I was out of town during the week of the American Idol finale and didn't have an opportunity to watch my TIVO recording of it until this weekend. I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow of a show that most people watched almost 2 weeks ago, but I decided I did want to make a few comments.
Some of the blogs I read on the show noted that Kris pretty much sucked on Kara DioGuardi's tune that she wrote for the finale. I have to disagree - while he started a teeny bit shaky, I actually liked his style for the song better than Adams'. Overall, I thought that based on performance, the competition was pretty close to a draw. Adam and Kris are very different artists, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.
I thought the criticism of Kris being "too lightweight" was rather unfair too, considering that everyone knew by that time exactly what kind of singer he is and he was merely being true to himself.
At the same time, I thought the judges missed some areas of potential criticism of Adam. He has crazy skills in his falsetto range, but at times I find his sound pinched, overly bright, and downright annoying. That will be fixable on any recording by the way they process his vocals in studio, but his vocals are not as perfect as many have stated during this season.
As to the outcome - it could easily have gone either way and I'm really unsurprised that Kris was the final victor. When looking at the final 3, you had two Christian worship leaders, and one goth bad boy. Did anyone really think that a large number of Danny's fans were going to vote for Adam? Some have interpreted the outcome as a sign of rampant homophobia, and maybe some votes were decided based on that kind of criteria. But personally I think it's more likely that those who like a raw, acoustic sound just preferred the style of Kris over the highly-polished vocals and antics of Adam. It's about musical preference, not moral judgment.
And really, anyone who has watched Idol over the years knows that this is probably the best possible outcome for both of the top finishers. Kris will have the full support and marketing of the Idol contract to help him launch his career. Adam will have the option of a little more artistic freedom than he would have otherwise. So really it's a win-win.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I'm sure there are those who will disagree. You're entitled and it doesn't even hurt my feelings.
Until next season....
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Idol delay probability
For any of the one, two or three people who might occasionally stumble across this blog, please note that due to circumstances beyond my control (sort of) I won't be blogging on the season finale of Idol when it airs.
The reason? I'm out-of-town this week and will probably not be able to watch the show until I return to Tejas on Sunday. Bummer.
I will most likely make some comments on the show when I finally do watch it, but I doubt I'll do my usual blow-by-blow since it won't exactly be breaking news by then.
My sincere apologies to all my fans. If I have any. Which I doubt.
The reason? I'm out-of-town this week and will probably not be able to watch the show until I return to Tejas on Sunday. Bummer.
I will most likely make some comments on the show when I finally do watch it, but I doubt I'll do my usual blow-by-blow since it won't exactly be breaking news by then.
My sincere apologies to all my fans. If I have any. Which I doubt.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
American Idol 8.9 - The top 3 sing two songs each
From 100,000 to three amigos. That's how Ryan summed up the season so far. Any way you slice it, the three finalists have done a great job in getting where they are. They all deserve props.
Danny Gokey
Dance Little Sister - Terence Trent D'Arby
Paula's Pick
Very nice song choice for Danny. This song is upbeat and bluesy and Danny looks like he's having fun with it. It's a perfect fit for his vocal style. He's doing well playing to the audience, although he's still not great at using the whole stage. I especially like the little scat singing duet he does in the middle with the sax player. It's fun and I wouldn't mind hearing that again... it's a winner. Woot.
Kris Allen
Apologize - One Republic
Kara and Randy's Kool Request
I have to admit it. Although Kris hasn't been my most favorite this season, he really showed why he's still in this thing. That was a completely legitimate, very indy performance. I thought it sounded flawless, but Paula claims she heard a very obvious bad note. Listening back, I think she way overstated the case. His voice cracked ever so slightly on the second chorus, but it wasn't a "bum note". Not even close. Between Kara and Paula, I'm thinking that they are just telling him that they don't want him in the finale. I guess that's fair. Ish.
Adam Lambert
One - U2
Simon's Say
Without a doubt Adam will have a career in the music industry. But I'm pretty sure I won't be buying a lot of his albums. While the performance was fully adequate, I personally found it whiny and annoying. It was not my favorite performance from Adam so far this season; and it wasn't my favorite of the night so far. The judges are fawning all over him, but I'm not jumping up and down.
I'm going to piggyback here on the Idol Gives Back video. The anti-malaria cause is worthwhile and can make a real difference for people. If you want to contribute to this or any other cause that Idol is supporting, you can do so at the Idol Gives Back page. If you want to learn more about the malaria issue in particular, you can head over to Melinda Doolittle's favorite charity organization, Malria No More.
Now back to the songs....
Danny Gokey
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
This is a great song. And it was a great arrangement. And a perfectly amazing performance. I may end up buying this one on iTunes - it would be the first one all season. It really was a unique take on a very familiar song and he earned the kudos he just received from all four judges.
Kris Allen
Heartless - Kanye West
I'm not a Kanye fan (sorry GG & Mike) so I'm not familiar at all with his music. I'm guessing when he sings this song, it really doesn't sound much like this. But here's the thing - I am fairly impressed with the song itself. It's good writing. And I'm enjoying the simple guitar & vocals only arrangement that Kris is singing. I especially like the slightly Latin feel to it. Interesting choice and a very, very good job.
Adam Lambert
Cryin' - Aerosmith
This song is fairly typical for Adam. And his performance actually feels predictable to me. I'm so over the screaming glam-rock thing. I was much more impressed several weeks ago when he did the quiet ballad. The high note at the end was OK, but overall I am not finding this a memorable performance. I was bored. Simon may be all in a dither over Adam, but I've personally lost interest. He's more than a one trick pony, but he does really like that one favorite trick, and screeching vocals isn't something I like to listen to.
