IdolPhenomena

So every once in awhile I don’t get to see Idol when it airs and I have to give a good ol’watch via the DVR and tonight was one of those nights. I did that thing you should never do and checked my twitter feed before watching and all I read was that tonight was the worst episode so far. So that was definitely a big bummer but I watched it anyway.

So tonight American Idol headed to California and the first city they hit was Los Angeles. Up first was Victoria Garrett. She firmly believed that God brought American Idol to LA and she was the reason for them being there. She enters the audition room ready to blow the judges socks off and she just might do that ;-).-LOL. She breaks out with some Kirk Franklin, Now Behold The Lamb. She can feel the music in her soul but what comes out is not that soulful. She kind of sounded like a dying cat as Simon would say. Randy compared her audition to an animal getting a shot. Steven was ready to vote and told her she was going to Siberia and Jennifer so kindly told her it was a no. Hopefully this audition wouldn’t set the precedent for the rest of the show.

Next we are introduced to Tim Halperin who’s excited to meet J.Lo since he had a crush on her while he was in middle school. He has chosen Maroon 5’s She Will Be Loved. Tim has a good voice. I like that its very nonchalant- he does however need to work a little more to be able to compete with some of the people that they have already passed on through to Hollywood. Randy felt like Tim just auditioned for Jennifer, who proceeds to ask his age which he replies, “23” and then asks her age in return. -Wow man someone’s getting ballsy asking a women her age-LOL. Randy interjects telling him never to ask a woman her age. Tyler says that asking their age never gets him anywhere. While Jennifer answers, “Old enough for you, Don’t you worry.” – What exactly does that mean??? Now to his vocal which is the reason why we’re all here. Randy says he is not ready and that it’s a no. Steven tells him he needs to work on his voice and that he needs to step it up but it’s a yes. Jennifer likes the tone of his voice and gives him a yes. With two yeses Tim is the first contestant of the night off to Hollywood. Justin Carter is the next contestant who tackles Madonna’s, Secrets. His clip is kind of short so we don’t know what comes of him at this time but Jennifer did say his audition lacked “POWER.”-;-)

Almost a quarter away through the show and we are introduced to two friends Isaac Rodriguez and Daniel Gomez. Daniel sings first and completely kills one of my favorite songs, I’ll Be by Edwin McCain. It was so out of tune I didn’t even recognize the song. Steven Tyler told him it was so far from the melody your just not there. Randy was all like dawg this is not for you your relatively tone deaf. While Jennifer just giggled. Rude yes, but also so very true. :-). Following Daniel was Isaac who apparently dropped out of college to be pursue singing and has yet to tell his parents who are with him at the audition.- I’d hate to be him after all this, my parents would kill me. He takes a chance with Build Me Up Buttercup and low and behold he does have something in common with his friend Daniel. They are both tone deaf. Where’s the melody man? Jennifer tells him he has a nice smile while Steven tells him you set the soul on fire in the wrong way. Randy proceeds to tell him he burnt the song to the ground, which I would have to agree with the judges on that one. Then Randy goes on and tells him that, “You and your buddy Daniel shouldn’t be singing.” – Randy when did you become Simon ;-). Then before they break for commercial there's a nice segment about how Daniel and Isaac are not going to give up on their dreams with Whitney Huston and Mariah Carey’s When You Believe playing the background- I don’t know what to say to something like this except it verges on being totes inappropes.

What were the producers thinking? -Seriously. I know we all find enjoyment and entertainment value in all of this bad singing and gimmicks but I would really like to hear some talent. At this point only 15 minutes into the episode and I am actually considering turning it off. I can only hope that the next contestant would change my mind. This was the first time in Idol history that they used MySpace as a source for auditions which is how the next contestant made it to this point in the competition. Karen Rodriguez is a 21 yr old student from New York City. She has chosen to sing Whitney Huston's You Give Good Love. Karen has a great voice and a great vibe about her. She definitely has star quality. Jennifer thinks her audition is hot and that she has great control in her voice. While Tyler tells her she’s got confidence, you got the spit; you got the fire, great voice. So that means Karen will be joining Tim in Hollywood. So that’s only two golden tickets where’s the talent at LA???

Next we meet the over confident Tynisha Roches whose from Hoboken, NJ. She has chosen to do a tribute to Frank Sinatra. I can't believe how out of tune it is and she forgots the words. Oh, I still can’t believe she chased Randy around the audition room- talk about a crazy person. Then there’s the beautiful Heidi Khzam who does a nice entrancing belly dance for the boys, but can she sing? She sings some Alicia Keys Superwoman and Randy and Steven are all like Welcome to Hollywood! Personally I feel her dancing was blah and her voice was nothing that special but compared what has aired tonight so far I would have to say that she sings well. :-/. And the crazy doesn’t stop there. It continues on with the next to auditioner, Matt “Big Stats” Frankle. Who is apparent a free lance music producer – cough scam artist ;-).- Horrible version of Love Don’t Cost a Thing by the way man. I can’t believe he told the judges he needs to lubricate.- Some please just make him go away. The strange just keeps on coming.

Next is William Robinson of Long Beach, CA who just shrieks some ungodly notes- WHAT WAS THAT?? Steven Tyler tells him that he is not ready for 2011, 12,or 13 American Idol. –LOL. He is followed by Jeannete Manning who sings something I can’t even make out and the judges tell her she’s way way of of all the notes. Then there’s Daniel Hall who’s Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom- talk about awkward audition. Then Anthony Grange reenacts Pants on the Ground with his pants on the ground. This lovely segment of complete bad ends with Arista Pemperton who butchers His Eye is on the Sparrow and then does some crazy dancing. I can’t believe how much garbage they weaved into tonight’s episode. I am highly disappointed. So far that’s a possible 3 golden tickets and a whole lot ‘o bad. Hopefully the Guttierez brothers can turn this show around.

Next up are Mark and Aaron Guttierez from Red Lands, CA. They’ve chosen some Bill Withers Lean on Me. Their audition was definitely refreshing compared to the rest of the evening. They have great vocal chemistry and I like how their voices complement each other so well. They also exude tons of personality which is something we haven’t seen a lot of this season. Randy said their audition was very nice and that they sing well together. So that’s two more Hollywood bound contestants. Now there’s only one person left, Cooper Robinson.

Cooper is a street performer from somewhere deep in the heart of Arkansas. You travel 10miles out of some city, down a dirt road and pass snakes and alligators to get where he lives. What is this guy on.-Is he really serious??? This guy has no clue how old he really is… I feel like asking where the paper bag is with the bottle of alcohol he drank before the audition is. However, he does of soul as he busts some moves to James Brown’s I Feel Good. And that’s it people I have to say overall I am disappointed with tonight’s episode I feel like it had the potential to be way better. But I can’t wait until next week when Idol hits the last city of San Francisco and starts into Hollywood week. My rankings are as follows.

Tim Halperin 1.5-Stars

Justin Carter 1.5-Stars

Karen Rodriguez 2.5-Stars

Heidi Khzam 2-Stars

Mark Guttierez 2-Stars

Aaron Guttierez 2.5-Stars