Tonight’s mentor was Alicia Keys and the theme was inspirational songs, purportedly to get us in the right frame of mind for tomorrow’s Idol Gives Back. We get the sense from the first few moments that this evening will be harried as we try to cram the show into an hour, and Ryan wastes no time getting started. He does make mention that there are still tickets available for tomorrow night’s show, which is interesting. After a brief look at the good works and career of Alicia Keys we get right into the show. Instead of giving you Alicia’s advice for each of the contestants let me summarize. If they connect with the audience, they will be good if they don’t, well in this instance with each, she was non-committal. Here we go:
• Casey James Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop." This week, I am a little worried about Casey before he even begins. This song is more of a feel good song than an inspirational ballad. Casey does have some impressive moments on the guitar, and his vocal is really strong, but after seeing his performance of the John Lennon song, this is a bit of a letdown. Randy wanted to see more, and Ellen didn’t think it was a great performance. Kara was let down after the moment he had with “Jealous Guy” too, and Simon went so far as to say it was a lazy song choice. I don’t know if it was lazy, but I am starting to expect more than a good time in a bar from you Casey. Step it up! I still love the guy, but I hope he gets the message from the judges. He needs to worry more about the vocal-he can play the guitar on tour.
• Lee Dewyze Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer". This is a great song choice, and like the talented singer that he is, Lee manages to infuse his own style. The vocal is inspirational, tender and he manages to make the song sound current without a lot of background vocals or harmonies. Randy comments on his artistry and Ellen was amazed at how he keeps growing. Kara said he had a moment tonight and Simon agreed that it was brilliant and thought he made the song sound like it was written recently. It is really hard for me to picture a finale that doesn’t include Lee at this point. I love this guy and I am sure we are going to hear him on the radio as early as this coming fall.
• Tim Urban Goo Goo Dolls’ "Better Days" Maybe it is because Tim is from such a big family and has to work hard for everything, but he always approaches his performances as an honor that deserve his consideration and hard work. He selected a song that really worked with his voice. He had a couple of moments in it that were nice, but some that were equally awkward. Tim’s hard work and good voice don’t necessarily equal true artistry and originality, and at this point in the competition the gap between the contestants who have that quality and those who don’t is getting wider. This was an inspirational song by a less than inspirational singer so it only half worked. Randy thought it was karaoke. Ellen compared it to soup of the day, and today wasn’t her favorite. Kara thought he picked right, but that it wasn’t without problems. Simon thought the song was a bit bigger than he was.
• Aaron Kelly R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," Oh Aaron. Really? I am picturing Bugs Bunny playing basketball right now. I am impressed with this kid’s drive and his great personality. He is talented and very likable. I just don’t think he is ready for all of this yet. It was like in preschool when your kids wore mom or dad’s clothes for a “when I grow up” picture. It just doesn’t feel like the real thing yet. Randy gave him props for picking such a big song. Ellen liked it. Kara thought he did a respectable job. Simon was gracious to a point, but then said in the real world “if that song came on the radio I would turn it off in 10 seconds.” I am imagining his goodbye film, and I am not even that conflicted about it. Does that make me a bad person?
• Siobhan Magnus Whitney & Mariah’s "When You Believe" We need an Idol intervention here and we need it fast. The day these judges raked Siobhan over the coals they managed to suck all of the confidence and direction right out of her. For a contender who showed so much promise and vocal ability in the first two weeks, she is beyond baffling now. The vocal was pretty, but the song came over so corny. I flipped the original off when it came on the radio, and this certainly didn't improve it. Randy didn’t get it, but Ellen disagreed and thought she proved why she was in the competition. Kara said she would rather hang out with Siobhan than buy her records. Simon was distracted by the leaves on her outfit. (They were butterflies by the way). Siobhan launched into a diatribe about the opportunity to sing a song like that that lost me somewhere after the word “opportunity” and I am pretty sure the producers were shouting in Ryan’s earpiece to get the hook. Now she is cutting into Glee and I am starting to lose patience.
• Michael Lynche Chad Kroeger's "Hero" Big Mike has a ton of personality and a great voice, but I didn’t think this song choice showcased it. I like the song and think it has lyrics that are inspirational but the melody doesn’t have enough dynamics to match it. Plus all those other musician’s with him onstage are starting to get really distracting. Randy was worried about him doing a band song and while he liked it, didn’t think it was his best performance. Ellen loved it. Kara did not. Simon thought he would survive the cut.Poor Big Mike always suffers when they are running out of time, doesn't he?
• Crystal Bowersox, Curtis Mayfield’s "People Get Ready" Crystal had her big idol moment tonight, without a doubt this performance was in an entirely different class than anyone elses. She had a perfect balance of drama, connection to the lyrics, and delivered a brilliant vocal. Even the awkward moment with the tears at the end only worked in her favor as the emotion made her a little more accessible to her fans. Randy gave her a standing O. Ellen couldn’t find enough words to tell her how great it was. Kara thanked her for taking a risk and Simon acknowledged that it was in a league of its own. Crystal even had a really sweet moment with Ryan’s pocket square afterwards. This is Crystal’s contest to lose.
Anne's ranking:
Best of the Night: Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze
Not Bad: Casey James
Mediocre: Michael Lynche and Siobhan Magnus
Bottom 3: Tim Urban and Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus-Goodbye Aaron
Tune in tonight…
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Top 9 again
This was Ryan's weirdest night to date on American Idol, and that is where I will start this week’s recap. We had Brian Dunkleman jokes, random dancing during performances, shaking of girls in the audience, his mother, and the quote of the night: My tongue is not nearly as talented as yours (directed at our mentor). I don’t know about you, but Adam’s raised eyebrow after that comment, I was doing the same look every time Ryan opened his mouth tonight. My mom thought he was “on something” which she says about a lot of people, but this time I might have to agree with her. The cast of Glee was in the audience, and at the end of the night Ryan actually put on “Will’s” hat, which made me shudder. I don’t care if they are stars, surely he has heard of head lice?
Elvis provided the music this week, and the mentor is Adam Lambert, runner up from season 8. There were mixed reviews going into tonight’s show. Some reviewers on the blogs didn’t see the value of bringing back someone to mentor who hadn’t even won the competition and basically had only one single on the charts. Let’s be honest though,
Adam really does embody Elvis’ in the later years and he did a great job with the idol contestants, if you could look past the 5 inch high hair and the really glossy lipstick. I am TOTALLY loony for Elvis Presley, so I am going to be hyper critical tonight, and I don’t want to see any fakers. Let’s get this thing going.
Crystal Bowersox, 'Saved.' Adam suggested that she play the electric guitar, and she rocked it out. It was another solid performance and even though I had to watch it on a tiny screen, (stupid dvr) it was fabulous. Randy loved it, too, calling it "the second coming of Bonnie Raitt." Simon could personally relate to the lyrics about lying and cheating”, (only because he was probably the liar and the cheater) and went on to say "It was original, it sounded great, and congratulations once again." Crystal is great about song choice and just naturally delivers perfect vocals without it seeming like work.
Andrew Garcia, 'Hound Dog.' Adam told Andrew that his version of this song was on the boring side, but I would have to give him an A for effort for trying to spice it up. He had the unfortunate placement of coming after Crystal who had an authentic performance. His vocal was strong, but I didn’t care for the way he slowed down the melody, and he didn’t seem 100% comfortable with the stylized arrangement of this song. Randy hated it, dropping the karaoke bomb. Ellen was hoping for more swagger but she actually liked his vocal. Kara thought he used the mic as a crutch, which was ridiculous comment given there were so many other things wrong with it. Simon was downright cruel, saying "it was like you see in some of these musicals, there's always the one part which nobody really wants to see and hear, and that was the part." He went on to say that the song sucked all of his coolness out of him. I have to say, there is a part in every musical that people plan their bathroom breaks around. Sorry Andrew, I didn’t get it.
Tim Urban, 'Can't Help Falling in Love With You.' Adam encouraged Tim to use his falsetto at the end, but you could tell in the clip that he was not comfortable with that and wasn’t going to do it. The vocal was not perfect, it seemed at times a little low for him, but he actually gave a pretty tender performance. I danced to this song at my second wedding. Gary surprised me for our 20th with a trip down the aisle at the Elvis chapel. (I told you I was loony for Elvis.) I connected with Tim’s performance and I liked the simple arrangement. Randy actually liked this one, and not even using the Tim scale. Ellen talked about doing shots of tequila. Kara said it was her favorite Tim performance. Simon told him, "You've managed to go from zero to hero in two weeks ... you don't need much. You, the guitar, good song,…and you've taken the advice really really well from us. Congratulations”. I guess we will have Tim with us another week.
Lee DeWyze, 'A Little Less Conversation.' Adam called Lee out during the clip and told him that he wasn’t in the studio recording. He needed to not just have a great vocal but to relax and perform. I don’t know if Lee ever really relaxes, but gave a stellar performance of one of my favorite songs. His voice was perfect for the way he changed the melody. I loved it. Randy thought he was in the zone. Ellen loved it. Kara wanted him to be more playful, to which Simon responded “what do you want, kittens?” Simon basically told Lee to ignore Kara, and I would have to agree. I loved the grit in the song and I don’t need playful with this kind of lyric. You just need the right amount of sexy.
Aaron Kelly, 'Blue Suede Shoes.' After surviving some really rude commentary from my dad and Gary during Adam and Aaron’s clip (don’t ask me, because I am not telling) I am feeling really bad for Aaron. This song fits Aaron’s voice, but not his age or personality. It totally does not feel young and hip. Randy liked the second half, Ellen thought he did a good job, and Kara said, "You're out of your comfort zone, and I like it." Simon thought it was karaoke. Aaron is a darling young man in the company of much more seasoned and mature performers. He has a lot of natural talent, but I don’t think he is ready for this yet. I have a feeling this was his last performance on that big stage.
Siobhan Magnus, 'Suspicious Minds.' Adam and Siobhan both have that weird dress up thing going on and they also share the big voices. I enjoyed their Vegas film, and I really like this girl. That being said, I hated how this song started, with her back to the audience. She also had this really strained, fake smile plastered on her face, which didn’t fit the lyrics. I didn’t get from her performance that she was in a tortured relationship where she needed to leave but couldn’t. She was beautiful and has a great voice, don’t get me wrong, I just didn’t believe she knew what she was singing about. Randy loved the second half of the song. Ellen did too. Kara was confused (she is like this a lot). Simon didn’t care for it at all. I like that Siobhan doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into a musical genre, but you can’t leave your audience baffled each week either. She needs to have another really strong performance next week or her fan base is going to start creeping over to the more consistent performers on this show.
Michael Lynche, 'In the Ghetto.' Michael told Adam he is trying to dial back his performances to not be so theatrical. Adam pretty much steered him back to that story-telling quality. I actually thought he made this song r & b, and kept the emotional connection while giving a stellar vocal. He made me hear those lyrics, and the song moved me. All four judges quickly (we are running out of time again) gave him the thumbs up. I don’t think the Michael fans out there will let him down this week.
Katie Stevens, 'Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do.' Katie actually had another great vocal this week, and she delivered a little Elvis personality in that performance. I thought that Simon would take the opportunity to gloat, given that this was as close to a country song as she has selected, and she really nailed the vocal. Randy, Ellen and Kara thought it was great but Simon thought it was loud and annoying. Simon is off his game on this one, Katie got it right this time.
Casey James, 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy.' This song is not one of the more recognizable from Elvis’ songbook, but Casey delivered to me, one of the most authentic Elvis performances of the evening. Elvis was sweaty, raw, sexy and always true to his Memphis roots. Despite the judges being let down, I completely enjoyed this performance and think Casey is slowly building a songlist that people would pay to hear on tour. Since I didn’t get him at first, I thrilled to be watching him grow in this competition.
The top:
Lee, Casey, Crystal
The middle:
Michael, Katie, Tim
The bottom:
Siobhan, Aaron and Andrew
Going home:
Aaron and Andrew.
What do you guys think?
Elvis provided the music this week, and the mentor is Adam Lambert, runner up from season 8. There were mixed reviews going into tonight’s show. Some reviewers on the blogs didn’t see the value of bringing back someone to mentor who hadn’t even won the competition and basically had only one single on the charts. Let’s be honest though,
Adam really does embody Elvis’ in the later years and he did a great job with the idol contestants, if you could look past the 5 inch high hair and the really glossy lipstick. I am TOTALLY loony for Elvis Presley, so I am going to be hyper critical tonight, and I don’t want to see any fakers. Let’s get this thing going.
Crystal Bowersox, 'Saved.' Adam suggested that she play the electric guitar, and she rocked it out. It was another solid performance and even though I had to watch it on a tiny screen, (stupid dvr) it was fabulous. Randy loved it, too, calling it "the second coming of Bonnie Raitt." Simon could personally relate to the lyrics about lying and cheating”, (only because he was probably the liar and the cheater) and went on to say "It was original, it sounded great, and congratulations once again." Crystal is great about song choice and just naturally delivers perfect vocals without it seeming like work.
Andrew Garcia, 'Hound Dog.' Adam told Andrew that his version of this song was on the boring side, but I would have to give him an A for effort for trying to spice it up. He had the unfortunate placement of coming after Crystal who had an authentic performance. His vocal was strong, but I didn’t care for the way he slowed down the melody, and he didn’t seem 100% comfortable with the stylized arrangement of this song. Randy hated it, dropping the karaoke bomb. Ellen was hoping for more swagger but she actually liked his vocal. Kara thought he used the mic as a crutch, which was ridiculous comment given there were so many other things wrong with it. Simon was downright cruel, saying "it was like you see in some of these musicals, there's always the one part which nobody really wants to see and hear, and that was the part." He went on to say that the song sucked all of his coolness out of him. I have to say, there is a part in every musical that people plan their bathroom breaks around. Sorry Andrew, I didn’t get it.
