American Idol Recap – Season 14 – San Francisco Auditions Part 2 (VIDEOS)

Click to Check out The American Idol 14 Top 24 Spoilers

Half of tonight’s singers were teenagers. The two 15 year olds, Daniel Seavy and Jaq MacKenzie should have waited a few years to audition. Adanna Duru, 17 and Tyanna Jones, 16, seem ready. But can they handle the rigors of Hollywood? Past contestants like Scotty McCreery, David Archuleta and Allison Iraheta handled the stress like champs. But you never know. There have been so many more contestants that I wished had waited, even just a year!

The auditions were boring, but to be honest–they nearly always are. Things don’t get good until the numbers are whittled down. From what I’ve seen so far, I have no reason to believe American Idol 14 will be another dud year.

I’m especially looking forward to the NEW Showcase round and contestant interviews. Watching live performances will not only be entertaining (remember how fun those Las Vegas group rounds were?) but enlightening as well. I remain, ever hopeful, until Idol lets me down.

***

The show opens with a dude singing his original #IdolBooty HASHTAG IDOL BOOTY. “Hey Jlo Welcome to San Francisco. I get to sing for you and shake my booty too,” says the hopeful who is NOT going to Hollywood.

Adanna Duru – 17 – “You and I” by Lady Gaga – Singing has always been a big part of Adanna’s life, She danced for talent shows and what not as a kid. She drove her family crazy with her singing! She covers Lady Gaga here, just like she did at 15 when she auditioned for The Voice 3 and earned a spot on Team Adam. Do you think she’s grown any since then? She’s a beautiful young girl, with potential. Her instrument is pretty mature for her age. She growls out the chorus and I am feeling it. She gets a little screamy and off pitch at the end, but for the most part, it’s a great performance.  Jlo calls her “the full package.” She likes that. Harry notes her beauty. He cautions her to understand the lyrics. She looks a little embarrassed as if she remembered his epic lyrics smackdown of Amber Holcomb when he mentored during season 12. Keith thought it was a great song for her. It hit every good part of her voice, he says. 3 yeses.

http://youtu.be/DzrSr5QJHSg

Christopher Michael – 26 – He tells Carly and Idol musical director, Michael Orland that he’s going to sing an original song he “spit out like butter” when he was angry. To be honest, he looks deranged. We morph to him in audition room. He’s weirdly growly as he bangs on his guitar. The judges look a little skeered. I’m not sure he’s actually serious. The judges are laughing. “The poor guitar!” says Jlo. Harry throws his chair. “I loved the passion,” says Keith. “The singing wasn’t’ there for me.” “You fired me up!” says Harry, who needs a new chair. I think he WAS serious. He looks really embarrassed as the judges laugh. “Maybe it was too hard rock,” says Christopher. Or maybe it just sucked? – 3 noes.

http://youtu.be/gR3-5vWtnI8

Hello Season 7 alum, Carly Smithson! There she is at the Cow Palace cattle call, auditioning contestants!

Hunter Larsen – 20 – “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra – She has Willie Wonka’s umbrella tattooed on her back, and THREE jobs. This is an interesting one. She’s quirky and classic at the same time, kind of how Pink is. She’s got a gorgeous tone, but with a raspy edge. Also, she comes across as smart and musically intelligent. “Really interesting,” says Jlo, “you have a really gritty tone that makes your memorable.” Jlo loves her look. “Sometimes it’s immediate,” says Keith about his reaction to her, “really good.”  Hugs all around after receiving her golden ticket. She’s bubbly in a really fun way. “Did not expect that!” says Keith. – 3 yeses.

http://youtu.be/JDqh4SOf7HQ

Tara Honda – 22 – “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King – She’s got a classic, folkie vibe, singing a cappella with her guitar slung on her back. A clear tone. Very nice. “You made me want to sing with you!” says Jlo. “Soul of an artist. Says Harry, “I would buy a new version of you singing that song.”  Keith likes her too. “You’re going to Hollywood baby!” – 3 yeses

http://youtu.be/1LfTQUh0UCk

Cut to poor Carly and Michael, trapped behind a table at the Cow Palace, listening to some of the worst voices ever. One chick thought it would be a good idea to audition in her bathing suit. Hm.

Daniel Seavey – 15 – “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen – He just tuned 15 two months prior, but looks like he’s twelve. Seriously. Dad and Mom are there, lending tons of morale support! Daniel wants you all to know that he ain’t no Justin Bieber. “It’s not my kind of style!” Daniel insists. He lists off a slew of instruments that he plays, including guitar, piano, cello, recorder, saxophone, drums, violin…. “Cut to like an hour from now,” cracks Harry, and he’ll be name checking the obscure instruments. Harry adds, “The time that it took to make my latte and bring it to me is more time than he’s been alive.” Daniel accompanies himself on a baby grand. He’s got a good voice, but it’s obviously changing. It’s like Peter Brady just showed up. He’s SO UNFORMED at this point. He’s got odd phrasing too. NOT READY. So much potential, though. He switches to guitar and sings Paula Abdul’s ‘Straight Up.”  Hm. A decent pop flip. But still… Keith asks about the voice change. Daniel lowers some songs a couple of steps. Jlo thinks he’s got a beautiful voice somewhere in there. She’s not sure. Harry thinks he’s got a lot of what it takes, but his age is a barrier. He doesn’t have the maturity yet. He says NO. Keith wants to see him in Hollywood to see how he stacks up against the others. Jennifer is on the fence…and we’ll have to wait until after the break to find out her answer! And of course. It’s a yes. I’m with Harry on this one. He needs to finish high school, followed by a stint at a music school like Berklee, before he pursues his musical dreams. Geez, at least wait until that voice changes. Daniel took a selfie with Jlo. “Maybe next time it will be her number.” Fun, dry sense of humor, this one. 3 yeses

