Students won’t be able to sit on their futons, eat ramen noodles and watch MSU students be verbally ripped apart by Simon Cowell on TV Wed. night, but they will be able to watch them perform for the Campus Activities Board’s iteration of “Idol” next month.
MSU Idol performances will take place in The Union Dawg House every Mon. at 8 p.m. until Feb. 27.
It won’t be broadcast on television, nor will it promise this year’s winner a recording contract, but that doesn’t mean the winner will leave without recognition or rewards.
Cody Atkins, entertainment division head for the Campus Activities Board is getting the prize package together for the winner of 2006’s MSU Idol.
“The winner will receive gift certificates from various businesses in Starkville,” Atkins said.
West Point native Wanda Doss won the singing competition last year and performed her gospel-rooted melodies for the Miss Maroon and White pageant and the Hurricane Katrina relief effort concert.
“The night I won, I slept like a baby with a smile on my face,” Doss said. “The next morning while attending classes, I felt like a star.”
Dawg House division head Erica Nix is assisting Atkins with the competition and also helped organize the event last year.
“We had different themes each night; one was ’80s and the next was ’70s,” Nix said. “We want the songs to be sort of the same so judges will have a similar foundation to compare each singer,” she said. “We want each singer to receive a fair competitive chance.”
Doss said the competitive experience was a positive one, but that it had its tense moments.
“During each preliminary round, the tension was nerve-wracking, but I felt I had the confidence to continue,” she said. “When I made it to the next round, I was able to read what the judges had to say, so when I performed in the next round, I focused and worked hard on correcting what the judges thought I should work on,” she said.
“To those who are competing, the main thing is to know that there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Doss said. “A real musician or singer can take criticism, even if [he or she doesn’t] make it to the next round. This helps you to focus on yourself a bit more.”
Instead of Simon, who makes a living from playing elitist and belittling not-so-talented contestants, the MSU contestants will perform for the approval of grounded MSU professors. Faculty with musical backgrounds will judge the auditions and pick 10 finalists that will compete in preliminary rounds.
“Each contestant will have 30 seconds to sing a song of their choice, a capella,” Nix said.
Doss said there was no animosity between her and the other contestants.
“Some of my friends were amazed with how myself and Brad, who was in the final round with me, were cool,” she said.
Every Monday starting Feb. 8, the finalists will continue singing for the prize. In preparation for each Monday night performance, CAB will provide musical training for the contestants after they have chosen a song. These songs will last from a minute to a minute and a half.
“Next week we will announce who is staying,” Nix said.
Atkins said Idol is a good chance to support talent at MSU.
“It’s a night of entertainment on campus,” Atkins said, “and it’s free of charge.”
Doss currently sings gospel in West Point and recently tried out for the “American Idol” competition.
Doss said she has aspirations of becoming a professional gospel singer.
“I was hoping to get a record contract, but that will come in due time,” she said.