With American Idol filming at no other than Nashville’s Belmont University, we chose our picks this week to be song that we would audition with.
Grace’s Pick: Kacey Musgraves “Slow Burn”
This week my pick is none other than “Slow Burn” by Kacey Musgraves. This question was surprisingly hard to answer for me. I wanted to find something more upbeat, because slower songs tend to be kind of boring to audition with. However, this song is one of my favorites to sing, so I thought I’d pick it. Kacey Musgraves is a Nashville staple. Kacey began songwriting at age 8 and released her first album at age 14. The album Golden Hour, that “Slow Burn” is featured on, was released in 2018 and is one of my favorite albums to this day. I believe this song is upbeat enough that wouldn’t completely bore the judges on a live TV show but also show range and artistry. If I want to spice up my audition, I would play guitar as well! Take a listen to this timeless, incredible song now!
Zerita’s Pick: Queen “Somebody to Love”
I must admit my first introduction to Queen’s iconic ballad was through the 2000s fantasy film, Ella Enchanted. As Anne Hathaway did her rendition of “Somebody to Love”, 8 year old Zerita was blown away. In more recent years I have become a massive Queen fan and still “Somebody to Love” stands out. If I were to audition for a TV singing competition show like American Idol, then a melodic and dynamic song like this would be my immediate choice. I’ve always been more of a fan of The Voice than American Idol, but the point still sands. Many hours spent singing “Somebody to Love” in my best Freddie Mercury impression have prepared me well for this hypothetical endeavor. If for some reason you haven’t heard it, check out “Somebody to Love” below!
Michelle’s Pick: Paramore “Ain’t It Fun”
“Ain’t It Fun” off of their self titled album is one of the first Paramore songs that I heard. I grew up playing Rock Band 2 on the Play Station 3 and I would always choose this song. No big deal, but I can get one hundred percent on expert mode. But beyond the game, “Ain’t It Fun” stuck with me because it was the first time I heard a pop-punk song that was both playful and brutally honest. The lyrics are cheeky but cut deep “Don’t go crying to your mama/ ‘cause you’re on your own in the real world” hits different when you’re navigating growing pains and independence. It’s like Paramore wrapped a coming-of-age crisis in a danceable groove and dared you not to sing along. I also love Hayley Williams, she is an icon and is one of the most talented female singers of our generation. If I could channel at least 20% of Hayley’s talent, I think that I could at least get past the first round. Take a listen down below!
