We’re live blogging the FIRST NIGHT of the Hollywood Rounds RIGHT HERE! It’s the most intense week of their lives! Hollywood Hell Week has arrived!
The hour long telecast only allowed for abbreviated performances, which was a little disappointing. But that’s how Hollywood week rolls. When there are too many reality TV moments, it feels cruel. When there aren’t enough, and there are quick montages of performances, it can seem boring. Hollywood episodes are some of the toughest in which to strike just the right balance.
I am happy with the talent this year, so I rather enjoyed the brief glimpses into what the best of this new crop has to offer. The kids who choked are always part of the drama. Remember the year when everyone got sick, and it seemed that an entire episode was devoted to people barfing? Or that one season with entire episodes full of cat fights between contestants. I like it best when there’s an arc–singing, but with enough bts that shows the stress these kids go through. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to create an arc in only 1 hour.
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218 contestants have gathered at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles. Only 48 will survive the week. Let’s get right to it.
Click for the American Idol 14 Top 24
The judges address the crowd. They talk about the stress and difficulty the contestants will face. A select FEW will perform first. What does that mean? The most memorable auditioners are asked to take the stage first, but the contestants don’t know that. It makes them sort of paranoid.
JAX – Of course, JAX is first. She has a standout performance of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” in NYC, and here she is singing “Toxic” by Britney Spears. And it’s amazing. How many times have YOU heard this pop hit covered? Yet, she manages to make it sound new again. She sits behind an electric piano and quickly gets the crowd in the palm of her hand. Jlo says that’s how you interpret a song, without losing the melody.
But the singers have no idea of how they did–the judges talk amongst themselves quietly after each performance. The contestants will learn if they made the cut later in the day.
Mark Andrew singing “Jolene by Ray LaMontagne, Emily Brooke singing “Little White Church” by Little Big Town, and Sal Valentinetti perform next, in short order. All are promising. I want to hear more!
http://youtu.be/4xrdF2Ljhns
Toy designer, Adam Ezegelian, from the Brooklyn auditions is next. He sings a powerful a cappella version of “Demons” by Imagine Dragons. Harry thought he had some pitch issues. Jlo says he was maybe nervous. I dunno. I thought that was pretty good, actually.
http://youtu.be/a4mVJkWU0jQ
Tyanna Jones – She’s there with her mom, and looks very COOL in a natural do dyed purple. He song is surprising–“Dance with Me Tonight” and she is full of confidence and energy. A GREAT performance. Harry loves her slow vibrato.
Savion Wright – He sings “Get Lucky” by Pharrell and the crowd loved it! Standing ovation. Hey. I wanted to hear more of that!
Hollywood Anderson – Everybody loved Hollywood during the auditions. His original song was impressive. He sings “Someone Like You” by Adele. His arrangement of the song is, well, different. He completely changes the melody. It really doesn’t work. Jlo basically hates it. Keith thinks he wrecks the emotion. There’s something about Hollywood. I’m getting a vibe there are some issues with social skills.
http://youtu.be/cGFgMuIGNRc
More contestants take the stage. Some are struggling. The judges address the crowd. Keith tells them to relax. Harry suggests they become extremely tense. Ha ha. “DON’T THINK ABOUT THE WORDS.” he says. HELLO SIMON.
Shannon Berthiaume – She sings “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder and it the first verse is fantastic. But then she chokes. Just loses it—both the words and her pitch. The crowd claps along to get her back on track. She finishes strong. Nerves really got to her.
http://youtu.be/6HeX5QRapL8
Adam Lasher – Santana’s nephew sings “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak. His rendition is COMPELLING. His vocals capture the longing and passion of the lyrics. Harry thinks he’s a superstar.
Garrett Miles – He’s the blind country singer who sang in Spanish to Jennifer during his audition. He performs a super twangy version of the Bob Dylan favorite, “To Make You Feel My Love.” While Garrett has a beautiful tone, it’s like he’s imitating a country singer. He gets a standing o though. I people really meant that, and weren’t patronizing him. Harry loves the way he can hold notes without vibrato. ‘That’s a country thing,” says Keith.
The next several contestants play with out of tune guitars. OUCH.
Trevor Douglas – “I hope my guitar is in tune,” he jokes. But he doesn’t use it initially. He plays “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran. It’s a very intense performance. Fantastic dynamics from Trevor. He’s so good!
http://youtu.be/AdjzVZanSm8
Joey Cook and her uke is next! She feels vulnerable without her “squeezebox” but she doesn’t seem to need it. At All. I like this performance better than her audition. Her winsome rendition of Miranda Lambert’s “I’m Giving Up on Love” doesn’t feel so “precious.”
Uh oh. Amber Kalechi is losing it. She’s only 15. She doesn’t want to go home. But on the other hand, she doesn’t seem to be able to deal. Her success is not about changing her life, but her entire family’s too. That’s a horrible burden for a child to bear. She sings a shaky “Radioactive.” She looks like she’s going to throw up. Harry didn’t think she sounded great.
They ask that day’s performers to take the stage. The competitors who did not sing are a little confused. Keith reveals what we already knew–that day’s singers were audition standouts. The judges wanted to hear them again first. AND, although there were some poor performances EVERYONE GOES THROUGH. Jubilation. But what does that mean for the rest? They get to stay too.
http://youtu.be/Yy0BhtQzb60
What a difference from last year, when they corralled the singers into a hangar for a surprise performance, and sent half of them straight to the airport before Hollywood proper even began! EVERYONE survives the first day! The producers listened to our displeasure with the cruelty of that “Hollywood or Home” round.
But the hammer will come down. No mistake about it. Soon. Thirty eight have already advanced.
Day 2
Lines of 10 will take the stage. One line will go through, the other won’t. Harry delivers the bad news. HALF the remaining contestants will go home today.
Reno – He sings a pitchy and nervous version of Allen Stone’s “Contact High.” Priscilla Barker is next, singing “Butterfly Fly Away” by Billy Rae Cyrus and Miley. It’s a sweet, simple performance. Jaq MacKenzie takes the stage, spooked out. Her great aunts performed at the Orpheum theater as a Vaudeville act! We see a poster featuring “The Ford Sisters.” She sings “Cool Kids” by Echo Smith. She is one of the cool kids. Harry says, she does that waif thing, but gets too loud. Despite a few issues, Jaq and Reno are through. Priscilla goes home.
More singers are cut. TEARS. EMOTION. Courtney Guns, Tara Honda and Courtney Zahn go home.
http://youtu.be/64O12sxz2S0
Erica Washington – She sings “Girl is On Fire” by Alicia Keys with that big ole voice of hers, and manages to blow everyone away. She’s through!
Jennifer is cold. Sal offers his wool coat at home. He also suggests a Merlot. “Maybe we’ll try dinner tonight,” he says.
Michael Simeon and Big Ron both had “moments” with Jennifer that they hope she remembers. Michael was the Nashville auditioner who got to slow dance with Jlo. He plays electric piano and sings “Warrior” by Demi Lovato. Impressive flip. Big Ron, also behind the piano, oversings “Song For You” by Leon Russell. That last note killed some dogs, I swear. However, both Big Ron and Michael make it through.
http://youtu.be/BFeA4D-J5lU
Gabby Zonneveld sings “Bottom of the River” by Delta Rae and like a few before her, she chokes. But it’s WEIRD. She’s almost giggling For a minute it looks like she’s hyperventilating. The judges tell her to take a minute. She’s speechless. And then….
http://youtu.be/c-71MU3tSM4
TO BE CONTINUED! We’ll find out what happens tomorrow at 8/7c pm!