I have to be honest. I'm really really hoping that there is an "upset" tonight that sees Kris and Danny in the final two. I'm actually expecting to see Adam and Danny go on, with Kris being eliminated. But it could also be that Danny goes home leaving Kris and Adam as the final two.
In other words, it's anybody's game. Excellent job, Idol. This is the first season where all three of your top three (and all four of your top four) actually deserve to win. They should all have very lucrative recording contracts coming out of this.
Danny Gokey
Dance Little Sister - Terence Trent D'Arby
Paula's Pick
Very nice song choice for Danny. This song is upbeat and bluesy and Danny looks like he's having fun with it. It's a perfect fit for his vocal style. He's doing well playing to the audience, although he's still not great at using the whole stage. I especially like the little scat singing duet he does in the middle with the sax player. It's fun and I wouldn't mind hearing that again... it's a winner. Woot.
Kris Allen
Apologize - One Republic
Kara and Randy's Kool Request
I have to admit it. Although Kris hasn't been my most favorite this season, he really showed why he's still in this thing. That was a completely legitimate, very indy performance. I thought it sounded flawless, but Paula claims she heard a very obvious bad note. Listening back, I think she way overstated the case. His voice cracked ever so slightly on the second chorus, but it wasn't a "bum note". Not even close. Between Kara and Paula, I'm thinking that they are just telling him that they don't want him in the finale. I guess that's fair. Ish.
Adam Lambert
One - U2
Simon's Say
Without a doubt Adam will have a career in the music industry. But I'm pretty sure I won't be buying a lot of his albums. While the performance was fully adequate, I personally found it whiny and annoying. It was not my favorite performance from Adam so far this season; and it wasn't my favorite of the night so far. The judges are fawning all over him, but I'm not jumping up and down.
I'm going to piggyback here on the Idol Gives Back video. The anti-malaria cause is worthwhile and can make a real difference for people. If you want to contribute to this or any other cause that Idol is supporting, you can do so at the Idol Gives Back page. If you want to learn more about the malaria issue in particular, you can head over to Melinda Doolittle's favorite charity organization, Malria No More.
Now back to the songs....
Danny Gokey
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
This is a great song. And it was a great arrangement. And a perfectly amazing performance. I may end up buying this one on iTunes - it would be the first one all season. It really was a unique take on a very familiar song and he earned the kudos he just received from all four judges.
Kris Allen
Heartless - Kanye West
I'm not a Kanye fan (sorry GG & Mike) so I'm not familiar at all with his music. I'm guessing when he sings this song, it really doesn't sound much like this. But here's the thing - I am fairly impressed with the song itself. It's good writing. And I'm enjoying the simple guitar & vocals only arrangement that Kris is singing. I especially like the slightly Latin feel to it. Interesting choice and a very, very good job.
Adam Lambert
Cryin' - Aerosmith
This song is fairly typical for Adam. And his performance actually feels predictable to me. I'm so over the screaming glam-rock thing. I was much more impressed several weeks ago when he did the quiet ballad. The high note at the end was OK, but overall I am not finding this a memorable performance. I was bored. Simon may be all in a dither over Adam, but I've personally lost interest. He's more than a one trick pony, but he does really like that one favorite trick, and screeching vocals isn't something I like to listen to.
I have to be honest. I'm really really hoping that there is an "upset" tonight that sees Kris and Danny in the final two. I'm actually expecting to see Adam and Danny go on, with Kris being eliminated. But it could also be that Danny goes home leaving Kris and Adam as the final two.
In other words, it's anybody's game. Excellent job, Idol. This is the first season where all three of your top three (and all four of your top four) actually deserve to win. They should all have very lucrative recording contracts coming out of this.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
American Idol 8.9 - The top 4 sing ROCK!!!
Tonight will be awesome for Allison and probably Adam. It might be a little harder sell for Danny and Kris. We'll see how it goes.
It will also be "trial by fire" since the idols had no run through on stage with the band due to an on-stage accident which left one of the AI signs at a precarious angle.
Slash - legendary guitarist from Guns n' Roses - is the guest mentor this evening. Cool beans.
Adam Lambert
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zepplin
This song is a no-brainer for Adam. He looks the part of the glam-rock dude. He sounds it even more. This is probably his genre when he cuts his first album, and this song may as well be on it. I'm not engaged with him much, but he sounds amazing. His pitch is amazing. His performance is ... amazing. If anything, the vocal is almost too clean. Seems to me there should have been some grind in it - dirty things up a bit. It's almost like ending the baseball game with no grass stains on the uniform - somehow I just wasn't convinced. He has a killer instrument, but I am buying his performances less and less. The more I think about it, the more everything he does seems rather like a put-on. So sue me.
Allison Iraheta
Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
It's not fair. Allison has that belter thing going. She has the sexy huskiness in her voice. But still, she has a strength an purity in her voice. I'm jealous. And she totally nailed the song. I liked it - forget what Randy had to say. I thought it was fantastic. My only criticism - her lipstick is too pink. It should have been a deeper shade of red. *shrug*
Kris and Danny
Renegade - Styx
I'm glad the duet pairings ended up with Danny & Kris together - I'm not sure either one of them would have compared favorably to either Allison or Adam. There were some really nice parts in both of their solos and the duetting sounded great. I would have liked stronger vocals from Kris overall, but I think Danny was great. Overall a very strong performance from both, though probably only an 8 out of 10.