Tim Urban, 'Can't Help Falling in Love With You.' Adam encouraged Tim to use his falsetto at the end, but you could tell in the clip that he was not comfortable with that and wasn’t going to do it. The vocal was not perfect, it seemed at times a little low for him, but he actually gave a pretty tender performance. I danced to this song at my second wedding. Gary surprised me for our 20th with a trip down the aisle at the Elvis chapel. (I told you I was loony for Elvis.) I connected with Tim’s performance and I liked the simple arrangement. Randy actually liked this one, and not even using the Tim scale. Ellen talked about doing shots of tequila. Kara said it was her favorite Tim performance. Simon told him, "You've managed to go from zero to hero in two weeks ... you don't need much. You, the guitar, good song,…and you've taken the advice really really well from us. Congratulations”. I guess we will have Tim with us another week.
Lee DeWyze, 'A Little Less Conversation.' Adam called Lee out during the clip and told him that he wasn’t in the studio recording. He needed to not just have a great vocal but to relax and perform. I don’t know if Lee ever really relaxes, but gave a stellar performance of one of my favorite songs. His voice was perfect for the way he changed the melody. I loved it. Randy thought he was in the zone. Ellen loved it. Kara wanted him to be more playful, to which Simon responded “what do you want, kittens?” Simon basically told Lee to ignore Kara, and I would have to agree. I loved the grit in the song and I don’t need playful with this kind of lyric. You just need the right amount of sexy.
Aaron Kelly, 'Blue Suede Shoes.' After surviving some really rude commentary from my dad and Gary during Adam and Aaron’s clip (don’t ask me, because I am not telling) I am feeling really bad for Aaron. This song fits Aaron’s voice, but not his age or personality. It totally does not feel young and hip. Randy liked the second half, Ellen thought he did a good job, and Kara said, "You're out of your comfort zone, and I like it." Simon thought it was karaoke. Aaron is a darling young man in the company of much more seasoned and mature performers. He has a lot of natural talent, but I don’t think he is ready for this yet. I have a feeling this was his last performance on that big stage.
Siobhan Magnus, 'Suspicious Minds.' Adam and Siobhan both have that weird dress up thing going on and they also share the big voices. I enjoyed their Vegas film, and I really like this girl. That being said, I hated how this song started, with her back to the audience. She also had this really strained, fake smile plastered on her face, which didn’t fit the lyrics. I didn’t get from her performance that she was in a tortured relationship where she needed to leave but couldn’t. She was beautiful and has a great voice, don’t get me wrong, I just didn’t believe she knew what she was singing about. Randy loved the second half of the song. Ellen did too. Kara was confused (she is like this a lot). Simon didn’t care for it at all. I like that Siobhan doesn’t want to be pigeonholed into a musical genre, but you can’t leave your audience baffled each week either. She needs to have another really strong performance next week or her fan base is going to start creeping over to the more consistent performers on this show.
Michael Lynche, 'In the Ghetto.' Michael told Adam he is trying to dial back his performances to not be so theatrical. Adam pretty much steered him back to that story-telling quality. I actually thought he made this song r & b, and kept the emotional connection while giving a stellar vocal. He made me hear those lyrics, and the song moved me. All four judges quickly (we are running out of time again) gave him the thumbs up. I don’t think the Michael fans out there will let him down this week.
Katie Stevens, 'Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do.' Katie actually had another great vocal this week, and she delivered a little Elvis personality in that performance. I thought that Simon would take the opportunity to gloat, given that this was as close to a country song as she has selected, and she really nailed the vocal. Randy, Ellen and Kara thought it was great but Simon thought it was loud and annoying. Simon is off his game on this one, Katie got it right this time.
Casey James, 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy.' This song is not one of the more recognizable from Elvis’ songbook, but Casey delivered to me, one of the most authentic Elvis performances of the evening. Elvis was sweaty, raw, sexy and always true to his Memphis roots. Despite the judges being let down, I completely enjoyed this performance and think Casey is slowly building a songlist that people would pay to hear on tour. Since I didn’t get him at first, I thrilled to be watching him grow in this competition.
The top:
Lee, Casey, Crystal
The middle:
Michael, Katie, Tim
The bottom:
Siobhan, Aaron and Andrew
Going home:
Aaron and Andrew.
What do you guys think?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The top 11 and Miley Cyrus?
The night opens with a great glimpse of Kara in some fabulous knee high boots. Ellen is head to toe in white. I love Ellen, I think she is hilarious, but I don't understand her personal style. Thank God the show is two hours so that we can all take part in an uncomfortable segment where Ryan annoys the judges. While Simon tells Ryan to stay back after his bizarre comments about Simon's V-neck,Ryan continually is kissed or kisses Ellen. Surely there is some Idol gives back news or prior Idol winner news that could be substituted here? Simon reminds the contestants that this is the night that the top 10 for the tour are selected and basically that their career is over if they go home. The mentor is Miley Cyrus, but thankfully it is not Miley Cyrus night, and with years of number one billboard hits to choose from I have high hopes as the top 11 take the stage. My hat is off to the stylists tonight as these top 11 are looking quite put together (except for Tim Urban-I am pretty sure he picked his own outfit).
Lee Dewyze "The Letter"
This was not the exact vibe that I was looking for from Lee, I would have rather heard him sing a song like "How to Save a Life" or something more current, but from the first note it was a great vocal performance. He also seemed to draw energy from the band and the background singers, because it was his most relaxed performance to date. I love this guy, but I am kind of over this particular song and would have liked to have heard something different. Randy loved his blues quality and thought with this version he knocked it out of the box. Ellen tried to make a long story even longer, with some strange favorite pen analogy (okay who LICKS their pen?), but basically she loved it. Kara thought the progress he had made was remarkable. Simon was surprised at the song and thought it was corny and not current. I don't think he was corny at all, but Simon is right, I probably wouldn't download it.
Paige Miles "Against all Odds"
Oh my. In Miley's tape with Paige she says "if Paige can control her pitch, she will be fine". Guess what? She went from mildly pitchy a few weeks ago with Smile to only having a few notes on key tonight. It was awful, as in I could barely stand it. Worse, I had to watch it live and could not fast forward. I can't imagine one thing that the judges could say to give her any hope of continuing in this competition. Randy said it was terrible. Ellen said she was beautiful and then passed the singing critique off to Kara who said it was the worst vocal of the season. Simon asked her how she thought she did and she admitted that she was having trouble, but she sure didn't seem all that distressed by hearing that she sang so awful. Simon told her that she was in serious trouble after that performance. I am pretty sure Sanjaya did better than that.
Tim Urban "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
This performance was so childish it made me uncomfortable. I can't really criticize his vocal, he actually sang the song well, it was just so embarrassing, especially the slide. He did look like he was having fun, in the way that some kids do who are into community theater. Randy thought it was bad karaoke. Ellen told him he has huge fans, but this was like an audition for high school musical. Kara was put off that he was touching the crowd like he had already made it when clearly he hadn't yet. Simon thought it was silly. Tim is lucky that Paige was so bad because he may get away with that song this week.
Aaron Kelly "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Aaron tells Ryan before the performance that he has laryngitis and tonsillitis. So then Ryan feels the need to write him a note asking him if he is ready. Guess what Ryan, YOU don't have laryngitis, and I am pretty sure that Aaron can hear. Before he ever started my Gary (giggle) was rolling his eyes. He is not a fan. I have a soft spot for this kid, he seems really genuine, so I am a little easier on him. He brings his country thing to this song, and he actually had a good vocal, despite the illness. It was just a little reminiscent of David Archuleta, which Ryan actually brings up after the performance. The only difference is, he did really seem perfectly connected to the song. Randy said "thank God you came on and started singing because the two before you weren't". Ellen said it was a perfect song choice and Kara said that Aaron always knows himself. Simon thought it was very brave and told him that although it was a little old fashioned, there was 0% chance he would go home after that.
Crystal Bowersox "Me and Bobby McGee"
What can you say about this girl? She was channeling Janis' soul in this perfect vocal performance. It was in a league all it's own this evening. Randy told her that she slayed it. Ellen told her that it was great, but she would love to see her give back to her fans by not being so shy or reserved, and that people want to share this with her. Kara told her that she could feel more from her this week, but maybe she should put down the guitar. Simon told her not to change a thing, that it was every bit as good as Pink's version. Note at this point Crystal has to sit once down once more. I really worry about this girl putting on a two hour show. I don't think she is in good health.
Mike Lynche "When a Man Loves a Woman"
Mike is compelling to watch because he has so much charisma. He has a really great vocal, but that being said, this is not a song I would probably feel the need to revisit. If I heard this version on the radio I would probably search for something else. Because I have gotten to like Mike and know his story, I gave him my attention, but without looking at him, I am not sure he would have the same effect. Randy loved that he knows who he is. Ellen thought it was safe but amazing. Kara thought it was technically really good, but at parts got a little "loungy". Simon said it was like ordering 1 scoop of ice cream and getting 11. He thought it was old fashioned, but that he has a great voice.
Andrew Garcia "Heard it through the Grapevine"
This performance was absolutely painful. From the pointing at his ear and the odd dancing, never mind the issues he had staying on key, I found myself working on this blog and not watching him at all. Unfortunately, an interesting voice is not going to take Andrew much further if he is unrecognizable as an artist. Randy said it wasn't good. Ellen said she loved him, but that it wasn't enough to get people to vote. Kara said she felt so bad for him, like he was chasing that moment but had gotten so far from it she had no words to help him. Simon said he had, at this point, enough weeks to figure it out and he was starting to question whether or not they had blown the "Straight Up" performance out of proportion. After all Simon said, it wasn't like it was Beethoven, it was a cutesy Paula Abdul remake.
Katie Stevens "Big Girls Don't Cry"
What is up with the pitch issues tonight? I will start with the positives, she looks fantastic and she seems back in the game as far as confidence and connection to the audience. I am not sure if it was the key choice, but this song is sharp when it shouldn't be, and in her lower register it sounds like there is some junk in her throat, like a really large bubble. All in all, if I want to hear this song again (and I DON'T) I would rather hear Fergie do it. Randy thought it was pitchy but could tell she was listening to them. Ellen thought it was great (Really?) Kara thought this was her vibe, R & B, and that even with the mad pitch problems she was taking a step in the right direction. (again, really?) Simon thought she did much better but should still explore country because there is less competition in that genre.
Casey James "Power of Love"
Casey starts off in the chair with Ryan, which has proven to be quite a useless bit of time this evening. He tells Ryan that for 11 years he has performed in very small spaces and he needs to make use of this big stage. He proceeded to move even less than he has in any previous performance. I am probably going to bother some of you younger readers, but I grew up in the 80's and the only thing this song conjures up for me is the wacky professor on Back to the Future. He sang it almost identically to Huey Lewis, but WHY? While we are questioning things, could I get some proof that this was a number 1? This song was stupid when it was semi popular, and Casey didn't make me like it any better this evening, even though he did have an awesome vocal. Randy loved the blues in his voice (Randy has like 3 recurring critiques). Ellen thought it was the best vocal of the night (are you kidding me?) and Kara thought he could go cut a record with that song. Thank God for Simon, as I was starting to feel unnecessarily harsh. Simon thought it wasn't relevant and wondered how he and Kara heard the same song. He chalked it up to being English.
Didi Benami "You're no good"
I love Didi, and although I am struggling with the song choice (I would have picked about 20 other songs that would have showcased her gorgeous voice before this one) she has a really good vocal. It just isn't something that I would want to obsessively listen to over and over until I was sick of it (which is what I do when I LOVE a song). That being said, she is growing in confidence on that stage, and I am still a huge fan. Randy thought it was pitchy (Randy is nuts). Ellen didn't like the song choice. Kara thought it was like playing a character and she was confused by it. Simon thought it was like she was bad acting in a musical. They are so mean to this poor girl. Even though it wasn't the song I would have picked for her it was MILES better than Katie!
Siobhan Magnus "Superstition"
I am always intrigued by this girl, and tonight was no exception. She has a really great voice and she is just odd enough to keep me attentive. I thought this vocal went pretty well up until the last note. Again, for the purpose of finding an American idol like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood,or Chris Daughtry who actually sings something I want to hear on the radio, I wasn't feeling it on this one, although I did enjoy her performance. I am so frustrated with this entire evening that I think the build up for Siobhan left me wanting something better, and that is not necessarily her fault. If more than three people had sung well tonight, I probably would have been cheering for her. Randy loved it. Ellen wanted to see more. Kara was impressed by "the note". Simon thought "the note" wasn't as great as she thought it was, and that perhaps she needed to move the placement of "the note" in the next song. Is it me, or was this just a ridiculous conversation?
Bottom three: Paige, Andrew, Tim
Paige should be out based on that horrible vocal, but it would not break my heart to see any of these three go.
Tune in for the kick off...
Lee Dewyze "The Letter"
This was not the exact vibe that I was looking for from Lee, I would have rather heard him sing a song like "How to Save a Life" or something more current, but from the first note it was a great vocal performance. He also seemed to draw energy from the band and the background singers, because it was his most relaxed performance to date. I love this guy, but I am kind of over this particular song and would have liked to have heard something different. Randy loved his blues quality and thought with this version he knocked it out of the box. Ellen tried to make a long story even longer, with some strange favorite pen analogy (okay who LICKS their pen?), but basically she loved it. Kara thought the progress he had made was remarkable. Simon was surprised at the song and thought it was corny and not current. I don't think he was corny at all, but Simon is right, I probably wouldn't download it.
