If you’re looking for some juicy “Idol” gossip, you’ll be disappointed.But if you’re looking for an inspirational story about a young woman and how she believes God has worked in her life, then “Idoleyes” is what you’re looking for.
In fact, it makes me wish I had voted for Mandisa…
Though we don’t get any juicy gossip, we do get our most comprehensive look yet at the auditioning process and the toll it can take on contestants. Mandisa had her first audition in Chicago in September, but then had to wait four more days to sing for the judges, forcing her to stay with a friend of a friend because she couldn’t afford the hotel (and the radio station that sent her only paid for one night). She went to Hollywood in December, and then she went back home after the two big groups were chosen. Then in January, she went back to Hollywood to see if she made the top 24. Mandisa writes about dealing with keeping the secret about what happened on the show and trying to hold down a job in the meantime (A CD she planned to release had to be shelved and she couldn’t explain why.).
We also get to see what happened when Mandisa discovered the comments Simon Cowell made about her after she left the audition room. When she returned to Hollywood after that episode aired, the producers encouraged her to confront Simon. We see the turmoil she went through before we saw her put Simon in his place.
But Mandisa’s turmoil was not over, as she would learn after making the top 10. As you may recall, Mandisa introduced her performance of “Shackles” by saying, “This song goes out to everybody who wants to be free. Your addiction, lifestyle, or situation may be big, but God is bigger.” Her use of the word lifestyle—and her friendship with Beth Moore—made people think that she was a gay hater (She was referring to her struggles with her weight.). Mandisa shows us her devastation over the controversy and how it led to a deep depression after she was eliminated…
And it’s the frankness with which Mandisa describes her reaction to her elimination that is probably the most fascinating aspect of the entire book. Sometimes we forget that these contestants are just people and they have feelings too and hearing how genuinely upset Mandisa was at being eliminated (especially with the growing controversy surrounding her) reminded me of that. It was doubly hard for Mandisa since her Queen performance the next week was probably going to be her best of the season…
If you’re looking for a little inspiration for your life, I highly recommend “Idoleyes.”
I admit it inspired me…
