Vocal Masterclass Discussion Thread For American Idol Season 8: San Francisco Auditions

San Francisco is our next stop of the American Idol Season 8 Preliminary Auditions Tour. In just one-hour of televsion time, we shall see which singers  “left their voices in San Francisco” and which moved on to the coveted Hollywood rounds.

This article will be written in real time and published immediately after the end of the 1-hour show. Therefore, unlike the full-length Vocal Masterclass articles for the Top 12, my first impressions from the San Francsico Auditions will be abbreviated. I will leave it up to you to fill in the blanks and add your comments.

First of all, let em tell you how thrilled I am to know that this is only a one-hour show. Last week’s double header 2-hour format ws excruciatingly long. I truly started to “zone-out” after ninety minutes. Between the commercials and the fillers, one barely had time to focus on the contestants this season.

Well, the AI music has started and I am ready to go. Katharine McPhee and William Hung were discovered in San Francisco? Who knew? Not me!

So, here comes Tatiana! Wasn’t she on a Seinfeld episode? haha Oh dear, that laugh! Now we know where her real talent lies. She comes bearing gifts and then breaks into an Aretha song. Hmmm – she is not too shabby, but I just noticed that bizarre outfit. It is such a strange and desperate outfit. She has a great voice, but the judges are wondering if there is enough talent to justify a trip to Hollywood. Apparently, yes, despite Simon’s protestations. And again with the laugh -oy vey and mamma mia. Masterclass Lady says: “Next”!

Dean is a 27-year old singer who wails out some song that I have never heard before and never want to hear again. What’s wrong with these people? (yawn)

Jesus is a very sweet looking 29-year old husband and father and I love him before he even begins to sing. His voice is not too bad, but then I have only heard one line of the song. Then his kids come in and try to win Simon’s favor on behalf of their Dad. Jesus sings an abbreviated version of “Unchained Melody” and I have to say that he has a nasal tone that has to go! However, he does sing from the heart and that has to count for something, right? And it does, as three of the judges move him forward to Hollywood.

So, 20 minutes into this show and the talent is mediocre at best. I mean, it’s a bad sign when the commercials are more entertaining than the AI contestants. Surely there must be a hidden gem or two in this artsy city? It makes me yearn for the beautiful voices of the San Francisco Boys’ and Girls’ Chorus – heard today during President Barack Obama’s Inauguration. Those young singers were outstanding.

Commercials are over and we are confronted with an 18-year-old Rubik’s Cube fanatic –Dalton Powell. He rules with the Rubik’s cube, but the singing is excruciating. Plus he admits that he suffers from stage fright. So, sweet pea, why are you here?

Again with the commercials and we are halfway through the San Francisco audition episode. After commercials, there is some San Francisco trivia and we are on to the auditions once again.

Akillah brings a plethora of written information of the singing voice – diagrams and all! Now, there’s a first! I have to say I am impressed. I wonder if my Vocal Masterclass articles are hidden in her folder? hahah. She decides to sing an original song and it doesn’t work for the judges. Neither does her second or third or fourth song. Keep reading, sweetie but, in the end, real talent has to be inborn.

After yet another commercial break, true talent in the form of John, Allison et al are quickly seen and sent to Hollywood. Real promise of talent here.

Then poor Annie Murdoch probably had good intentions, but the dramatization of “Summertime was so strange and, at times, scary

.Uh, oh, here comes a musical theatre artist in the form of a cutie called Adam and he does a wonderful version of Bohemian Rhapsody. And what a surprise, Simon thinks he is “too theatrical”, as if this is a bad thing. However, Randy feels it is time for this kind of a performer and Simon actually sends him to Hollywood, along with the rest of the judges. My head just did a 360! Simon is full of surpises tonight.

He is quite the charmer, this boy, and we eavesdrop on Paula saying that “he is the best we’ve heard from every city.” Have we found a potential Top 12 finalist? Someone, fill me in on his last name! I was typing when his bio came up on the screen.

We end the show with 26-year-old Kai, who spends the majority of his time caring for his mother. What a sweetheart! His Mom taught him how to sing, so he owes so very much to her. He sings a killer version of the classic “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and he has such a beautiful voice. He needs to work on his performing skills, but he must be nervous singing for these judges. He is off to Hollywood, with the hope of securing a better life for his Mom and the rest of the members of his family.

Now, to you the readers, this is your forum as well. What say you? The Masterclass doors are now open.