* * * At the halfway point, I think Allison is the current frontrunner * * *
Kris Allen
Come Together - The Beatles
Um... no. I guess this is OK, but it's sounds like a cheap imitation. I'm not a fan of this performance at all. This is not what I wanted to hear from Kris. I appreciate the fact that he changed it up quite a bit from the original, but it's such a classic song that it sorta just feels ruined instead of fresh and interesting. Meh.
Danny Gokey
Dream On - Aerosmith
This is a great song. I'm a little worried for Danny. He sounded great in his rehearsal clip, but this is definitely a roll of the dice. He's perfect on the the beginning... but he went slightly sharp on the first held note. Sounds pretty good on the middle section, but again just a little bit pitchy. And as he went for it with the screaming at the end, his voice broke and he ended on a shriek that had no control at all. I still love Danny and the beginning was nice, but I'm guessing he'll be in the bottom two with Kris after that performance. I will say though - I have a huge amount of respect for Danny in general. He hasn't done anything all season that would negatively impact his position as a worship leader - all his songs have had a message consistent with his beliefs. And he also hasn't done anything to dishonor the memory of his wife.
Allison and Adam
Slowride - Foghat
here's the two real rockers together. And they actually sound very good together. Surprisingly, their skills are not just evenly matched - they are very, very similar. Their vocal timbre is so close it was at times tough to tell who was singing which part when they were duetting. I think they need to be a band together when they wrap up the idol obligations. Very cool stuff.
Wow. Tough night to judge. I am almost certain Kris will be going home with Danny standing next to him when he gets the news. However, a lot will depend on who benefits most from the departure of Matt last week. I don't see either Adam or Allison picking up a lot of votes from Matt's hand-me-downs. Kris and Danny have a better chance of snagging those with Danny likely taking the lion's share. So Danny, Allison and Adam will probably be the final 3 with it really being anybody's game at that point.
I am looking forward to whatever happens - this ahs been the strongest season of Idol to date with things getting better every week.
It will also be "trial by fire" since the idols had no run through on stage with the band due to an on-stage accident which left one of the AI signs at a precarious angle.
Slash - legendary guitarist from Guns n' Roses - is the guest mentor this evening. Cool beans.
Adam Lambert
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zepplin
This song is a no-brainer for Adam. He looks the part of the glam-rock dude. He sounds it even more. This is probably his genre when he cuts his first album, and this song may as well be on it. I'm not engaged with him much, but he sounds amazing. His pitch is amazing. His performance is ... amazing. If anything, the vocal is almost too clean. Seems to me there should have been some grind in it - dirty things up a bit. It's almost like ending the baseball game with no grass stains on the uniform - somehow I just wasn't convinced. He has a killer instrument, but I am buying his performances less and less. The more I think about it, the more everything he does seems rather like a put-on. So sue me.
Allison Iraheta
Cry Baby - Janis Joplin
It's not fair. Allison has that belter thing going. She has the sexy huskiness in her voice. But still, she has a strength an purity in her voice. I'm jealous. And she totally nailed the song. I liked it - forget what Randy had to say. I thought it was fantastic. My only criticism - her lipstick is too pink. It should have been a deeper shade of red. *shrug*
Kris and Danny
Renegade - Styx
I'm glad the duet pairings ended up with Danny & Kris together - I'm not sure either one of them would have compared favorably to either Allison or Adam. There were some really nice parts in both of their solos and the duetting sounded great. I would have liked stronger vocals from Kris overall, but I think Danny was great. Overall a very strong performance from both, though probably only an 8 out of 10.
* * * At the halfway point, I think Allison is the current frontrunner * * *
Kris Allen
Come Together - The Beatles
Um... no. I guess this is OK, but it's sounds like a cheap imitation. I'm not a fan of this performance at all. This is not what I wanted to hear from Kris. I appreciate the fact that he changed it up quite a bit from the original, but it's such a classic song that it sorta just feels ruined instead of fresh and interesting. Meh.
Danny Gokey
Dream On - Aerosmith
This is a great song. I'm a little worried for Danny. He sounded great in his rehearsal clip, but this is definitely a roll of the dice. He's perfect on the the beginning... but he went slightly sharp on the first held note. Sounds pretty good on the middle section, but again just a little bit pitchy. And as he went for it with the screaming at the end, his voice broke and he ended on a shriek that had no control at all. I still love Danny and the beginning was nice, but I'm guessing he'll be in the bottom two with Kris after that performance. I will say though - I have a huge amount of respect for Danny in general. He hasn't done anything all season that would negatively impact his position as a worship leader - all his songs have had a message consistent with his beliefs. And he also hasn't done anything to dishonor the memory of his wife.
Allison and Adam
Slowride - Foghat
here's the two real rockers together. And they actually sound very good together. Surprisingly, their skills are not just evenly matched - they are very, very similar. Their vocal timbre is so close it was at times tough to tell who was singing which part when they were duetting. I think they need to be a band together when they wrap up the idol obligations. Very cool stuff.
Wow. Tough night to judge. I am almost certain Kris will be going home with Danny standing next to him when he gets the news. However, a lot will depend on who benefits most from the departure of Matt last week. I don't see either Adam or Allison picking up a lot of votes from Matt's hand-me-downs. Kris and Danny have a better chance of snagging those with Danny likely taking the lion's share. So Danny, Allison and Adam will probably be the final 3 with it really being anybody's game at that point.
