Speicher Idols hit the stage

Photo By Staff Sgt. Miles Elder | Staff Sgt. David Moeller (right) performs during the final rehearsals before the March 9 "Speicher Idol" competition. Also shown is his singing partner, Pfc. Benjamin Smith. Both are Texas National Guardsmen serving with Company A, 136th Signal Battalion.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

03.07.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Miles Elder 

133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

TIKRIT, Iraq (March 3, 2006) " Final rehearsals for those dreaming to be "Speicher Idols" were held Wednesday at the theatre on Contingency Operating Base Speicher as a warm up for the Mar. 9 final competition.

Sixteen candidates performed musical numbers before an enthusiastic audience and four judges. The contest is styled after the popular "American Idol" television series that has spawned the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken.

Like their television counterparts, the would-be idols had to be evaluated by a four-member panel of judges. One of the judges was Staff Sgt. Mike Krzmarzick, a member of the 101st Airborne Division Band.

"We just wanted to give them some advice so they will be better prepared for the next step," Krzmarzick said. "We wanted to give them some of the benefits of our experience."

The contestants, whose ranks included Soldiers and civilians stationed at COB Speicher, were each evaluated on the finer points of their performance. The judges" criteria included vocal quality, execution, stage presence and personality.

First up was Sgt. Chuck Gamero, a Texas National Guardsman from Company A, 136th Signal Battalion, where he serves as a team chief. In civilian life, he serves as a security guard at a Dallas-area hospital.

Gamero said he chose to perform Canadian rockers Barenaked Ladies single, "One Week," which features a flurry of rapidly sung lyrics. It was an easy choice for him.

"In the end, it was a choice between that song and Frank Sinatra," Gamero said. "If I messed up the Barenaked Ladies song, people would laugh.

"If I messed up Frank Sinatra, I would have no love at all."
Gamero said he didn't intend to go first. In fact, he turned in his entry sheet last hoping to be placed later in the program, but he had no complaints.

"It felt a lot like being back at home," Gamero said. "I do karaoke a lot at home, and it's just something I like to do."

Gamero got mixed reviews among the four judges. Still, "Chuck G," as he billed himself, said he was glad to take part in the rehearsals.

"It was all really positive," Gamero said. "It was good feedback for me."

The evening was also an enjoyable experience for Pfc. Yarp Conaway, an administrative specialist with the 14th Engineer Battalion. The Union City, Ga., native, who had earlier finished second in a vocal competition in his native state, performed "Superstar," made famous by Luther Vandross.

"It was a good experience for me," Conaway said. "Singing like this makes you feel like you're back home."

Krzmarzick provided some of the evening's sharper critiques. He compared one performer's movements to those of movie character "Napoleon Dynamite."

"It doesn't matter how badly you sing," Krzmarzick said. "The whole point of that type of karaoke event is just to get up there and have fun."

The "Speicher Idol" will compete against winners from other bases. He or she will also have an opportunity to perform at other bases around Iraq and receive a plaque for their achievement.

• Date Taken: 03.07.2006
• Date Posted: 03.07.2006 12:21
• Story ID: 5638
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