News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

Lst night American Idol featured 10,000 auditions in San Diego, where the judges were set up on the USS Midway aircraft carrier, with Steven Tyler decked out in a ‘fly boy’ pilot cap and goggles.

The show seems to capitalize on unique features of each location where they hold auditions, and in the case of San Diego, the huge military presence. The constant roar of jets and aircraft were definitely highlighted on tonight’s show---a raging wall of sound that interrupted hopefuls in mid-sentence as they spoke and as they sang.

The show producers might have added humor and exaggeration to that aspect of San Diego, but I can say from personal experience that outdoor performances in San Diego face the challenge of stage sound dying under the jet-fueled shriek of almost constant overhead air traffic. When my kids were toddlers, we paid a visit to San Diego and I remember seeing a rollicking musical production in a beautiful outdoor grotto amphitheater.

The historical show featured a live orchestra and skilled actors in frolicsome period costumes, but by far the most notable part of the performance was that, every 20 seconds or so, an enormous aircraft would blot out the sun and drown every other sound within a 5-mile radius. The conductor had the aircraft timed perfectly, and would raise his arm and stop the orchestra and the stage singers in mid-syllable, mid-note, mid-gesture, and the whole cast would freeze in place like statues, until the plane passed, and then resume with impeccable timing.

Tonight’s show featured mostly ‘yesses’ from the judges, with one exception: a hopeful babe who said that she was very patriotic and was garbed in a minimal bikini with stripes above and very few stars beneath. Suffice it to say that her patriotism and physical configuration far outshone her paltry musical talent.

‘Jayrah’ was an energetic audition: a young song writer who even sang a clip of a tune he wrote for Jennifer about her ‘moneymaker’. He sang his audition tune with great falsetto flow and rhythmic phrasing. He got “Mad good,” from Randy and “The whole ball of wax” from Steven, and “I look forward to hearing you sing more melodic songs,” from Jennifer.

‘Aubrey’ the adorable receptionist sang with a lovely, unique voice: kind of bluesy and sweet vibrato with highs that went from gutsy to husky-soft. “I love the sweet parts in your voice—the runs and the pretty sound,” Jennifer told her. Both Randy and Steven told her that she lost a little strength in the upper range, but Steven said she ‘went back up and nailed it.’

“I haven’t heard anybody sing that kind of flavour,” Steven concluded before they set her out with her golden ticket.

‘Alexa’ stunned the judges by skipping in wearing a pink shirt and chipper little skirt and twinkly, zippered Keds. She was beaming and cheerful, admitted to a mad crush on Steven and then ‘rapped’ for her audition. It was a real ‘Which of these things is not like the other,’ moment, not to be the last in the show.

She delighted the judges, who seemed to thrill with the ironic juxtaposition of this adorable girl, who also ‘ghetto danced.’ She sang, too, with a confident inner rhythm and unique tone. “This is a wild audition and you’re just crazy enough to make it,” Randy said, and Jennifer said, “Sweet!”

University/frat boy ‘Kyle’ surprised them, too, with a strong, young, unique voice emerging from a cherubic face. “Best male voice we’ve heard yet,” Steven said, and “You sound nothing like you look—you can sing, dude,” from Randy, and “Know it,” from Jennifer. “Lose the shirt,” ordered Steven and “Work on the look,” Randy agreed.

 

Another surprise on the show was Jane Carrey, daughter of actor Jim Carrey. I actually thought she was Billy Ray Cyrus’ ‘other’ daughter for one split second, when she smiled, but that turned out to be a case of mistaken identity of her central incisors on my part. She described herself as a mom, waitress and musician who has been singing all her life. She said that it’s been a lifelong challenge for her to find her place in the world under a huge shadow like having a dad like hers. “Singing is a way for me to make my place in the world,” she said.

 

Jennifer was astounded to find out who the young lady was, and said that she remembers working with Jim and meeting Jane on set when she was a baby.

 

“I like the sound of your voice: think more about performing. You need to connect with your audience,” Jennifer said after Jane did her piece. “I want to see more of you.”

 

“Good melodic work on the volume,” noted Steven, and Randy added, “Tell your father we say ‘Whazzup.’”

 

‘Jason’ the golf course mechanic, nicknamed ‘Wolf’, a huge bearded guy covered with tattoos, was the last audition of the show. He started singing ‘Midnight Special’ but didn’t get far. “I need to hear something else,” Steven said, and they let him pick up his guitar and sing ‘Folsom Prison,’ which he sang with growl and rasp and half-octave backflips that would have sent Johnny Cash careening headlong into the caboose of the long black train.

 

The judges loved it. On his way out, though, he went a little crazy with his howling happy dance and busted out a stage panel.

 

Altogether, 53 singers were promoted to the Hollywood level, and the team’s Aspen, Colorado audition show will air on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

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