I am looking forward to whatever happens - this ahs been the strongest season of Idol to date with things getting better every week.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
American Idol 8.8 - The top 5 sing the Rat-Pack
Tonight will either be a ton of fun (I love the jazz standards) or a massive train wreck. Some of these 5 singers do have egos to rival the likes of Sinatra and Dean, but can they back it up? We shall see.
Their mentor this week is Jamie Foxx. Interesting choice. He certainly has the cred to do this.
Kris Allen
The Way You Look Tonight
I like that Jamie pointed out that Kris isn't trying to win the "throat Olympics." I often wish the idols would back off the vocal gymnastics and just sing the song. Kris is singing pretty well. He brings a freshness to the table that keeps the song from sounding old. And when the tempo picks up a little about halfway through, I'm completely sold. Love it. And the final note sealed the deal. I'd say he's the one to beat so far, but I'd hate to sound like a doof. Oops... too late.
Allison Iraheta
Someone to Watch Over Me
This song has been done a jillion times, but it doesn't matter. Allison's voice is perfectly suited to it and she is singing the everloving crap out of it. I'm intensely jealous of her pipes and wish I could kill a song like she just did. She could have oversung it so easily, but she kept it light and interesting and didn't get too sultry with it. That's a record I could potentially see buying.
Matt Giraud
My Funny Valentine
I'm not sure I love the song choice - it's not one of my most favorite of the standards. Hmmm.... Jamie talked him into singing it in a lower key, but I'm not certain that was good advice. He's a little pitchy singing in full voice - falsetto is Matt's money maker. Overall this is OK and he ended much stronger than he started, but I don't think he can compete against Kris or Allison with this performance.
Danny Gokey
I'm Gonna Love You
Fun - it's not too often that a trombone gets a featured solo on Idol. And this is the best I've heard Danny sing in the last several weeks. He starts out light and simple, and works his way into a lather by the end of the song and I love it. Great job.
Adam Lambert
Feeling Good
Adam has a fantastic voice. But for me this was all about Adam being Adam and nothing about the song. He has mad skills and he showed them off, but I just flat don't believe his performance... maybe for the first time all season. He'll still get an insane number of votes, but tonight just didn't do it for me.
Crazily enough, my top performers tonight are Danny, Allison and Kris - almost equally. The bottom - by a very narrow margin - are Adam and Matt. Everyone did a fine job tonight with a few just standing out (for me) as more interesting, more original, or more likable. But seriously, this could be anybody's game. I'm going to guess that Matt will go home, but with no confidence at all backing that pick.
Their mentor this week is Jamie Foxx. Interesting choice. He certainly has the cred to do this.
Kris Allen
The Way You Look Tonight
I like that Jamie pointed out that Kris isn't trying to win the "throat Olympics." I often wish the idols would back off the vocal gymnastics and just sing the song. Kris is singing pretty well. He brings a freshness to the table that keeps the song from sounding old. And when the tempo picks up a little about halfway through, I'm completely sold. Love it. And the final note sealed the deal. I'd say he's the one to beat so far, but I'd hate to sound like a doof. Oops... too late.
Allison Iraheta
Someone to Watch Over Me
This song has been done a jillion times, but it doesn't matter. Allison's voice is perfectly suited to it and she is singing the everloving crap out of it. I'm intensely jealous of her pipes and wish I could kill a song like she just did. She could have oversung it so easily, but she kept it light and interesting and didn't get too sultry with it. That's a record I could potentially see buying.
Matt Giraud
My Funny Valentine
I'm not sure I love the song choice - it's not one of my most favorite of the standards. Hmmm.... Jamie talked him into singing it in a lower key, but I'm not certain that was good advice. He's a little pitchy singing in full voice - falsetto is Matt's money maker. Overall this is OK and he ended much stronger than he started, but I don't think he can compete against Kris or Allison with this performance.
Danny Gokey
I'm Gonna Love You
Fun - it's not too often that a trombone gets a featured solo on Idol. And this is the best I've heard Danny sing in the last several weeks. He starts out light and simple, and works his way into a lather by the end of the song and I love it. Great job.
Adam Lambert
Feeling Good
Adam has a fantastic voice. But for me this was all about Adam being Adam and nothing about the song. He has mad skills and he showed them off, but I just flat don't believe his performance... maybe for the first time all season. He'll still get an insane number of votes, but tonight just didn't do it for me.
Crazily enough, my top performers tonight are Danny, Allison and Kris - almost equally. The bottom - by a very narrow margin - are Adam and Matt. Everyone did a fine job tonight with a few just standing out (for me) as more interesting, more original, or more likable. But seriously, this could be anybody's game. I'm going to guess that Matt will go home, but with no confidence at all backing that pick.
American Idol 8.7 - The Top 7(redux) sing Disco
OK - so I flaked out last week. Sue me.
Maybe I'll update this at some point with my thoughts on the relatively lackluster show I failed to blog.
For now, though, suffice it to say that I thought Kris was the best performer of the night last week, and I thought Lil was t'suck. I thought it would be Lil, Anoop and Matt (who was the object of the judges' save last week) in the bottom 3. I thought Lil and Matt would go home. I was partly right.
I do however want to comment on Lil's whining in the press following the show. She is blaming criticism from the judges for her ultimate demise on the show. I'd say that's pretty unfair to the judges who were only calling it like they saw it. She needs to thank the judges for letting her onto the show in the first place. Had I been a judge she would never have seen the official Idol stage at all. I thought there were much better, more interesting performers to choose from.
