Danny will be in Milwaukee for AI10 auditions and Summerfest Options

[dcfreak]

Gokey advises Brew City contestants to be original
By Jan Uebelherr of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: June 21, 2010 |
http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musi...e/96845879.html

Brewtown singers and big dreamers, take note: Mark July 21 on your calendar because, Milwaukee, this is your swing at "American Idol."

The Fox reality show that brought fame to Milwaukee's own Danny Gokey is coming here July 21 for auditions at the Bradley Center.

Full details will be announced later, but this much we can tell you: Talented 15-year-olds no longer have to wait. The eligibility age has been dropped from 16 to 15 this year. The age cutoff is 28.

Auditions are just for the auditioner and the judges - so you can't go and watch the auditions just for grins. Each auditioner is allowed one guest - but the guest isn't allowed into the audition.

In announcing the Season 10 auditions, Fox's "Idol" publicity machine pointed out that previous winners and contenders have included a paint store clerk (this year's winner, Lee DeWyze), a farm girl (Carrie Underwood) and a cruise ship performer (Jennifer Hudson).

And there's Danny Gokey - a truck driver and church music director before an audition changed all that. Gokey came in third in Season 8 and headed to Nashville. His debut CD, "My Best Days," has been a chart-topper on country charts.

His advice to "Idol" hopefuls heading to the auditions:

"Whoever's been on the show - they don't need another one of those. They don't need another Danny Gokey, they don't need another David Cook, they don't need another Adam Lambert," Gokey said in a telephone interview from Nashville.

"You have to be something special. That's what's going to stand out. Don't change who you are. Be yourself. Be unique. You have to figure that out for yourself."

For those who characterize the auditions as "brutal," well, Gokey finds that odd.

"What's brutal? I think we have to re-evaluate what brutal is. Brutal is a holocaust," he says. "This is an opportunity of a lifetime. There's a lot of pressure, there's no doubt about it. The pressure takes place in your mind. You create it."

He adds, "I'll tell you what - the reward definitely outweighed the risk for me. I walk away, I have no scars," said Gokey, who says he's been urging producers to hold auditions in Milwaukee.

Milwaukeean Jaizon Plaga plans to audition. It'll be his fifth time. He went to auditions in Chicago (twice) plus Columbus, Ohio, and St. Louis.

"It's definitely more of a game than singing," says Plaga, who describes his singing style as soul/alt-rock/pop. Contestants meet with producers before they're selected to perform before the judges. "I'm not quite sure what they're looking for," says Plaga, who performs with a band called Repertoire. "There's definitely got to be a story that everyone can relate to, and there are people who are dressed up in costumes - so a lot of good people get passed on."

Still, he's wants to give it a shot. "A lot of people who have made the show have tried out more than once," he says.

Gokey will be in town to perform July 4 at Summerfest's Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard. The "American Idol" tour, with last season's top 10, plays at the Marcus Amphitheater on July 2.

Registration for Milwaukee's "Idol" auditions will be held two days before the auditions. For details, go to www.americanidol.com.

[kristie]

[StephLovesGokey]

Aww! Wait, so he'll be one of the guest judges? Cause if so, I'd totally go over to Milwaukee just to try to make it to the round where he judges!

[dcfreak]

Aww! Wait, so he'll be one of the guest judges? Cause if so, I'd totally go over to Milwaukee just to try to make it to the round where he judges!

I don't know if that means he'll actually be a guest judge--but if he is, wouldn't that be awesome?

[StephLovesGokey]

I don't know if that means he'll actually be a guest judge--but if he is, wouldn't that be awesome?

That would be beyond awesome! Then I would actaully tune in.

[NathanaelOlsen]

Everybody at IDF would be extremely mad

I'd love that Probably would get more words in then Joe Jonas too.

This post has been edited by NathanaelOlsen: Jun 27th 2010, 8:37 PM

[bosman]

I don't know if that means he'll actually be a guest judge--but if he is, wouldn't that be awesome?

Oh my gosh, that would be so pleasing for the eye and ear. I always like hearing Danny's train of thought. Its always kind of original, exciting, just like Paula's comments were.

[StephLovesGokey]

Everybody at IDF would be extremely mad

I'd love that Probably would get more words in then Joe Jonas too.

I would love for that to happen, just saying.

[dcfreak]

Carrie Underwood and Danny Gokey Headline at Milwaukee's Summerfest
http://mjsbigblog.com/carrie-underwood-and...-summerfest.htm

Carrie Underwood and Danny Gokey are headlining separate stages tonight (July 4th) at Milwaukee’s famous Summerfest music festival, advertised by the city as “the world’s largest music festival.”

Carrie’s show begins at 7:30 in the Marcus Amphitheater, with opening act Sons of Sylvia.

Danny will be headlining the Briggs & Stratton “Big Backyard” side stage at 9:30, after an opening performance at 9 pm by Milwaukee children participating in Sophia’s Heart Foundation’s new choir and dance programs.

[dcfreak]

THIS WEEK!

http://iheartdannygokey.com/index.php/2011...airs-this-week/

[dcfreak]

Lots of Danny clips tonight, and a lot of GREAT auditions! Most of them tonight were really good or at least entertaining.

Thank you Danny!

[dcfreak]

OMG. Due to Danny's urging to have the Idol producers hold auditions in Milwaukee for season 10, he is responsible for the following contestants being on the show this year, and for this year's winner!

Milwaukee auditioners who made the Top 13:

Naima Adedapo, 10th/11th
Thia Megia, 10th/11th
Haley Reinhart, 3rd
Scotty McCreery, WINNER

Thank you, Mr. Gokey!