'American Idol': First impressions are everything

As the old adage goes, first impressions are everything, a lesson “American Idol” chose to teach on the final round of auditions, which ventured to San Francisco for Wednesday night's telecast. 

In music, generating positive reflex responses are critical for a new artist trying to break. These days, artists aren’t getting  much more than one chance, maybe just a single or two -- at best -- to prove their weight in today’s revolving-door pop scene. 

After tryng their luck in Hollywood, the "Idol" judges headed north to San Francisco as Cee Lo Green’s “Bright Lights, Bigger City” poured out over a montage -- a song that’s all about going somewhere “where everyone knows your name.” 

That innate thirst for fame rang louder for the hopefuls in the Bay Area than in Hollywood the week before (as most of the contestants featured on that episode road-tripped it from L.A. and neighboring Southland cities).

The last big voice “Idol” found in the City by the Bay was Adam Lambert two seasons ago, and although the glam rocker came in second, he has proved weightier than season winner Kris Allen. 

Lambert’s audition -- he sang both Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” and “Idol” favorite “Bohemian Rhapsody” -- showed, as with plenty of finalists before him, how vital first impressions are. Former judge Simon Cowell didn’t see “Idol” potential in Lambert, because of his more Broadway-bound voice, prompting Lambert to ask whether there was anything he could do to convince the judges. Thankfully, he spoke up.

But not every hopeful could convince the panel of his or her star quality.

“I just thought I had it… I thought I was gonna be famous,” one woman cried in the opening reel of the auditions.

The city's hopefuls were ready to do anything to get famous. 

Inessa Lee attempted Britney Spears' “Womanizer” and promised she was a surefire “blend of Shakira, Madonna and Kylie Minogue” -- and, in terms of appearance, Katy Perry -- but admitted she’d be “anybody that you wanted” if that would help her cause to be the next “Idol” (it didn’t). As for Dave Combs, the second he  finished his take on the Beatles' “Oh! Darling,” judge Steven Tyler (who was sporting a Fab Four T-shirt) informed the singer he had been let down. “You were so off the melody,” he said --  prompting the contestant to beg for another shot with another song, which Tyler rejected.

In the world of “Idol,” potentials have a one-minute audition to wow the judges. Viewers at home don’t get to hear more vocally from contestants until the live shows kick in -- and even then it isn’t that much longer. And by then,  many voters may have already made up their mind about a contestant. 

But there were first impressions that weren’t as sour. Clint Jun Gamboa wowed the judges with a rendition of Travie McCoy's “Billionaire,” and Julie Zorrilla was praised for her “range and star quality” after belting “Summertime.”

"Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez mentioned that she was often swayed by the first impressions of the hopefuls, and said she found Zorrilla more grounded in her performance than others and even pegged her as one to beat, all from a single, brief performance.

James Durbin won over the judges with a “wow”-inducing first impression as well  -- and saved the backstory for viewers, one that Ryan Seacrest promised would “move you to tears.” The 21-year-old from Santa Cruz, Calif.,  is not only an unemployed father with a young child, but he also has been diagnosed with Tourette's and Asperger's syndromes. He took on Muddy Waters' '60s blues cut "You Shook Me" before asking Tyler's permission to tackle "Dream On," where he was lauded for his "over-the-top" vocals -- though he wasn’t deemed theatrical like Lambert before him.

And with that, they are off to Hollywood, where second, third, and fourth impressions will serve to remind the judges why potential Idols are awarded a golden ticket in the first place.

-- Gerrick D. Kennedy

twitter.com/gerrickkennedy

Photo: James Durbin, 21, from Santa Cruz, Calif., performs in front of the judges on Wednesday. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox.

Comments

[wow]

James is amazing.

[Sharon Bunn]

There's some good talent on Idol this time, but I don't think anyone will ever touch Adam Lambert. He's so uniquely talented with a voice as smooth as velvet or as powerful as a tornado, all sung with perfect melodious pitch and superb breath control, crisply finishing every syllable of every note. His Miramar military base version of The Star Spangled Banner is the best I've ever heard. Beautifully, clearly done without over indulgent riffs. He put his personal stamp on it, without it losing the patriotic, reverence due to our national anthem.His acoustic performance on Ellen yesterday demonstrates why he so deserves the Grammy. He can truly sing. No one can touch him, on Idol or elsewhere. James Durbin is one to watch as a few others, but Adam is an icon,in the company of Elvis and Michael Jackson. Hard acts to follow.

[Sharon Bunn]

I would like to thank the LA Times for their generous support of Adam Lambert. There have been so many thoughtful, informed, well written articles that have been published since he's become known and his many fans and followers very much appreciate the time and press given him. I always look forward to all of these well written articles. Thanks again!.

[Mcgibby]

James has a strong voice, but it isn't particularly impressive to listen to...just loud.

[MK]

Regarding this statement:
"The last big voice “Idol” found in the City by the Bay was Adam Lambert two seasons ago, and although the glam rocker came in second, he has proved weightier than season winner Kris Allen. "
This my dear blogger is the biggest bunch of dreck that I've ever heard. And THIS is what the Idol franchise wants you to believe. But here's the truth...if anyone would bother to investigate rather than buy into the "fantasy" perpetrated by Idol. Kris is a platinum selling recording artist. Kris has opened for the biggest stars in the biggest arenas across the country. Idol producers, for some reason, are so bitter about Lambert losing that they do everything in their power to perpetrate that myth and YOU, my friend have bought this baloney, hook, line and sinker.

The only reason Lambert MAY SEEM bigger is that he's fodder for the tabloids because of his crass shenanigans.

Please do not insult the American public by spouting baloney.

[CKLA]

It's nice to see the LA Times focus on local talent and give them there due. The show, American Idol, seems to like to paint Los Angeles (to them it's all Hollywood) as a bunch of clowns and crazies. It's no wonder people from here usually go to different cities to audition.

I do take some issue to what I see as a bit of a put-down to Kris Allen in your article. He's tremendously talented and was very worthy of his win. It's a shame that he doesn't get the publicity (I blame his management) that some others do. I understand he's in LA working on his second album. It would be great if you could get an interview with him.

Keep up the good work!

[NYNativeLALady]

The problem with Idol as I see it, is their need to make the public believe something that may not be there. Let's take Season 8 for example. Idol consistently to the point of ad nauseum, showed us grieving widower, Danny Gokey. This is not to denigrate Mr. Gokey, who I think is very talented, but unfortunately, because of Idol, he became one of the most polarizing contestants. And inasmuch as he is doing fine, you don't hear about him as much as some others.

Kris Allen, the winner of Idol that season had absolutely no promotion whatsoever, yet his extraordinarily amazing talent won over the Idol audience. It saddens me to see that your facts regarding Mr. Allen are untrue. And it saddens me how you felt the need to denigrate him by comparing him to another contestant. Kris Allen is a platinum selling recording artist whose concerts are successful and whose humanitarian contributions are respected all over. He is well respected by his industry peers as well as radio. The fault lies with Kris' management because they don't publicize his accomplishments for whatever reason. I suspect it's because they were hoping for a finale between Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert.

I suppose I can't really judge whether Adam Lambert is the bigger star because I never hear him being interviewed by radio personalities and unfortunately only hear about him when he is written up on some of the internet tabloids...like Perez Hilton's site or TMZ. If that makes him a big star, then I suppose the way I view my star meter is inaccurate.

Thankfully, because of all the untruths and unprofessionalism regurgitated over the past 10 years by the producers of the show, I no longer watch American Idol. I believe with the return of Lythgoe, it will get worse.

Thank you for this article. It again proves to me that American Idol is one big myth, of which I won't buy into.