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