With Starry Eyes, Hundreds Descend On Chicago For Chance At 'Idol' Fame
IDOL WANNABES
With Starry Eyes, Hundreds Descend On Chicago For Chance At Idol Fame
By Crabby GolightlyROCKY PATERRA, 17, OF PITTSBURGH, ARRIVED IN CHICAGO SATURDAY HOPING THAT HIS THIRD TIME AUDITIONING FOR American Idol is the charm.
Paterra, accompanied by his mom and two friends, left home at 6:30 am and drove 450 miles to compete against thousands in Monday's Idol auditions at the United Center in Chicago's West Loop. "I heard it was crazy," said a security guard sweating under the hot afternoon sun outside the United Center.
Registration is open 24 hours until 5 a.m. Monday when contestants begin arriving for auditions. Many registrants were exclaiming their excitement on American Idol's comment board.
Paterra, an Upper St. Clair High School senior who soloed with composer Marvin Hamlisch as a child, hopes to break through to the second round of auditions this year. Last year he tried out at New Jersey's Meadowlands auditions, where he was asked to sing three times.
"He called another guy over to listen to me," Rocky recalled of the producer. The two exchanged whispers, then Rocky was summarily dismissed. "It was not a good moment,'' he said, confessing that it hurt to watch the last Idol auditions .
This year is different, he said.
"I think I’m more prepared. I made sure I knew exactly what I was singing, how I was singing it.”
Along for the ride are friends Ariel Allen-Troski, 16, and Thomas Countz, 17, both of whom said 'why not?' to their own auditions Monday. "We were just going to come to support Rocky,'' said Thomas, who was still unsure what song he would sing. The three rising seniors have performed in stage performances during the last two summers. With a little bit of arm-twisting, all three were persuaded to give a stranger a sample of their vocals. While both Rocky and Ariel had their songs chosen, Thomas was still undecided. And while none said they had planned on what to wear, Ariel acknowledged the pressure on women contestants "to be really pretty or really sexy.’’
Also signing up was Jsaron Jones, 18, of Chicago's Austin neighborhood. Jones, who won a local singing contest just one week ago, was planning on singing Stevie Wonder's Ribbon In The Sky.
"When they started, I had already aged out," said Jsaron's mom, Ashunda Harris. "So I’m happy he’s going."
Ms. Harris, 37, said she had been singing since she was a child. "My father was a singer so it's kind of trickled down.''
She said she was glad her son had found his voice, but felt that the show's age requirement should be broader as they are on Britain's Got Talent. "I really hate that they have any age limit,'' she said. "I think the same age criteria should apply."
Comments
You are right: Rocky is an excellent singer and would make a great Idol candidate, he will get many many more chances to show that to the world. If you his friend, tell him I said not to get discouraged. He is one among what is a lowball guess of 50,000 who auditioned. But next time? Maybe die his hair and wear leather! If he wants to be picked by the Idol team, he'll have to not only sing well, as he does, but visually stand out from the crowd. Best!
Posted by: Crabby | June 23, 2009 09:44 PM
American Idol is unbelievably stupid. Rocky Paterra is a fantasitic singer and should definitely have advanced to the next round!
Posted by: Dan | June 23, 2009 03:19 PM