Paige Miles "Against all Odds"
Oh my. In Miley's tape with Paige she says "if Paige can control her pitch, she will be fine". Guess what? She went from mildly pitchy a few weeks ago with Smile to only having a few notes on key tonight. It was awful, as in I could barely stand it. Worse, I had to watch it live and could not fast forward. I can't imagine one thing that the judges could say to give her any hope of continuing in this competition. Randy said it was terrible. Ellen said she was beautiful and then passed the singing critique off to Kara who said it was the worst vocal of the season. Simon asked her how she thought she did and she admitted that she was having trouble, but she sure didn't seem all that distressed by hearing that she sang so awful. Simon told her that she was in serious trouble after that performance. I am pretty sure Sanjaya did better than that.
Tim Urban "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
This performance was so childish it made me uncomfortable. I can't really criticize his vocal, he actually sang the song well, it was just so embarrassing, especially the slide. He did look like he was having fun, in the way that some kids do who are into community theater. Randy thought it was bad karaoke. Ellen told him he has huge fans, but this was like an audition for high school musical. Kara was put off that he was touching the crowd like he had already made it when clearly he hadn't yet. Simon thought it was silly. Tim is lucky that Paige was so bad because he may get away with that song this week.
Aaron Kelly "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Aaron tells Ryan before the performance that he has laryngitis and tonsillitis. So then Ryan feels the need to write him a note asking him if he is ready. Guess what Ryan, YOU don't have laryngitis, and I am pretty sure that Aaron can hear. Before he ever started my Gary (giggle) was rolling his eyes. He is not a fan. I have a soft spot for this kid, he seems really genuine, so I am a little easier on him. He brings his country thing to this song, and he actually had a good vocal, despite the illness. It was just a little reminiscent of David Archuleta, which Ryan actually brings up after the performance. The only difference is, he did really seem perfectly connected to the song. Randy said "thank God you came on and started singing because the two before you weren't". Ellen said it was a perfect song choice and Kara said that Aaron always knows himself. Simon thought it was very brave and told him that although it was a little old fashioned, there was 0% chance he would go home after that.
Crystal Bowersox "Me and Bobby McGee"
What can you say about this girl? She was channeling Janis' soul in this perfect vocal performance. It was in a league all it's own this evening. Randy told her that she slayed it. Ellen told her that it was great, but she would love to see her give back to her fans by not being so shy or reserved, and that people want to share this with her. Kara told her that she could feel more from her this week, but maybe she should put down the guitar. Simon told her not to change a thing, that it was every bit as good as Pink's version. Note at this point Crystal has to sit once down once more. I really worry about this girl putting on a two hour show. I don't think she is in good health.
Mike Lynche "When a Man Loves a Woman"
Mike is compelling to watch because he has so much charisma. He has a really great vocal, but that being said, this is not a song I would probably feel the need to revisit. If I heard this version on the radio I would probably search for something else. Because I have gotten to like Mike and know his story, I gave him my attention, but without looking at him, I am not sure he would have the same effect. Randy loved that he knows who he is. Ellen thought it was safe but amazing. Kara thought it was technically really good, but at parts got a little "loungy". Simon said it was like ordering 1 scoop of ice cream and getting 11. He thought it was old fashioned, but that he has a great voice.
Andrew Garcia "Heard it through the Grapevine"
This performance was absolutely painful. From the pointing at his ear and the odd dancing, never mind the issues he had staying on key, I found myself working on this blog and not watching him at all. Unfortunately, an interesting voice is not going to take Andrew much further if he is unrecognizable as an artist. Randy said it wasn't good. Ellen said she loved him, but that it wasn't enough to get people to vote. Kara said she felt so bad for him, like he was chasing that moment but had gotten so far from it she had no words to help him. Simon said he had, at this point, enough weeks to figure it out and he was starting to question whether or not they had blown the "Straight Up" performance out of proportion. After all Simon said, it wasn't like it was Beethoven, it was a cutesy Paula Abdul remake.
Katie Stevens "Big Girls Don't Cry"
What is up with the pitch issues tonight? I will start with the positives, she looks fantastic and she seems back in the game as far as confidence and connection to the audience. I am not sure if it was the key choice, but this song is sharp when it shouldn't be, and in her lower register it sounds like there is some junk in her throat, like a really large bubble. All in all, if I want to hear this song again (and I DON'T) I would rather hear Fergie do it. Randy thought it was pitchy but could tell she was listening to them. Ellen thought it was great (Really?) Kara thought this was her vibe, R & B, and that even with the mad pitch problems she was taking a step in the right direction. (again, really?) Simon thought she did much better but should still explore country because there is less competition in that genre.
Casey James "Power of Love"
Casey starts off in the chair with Ryan, which has proven to be quite a useless bit of time this evening. He tells Ryan that for 11 years he has performed in very small spaces and he needs to make use of this big stage. He proceeded to move even less than he has in any previous performance. I am probably going to bother some of you younger readers, but I grew up in the 80's and the only thing this song conjures up for me is the wacky professor on Back to the Future. He sang it almost identically to Huey Lewis, but WHY? While we are questioning things, could I get some proof that this was a number 1? This song was stupid when it was semi popular, and Casey didn't make me like it any better this evening, even though he did have an awesome vocal. Randy loved the blues in his voice (Randy has like 3 recurring critiques). Ellen thought it was the best vocal of the night (are you kidding me?) and Kara thought he could go cut a record with that song. Thank God for Simon, as I was starting to feel unnecessarily harsh. Simon thought it wasn't relevant and wondered how he and Kara heard the same song. He chalked it up to being English.
Didi Benami "You're no good"
I love Didi, and although I am struggling with the song choice (I would have picked about 20 other songs that would have showcased her gorgeous voice before this one) she has a really good vocal. It just isn't something that I would want to obsessively listen to over and over until I was sick of it (which is what I do when I LOVE a song). That being said, she is growing in confidence on that stage, and I am still a huge fan. Randy thought it was pitchy (Randy is nuts). Ellen didn't like the song choice. Kara thought it was like playing a character and she was confused by it. Simon thought it was like she was bad acting in a musical. They are so mean to this poor girl. Even though it wasn't the song I would have picked for her it was MILES better than Katie!
Siobhan Magnus "Superstition"
I am always intrigued by this girl, and tonight was no exception. She has a really great voice and she is just odd enough to keep me attentive. I thought this vocal went pretty well up until the last note. Again, for the purpose of finding an American idol like Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood,or Chris Daughtry who actually sings something I want to hear on the radio, I wasn't feeling it on this one, although I did enjoy her performance. I am so frustrated with this entire evening that I think the build up for Siobhan left me wanting something better, and that is not necessarily her fault. If more than three people had sung well tonight, I probably would have been cheering for her. Randy loved it. Ellen wanted to see more. Kara was impressed by "the note". Simon thought "the note" wasn't as great as she thought it was, and that perhaps she needed to move the placement of "the note" in the next song. Is it me, or was this just a ridiculous conversation?
Bottom three: Paige, Andrew, Tim
Paige should be out based on that horrible vocal, but it would not break my heart to see any of these three go.
Tune in for the kick off...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Season 9 Begins
It is Rolling Stones night on Idol, and I finally feel like we are going to see what this top 12 is made of. The pressure is on with the big stage and the 450 fans, so let’s break this down, shall we?
Michael Lynche ('Miss You').
I love Michael; he has that great personality that comes over well in his film. He actually is pretty successful bringing an R & B feel to this tune, and his falsetto is flawless. The dancing, however, looked pretty goofy to me. At moments it felt like a hoe down, but if I closed my eyes (because I really wanted him to stop those silly dance moves) he had a great vocal that didn’t fall off at any point in the performance. Randy thought it was a great way to start the show. Ellen asked “what is not to love about that”? Kara was thrilled that he came out with swagger. Simon thought he sounded good and was glad he has confidence but that the dancing was a little desperate. At this point Ryan questions Simon about what he would like to see Michael do, and Simon asks “do you want me to talk to you or to Michael”? Then we began an uncomfortable exchange between Ryan and Simon that got up close and personal. Let the American Idol filler begin.
Didi Benami ('Play with Fire').
I have been a Didi fan from day one, and she did nothing tonight to disappoint me. Her vocal showed all of the interesting qualities about her voice, but with this song choice she was able to portray a different side to her personality. There were one or two moments when she dropped a word and I got nervous that she was going to lose the lyrics, but she picked it instantly back up both times. Randy told her that she was on fire tonight. Ellen brought up that she got lost but found her way and thought it was great. Kara liked the darkness of the song and the intensity she brought to it. Simon is beginning to see where she is going as an artist but tells her she still has a few things to work out.
Casey James ('It's All Over Now').
Now I am getting excited because we have had three good vocals in a row. We have got us a competition here! This is the kind of music Casey should be singing, songs with a touch of the blues. These kinds of performances make his voice sound its very best. The vocal was solid and I enjoyed his performance, but in the same way I enjoy hearing a really good band at the neighborhood blues bar. I am not sure that Casey is an American Idol. He isn’t a big enough risk taker. He also hasn’t proven to me that he has something unique to offer. I really enjoyed him tonight, and he should be just fine, but I don’t know that he has staying power once some of the weaker competitors are eliminated. Randy thought he brought the old Casey back. Ellen thought it was fantastic. Kara thought he was a Rock Star, but Simon wasn’t sold. He thought Casey needed to push himself to a better use of that big stage and a more memorable performance. Kara told him to swing the amp around next time.
Lacey Brown ('Ruby Tuesday').
Lacey’s film was really endearing, and her dad’s pride brought a tear to my eye. The song is the perfect choice to showcase that haunting tone of her voice. I am not sure if it was the strings that threw her off pitch, but she hit some notes that were bordering on painful. The arrangement was interesting, although Gary liked the rushing of the verse much better than I did. Lacey does have something about her that draws you in. It is probably those gorgeous eyes. She just is really inconsistent with the vocal, and it is singing competition. I would be pretty disappointed to pay for a concert of someone who sang half the songs off key. Randy was pleasantly surprised. Ellen didn’t understand her decision to sit down as the song was building in drama. Kara said it was 50/50 for her and Simon thought it was all too acted out and she needed to let go.
Andrew Garcia ('Gimmee Shelter').
The funniest part of Andrew’s film was the fact that his dad thought he was going to be a custodian when he grew up because he had a key collection. The entire time his dad was being interviewed, Andrew’s mother was staring at her own nose. This song was much stronger on the verse than on the refrain, where it seemed to be overpowered by the background singers. He also seemed to have issues staying on key on the refrain, but he did have better intensity than the last couple of performances. Poor Andrew needs to break free of the Straight Up performance and do something unique and do it quick. I did like his voice at times in this number, but he has to find a way to capture the audience again. Randy said it wasn’t great. Ellen thought it was his best performance yet. Kara thought he lacked a connection and an understanding that the lyrics were about war. Simon asked Kara if she thought he should have brought a tank onstage with him, and accused her of being too literal. Simon thought he gave it 100% and hoped he survived another week.
Katie Stevens ('Wild Horses').
This song started off so great, with an intensity and commitment that I hadn’t seen in Katie yet. She stayed on key and she finally seemed like she had found herself in this particular piece of music. Unfortunately the arrangement choices as the song progressed were not my favorite. They chose to repeat the refrain WAY TOO MANY TIMES instead of going into another verse, but she did have a couple of really nice Idol moments with big notes. There was growth there, finally. Randy thought she had a strong performance. Ellen had the opposite opinion that I did and thought she started pitchy but ended it amazingly well. Kara said she is never technically perfect but thought she was going in the right direction. Simon thought she 100% chose the right song and that it was a job well done.
Tim Urban ('Under My Thumb').
Oh Tim. I found myself watching the film and really pulling for him, he is a completely likable guy. The vocal was fine, he actually sounded pretty strong and comfortable, but it was the Reggae beat that I couldn’t quite figure out. People will like or hate that one, and I have a feeling the predominant feeling will be the latter. Randy didn’t like it. Ellen felt like she was at a resort. Kara applauded him for doing something incredibly different, but Simon told him that it just didn’t work. I think we will be forced to hear that version one more time.
Siobhan Magnus ('Paint it Black').
As this competition goes on, Siobhan appears to get more comfortable, more focused and I think she might be a whole lot smarter than she comes off sometimes in her film clips. She looked absolutely stunning, and while delivering an intensely dramatic vocal, she seemed to have a perfect understanding of where the cameras were at all times. It was a star performance. Randy said it was HOT. Ellen loved it. Kara was flashing back to Adam from last season and said it was the best interpretation of the music yet. Simon said it was a standout performance that would get people talking, which was a good position to be in.
Lee DeWyze ('Beast of Burden').
If Lee can let the nerves go, he could possibly end up in the top three in this competition. He made this song sound better than the original, and I thought his vocal was almost perfect. Randy thought it was one of his better performances and Ellen thought it sounded great. Kara saw tremendous growth, but Simon thought it was a safe song. He told him with that incredibly good voice, he needed to come on the stage, choose a song that would give him a moment and make his mark on the competition. I think that was Simon’s way of saying he really liked it too.
Paige Miles ('Honky Tonk Woman').
