Many of you probably don't know that American Idol and I have had a "on again, off again" type of relationship for awhile! Since I'm thinking of auditioning again this year I thought I tell my story...
It all began in the summer of 2002 when my friend (now sister in law) Julianne and I went to audition for American Idol in Pasadena. To be perfectly honest, I really wasn't that into it - but Julianne had figured out where and when to audition so we went. Of course, we went the day before and camped out in our car. But that turned out to be really silly because by the time we woke up and got in line, we could have just driven there that morning. I think we should have realized that we should have been camping out IN LINE not in our car!
Anyway, we stood in this line all morning and afternoon and it was torture! I was feeling really sick because all we had brought to eat was some gross Little Debbie brownies and it was starting to get really hot and I was exhausted. I almost told Julianne that I was going to get out of line and just go sleep until she was done with her audition. But I ended up sticking it out.
Now, many of you may not know that you don't get to sing for Paula, Simon and Randy right away. At the time, you actually had to sing for 3 different people before you got the go ahead to sing for Paula, Simon and Randy. So, finally I was up for my turn to sing and I think I sang, "Joyful, Joyful" from sister act (I know, lame). We'll the guy was like, "Sing something else, I don't like that song." So I sang "I will always love you." That was little better, so he was like, "I'm hearing that you can sing some nice high notes...can you do opera?" and of course I said, "Yes!" So I sang a classical opera song and he gave me a wrist band and let me through to the next round!
Immediately my mood changed from being tired, grumpy and hungry to happy, elated and excited!! :)
Well, the next audition was at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood. Fortunately, Julianne got through as well so we went down together and auditioned. Since the opera thing had worked out pretty well, I sang opera again and got through to sing for the producers of the show! This time, it was very exciting because almost no one was getting through at this point. I was lead up to an elevator and went upstairs with this one other guy. It was really quiet in the hallway upstairs and of course I'm extremely nervous and scared! When I got into the room, the producers were very nice and I again sang opera for them. They asked if I could sing something more "Pop" so I sang, "I will always love you" which had evidently been sung a TON, but they were kind enough to let me through to sing for Paula, Simon & Randy! Now I was getting freaked out! I'm thinking, "What if I really suck and they're just going to make fun of me on national television!"
Well, I just had to wait to find out. I came back to hotel two day's later and sat around all day with some VERY interesting people. You see, American Idol purposely singles out the sucky people and puts them through to Paula, Simon and Randy in order to make fun of them. There was this guy there wearing a velvet leopard print shirt and pants and had hair that looked like moose horns among other people...
So, after sitting around for 9 hours - I got to finally sing for Paula, Simon and Randy. I think I was one of the last 10 people! When I got in there I sang opera for them and they seemed to like it, but like the producers, asked me to sing something else. So I sang, "Stoney End" which was sung by Barbara Streisand. Well, Paula was actually rocking out to my song while I was singing it. But when I was done, she looked at me and said, "I think you'd be better for stage. Your not really the America Idol type." Randy and Simon actually didn't really say much of anything actually. (And I was THRILLED that Simon wasn't mean!!) But I did leave feeling a little dejected. I had come all this way, and didn't feel like they gave me that great of a reason for turning me down. Especially since that was the year that Clay Aiken made it all the way to the top and he had a very "stage" type voice.
Well, fast forward 5 years. I decided that for some reason I wanted to audition again! So Michael and I went all the way down to San Diego and auditioned. This time, I thought that I would forgo the opera since that ultimately wasn't what they were looking for. When I finally got up to sing, I decided to sing, "Somewhere over the Rainbow" which I hadn't really practiced at all. I was SO nervous!! I can't remember ever being that nervous for an audition before! My eyes were wandering, I was breathy and my voice sort of cracked a little at one point. So I didn't even get past the first phase! I was totally sad. I obviously hadn't prepared adequately and I also should have done what I do best - classical. That's what got me through the first time and it's what make my voice really shine.
SO, now I have decided that, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again!" Michael has really helped me realize that classical music is where I truly do excel - and I think that American Idol might be ready for it now. They had Andrea Boccelli on a couple season ago as well as Andrew Loyd Webber this last season.
What I have decided to do (for those of you who have actually read to the end of this very long blog post) is to take video of me singing the songs that I want to prepare for American Idol and post them on my blog. Then YOU can give me feedback and tell me if I sound good or if I should prepare to be cut into a million pieces by Simon! That way this time I can actually go to the audition fully ready! Thanks in advance for your help! This should be fun!
(Wow, do I look a little excited??)
(Shot of Michael and I trying to each get control of the clicker. Michael relented, saying that it was my anniversary present! haha! Thanks Chelsea Nicole for the great images!)
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