"My name is Lola Klein, I'm 18, I've been studying at the conservatoire for 2 years and I'm also a cleaning lady in a factory."
It was four in the afternoon and pretty cold for the season. Thank god the place was warm enough; I don't think we would have beared another minute outside, standing in the queue for hours since ten o'clock.
"My mother is German and my father is French so I have both nationalities and languages."
My hands were pink now but still shaking with nervousness. People around me seemed to share the same feeling, as some of them kept on talking and giggling for no reason, some others remained still and quiet, a few others vocalized, kept on moving back and forth or were learning some fresh lyrics at the last minute. We could even see people crying already!
"I've been singing since I was very little. I love all old French singers: Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Charles Aznavour and so on…"
"Want some water, sweetheart?" My mom asked me.
"No thanks. If I start drinking now, I may then have to pee and go to the bathroom and miss when they call my number. And there's no way I'm making a fool of myself today!"
"Honey, it's okay." My mother said and rolled her eyes. "You have the right to drink like everybody else."
"If she doesn't want it, I'll take it." My 12-year-old little sister, Anna, said as my mom handed her the bottle. She was also nervous, but for another reason.
My 21-year-old best friend, Luce, was there too.
"It's fine." She said. "You got a beautiful voice. They're gonna love it."
"She just loves singing. It's very easy for her and everybody loves it. She always told me that if she could make a living out of it, she'd definitely do it. I know she's a real fighter in life."
"And you get a chance to perform in front of the twins!" Anna replied with a big grin.
My friend smiled too. Both of them were huge Tokio Hotel fans.
I jumped from my chair when they called another number. All eyes in the room were now set on the last candidate as he got out. The 25-year-old man bowed his head and his girlfriend put her arms around his neck: he wasn't holding the recall sign.
"I'd really love to win at DSDS. I don't watch TV much in general, but I never miss an episode! It would definitely be an honor to be selected by the judges. Especially Dieter Bohlen. I'm a big fan of him."
A blonde girl dressed in a pink top and skin-tight ripped jeans then stood up from her chair, held hands with her mother – we assumed – and went through the door to the "sluice".
"Did you see her legs?" My mother said.
"Yeah, they were so long!" My little sister confirmed. "She'd better sing well or else she is SO good for the bloopers…"
"You're wrong." Luce replied. "Her physique is bankable. So even if she doesn't have a voice, she'll go through anyway… The fact that the judges are four men this year probably doesn't help. In fact, if she gets four Yes today, I bet she'll be safe up to the semi-finals at least."
I sighed and twirled a strand of my hair around my finger.
"I feel like I'm passing my exams for my degree again…"
My mother took me in her arms. I could smell her perfume, which reassured me a little:
"You know that whatever happens, we're proud of you."
"Yeah, but it would be better if we hadn't come for nothing!"
"It's not for nothing, just relax. And remember: if you're having fun, so will they, watching you."
I smiled and hugged her back:
"Let's do it, then."
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
"Hey Lola, if you don't get selected, can you ask them for autographs?"
"Anna!"
"What?" My sister asked like and looked at us with her big round eyes.
"She knows her family and friends are behind her. She's been working so hard… though she also needed a good kick in the butt to be here. That's how shy she is."
"That's not true!"
"Yes, it is! But get ready, folks, because my bff's the best!"
This time, they called my number for sure -I looked at my sticker so many times I knew it by heart now. When I went through the big doors, a short man with headphones guided me through a corridor up to the sluice room, where he told me to wait for a couple minutes and that I could prepare myself a little more if I wanted to.
Though I told the interviewer that I didn't watch DSDS often, I was still aware that there were cameras in the sluice, so you could see the candidates warm up, vocalize or even change before the audition. I also knew that the judges were watching me at this very moment -what the hell was the point of that anyway? The room had a mirror on the wall with several products placed on a small white table: make-up, chewing gums, hairspray, tissues…
I rehearsed a little then took a mint-flavored gum and discreetly counted the cameras: there were two of them, one above the mirror, and one in the back. I checked in the mirror to see if my outfit was okay: a simple black sweater with jeans and boots underneath. My straight long hair was set in a bun with locks falling nicely on each side of my temples. Thank god I remembered to wash it this morning. I also chose to be honest and not to put a lot of make-up on; I wasn't there for a date, and neither were they. I finally took a deep breath and looked up at one of the cameras, joining my hands in prayer:
"I trust you guys!" I mouthed, pretending to beg.
Another man went in and accompanied me to the show room. There the four of them were waiting for the next candidate: Dieter Bohlen, Bill and Tom Kaulitz, and Mateo. I was so excited I nearly ran down the stairs to the star that was drawn on the floor in front of them, which nearly surprised them, I guess.
"Hello!"
"My, my, you sure seem in a hurry to start." The great and magnificent Dieter said and smiled.
