Karaoke patrons Steve Hunt and Dawn Burkhart prepare for a duet as part of Remingtons’ ‘D.C.
Idol’ singing competition. (Photo by Leigh H. Mosley)
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Brian Moylan
Friday, May 14, 2004
TERRY MULLANE IS ONE of 12 finalists taking part in “D.C. Idol,” a
karaoke contest with a $1,000 grand prize at Remingtons, a popular gay country-western
bar on Capitol Hill.
“Preparing a karaoke song is a totally foreign concept to me,” he
says. “Most people just get up there drunk and say, ‘Let’s
sing ‘Summer Nights’ [from “Grease”].’”
The final round of D.C. Idol, which is patterned after “American Idol,” Fox’s
popular reality TV program, takes place Sunday, May 16, at Remingtons.
Mullane, 32, stumbled upon the opening night of the D.C. Idol competition
and emerged as one of 43 people who decided to compete for the $1,000 top prize.
“I’ve always been a big singer, but always for fun,” he
says. “I used to do all the available things to me in school, but really
nothing organized since college.”
Beginning in February, judges chose six contestants from each of three monthly
qualifying rounds. From the 18 semi-finalists, 12 singers advanced to the finals,
which take place Sunday.
But unlike Fox’s hit show, this competition has one distinct difference:
Judges, instead of audience members, choose the winners.
“I want [contestants] to feel proud that they were involved in it and
it wasn’t some popularity contest,” says Jim Raywalt, the emcee
and coordinator of D.C. Idol.
A FORMER DANCE instructor at Remingtons, Raywalt devised a judging sheet for
Idol that was based on a form used for evaluating line dancers. Using this
criteria, singers are judged on musical ability, presentation and reaction
from the audience.
He says he is adamant that the judges, a not-yet-identified panel of three
individuals who have musical and theater backgrounds, not play favorites and
treat each singer fairly. Different judges participate in different D.C. Idol
competitions.
This fairness, Raywalt says, is part of the reason that the event, which marks
the second edition of D.C. Idol, has become so popular with the public.
“The criticism from the judges, so far, has been really good,” says
Beth Brockelman, 30, one of the finalists. “It’s a good experience
for anyone who is singing a lot. If they think they want to go professional
or go to ‘American Idol,’ it’s a good place to start.”
Even though Remingtons is known for country-western music, the singers are
encouraged to perform a song from any genre.
Phillip Assis, 37, says he loves jazz standards, and plans to belt out “The
Lady is a Tramp” for the finals. “I’m very competitive. I
know that I sing well and I haven’t had many opportunities to compete
at something I do well,” says Assis, who also sings in the choir at Augustana
Lutheran Church in D.C.
Brockelman’s motives for competing are more pragmatic.
“I guess it was that $1,000, because I really need a new car right
now,” she says, adding that she has not decided what to perform at the
final event.
Mullane is going to perform “The Man with the Golden Gun,” a theme
song from a James Bond movie.
“Lots of people don’t know it,” he says, “but on first
listen it’s really entertaining.”
Despite the $1,000 grand prize, some finalists acknowledged that winning isn’t
everything.
“It’s a been a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed meeting the other
singers,” Assis says. “Remingtons has created an atmosphere of
support, rather than cut-throat competition, and I’ve enjoyed singing
in front of an enthusiastic audience.”
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