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COURTESY PHOTOS
Jordan Segundo, left, Camile Velasco, center, and Jasmine Trias all competed on American Idol.
“American Idol” may have become a bit pitchy in recent years, but there’s no denying the Fox TV singing competition has launched the careers of more bona fide stars than any other reality show. It was certainly a game changer for three Hawaii contestants: Jordan Segundo (Season 2 finalist in 2003), Jasmine Trias (Season 3 top three in 2004) and Camile Velasco (Season 3 top nine).
Segundo, 30, continued on to a prolific career as a singer and recording artist, and is a weather anchor and reporter for KITV, the local ABC affiliate.
Trias, 29, who appeared on “Idol” with Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia Barrino, is enjoying success as a recording artist and as a showroom and concert star in the Philippines and Las Vegas. She now lives in Las Vegas but has returned to Hawaii to perform with the Society Of Seven in Waikiki.
“I’m focusing more time and energy on writing and recording new songs in 2016 after years of mostly performing live,” she said. “I’m really excited to release some new original music as well as a special Hawaii album, which I’ve wanted to do for a while now, as a tribute to my home, the culture and the people.”
Velasco, 30, reinvented herself as hip-hop/reggae performer Eli-Mac (Camile spelled backward) here and on the mainland. She said she plans to release her first full-length album in the spring and will be touring in the spring and summer, including making an appearance in May at the California Roots Music and Arts Festival in Monterey.
As “American Idol” closes in on the end of its 15-season run — the last class of contestants has been whittled down to six — we asked Hawaii’s “Idol” alumni to share their memories of being on the show.
Question: What was your most memorable performance?
Segundo: My Top 32 performance of Stevie Wonder’s “For Your Love.” It was the culmination of many months of auditions and preparations.
Trias: When I sang “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole. The judges’ comments were very complimentary and humbling. Randy said I could really sing and Paula said how amazing it was and then threw a red rose up to me on stage! After such positive feedback from them I was nervous to hear what Simon had to say. But when he said it was “superb” and told me he thought I had the potential to go on to have a really bright future in the music industry, I was ecstatic.
Velasco: My audition. I remember being the most scared I’ve ever been in my life at that moment.
Q: What comment from the judges stands out as most memorable – good or bad?
Segundo: The judges gave both constructive critique and encouragement throughout the entire process. Getting their professional expertise was always appreciated.
Trias: At 16, on my very first audition in front of the judges in Hawaii, I performed “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. With Simon’s infamous reputation as the most critical judge, I was really nervous to sing for him and hear what he thought. When he said I was “one of the best singers in the competition” and that I was going to Hollywood, I was completely blown away. It was a huge confidence booster for me getting Simon’s approval. I started to believe in myself and felt that maybe I could actually pursue singing as a career. I carried that with me throughout the competition.
Velasco: Simon told me I need to be more confident and get over my fears of being on stage. … This was the most memorable comment to me and I really took it to heart and tried to do what he said.
Q: What is your favorite memory?
Segundo: When I received the “golden ticket” to Hollywood after my very first audition in front of the three judges. Little did I know that my life would change from that moment on. Now, whenever I see other contestants on television receive their ticket to Hollywood, it brings me back to that same moment years ago, and the sheer joy and realization of being one step closer to your dreams.
Trias: If I had to choose one, I would say that my favorite memory has to be my homecoming to Hawaii when I made it to the top three. Having been kept in the “American Idol” bubble in Hollywood during the show, I had no idea the level of love and support I had in Hawaii.
Velasco: My absolute favorite memory was making it to the top 12. I’ll never forget that day.
Q: What did you learn from your “Idol” experience?
Segundo: I learned many things both big and small from my “American Idol” experience. Everything from learning how to speak in public to learning how to overcome disappointment after having your dreams shattered in a split second. But most importantly, I learned that everything happens for a reason, and that we are all given wonderful opportunities in life but that it’s up to us to make the most of it.
Trias: “American Idol” was like a crash course on how to survive in the music industry, which is notoriously cutthroat at times. Being constantly judged and critiqued took some getting used to, but I learned to have a thick skin and how to channel the feedback and experiences to better myself as a singer. The schedule on the show was grueling at times, but it definitely taught me the value of a strong work ethic.
Velasco: I learned that you must absolutely always be you and stay true to who you are. I learned that music is something you have to love and respect and also own it at the same time in order for it to look real and natural to others.
Throughout America, the residents of any town or state take pride in the accomplishments of local people. Whenever individuals or groups achieve nationwide fame for something positive, they become local celebrities. But in Hawai’i the intensity of local pride is far stronger than elsewhere, and the heroes are more lavishly celebrated. Local pride in Hawai’i is a glue that helps the local people of a group of remote Pacific islands preserve local values in the face of huge numbers of temporary guests (tourists and military personnel). Local pride is also a defiant assertion of worthiness by ethnic Hawaiians and Asian immigrant descendants overcoming a history of loss, poverty, and low status. Local people who achieved nationwide fame illustrate the reasons that elevate local people to the status of “American idol”: Jasmine Trias, Michelle Wie, General Shinseki, General Taguba, Duke Kahanamoku, Braddah Iz (Israel Kamakawiwo’ole), Kamehameha. The idolizing of Hawaiian culture as the core of Hawai’i’s culture is entirely appropriate. It is a powerful source of local pride for everyone. But making an idol out of a racial group is very different from making an idol out of an individual or a set of cultural values. Stereotyping or racial profiling of one group can lead to evil consequences for all groups, even when it is done with a positive intention. The Aloha Spirit is higher and greater than any ethnic group. It is a localized aspect of God, or the Cosmic Spirit. The Aloha Spirit should be recognized as Hawai’i’s true, permanent “American Idol” — our greatest source of local pride.
The above paragraph is the summary of a webpage I wrote in 2004, at
http://www.angelfire.com/hi2/hawaiiansovereignty/localpride.html
Pinoy, Pinay, Pinay.
Some of the world’s most talented people come from Hawaii…..via PI. 🙂
Seen Segundo as a KITV news anchor; looks like someone is on juice to make big body.