This years judges will be
- Lee Gardner, Editor of the Baltimore City Paper
- Aaron Henkin, Host of The Signal on WYPR
- Sarah Jennings, the last Hampden Idol winner
I had the chance to talk about what some of the judges expectations are regarding this year’s competition. Here’s the skinny!
What kind of performance do think it will take to win Hampden Idol this weekend?
A good voice is important, but it is merely the foundation upon which one must build the gilded temple of his/her Karaoke performance. My prediction: The Hampden Idol champion will be not just a singer, but a vocally endowed psychic medium capable of wanton spiritual possession. Ideally, the winner will have no conscious recollection of his/her winning performance. - Aaron Henkin
Anyone can just get up there and read the words to a song, what I’m looking for is someone who takes it to the next level. Costumes, choreography, props, characters, whatever the person needs to tell the story of the song and get the place really rocking. And most of all, I’m looking for someone who is having a lot of fun. – Sarah Jennings
Is karaoke an art form? Why?
When done well, it seems more like a Martial Art, really, or an ecstatic rite akin to Voodoo: frightfully powerful and ultimately soul-cleansing. – Aaron Henkin
Karaoke is a lot of things, besides just an art form. It’s a great time with your friends, it’s a creative outlet, it’s a low pressure way to build confidence in front of a group of people, it’s an all around good thing. I think that saying it’s an art is good if it inspires people to be better at it and hone it as a craft, but I think it can be whatever you want it to be. – Sarah Jennings
Tell me about the best karaoke performer you ever saw (song, memorable moment.)
Did you ever see the ‘Funny or Die’ video of Jewel dressing up in disguise and singing her own songs at a karaoke bar? – Aaron Henkin
My favorite karaoke performance was a completely impromptu one while standing in line at an amusement park. We were waiting forever for a roller coaster, and there was a little stage area off to the side, and a random guy jumped out of the crowd and turned the mic on and started singing along with “Hey Ya” by Outkast which was playing over the speakers. It caught everyone off guard, and he was having a blast, and he rocked it out until security chased him off the stage. I don’t know if he got kicked out of the park, but he was one of the most memorable parts of that day. – Sarah Jennings