I am just not a huge Paige fan, although in this song she did manage to hit the big notes. It was so much better than “Smile” last week, so I am thinking if she survived that song she will for sure survive this one. It was just not that memorable of a song. Randy thought she did alright but wished her energy was stronger. Ellen thought she sounded amazing, especially if you considered that she had laryngitis all week. Kara applauded her since she barely had rehearsal and had such a strong performance. Simon thought the performance was very old fashioned, but he was glad to hear the big voice again. He didn’t feel a connection, so overall it was not the best critique.
Aaron Kelly ('Angie').
This was really beautiful. I was surprised after last week, that he had this kind of performance in him. Everything about it worked, even thought the words to the song are intended for someone older, and I was worried that Kara would bring that up. Randy thought he was hot (how many times have we heard that tonight?). Ellen thought it was beautiful. Kara reminded him that she beat him up pretty bad last week, but he came back and showed her. Simon told him that he chose the right song and that it was his strongest performance to date.
Crystal Bowersox ('You Can't Always Get What You Want').
Poor Crystal, there is so much anticipation and hype that precedes the girl coming on stage each week. Who could ever live up to it all of the time? Her natural talent was on auto-pilot this time around, and while vocally it was still miles better than a lot of the other singers, it wasn’t able to top some of the other songs she had already performed. Randy said it was awesome, but not his favorite. Ellen told her to let herself have fun with the song. Kara agreed with Ellen, and said she has the singing down, but the performance could be more engaging. Crystal confessed that her head wasn’t where it should have been when she came out there. She has a lot on her mind. Simon told her that it was the first time she was ever beaten on that stage, and that she was second to Siobhan tonight. He offered it as a warning that she can't think she has the competition won, to which she replied, "I have never thought that...but thank you for saying it".
My bottom three singers this week are Paige, Tim, and Andrew with Tim making his exit. Of course this will start getting harder to call as we go along. Tune in tonight…..
Michael Lynche ('Miss You').
I love Michael; he has that great personality that comes over well in his film. He actually is pretty successful bringing an R & B feel to this tune, and his falsetto is flawless. The dancing, however, looked pretty goofy to me. At moments it felt like a hoe down, but if I closed my eyes (because I really wanted him to stop those silly dance moves) he had a great vocal that didn’t fall off at any point in the performance. Randy thought it was a great way to start the show. Ellen asked “what is not to love about that”? Kara was thrilled that he came out with swagger. Simon thought he sounded good and was glad he has confidence but that the dancing was a little desperate. At this point Ryan questions Simon about what he would like to see Michael do, and Simon asks “do you want me to talk to you or to Michael”? Then we began an uncomfortable exchange between Ryan and Simon that got up close and personal. Let the American Idol filler begin.
Didi Benami ('Play with Fire').
I have been a Didi fan from day one, and she did nothing tonight to disappoint me. Her vocal showed all of the interesting qualities about her voice, but with this song choice she was able to portray a different side to her personality. There were one or two moments when she dropped a word and I got nervous that she was going to lose the lyrics, but she picked it instantly back up both times. Randy told her that she was on fire tonight. Ellen brought up that she got lost but found her way and thought it was great. Kara liked the darkness of the song and the intensity she brought to it. Simon is beginning to see where she is going as an artist but tells her she still has a few things to work out.
Casey James ('It's All Over Now').
Now I am getting excited because we have had three good vocals in a row. We have got us a competition here! This is the kind of music Casey should be singing, songs with a touch of the blues. These kinds of performances make his voice sound its very best. The vocal was solid and I enjoyed his performance, but in the same way I enjoy hearing a really good band at the neighborhood blues bar. I am not sure that Casey is an American Idol. He isn’t a big enough risk taker. He also hasn’t proven to me that he has something unique to offer. I really enjoyed him tonight, and he should be just fine, but I don’t know that he has staying power once some of the weaker competitors are eliminated. Randy thought he brought the old Casey back. Ellen thought it was fantastic. Kara thought he was a Rock Star, but Simon wasn’t sold. He thought Casey needed to push himself to a better use of that big stage and a more memorable performance. Kara told him to swing the amp around next time.
Lacey Brown ('Ruby Tuesday').
Lacey’s film was really endearing, and her dad’s pride brought a tear to my eye. The song is the perfect choice to showcase that haunting tone of her voice. I am not sure if it was the strings that threw her off pitch, but she hit some notes that were bordering on painful. The arrangement was interesting, although Gary liked the rushing of the verse much better than I did. Lacey does have something about her that draws you in. It is probably those gorgeous eyes. She just is really inconsistent with the vocal, and it is singing competition. I would be pretty disappointed to pay for a concert of someone who sang half the songs off key. Randy was pleasantly surprised. Ellen didn’t understand her decision to sit down as the song was building in drama. Kara said it was 50/50 for her and Simon thought it was all too acted out and she needed to let go.
Andrew Garcia ('Gimmee Shelter').
The funniest part of Andrew’s film was the fact that his dad thought he was going to be a custodian when he grew up because he had a key collection. The entire time his dad was being interviewed, Andrew’s mother was staring at her own nose. This song was much stronger on the verse than on the refrain, where it seemed to be overpowered by the background singers. He also seemed to have issues staying on key on the refrain, but he did have better intensity than the last couple of performances. Poor Andrew needs to break free of the Straight Up performance and do something unique and do it quick. I did like his voice at times in this number, but he has to find a way to capture the audience again. Randy said it wasn’t great. Ellen thought it was his best performance yet. Kara thought he lacked a connection and an understanding that the lyrics were about war. Simon asked Kara if she thought he should have brought a tank onstage with him, and accused her of being too literal. Simon thought he gave it 100% and hoped he survived another week.
Katie Stevens ('Wild Horses').
This song started off so great, with an intensity and commitment that I hadn’t seen in Katie yet. She stayed on key and she finally seemed like she had found herself in this particular piece of music. Unfortunately the arrangement choices as the song progressed were not my favorite. They chose to repeat the refrain WAY TOO MANY TIMES instead of going into another verse, but she did have a couple of really nice Idol moments with big notes. There was growth there, finally. Randy thought she had a strong performance. Ellen had the opposite opinion that I did and thought she started pitchy but ended it amazingly well. Kara said she is never technically perfect but thought she was going in the right direction. Simon thought she 100% chose the right song and that it was a job well done.
Tim Urban ('Under My Thumb').
Oh Tim. I found myself watching the film and really pulling for him, he is a completely likable guy. The vocal was fine, he actually sounded pretty strong and comfortable, but it was the Reggae beat that I couldn’t quite figure out. People will like or hate that one, and I have a feeling the predominant feeling will be the latter. Randy didn’t like it. Ellen felt like she was at a resort. Kara applauded him for doing something incredibly different, but Simon told him that it just didn’t work. I think we will be forced to hear that version one more time.
Siobhan Magnus ('Paint it Black').
As this competition goes on, Siobhan appears to get more comfortable, more focused and I think she might be a whole lot smarter than she comes off sometimes in her film clips. She looked absolutely stunning, and while delivering an intensely dramatic vocal, she seemed to have a perfect understanding of where the cameras were at all times. It was a star performance. Randy said it was HOT. Ellen loved it. Kara was flashing back to Adam from last season and said it was the best interpretation of the music yet. Simon said it was a standout performance that would get people talking, which was a good position to be in.
Lee DeWyze ('Beast of Burden').
If Lee can let the nerves go, he could possibly end up in the top three in this competition. He made this song sound better than the original, and I thought his vocal was almost perfect. Randy thought it was one of his better performances and Ellen thought it sounded great. Kara saw tremendous growth, but Simon thought it was a safe song. He told him with that incredibly good voice, he needed to come on the stage, choose a song that would give him a moment and make his mark on the competition. I think that was Simon’s way of saying he really liked it too.
Paige Miles ('Honky Tonk Woman').
I am just not a huge Paige fan, although in this song she did manage to hit the big notes. It was so much better than “Smile” last week, so I am thinking if she survived that song she will for sure survive this one. It was just not that memorable of a song. Randy thought she did alright but wished her energy was stronger. Ellen thought she sounded amazing, especially if you considered that she had laryngitis all week. Kara applauded her since she barely had rehearsal and had such a strong performance. Simon thought the performance was very old fashioned, but he was glad to hear the big voice again. He didn’t feel a connection, so overall it was not the best critique.
Aaron Kelly ('Angie').
This was really beautiful. I was surprised after last week, that he had this kind of performance in him. Everything about it worked, even thought the words to the song are intended for someone older, and I was worried that Kara would bring that up. Randy thought he was hot (how many times have we heard that tonight?). Ellen thought it was beautiful. Kara reminded him that she beat him up pretty bad last week, but he came back and showed her. Simon told him that he chose the right song and that it was his strongest performance to date.
Crystal Bowersox ('You Can't Always Get What You Want').
Poor Crystal, there is so much anticipation and hype that precedes the girl coming on stage each week. Who could ever live up to it all of the time? Her natural talent was on auto-pilot this time around, and while vocally it was still miles better than a lot of the other singers, it wasn’t able to top some of the other songs she had already performed. Randy said it was awesome, but not his favorite. Ellen told her to let herself have fun with the song. Kara agreed with Ellen, and said she has the singing down, but the performance could be more engaging. Crystal confessed that her head wasn’t where it should have been when she came out there. She has a lot on her mind. Simon told her that it was the first time she was ever beaten on that stage, and that she was second to Siobhan tonight. He offered it as a warning that she can't think she has the competition won, to which she replied, "I have never thought that...but thank you for saying it".
My bottom three singers this week are Paige, Tim, and Andrew with Tim making his exit. Of course this will start getting harder to call as we go along. Tune in tonight…..
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Countdown to the final 6 girls
This evening is only an hour, and the show manages to waste a good five minutes with some Ellen and Simon nonsense. Maybe it is that I am so busy wondering why Ellen is on his lap, that I don't realize that we are starting without film or fanfare and I miss the first couple of seconds of actual performance.
Katie Stevens "Break Away" Kelly Clarkson
Within in the first few moments of this song I am uncomfortable with the way it is going. It feels rushed and for the very first time, Katy does not have the strongest vocal. I love this girl's voice, but every week she seems to move farther away from what I am interested in listening to. It is a shame because she is really talented, but so desperate to please the judges that she isn't singing from her heart. Randy thought it was karaoke. Ellen thought it was a much better song choice than last week, but didn't feel the words she was singing. Kara thought she had a great radio voice, but that she didn't know herself as an artist. Simon told her that the got a ten out of ten for trying, but the song got a little gloomy. I actually thought he was telling her it sucked, but luckily he added "the energy out of it" or something like that.
Siobhan Magnus "House of the Rising Sun" The Animals
Siobhan opened acappella and had an amazingly moving vocal. She sang the song for her dad, who was in the audience and the performance was really moving and different from any that she has done so far. Randy was a huge fan and loved the surprise. Ellen is from New Orleans and she was moved and captivated. Kara loved it, but Simon was not a fan. He was waiting for another moment like she had last week. She can't scream a big note every darn week Simon.
Lacy Brown "The Story" Brandi Carlile
This song was the perfect choice for Lacy and she finally has a solid, strong vocal that connected with the audience. I still find her a very inconsistent, but I really enjoyed her control and her range, and for the first time it looked like her nerves were back under control. Maybe it is because she stayed seated? Randy thought it was so much better. Ellen thought is sounded like it was written for her. Kara thought is was a brilliant choice and said that this performance reminded her of why she was in the competition. Simon told her it was sung very well.
Katelyn Epperly "I Feel the Earth Move" Carole King
I loved this song growing up, and I think Katelyn is able to capture some of that original vibe, since she has the wild hair and she is standing at the piano My problem with it was that it didn't feel very current, although I thought she looked and sounded great. I just don't see this song coming on the heels of Coldplay. Overall, it was pretty forgettable and nothing I would download on I-tunes (If I want to revisit that song I can listen to the original).Randy didn't feel like the song had anything to do with her. Ellen didn't think it would get people to vote. Kara thought she quit competing. Simon told her he liked her hair but the performance felt like request night at a restaurant. In Katelyn's defense, she was trying to tone down the corny performance per Simon's instructions. Whatever the reason, I think this could get her bumped.
DiDi Benami "Rhianna" Fleetwood Mac
DiDi is one the contestants that I consistently enjoy every week and the judges just don't get her. I was sick for her last week after how they raked her over the coals when she had such a fantastic vocal. From the first note I am sucked in, and I thought she had a brilliant arrangement and had a perfect vocal. I am gearing up for the judges to bash her and wondering what in the world she could have done to make them not want her to succeed, but finally the judges unanimously agree with me. Kara even said it was her favorite moment of the season so far. Simon told her she was head and shoulders above the rest. I am not sure that DiDi will be able to win the prize, but she 100% belongs in that top 12 and in my eyes has not had a bad performance yet.
Paige Miles "Smile" Nat King Cole
Paige starts off a little rough, like she is singing at a funeral of a dear friend. She looks completely unsettled vocally and for the first time is pitchy, with notes going sharp right and left. The arrangement is the worst I have heard. Randy said it didn't work. It was like a banquet vocal. Ellen said the song was supposed to be uplifting, but it wasn't. Kara said it was all wrong. Simon repeated what everybody else said, BUT he said it while twisting his nipples. So there was that. Paige said she was a huge fan of MJ's and this song kept getting her emotional which made the vocal get out of control. I was a fan of MJ's music too, but seriously? On the most important night of the competition? I think Paige will be gone, which is a shame because she has a great voice and a beautiful smile (ironically).
