The One, July 18: Season Premiere, Who Will Be “The One?”

Our third performer for the evening is Jadyn Maria, who was born in Puerto Rico, but raised in Nashville, TN. Mariah Carey is her favorite. “Girl got pipes,” she says. Mark is worried that she is overly influenced by her idols, but nothing will deter Jadyn. She’s here to win.

Jadyn sings the Supreme’s “Keep Me Hangin’ On.” At least it’s not another Foreigner tune! She is a bit over the top and loses her breath in the middle. She also seems to lose her place in the song. I am thinking very “beauty pageant.” This could be a long, long ten weeks.

George asks her what she thinks is going on at home. Jadyn squeals with glee. Then it’s time for our experts to weigh in. Mark says that she didn’t nail the power notes. Andre really likes her, and says she “set him free.” Kara says that Jadyn is hot and sweet. Mark interrupts to add some sanity. He wants her to “reach for the ring.”

Syesha Mercado is next, and tells us that she started singing in church. Faith is very important to her and she’s brought her bible along with her. She knows that if she has faith in herself, she can do anything. I like her attitude. Andre does as well. She calls music a form of therapy.

Syesha is tackling Aretha’s “Chain of Fools.” I am thinking very, very lounge-y. She’s the best so far, but that really isn’t saying much. She does, however, have a great tone to her voice, and some nice moves for a church girl. Plus she looks pretty hot in her black and white striped dress and black leather boots.

Andre advises her not to be too theatrical. He thinks she started out shaky, but by the time she got to the end it was a “soul thing.” Kara says it was too theatrical, and that she wants to feel connected and intimate. Mark says, “You can make a rock 'n roller like me testify.” Gag me.

Now we have a chance to see some of what goes on at the “academy.” They will be working on choreography and storytelling in terms of singing the song. Every time Jeremiah is on screen, the girls in the audience scream for him. He must be the fave? We see some late-night fisticuffs and the boys take a dunk into the pool. But Andre isn’t having it. He really rips Michael Cole a new one for drinking the night before. Mark reiterates this message and shakes his head in disgust. Michael must be our resident “bad boy!”

Now it’s Michael’s turn. Why does George feel the necessity to introduce himself after each commercial break? Anyway, Michael says he’s a “real” rocker. He started playing guitar when he was three and it made his fingers bleed. He doesn’t care what the others think about him. He’s never had any formal training, and is somewhat frustrated by his first attempt. We also learn that the “music experts” pick the song, and for Michael, they’ve chosen “Drift Away.” He’s not happy. He wants “slammin’ rockin’.”

But Michael isn’t doing “Drift Away.” Nope. Instead, he’s singing “Devil With the Blue Dress,” badly. He runs around the stage, jerking around like a maniac with absolutely no control of his vocals. He jumps on the table in front of Mark, who seems to be grooving out. This is positively awful. The backup singers sound worse than I do. Unbelievable.

Michael is totally out of breath as he talks to George. Please tell me the “experts” don’t like this. Please? Mark says being “The One” isn’t just about one thing. He calls Michael “the good bad boy.” Kara says, “You should do whatever you want because you are great.” Andre (who apparently is our “Simon”) says, “One thing for sure, you’re definitely not a bum.” Huh?

George jokes about his name this time around. He then introduces Austin Carroll. Austin says he is eccentric and quirky, but is definitely a soulful cat. He says he goes to a different place when he sings. He says that he thinks he’s afraid of succeeding. But Andre tries to pump him up by telling him that he needs to “be the you that you need to be.”

Austin has chosen The Band’s “The Weight,” and is accompanying himself on the piano. And you know what, I like him. A lot. You know why? He sounds a bit like Taylor with a gravelly, soulful edge to his voice. He feels the emotion of the song and conveys it properly. He doesn’t need the assistance of the shrieking, off-key backup singers. Not one little bit. All right, Austin!

Austin is elated after his performance and calls it “surreal.” Kara tells him that he has true greatness in him. She wonders where they will put him. Andre says that his level of emotional connection is what great art is about. Mark says eccentric and quirky is not a bad thing. Andre adds that he thinks Austin is a category unto himself. Yeah. That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

Next up is Aubrey Collins, the Kellie Pickler look-alike. She tells us that she has been singing all her life. We see her singing “A Whole New World” as a tot. Her entire family sold everything to help her with her career, and they are now living in an RV. Aubrey also wants to be The One!

For her first performance, Aubrey has chosen “Born to be Wild.” I start laughing out loud. My dogs wonder if I have lost it. Perhaps I have. Sorry, Aubrey. She is all over the place pitch-wise, and every now and then, breaks out into this weird, growly kind of shriek that sets me off on another laughing jag. Need I say more?

Andre says he didn’t believe it. Mark thinks Andre needs oxygen, and says she is right there with the best of the rockers. Kara says she has great pipes, but she’s going to have to work a bit harder. I guess so!

Back we go to the “One” house. The girls are speculating on the “hot” guys. Romance seems to be in the air already. Aubrey seems to have caught the attention of Nick Brownell, and they sing a little duet by the pool. Looks like we could have a little action here? No, not with her family sitting in the RV in the driveway.