But it is what it is. Obviously they thought she might have some commercial appeal and they were probably right. Maybe she'll get a record contract that comes with the right kind of handlers who can shape her into the star she thinks (incorrectly) she already is. If so I still won't buy her records, but I'll certainly give her my best wishes.
Here's a link to an article with her whining. Feel free to skip it if you hate that sort of thing. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_en_tv/us_tv_american_idol
See you later tonight (probably) with my thoughts on this evening's show.
Maybe I'll update this at some point with my thoughts on the relatively lackluster show I failed to blog.
For now, though, suffice it to say that I thought Kris was the best performer of the night last week, and I thought Lil was t'suck. I thought it would be Lil, Anoop and Matt (who was the object of the judges' save last week) in the bottom 3. I thought Lil and Matt would go home. I was partly right.
I do however want to comment on Lil's whining in the press following the show. She is blaming criticism from the judges for her ultimate demise on the show. I'd say that's pretty unfair to the judges who were only calling it like they saw it. She needs to thank the judges for letting her onto the show in the first place. Had I been a judge she would never have seen the official Idol stage at all. I thought there were much better, more interesting performers to choose from.
But it is what it is. Obviously they thought she might have some commercial appeal and they were probably right. Maybe she'll get a record contract that comes with the right kind of handlers who can shape her into the star she thinks (incorrectly) she already is. If so I still won't buy her records, but I'll certainly give her my best wishes.
Here's a link to an article with her whining. Feel free to skip it if you hate that sort of thing. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_en_tv/us_tv_american_idol
See you later tonight (probably) with my thoughts on this evening's show.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
American Idol 8.6 - The Top 7 sing Music from the Movies
Here we are again Idol fans, minus one Scott MacIntyre. Sorry to see him go from a personal standpoint, but I think it was the right choice.
Tonight should be fun. It's Idol at the movies night. Guest judge? Quentin Tarantino! It may seem like an odd match, but some of his movies have had absolutely iconic soundtracks so it's actually not that strange. And you just know that he won't have an trouble speaking his mind.
Allison Iraheta
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith - Armageddon
This could be a good choice for Allison, but about halfway in I'm having doubts. Part of her problem is that she has a slightly limited vocal range just because of the type of instrument she has. In order to hit the high notes solidly some of the low notes are too low, so there are some awkward changes to the melody line. And I find myself wondering if maybe she has a cold or something because she is a little pitchy through the middle of the song which really isn't like her. Overall the performance wasn't bad and she did manage to sell it, but it was definitely not her best.
Anoop Desai
Everything I Do I Do for You - Bryan Adams - Robin Hood
This song isn't a surprise from Anoop. It's a "white bread" ballady love song. Not a bad song, but I'm tired of this from him. Actually thought, he's doing a really nice job with it. His vocals are very good. His pitch is spot on. But I still have a nearly impossible time believing him as a star.
Adam Lambert
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf - Easy Rider
This is exactly the kind of over-the-top, near ridiculous song that Adam excels at. He is showing so much versatility. And that upper octave wail he has is amazing. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but he has mad skills. And he completely out-sang his professional backup singers tonight - they didn't even come close to keeping up. Once again he blew it out da box.
Matt Giraud
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman - Bryan Adams - Don Juan de Marco
Matt's behind the piano again tonight which is a good choice for him. He really is a quite good piano player. And, much to my chagrin, he's actually a very good vocalist as well. I may have spoken too soon though... he munged the bridge - pitchy, off rhythm, and just awkward. He ended on a strong note, but this was not an amazing performance.
Danny Gokey
Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie - Endless Love
Interesting. Danny is sporting a whole new look tonight - hair is shorter, he's got a 2-day growth on his face, and he's sitting on a stool. It's an interesting song choice for him too - could be a winner. But ... not really. The performance is just a teeny bit boring. I'm scared that Simon agrees with me.
Kris Allen
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová - Once
Never heard of this song. Never head of this movie. I think maybe I like the song, but I'm not sure I'm sold on Kris's performance. It was interesting. He had some pitch problems. He had some support problems. If anything, he struck me as being nervous. I might be more with Randy's, "it was pitchy, dawg," more than I was with Kara's, "it was one of your best moments." I didn't hate it, but it really didn't do anything for me either.
Lil Rounds
The Rose - Bette Midler - The Rose
Going into this I'm not hopeful. Nobody can do this song. But she's changing it up with a gospel groove, so it could be interesting. As she starts I'm back to the not hopeful though - I am growing in my dislike of her voice and her vocal style. Bleh. And the gospel stuff is pitchy and boring. This was just awful. Lil can't sing and needs to go home.
On top tonight is once again Adam Lambert.
If anyone but Lil goes home, it will be a travesty.
Tonight should be fun. It's Idol at the movies night. Guest judge? Quentin Tarantino! It may seem like an odd match, but some of his movies have had absolutely iconic soundtracks so it's actually not that strange. And you just know that he won't have an trouble speaking his mind.
Allison Iraheta
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith - Armageddon
This could be a good choice for Allison, but about halfway in I'm having doubts. Part of her problem is that she has a slightly limited vocal range just because of the type of instrument she has. In order to hit the high notes solidly some of the low notes are too low, so there are some awkward changes to the melody line. And I find myself wondering if maybe she has a cold or something because she is a little pitchy through the middle of the song which really isn't like her. Overall the performance wasn't bad and she did manage to sell it, but it was definitely not her best.
