American Idol 2011: Week 4, Auditions in San Francisco, CA #AI10

American Idol auditions in San Francisco, CA held on November 9, 2010 were broadcast tonight. The 2/9/2011 Idol show opened with a female crying as she walked away from the cameras. She was saying, "I thought I was going to make it. This is really going to be hard to go home and have to tell my mother I didn't make it."

'First impressions are everything'' as flashed on the screen, then the woman again, still sobbing said, "Just because somebody farts, you should still let them finish singing. Okay?"

This is the last show depicting the auditions and the judges traveled to San Francisco in search of the next American Idol. Nine thousand people showed up in San Francisco to audition.

Who is going to be the mean one? They chose Steven Tyler

Inessa Lees, Tujung, CA 22, Dancer/Student

Inessa said, "I am from Ukraine, a beautiful country with a lot of beautiful girls. I came here to get famous and be a star. I have a lot of music videos, and I have done some shower scenes." Inessa told us she is an amazing choreographer and unique.

She opened her act saying she could do everything, like ballet and belly dancing. The guys wanted to see her do that, but it was not that special. Then they asked her if she could sing, and not only was the melody off, but pitch was off key. She probably could not hear herself. Steven said, "Cute as a button but the voice didn't match. Jennifer Lopez said, "A great spirit but the singing was not all there." It was for Randy Jackson too. Inessa replied with a little girl voice, and said we haven't seen the last of her.

The morning's auditions were bombing out, and that wasn't the only thing going wrong. Seagulls were pooping on the contestants in the uncovered stadium. The singers warded off the flying bombs with umbrellas and blankets.

We did not get a chance to see much from these contestants but what we saw was good.

Brittany Mazur, Tucson, AZ, Age 21, Studio Mgr. - Yes

Lara Johnston, Novato, CA, 20, Student - Yes

Matthew Nuss, Huntington Beach, CA, 25, Music Director - Yes

Stefano Langone, Kent, Washington, 21, Unemployed

Stefano said he had been crazy going through stuff, including blood, sweat, and tears. He explained that he was in a car accident on May 28, 2009 that took his life on a 180-degree turn. Stefano said, "I was in a car accident that changed my life. I woke up to a firefighter in my face. I will never forget it; he screamed to the E.M.Ts, 'He's alive.'

"Driving to the hospital seemed to take a long time," his father said. The medics thought he was dead but we got through it." Stefano said, "They told me I would never walk, sing, or be the same again but I got on my feet in four months. Living through that, being in a wheelchair and not being able to play my piano made me hungrier- that flame burned in me more than anything."

Stefano sang, 'Heard it Through the Grapevine' and annunciated wonderfully. His timing was very good and overall, it was one of the better auditions of the season. Randy said, "Very nice, got up there in the hood. You had a little howl; very nice voice." Jennifer Lopez said, "You have real star quality, good looks, you have a big star on your chest." Steven Tyler told him, "You survived that accident. And I'm about to tell you why, you are going to Hollywood." Jackson agreed, "Great voice, great character."

We saw Ryan Seacrest talking to the next contestant.

Clint Jun Gamboa, Long Beach, CA, 26, Karaoke Host.

Clint is from Long Beach, CA, and is a music host at a Karaoke Bar and has been for about four years. He introduced a couple of the bar flies as Karaoke champions and said, "I enjoy it because it has something to do with music. I have had many people tell me I should be doing something better than working at this place. I'm ready to show them what I got."

What Clint had was talent. When Randy asked him what his musical influences were, Clint Jun said, "I grew up in gospel churches. I love music man." Randy told him, "Don't forget it. Sounds good." Steven told him, "The notes and the way you sang it was beautiful." J.Lo agreed, "The vocal was really nice." Three Yeses means Clint Jun is going to Hollywood." Randy told Clint he was one of the best he had seen in San Francisco so far.

But then some people take things too far.

Kenneth Berba, El Paso, TX, 22, Unemployed - No

Weston Lee Smith, Fort Apache, AZ, 21, Waiter. No comment

He got fierce looks, no comments, and he left the stage without even a no from the judges.

Drew Beaumier, Fountain Valley, CA, 25, Bartender/Auto body

Drew showed up looking like a power ranger in a car suit complete with wheels that folded up. J.Lo said, my two-year-old son would love that. He explained, "This is my baby, I built it." Randy said, "That is brilliant," to which Drew responded, "Some people are going to get around in the future like this." Then he was asked, "What are you singing?" Drew tried to sing, "Get your motor running," but he should have laid down in the highway. His suit was more impressive than his voice.

Seacrest told us, "Some of the best voices in the country are in San Francisco to impress the judges. The ladies were hitting it good, with several of them going to Hollywood."

As she walked on the stage, the first thing said, was by J.Lo, who said, "Nice shoes. And I rarely say that."

Jolie Zorrilla, Los Angeles, CA, Student, and her birthday was day, she was now 20

Jolie told us she was originally from Columbia. She said, "I lived there until I was eight. My parents had their dream house in the Andes on a ridge. Her mom said, "It was easy, economically, but the life was hard. The guerillas always tried to get money. Finally we couldn't take it and we left everything, telling no one we were leaving." Jolie said, "The 90's were a time of a lot of violence in Columbia." Her father said, "It was very hard for me, it was hard on my heart to leave." Jolie said, "I can't imagine what it is like to move to a new country without jobs. I have a lot of respect for my parents, they are my inspiration."