Crystal Bowersox "Gimme One Reason" Tracy Chapman
I love this song and Crystal did not disappoint. The performance was superior to anyone elses because she already sounds and looks like someone who has made it. She brought all of the soulfulness that Tracy did, and still made it sound like her own song. I am worried about her health. She had to sit almost immediately after singing, and while she looked fearless during the performance, during the critique she looked winded and unsteady. I hope this girl is going to be able to do this competition, because she has what it takes to win it. Randy was blown away and Ellen had run out of adjectives. Kara told her she always picks the right song because she knows who she is. Simon said it was a million billionth percent for sure that she will be in the top 12 and that the competition was hers to lose.
Lilly Scott "I Fall to Pieces" Patsy Cline
I love this girl, and while this wasn't my favorite performance of hers, I thought she showed the same staying power as Crystal. It is hard to take Patsy Cline to an Indie feel, but she almost did it. Randy thought she did a good job. Ellen loved it. (Whenever we get to the last performance of an hour long, show the critique's start getting quicker). Simon thought it was brave, but it could have been risky.
So who is going home Thursday? My bet is Paige and Katelyn. There is just too much talent to ever have an off night, no matter how good you are on this particular season. I will be blogging Thursday afternoon instead of tomorrow. I have bunco this evening-so be patient with me.
Katie Stevens "Break Away" Kelly Clarkson
Within in the first few moments of this song I am uncomfortable with the way it is going. It feels rushed and for the very first time, Katy does not have the strongest vocal. I love this girl's voice, but every week she seems to move farther away from what I am interested in listening to. It is a shame because she is really talented, but so desperate to please the judges that she isn't singing from her heart. Randy thought it was karaoke. Ellen thought it was a much better song choice than last week, but didn't feel the words she was singing. Kara thought she had a great radio voice, but that she didn't know herself as an artist. Simon told her that the got a ten out of ten for trying, but the song got a little gloomy. I actually thought he was telling her it sucked, but luckily he added "the energy out of it" or something like that.
Siobhan Magnus "House of the Rising Sun" The Animals
Siobhan opened acappella and had an amazingly moving vocal. She sang the song for her dad, who was in the audience and the performance was really moving and different from any that she has done so far. Randy was a huge fan and loved the surprise. Ellen is from New Orleans and she was moved and captivated. Kara loved it, but Simon was not a fan. He was waiting for another moment like she had last week. She can't scream a big note every darn week Simon.
Lacy Brown "The Story" Brandi Carlile
This song was the perfect choice for Lacy and she finally has a solid, strong vocal that connected with the audience. I still find her a very inconsistent, but I really enjoyed her control and her range, and for the first time it looked like her nerves were back under control. Maybe it is because she stayed seated? Randy thought it was so much better. Ellen thought is sounded like it was written for her. Kara thought is was a brilliant choice and said that this performance reminded her of why she was in the competition. Simon told her it was sung very well.
Katelyn Epperly "I Feel the Earth Move" Carole King
I loved this song growing up, and I think Katelyn is able to capture some of that original vibe, since she has the wild hair and she is standing at the piano My problem with it was that it didn't feel very current, although I thought she looked and sounded great. I just don't see this song coming on the heels of Coldplay. Overall, it was pretty forgettable and nothing I would download on I-tunes (If I want to revisit that song I can listen to the original).Randy didn't feel like the song had anything to do with her. Ellen didn't think it would get people to vote. Kara thought she quit competing. Simon told her he liked her hair but the performance felt like request night at a restaurant. In Katelyn's defense, she was trying to tone down the corny performance per Simon's instructions. Whatever the reason, I think this could get her bumped.
DiDi Benami "Rhianna" Fleetwood Mac
DiDi is one the contestants that I consistently enjoy every week and the judges just don't get her. I was sick for her last week after how they raked her over the coals when she had such a fantastic vocal. From the first note I am sucked in, and I thought she had a brilliant arrangement and had a perfect vocal. I am gearing up for the judges to bash her and wondering what in the world she could have done to make them not want her to succeed, but finally the judges unanimously agree with me. Kara even said it was her favorite moment of the season so far. Simon told her she was head and shoulders above the rest. I am not sure that DiDi will be able to win the prize, but she 100% belongs in that top 12 and in my eyes has not had a bad performance yet.
Paige Miles "Smile" Nat King Cole
Paige starts off a little rough, like she is singing at a funeral of a dear friend. She looks completely unsettled vocally and for the first time is pitchy, with notes going sharp right and left. The arrangement is the worst I have heard. Randy said it didn't work. It was like a banquet vocal. Ellen said the song was supposed to be uplifting, but it wasn't. Kara said it was all wrong. Simon repeated what everybody else said, BUT he said it while twisting his nipples. So there was that. Paige said she was a huge fan of MJ's and this song kept getting her emotional which made the vocal get out of control. I was a fan of MJ's music too, but seriously? On the most important night of the competition? I think Paige will be gone, which is a shame because she has a great voice and a beautiful smile (ironically).
Crystal Bowersox "Gimme One Reason" Tracy Chapman
I love this song and Crystal did not disappoint. The performance was superior to anyone elses because she already sounds and looks like someone who has made it. She brought all of the soulfulness that Tracy did, and still made it sound like her own song. I am worried about her health. She had to sit almost immediately after singing, and while she looked fearless during the performance, during the critique she looked winded and unsteady. I hope this girl is going to be able to do this competition, because she has what it takes to win it. Randy was blown away and Ellen had run out of adjectives. Kara told her she always picks the right song because she knows who she is. Simon said it was a million billionth percent for sure that she will be in the top 12 and that the competition was hers to lose.
Lilly Scott "I Fall to Pieces" Patsy Cline
I love this girl, and while this wasn't my favorite performance of hers, I thought she showed the same staying power as Crystal. It is hard to take Patsy Cline to an Indie feel, but she almost did it. Randy thought she did a good job. Ellen loved it. (Whenever we get to the last performance of an hour long, show the critique's start getting quicker). Simon thought it was brave, but it could have been risky.
So who is going home Thursday? My bet is Paige and Katelyn. There is just too much talent to ever have an off night, no matter how good you are on this particular season. I will be blogging Thursday afternoon instead of tomorrow. I have bunco this evening-so be patient with me.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Top 20 (I watched them all tonight)
Since I was at the theater enjoying The Diary of Anne Frank last night, I had to watch back to back episodes of Idol tonight. Since I have so much to report on, I am not going to waste any time on chit chat. I will say that after watching the shows back to back, the girls are a stronger group in general than the boys and I am really getting excited about this competition. There are a couple of potential stars in this group and I can't wait to watch them grow. Let's break it down:
Michael Lynche
Big Mike was first up and confessed that along with football he was in musical theater in school. He listened hard to the judges last week about song selection and decided to challenge himself with James Brown's "This is a Man's World". From the first note, I was hooked. Mike is a natural performer, but this song gave him that chance to show off how strong of a contender he is vocally. He turned out a star quality performance that was in a completely different league than his previous performance. Randy said the season was getting started and gave him a standing "O". Ellen said that it was the song to beat. Kara said he went from a singer to a star. Simon compared him to a pussy cat last week to a lion this week.
John Park
John is part of a vocal group in Chicago and seemed to have a difficult time with the criticism last week. He selected "Gravity" by John Mayer. He is a really likable guy with a great voice, but he was so focused on the notes and trying to change his onstage persona, that he lost that natural honesty that John Mayer brings to his music. While he was so much better than last week, there was nothing original about this performance. Randy thought it wasn't special. Ellen thought it could have had more soul. Kara said it was way better than last week, but he lacked a connection to the song and the audience. Simon thought the performance was "so what" and not believable.
Casey Jones
Casey openly admitted that there are better singers than him in this competition, but he is doing what he can to stay in it. I guess that is buy having a secret ritual in a box? Casey decided to go with "I don't wanna be" and to jam out on his electric guitar. Casey is a good looking guy who has great potential, but this particular song went from a strong start to a vocally shaky middle and then a pointless guitar jam. This is a singing competition, so from that standpoint I am comparing him to Bo Bice on that stage and how he blew everyone away back in Season 4 with this song. It was not even close for me. Randy loved it. Ellen thought it was a little safe. Kara thought he took two steps backward, that he forgot about the singing. Simon thought it was too much like trying to be a rock star.
Alex Lambert
He may have the same last name as last season's Adam, but this kid has so much to conquer in nerves and self confidence before he steps onstage that you can't even compare the two. He chose "Everybody Knows" by John Legend and decided to play his guitar. Last week I REALLY wanted this kid to go home, but this performance intrigued me. He was SO much better than last week, and the interesting qualities in his voice were finally showcased. I found myself hoping I get to hear something else. Randy loved the growth. Ellen talked about the banana ripening (in a good way). Kara thought it was a great improvement. Simon told him he needs to get the killer instinct if he wants to stay.
Toddrick Hall
Toddrick is one that I really liked in his audition film, but has yet to reconnect with me since. He decided on Tina Turner's "What's love got to do with it" and I am bored to tears. No one would ever buy this I-tune and play it in their car, let's be real. I felt sorry for him, because it is obvious he is going at this like a puzzle to crack instead of just enjoying being a singer. Randy told him his voice was hot, but it was not a great arrangement. Ellen said it was not the right song. Kara told him to stick to what he does best. Simon thought he sounded like a theme park singer.
Jermaine Sellers
After some weird Onesie footage, Jermaine came out with the strangest version of "What's going on" that I have ever heard. It was really hokey, and again, like he was trying to figure out the Idol formula instead of just being a singer who knows what he is good at. Randy said it was better than last week. Ellen loved his style, but wasn't thrilled with the song either. Kara told him to pull back. Not every song needs every vocal trick. Simon thought it was too cabaret and old fashioned. I think Jermaine is far too concerned with trying to figure out what will please the judges that he has lost himself in the process.
Andrew Garcia
Andrew has yet to captivate the judges like he did during Hollywood week with his rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up". He performed "You give me something" and while he was able to showcase his unique voice at some points, he also had some pitch issues were surprising. There was also some joy lacking from the performance. Randy said that he was way pitchy. Ellen liked it. Kara thought he was too safe and that they needed to be surprised. Simon was just plain frustrated that he can't pick the right song.
Aaron Kelly
Aaron is the cutest young man. He brings 100% gratitude and joy with him to each interview and to the stage. He is just young and needs to mature. He chose "My Girl", and the vocal itself was strong, but the falsetto set my teeth on edge and the dancing was a little awkward. Overall, he is very likable and has so much potential that I can't really imagine him going home yet. Randy thought the first half was brilliant but the second half was rough. Ellen loved his confidence but thought the song was a little forgettable. Kara thought he was consistent and she liked it. Simon didn't like the song and thought he went a little bit backwards.
Tim Urban
Tim was my second pick to go home last week, (by the way-did not see the boys and girls the same way America did last week)and this week he partially changed my mind. He sang "Come get high", which was a great song with his voice, and had a much more sincere performance than he was able to deliver last week. He looked and sounded much better overall. Randy didn't get it. Ellen thought he lacked stage presence. Kara liked the song choice but didn't think he made it his own. Simon thought there was marked improvement and he was extremely impressed with Tim's work ethic. Did anyone else start to get tired of Kara and Simon and all the fake flirting? Could we skip that and make the show an hour and a half?
Lee Dewyze
Lee is one of these guys that I have a huge soft spot for. I have a special person in my life who just needed a few people outside of his family to believe in him before he could see the wonderful person that he is. When I heard Lee talk about his past bad choices and how he had a teacher who believed in him, it really touched me. He chose a song that I personally can't stand, "Lips of an Angel" (sorry I hate lame lyrics like this), but he was so raw and passionate that I forgive the few bum notes and nervous tugging at the jeans and completely surrendered to his performance.This is a voice I already can envision on the radio. Randy thought the song wasn't perfect but it was good. Ellen thought he had passion. Kara thought it was a big improvement from the week before. Simon told him to raise his shoulders because he is the one to beat. I think if Lee can get the nerves under control, his voice will not go flat. Once he does that, he will get even better.
Crystal Bowersox
We aren't privy to the details of Crystal's hospitalization, but it seemed extremely serious given the judges amazement that she was back. The only scoop I could find was that the illness was related to her diabetes and that the show was aware of her health issues. She sang "Long as I can see the Light" and it was just absolutely perfect. This girl has so much talent and knows exactly what she is doing when she is onstage. Randy loved that she was original. Ellen said she had raw natural talent. Kara thought it was authentic and that she hit a new level. Simon said that he for the first time sees a true artist on that stage.
Haeley Vaughn
God love this girl, she is a sweet thing. She is just too young for this kind of competition. She sang "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus, and while it is better than last week's Beatles massacre, this performance felt like a high school talent show. Her lisp was extremely pronounced while she was singing this week as well.Randy thought it was excruciating. Ellen told her not to stop smiling but that she was not connected to that song. Kara told her that she needed a year of training and growing. Simon thought it was a complete and utter mess.
Lacey Brown
Lacey and Haeley were the girls who I thought should have gone home last week, so I in a hurry to get through this performance before Lacey embarrassed herself again. She chose (surprise!) "Kiss me", because she wanted to do that song (she really did) even before Kara suggested it. While her voice is unique and this song is on key 80% of the time instead of the 10% it was last week, I find myself watching Big Mike in the audience dancing around and avoiding looking at Lacey's awkward movement on stage. What does that tell you? Randy thought she had a couple of good moments. Ellen thought she was adorable. Kara liked her tone but told her that she needed to step it up. Simon thought it was only marginally better and he didn't see any artistry. I stand by my prediction of last week. Lacey and Haeley still need to go.