Anoop Desai
Everything I Do I Do for You - Bryan Adams - Robin Hood
This song isn't a surprise from Anoop. It's a "white bread" ballady love song. Not a bad song, but I'm tired of this from him. Actually thought, he's doing a really nice job with it. His vocals are very good. His pitch is spot on. But I still have a nearly impossible time believing him as a star.
Adam Lambert
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf - Easy Rider
This is exactly the kind of over-the-top, near ridiculous song that Adam excels at. He is showing so much versatility. And that upper octave wail he has is amazing. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but he has mad skills. And he completely out-sang his professional backup singers tonight - they didn't even come close to keeping up. Once again he blew it out da box.
Matt Giraud
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman - Bryan Adams - Don Juan de Marco
Matt's behind the piano again tonight which is a good choice for him. He really is a quite good piano player. And, much to my chagrin, he's actually a very good vocalist as well. I may have spoken too soon though... he munged the bridge - pitchy, off rhythm, and just awkward. He ended on a strong note, but this was not an amazing performance.
Danny Gokey
Endless Love - Lionel Ritchie - Endless Love
Interesting. Danny is sporting a whole new look tonight - hair is shorter, he's got a 2-day growth on his face, and he's sitting on a stool. It's an interesting song choice for him too - could be a winner. But ... not really. The performance is just a teeny bit boring. I'm scared that Simon agrees with me.
Kris Allen
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová - Once
Never heard of this song. Never head of this movie. I think maybe I like the song, but I'm not sure I'm sold on Kris's performance. It was interesting. He had some pitch problems. He had some support problems. If anything, he struck me as being nervous. I might be more with Randy's, "it was pitchy, dawg," more than I was with Kara's, "it was one of your best moments." I didn't hate it, but it really didn't do anything for me either.
Lil Rounds
The Rose - Bette Midler - The Rose
Going into this I'm not hopeful. Nobody can do this song. But she's changing it up with a gospel groove, so it could be interesting. As she starts I'm back to the not hopeful though - I am growing in my dislike of her voice and her vocal style. Bleh. And the gospel stuff is pitchy and boring. This was just awful. Lil can't sing and needs to go home.
On top tonight is once again Adam Lambert.
If anyone but Lil goes home, it will be a travesty.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
American Idol 8.5 - The Top 8 sing songs from the year they were born
Well, the adorable but odd Megan finally flew the coop last week. It wasn't much of a surprise, but I'm sorry to see her go. I hope she gets some real vocal training and tries again to break into this business. She's interesting and quirky and I think has more star potential by far than someone like Anoop or even Lil.
Tonight the hopefuls will each be singing songs from the year they were born. That means I should be a happy camper with a bunch of '80s music coming down the line. Yay.
Danny Gokey
Stand By Me (Mickey Gilley, 1980)
Personally, I prefer the be-bop/do-wop version of this song. But for being a weird disco-y version of a classic song Danny did a good job of it. This boy will definitely sell records, whether or not he is the ultimate winner of this competition.
Kris Allen
All She Wants To Do Is Dance (Don Henley, 1985)
He's in the mosh pit again. Whatever. I guess this is an OK version of the song; but honestly, I didn't love it. I thought it was kinda boring. I think the judges are right on.
Lil Rounds
What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner, 1984)
This is probably Lil's best performance in a few weeks. That said, I feel like she's dragging the tempo. Her pitch is suffering somewhat because she's oversinging/shouting in places where she is trying to pump up the energy. I'm not thrilled with her performance. She did look really great tonight though - I love the eye makeup.
Anoop Desai
True Colors (Cindy Lauper, 1986)
I'm sure the Anoop Troop will love this. I think he just wrecked one of the great songs of the '80s. *shrug* I liked the last note. That's about it. I don't know why I don't like Anoop, but I just don't. This is not a recording I would ever spend money on.
Scott MacIntyre
The Search Is Over (Survivor, 1985)
OK - so we just found out that Scott is a train dude. The train spotters I've known have been bizarre individuals, so that explains a lot. And, hey, something new from Scott tonight. He is playing electric guitar instead of hiding behind the baby grand. It's all bar chords, but it broke it up some and that's cool. This was not the best song for Scott - he definitely oversang in parts. I'm not sure how much longer the likability/pity factor can carry him when vocally he is clearly out of his league.
Allison Iraheta
I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt, 1992)
She's wearing a bizarre dress again. But once again it's made up for by the quality of her performance. She is probably the second-best vocalist in this competition (behind Adam), and definitely deserves to be in the top three (with Adam and Danny). But she also seems to be having trouble finding her audience so who knows.
Matt Giraud
Part Time Lovers (Stevie Wonder, 1985)
Here's the thing - I still don't love Matt. There's something about him that I just find vaguely creepy. Maybe it's the hat. But I recognize the talent he has and can understand why he is doing so well in this competition. He is "in it to win it" and he's did a great job tonight.
That was a near disaster - my Tivo cut off the end of the show because they are seriously over time tonight. However, since I also recorded Fringe, I still have the final performance of the evening. *Phew* I wonder how many viewers were not as lucky as me.
Adam Lambert
Mad World (Tears for Fears, 1982)
Great song. This is one that I don't hear often enough. And Adam did a great job with it. I like the funky staging too - sitting in the middle of the stage in a chair with dark lighting. For some reason the look reminds me of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody video. And I think Simon's reaction says everything that needs saying about this performance - he gave his first standing ovation I think in the history of this show.
