Most of the time, when we watchAmerican Idoland other similar singing competition shows, we watch our singers begin with their intro video package, sing their song for our enjoyment, and then receive feedback from the celebrity panel. ForAmerican Idol’s Showstoppers round, from time to time,we received a little insight as to the behind-the-scenes magic.
This vantage provides a much-needed opportunity to see just howAmerican Idolis made.American Idolis about creating a music superstar. As viewers, experiencing the in-depth rehearsal footage allows us an opportunity to join the hopefuls on their journey. It’s not always going to be perfect and beautiful. Whatever the hardships they face off the show,the journey is about what happens inside the competition.
Kolbi Jordan’s Rehearsal Footage Shows How ‘American Idol’ Makes Music
The first, and possibly biggest, in-depth rehearsal moment came from powerhouseKolbi Jordan. As one of the Platinum Ticket holders, she had a week off from potentialIdolrejection. Showstoppers was her first time back to auditioning for her spot in the Top 24.This also marked the first time that the hopefuls would be working with the band.And working with the band we watched! Kolbi was not feeling great, but as the powerhouse vocalist she is, she was not going to let anything come between her and herTina Turnermoment. Except, something does: the band.
Through her rehearsal footage, we watched as she worked with celebratedAmerican Idolmusic directorKris Pooley, leading the band. There is a bit of a disconnect between Kolbi and the band on “River Deep, Mountain High.” The arrangement teetered back and forth between the original track and the Kobli version. Kris Pooley has an opportunity to guide both Kolbi and the band in order to get everyone on the same page. It’s an interaction that rarely gets to be seen, butas music lovers, this is what we want more of.
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Sure, you’re able to have a famous celebrity coach and mentor onThe Voicesit in their chairs to offer feedback, but having the curtain pulled back and watching the individuals whoMAKEthe music work with the artists we want to celebrate, that’s special. Kobli, who is very much a frontrunner this season, is seen struggling. She talks to the producers about her frustration. It showcases a raw vulnerability that we don’t see often. If a bad performance is going to come, at least we have some guidance as to how it got there.Seeing how Kobli got from point A to point B is absolutely riveting.As it turns out, her Showstopper performance had some flaws, as she was timid because of the band. Even the judges during their post-performance powwow acknowledged that there was something off. In the end, Kolbi moved forward into the Head-to-Head round. Had she moved on, and we only saw the mid performance, we may have had some doubt. In most cases on singing talent competitions, if we saw this performance without the rehearsal footage, we would chalk it up to Kolbi being bad. But that’s not the case. There was a reason, and we were privy to it.
‘American Idol’ Needs To Continue To Let Viewers See Rehearsals
Kolbi wasn’t alone in the rehearsal footage department. Throughout the evening, we also see these key moments play out for frontrunners, fan favorites, and rising stars alike. Coincedently, following Kolbi’s performance came another similar story of vocal fatigue:Isaiah Misailegalu. He is offered a chance by vocal coachAdriana McPheeto lower the key. Having not much experience performing, having the guidance to lower the key proved beneficial. He came out with a silky smooth performance that can help the teen further. That bit of advice sometimes is all it takes for a fledgling artist to fly free. Similarly,Zaylie Windsoris seen pushing herself out of her vocal range. Being out of the musical pocket can make or break a performance, yethaving the guidance from theAmerican Idolmusic team helps her improve her performance, giving her an automatic spot in the Top 24.
WhenDrew Ryncame into rehearsals, she shared that she was going to opt in for a risky decision. She is seen struggling to start her rendition of “Always On My Mind” byWillie Nelsona cappella. That meant she would have to be in perfect key for when the band came in. Thankfully, she was flawless. Being able to peek into her mind as to why she wanted to make an Idol moment is key for her arc in the competition, and the artist she can be. Like Drew,Victor Solomonworked closely with the band to make a strong and unique arrangement of “In the Air” byPhil Collins. It kicked off the evening in perfect fashion.
Not everyone had a positive outcome in the end. Sadly forKam’Ron Smith, Hollywood Week proved this performance was bigger than he had anticipated. He had revealed that he had never performed with a band before. He struggled during rehearsal, which then translated into the performance. He struggled with the words, losing half the lyrics while on stage. His journey from rehearsal to performance allowed viewers to see that even with a good voice,American Idolisn’t for everyone. The Showstoppers Round has been one of the best episodes of Season 23. It’s pushed the show back in the right direction.We don’t need weeks and weeks of belaboring the same backstory.Seeing rehearsal footage is part of the growth arc we deserve. This is the interesting stuffIdol! More of this please!
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