Jolie blew away the judges with her version of 'Summertime'. Her vocal range was huge, she did fabulous, and possessed great star quality. Steven told her, "Yes, and I liked the shoes" She took her time with the song, and J. Lo noticed by saying, "I loved the way you were planted in the ground and held solid. You are performer, and to know that you are real performer is exciting." Randy said, "I haven't heard that song done in a way that I liked it, since I heard Fantasia do it, but I liked the way you changed it up. Two hundred bazillion percent yes, you are going to Hollywood." When she walked out, J.Lo said, "That is a new voice. Will she be the winner?"

Dave Cambs, San Francisco, CA, 25, Electronic Retail

Dave walked in sporting a rocker look and said to Tyler as he fluffed up his long golden locks, "Real men have long hair." Tyler replied, "Ready for this?" Dave said, "I've been waiting for this man. Are you kidding me?" He told them, "I am singing 'Oh Darling'." However, it was nothing special and a far cry from the Beatles, which was the name on Steven Tyler's shirt. "Tyler told him, "You may be tending bar...What happened? Thought you were going to represent me," as he pointed to his shirt." You were so off the planet, it wasn't even worth it." J. Lo told Dave, "You made Steven angry. We've never seen that." It was a No.

Rick Deschamp, Santa Cruz, CA, 23, Cashier - No. Tyler asked him, "Dude did you hit your head on the way in here?"

David Johnston, Chino Hills, CA, and 24, Musician/Preacher - We got to see Steven cringe. Then he said, "No, absolutely not."

Sabrina Corbett, San Francisco, CA, 26, Student. - No

Sabrina was dressed in a sexy policewoman outfit, and when she was done belting out the song, Steven told her, "You oughtta be arrested for that voice. Do you have any handcuffs?" Sabrina replied, "Actually no." There were no butts around this one. . There would be no trip to Hollywood for Sabrina.

As she walked in with her guitar we heard Steven say, "Please be good."

Emily Anne Reed, Arlington, VA, 26, Barista

Emily said, "Hi, I am Emily Ann Reeves and I'm from Arlington, VA. I came to San Francisco because my dad said I should spread my wings far. Last week my house burned down and my friend called me at work to tell me my house was on fire. I lost a lot of stuff, but what I really lost was the first home I was really excited to live in. American Idol can change me my life. American Idol can give me what I always wanted-a singing career.

Emily sang, 'You're getting to be a habit' and her song reminded me of Billie Holiday crossed with Avril Levine. She had a very distinctive, hillbilly rock /blues sound.

"You are probably one of the most interesting voices that we have heard all season. You have a specific tone, I loved your old timey voice but your melody not yet," said Tyler. Randy liked it, so he gave her a Yes. Jennifer said, "You have more of a singer/song writer vibe. I am going to give you one more chance. What can you play on guitar?" Emily blew it out of the water, finger picking like a crazy woman, and singing just as sultry and smooth. J. Lo, Randy, and Steven agreed, and J. Lo told her, "You did it!" Emily is a strong contender for Hollywood.

James Durbin, Santa Cruz, CA, 21

James explained that for a long time he felt lost. "I got beat up as a kid. I had a tough life but when I sing it all goes away and I don't have a care in the world." His back-story was touching as James explained, "My dad was a musician; he was a bass player and he was always away, I didn't get a chance to see him or get to know him. People say I say that I get my musical talent from my dad but I will never know. It was a drug overdose. I was nine. It hurts to lose him because I did not get a chance to know him. I was on medicines for a sleep disorder. I was diagnosed with turret syndrome and Asperger Syndrome, which is a high form of autism. I was always made fun of, and I was lost. In the middle of it all, I met an angel. I met her at a bar, and she changed my life so much. We started dating and then along came a surprise, we were expecting. Having a son really changed my life. I do not have a job; we are doing what we can to get by. There have been times we could not even afford diapers. It is tough. I know that as soon as I get in front of the judges, my nerves are going to take control of me. I will have to keep my mind on what I do and stay focused."

James did amazing well and hit some outrageously high notes. Then he asked Steven Tyler if he could have permission to sing Dream On. When he was done, J. Lo said, "That is high. Wow. My god. You go away when you sing." He told her, "When I was younger I was diagnosed with turrets and it just opened me." Steven told him, "I get that the energy is coming from a really different place." Randy said, "What a really great range. That was full voice, not falsetto. So good. I say yes, I like you as a person, and the range is crazy." J.Lo said, "You sing from feeling, from your soul, and the need to feel and make others feel." She nodded. James got three yeses, and is going to Hollywood. Tyler told the other judges, "His melodic sense of music was crazy."

James Durbin was the last contestant from San Francisco and he really wowed the judges especially Steven which was a huge compliment given that it was his song from Aerosmith.

Tomorrow night, Hollywood begins. Each contestant will get just one shot. How will they do? Stay tuned for American Idol in Hollywood on Thursday.

Source:
Fox Television, 2/9/2011, American Idol Auditions in San Francisco, CA