"Who are you?" Bill Kaulitz asked.
Oh, you got to be kidding me. There was just no way I would take any judgment from his mouth seriously with this outfit on. Seriously, who dresses like that in 2013 -as a man nonetheless? A long-haired black and white fur jacket with short sleeves, piercings hiding half of the face and… Oh God, that hair… Had I been in front of my TV, I would have just laughed my ass off. The thing is that I wasn't. There I was, at DSDS, barely 2 meters away from him. What the hell? He had his skull shaved on the sides, his hair dyed in platinum blonde and had it vertically straightened with gel, which made it fall in a weird pattern on the top of his head. He looked… He just looked… I just couldn't look at him without staring at the whole ensemble awkwardly. So I focused all I could on his eyes only and repeated my little speech:
"My name is Lola Klein, I'm 18 and I've been studying at the conservatoire for 2 years."
"How much does it take of your time?" Dieter asked.
"I study on mornings from 9 to 1 pm."
"And what do you do in the afternoon?"
"I'm a cleaning-lady in a factory from 2 to 7 in the week and 9 to 1 pm on Sundays."
"Holy shit, you work on Sundays?" Mateo replied.
"Um… Yes?" I hesitated –he was so shocked I felt like I said something wrong. "But it's okay! That's the price of independence. When life is hard; you just got to deal with it." I said and shrugged.
They all looked at me with a look of pity. Aw, how sweet of them.
"I like your accent. Are you… French?" Tom Kaulitz said to change the subject.
"Yes! My father is French and my mother is German. I'm sorry if I ever make you repeat. But I'll do anything not to make this happen!"
"It's funny how you look all determined and strong at one time, and the next minute, really sweet and ingenuous." Dieter declared, fascinated.
Ingenuous ? Shit, I didn't know that word. I guess I made a weird face there because they all chuckled.
"Innocent, if you prefer." Dieter explained, smiling.
"Oh. Er, thanks…if that's a compliment!" I said and smiled back.
There. You just said you wouldn't make this happen. Good job, moron, I told myself. However, they all seemed very amused by me so far.
"So, what are going to sing?"
"The songs I chose are "Milord" by Edith Piaf, and "Born to die" by Lana del Rey…"
"Okay, let's start with Edith Piaf." Dieter immediately answered.
There we were.
I slowly placed myself better on the blue star-print on the floor and took a deep breath. I had to launch everything on the first words, call out all the vibratos, as well as the emotions. After all, it was a joyful song, a party song of that time.
All cameras were on me; for the first time, the world was waiting for me and my voice only.
"Allez venez, Milord,
Vous asseoir à ma table
Il fait si froid dehors
Ici, c'est confortable…"
No hesitation. Joy. Fun. Power. When I stopped, they all looked very pleased, just as I hoped they would…
"Not bad. Not bad at all." The great Dieter said, smiling; which was very rare considering how hard to please he was. "Maybe it was a bit weak at times, but nothing to really complain."
"That was impressive." Mateo declared, which made the twins nod in agreement. "I never heard a voice like yours there and it's very refreshing to have someone like you, so young and yet so talented. Très bien!"
"Merc… Thank you ! " I said, smiling more and more.
But it was not over yet. If I had the kings on my side, I still had to convince the two princes to let me into the kingdom.
"Well… You sang loud enough, clear enough; you sang with passion, you have an interesting personality… It's definitely a Yes for me." Tom Kaulitz simply concluded.
Three Yes! Bill Kaulitz was the last one. It seemed like I technically wouldn't need his opinion to join in, but I still wanted to hear it, as a matter of principle.
"I… don't know what to say. You were impressive, indeed. You have talent, and you're modest. Maybe a bit too modest, actually. My guess is, if you get to stand a bit more for yourself, there'd be a chance you become something big very quickly." He concluded, smiling brightly.
I had to agree, his smile was pleasant. I wished I had pearly white teeth like his, instead of those light yellow ordinary ones of mine.
"Welcome in Recall and à la prochaine!" Mateo ended as Bill handed me the holy paper.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! A la prochaine!" I repeated as I went forward to take it and shake their hands.
When I turned around, I heard Bill call out to me.
"Is that a tattoo on the back of your neck?"
I turned again and touched my neck like I could catch it, which made them smile once more.
"Oh, that! Yes, it's a four-leaf clover. I had it for my 18th birthday… It was inspired by yours." I said, pointing at him.
"Mine?"
"Well… When I saw your tattoo, I thought it was a nice place for a first one…I have fans of your band in my family… Which reminds me, could you guys please give me an autograph? It's for my sister and friend and they'll kill me if I don't bring one for them both!"
They all signed the paper gladly, and I finally left, trying not to run in the stairs once again, though I felt like I had wings on my feet. I could hear them mumble some more, but it didn't matter anymore.