Hawai'i singers fail to impress judges

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

It wasn't one of the strongest performances for either Camile Velasco or Jasmine Trias last night on "American Idol."

Jasmine Trias

Camile Velasco

Last week Tuesday, judge Simon Cowell told the 18-year-old Ha'iku waitress that last night's performance would be the end of her idol hopes.

However, that was before crooner John Stevens' horrific past two performances. And it was before LaToya London surprisingly found herself in the bottom three last week Wednesday.

Will she go? Will she stay? It's anyone's guess, but the weeks of close calls have hardened Velasco, said her dad, James West.

"He said it for two weeks, but Camile's a tough kid," West said when reached by phone last night in Hollywood. "It seemed that our local girls were getting trashed; the judges have their favorites. And Camile's not going to quit."

Velasco, however, isn't the only one who may have had a rough night. Fellow Island singer Jasmine Trias, 17, of Mililani, fared only slightly better in the judges' reviews.

The competition highlighted the music and comments of Sir Elton John, who appeared with each of the nine candidates at a pre-show rehearsal session shown on tape.

"Elton told Camile he loved her (vocal) at rehearsal," West said. It's a memory, he said, she'll take with her forever. Velasco was so overwhelmed when she met John, she openly wept.

Trias, who picked "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," also got the "pitchy" review from Jackson.

Abdul concurred, adding: "You really do well when you cover it (pitch problems) with vocals."

Cowell, in his unflinchingly honest wisdom, said: "What she (Abdul) was saying is that it wasn't good enough. You're not doing enough to win."

There were more faults and flaws than raves and rapture last night. Stevens, Jon Peter Lewis and Diana DeGarmo struggled through their songs and Fantasia Barrino, LaToya London, George Huff and Jennifer Hudson soared.

While he wasn't officially a judge, Elton John handed out compliments on camera that a few contestants might have wished came from the judges. He sat at a red piano, alongside "Idol's" associate music director Michael Orland, who was profiled in The Advertiser yesterday, to pump out his songs for each contestant.

"I really don't know what they mean," Trias said last night by telephone about the recurring "pitchy" comments. "I thought I performed well. If America loves me, I hope they vote for me."

She said when John emerged unexpectedly at the practice session, she was stunned.

"It was a surprise," Trias said. "It was awesome. I couldn't believe it, when he walked in ... flesh and blood ... the real thing. I was so happy. It was such a thrill."

With the contest's final round now in its second month, Trias said she's starting to miss home and her friends at Maryknoll. She's doing her tutorial studies, along with "AI" business.

"I'm fine, my spirit's good," she said. "We play it week by week ... but I miss home a lot."

Her dad, Rudy, has been with her for the entire duration of the contest. "It was exciting to have a picture taken with me and him," he said of his Kodak moment with Elton John.

Asked if the seesawing comments from judges have had an impact on her psyche, Rudy Trias said: "She's taking it well. She doesn't let it (the negatives) bother her."

West said Velasco will treasure John's compliments more than anything else so far in the competition.

"We all thought she did well," West said. "When you consider she was a waitress four months ago and now she's singing for Elton John ... that's quite an accomplishment."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.