Katie Stevens
Katie decided to heed the judges advice about staying youthful and selected "Put your record on". She did dress a little younger, so she was paying attention and taking notes. Katie has a ton of self confidence and she truly has a fantastic voice. My problem with this performance was that it felt very fake. I think that Katie could fall into the David Archuleta problem in Season 7.It is like these young kids have been singing all of mom and dad's favorites for dinner parties and talent shows for so long that they don't have any idea of what kind of music they even like. Randy thought it had bright moments. Ellen loved her voice, but thought it was still too old. Kara thought the end was better than the beginning. Simon told her she needed to figure out what kind of artist she wanted to be quickly. Katie is a natural born singer, but the fact that she couldn't find one singer under twenty that she could connect with was a huge warning sign if she is going to go the distance.
Didi Benami
I really like Didi, and apparently I heard a different performance than the judges did tonight. Didi sang "Lean on Me" and I actually really enjoyed her voice and I felt her in the song. Realistically, I would not probably download it on I-tunes, but in the moment I enjoyed her and believed her. Randy, Ellen, Kara and Simon all thought it would work in a Karaoke bar, that it was unoriginal and Simon even said she wasted her opportunity. This is one of those moments when I wonder after the judges go back and watch the film if they will hear what I did and take back some of their harsh criticism.
Michelle Delamor
Michelle sang Creed's "With Arms Wide Open". I really don't like this song. I thought Michelle started off strong but halfway through the song went all over the place. For me, the last couple of moments couldn't end fast enough. Randy thought it fell flat, but the rest of the judges thought she was fabulous. This time I don't get it.
Lilly Scott
This girl was my favorite from last week. She infused her indie vibe into "A change is gonna come" and once again it was my favorite of the night. She has such a unique quality to her voice, and her performance style is really honest. This time the judges agreed with me, except Simon still felt Crystal's performance was the best of the night. (Can you tell it is after 10 p.m. and I am starting to get tired? Prepare for the blog to start moving at an even quicker pace).
Katelyn Epperly
Katelyn's film was intriguing to me, because each time she is interviewed I find out something that negates what I originally thought about her. She accompanied herself on piano, this week, and sang Coldplay's "The Scientist". The tempo was in super slow motion. Her voice actually had some great moments once she got past the first line. When she started I thought for one split second that she was going to pull a Brooke and ask to start over, but once she started singing she had a strong vocal. Randy thought the last couple of notes weren't great. Ellen thought it was too slow. Kara told Katelyn that she kind of loved her, but that she needed to figure out who she was. Simon thought it was a smart song choice but to be careful not to get corny.
Paige Miles
Paige is extremely likable in her film and onstage. She powers through Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" and the vocal is pretty dead on to the original. She has a great voice and great energy, but even with all that going for her, this was kind of forgettable for me. Randy liked it. Ellen loved it. Kara wrote it, and was perplexed by the smiling while singing such an angry song. Simon thought it was not the right song and is with me on the whole forgettable thing.
Siobhan Magnus
This girl's film cracks me up. She is one odd little Missy. She describes giving herself a Mohawk and I am totally fascinated at what might be going on that head of hers. She sings Aretha Franklin's "Think" and out of her little mouth came this big old voice hitting notes like Adam Lambert, but without the tongue or screaming. (No slam to Adam, I just found the tongue off putting). Randy told her she slayed it. Ellen said it was so good. Kara was blown away by the note, which Siobhan explained that she taught herself in the shower. Simon thought it had equal parts of fantastic and terrible, but that she was interesting.
Who goes?
Jermaine Sellers and John Park out of the boys and for the girls I think it will be Haeley Vaughn and Lacey Brown. But what do I know? Tell me what you think and tune in tomorrow....
Michael Lynche
Big Mike was first up and confessed that along with football he was in musical theater in school. He listened hard to the judges last week about song selection and decided to challenge himself with James Brown's "This is a Man's World". From the first note, I was hooked. Mike is a natural performer, but this song gave him that chance to show off how strong of a contender he is vocally. He turned out a star quality performance that was in a completely different league than his previous performance. Randy said the season was getting started and gave him a standing "O". Ellen said that it was the song to beat. Kara said he went from a singer to a star. Simon compared him to a pussy cat last week to a lion this week.
John Park
John is part of a vocal group in Chicago and seemed to have a difficult time with the criticism last week. He selected "Gravity" by John Mayer. He is a really likable guy with a great voice, but he was so focused on the notes and trying to change his onstage persona, that he lost that natural honesty that John Mayer brings to his music. While he was so much better than last week, there was nothing original about this performance. Randy thought it wasn't special. Ellen thought it could have had more soul. Kara said it was way better than last week, but he lacked a connection to the song and the audience. Simon thought the performance was "so what" and not believable.
Casey Jones
Casey openly admitted that there are better singers than him in this competition, but he is doing what he can to stay in it. I guess that is buy having a secret ritual in a box? Casey decided to go with "I don't wanna be" and to jam out on his electric guitar. Casey is a good looking guy who has great potential, but this particular song went from a strong start to a vocally shaky middle and then a pointless guitar jam. This is a singing competition, so from that standpoint I am comparing him to Bo Bice on that stage and how he blew everyone away back in Season 4 with this song. It was not even close for me. Randy loved it. Ellen thought it was a little safe. Kara thought he took two steps backward, that he forgot about the singing. Simon thought it was too much like trying to be a rock star.
Alex Lambert
He may have the same last name as last season's Adam, but this kid has so much to conquer in nerves and self confidence before he steps onstage that you can't even compare the two. He chose "Everybody Knows" by John Legend and decided to play his guitar. Last week I REALLY wanted this kid to go home, but this performance intrigued me. He was SO much better than last week, and the interesting qualities in his voice were finally showcased. I found myself hoping I get to hear something else. Randy loved the growth. Ellen talked about the banana ripening (in a good way). Kara thought it was a great improvement. Simon told him he needs to get the killer instinct if he wants to stay.
Toddrick Hall
Toddrick is one that I really liked in his audition film, but has yet to reconnect with me since. He decided on Tina Turner's "What's love got to do with it" and I am bored to tears. No one would ever buy this I-tune and play it in their car, let's be real. I felt sorry for him, because it is obvious he is going at this like a puzzle to crack instead of just enjoying being a singer. Randy told him his voice was hot, but it was not a great arrangement. Ellen said it was not the right song. Kara told him to stick to what he does best. Simon thought he sounded like a theme park singer.
Jermaine Sellers
After some weird Onesie footage, Jermaine came out with the strangest version of "What's going on" that I have ever heard. It was really hokey, and again, like he was trying to figure out the Idol formula instead of just being a singer who knows what he is good at. Randy said it was better than last week. Ellen loved his style, but wasn't thrilled with the song either. Kara told him to pull back. Not every song needs every vocal trick. Simon thought it was too cabaret and old fashioned. I think Jermaine is far too concerned with trying to figure out what will please the judges that he has lost himself in the process.
Andrew Garcia
Andrew has yet to captivate the judges like he did during Hollywood week with his rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up". He performed "You give me something" and while he was able to showcase his unique voice at some points, he also had some pitch issues were surprising. There was also some joy lacking from the performance. Randy said that he was way pitchy. Ellen liked it. Kara thought he was too safe and that they needed to be surprised. Simon was just plain frustrated that he can't pick the right song.
Aaron Kelly
Aaron is the cutest young man. He brings 100% gratitude and joy with him to each interview and to the stage. He is just young and needs to mature. He chose "My Girl", and the vocal itself was strong, but the falsetto set my teeth on edge and the dancing was a little awkward. Overall, he is very likable and has so much potential that I can't really imagine him going home yet. Randy thought the first half was brilliant but the second half was rough. Ellen loved his confidence but thought the song was a little forgettable. Kara thought he was consistent and she liked it. Simon didn't like the song and thought he went a little bit backwards.
Tim Urban
Tim was my second pick to go home last week, (by the way-did not see the boys and girls the same way America did last week)and this week he partially changed my mind. He sang "Come get high", which was a great song with his voice, and had a much more sincere performance than he was able to deliver last week. He looked and sounded much better overall. Randy didn't get it. Ellen thought he lacked stage presence. Kara liked the song choice but didn't think he made it his own. Simon thought there was marked improvement and he was extremely impressed with Tim's work ethic. Did anyone else start to get tired of Kara and Simon and all the fake flirting? Could we skip that and make the show an hour and a half?
Lee Dewyze
Lee is one of these guys that I have a huge soft spot for. I have a special person in my life who just needed a few people outside of his family to believe in him before he could see the wonderful person that he is. When I heard Lee talk about his past bad choices and how he had a teacher who believed in him, it really touched me. He chose a song that I personally can't stand, "Lips of an Angel" (sorry I hate lame lyrics like this), but he was so raw and passionate that I forgive the few bum notes and nervous tugging at the jeans and completely surrendered to his performance.This is a voice I already can envision on the radio. Randy thought the song wasn't perfect but it was good. Ellen thought he had passion. Kara thought it was a big improvement from the week before. Simon told him to raise his shoulders because he is the one to beat. I think if Lee can get the nerves under control, his voice will not go flat. Once he does that, he will get even better.
Crystal Bowersox
We aren't privy to the details of Crystal's hospitalization, but it seemed extremely serious given the judges amazement that she was back. The only scoop I could find was that the illness was related to her diabetes and that the show was aware of her health issues. She sang "Long as I can see the Light" and it was just absolutely perfect. This girl has so much talent and knows exactly what she is doing when she is onstage. Randy loved that she was original. Ellen said she had raw natural talent. Kara thought it was authentic and that she hit a new level. Simon said that he for the first time sees a true artist on that stage.
Haeley Vaughn
God love this girl, she is a sweet thing. She is just too young for this kind of competition. She sang "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus, and while it is better than last week's Beatles massacre, this performance felt like a high school talent show. Her lisp was extremely pronounced while she was singing this week as well.Randy thought it was excruciating. Ellen told her not to stop smiling but that she was not connected to that song. Kara told her that she needed a year of training and growing. Simon thought it was a complete and utter mess.
Lacey Brown
Lacey and Haeley were the girls who I thought should have gone home last week, so I in a hurry to get through this performance before Lacey embarrassed herself again. She chose (surprise!) "Kiss me", because she wanted to do that song (she really did) even before Kara suggested it. While her voice is unique and this song is on key 80% of the time instead of the 10% it was last week, I find myself watching Big Mike in the audience dancing around and avoiding looking at Lacey's awkward movement on stage. What does that tell you? Randy thought she had a couple of good moments. Ellen thought she was adorable. Kara liked her tone but told her that she needed to step it up. Simon thought it was only marginally better and he didn't see any artistry. I stand by my prediction of last week. Lacey and Haeley still need to go.
Katie Stevens
Katie decided to heed the judges advice about staying youthful and selected "Put your record on". She did dress a little younger, so she was paying attention and taking notes. Katie has a ton of self confidence and she truly has a fantastic voice. My problem with this performance was that it felt very fake. I think that Katie could fall into the David Archuleta problem in Season 7.It is like these young kids have been singing all of mom and dad's favorites for dinner parties and talent shows for so long that they don't have any idea of what kind of music they even like. Randy thought it had bright moments. Ellen loved her voice, but thought it was still too old. Kara thought the end was better than the beginning. Simon told her she needed to figure out what kind of artist she wanted to be quickly. Katie is a natural born singer, but the fact that she couldn't find one singer under twenty that she could connect with was a huge warning sign if she is going to go the distance.
Didi Benami
I really like Didi, and apparently I heard a different performance than the judges did tonight. Didi sang "Lean on Me" and I actually really enjoyed her voice and I felt her in the song. Realistically, I would not probably download it on I-tunes, but in the moment I enjoyed her and believed her. Randy, Ellen, Kara and Simon all thought it would work in a Karaoke bar, that it was unoriginal and Simon even said she wasted her opportunity. This is one of those moments when I wonder after the judges go back and watch the film if they will hear what I did and take back some of their harsh criticism.
Michelle Delamor
Michelle sang Creed's "With Arms Wide Open". I really don't like this song. I thought Michelle started off strong but halfway through the song went all over the place. For me, the last couple of moments couldn't end fast enough. Randy thought it fell flat, but the rest of the judges thought she was fabulous. This time I don't get it.
Lilly Scott
This girl was my favorite from last week. She infused her indie vibe into "A change is gonna come" and once again it was my favorite of the night. She has such a unique quality to her voice, and her performance style is really honest. This time the judges agreed with me, except Simon still felt Crystal's performance was the best of the night. (Can you tell it is after 10 p.m. and I am starting to get tired? Prepare for the blog to start moving at an even quicker pace).
Katelyn Epperly
Katelyn's film was intriguing to me, because each time she is interviewed I find out something that negates what I originally thought about her. She accompanied herself on piano, this week, and sang Coldplay's "The Scientist". The tempo was in super slow motion. Her voice actually had some great moments once she got past the first line. When she started I thought for one split second that she was going to pull a Brooke and ask to start over, but once she started singing she had a strong vocal. Randy thought the last couple of notes weren't great. Ellen thought it was too slow. Kara told Katelyn that she kind of loved her, but that she needed to figure out who she was. Simon thought it was a smart song choice but to be careful not to get corny.