http://youtu.be/Ur2Jba88t20

Rocky Peter  – 27 – ” Wrong Places” (original song) – Rocky was born in the United States, but when Rocky was a kid, his father sent him, his mother and brothers back to Nigeria, where he promptly abandoned them. They were so destitute, the family had to beg for food. They ate from trash cans and drank potentially tainted water from potholes and broken pipes.  Music was the thing that got Rocky through the difficult times. “It’s the one thing that does not have to be given to you,” says Rocky. “You can get it.” Whoa. What a backstory. US citizen abandoned in an impoverished African country. You can hear the African influences in his music. The song is almost like a tribal call. When he hits the chorus he literally wails in falsetto, like a howling wolf. It’s really affecting. The song, about a woman who keeps looking for love in the wrong places, could be about his mama. Haunting. Harry loved his phrasing on the falsetto. Jlo could hear the beauty in his voice and the pain he feels. “You really have something special about you,” she says. Keith isn’t sure that what he does is compatible with what Idol expects, but nevertheless, he wants to hear more. Rocky is one deep, emotional and grateful dude. Very likeable guy. – 3 yeses

http://youtu.be/kvNQ_GeiNlQ

Tonight’s Hollywood or Home features Sophia. She’s pretty loud! Harry says no, Jlo says yes…but what does Keith say? VOTE DURING THE BREAK!  I’m going to predict…Never mind. I watched the screener. I know what happens. Keith, surprisingly, says…NO!

This year’s go-to audition song, was “Chandelier,” says Ryan. And after a montage of some terrible versions of the song, we see the crew and judges HOWLING as Harry demonstrates his very own take on the popular Sia song. Most of you saw the preview clip. It’s VERY VERY DRAMATIC. Especially those high notes. “It was the 3rd modulation that had me” says Keith, hysterical.

Meanwhile, a hopeful waits in the holding room wondering what in THEE HELL is going on out there.

http://youtu.be/157qs7dDD5c

Jaq Mackenzie – 15 – (Original)  After enquiring about the strange noises she heard while waiting “It was the last contestant!” insists Harry, “A 12 year old from St. Louis.” Jaq, a student at a Santa Monica arts school, asks if she can sing an original song. She lays her guitar down before beginning an angry diss track, in the vein of a singer/songwriter like Alanis Morissette, Jaq seems a little young to experience that much heartbreak. It’s like she’s mad after some dude stood her up for a date to the movies. Having said that, she’s got a great personality and a strong, pretty voice. I’d love to hear her sing some covers. Jlo thinks she has the makings of a really great artist. One day. She’s not sure Jaq is equipped for everything expected down the line. I tend to agree with that. Harry wonders if it would help or hurt her to go to Hollywood. He loves the serious undertone to her artistry. Keith loves her distinct singing style. All the judges are on the fence, but in the end, they send her to Hollywood. Eh. I think she’s another young, undercooked singer. I could see her crumbling on the big stage. She’s talented, but needs more time. Jlo is tickled when Jaq announces that she’s FIFTEEN AND A HALF! Noting that NOBODY older says that. Ever. – 3 yeses

http://youtu.be/UkbrcC-jIfc

We come to the end of our journey! It’s time for the audition ending montage. La la la.

Tyanna Jones – 16 – “Wings” by Little Mix – The middle child in a very large family, there were hardships–homelessness, foreclosures–the family ysleeping in their church at one point. This girl is like a cross between last season’s Majesty Rose and Malaya Watson. She wears a jaunty bow tie, with a white shirt and black pants. She kinda looks like a Friday’s server. The first song she ever learned was “Joyful Joyful” from Sister Act 2 at age 5. HARRY LOVES THAT MOVIE.  She’s pitchy at points, but she’s very swaggy and confident. Great choice of song for her. Age appropriate and gives her an opportunity to show off her soulful vocals. Jlo says Tyanna will look back on this experience, and think, “Yep, I was doin’ it back then!” She adds, “You’re very talented, sweetie.”  Keith asks her what she’s working on right now. She answers, “My pitch. When I get nervous, I tend to mess up…” Keith is impressed that she’s aware of her pitch problems. Harry says, “You are a special young lady.” Tyanna becomes tearful. 3 yeses.

http://youtu.be/GC9nxaCGMPI

Next week: HOLLYWOOD DRAMZ! Crying, Hugging, FAINTING!

http://youtu.be/YYxeFZx5_Vo