Index of University Press Releases

Nov. 14, 2007

'Idol' contest brings out DWU's best (and not-so-great)
Mari Olson • The Daily Republic

While some contestants were into “Foolish Games,” there were definitely a few with an “Appetite for Destruction.”

It’s possible both Jewel and Guns ’N Roses — who originally sang those songs — would be proud, even if the performers of the tunes during Monday’s “Wesleyan Idol” competition didn’t win.

The Dakota Wesleyan Student Activities Board brought “Wesleyan Idol” — its own version of the popular TV show “American Idol” — to campus, complete with tryouts, three rounds of competition and even “Ryan Seacrest” and “Pat Sajak,” portrayed by basketball players Andrew Lasche, a senior multi-media major from Overland Park, Kan., and Chase Walder, a freshman nursing major from Castlewood.

The top five contestants/groups from the two first preliminary weeks performed in the finals round Monday night at the Sherman Center to a crowd of about 250 students.

Second place went to Chesary Falls and third place to duo Heather Bohlander and Jason Lanning, while Andrew Bakken won first and was encored onto stage for one more song, a Bakken original that got the crowd screaming.

The crowd was relatively polite to performers, keeping the heckling at a minimum and cheering and clapping along to the songs it liked. Even if some of the performers seemed a little nervous, there was no lack of audience enthusiasm.

Melody Howell, a junior music education major from Sherman, Texas, was up first and sang Evanescence’s “My Immortal” for her first selection to a charged crowd. Jewel’s “Foolish Games” was her second choice, which won less applause after nervousness won out and she cut the song short.

Even though she didn’t make it into the top three, she said she may consider doing it again next year if the SAB brings “Wesleyan Idol” back.

“It’s really something fun that the whole campus had some kind of involvement (in),” she said.

The “whole campus” wasn’t there Monday, but nearly so. The school has an enrollment of 793, but the 250 in attendance constitutes about 74 percent of the school’s on-campus population of 338.

The average crowd for all three weeks of competition ranged around 250 as well, and that’s impressive, considering the school’s size, said SAB president Katie Leuthold, a senior athletic training major from Larchwood, Iowa.

“It’s really hard to get people involved, but in my four years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people go to an SAB event,” she said.

Another finalist was the group composed of DWU freshmen Ben Zimmer, Montrose, and Derik Fossum, Canton; sophomores Derek Washington, Sioux Falls, and Robert Bryan, San Diego, Calif.; and junior Daniel Wysong, Albuquerque, N.M., who made up Suga & Sweetness.

The infallible five’s musical talent — or lack thereof — didn’t seem to be an issue. They made it to finals Monday with the help of audience votes.

The group performed “Sweet Child of Mine,” which includes the recognizable line “Where do we go now?”

“Where do we go now? I’ve got a lot of ideas for you …” said Kevin Farley, portraying “American Idol’s” Simon Cowell. “Someone with a good voice got kicked off the stage for you guys.”

The members of Suga & Sweetness didn’t let the criticism get them down. They came back with “Piano Man.”

But comic relief didn’t win a spot in the top three.

All evening, the overall judge and crowd favorite was the foot-stomping Bakken. Returning audience members screamed as his name was announced and clapped along to Bakken’s tribute to Oasis’ “Wonderwall.”

Judge Tina Hartley — portraying “American Idol” judge Paula Abdul — told Bakken that he was the most consistent the last few weeks.

“You did not disappoint,” she said.

Farley shed his “Simon” exterior long enough to do a spot of doting.

“Load up on (college credit) hours as quick as possible and go to Hollywood or something,” he said.

Bakken, a Platte native, is a junior multi-media major who has come a long way from the 16-year-old who bought a guitar and a teach-yourself pamphlet.

“This was just a way to play some music that I love,” he said, adding that he hoped to have had the opportunity to play more of his own music, but contest rules required themes each week.

The first week of competition, there were 25 students/groups performing country songs. Bakken sang “You Say it Best, When You Say Nothing at All,” and came back the following week for oldies week and brought “Jolene” to the crowd.

During Monday’s finals — which lasted late into the evening — each contestant was required to sing one pop Top 40 and one of choice.

Bakken’s choice?

“Bear in the Zoo,” which he wrote for a friend and performed for the first time with a harmonica, which immediately got the crowd going.

“My dream has always been to be a musician,” Bakken said, adding that he would pursue it if he saw some encouragement from a label.

As winner, he receives $500.

Falls, who finished second, won $300. She performed Pink’s “Who Knew,” which earned praise from Farley and Hartley.

“You have an awesome voice and you know how to use it,” Hartley said.

“As I watch you sing, I can tell you’re nervous … (but) you probably have the best voice in the whole place,” Farley added.

Falls’ second song was “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige. Falls, a freshman history education major from Houston, admitted afterward that she was extremely nervous, singing to a photograph of her boyfriend who’s back in Houston.

Third place and $200 went to Bohlander and Lanning from Cavour and De Smet. Their first song, “I Am Your Angel,” earned the praise of Brandon Vetter, portraying “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson.

“Heck of a lot better than the Broadway piece last week,” Vetter said, referring to “Summer Nights” from “Grease.”

Both Lanning and Bohlander have been singing for years. Bohlander, a junior, is an elementary education major, and Lanning, also a junior, is a pre-med and history double major.

Student Dana Baxa missed the first week of competition but came last week and Monday to watch the show.

“I think it would be good to bring it back next year,” Baxa said. “It’s good entertainment.”

Farley, the men’s soccer coach, thought it would be fun to play Simon — dishing out sarcastic criticism — but in the end, even the cold-hearted Brit-imposter had to give credit where it’s due.

“I was overall very impressed with the talent that was here,” he said after talking to Suga & Sweetness members. “I didn’t expect that.”

SAB cut corners on other events this year so it could have more money to produce “Wesleyan Idol,” and Leuthold thinks it was worth it.

“Wesleyan Idol” may be back another season.

“I think they should,” said Leuthold, who will graduate this year. “It was absolutely great. I don’t think it could have turned out any better.”