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65 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 22, 2004 Cody Lindsey, 18, of Medford said his nerves got the best of him as he sang Wednesday during the "Southern Oregon Idol" competition at the Jackson County Fair. The judges appeared to disagree, sending him to the next round. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli ‘Idol’ contestant gets a thumbs-up By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune Sporting a green plaid shirt, cargo shorts, Nike tennis shoes and a big smile, singer Cody Lindsey stood center stage before the crowd of 150 people at the Jackson County Expo. As soon as the welcoming applause died down, the "Southern Oregon Idol" contestant took a deep breath and began his audition. One a cappella song, two nerve-wracking minutes and two enthusiastic thumbs-up from the two local judges later, and the Medford teen moved another step closer to achieving his dream: an audition for the television show "American Idol." But not before Judge Brad Nelson gave the 18-year-old a little taste of what it might be to face Simon Cowell, the infamous Idol maker and breaker. "You’re going to have to step it up for the next competition and show more personality, Cody," warned Nelson. Advertisement Still grinning from the crowd’s enthusiastic response to his rendition of "Swear It All Over Again," Lindsey took Wednesday night’s criticism in stride. And he added a bit more of his own. "He’s right," he said. "I was so nervous. I started (singing) so much lower than I’d expected. The nerves got me." Almost 175 hopeful contestants, between the ages of 16 and 24, will sing for their chance to be the one lucky local guaranteed an audition for the wildly popular television show. Nelson said the judges passed almost 40 tuneful competitors on to stage two at Tuesday’s competition. They expected to pass as many Wednesday night and tonight, he said. "The only criteria is ‘Can you realistically make it to the final 32,’ " said Nelson. One woman seemed sure Lindsey has the stuff. "Oh Cody! We love you!" she shouted, snapping a quick shot of the boy on her digital camera. Step two will be a closed audition Saturday at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater where the expected field of more than 100 contestants will be weeded down to 32. Lindsey said he’ll spend the next few days rehearsing and working on his performance jitters. "Now that the first round is out of the way, I’ll calm down," Lindsey said. "As the competition goes, I’ll be getting more and more comfortable. But it will also be getting harder." The 32 finalists will strut their stuff before a professional judging panel made of up local radio and television personalities and performers on stage at the Craterian Theater. Each will be given five or six songs to learn in a short amount of time, said Nelson. The 32 singers will be cut to the final eight on three consecutive nights, Aug. 3-5. The "Southern Oregon Idol" winning songster will be chosen on Aug. 7 at the Craterian. Beginning at 8 p.m., audience members will listen to each contestant sing. And they will be the ones to weed the eight singers down to the final three. Then the five judges will choose the ultimate winner. Lindsey, a fan of the show and a life-long singer, said he’s excited about his chances. "They told me to step it up, and I will," he said. "I’m going to really, really practice, rest, calm down, and make sure I start in the right key." Ticket prices vary for the August performances. For information, call the Craterian at 779-3000 or KMVU-TV at 772-2600. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities