Sup folks! Sorry for being late on this. I was actually on a plane trying to get home from New Orleans when the episode aired and couldn’t blog right after the show.  (And we won’t talk about the thunderstorm that delayed me even more..) So umm yeah, I’m a little late, but y’all are going to let me slide right?

Well, here we are in our last audition city New Orleans, LA; Sunday Best’s new home for Season 3. Let’s get started, shall we?

First up, Chelsea Phillips. I remember seeing Chelsea throughout the audition day and she was such a sweet girl, her testimony of surviving Katrina really got me together. To have been through what many of the New Orleans residents had been through and to not be mean, angry or upset kind of amazed me. So, Chelsea may not have been the greatest singer and was obviously nervous, but I definitely applaud her and others for just being there. (Yeah, there’s a sensitive side. *argh* Back to the show! Ha!)

So next up, Derrick.  You may remember him as the guy with cornrows who did a slooooooooow and somewhat drunk rentidion of “I Know I’ve Been Changed.” (I’m noticing a lot of that this year.) It’s auditions like this that I find a hard time to take seriously, but I honestly have to say I think he meant it.  I just don’t understand…

One o f my favorite auditions from New Orleans was Dathan Thigpen. (He’ll probably be remembered as the contestant with the locs.) He sang “The Lord’s Prayer” and did what I’m going to call the “GoldiLOCS” audition. Remember the childhood fairy tale Goldilocks, the little girl went to the bear’s house and kept searching for what was “not too this, not too that, but JUST RIGHT?” Well, that was what Dathan’s audition was to me. He didn’t do too much or too little, it was just enough of everything. And his runs were pretty much flawless without being over the top. I think he’s going to be one of my favorites. Now about the jeans, I’m not sure how I feel about ‘em probably because I have a few pair with holes in em too! Ha!

Next, the bus from Jackson, Mississippi. Almost all of these contestants came through the BET.com Digital VIP Suite for their preliminary audition where Lecresia Campbell was my guest judge! She and I chose the Jackson contestants you saw audition for Mary Mary and Donnie McClurkin. The older woman with the number 6114 who started out the series of auditions from Jackson was probably one of my favorites of the day.  She has some tricks up her vocal sleeve that will surprise you and her spirit is so warm. She almost made us cry! Then there was 6094, the dude  Erica Campbell said made her feel as if she should have been listening to his audition in a lounge with some wine. Ha! I screamed. He definitely was laid back, but I think that’s what I loved about it. He was killing it without any effort. I enjoyed him, it was so smooth! Finally from Jackson, there was Ashton Sanders who was another smoothed out vocalist. His “Oh How I Love Jesus” was sick to me!!!!!!!!  He had Mary Mary split on their decision, (Erica liked it, Tina didn’t) but ultimately Donnie McClurkin said no and said he was more suited for church.

Next up was Tiffany. Now I’ll admit that at first, I wasn’t necessarily feeling her audition. I mean, she can sing, but it didn’t get me. But by the end of her singing “I Know I Been Changed” I was converted! She brought it all the way home!

Ok, let’s pause for a minute.  Am I the only one still laughing from the lady who sang “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” to the tune of Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody?” Ma’am, just wrong, wrong, wrong! Now I’m not saying it can’t be done, but yeah, she just didn’t do it right.

Fast forward to Leandria Johnson………………………………………………I’m sorry, just typing her name took me right back to the floor from the way her audition laid me OUT! If I never hear “This is The Day That the Lord has made” ever again, it’s o.k., because she sang it so that nobody else needs to touch it again! *whoosh* (Wow! I think that may be this season’s first official *whoosh.*) I remember being on the side of the set during her audition for the judges and the producers almost kicked me and a few others out! See, you’re supposed to be quiet during taping because the cameras and microphones pick up everything, but we just couldn’t help it, we had to make a little noise! OMG, that girl is the truth. Watching this episode also helped put things into perspective for me. Like the judges, I had no idea that she had been through so much to get there.  Let’s be real, there are some folks who are just that WRONG and really would wear socks and flip flops to an audition. So I’ll admit, I chuckled when I saw them too, but after hearing her story she gets EXTRA props from me for even showing up and then to sing like that? After what I’ve heard, she could sing for me barefoot in a dress made out of paper towels for all I care. Just… just…. *whoosh*

Next up Tawana with “Jesus Loves Me.” OMG, she is sick!! So much control and such a sweet voice. It kind of reminded me a bit of Lecresia Campbell who is one of the pioneers of what I like to call “Gospera.” You know when it’s fully gospel but with heavy nods to classical and opera all in one package. It’s HARD to pull off and only a few can do it, but Tawana did it!

Another one of my favorites was Johntae (I’m probably spelling this wrong.) She absolutely laid us out with “For Every Mountain.” She also came through the BET.com Digital VIP Suite and blew me and Lecresia away! I can’t wait to hear her on the stage show, because there are these colors in her voice that I can’t really describe, you have to hear it to get it. She’s baddddddd and ya know I mean that in a good way!

Next up Martha Burries. She started off a little nervous, but by the middle of her audition she found herself and shut it down! She had sweet and squall all in the same throat! Love her!

Another audition I loved was Cameron Turner. You’ll remember her as the young lady who sang “How Great Thou Art” with the big curly hair. I don’t think this is the last you’ll see of her. I got to hear her a few times and trust me, she’s got it! Her nerves did get the best of her so I really hope she continues to sing and even auditions again. We throw this around a lot in the industry and it usually gets on my nerves, but in this case it fits that Cameron is a “true worshipper.” Everytime she sang throughout the day, she created the only worship atmosphere. I’m a fan.

*pause* Troy Lee was probably THE most interesting of ALL the auditions for the ENTIRE season. From the blonde bump and curl and the laid out nails, I have to be honest, I couldn’t stop laughing. I just couldn’t. He meant that thing! Don’t be deep, you know you laughed too. But then when he opened his mouth and sounded like a black Pavarotti with a mic in his chest. I just can’t, I can’t type anymore because I can’t stop laughing. Get it Troy! Ha!

Next up, Franklin Davis. You remember him, he rocked a Mohawk and a glove on his left hand.  His ear is absolutely ridiculous and his voice is too. A lot of what he did at first in his audition with the judges required background music  for you to really get it. Because without music, the judges were right, it was “too much.” But I’m so glad the judges gave him a shot to sing something else because he definitely deserved a spot in the top 20. (Maybe next time he’ll listen to me because I told him that in his preliminary audition! *hmpf* hahahahaha, just messing with ya Franklin!)

Jevar was another contestant that I enjoyed but didn’t make it. He sang “Walk With Me.”  Yeah the faces were scary, but I could live with them, because the man can sang! But I get it though, he can fix those. Come back Jevar!

Brittany, the Sunday School Teacher did well. I was surprised she made it through though. I enjoyed her audition but I didn’t think the judges would appreciate her “Beyonceness.” They shocked me with that one,  but her voice is beautiful. I can’t wait to hear what she sounds like with a band. She’ll have to find a way to take her sweet voice and cut through so she can really be heard and not drowned out.

Vernell is one of those singers who knows their voice and knows what to do with it. His rendition of “Jesus Is Love” had me going in on day. And if I remember correctly, the man was sick, as in ill! I can’t wait to hear him on the stage either, because I believe there’s even more there.

Also, congratulation to Funmi from Nigeria for making it into the top 20. I’m curious to see how she holds up with the rest of the contestants.

Well, folks, that’s it! We’re finally done with auditions and are about to get to the real sanging! Next week we get to see the contestants on the big stage with the band! I can’t wait! But until then, check out exclusive footage from the BET.com Digital VIP Suite sponsored by Ford where me and Lecresia Campbell were preliminary judges. I think you’ll dig it.

Torrence

TAGS: beyonce, Chaka Khan, Donnie McClurkin, Erica Campbell, Lecresia Campb, Lecresia Campbell, Mary Mary, pavarotti, Sunday Best, Torrence's Take

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