American Idol Auditions

Last year more that 103,000 Idol hopefuls auditioned. This years try-outs took place in San Diego, Dallas, Omaha, Atlanta, Charleston, Miami, and Philadelphia. When asked by USA TODAY for audition advice here is what some of last season's Idol contestants had to say:

Blake Lewis, 26, added his own unique spin on Seal's Crazy for his Seattle audition last year. Blake suggested, "be yourself and be confident. I didn't view it as television so it was easy. . . Just be true to yourself. There will always be other auditions."

Winner, Jordin Sparks, 17, (amazingly) did not make it through in Los Angeles. She then auditioned in Seattle singing Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion. And, you know, the rest is history. Jordin had this advice, "Know that (the judges) are watching to see if you'll crack under pressure. Sing something nobody else is doing, because by the 10th time they've heard it, they're going to cut you off early. Smile."

Melinda Doolittle, another stand-out performer from Season 6 emphasizes the importance of connecting with the judges. "Even if you're nervous, look them in the eye. Sing a song you believe in, one that you can really sell. Capture their attention. They're looking for more than singing."

Finally, few of us will forget Phil Stacey's dramatic audition, coming at the same time as his newborn baby daughter's birth. Stacey, 29, had this to add, "You've got to be real. The truth is, I would have left a better impression if I had done the music I wanted to do from the start rather than wait until I was comfortable. Blake went a long way because he was crystal clear about who he was."

I can't wait to view this years auditions! January can't come soon enough.

Blake or Jordin?

I know it's a little late for this but I'm just curious. . . did you vote for Blake or Jordin and why? Personally, I really like them both and looked forward to their performances each week. Jordin is amazingly poised and talented for such a young contestant. I loved her choice in music (most of the time) and thought she really had fun performing. But. . . for me Blake took the cake. He's got such a unique style and (although some might disagree) the beatboxing was super cool! I don't think earning 2nd place in American Idol will hurt his career a bit. Even so, we voted as many times as our fingers could continue pressing the redial button on our phone.

We had the privilege to attend the American Idols Live concert at the MO State Fair this summer (more on that later) and it was awesome! Even from our seats way up high in the bleachers the enthusiasm and delight of the crowd was obvious. I don't know who enjoyed it more, our four kids or us, the parents. Anyhow, the ultimate performance of the night (in my opinion) went to Blake and Chris Richardson. (Who knew Chris could beatbox?) The audience applause was dramatically louder when Blake performed compared to any of the other contestants. He truly has incredible fan support. His album is due to be released in December http://www.americanidol.com/ and I'm sure his fans will be lining up at the door to grab a copy!

I wish the best of luck to Jordin and Blake. I don't think either one of them will have any trouble makin it big in the music world.

Veering Off Course: Dancing with the Stars

I know this blog is supposed to be about American Idol but please indulge me while I write about Dancing with the Stars for a minute. I'm floored by last night's results! Was anyone else shocked that Sabrina and Mark were eliminated? Now I wish I would have voted. I thought for sure they would be in the finals. The competition is pretty fierce this season. I really like Melanie & Max and Jennie & Derrik but who knows which couple will actually win?

American Idol Mania Blog #1

Welcome to American Idol Mania! Well, today I'm working on getting the blog up and running. I'm going to try to write a little everyday. As a happily married mom to four great kids it's difficult sometimes to make time for myself to do things I enjoy. I definitely love blogging (check out my other blog http://specialmealsmom.blogspot.com) and have found it to be so rewarding and mentally stimulating. As you might have guessed, we are huge American Idol fans. When it comes on, we gather round the t.v., volume blaring, for an hour of talent (usually), comedy, and drama (thanks to Simon and Ryan). Later we watch and rewatch the latest episodes having friendly disagreements about who should be the next. . .American Idol! My four-year-old even gets into it. Her favorite is Simon! She says, "Simon's not very nice" while shaking her head side to side.
Unfortunately I missed the first couple of seasons. We didn't know what we were missing. But, never again! We're true blue American Idol fans and don't miss an episode, thanks to DVR. We can't wait until the Season 7 premier in January! I guess I'll just have to be patient, but it won't be easy.