'Idol' insider offers peek at contestants' world

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

'American Idol' 7-8 tonight (nine finalists) 7:30-8 p.m. tomorrow (one eliminated) Fox (KHON-2) Viewing parties at 7 tonight Dave & Buster's at Ward Entertainment Complex Eastside Grill on University Avenue Players Sports Bar in 'Aiea Maryknoll High School Ruby Tuesday in Mililani Web chatrooms You can talk story with other viewers, discussing Hawai'i candidates or others, at: idolonfox.com Idol Chitchat

Camile Velasco, 18, "is still coming out of her shell. Exploring. Growing. Happiest with a song."

Words from Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell? Nope. The observations are from Michael Orland, 42, associate music director, pianist and arranger for "American Idol," who is one of the key portals each contestant must travel through en route to the "Idol" competition each week.

"So amazing, these two," Orland said by phone about Hawai'i's two contenders. "I adore Jasmine; how she sings. She comes with her song choices, she gives me a hug; I kiss and inhale, because she always has a flower in her hair. Even if it's fake (she sports artificial blooms over her right ear), I know to kiss and inhale. 'It must be you,' I tell her.

"And Camile. When she first started, she was a little timid. When she talks, she's happy and peppy; but when she sings, she makes those faces. I tell her, 'You gotta smile, not squint, and have fun.' So cute. I think she's finally having fun. I thought she was great (last) week."

Orland has a ringside seat in watching budding singers blossom into pop music stars. He got involved in the last moments of the first season and toured with that year's 12 finalists as a rehearsal pianist. For the past two competitions, he's been a musical director.

There's a whole world we don't see — the hours of prep time —before the contestants grab the mike and wail before a national Fox audience. And because Orland has seen 'em all, he has a pretty good handle on each singer.

"Our work week begins every Thursday," he said, noting that he spends the initial hour of each week going over song selection with each finalist. "It's a jammed, crammed week with precious little personal time for all of the contestants.

"They pick (songs), I help guide. The final decision is always the contestant's. Some have an easier time than others; some work better in one genre. But yes, every week, a different contestant will struggle."

Few know precisely what they want to sing, but when Trias sang "Inseparable," it was the only song she wanted to do: she offered no Plan B. "She knew exactly what she wanted to do — and did it," Orland said. "But that doesn't always happen. A contestant sometimes wants to change a choice the next day, but it's too late. The whole contest is based on choice and a pretty quick process. There's no turning back."

As for the judges' comments that Velasco and Trias have had pitch problems, Orland said they're not alone.

"There are a number of causes," he said. "Could be just the pressure of a live taping. The fact that the cameras are out there, the studio audience is there, the live band accompanying the pre-recorded tape. The pitch issue doesn't happen in rehearsal, which is much easier to cope with because there's no audience. So I tell all the contestants that during show time, they have to listen with elephant ears; they have to hear the music, to be on pitch. But there are distractions when you're live."

Personality also matters.

"An incredible voice wouldn't go far if there was no personality behind it," Orland said, "and the contestants are learning that the judges up your game and raise your bar when personality is in your face. They vote on personality too."

He works with vocal coach Debra Byrd in plotting out the music, sometimes tempo, and the arrangement. "She and I have an intense relationship with the contestants — we get to know what makes them tick," he said.

"I see growth in every single contestant. Especially the girls, who keep experimenting with hairdo and clothes, starting to trust the stylist, the hair person, the makeup person. When they change, they're moving out of their comfort zone, which, of course, is part of the growth. You need to try different things."

The singers all live together during the season. The intensity of the situation, all vying for the top spot and living under one roof, creates a bond, so when one is cut, everyone feels some pain. "It's 24/7; you live and breathe the show," he said. "There are a lot of tears and hugging you don't see, but that's the realism of the show: Next week it might be you."

Orland said there have been isolated instances of a meltdown, when a contestant gets so rattled and nervous, he or she needed special hand-holding.

"I have seen it," he said, without revealing names or which season. "I try to use humor to keep these kids in touch with the reality. I used to work with too many old comics, but it works. But because you don't know when someone will lose it, there are two psychologists at the two tapings, just in case of a meltdown. There is so much pressure; you're on a high; you're in the public eye; you are, heavens, humiliated and sometimes insulted on live TV. I mean, these are kids."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.

How Michael Orland sees 'em

I tell all the contestants that during showtime, they have to listen with elephant ears ..." — Michael Orland

Jon Peter Lewis, 24: "Girls in the audience go crazy for him; the young ones scream. He's a heartthrob, no matter what you think of his voice."

