Dear American Idol Producers,
My girlfriend Cassie auditioned for American Idol at the Philadelphia venue on August 27, 2007. Like thousands of others who tried out that day, she did not make the first cut.
Although I understand that you are experienced in the task of selecting candidates that appear on your show, your decision to dismiss Cassie was a mistake. She is an exceptional singer who deserves a second chance.
For your consideration is the following video:
Left to Right: Pedro (piano accompanist), Keara (soprano), and Cassie (alto).
This clip was filmed yesterday, September 8, 2007, at our friends’ wedding. Congratulations to Lauren and Matt — we wish you the very best!
The Nitty-Gritty Who-What-Where-When-Why-How:
Who are the other two performing? Close friends of the bride and groom, all of whom I’ve become friends with since moving to Michigan.
What song is that? “Barcarolle” by Jacques Offenbach, from his opera Les contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann). The piece has been incorporated into many movies including Life is Beautiful. (source)
Where are you? Holding the camera. I apologize for any unsteadiness.
When will Cassie go on tour? To be announced. 
Why did you put this video on the Internet? In my recent article titled How American Idol Auditions Work, I described how Cassie is hands down the best singer I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. I went on to say that every time I hear her sing, I fall in love with her. Consequently, readers wanted to hear her — so here she is.
How can I help? If you want to see Cassie on American Idol, please help make this article popular. Share it with friends. Link to it from your blog. Submit it to social bookmarking sites like Digg, Reddit, and StumbleUpon. If the article becomes popular enough, it may be read by a member of the American Idol Team who can change Cassie’s future.
And in case you happen to be a member of the American Idol Team, please visit my Contact Page if you believe Cassie belongs on American Idol.
17 Responses to “Dear American Idol Producers,”
Keara is hotter. She would be accepted.
In all honesty, if you think Cassie is all that, then she should try again next year. While I’m sure the producers cut people for many different reasons, you have to realize that in the end this is a TV show that wants to maximize on TV viewership.
Starting a petition to get her on the show will get you nowhere. How many other people try this sort of thing and fail miserably? If you even make it on the show, odds are they’ll try to paint you in a light that would only make it in a blooper reel or on one of their “crazy people” segments.
While it is plainly obvious that she does have singing talent, do you think that she could be the best singer on the show (try not to be biased)? If you think that she is, well then she should prepare for next year, and/or make steps necessary to do it the old fashioned way. They have this contest every year for a reason - the best singers don’t audition every year, or for one reason or another didn’t make the first cut.
This is pathetic. American Idol is not a singing contest to boot, they never said it was. And after all, let’s face it, Cassie doesn’t even sing that good. Also this is so off-topic from your lifereboot theme that I’m unsubscribing this feed because I don’t care about how your girlfriend did on the AI.
I think she has a beautiful voice and should re-try next year. As long as she picks the right songs I see no reason why she wouldn’t be picked.
Shaun! This is so special!! Thank you for taking this video. I was so nervous the whole time I barely remember my own wedding. I’m lucky to have friends and family who took video and pictures.
@Lauren
You’re welcome. You’ve been an avid supporter of LifeReboot and a wonderful friend since we met only one year ago. I wanted to do something special with the wedding clip, and since you were among those who encouraged me to upload a video of Cassie, this seemed very fitting. Congratulations again!
What happened? You were doing fine with your life improvement articles, and then you go and post this. Totally off-topic. Choose a line for your blog and stick with it.
I’ve been reading your blog since it was first featured on Digg in May, and I’ve noticed a distinct pattern in your comments: someone *always* suggests you do something differently. If you’re writing about life improvement, someone is telling you that your articles are too general and you need to invite us into your personal life. If you’re writing about your personal life, someone else is telling you that you need to stay on topic.
I admire you because you you haven’t disabled comments on your blog. You let the rampant know-it-alls say whatever they want, but only reply to the people worth replying to. You must have some thick skin, dude.
I’m pretty sure that this article as meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek. Shaun, nor I for that matter, really expect some producer to read it or any real recognition to come from it. It was more to honor a request made by our good friend lauren (at who’s wedding this was shot) to post a video of me singing on the website, and also to say congratulations to her. I think people need to lighten up a bit. There will be more articles about self-betterment, but for now, try to enjoy a little off-beat personal article. Unbunch your panties.
wow, angry people! if life-changing advice is something that is highly important to you, i have a tidbit:
if you have a choice of whether or not you should do something… any little thing, think to yourself “will this have a positive impact on my life, someone else, this day, or the world?”
if the answer is no, find something better to do.
getting angry because a guy is proud of his girlfriend? silly silly
Personally, I loved this little glimpse into your life Shaun! And I loved the surfing pic of you as well. Seeing who your someone special is has put you in a different light.
And I think some of your readers who are freaking out missed the point - you can’t succeed unless you try, even if the odds do seem high. And if you want to succeed - be ready to get a little bit embarassed, sit through some dull spots, and explore every single avenue! Successful people rarely get there on the first try or by travelling the road most populated!
Good job. I think these past two posts are among your best!
I agree with Keara. I’ve learned a new saying. Instead of saying “Have a nice day” you should say “Make a nice day”. Think about it.
lauren… i like it i like it!
I like your site, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, but from that video I’m not surprised Cassie did not make the cut. While she can sing, her voice plainly isn’t that good. While she might be the best singer you’ve heard in your life, it’s impossible for me to know what the means. I love a girl madly, and to me she is easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. While that’s -my- truth and she is very attractive, I’d imagine to most others she’s an 8/10 not the 11/10 that she is to me.
To me, this situation with Cassie and you viewing her as this amazing singer, that is -your- truth. And good for you. She should be that you. But if she’s not to other people, that’s no need to start pandering.
The whole time I read these America Idol entries was thinking, “Are you whining? Are you whining?”
These entries aside, I really appreciate your blog. Keep it up.
Go right ahead and run an occasional off-topic post. You are a person, not a machine. And for Lauren, “Make a nice day”? Oh my goodness, you have just made my day. Thank you.
I hope my post helps out a little Shaun. Best of luck to Cassie. She has a gorgeous voice.
I think she has a beautiful voice, one that would do well on stage–but not on American Idol, as she has a more classical voice, and beautiful, classical voices do not make pop stars–particularly American Idol stars–in this day and age.