American Idol XIII Top 31 Contestant #19

samwoolf-top31

I’ll be posting several American Idol Top 31 contestants previews every day in the run up to the American Idol XIII premiere on January 15.

Click for the FULL list of the American Idol XIII Top 31

Seventeen year old Sam Woolf hails from Bradenton, Florida and auditioned for Idol in Boston.  In fact, you’ll get to see his audition in the January 15 premier, which features the Boston and Austin auditions.  The backstory: Sam’s grandparents are raising him, after his mother left him at 13, and his father was unable to take care of him due to problems with depression. In the video package, the grandparents are every bit the doting guardians, 100% supportive of Sam’s journey. Grandpa refers to himself as Sam’s agent.  He’s adorable.

Guitar in hand, he impressed the judges with a performance of “Lego House” by Ed Sheeran, even if his nerves resulted in a speeded up tempo. Keith calls his pitch “incredible,” even if the fast tempo made it sound like an “auction song.” Jennifer noted his nerves, but said the song eventually “opened up, revealing itself like a flower.”

“Really beautiful. I enjoyed hearing that,” she added.

“He sounds fricking great,” says Harry after Sam left the room, “My daughters are going to go crazy for him.” Indeed, Sam is a sweet-faced young man with an angel voice. He’ll potentially have that teen/granny contingent sewn right up.

I can’t post video from a screener, which is how I saw his audition, but here’s the next best thing. A cover of Ed Sheeran’s “A Team” from Sam’s Youtube Channel.  Also, check out Sam’s Facebook and Twitter.

According to his Facebook bio, Sam counts Daughtry, Maroon 5, Lifehouse, David Gray, Ed Sheeran, James Taylor, and Mumford and Sons among his musical influences. He also writes his own songs.

A Team by Ed Sheeran

The Same – Original Song

VERY Ed Sheeran-ish

I Tried – Original Song

And another original. Ditto above.

Audition

Road to Hollywood

This is Real

Hollywood Week – Waiting on the World to Change

Final Judgement – I Try

Rush Week – Babylon by David Gray

About mj santilli 34867 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!