IdolPhenomena

Tonight Idol visited the city of Milwaukee, WI which produced Idol Contestant Danny Gokey, and Sumerfest and…. apparently that’s all.-LOL… At least for now. The locals are excited Idol is there but all they really need is their cheese and their beer. ;-). This year Idol planted their cattle call audition at the Bradley Center where they saw thousands of people. The first to start off the evening was 16yr old Scott “Scotty” McCreery. He impresses both the judges and me with his incredibly deep natural country voice. The first song he chose to sing was Your Man which made Jennifer smile. Then the panel wanted to hear his upper register so he chose some Travis Tritt, Put Some Drive in Your Country. Steven Tyler’s surprising reaction was, "Will hellfire save matches? **** a duck and see what hatches!" Oh Steven you crack me up. And Randy liked how he’s a throw back country singer. His impressive audition gets him a golden ticket to Hollywood.

We’re next introduced to Joe Repca. A 19yr old University of Toledo student who’s Grandmother is tone deaf and I hate to say but I don’t think the apple falls far from the tree. Not only does he have dreams of being the next American Idol he also aspires to be a radio announcer. Ryan starts the segment with some comment about being able to picking your friends and picking your nose but you can’t wipe your friends on the couch…. Oh Ryan… I hope that wasn’t on a cue card-LOL. He has chosen to sing For The Longest Time … he definitely should have stuck with just claps and snaps :-). Tyler tells him not to quit his day job. Lopez tells him to pursue the mic thing and Randy suggests he not sing and stick to radio. And for Steven’s second comment of the night he suggests he and Joe form a new type of band, a rubber band that is SNAP…-LOL oh this is priceless humor that I still don’t think is all that funny. Then he follows it up with a silent wow as Joe leaves the audition room.

For our first 15yr old of the night we are introduced to Emma Henry. Emma and her family traveled all the way from Colorado just to be here. Now that she’s recently got her learners permit can she top off the good things with a golden ticket??? Her song choice is Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors. Personally I feel that Emma’s voice is nothing great or spectacular. You can tell she’s nervous. Tyler likes that she has a lot of character. Jennifer express that she is not ready and should work on developing her voice. Randy agrees and feels she isn’t ready for the competition. Next it’s time for the vote Tyler is a yes Lopez is a no… that leaves Randy who just happens to be on the fence. Then come the characteristic water works and expressing about how this is their dream speech and Randy gives in and says yes. So now Emma is on her way to Hollywood.

At this point we are 27 minutes into this 2hr Idol Extravaganza and I am surprisingly entertained. Dare I say this episode is a lot better than the first two?

Up next is the typical montage of tone deaf singers and screamers. Kody, Juanita, Kamil, and Kanisha…. all terrible terrible terrible with a capital T. And please some of you look like you dressed in the dark. You really wore that to your audition???

Up next is Naima Adedapo who I have personally been waiting to hear what she sounds like since a lot of her YouTube videos are all slightly muffled because of speakers and such at live performances. She wants to be able to provide for her family and give them opportunities she never had growing up. Tonight she auditions with a little Donnie Hathaway’s… For All We Know. She has a good voice that has a subtle confidence about it. Lopez says she’s one of the best they’ve seen and Tyler thinks she’s all that. So Naima is on her way to Hollywood.

Cue back handspring on to camera man’s face….. 10 Points ;-)

Next are some more bad people Jovan and a man carrying a giant toothbrush who Randy tells to sing in the car only when the windows are rolled up-LOL.

Up now is Jerome Bell who refers to his shoes as space boots… slightly awkward.. but I get it-LOL. He has chosen Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On. Bell definitely has a powerful voice and a great range. Randy liked his crazy hot vocals; Jennifer felt he was loud, soft, sweet, powerful, and cute. And Steven felt he was so good, SO GOOD. Then there’s 5yr old Valerie who is absolutely adorable who does some Corrine Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On.

Following Jerome and Valerie is 15 yr old Thia Megia, the girl with the movie star name. This “movie star” just happened to be on America’s Talent back in 2009 so she is no stranger to Reality TV. From Mountain House, CA she enters the room star truck and wins the judges over with Chasing Pavements by Adele. She has incredible control over her voice and for such a young age I am definitely impressed. Thia’s audition is followed by a montage of other young contestants who have made it through to Hollywood. They are Felix Ramsey, Ashika Sachdev and Hanani Taylor.

