Josiah Leming displays the do’s and don’ts of AI auditions perfectly.
Attention American Idol hopefuls!
Should you have the opportunity to go to an American Idol audition, I want you to remember three things when in front of Paula, Simon and Randy.
One: GETTING THROUGH HOLLYWOOD SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST GOAL. It’s like getting to the $32,000 or $100,000 level of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” That’s your safety. Remember, you have Myspace and facebook to build your cred. If this Josiah Leming (whom I actually liked before he imploded) is smart, he’ll build his fan base, tour like hell, and perhaps get signed to a small label.
Two: Don’t sing Queen unless you can pull it off. A Queen song is the ultimate make or break for this group of judges. The same held true for Rockstar: INXS, etc. Michael Johns nailed Bohemian Rhapsody in Hollywood. If you can pull off those vocal gymnastics with attitude, you’re in. I don’t care if you’re a tree sloth, you’re in the final 24. I would imagine the same holds true for songs by Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey, but honestly, I’d put Freddie Mercury above both those ladies for clutch vocals time and time again.
Three: DO NOT ADD VOCAL HISTRIONICS! This is mainly for R&B singers. The judges do not want to hear ooh-ee-ooh-ee-ooh-ee-ooh-ee up and down the scale. That’s not singing. That’s a party trick. At best.
Finally, number four: DO NOT STRAY FROM ARRANGEMENTS unless you know what you are doing–Josiah? This is for you. Carrie Underwood or Chris Daughtry didn’t excuse the band to do an accapella ’special’ arrangement. I’m stunned that this Leming did just that even though the band told him his arrangement was a loser. The band knows the judges better than you.
Oh, I forgot number five. When they tell you to stop, STOP! Don’t say, “but just give me another chance.” No. They don’t have to. They really don’t have time to indulge you, unless you are brilliant. You got your chance. There are no do-overs. Shut. Up. Don’t spontaneously break into song. Listen to what they say, smile and say thank you. If they ask you to try again, then try again, but only if they ask you to.
Do this and you’ll have a fine boost to your career. Take it with a grain of salt, as I’m not an Idol auditioner, but I have auditioned for plays, musicals and bands. I can tell you that the judges are always right. It’s like an interview. You don’t get the job by telling the boss he’s wrong.
you will be surprised when josiah becomes a megastar. He is way more talented than any of the american idols.
He would not have coped well being “prepped” for stardom. He doesn’t need it – he is special
lynette
February 23, 2008 at 6:47 am
While I couldn’t agree more with every single ridicule pertaining to Josiah, I believe he was a solid top five in the boys grouping, and quite possibly the best raw talent AI has ever had in their presence. (Which really doesn’t mean much, because look at Daughtery, who didn’t win and was the best) I find it hypocriticle that AI and the judges will overlook certain values/pasts/etc for some, and yet shut down someone like Josiah (Which leads me to believe he has some other skeletons in his closet-current legal issues?) But if that is not the case, Randy, Paula and Simon blew it, because Josiah was the reincarnation of a “Beatle” When he auditioned in Hollywood on stage with his keyboard, “Paul McCartney” hit me like a BRICK! Worse yet, the top twelve boys they did choose are nothing but disappointing, with maybe three talented hopefuls!
Cippy
February 24, 2008 at 1:52 pm