American Idol auditions took place in San Antonio, Texas and Long Beach, Calif. on Wednesday night and as usual, the talent did not disappoint.
Vincent Powell is the first contestant of the day, who reveals he is in love with Mariah Carey and has dreamed of meeting her all his life. He sings “Rock Me Baby” and the judges love him, with his Carey telling him, “You sing like an angel.”
Brothers David and Derek Bacerot are next, who audition with a duet. After the judges tell them they didn’t like, they try to fight back and tell them they’re wrong. The conversations transitions into an argument between the judges and the brothers, but it finishes when Randy Jackson telling them that if they ever want to make it in the business, “they need to adjust their attitudes.”
Savannah Votion is next, who sings “At Last.” Keith Urban tells her she has life in her voice, and the judges give her a golden ticket.
Cristabel Clack auditions after her, and the judges love her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You.” She excitedly gets her golden ticket and goes through to Hollywood.
The next contestant is Ann Defani, who was nominated by her husband Jordan Defani. Jackson surprises her at the University of Arkansas football field to tell her she has a chance to audition, and she chooses to sing “Stronger” by Faith Hill. The judges love her voice and all say yes, while her husband walks in the audition room to congratulate her.
Victoria Acosta is next, a Mariachi singer who regularly performs in San Antonio’s River Walk. She sings Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and although the judges like it, they ask her to sing some Mariachi. They are left impressed after that, telling her she had so much more connection when she sang what she was comfortable with. All four judges say yes, and she is through to Hollywood.
After several bad auditions, a 19-year-old named Papa Peachez auditions. He sings his own music and while Nicki Minaj falls in love with him and Carey likes him, Urban and Jackson aren’t so convinced. Jackson is the tie-breaker, but he changes his vote after Minaj begs him to send him through.
Sanni M’Mairura is next, a 16-year-old singer, dancer and choreographer. He auditions with “Who’s Loving You” by Michael Jackson, and Jackson tells him he loves that he’s fresh and Urban adds that he loves his balance of confidence and humility.
The final contestant in San Antonio is Adam Sanders, who sings Etta James. The judges give him a standing ovation and they send him through, with Urban saying, “Abso-freakin-lutely.”
The second part of auditions take place in Long Beach, Calif. aboard a ship named Queen Mary. Although Jackson and Urban are ready to go, Carey is stuck in traffic and Minaj is at rehearsals for the America Music Awards. The men decide not to wait for the women, and then kick the auditions off.
Shubha Vedula is the first contestant of the day, who sings “Something’s Got A Hold on Me.” Although Jackson and Urban are confused over her name, they like her singing and give her a golden ticket.
Carey arrives after this, joking that, “When you want a diva, you gotta pay the price.”
Brian Martinez then auditions, who sings “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins. He says a music producer told him to audition after he heard him in a bathroom, but the judges are confused over this as they tell him he can’t sing.
The next contestant is Matt Farmer, who served overseas and suffered from traumatic brain injury after returning. Although the doctors told him he would not be able to have children, his wife was pregnant within months and they now have a 3-year-old daughter. His daughter joins him in the audition room, where he sings Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come.” The judges love his voice and they give him a golden ticket.
Perhaps the strangest audition of the season is next, courtesy of Stephanie Sanson. She says she will sing Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” but proceeds to yell the song and run around the room. She then runs out while yelling “You only live once” and leaves the judges – and the viewers – baffled.
Jesaiah Baer’s audition then seems to be going calmer – until the ship’s sirens turn on and everyone is forced to evacuate. It turned out to be nothing big, and she then continues her audition and the judges say yes to her.
Micah Johnson is next, who shares his story of how he was left with a speech problem after his doctor touched some nerves while removing his tonsils. He sings “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band and the judges are not only moved by his story, but also by his great voice.
The second day in Long Beach starts with Rachel Hale, who the judges say is the happiest contestant they’ve met. They love how she didn’t try too hard while singing, and also love her energy, so they send her through.
Briana Oakley then auditions, who says she was bullied severely at school after appearing on a television show about talented kids. She sings “Up to the Mountain” by Patty Griffin and Minaj tells her that “all the stars have aligned” to get her there to them, adding that that was her moment.
Matheus Fernandes finishes the auditions with his powerful story and voice. Although the doctors didn’t diagnose him with anything, he is significantly shorter than everyone else. Carey tells him she’s holding back tears and that he hit her in the heart, while Jackson tells him that, “To me, you’re 10 feet tall.”
Fernandes joins 49 other contestants who go through to Hollywood. Idol finishes the first round of auditions tonight, when they search for talent in Oklahoma.