The Big Apple was home for the big American Idol Season 12 kick off. Thousands of would-be-stars, packed the Jazz at Lincoln Center, hoping to become the next American Idol. Host Ryan Seacrest is back with the screaming crowds, the talented and the, uh, not-so-talented, and stop number one on the Idol train to fame.
How about three new judges? New to the idol-making panel are three international superstars keen on bringing their eye for talent and their larger than life personalities to the mix for season twelve. Joining Randy Jackson are country superstar Keith Urban, R&B fashion plate Nicki Minaj, and the one and only Mariah Carey. How well will the judges jive with one another? Let the games begin.
Nicky and Mariah traded a few barbs, but first contestant Michael Buonopane, cut the tension with his version of Queen's "We Will Rock You" and his original lyrical homage to the judges. Nice guy. Big No from the judges. Next up was twenty-eight year old Tenna Torres from Queens, New York who attended "Camp Mariah" as a kid. Tenna wowed her idol Mariah and the rest of the judges and got our first "Welcome to Hollywood!" Tenna's success was infectious as a string of winners came, sang, and wowed the judges.
But all good things must come to an end. Thank fifteen-year-old James Bae for that. The bespectacled, baby Bieber got the hook from the judges, but a big hug from Nicki. Georgia native, Christina "Isabelle" got the opposite reaction though as she belted out "Summertime". Keith noted the emotion and natural tone in her voice and it was a resounding, unanimous Yes! Next, cancer survivor and amputee, Evan Ruggiero"s story moved the judges, but his version of Bon Jovi?s "Wanted Dead or Alive" failed to earn him a trip to Hollywood.
Next we saw the first Idol "nominee", nineteen year-old Jessica Kartalis. Based on mom's video nomination, Randy traveled to Staten Island to surprise Jessica and invite her to the auditions. Sadly, Jessica's original jam was off-key and all the judges could muster was a "maybe next time."
Twenty-three year old Israeli singer, Shira Gavrielov, brought her version of the Zuton's "Valerie" and bought herself a ticket to Hollywood. Brooklyn busker Frankie Ford closed out the day with tales of singing on the subway and his dreams of moving on to bigger and better and less mobile venues. He sang "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics a cappella, beat back a shaky start, and got Randy and the other judges to believe enough to send him to to Tinseltown.
Day two started out with Nicki sporting pink and yellow hair, and Keith questioning his seat choice between the ladies as Nicki and Mariah brought the love. First up, sporting a red plastic running suit and retro-wig, was twenty-seven year old Ben Gaisey who sang an "original" love song punctuated with a pelvic thrust that had Randy howling and Keith literally hiding under the desk. Randy subtly told Ben that his voice was, uh, "terrible."
And the "pits" kept on coming. Many more took the stage, but no one took the ticket and we got a healthy montage of F-bombs and middle fingers from those saying farewell to their hopes of Idol fame. Stay classy!
How about Idol alum Carrie Underwood's "Momma Song" and Nicki's "Super Bass" in one shot? Seventeen-year-old Jersey farm girl, Sarah Restuccio, sang them both and had Randy's head spinning. But Nicki went to the mat, turned the panel, and turned it into a ticket to Hollywood.
Such was not the fate for twenty-five year old Queens native Albert Chang who, many subtitles later, gave the judges an atonal, bird-like rendition of "Phantom of the Opera". Oh, and then Nicki inexplicably turned British.
Next up was eighteen year-old Angela Miller who, despite her hearing impediments, crushed it for the judges and walked away with a ticket to Hollywood. Angela was followed by seven-time-audition vet, twenty-eight year old Brett Holt. Brett brought a "dreamy" version of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love" that fell oh-so-flat with the judges. The eighth time was not, in fact, a charm.
And then there was Singh the singing Sikh, Gurpreet Singh Sarin, aka, the "Turbanator". The twenty-two year old, purple-turbaned dude brought some surprising soul to Maroon Five's "Sunday Morning", and with a big-time sell, took home a ticket to the next round.
And finally, it was all love for Connecticut native, Ashlee Feliciano, whose family includes foster siblings with special needs. Great story and the twenty-year-old was nothing short of great. Her rendition of Corin Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" inspired Nicki, and earned her a clean sweep of yeses and a big God bless to her loving family.
