NEWSJennifer Lopez Says Her 'American Idol' Judging Style is "Tough, Easy and Fair"
Oct. 1 2010, Published 3:22 p.m. ET
The members of American Idol's new judging panel, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson, have opened up about their first day of auditions for the singing competition.
The Aerosmith frontman is sympathetic for the young hopefuls trying out for the Fox smash hit show. “It’s very hard when people have only been alive for 15 years, and they’re up here singing and tell you they’ve been singing for ten of them,” he told reporters.
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He added: “But I think they all know what they’re getting into and I try to judge them fairly,” reports Access Hollywood.
Jennifer, who described her judging style as a blend of “tough, easy and fair,” said the panel aims to give singers more of a chance to overcome their nerves, to ensure real talent isn't held back for the wrong reasons.
“They’re going to come in here and be a little bit nervous in the beginning, and then you realize, ‘Wow, that person is really talented,’”said J.Lo.
“So we work them a little bit more than maybe you’ve seen in the past. We’ve given them more of a chance… We know what it’s like to be out there.”
Steven said that he knows from experience that rejection is part and parcel of being in the music business, a fact he’s realized not every person who auditions understands.
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“Some of the kids are so young that I’m not sure if they can get, you know, how long it’s taken me to be successful,” the rocker said. “How many clubs I had to play… how hard it was to take. But they all took it well. A lot of tears. Kind of hard for me, but I’ll get over it.”
A subdued Randy added: “Sometimes it’s just harsh to hear, ‘No, you’re not good enough yet’.”
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Meanwhile, despite a certain lack of energy between the three judges, Jennifer insisted she had been invigorated by the experience.
“It was a long day, but it wasn’t tiring,” she said. “I was energized by all of the contestants’ spirits when they come in here and they’re so hopeful about what could happen, and how it could be.
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“We just wanna do it right, you know?” she added. “Do it right in the sense that we put great people in front of America, and find great talent.”
