My American Idol Experience

I know that there are two opinions of this show, some of you may be saying “so cool!” and others may be saying “how worldly”. Regardless I thought it would be a fun thing to do over the summer and figured what have I got to lose?

So…the second week of August my buddy Joey and I went to Charleston,SC and got in line at 5am to audition for American Idol. We didn’t actually audition until 11:30am. It was quite a circus…imagine a coliseum full of people..13 different audition booths with judges behind each one…singers standing all around you doing their best to be noticed. So we move forward towards the judges 4 people at a time. Finally I get up there and I am the first to sing out of my group of four. I started with “Happy Together” by the Turtles. The judge was very nice, she asked me if I had anything else, so I started to sing “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie. She thanked me and I stepped back. After all 4 had sung she called us up and said “the three of you will not be moving on today”. I asked “so do i just go with them”? She said “No, you are moving on give me your information.”
You have to understand that I was just having fun and doing what I love to do most so I was completely shocked. I was one of about 200 people that made it through the mess of 6 to 8 thousand. Right before I sang I had a verse that a friend had shared with me running through my mind, “The most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and He gives to them to anyone He wishes”- Daniel 4:25. I was grateful to be moving forward.

Two weeks later I went back down to do round 2 which was also in Charleston. This time it would be in front of Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance). I was in the first group to audition and I was the first guy of the day. I got in there and the stage and lighting was exactly like it is when you see people sing in front of Simon and Randy. Nigel asked me what I was going to sing and I said “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie, he then asked if I had anything more current so I sang “I don’t want to be” by Gavin Degraw. Nigel said he liked my voice but that I didn’t have the whole American Idol package and that I was “old fashioned”. Thinking back now I should have said “what you mean timeless?” “old fashioned like Taylor Hicks?” I’m sure that they would have loved some argument for TV but I figured that if it was meant to be then I shouldn’t have to argue with him.

I am completely grateful for the experience and the fact that I made it as far as I did. The great thing is that I love the life that God is allowing me to live right now. A few days after returning from the audition I was singing worship songs in the congregation at a church service. I thought to myself “i would rather be singing these songs to God and about His glory than singing pointless songs on any TV show.”
I know it seems easy for me to say that because I didn’t make it but I am really starting to understand what is important in life and what God places value on.
So many times I feel like song lyrics say things better than I can so I’ll leave you with some.

“The Other Side of the Fence”- Jonny Lang

“The grass always looks greener
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
But the dog over there might be meaner
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
The car in the driveway looks longer on the other side of the street, yeah, yeah
Does anything ever go wrong there
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
Stay in your own yard
Play in your own chard
Cause everything (that) glitters really ain’t gold
Instead of worrying bout what you are not
Gotta make the most what you got
Instead of keeping up with Mr. Jones Betta look out for your own
Stay in your own yard
Play in your own yard
Be happy in your own yard
Cause everything (that) glitters its not what it looks like
it really ain’t gold.”