Wayne's World! Party Time! Excellent!

Just ur average fella from New York..

American Idol? The Jig is up!

So Hollywood Week is still underway (according to the viewers) when in reality, it was filmed almost two months ago! “The jig is up!” LOL Needless to say, I did NOT make it through Group Round.

So here’s what really happened during Hollywood Week: Solo Round was pretty much true to TV. Contestants came forward in their groups of 10 and sang a snippet of their individual song & were eliminated afterward. Groups came together as you saw on TV as well. We were able to pick our own songs & fellow group members, however, we were given rules for Group Round: we had to maintain vocal harmony, choreography & (like Randy said on TV) we “HAD TO REMEMBER THE WORDS”!

After making it through Solo Round, I was fortunate enough to end up in a group with some incredible people, some of whom are current Semi-Finalists Jerome Bell & Tatynisa Wilson (Love & Miss u guys!). Our group literally fell into place and we named ourselves “Still Debating”. While other groups were still remembering lyrics & figuring out who was part of what group, we had our choreography down & harmonies tight! So after rehearsing through the night, we showed up confident to auditions the next morning.

Flash forward: my group just finished our song, “Forget You” by CeeLo Green, and my four fellow group members & I stand before the judges anxious to hear their criticisms & decision on which of us will be staying or going home. Jennifer Lopez calls three names, none of which are mine, and I’m standing in the back line alongside another girl. ”Front line, you’re staying. Back line…” Before Jennifer could finish her sentence, my microphone was to my mouth.

SIDEBAR: Before Group Round began, we were told “If you don’t agree with the Judge’s decision, you have a microphone for a reason. This is your one & only shot. Fight for it, make it count & show us why you belong here.”

Let me continue: I stepped forward and told the Judges I was not going home & that I was confused as to how they had come to their decision. We were told as contestants, that our fate did NOT solely rely on our group performance, but that our previous performances throughout Hollywood Week would also be taken into account. So hearing that I was going home, knowing that I had made it through Solo Round with ease, didn’t make sense to me. And having seen other contestants completely forget lyrics, perform without a stitch of choreography & stumble through their song and STILL make it through, thoroughly confused me.

Long story short, the Judges had no criticism or response for me. Other than a few encouraging words from Steven Tyler, there was nothing. I asked numerous questions regarding the competition & their decision, which all went unanswered. Now don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t one of those annoying contestants that argue & beg to stay. I actually made a point of saying, “I will not make a scene for ‘television’ & be dramatic for ratings. If I stay, I want it to be because my voice & my talent keeps me in this competition.” Yet still, I was left empty handed. At that point, I got frustrated & questioned the Producers, Ken Warwick & Nigel Lythgoe, about the integrity & sincerity of the show, which also was left unanswered. At that point I had already known that continuing my journey on American Idol was not something I wanted for myself anyway.

During a “Farewell Interview”, alongside my group, with Ryan Seacrest, I said, “I’m proud of those TRULY talented & gifted singers who made it through, they deserve it & I wish them all the best of luck & success! Some of them have become very good friends of mine & I’ve developed relationships that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life! No disrespect to those contestants that come on the show & say, ‘I NEED to win this! I have nothing else!’, but that’s not me! I would be a fool to bank my musical career on winning a title that hundreds of thousands are also competing for. And I would be a fool to come into this competition without a ‘back-up plan’. Of course I’m disappointed & frustrated with the Judge’s decision, but I’m also motivated to get back home & continue to work hard for the career & life that I want for myself”. And I still stand by that statement. Although I’m thankful for my experience on the show, I can go home proud, knowing that I made it to a group of less than 100 people throughout the entire country (some of which, truthfully, did not deserve to be there - simply based on the caliber of talent you would expect for such an acclaimed show).

American Idol is not a talent competition like it may have started out. It has now become a reality TV show ABOUT a talent competition.. A competition which urges one to question, “Are they really looking for genuine talent anymore?” I’ve admired the concept of a show like American Idol for years: a nationwide, televised platform for otherwise unknown singers, artists & performers to finally get their “big break”. But the social phenomenon it has become is something I’m grateful to have been spared from. It may be the road that some others may have to take to get to their musical success, but it’s certainly not mine. I get people asking me all the time, “Are you going to try out again?” … Here’s an answer: even if American Idol survives this 10th season and continues on for another 10 seasons, you can count me out of that list of hopefuls.

To those of you that have been wishing me luck & promising me your vote, I appreciate the support & encouragement, but I’m on to bigger and better things! I’m now working on my own musical journey! I’m currently in the process of writing & recording my first album, which I’m hoping to have out by this Spring. And I’m working on starting a line up of performances & appearances throughout the Tri-State area by this Summer. I’m also working on a children’s book, as well as a few other projects! So keep you’re eyes & ears open! Even though they only featured me during commercials & previews, my experience with American Idol was inspiring & totally worthwhile, regardless of the amount of televised airtime I received! The people I met, the talent I was able to witness, and the confidence & capability I was able to discover within myself is truthfully worth more to me than any “Golden Ticket”.

Thanks for taking the time to read! Much love. - W

  1. misstrin reblogged this from waynosmith and added:
    Idol. That’s probably why Simon left lol.
  2. waynosmith posted this