Pbmom's Blog

The City of Brotherly Love was the next stop in the Idol audition tour and on hand to help screen the people auditioning was Clay Aiken who should have won Idol in Season 2.

Jennifer Lopez knew the mom (Brenda K. Starr of the late 1980’s hit song “I Still Believe”) of the first contestant, Gianna Isabella, a 15-year-old student from Jackson, NJ. She chose “House of The Rising Sun” as her song. She has a beautiful voice but the breaths she took were very loud and distracting and didn’t seem to be in natural spots in the song. Perhaps that was from nerves. She made it through.

Derek Huffman was not so great at Clay Aiken trivia (getting every single question wrong). He chose “Angel” by Shaggy to sing (and brought in karaoke music with him versus having musical accompaniment by Idol staff). Unfortunately he was no better singing. Keith gives the boom box a yes, but it is a no for the singing. He doesn’t handle the rejection well.

Country boy Isaac Cole chooses to sing his a cappella song with his guitar (he may need to look up the definition of that phrase, but that sends Keith into a fit of laughter). The song is “Love Like Crazy” by Lee Brice. He has potential for the future, but right now I don’t think he is ready, especially for the level of talent in the competition this year. I know Harry is going to get him on the fact that he does not speak with a southern twang but is singing with one. Jennifer liked him. Harry liked him, but pointed out exactly what I anticipated he would say about the twang. Keith feels like he is a work in progress. He is close to being ready but not quite. Despite all that, he gets the nod of approval from all three judges. He is going to get eaten alive during Hollywood week.

Sara Sturm from Centreville, Virginia picked “Lips Are Moving” by Meghan Trainor for her audition. It was a fair audition. She was flat on a lot of her notes. She also had a lot of wonderful notes. Jennifer liked it. Keith liked her confidence and felt it was one of his favorites that day (wow that must have been a bad audition day). Harry thinks she is adorable. She is through to Hollywood.

Ellis Banks wants his spot in Hollywood. What walked through the audition door was not the person who walked into the auditorium. My immediate reaction was this was a callback to the days when they showed the weird acts that came through who knew they couldn’t make it through to Idol but hoped for some national attention for other things. Keith asked him what “thong” he was going to pick. Obviously this kind of auditioning does not make Keith happy. He chose Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way.” The judges were having fun with it though. It was a no for all of them, but Jennifer told him he had a sweet spirit.

Perceived airhead (or high) Jenn Blosil chose “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons on the piano and not the guitar she brought in to the audition. My first perceptions of her presentation of herself were so off from her actual talent. She has SUCH an unique voice and I think she is one of the first contestants that sang that song over all these years where it sounded good during an audition. She put her own spin on it. Jennifer said she finds her very interesting, compelling almost, and she liked it a lot. Keith said there is a good storytelling quality about her voice and has an easy presence about her. Harry said he wasn’t expecting the voice to come out the way it did based on her quirkiness. She is going to Hollywood.

Harrison Cohen decides to sing an original song called “No Time.” He is interesting but those “seduction” eyes have to go. They are creepy and he uses them too much.   Keith liked the song and Jennifer liked the Latin undertones. Harry thinks he is talented but is he the powerhouse bookend to Kelly?  He says yes along with the other two.

The last contestant featured was John Arthur Greene who had a tragic story about playing cops and robbers with his brother when they were young. The guns were always not loaded in the house (grew up on a farm around guns all of his life), but for some reason that night they were. He held his brother and him die. (I can’t even imagine that pain). He chose Keith Urban’s song “I Wanna Love Somebody Like You.” He is currently working in the Broadway show “Matilda.” Harry is a no, but Jennifer and Keith are yes votes and he is through to Hollywood.

Next up: Little Rock and Denver Auditions (Again)