The first “Cyclone Idol” finals started off slowly Thursday, with a 30-minute delay before the first contestant took the stage in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

By the time master of ceremonies Talitha Fox, junior in animal ecology, announced the night’s first contestant, the crowd was growing restless.

But the frustration didn’t last long. The audience, although often impolite, saw a number of beautiful musical surprises on stage.

People came to support their friends in huge cheering sections made up of dorm floors, sororities and fraternities. Others came just to watch Cyclone singing talent face an audience composed of people they’ll have to see the morning after. The announced attendance was 661, but people kept coming in for hours after the show had begun, and often trickled out as their chosen performers left the stage.

People were drawn to the show for several reasons.

“I’d heard that one of the people I knew was going to be one of the contestants,” said Layla Sunderman, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies.

Others said “Cyclone Idol” was just another chance to take part in the Veishea celebration.

“I came because I thought I should do something for Veishea,” said Karina Zidon, senior in linguistics. “I don’t have class [Friday], and I wanted to see what kind of talent there was at Iowa State.”

There was a total of 20 contestants, performing songs mostly from country and R&B. There were a few pop and folk-type selections, and, surprisingly, no Stevie Wonder. They were judged not only by the people from stat class and the cute girl who sits behind them in Spanish, but also by a panel of judges that included Teresa Branch, associate vice president of Student Affairs, Vernon Wall, assistant dean of students, and Patrick Fleming, co-owner of Ames’ Bi-Fi records.

Though the performers had all practiced and tried out to make it to the finals, nerves were still a major concern for some.

“I was incredibly nervous, and I didn’t know if anyone could tell how bad I was shaking, but I sure could,” said Alice Keene, junior in chemical engineering, who performed Jewel’s “You Were Meant For Me.”

The prospects of trying again were possibly hurt by the popularity of the show this year, with the possibility of even more people turning out for a second try at “Cyclone Idol.” Keene was uncertain if she would want to return.

“I don’t know if I’d have the guts to do it twice,” she said.

After the final performer, Angela Cottrell, graduate student in educational leadership and policy studies, performed Dar Williams’ “Iowa” while playing the guitar, the judges left the Great Hall to deliberate.

While the judges decided, Will Tinder, senior in history, played a number of ragtime selections on the piano, keeping the lingering audience entertained.

Tiffany Daniels, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communication, was the first-place winner, claiming a $400 prize and recording time in the Bi-Fi studio by performing India.Arie’s “Beautiful Surprise” with a piano accompanist.

For contestants in this stressful situation, however, the theme was “I Will Survive,” which was also the only song performed twice at the show.

That everyone competed and made the night interesting was the ultimate survival, one that would have made even Gloria Gaynor proud.

“I was impressed by the original songs especially and by the confidence and courage of the performers to sing in front of their fellow students,” Zidon said.

The show of talent impressed not only the audience, but also the judges, including Fleming, who emphasized the importance of originality in song selection and performance.

“[There were] awesome performances by every single one. I really enjoyed people who performed original stuff,” Fleming said. “We pushed really hard to get one of the people who performed their own songs in the top four. Miles [Morgan, senior in music] happened to be that one. But four or five people had some really phenomenal stuff.”