American Idol: Auditions and My Opinions of the Judges

The new season of American Idol started two weeks ago. I admit that I was a late comer to American Idol. I started watching it several years ago and got hooked. I love music and really have enjoyed it ever since. In the beginning I didn't like seeing the hopefuls get bashed. I especially don't like watching people be made fun of. It is hard not to watch though because some of them are really bad. It seems impossible that loved ones would not demand that they not perform.

Simon Cowell was abusive, but like a train wreck it was hard to not wait with bated breath to hear what outrageously cruel thing that he was going to say to a contestant. On the other hand many times you found that you agreed with him. I think that it is best though to keep cruel things to yourself. There are kinder ways of telling the truth. This is one of the reasons that I really like the new judges on American Idol this season.

In spite of how much I like Ellen DeGeneres I don't think that she made a very good judge on American Idol. She was not cruel and she was pretty accurate on her judging the contestants. I just think that she, being a comedian tried too hard to be funny and it just didn't work as a judge on American Idol. I commend her for knowing this about herself. There is no one funnier than she is as a comedian.

I was not prepared to like Steven Tyler as a judge on American Idol. I really like him and his way of judging the contestants are right on in my opinion. He and Jennifer Lopez are the kinder judges on American Idol. Randy is not cruel, but is much harsher than the other two.

Auditions have taken place in New Jersey, Milwaukee and in Nashville. My favorite was the auditions in Nashville in the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's most famous home. I believe that one of the top ten, if not the newest American Idol tried out in Nashville. Lauren Alaina of Florida is only 15 years old. She started singing for her cousin Holli who had a brain tumor. She is Lauren's idol.

Lauren has beauty, a God given talent and she shines. She has personality and a love of life that will make her one of the top contenders for this year's American Idol. The clincher of the night was when she sang Steven Tyler's song, her parent's favorite, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing."

The judges were in awe of Lauren. There are many others that are equally as talented. It takes more than talent though to become a star. Many of them have the talent and personality. It will be interesting and entertaining to see who wins this year. After the auditions, my favorite part of American Idol will start. It is especially entertaining when the top 20 start competing. I love American Idol because it is positive, uplifting and entertaining. It also makes one know that dreams are still possible. The only thing that is bad about American Idol, is that you have to be young to be a contender. Britain's got talent is for all ages. American Idol needs to have a Senior's American Idol, where only people over 60 can be contenders.