AI 11 - 2-1-12 Portland

This is our first trip to Oregon and with an eclectic crowd like this; there is no telling who or what we may find. This is Portland. This is AMERICAN Idol!

I must take a moment to express my displeasure with the producers of the show regarding this audition episode. While I loved the aerial shots of Portland and the surrounding areas, why did they choose to use this episode to show case deluded contestants as opposed to showing the good singers? WTF! For those of you who do not live in Portland I must point out the pictures of the crowds in the Rose Garden arena is one location. The room the judges were conducting the auditions was north of that location on the Columbia River. They were in the Red Lion Hotel and through the window, Vancouver Washington was across the river and the green Interstate Bridge is the connector between Oregon and Washington using I-5.

Enough about me it is time to critic the auditions.

Day 1

Brittany Zika or rather “Tripster the Hipster” babbles on about a dream she has of performing with Sara Bareilles as Ronald was nodding off. Steven says as she comes in the room, “I am much too young to feel this damn old.” Brittany chooses “The Story” for her audition and she has a pleasant voice but she was doing freaking weird things with her mouth. While she has a bubbly personality, it does not come across as she performs. The judges seem to like her as Jennifer says her tone is beautiful and Randy loves her hipster look. Brittany quickly takes off her glasses; hat and shakes loose her hair, which causes Randy to say she is showing her edge now. Really? “Should we take a little votey?” I kid you not it came out of the judge’s mouth. Brittany is heading to Hollywood.

Cue a video montage of the strangeness, which is Portland and Ryan, advises things are going better than when they visited the Pacific Northwest in Season 6. Ronald laughs because the visit was to Seattle where the winner Jordan Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis auditioned.

Ben Purdom begins his “contestant cam” explaining he was not feeling well which means this audition is nothing going to go well. Ben chooses “Born this Way” and he cannot sing. For some incredibly strange reason he gets a chance to sing another song “Super Bass” and this was worse than the first one. Ben goes home without a golden ticket.

We get to see another video montage as Ryan explains we are off to slow start in Portland but now that everyone has had a healthy lunch, we are ready to go.

Jermaine Jones who is 6’ 8.5” comes from a musical family. Jermaine’s mother says the family was born to perform. Jermaine goes with “Superstar” and he has a natural gift. I liked his soft, deep voice, however, I did not enjoy the vocal theatrics and they were not necessary. As long as he works on all the vocal gymnastics, I think he could have a good chance. The judges like him as Jennifer states he has a natural talent. Steven sensed his nerves but could hear the song more than the anxiety. Jennifer tells him to loosen up a little but Jermaine is going to Hollywood.

Day 2

There is time wasting video regarding Jennifer not having black tights. Excuse me but you are sitting behind a table who freaking cares.

Britnee Kellogg is up first as we learn she has two kids. Brittnee cries in front of the judges because the louse of a husband who is a basketball player cheated on her. She helped him through his dream and now she is going after hers. The audition song is “You’re No Good”. I think her voice was pleasant enough but the performance did not blow me away. The judges adore her and she is on her way to Hollywood.

Sam Gershman is next and can I say this performance was a waste of time, she was freaking horrible and all the banter with the judges was just irritating me. Poor Sam left without her golden ticket.

David Weed is up next with “Tom Sawyer” and clearly he should not be singing but we waste time on this clip. After his rejection, he just does not understand because people have been saying for 22 years that he has a great voice and these people just dismiss that. David everyone around you has been lying and enabling you. The judges were spot on.

Romeo Diahn who with his family fled Ghana during the civil war has experienced a lot but since coming to America, he has had a better life. Romeo sings, “Is this love?” and is okay but I had issues with understanding him (enunciation please)! The judges like him although I will give Jennifer some credit when she gives him just a “tiny” yes. There is no way Romeo is getting past Hollywood to the semi-finals.

Naomi Gillies asks Steven if she can sing “Cryin” and she manages a good version but I do not think she is the next American Idol. Naomi also needs to work on the big money notes. The judges adore her with Jennifer stating she loved her tone from the beginning. Randy says that when you have it, you have it. Naomi is heading for Hollywood.

Our baby-faced Benn Harrison from Eugene was just too boastful during his “contestant cam” that I knew this was not going to end well. “Somebody to Love” is his audition song and it was a pile of crap from start to finish. Why are you wasting my time Mr. Producer?

Our final contestant is Jessica Phillips who has been dating her boyfriend for 5 years. Last year D ‘Angelo suffers a stroke. Jessica loves him but it is different now she is the caretaker. Jessica goes with “Again” and does a nice job but it did not make me sit up and want to listen to her. I agree with the judges she deserves her shot in Hollywood.

Our visit to Portland ends and we learn 45 people are heading to Hollywood from the Portland round but we get to see so few, this episode was ridiculous. I am getting more irritated with the audition process but luckily, this ends tomorrow with a visit to St. Louis.

I realize I have not sent out my comments regarding last week’s visit to Texas but I was not home and have not had a chance to watch my recording. I will also not be home for the St. Louis visit. Those commentaries will come over the weekend.

Until next time.