Until this last week I had never before watched a full episode of American Idol.
And to be completely truthful, I didn’t even watch a full episode when I caught a DVR recording of the show to see what everybody that I talk to online had been telling me to watch.
Fortunately, my wife is a fan, so it was easy to find what it was they were all talking about.
While I didn’t know it until after the fact, Modesto native Effie Passero, who has familial connections to people here in Manteca, was one of the people vying for a spot on the iconic singing competition – the first local person in recent memory to make it on the televised portion of the show and prepare themselves for the stardom that the show’s exposure provided.
And she was absolutely amazing.
Sitting down at a piano and singing an original song, Passero belted out a tune that brought Lionel Ritchie to his feet and drew applause – and a standing ovation – from fellow judges Katie Perry and Luke Bryan.
Perry, who has made headlines already this year for kissing a male contestant, seemed awestruck when trying to unwrap what she had just heard.
“I just want to know who you are, where you got that voice and why you’re a property administrative manager,” asked the 13-time Grammy nominee.
Passero, unsure about what is happening in front of her, can barely contain her excitement as she begins to realize that the lifelong dream having her unique musical style recognized by some of music’s biggest names is coming true right before her very eyes.
And it was a very cool thing to watch.
While I don’t know Effie Passero personally, I have seen her before at events in and around Modesto when out with friends that mingle with those in the local music scene. As the house manager of Downtown Modesto’s State Theater, Passero was a regular staple on the Modesto music scene and became somebody that, according to people I talk to, was well-liked and respected by almost everybody she came across.
Could the next American Idol come from right here in the 209?
Seeing her early success reminded me of former “The Voice” contestant Lindsey Paveo – a Manteca resident who made it to the popular singing show’s semi-finals before being eliminated, and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with other selected members of Christina Aguilera’s team before the longtime late-night staple handed the reins over to Jimmy Fallon.
During her amazing run on “The Voice” I knew people that would never – in a million years – watch a show like that who tuned in religiously to track her progress and even vote for her as she made her way one step closer to the record contract awarded to the show’s winner.
While they are two completely different singers, the authentic style of each is a common thread, as is their representation of an area that is considered California’s version of a “flyover state” – only ever getting recognized for the bad things that happen there.
No matter how far she makes it in this contest, Passero got millions of people to pull out their phones and google where “Modesto” is thanks to her performance, and for that I think we all owe her a debt of gratitude.
While it’s not Manteca, it is the region and the place where many Mantecans go for their arts and entertainment, and in that vein, she becomes a hometown contestant and somebody that we should all hope goes far towards capitalizing on the amazing opportunity that the show will afford her.
Nobody knows what will happen next on this show, but if you were ever going to watch and vote for a contestant, this should be the time.
There’s a chance that we’ll all share the same area code as the next American Idol – a show that launched the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
And that is a very, very cool thing indeed.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.