So, the best and the worst for the evening? Top honors go to Adam. He was closely followed by Allison, Danny, Creepy Matt, and Kris.
At the bottom of the heap tonight are Scott, Lil, and Anoop. Scott should be the one to head home, but it could just as easily be Lil. What scares me is that it may even be a better singer who goes home - Allison has had some trouble getting votes despite her mad skillz. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Tonight the hopefuls will each be singing songs from the year they were born. That means I should be a happy camper with a bunch of '80s music coming down the line. Yay.
Danny Gokey
Stand By Me (Mickey Gilley, 1980)
Personally, I prefer the be-bop/do-wop version of this song. But for being a weird disco-y version of a classic song Danny did a good job of it. This boy will definitely sell records, whether or not he is the ultimate winner of this competition.
Kris Allen
All She Wants To Do Is Dance (Don Henley, 1985)
He's in the mosh pit again. Whatever. I guess this is an OK version of the song; but honestly, I didn't love it. I thought it was kinda boring. I think the judges are right on.
Lil Rounds
What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner, 1984)
This is probably Lil's best performance in a few weeks. That said, I feel like she's dragging the tempo. Her pitch is suffering somewhat because she's oversinging/shouting in places where she is trying to pump up the energy. I'm not thrilled with her performance. She did look really great tonight though - I love the eye makeup.
Anoop Desai
True Colors (Cindy Lauper, 1986)
I'm sure the Anoop Troop will love this. I think he just wrecked one of the great songs of the '80s. *shrug* I liked the last note. That's about it. I don't know why I don't like Anoop, but I just don't. This is not a recording I would ever spend money on.
Scott MacIntyre
The Search Is Over (Survivor, 1985)
OK - so we just found out that Scott is a train dude. The train spotters I've known have been bizarre individuals, so that explains a lot. And, hey, something new from Scott tonight. He is playing electric guitar instead of hiding behind the baby grand. It's all bar chords, but it broke it up some and that's cool. This was not the best song for Scott - he definitely oversang in parts. I'm not sure how much longer the likability/pity factor can carry him when vocally he is clearly out of his league.
Allison Iraheta
I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt, 1992)
She's wearing a bizarre dress again. But once again it's made up for by the quality of her performance. She is probably the second-best vocalist in this competition (behind Adam), and definitely deserves to be in the top three (with Adam and Danny). But she also seems to be having trouble finding her audience so who knows.
Matt Giraud
Part Time Lovers (Stevie Wonder, 1985)
Here's the thing - I still don't love Matt. There's something about him that I just find vaguely creepy. Maybe it's the hat. But I recognize the talent he has and can understand why he is doing so well in this competition. He is "in it to win it" and he's did a great job tonight.
That was a near disaster - my Tivo cut off the end of the show because they are seriously over time tonight. However, since I also recorded Fringe, I still have the final performance of the evening. *Phew* I wonder how many viewers were not as lucky as me.
Adam Lambert
Mad World (Tears for Fears, 1982)
Great song. This is one that I don't hear often enough. And Adam did a great job with it. I like the funky staging too - sitting in the middle of the stage in a chair with dark lighting. For some reason the look reminds me of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody video. And I think Simon's reaction says everything that needs saying about this performance - he gave his first standing ovation I think in the history of this show.
So, the best and the worst for the evening? Top honors go to Adam. He was closely followed by Allison, Danny, Creepy Matt, and Kris.
At the bottom of the heap tonight are Scott, Lil, and Anoop. Scott should be the one to head home, but it could just as easily be Lil. What scares me is that it may even be a better singer who goes home - Allison has had some trouble getting votes despite her mad skillz. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow night.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
American Idol 8.4 - The Top 9 sing i-Tunes
Michael Sarver was sent packing last week. He wasn’t the worst of the night, but he wasn’t going to last anyway, so it’s no big deal that he’s the one who went home.
Hmmm… there are a couple really bad looks tonight. I hope the performances are better than Allison’s dress.
The theme could be awesome or terrible – they can (and probably will) sing anything that’s a top i-Tunes download.
Anoop Desai
Caught Up – Usher
I was never a big Anoop fan. Now I’m completely over him. Maybe I’m just in the wrong demographic, but he seems like a kid trying to act like a superstar to me. He has a reasonably decent voice, but it needs to mature to really be good. And I find him completely laughable as the sexy superstar he’s trying to be.
Megan Joy
Turn Your Lights Down Low – Bob Marley
Interesting choice. I think I like it. Sort of. The song didn’t have as much energy as I would have liked. My other issue with Megan is that she is using her voice completely wrong. It makes for an interesting and unique sound, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s sustainable or if she’ll end up with a permanent case of laryngitis by the end of the season. And, as the judges are now pointing out, she seems a bit like a one trick pony. I want to know if she can take her unique, quirky style and use it for anything that would actually sell more than 2000 copies.
Danny Gokey
What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
I’m not familiar with this song so I can’t comment at all on how he compares to the original. But just as Danny, I really like it. I would listen to this if it came on the radio. I would buy the CD. That’s the gold standard here – would the record sell. I think the answer is very much yes. Very nice performance tonight.
