AI judge thinks the next winner is a she
Six years after Jordin Sparks won “American Idol,” are we finally going to see a female winner this season 12?
American Idol judge Keith Urban thinks so.
“All I can say is at least from what we just saw last night, it’s absolutely a girl’s year to win, in my opinion. That’s not to say the guys aren’t strong because they really are. It’s really more a testament to how strong the girls are this year,” Keith said in a press statement.
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Although the jury has just trimmed the contestants down to 20, the girls’ performances impressed Keith a lot. Among the early favorites are Angela Miller and Kree Harrison.
“I want to see the emergence of great artistry, male, female, it doesn’t really matter, but definitely the girls are stronger. I don’t know why that is. It’s just one of those things. We saw probably over 270 people all up to get it down to where we are today and the girls were just incredibly strong this year.”
Total package
While Keith acknowledges a great voice can get aspirants into the competition, having a total package is also a plus. Fellow judge Nicki Minaj said she’s looking for an “all-round entertainer” who can capture people with or without music.
“There really isn’t one rule across the board, but it’s just got to be the right combination I think for each person. Someone who might have a lesser voice may have an extraordinary charisma and presence and way about him or her that’s just magnetic. As Jimmy Lovine said, “It just really comes down to feel. How does that artist make me feel? Do I feel something from that artist?” I think that’s really spot on,” Keith said.
A lot of pressure
Critiquing contestants may put a lot of pressure on the judges, but Keith tries to “stay in the moment.”
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“I’m just trying to stay on track with that and give them the best advice I can possible give them and hopefully they get to go through to the next round.”
Keith is very vocal when he likes a contestant and finds it hard to see them go once the other judges say “no.”
“So that’s particularly hard for me because I get connected with these artists and I see something in them that I wish got a chance to shine a bit more next week. It’s really disheartening to see them have to go.”
Aside from the contestants’ performances, the interaction between judges Keith, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson, plus the drama between the two female judges, are something to watch out for.
Keith has no problems with Nicki and Mariah.
“What I really liked about Nicki was just her straight shooting directism. For me, growing up in Australia, I like being around people that are just absolutely raw and straight and tell it like it is. So I just kind of clicked with Nicki right from the get go.”
He adds, “All it takes is the other three saying, “No,” and they’re done. There’s nothing I can do. And unfortunately sometimes, in the case of last night too, I might have to be the person who delivers the news to that specific person as well.
American Idol airs every Thursday and Friday, 6pm on Starworld.
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