Idol judges, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson plus host Ryan Seacrest were in New Orleans on Sunday and Monday to wrap up final auditions for approximately 100-120 people hoping to make it to the Hollywood round of American Idol 10.
“I’ve been calling it ‘American Idol Season 10: The Remix, ‘” Jackson joked at a news conference Monday afternoon at the Hilton Riverside hotel, where final auditions began Sunday and are to conclude Monday night. “I think (the judges panel) should different every year.”
“Those contestants (who) go out there and sing, the talent, is what makes it different. For us, we’ve seen amazing talent this year. I don’t feel any pressure at all.”
“I think the crop of talent is really a lot better than we’ve seen, ” said Jackson, echoing a familiar judges’ refrain from early stages of every past “Idol” season. “Trust me. It’s a lot better.”
“This is an artists-first area, ” Jackson said. “There are a lot of great artists from this area, and they put a lot of the commercialization thing later.
Check out the FOX 8 Videos after the jump.
VIDEOS after the jump…
One singer tried the Aerosmith hit “Dream On” during New Orleans call-backs.
“It was just so over the top with his emotions, but his vocal left a little bit to be desired, ” Tyler said. “It was just the right amount of humor at just the right moment for us.”
“I always say it: In New Orleans, people don’t care what goes on in LA, New York, Nashville or anywhere else. It’s right here.”
Lopez counted about a dozen “real contenders” from all four audition cities so far (the show moves to Nashville next), singers “who I’d love to see in the finals if I was a viewer at home, ” she said. “I’m excited about watching the journey and seeing if they hold up.
“It’s not just about singing well, whoever can hit the highest note, or belting it out. That’s not what being an artist is. You want someone who can really feel their music, and at the same time be able to entertain a crowd.
“That’s what artists do.”
The first round of auditions drew an estimated 6, 500 hopefuls to the New Orleans Arena on July 26.
I’ll update this post with more information as it becomes available, so keep checking back.
Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune
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