AI Audition: Gabriel Waldman

[Gabriel Waldman]

He was nervous, but still had those butterflies in his stomach. His friend hadn't had her audition yet but she told him he'd do well.

Gabriel walked into the room soon after the girl with guitar left. He was pretty good with the guitar himself and was using Rachel's for good luck. He had been thinking about what he was going to sing and had finally reached a conclusion.

He saw Simon sitting behind the table and he knew this was the real deal, he couldn't back out now, it was time to prove he had what it takes to be the next American Idol, first step was to just do a great job singing.

[Simon Cowell]

So far, two girls had made the it to Hollywood and no one had been bad or absolutely horrible. This season was going pretty well so far. The question was whether or not it could last. Simon wasn't so sure about that. After all, there had to be some idiot who that he could sing that couldn't sing audition. It was so weird not insulting someone at the auditions yet.

No sooner had the doors closed shut from the previous audition, a boy emerged from it. He was holding a guitar like many who'd auditioned. Hopefully, he'd be able to play it well. But more importantly, he better be able to sing. If he couldn't, though, it wouldn't be any different from any other season.

"Hello," Simon said, "Please give your name and you may give what you've got," Simon said, leaning back in his chair.

[Gabriel Waldman]

"Hey Simon." Gabriel said with a small smile.

"I'm Gabriel Waldman and I'm 21."

Gabriel sat down on the chair that was positioned in front of, but a few feet from the judges table.

"I'll be singing John Mayer's Daughters." Gabriel said as he positioned the guitar and got ready to try his hardest.

Gabriel begin playing. The intro to the song was one of his favorite parts. It sets the mood for the rest of the song. He hit the notes perfectly as he played and then with a good breath, he began singing.

I know a girl.
She puts the color inside of my world.
She's just like a maze,
Where all of the walls all continually change.

Keeping the pitches correct wasn't so hard with the strumming of the guitar. He was able to sustain the words for their full lengths and made sure each word was clear as he sang.

I've done all I can
To stand on the steps with my heart in my hand,
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me.

Here it came. The chorus, this is what would show off his voice the most. The pitches varied, higher and lower. He took a quick breath and concentrated on what he liked doing, singing.

Fathers be good to your daughters;
Daughters will love like you do.
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers,
So mothers be good to your daughters, too.

Music interlude. He wasn't worried about this part, he knew how to play the music. The second stanza, here it goes. He was ready now, he was into the song, he smiled as he sang.

Oh, you see that skin;
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away.
Now she's left,
cleaning up the mess he made.

Chorus once more. He took a breath, making sure he had enough to sustain the upper and lower notes, he wanted to get the pitches perfectly.

Fathers be good to your daughters;
Daughters will love like you do.
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers,
So mothers be good to your daughters, too.

Straight into the next stanza, he listened to the words as he sang them, it helped him sing much better, he was more into the song.

Boys you can break,
You find out how much they can take.
Boys will be strong, and boys soldier on,
But boys would be gone without warmth
From a woman's good, good heart

Music again, strumming and hitting the notes was good. Here came the higher notes, nearing the end of the song.

On behalf of every man, looking out for every girl,
You are the god, and the weight of her world.

Here it goes, last time. Gabriel concentrated on the pitches, getting them with the notes he was playing. This is what kept him on tempo. He was smiling as he sang, he was into the song.

Fathers be good to your daughters,
Daughters will love like you do, yeah.
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers,
So mothers be good to your daughters, too.
So mothers be good to your daughters, too.

So mothers be good to your daughters too.

He sang the last line and ended the song perfectly. That was the best he's ever done it. He was proud of himself. Now came the hard part, hearing what Simon had to say.

[Simon Cowell]

Simon gave a sigh of relief as the boy, who he know knew of as Gabriel, finished the song. His hopes and more had come true. Simon stood up and starting clapping.

"Well, Gabriel, thank god you came today, because that was the most perfect performance I think I've heard in my life. And I thought the last girl was good, wow, amazing. I'm absolutely blown away. Go and get your yellow ticket! You're off to Hollywood," Simon said.

'Hopefully, the next person is as good as this dude if not better...' Simon thought to himself.

(Congratulations! You may move into the hotel and you may go over to the Hollywood round, pick your song and practice.)

[Gabriel Waldman]

Gabreil sighed and smiled widely.

"Thanks so much Simon!!" he said and rushed out of the room to tell Rachel the news and call all his friends.