Paige Miles
Paige is extremely likable in her film and onstage. She powers through Kelly Clarkson's "Walk Away" and the vocal is pretty dead on to the original. She has a great voice and great energy, but even with all that going for her, this was kind of forgettable for me. Randy liked it. Ellen loved it. Kara wrote it, and was perplexed by the smiling while singing such an angry song. Simon thought it was not the right song and is with me on the whole forgettable thing.
Siobhan Magnus
This girl's film cracks me up. She is one odd little Missy. She describes giving herself a Mohawk and I am totally fascinated at what might be going on that head of hers. She sings Aretha Franklin's "Think" and out of her little mouth came this big old voice hitting notes like Adam Lambert, but without the tongue or screaming. (No slam to Adam, I just found the tongue off putting). Randy told her she slayed it. Ellen said it was so good. Kara was blown away by the note, which Siobhan explained that she taught herself in the shower. Simon thought it had equal parts of fantastic and terrible, but that she was interesting.
Who goes?
Jermaine Sellers and John Park out of the boys and for the girls I think it will be Haeley Vaughn and Lacey Brown. But what do I know? Tell me what you think and tune in tomorrow....
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Top Twelve Girls
he day is here and Idol is forced to let us watch these contestants sing a complete song, even if it is only a minute and a half long. I am excited to meet this season’s top 12 girls and as always, am anxious to see who makes the right song choice and who can conquer the nerves enough to bring their A game. After some ridiculous film segment with a fake Simon hand on a fake Ellen leg, we are finally on our way.
Paige Miles
Paige is a 24 year old preschool teacher from Naples, FLA. She chose 'All Right Now,' by Bad Company. I was instantly perplexed with the song choice, although it is obvious that she has a great voice and she seemed at home on stage. My problem with Paige was her enunciation. There were some words that were kind of like English, but not quite. Overall I thought the song was a strange choice for her. Simon commented that she had the best voice of all of the girls (Really?), but that this song choice made her seem like a wedding singer. Kara thought she was brilliant, (did I watch the same performance?). Randy told Paige that this type of song is a group sing-along which made the chorus a tricky thing for her, but thought she sounded great. Ellen thought she controlled her nerves and did a great job. I am pretty sure the thing I will remember the most about this performance was what she revealed at the end, that she was sewn into her dress and needed to “pee”.
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashely is a 22 year old from Chelsea, Massachusetts, who chose Leona Lewis’s, ‘Happy’. It started off just out of her range and she was barely audible with those beginning low notes. At this point the nerves started to kick in and whatever big notes she needed to hit were not memorable. Kara told her it was a big song and she had some nice moments. Randy thought she would be compared to the original and he couldn’t see her in the song. Ellen wanted to see her step out and do a different vibe. Simon thought it was clumsy and that she sounded copy cat and not contemporary. She was visibly upset by the comments, but Ryan is able to save the moment with some positive feedback.
Janelle Wheeler
Janelle is 24 and hails from Orlando. She has the perfect voice for her song choice, 'What About Love' by Heart, but she is so flipping nervous that the microphone is shaking in her hand. You can tell if she can get this anxiety under control and believe in herself, she has a really interesting voice, but all that shaking caused some pitch and speed problems. Randy said it was too big for her voice. Ellen liked it. Simon gave it 100% effort that delivered 65% results. Kara said it was too big of a song for her and to pick something that would make her sound original.
Lilly Scott
Lilly Scott is a 20 year old from Littleton, Colorado. She brings out her guitar and tackles The Beatles' 'Fixing a Hole.' I am a huge Beatles fan, but I don’t recognize this song. She instantly has me hooked, and it is one of my favorites of the night. She actually looks like she has some experience onstage, and she knows who she is as an artist. Ellen said “That is what we were talking about”. Simon thought she lacked star quality, but definitely was the best of the night. Kara said she was believable. Randy loved that she is honest. I will remember this girl.
Katelyn Epperly
Katy is only 19 and is from Des Moines, Iowa. She also picks the Beatles, but she goes with 'Oh Darling.' She has a great voice, so I don’t want to criticize the vocal, but that goofy outfit and hair and red lipstick seem like she should be in a musical, not a for real contemporary artist. Simon said there were elements that were good, but others that were messy. Kara said she didn’t like the makeover, which didn’t go over so great with the crowd. I am glad I wasn’t the only one. Randy loved her vibe, her makeup and her tone. Ellen thought she was interesting.
Haeley Vaughn
Haeley is one of the youngsters this season and at 16 this could go either way. She has a great smile, but her Beatle’s take on 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' was pretty unusual, and bordered on shouting at times. She has a great smile, and I have a feeling you will either love her or hate her. Kara thought it was rough, but that she had and infectious smile. Randy thought she was not quite as pleasing as she could have been. Ellen really liked it. Simon thought it was terrible and she smiled too much. Based on the overall reaction, I think she may go home over this.
Lacey Brown
Lacey is 24 from Amarillo, TX. She chooses 'Landslide,' by Fleetwood Mac. It's not good. She had major pitch problems and it caused some really strange phrasing choices. Randy said it was the wrong choice and that it was terrible. Ellen kindly told her that she was better than that song. Simon thought it was depressing, boring and indulgent. Kara was surprised, because they hadn’t heard the pitch issues from her before. This girl is going home.
Michelle Delamor
Michelle is a 22 year old from Miami who had a really big family who must not have very demanding jobs since they were in every film clip. Every season someone sings 'Fallin'' by Alicia Keys, so why should this one be any different. She has a fantastic voice, but she does nothing original to the song. Ellen thought it was fantastic, but safe. Simon thought it was professional, but no wow factor. Kara thought she was very commercial and technically immaculate but needs to work on her believability. Randy thought she did a pretty good song, but not quite as good as the original.
Didi Benami
Didi is from Knoxville and is 23. She put her own spin on 'The Way I Am' by Ingrid Michaelson. It was a mixed bag. I liked her originality, and I really love her voice, but she did some things with the melody that maybe weren’t a change for the better, and her last note was a killer. Simon said there are too many people trying to be sound a likes. He needed a spark. Kara thought she made some interesting changes. Randy said it was cool, but no star factor. Ellen said her first impression was that it was too low-key.
Siobhan Magnus
This 19 year old from Cape Cod is quite bizarre in her film. She had a great last performance in Hollywood, and decides to try Chris Isaac's 'Wicked Game'. This is just about the sexiest song around, so I am worried because she doesn’t seem old enough to pull off that kind of passion. She actually has a nice quality to her voice, and does a respectable job. Kara liked her, but told her to be careful about the nasal quality. Randy thought she stood stick with big songs to show off her pipes. Ellen loved it and thought she was mysterious. Simon thought she was a funny little thing. While he liked it, he liked her singing Stevie Wonder better. She seems mildly confused by the comments.
Crystal Bowersox
Crystal is 24 and is from Elliston, Ohio. She accompanies herself to "Hand in my Pocket," by Alanis Morrisette, which is an interesting choice. She obviously got my memo about the Crest White Strips. She has total natural talent and could probably sing anything. This just is not my favorite song. Randy was a HUGE fan. Ellen thought she added something fresh to the show. Simon thought she should have done David Bowie. Crystal was intrigued by that, and really listened to the criticism. Kara thought she had greatness.
Katie Stevens
Katie is only 17 and if from Middlebury, Connecticut. Of all songs, she picks 'Feeling Good,' by Michael Buble. Don’t get me wrong, this girl is amazing and has the voice for the song, but she should be in a pair of blue jeans and singing something fun. Ellen agreed with me, she had a great performance but she would love to see her be 17. Simon also thought it was too old for her. Kara said she has a natural gift and she needs to be careful because she went off key a little. Randy thought she was going too sharp and pushing too hard.
If there are typos, please accept my apologies. I have bunko at my house in 1 hour and am writing my thoughts very quickly. I won’t be able to blog until tomorrow after work, I can’t watch the show until then. Tune in and let me know what you are thinking!!
Paige Miles
Paige is a 24 year old preschool teacher from Naples, FLA. She chose 'All Right Now,' by Bad Company. I was instantly perplexed with the song choice, although it is obvious that she has a great voice and she seemed at home on stage. My problem with Paige was her enunciation. There were some words that were kind of like English, but not quite. Overall I thought the song was a strange choice for her. Simon commented that she had the best voice of all of the girls (Really?), but that this song choice made her seem like a wedding singer. Kara thought she was brilliant, (did I watch the same performance?). Randy told Paige that this type of song is a group sing-along which made the chorus a tricky thing for her, but thought she sounded great. Ellen thought she controlled her nerves and did a great job. I am pretty sure the thing I will remember the most about this performance was what she revealed at the end, that she was sewn into her dress and needed to “pee”.
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashely is a 22 year old from Chelsea, Massachusetts, who chose Leona Lewis’s, ‘Happy’. It started off just out of her range and she was barely audible with those beginning low notes. At this point the nerves started to kick in and whatever big notes she needed to hit were not memorable. Kara told her it was a big song and she had some nice moments. Randy thought she would be compared to the original and he couldn’t see her in the song. Ellen wanted to see her step out and do a different vibe. Simon thought it was clumsy and that she sounded copy cat and not contemporary. She was visibly upset by the comments, but Ryan is able to save the moment with some positive feedback.
Janelle Wheeler
Janelle is 24 and hails from Orlando. She has the perfect voice for her song choice, 'What About Love' by Heart, but she is so flipping nervous that the microphone is shaking in her hand. You can tell if she can get this anxiety under control and believe in herself, she has a really interesting voice, but all that shaking caused some pitch and speed problems. Randy said it was too big for her voice. Ellen liked it. Simon gave it 100% effort that delivered 65% results. Kara said it was too big of a song for her and to pick something that would make her sound original.
Lilly Scott
Lilly Scott is a 20 year old from Littleton, Colorado. She brings out her guitar and tackles The Beatles' 'Fixing a Hole.' I am a huge Beatles fan, but I don’t recognize this song. She instantly has me hooked, and it is one of my favorites of the night. She actually looks like she has some experience onstage, and she knows who she is as an artist. Ellen said “That is what we were talking about”. Simon thought she lacked star quality, but definitely was the best of the night. Kara said she was believable. Randy loved that she is honest. I will remember this girl.
Katelyn Epperly
Katy is only 19 and is from Des Moines, Iowa. She also picks the Beatles, but she goes with 'Oh Darling.' She has a great voice, so I don’t want to criticize the vocal, but that goofy outfit and hair and red lipstick seem like she should be in a musical, not a for real contemporary artist. Simon said there were elements that were good, but others that were messy. Kara said she didn’t like the makeover, which didn’t go over so great with the crowd. I am glad I wasn’t the only one. Randy loved her vibe, her makeup and her tone. Ellen thought she was interesting.
Haeley Vaughn
Haeley is one of the youngsters this season and at 16 this could go either way. She has a great smile, but her Beatle’s take on 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' was pretty unusual, and bordered on shouting at times. She has a great smile, and I have a feeling you will either love her or hate her. Kara thought it was rough, but that she had and infectious smile. Randy thought she was not quite as pleasing as she could have been. Ellen really liked it. Simon thought it was terrible and she smiled too much. Based on the overall reaction, I think she may go home over this.
Lacey Brown
Lacey is 24 from Amarillo, TX. She chooses 'Landslide,' by Fleetwood Mac. It's not good. She had major pitch problems and it caused some really strange phrasing choices. Randy said it was the wrong choice and that it was terrible. Ellen kindly told her that she was better than that song. Simon thought it was depressing, boring and indulgent. Kara was surprised, because they hadn’t heard the pitch issues from her before. This girl is going home.
Michelle Delamor
Michelle is a 22 year old from Miami who had a really big family who must not have very demanding jobs since they were in every film clip. Every season someone sings 'Fallin'' by Alicia Keys, so why should this one be any different. She has a fantastic voice, but she does nothing original to the song. Ellen thought it was fantastic, but safe. Simon thought it was professional, but no wow factor. Kara thought she was very commercial and technically immaculate but needs to work on her believability. Randy thought she did a pretty good song, but not quite as good as the original.
Didi Benami
Didi is from Knoxville and is 23. She put her own spin on 'The Way I Am' by Ingrid Michaelson. It was a mixed bag. I liked her originality, and I really love her voice, but she did some things with the melody that maybe weren’t a change for the better, and her last note was a killer. Simon said there are too many people trying to be sound a likes. He needed a spark. Kara thought she made some interesting changes. Randy said it was cool, but no star factor. Ellen said her first impression was that it was too low-key.
Siobhan Magnus
This 19 year old from Cape Cod is quite bizarre in her film. She had a great last performance in Hollywood, and decides to try Chris Isaac's 'Wicked Game'. This is just about the sexiest song around, so I am worried because she doesn’t seem old enough to pull off that kind of passion. She actually has a nice quality to her voice, and does a respectable job. Kara liked her, but told her to be careful about the nasal quality. Randy thought she stood stick with big songs to show off her pipes. Ellen loved it and thought she was mysterious. Simon thought she was a funny little thing. While he liked it, he liked her singing Stevie Wonder better. She seems mildly confused by the comments.
Crystal Bowersox
Crystal is 24 and is from Elliston, Ohio. She accompanies herself to "Hand in my Pocket," by Alanis Morrisette, which is an interesting choice. She obviously got my memo about the Crest White Strips. She has total natural talent and could probably sing anything. This just is not my favorite song. Randy was a HUGE fan. Ellen thought she added something fresh to the show. Simon thought she should have done David Bowie. Crystal was intrigued by that, and really listened to the criticism. Kara thought she had greatness.