Forty-one got the nod to Hollywood, we watched the Divas dish, and now it's on to Chicago!
How about three new judges? New to the idol-making panel are three international superstars keen on bringing their eye for talent and their larger than life personalities to the mix for season twelve. Joining Randy Jackson are country superstar Keith Urban, R&B fashion plate Nicki Minaj, and the one and only Mariah Carey. How well will the judges jive with one another? Let the games begin.
Nicky and Mariah traded a few barbs, but first contestant Michael Buonopane, cut the tension with his version of Queen's "We Will Rock You" and his original lyrical homage to the judges. Nice guy. Big No from the judges. Next up was twenty-eight year old Tenna Torres from Queens, New York who attended "Camp Mariah" as a kid. Tenna wowed her idol Mariah and the rest of the judges and got our first "Welcome to Hollywood!" Tenna's success was infectious as a string of winners came, sang, and wowed the judges.
But all good things must come to an end. Thank fifteen-year-old James Bae for that. The bespectacled, baby Bieber got the hook from the judges, but a big hug from Nicki. Georgia native, Christina "Isabelle" got the opposite reaction though as she belted out "Summertime". Keith noted the emotion and natural tone in her voice and it was a resounding, unanimous Yes! Next, cancer survivor and amputee, Evan Ruggiero"s story moved the judges, but his version of Bon Jovi?s "Wanted Dead or Alive" failed to earn him a trip to Hollywood.
Next we saw the first Idol "nominee", nineteen year-old Jessica Kartalis. Based on mom's video nomination, Randy traveled to Staten Island to surprise Jessica and invite her to the auditions. Sadly, Jessica's original jam was off-key and all the judges could muster was a "maybe next time."
Twenty-three year old Israeli singer, Shira Gavrielov, brought her version of the Zuton's "Valerie" and bought herself a ticket to Hollywood. Brooklyn busker Frankie Ford closed out the day with tales of singing on the subway and his dreams of moving on to bigger and better and less mobile venues. He sang "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics a cappella, beat back a shaky start, and got Randy and the other judges to believe enough to send him to to Tinseltown.
Day two started out with Nicki sporting pink and yellow hair, and Keith questioning his seat choice between the ladies as Nicki and Mariah brought the love. First up, sporting a red plastic running suit and retro-wig, was twenty-seven year old Ben Gaisey who sang an "original" love song punctuated with a pelvic thrust that had Randy howling and Keith literally hiding under the desk. Randy subtly told Ben that his voice was, uh, "terrible."
And the "pits" kept on coming. Many more took the stage, but no one took the ticket and we got a healthy montage of F-bombs and middle fingers from those saying farewell to their hopes of Idol fame. Stay classy!
How about Idol alum Carrie Underwood's "Momma Song" and Nicki's "Super Bass" in one shot? Seventeen-year-old Jersey farm girl, Sarah Restuccio, sang them both and had Randy's head spinning. But Nicki went to the mat, turned the panel, and turned it into a ticket to Hollywood.
Such was not the fate for twenty-five year old Queens native Albert Chang who, many subtitles later, gave the judges an atonal, bird-like rendition of "Phantom of the Opera". Oh, and then Nicki inexplicably turned British.
Next up was eighteen year-old Angela Miller who, despite her hearing impediments, crushed it for the judges and walked away with a ticket to Hollywood. Angela was followed by seven-time-audition vet, twenty-eight year old Brett Holt. Brett brought a "dreamy" version of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall In Love" that fell oh-so-flat with the judges. The eighth time was not, in fact, a charm.
And then there was Singh the singing Sikh, Gurpreet Singh Sarin, aka, the "Turbanator". The twenty-two year old, purple-turbaned dude brought some surprising soul to Maroon Five's "Sunday Morning", and with a big-time sell, took home a ticket to the next round.
And finally, it was all love for Connecticut native, Ashlee Feliciano, whose family includes foster siblings with special needs. Great story and the twenty-year-old was nothing short of great. Her rendition of Corin Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" inspired Nicki, and earned her a clean sweep of yeses and a big God bless to her loving family.
Forty-one got the nod to Hollywood, we watched the Divas dish, and now it's on to Chicago!