Barb fails to burst 'American Idol' bubble
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff writer
Simon Cowell said he looked like a "fish on a slab," but fans of Jordan Segundo thought the Farrington High School senior sizzled on last night's "American Idol."
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Segundo was one of eight contestants last night trying to advance to the next round of the show. The top two performers from yesterday's show, determined during a two-hour public voting period after the broadcast, will join eight other contestants in the next round. The ultimate winner will receive a recording contract and more face time than he or she can handle.
Jordan Segundo's friends and family gathered at the Eastside Grill in Puck's Alley last night to watch the live satellite broadcast of "American Idol." "I thought he did a great job," said one. "I got chicken skin."
"I have a great feeling that he'll place in the top 10," said Michelle Lynch, a friend who caught Segundo's performance on the Fox program yesterday via satellite at Eastside Grill in Honolulu. "The comments from the judges weren't good, but I thought he did a great job. I got chicken skin."
Performing second in the lineup, Segundo sang part of Stevie Wonder's "For Your Love," a song he had rehearsed but never performed. He appeared a bit nervous at the start but quickly warmed, playing directly to the camera.
The response from the judges was tepid. Randy Jackson said Segundo's singing was "pitchy."
Cowell, the notoriously catty British judge, said Segundo was good technically but seemed to lack fire.
"There was no spark in your eyes," Cowell told him. "You looked dead — like a fish on a slab."
The lukewarm evaluations did nothing to dampen the reactions Segundo got at a pair of viewing parties yesterday.
The live satellite broadcast at Eastside drew a couple dozen of Segundo's family and friends.
Lisa and Julio Segundo rushed from their jobs in Kalihi just in time to see their nephew take the stage.
"He looked kind of nervous, but I thought he did real good," said Julio.
Leona Segundo, Jordan's aunt, said she was surprised at Cowell's appraisal.
"I'm used to seeing him on TV," she said, noting Jordan's appearances on "Destination Stardom" and "Hawai'i Stars."
"He was great, as usual."
At Dave & Buster's, where an "American Idol" viewing party was held at 7 p.m., the scene resembled a Super Bowl Party. Fans packed the upstairs showroom and howled every time Segundo appeared.
"He wasn't as flashy as some of the others, but his performance was real solid," said James Nahopii. "I think people will recognize that, and he'll get the votes he needs."
Results from last night's voting will be revealed during tonight's show (7:30 p.m. on Fox).
Win or lose, Jordan Segundo is becoming the favored act of the moment. The Honolulu Symphony was trying to reach him yesterday in Los Angeles, to offer him a slot as an opening act in an April or May Pops Concert.
"We left a message and also wished him well," said vice president of operations Jim Mancuso.
Quiet Storm label owner John Iervolina also said he was eager to huddle with Segundo about possible recordings.
"I have in town a producer from Babyface's Le Face Records and someone from the Stevie Wonder camp," Iervolino said yesterday afternoon. The three watched the "Idol" competition last night to compare notes.
Advertiser entertainment writer Wayne Harada contributed to this report.