John Stevens, 16: "He does have a great voice, and being only 16, you often forget his age. He's got talent, but, um, I'm not sure this is the right competition for him. That he's even gone this far is amazing."

Fantasia Barrino, 19: "Great talent. She's been toning down. More careful on how she responds back to the judges."

LaToya London, 25: "Song choice is a factor with her. I had a friend see and hear her for the first time (last) week and he couldn't get why I was so high on her — 'That was OK,' was the response. And song choice was a factor in terms of what she can really show or do. And the hair; I mean, 'cat in the hair' was Simon's (Cowell) response."

William Hung, 21, the un-Idol: "I did get to work with him, providing the four dancers behind him for our 'Best of the Worst' show, and you know, he believes in himself. As long as people think he's adorable, and he's having fun through it all, what's the harm? ... He's had the greatest time of his life."

'Idol' buzz

Wild cards: Camile Velasco and Jasmine Trias are part of a collectible card collection — an "American Idol" card game. The set includes 110 cards including all 32 semi-finalists, 33 judge cards, 38 song cards and seven special effects cards, all part of a family parlor game in which contestants go through an audition and elimination process. What would Simon say? Retail price: $9.99.

anthem singer: Jonah Moananu, "American Idol" top-32 finalist, will sing the National Anthem at Super Brawl 35, April 16 at Blaisdell Arena. The event, televised live on Oceanic Pay-Per-View and available on Video-On-Demand, features Enson Inoue, younger brother of Egan Inoue.

Filipino pride: Count former Gov. Ben Cayetano among the weekly "American Idol" fans of local contestants Velasco and Trias. "I enjoy the show very much," says Cayetano, who is part of the swelling local support in the Filipino community. "I think everyone in Hawai'i is happy and filled with pride for our contestants ... but Filipinos have a little more pride."

'Idol' fans have no dull moments

Any thoughts of having the "American Idol" competition figured out ended when John Stevens stayed and LaToya London was sent to the bottom three during last week's voting-results show.

In the end, it was pink-haired Amy Adams who got the boot, but the way it transpired makes you think there's more to who goes into the final three than just the lowest vote-getters.

Those who watched the competition saw Stevens, the red-headed crooner, ready to face the firing line when he was paired with London for the final verdict. And when it was announced he was safe and London may be gone, Steven's "should've been me" expression and the audience's hushed silence said it all.

Stevens lost his biggest supporter (Simon Cowell), turned in his worst performance and showed zero personality a week after forgetting the words to his song. But he survived without an appearance in the bottom three.

That, folks, is networking at its finest. Either that, or "Idol" producers are using the third hot spot to stir up interest and keep viewers guessing.

If London could fall to the bottom after all the high marks she received, could Jasmine Trias be next? Does being No. 3 mean producers are trying to light fires under a singer's fan base to vote more?

So many questions. For Hawai'i voters, the exasperating part may be wanting to vote and failing to get a chance.

Many couldn't get through the recurring busy, busy, busy signals, so they're giving up.

Verizon Hawai'i said call-ins dipped to 926,878 on March 30 (a drop of 2 million from the week before). It could signify that too many people are trying too often to get through and bottlenecking the voting process. Or there could be increasing apathy among folks who are sick of pushing the redial buttons. Or maybe more people are text-messaging their votes via AT&T Wireless. Or maybe people are just getting tired of Idolmania.

Nobody knows for sure.

Aside from the fact that the lowest-vote-getter is bounced, the three-lowest sequence does create a vehicle for on-air drama.

Camile Velasco was in the hot seat once; Jennifer Hudson was there twice. But London succumbing to Stevens? Improbable.

As the show continues tonight, you have to wonder who'll be the next third wheel to sweat it out with the lowest vote-getters.

It could be an interesting week for Island fans. Cowell predicted this would be Velasco's last in the competition. But that was before Stevens survived and before a pained Hudson gave something of a tongue-lashing to voters, saying if her fans were happy, that's all that mattered.

Sassy doesn't always sit well with voters.

Tonight's theme is Elton John music. If Stevens falters but survives, it can only mean he's got a tremendous network in New York, his home state.

As for Hawai'i, Verizon says it has opened additional lines. But no matter how many, the demand is greater than the supply. If you get a dial tone, the phone company advises, you're at least in line for the on-ramp access.