I'm surprised how many people are surprised that I'm not still blogging about American Idol. Like all endurance projects, this one had an end in mind, and like this season of the show, this project has come to an end. Of course, now that the season's over, some of my contractual obligations have loosened, and in three months I'll be eligible to sign a record contract. So, please, keep those offers coming! Like most blogs, this one is organized with the most recent posts at the top. If you want to read the entire three-month diary of my American Idol Audition training, scroll to the bottom and work your way up. If you just want to peruse the greatest hits, check out some of my fondest training memories, like the time I went high heel training, the time I toasted myself at the tanning salon, the time I campaigned in front of Fox HQ, my practice interview with Tabitha Soren, my solid gold weight training, and of course, the behind the scenes pix I took until they stopped me... Meanwhile, this is my absolute final post (sniffle), so I'll bid you a fond farewell and thank you for reading. It amazes me how many people I connected with over this silly site--even if my family thought I was crazy! Big ups to those who came to my show at 667 Shotwell (especially Chris Sollars, who helped me shoot a fictional re-enactment video of my audition)! Be sure to check out this blog and its iPod translation in the Rhizome Artbase 101 show, at New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art, June 23-Sept 10. {Update: Here is the NY Times review of the show.} Hugs and kisses in the key of E, marisa.
Whew. I cannot remember the last time that I was this exhausted. I made it through months of training, hours of standing in line, and several auditions songs... I'm not allowed to tell you much, at this point, but I can tell you that my ears are ringing to the tune of a Whitney Houston song. If you've not had a chance to do so, please do visit my moblog page, which includes over forty photos taken over the last few days. And, meanwhile, thanks for your continued support and words of wisdom. Stay tuned to find out how I did...
Goodness gracious it's early. I had a great idea, between last night's cat naps. I had been regretting not taking dance lessons before the American Idol Auditions, but then I remembered that, on one of the audition reel episodes, last season, I saw this kid doing some cool dance moves, in line. So I thought to myself, "Hey, self... All of these thousands of other contestants have been in training for months, too, right? Maybe they can teach you how to dance!" This is really exciting. It will give me a good way to pass the time, and it will be constructive. I can't wait!
I’m trying to hit the hay a little early because I have to get up way early. People are allowed to line up at 6am, tomorrow, for Tuesday’s auditions, but something tells me that there will be a line to get in line, so I’m going to try to get there around 4am. And I am not a morning person… Meanwhile, my nerves are killing me. Remember when I told you that I was going to meet with two-time SF-Idol-Auditioner Mike Garcia? Well, I left a phone message for him on the day that he was supposed to come meet me at my gallery and he never called me back or showed up. Then, two days ago, he sent me this e-mail:
Hey marisa,
Did not get to meet,but regardless to that I wish the best for you on tuesday.If you heard to not stand out you heard wrong...You are being judged on how diferent you are to the other contestants,you personality, your look and style and song selection.If i were you i would re-think your plan and make a 180 turn.It was advised to me that those who have been picked in the past have been those who picked songs not outside of the mainstream. You have the brains...think marisa, think.I was not a fan of your song choices...You want to stand out,not blend in.
Best of luck!!!!
Mike
Now I’m not sure if he’s messing with my mind or if I’m doing everything wrong, in which case my 3 months of training would have been entirely in vain. Ugh! I think I’m going to pull some of that Benadryl out of my bag so that I can get to sleep…
Ugh. I still feel like there is so much to do. I should be working with a coach all day, but instead I’m rushing to finish grading papers for the film class I’m teaching, at Berkeley, this semester. At least I have something to take my mind off of the audition. Nevertheless, I keep thinking about Tuesday and what it will be like. Part of me doubts that I will make it very far in the audition process and another part of me is worried about what will happen to my students if I’m asked to move to LA to be on the show… I guess I’ll cross that bridge if I come to it.
PS. Props: This pic is actually two stills from my friend Anthony Goicolea’s video "Classroom," which was once in a show I curated called "Schoolin." Somehow my nine lives always find ways to intertwine, even if my American Idol Audition Training has left little time to live the other eight…
Ok, one more "election," people. I need your sage advice. What earrings should I wear? I plan to wear a red heart-shaped brooch, no matter what. I inherited a number of brooches from the family member who passed away during my training and I've decided that, should I actually make it on the show, I will wear a different brooch for each appearance... Anyway, you've given me such great advice, thus far. Keep up the good work and I promise to sing my best for you...
Download mercedes.WAV
The polls have closed and the votes have been tallied... Though it was the song about which I am most insecure, Norah Jones's "Turn Me On" actually came in as the surprise winner. But a number of people wrote-in a great suggestion, which is to begin singing it in the second 1/2 of the clip below (at "my poor heart"), which is a great idea, especially since I will have a limited time to sing anyway and that's my favorite part. Thank you so much for voting! Now there is one caveat, which is that there is an electoral college in this process... The producers. They ask contestants to sing up to five songs, sometimes, and they may ask me to sing a different one, for any number of reasons--the song will not be recognized by many people, the judges (should someone deem me worthy of their audience) don't like it, I sing another one better, or I sing another one worse and they think that will make for good tv... In any case, I've decided that, if my voice totally fails me, I'll sing Janis Joplin's "Mercedes Benz," which sounds best as a twangy screech, anyway...
Good morning, internet users. Did everyone watch the debates last night? Is everyone fired up to vote? The more time I spend thinking about American Idol, the more I think about voting... It strikes me that my generation is the demographic for the show--the group that votes in throngs to elect their favorite--but it's also the generation that does not show up to governmental elections. We will stand in audition lines but not in (much shorter) polling place queues. Since people have until 10/18 to register in time for the Presidential Elections, I've decided to bring voter registration cards with me to the American Idol Auditions. This is a totally non-partisan thing. I just want my peers to know that even if Randy, Paula, and Simon don't hear their voice, someone else will...
Download turnmeon.WAV
Ok, the time has arrived... I need to know what to sing. American Idol Auditions are less than a week away so I really want to hone in on my main choice(s), over the weekend. Please listen to the clips above and let me know which you think is the strongest. Just to feel better about the quality (?) of my voice, I'll say that these have been recorded under stress, as my body's been taxed by chicken pox... But still, what do you think? Let yourselves be heard! Vote! Vote!
Download boots.WAV
I'm keeping the T-Shirt poll open a little later, to accommodate latecomers.... Meanwhile, please also tell me what shoes I should wear. I'll post the results early next week and then we can get busy making decisions about my jewelry... Thanks!
If you're reading this, then you already know about this blog. What you may not know is that you are not alone... To my delight, a writer at the New York Times took an interest in my training, and wrote a short article about it. (Artist Chris Gash even made this cool illustration for the piece!) The article called this blog "anything but stupid"! Now I'm anything but disappointed, as so many interesting people have contacted me over the last few days with amazing American Idol Audition tips and words of encouragement. (I promise to write you all back, asap...) My thanks to Lisa Napoli, for her interest, and to fellow Times scribe Matt Mirapaul for spreading the word on my endeavors.