After the commercial break we meet civil war re-enactor Nathaniel Johns whose father is totally not a hippy.-LOL. Nathaniel has chosen The Lion Sleeps Tonight… why anyone would pick this song is beyond me. Randy can’t stop laughing While J. Lo flat out tells him no. Steven Tyler was nice enough to say he liked it but that it wasn’t for Idol. Then there’s Mason Wilkinson who spent some time turned around in front of the judges to collect himself before singing. His audition song mentions something about serenity which is definitely something I am going to need after hearing that.

Following that is accomplished Harvard graduate Molly deWolf Swenson. She seems to have a lot going on for her especially being an intern at the White House. Would her list accomplishments include a ticket to Hollywood? She opens her mouth and presents the panel with a smoky version of Sittin’ on the Dock of The Bay which was unique and amazing all at the same time. Tyler likes her attitude and she knows where to put it. J.Lo was impressed and was surprised as how rich her lower register was. Randy is baffled that she hasn’t been discovered and asks what’s been going on… uhh let me see HARVARD and working out the white house. Oh Randy sometimes I wonder why your still on the show. Oh and Randy didn’t mean to hit you in the face ;-) LOL.

Next is Haley Reinhart who auditioned in Chicago last year and was told to come back when she was more ready. So this year she’s ready and has chosen to sing Oh Darling. At 18 she has an amazing voice. Tyler said she had a beautiful choice of notes and Randy expressed that she has gotten better since last time. However, I don’t think he really remembers her. And Jennifer with the third yes and Haley is off to Hollywood. Then the Idol panel is graced with the twistin’ the night away styles of Tiwan Strong who has a great voice and personality. Tyler liked his voice and the sparkle in his eye. J.Lo said he did a really good job and Randy liked his voice so that means Tiwan is off to Hollywood.

The next to audition is CPA Steve Beguhn. He has an incredible country voice which I didn’t expect. Lopez was also pleasantly surprised. Tyler thought his audition was disturbingly great. Yes the big goons going to Hollywood. Then there’s Vernika Patterson who said she sang so much better than anyone else there and that she is being discriminated because of her appearance. She chose to sing Luvin’ You which I totally wasn’t luvin’-LOL. After the judges tell her she isn’t ready for Idol she just walks out of the room choosing her own future which is not to go to Hollywood.

30 Minutes left in tonight’s episode and the next contestant is Albert Rogers III. He’s been compared to artists like Ruben Studdard, Luther Vandross and even Usher. He has chosen to audition with Stand By me. I don’t know who told him he sounded like the previously mentioned artists but this guy is seriously all over the place and he may be even tone deaf. Tyler said he squeezed it out so slow that he isn’t sure he’s for Idol. And Randy felt like the audition was terrible and a complete joke. So did I.

Next in to see the judges was Scott Daingerfield whose audition is surprisingly refreshing. Tyler said he was blown away. Lopez felt he was one of the best they’ve seen and Randy said this is crazy followed don’t judge a book by its cover. J.Lo expresses to Scott to keep the hair keep glasses and not to change a bit. Then next is Megan Fraizer the Packers super fan who sing’s a version of Baby which is far worse than Justin Bieber’s original.

Now that we’ve reached the last two auditions of the night… the first is Alyson Jados. Alyson has an edgy rock vibe and has chosen to sing Come Together by the Beatles. S. Tyler thinks she’s pitchy and that she looks like she could be one of his…. Lopez likes the great quality in her voice and her performance. Randy doesn’t think she’s ready yet. However , Alyson wins her Idol over and receives two yeses and a ticket to Hollywood.

Overall 53 contestants made it to Hollywood from the Milwaukee auditions. To close the night is 26 yr old barista/care giver Chris Medina. Whose personal struggles with his fiancé’s accident are extremely heartfelt and emotional, If you haven’t seen the song he wrote for Julia while she was in a coma I suggest you check it out here. Chris is incredibly talented. His chosen song was Breakeven by the Script. You could tell that the song meant something to him because you felt what he was singing. Three yeses and Chris is off to Hollywood. Thus concluding tonight’s episode, Thursday night Idol heads to Nashville, TN. And here are my ratings on 3-Star scale :-).

Scotty McCreery 3-Stars

Emma Henry 1-Star

Naima Adedapo 2-Stars

Jerome Bell 2.5-Stars

Thia Megia 3-Stars

Molly deWold Swenson 2.5-Stars

Haley Reinhart 2-Stars

Tiwan Strong 2-Stars

Steve Beghun 2-Stars

Scott Daingerfield 2.5-Stars

Alyson Jados 2-Stars

Chris Medina 3- Stars