Katie Stevens
Katie is only 17 and if from Middlebury, Connecticut. Of all songs, she picks 'Feeling Good,' by Michael Buble. Don’t get me wrong, this girl is amazing and has the voice for the song, but she should be in a pair of blue jeans and singing something fun. Ellen agreed with me, she had a great performance but she would love to see her be 17. Simon also thought it was too old for her. Kara said she has a natural gift and she needs to be careful because she went off key a little. Randy thought she was going too sharp and pushing too hard.
If there are typos, please accept my apologies. I have bunko at my house in 1 hour and am writing my thoughts very quickly. I won’t be able to blog until tomorrow after work, I can’t watch the show until then. Tune in and let me know what you are thinking!!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Long Road to the Top 24
We have finally made it to top 24 week, and I have to say that even with the tabloid dramas; the leaked list, Ellen and Simon’s troubles, and someone’s parent causing them to get kicked off the top twelve for breaking the confidentiality agreement, I was not feeling overly wowed by Season 9’s airing of the auditions. Idol spent more time showing me the same clip of the four judges over and over (that one? this girl? loved him. etc.). I am pretty sure this two hours show could have been condensed to one. There was more of Ryan hyping the reveal than actual singing. At the start of the show, the contestants were already divided into their three rooms and Idol, in DRAMATIC fashion, worked backwards through the events of the day. Mostly we just saw cards with pictures of the contestants being shuffled around on the judges table, and they were so soft focused that we could only imagine who we were looking at.
We started our backward journey in room three with Angela Martin. I thought she sounded pretty good, and she had Kara moving in her seat. The judges provided no feedback at all. We then moved on to Jermaine Purifoy, who was in room 2. He chose 'Brick House.' I am not going to lie, I thought it was goofy. We barely scratched the surface of the occupants of this room before we were in room one, where Kara’s heartthrob Casey James was sitting. He tells us he is the only guy singing 'Bubbly.' I really like the bluesy quality of Casey’s voice. He had a strong performance, and as I was looking around this room at all of the favorites, I realized that this room was not going anywhere, no matter how much they might try to fake us out.
Speaking of those in room one, we started with Jermaine Sellers, who was the first of many to tackle 'Man in the Mirror’. What we were allowed to hear sounded pretty good, but then he let the judges know that the band did not follow his arrangement and so the ending was wrong. Kara said what I was thinking, "don't throw the band under the bus," and instantly I didn’t care what happened to Jermaine. Siobhan Magnus was another singer in room one who I wasn’t sure what to think about. I don’t remember her from day one, but on group day while she had a great voice, she appeared to be in agony. The clip of her final performance was impressive. Crystal Bowersox performed ‘If it makes you happy’ and she played both the guitar and the harmonica. She blew me away with “Natural Woman’ on day one of Hollywood week. This girl is amazingly talented and fearless on stage, but somebody is going to have to pay for some laser whitening if she is going to continue. It is like Elliot Yasmine all over again. Alex Lambert came out singing 'I'm Yours,' and while he sang well, he brought nothing original. Michael "Big Mike" Lynch, took on the same song, but he made it memorable with that big personality. Todrick Hall also chose the Jason Mraz song, but tried more of an R&B feel. This is the dancer who made up the song for his audition that was such a crack up. I think this guy is a riot, he should be fine. Thaddeus Johnson has a crazy mom, and started off with the band playing the wrong song for him. He broke everyone up when he said “I;m not Bubbly”. He's also sang 'Man in the Mirror,' and his huge voice brought down the house.
Now let’s go over to room 2. I instantly refered to this room as the ones going home before I ever saw one clip. But that wasn’t Charity Vance’s fault. I loved this girl’s unique voice, but her final performance was not charismatic. Tasha Layton did a fantastic job on day 1, but we don't get to see her final performance. She was the pastor that Kara questioned during the audition process as to whether or not she could do everything she wanted to do well. Nobody would ask a man that question. I’m just saying. Now we go to the other reason I think this room is doomed, as the camera focused on Mary Powers, the obnoxious overconfident one. She impressed me on day one with her take on a Pink song, but the constant replaying of her behavior during group week has driven me crazy. Seacrest asked her about her confidence before she sang her final song and she actually referred to it "cake," which made her even less likeable if that was possible. She tried to sass her way through a Katy Perry song, and it was not a good fit. Lloyd Thomas was an emotional mess because he was missing his wife and kiddos. He sang 'Man in the Mirror', and unfortunately it had already been done much more successfully by about three other people. Hope Johnson, the skinny little thing that grew up in poverty had been pretty consistent this week, but the final performance failed to reveal any star potential.
This brought us to room three, finally. Shelby Dressel managed to get through 'More Than a Feeling,' despite botching the lyrics during rehearsal. Aaron Kelly, the youngster who was taken from his parents and raised by an aunt was darling in a David Archuleta way, but he forgot his lyrics to "Angel". Randy threw a word out there in mercy and he managed to grab it and finish, but it was hard to tell what this would do to his chances. Ashley Rodriguez was also present in room three, and after letting us have a peak at her final audition I wasn’t sure what they would do with this girl. She was really entertaining. Lee DeWyze sounded totally at home on that stage, and I enjoyed the shot we got of his final performance. Joe Munoz also had a decent final showing. Haeley Vaughn has been an early judge favorite, and after I spot her in this room I am even more convinced of my first impression, that room two is the one in trouble. Janell Wheeler had all but lost her voice and made a poor selection with Taylor Swift song “Romeo and Juliet”. She sang well early on, but Kara instantly said “wrong song” as she finished, so she is a question mark.
Finally the judges made their way to room 1, where we saw Tori Kelly, Lilly Scott and Andrew Garcia, who are all fabulous singers. Ellen was not even close to convincing when she tried to make them think they were going home. They finally let the room celebrate the fact that they were safe.
The visit to room 2 was brief and predictable. Simon wasted no time telling them they are going home. The only one that broke my heart was Hope.
So now we the viewers knew that room three was fine, all this extra drama at this point seemed silly.
The deal for season 9 is that they would take a walk to the stage (hey Nigel-are you borrowing from your other successful reality tv show?) and have the news delivered to them one at a time. It took so darn long that we only got to see 9 of the 47 get their results. We will have to turn in tomorrow night to see the rest of our top 24-but for now here are the 7 selected.
• Michael Lynch: In (Big Mike)
• Didi Benami: In (Did Kara’s song-‘Terrified’)
• Katelyn Epperly: In (young girl whose dad left the family)
• Shelby Dressel: Out (sang “More than a Feeling”)
• Casey James: In (are you kidding me-you know who this one is)
• Aaron Kelly: In (young boy who forgot his lyrics)
• Lee DeWyze: In (from room 3)
• Todrick Hall: In (funny guy)
• Jessica Furney: Out (not memorable until the end-they let her go on way too long).
Tune in tonight…..
We started our backward journey in room three with Angela Martin. I thought she sounded pretty good, and she had Kara moving in her seat. The judges provided no feedback at all. We then moved on to Jermaine Purifoy, who was in room 2. He chose 'Brick House.' I am not going to lie, I thought it was goofy. We barely scratched the surface of the occupants of this room before we were in room one, where Kara’s heartthrob Casey James was sitting. He tells us he is the only guy singing 'Bubbly.' I really like the bluesy quality of Casey’s voice. He had a strong performance, and as I was looking around this room at all of the favorites, I realized that this room was not going anywhere, no matter how much they might try to fake us out.
Speaking of those in room one, we started with Jermaine Sellers, who was the first of many to tackle 'Man in the Mirror’. What we were allowed to hear sounded pretty good, but then he let the judges know that the band did not follow his arrangement and so the ending was wrong. Kara said what I was thinking, "don't throw the band under the bus," and instantly I didn’t care what happened to Jermaine. Siobhan Magnus was another singer in room one who I wasn’t sure what to think about. I don’t remember her from day one, but on group day while she had a great voice, she appeared to be in agony. The clip of her final performance was impressive. Crystal Bowersox performed ‘If it makes you happy’ and she played both the guitar and the harmonica. She blew me away with “Natural Woman’ on day one of Hollywood week. This girl is amazingly talented and fearless on stage, but somebody is going to have to pay for some laser whitening if she is going to continue. It is like Elliot Yasmine all over again. Alex Lambert came out singing 'I'm Yours,' and while he sang well, he brought nothing original. Michael "Big Mike" Lynch, took on the same song, but he made it memorable with that big personality. Todrick Hall also chose the Jason Mraz song, but tried more of an R&B feel. This is the dancer who made up the song for his audition that was such a crack up. I think this guy is a riot, he should be fine. Thaddeus Johnson has a crazy mom, and started off with the band playing the wrong song for him. He broke everyone up when he said “I;m not Bubbly”. He's also sang 'Man in the Mirror,' and his huge voice brought down the house.
Now let’s go over to room 2. I instantly refered to this room as the ones going home before I ever saw one clip. But that wasn’t Charity Vance’s fault. I loved this girl’s unique voice, but her final performance was not charismatic. Tasha Layton did a fantastic job on day 1, but we don't get to see her final performance. She was the pastor that Kara questioned during the audition process as to whether or not she could do everything she wanted to do well. Nobody would ask a man that question. I’m just saying. Now we go to the other reason I think this room is doomed, as the camera focused on Mary Powers, the obnoxious overconfident one. She impressed me on day one with her take on a Pink song, but the constant replaying of her behavior during group week has driven me crazy. Seacrest asked her about her confidence before she sang her final song and she actually referred to it "cake," which made her even less likeable if that was possible. She tried to sass her way through a Katy Perry song, and it was not a good fit. Lloyd Thomas was an emotional mess because he was missing his wife and kiddos. He sang 'Man in the Mirror', and unfortunately it had already been done much more successfully by about three other people. Hope Johnson, the skinny little thing that grew up in poverty had been pretty consistent this week, but the final performance failed to reveal any star potential.
This brought us to room three, finally. Shelby Dressel managed to get through 'More Than a Feeling,' despite botching the lyrics during rehearsal. Aaron Kelly, the youngster who was taken from his parents and raised by an aunt was darling in a David Archuleta way, but he forgot his lyrics to "Angel". Randy threw a word out there in mercy and he managed to grab it and finish, but it was hard to tell what this would do to his chances. Ashley Rodriguez was also present in room three, and after letting us have a peak at her final audition I wasn’t sure what they would do with this girl. She was really entertaining. Lee DeWyze sounded totally at home on that stage, and I enjoyed the shot we got of his final performance. Joe Munoz also had a decent final showing. Haeley Vaughn has been an early judge favorite, and after I spot her in this room I am even more convinced of my first impression, that room two is the one in trouble. Janell Wheeler had all but lost her voice and made a poor selection with Taylor Swift song “Romeo and Juliet”. She sang well early on, but Kara instantly said “wrong song” as she finished, so she is a question mark.
Finally the judges made their way to room 1, where we saw Tori Kelly, Lilly Scott and Andrew Garcia, who are all fabulous singers. Ellen was not even close to convincing when she tried to make them think they were going home. They finally let the room celebrate the fact that they were safe.
The visit to room 2 was brief and predictable. Simon wasted no time telling them they are going home. The only one that broke my heart was Hope.
So now we the viewers knew that room three was fine, all this extra drama at this point seemed silly.
The deal for season 9 is that they would take a walk to the stage (hey Nigel-are you borrowing from your other successful reality tv show?) and have the news delivered to them one at a time. It took so darn long that we only got to see 9 of the 47 get their results. We will have to turn in tomorrow night to see the rest of our top 24-but for now here are the 7 selected.
• Michael Lynch: In (Big Mike)
• Didi Benami: In (Did Kara’s song-‘Terrified’)
• Katelyn Epperly: In (young girl whose dad left the family)
• Shelby Dressel: Out (sang “More than a Feeling”)
• Casey James: In (are you kidding me-you know who this one is)
• Aaron Kelly: In (young boy who forgot his lyrics)
• Lee DeWyze: In (from room 3)
• Todrick Hall: In (funny guy)
• Jessica Furney: Out (not memorable until the end-they let her go on way too long).
Tune in tonight…..
Friday, February 5, 2010
Switching Gears
My fellow AI fans, the time is almost upon us. Can I be the first to say that I am so tired of these auditions and ready for the real deal? Thank goodness we only had to sit through an hour at a time. I did enjoy the guest judges, but (and you will laugh after all the crap I have given the poor woman over the last 8 years) I miss Paula. I miss her blank looks, her completely irrelevant comments and her banter with Simon. I miss her and Randy dissolving into the giggles during the auditions, and although some of the guest judges did crack up a few times, it was not the same. I love Ellen, and I am sure she will bring something totally new to the show, but it isn't quite as interesting for me right now without our favorite crazy girl.
As far as the talent, I did go out to the spoilers and read Buddy TVs leak of the top 24. I have to confess I have no reaction to it because I haven't retained any of the names from the audition process. I hope that the contestants are given enough airtime during Hollywood week so that I can actually get behind a few of them.The only thing I have retained thus far is "Pants on the Ground".
I will do my best to be as faithful to the blogging process as I have been in years past. I hope to hear from you during the course of this season. I will be talking to you....
As far as the talent, I did go out to the spoilers and read Buddy TVs leak of the top 24. I have to confess I have no reaction to it because I haven't retained any of the names from the audition process. I hope that the contestants are given enough airtime during Hollywood week so that I can actually get behind a few of them.The only thing I have retained thus far is "Pants on the Ground".
I will do my best to be as faithful to the blogging process as I have been in years past. I hope to hear from you during the course of this season. I will be talking to you....
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