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‘American Idol’ loves Birmingham, Alabama
Tonight…Birmingham, Alabama. This city is home to more American Idol stars than any other city (which they reminded us of frequently during the show), Bo Bice, Rueban Studdard and none other than last year’s winner Taylor Hicks and tonight 20 people got through to Hollywood.
First up tonight was Erica Skye who sang Unchained Melody because she knew that Simon loves that song. It was actually a good thing that she kept her eyes closed through most of her performance because she would have seen some funny faces from the judges. Once again, despite the frequent requests to stop singing, she did not. I guess Paula was so disgusted that she stormed away from the desk. By the way, I think Paula was stinking drunk again. She was acting over the top weird again.
Speaking in a squeaky little voice, Katie Bernard announced that her talking voice is completely different than her singing voice. Funny thing is that she was absolutely correct. She had a few too many “frills” in her rendition of A House is not a Home, but take that stuff away, she had a really strong voice. The only problem is that to listen to her speak would drive anyone crazy. So guess what the judges said? Randy, yes…Simon, absolutely not and Paula put her through just because Simon said no. Oh well, I guess there will be plenty of entertainment value in listening to this chick talk.
Tiny little Tatiana McConnico, student at a school for performing arts, belted out a song that I’ve never heard before, but boy did she belt it out. With a lot of confidence and attitude she celebrated a pass to Hollywood.
Okay, Diana Walker was another one of those contestants that all you can see is the atrocious outfit. She’s a heavy girl wearing a skin tight black tube dress (without a brassiere by the way) and over top? A really short pink fishnet tank top that is tied in the back Oh yeah, we can’t forget the one pink sequined glove. I really wish I could say something like, boy did she surprise me with her awesome voice, but they couldn’t wish her goodbye quick enough. Do these folks not look in the mirror before they leave? My goodness.
Bernard Williams II tackled a Michael Jackson song Rock with You and once again Paula acted ridiculous. He sounded really good and even Simon said “Absolutely 100% yes.” Then Paula said he had a good tone but was totally off key. I played back the song on my DVR and he wasn’t off key at all. Paula = Plastered.
Oh my goodness, someone let in a big yellow bird named Margaret Fowler. Now Margaret couldn’t sing at all but all Simon wanted from her was a confession. “How old are you really?” She claimed to be 26, but clearly was much older. When pressed again? 50 years old in top to bottom (including her glasses) bright yellow attire. Once again someone I suspect just wanted to be on TV.
Was very nervous and then told the most tragic story about her family. Her daddy shot himself in the throat and is a paraplegic. When Randy wondered out loud why he would do that she said his wife (her stepmother) was cheating on him and he shot her then shot himself “but it’s okay….it’s okay.”
Sarcastic and funny Chris Sligh sang A Kiss from a Rose and was pretty good. Not the best, but pretty good. Paula, glassy eyed by now, was obnoxiously supportive of Chris. When he was asked why he wanted to be an Idol he said because he wanted to make David Hasselhoff cry. Very smart and cute. I’m not sure he deserved to go to Hollywood but it looks like he’s getting the chance. Funny is good, but he’ll have to work on the singing, funny doesn’t win American Idol.
Fifteen went through from the first day.
ON day two, Simon and Randy had to do without Paula. She had a family obligation. Yeah right, I’ll bet she was too drunk to go on and they booted her out. This woman needs an intervention!
I can only imagine how Paula would have reacted to the six foot long hair of Victoria Watson. Victoria said that if she doesn’t wear high heels it drags on the floor. Like daughter, like mother. The guys asked if the mother could come in and she walked in with hair almost as long as her daughters. Personally, I think it looks ridiculous. But I agree with Simon yet again and think these are genuinely nice people. You Raise me Up by Josh Groban was a good song for her voice but she lacked a spark. There was no something special. Her mother was obviously proud, but both were let down when they told her she wasn’t quite good enough for Hollywood. Even though Victoria cried in her father’s arms I could hear her whisper to him, “It’s okay…it just wasn’t meant to be.” Like Simon said. Genuinely nice people. Hollywood would have eaten her alive.
Team Nicole, in their bright pink T-shirts, sat and giggled as Nicole Gatzman did her pre-audition interview. I thought she sang better than several people they put through but they told the 17 year old that she sang old fashioned and had a lot of work to do. But here was another polite girl and her family that handled the disappointment
Brandy Patterson is the only person in her family with the nerves to be a star but someone forgot to tell her she needed talent as well. Just horrible. But Brandy thought the judges didn’t like her because of the floor. Yes, the floor. So Simon suggested that she try it on the carpet. So off come the shoes and on with another song which was just as grueling. Brandy was a bit upset and couldn’t believe that they didn’t recognize her talent. It took her a while to complain her way out of the room and then she complained her way into the hall and was still talking when Randy and Simon came out of the room. Then things got personal. They beeped some of it but even Ryan said enough was enough.
All in all, twenty people from Birmingham are going to Hollywood. That may be the most people from a single city this season. What’s in the water in Alabama?
So what does everyone think about the Paula thing? She drunk all the time? Should they remove her from the show?
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By Laura
January 31, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Actually, it’s one of the smallest - even the first couple of cities had 22. New York I think has had the most.