Students participate in ‘Idol’ experience
In the past eight years, the words “Welcome to Hollywood” have come to mean so much. Thanks to the reality show “American Idol,” those words symbolize the chance for aspiring singers to achieve their dream. This past summer, “Idol” brought its search to Utah, and did not lack for choices. Thousands of brave, talented and some not so talented singers turned out for the first round of auditions at the EnergySolutions Arena. Included in these talented hopefuls were USU students Bailee Burningham and Spencer Ellison.
Burningham, junior majoring in exercise science, said she decided to audition for “American Idol” because for years people have told her to try. Burningham said she agreed to audition, only if “Idol” ever came to Utah. Burningham said she has loved singing for as long as she can remember, and has dreamed of being a singer her entire life. She said she is a bluegrass and jazz singer, and was a performer at Jazz Night at the Skyclub on campus.
For her “Idol” audition, Burningham sang “Down to the River” by Alison Krauss. She said she chose this song because it’s her style, one of her favorite songs and it is different from what is normally sung on “Idol.” She said the best part of the audition was the chance to be able to say she had done it.
However, Burnigham said the waiting was awful. She waited for more than eight hours and was given only a few seconds to “wow” the judges. In the end, Burnighman said she did not get a golden ticket, but said it was a good experience and she is going to keep on singing.
Ellison was another USU student who auditioned for this season of “Idol.” Ellison, freshman majoring in marketing, said he auditioned for “Idol” because it was convenient and he had watched it the year before and thought it was cool. Ellison said he has also been singing for years, and participated in choir throughout middle and high school.
Ellison said he has always wanted to live a more exciting life and has wanted to be part of something bigger than himself. Participating in “Idol” helped fulfill both of these dreams, he said. Ellison said the most nerve wracking part of the audition process was waiting on the floor of the arena during the first round of auditions. However, the waiting paid off because after he sang “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” he was given a prized golden ticket. Ellison said when he got the ticket he remembered thinking this was “the beginning of it all” and he felt elated.
Ellison advanced through a few more preliminary rounds of judging and was able to audition in front of the TV judges. Ellison said the thing he remembers most about walking into the audition room was all the light. He said the whole process felt surreal but the judges were helpful and nice. After he sang, Ellison said the judges told him he was a great singer, but he needed to interact with his audience more.
Although he did not get to be on the show, Ellison said he felt very fortunate to make it as far as he did and loved the whole experience. He said he would love to audition again, and feels like if he did, he would know better what to expect. Until then, Ellison said he will continue to sing, write songs and play his music.
–c.joie.s@aggiemail.usu.edu