Allison Iraheta
Don’t Speak – No Doubt
I’m not sure the guitar was a great idea – it threw off her rhythm in a couple of spots. And it is keeping her tied to place on the stage which also isn’t helping her. One of her strongest aspects is the way she uses the stage – and she didn’t use the stage tonight. If she had ditched the guitar completely once she stopped playing it would have been better. Vocally I thought she was good, but it lacked energy… probably because she was standing still. I already commented on the dress in my opening comments – nothing more need be said about it here.
Scott MacIntyre
Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
I have to wonder how Scott intends to make a name for himself by singing someone else’s signature song. This is a very piano bar performance that I don’t think compares very favorably with the original. The song is dated and didn’t do anything to make Scott seem more relevant. His vocal was OK, but honestly I was a little bored. I think he’s more interesting doing more up-tempo, boogie-woogie or honkey-tonk style piano.
Matt Giraud
You Found Me – The Fray
His pitch started out all over the place. I wonder if he was negatively affected by having his keyboard set up in the mosh pit where he was surrounded by a bunch of girls. Maybe the hormones got to him. He got a little stronger as he went on, but overall I thought that was an especially poor performance by Mr. Matt. After last week I really thought he might make it to the final four. This week I was unimpressed and resume my prior opinion of Matt which is that I wouldn’t be bothered if he went home sooner rather than later.
Lil Rounds
I Surrender – Celine Dion
Cute hair this week. Unfortunately, this was, again, the wrong song choice for Lil. Or maybe she just doesn’t have the chops she seemed to have during the auditions. Her pitch is all over the place. Her tone is not nice. She sounds unsupported and uninspiring. Bleh. And the judges are lying to her – or they’re hearing something that didn’t come across on the TV – because they’re saying they liked the performance despite the lousy song choice. What????
Adam Lambert
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
I’m sold. Adam wins. He will either win the whole season, or he will come in 3rd (like so many great contestants have) and have the runaway career that the Idol producers will always regret being able to cash in on. I thought that was amazing and I revise my opinion from earlier in the season. I used to think he was just “theater” and mostly a put-on, but I’m becoming convinced the real deal.
Kris Allen
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Wait – isn’t Kris the guitar dude? He’s doing this one at the keyboard with a string section sharing the stage with him. Way to change it up. I’m not sure I like the “I know, I know” part of his arrangement, but otherwise I thought it was really good. His vocals were dead on. I think maybe he has the #2 performance of the night, right behind Adam.
The top performers this evening are clearly Adam, Kris, and Allison/Danny (depending on your musical taste).
The bottom three tonight are Lil, Anoop and Megan. And unless Vote For the Worst has their way, Megan will be hitting the bricks tomorrow night.
Hmmm… there are a couple really bad looks tonight. I hope the performances are better than Allison’s dress.
The theme could be awesome or terrible – they can (and probably will) sing anything that’s a top i-Tunes download.
Anoop Desai
Caught Up – Usher
I was never a big Anoop fan. Now I’m completely over him. Maybe I’m just in the wrong demographic, but he seems like a kid trying to act like a superstar to me. He has a reasonably decent voice, but it needs to mature to really be good. And I find him completely laughable as the sexy superstar he’s trying to be.
Megan Joy
Turn Your Lights Down Low – Bob Marley
Interesting choice. I think I like it. Sort of. The song didn’t have as much energy as I would have liked. My other issue with Megan is that she is using her voice completely wrong. It makes for an interesting and unique sound, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s sustainable or if she’ll end up with a permanent case of laryngitis by the end of the season. And, as the judges are now pointing out, she seems a bit like a one trick pony. I want to know if she can take her unique, quirky style and use it for anything that would actually sell more than 2000 copies.
Danny Gokey
What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts
I’m not familiar with this song so I can’t comment at all on how he compares to the original. But just as Danny, I really like it. I would listen to this if it came on the radio. I would buy the CD. That’s the gold standard here – would the record sell. I think the answer is very much yes. Very nice performance tonight.
Allison Iraheta
Don’t Speak – No Doubt
I’m not sure the guitar was a great idea – it threw off her rhythm in a couple of spots. And it is keeping her tied to place on the stage which also isn’t helping her. One of her strongest aspects is the way she uses the stage – and she didn’t use the stage tonight. If she had ditched the guitar completely once she stopped playing it would have been better. Vocally I thought she was good, but it lacked energy… probably because she was standing still. I already commented on the dress in my opening comments – nothing more need be said about it here.
Scott MacIntyre
Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
I have to wonder how Scott intends to make a name for himself by singing someone else’s signature song. This is a very piano bar performance that I don’t think compares very favorably with the original. The song is dated and didn’t do anything to make Scott seem more relevant. His vocal was OK, but honestly I was a little bored. I think he’s more interesting doing more up-tempo, boogie-woogie or honkey-tonk style piano.
Matt Giraud
You Found Me – The Fray
His pitch started out all over the place. I wonder if he was negatively affected by having his keyboard set up in the mosh pit where he was surrounded by a bunch of girls. Maybe the hormones got to him. He got a little stronger as he went on, but overall I thought that was an especially poor performance by Mr. Matt. After last week I really thought he might make it to the final four. This week I was unimpressed and resume my prior opinion of Matt which is that I wouldn’t be bothered if he went home sooner rather than later.
Lil Rounds
I Surrender – Celine Dion
Cute hair this week. Unfortunately, this was, again, the wrong song choice for Lil. Or maybe she just doesn’t have the chops she seemed to have during the auditions. Her pitch is all over the place. Her tone is not nice. She sounds unsupported and uninspiring. Bleh. And the judges are lying to her – or they’re hearing something that didn’t come across on the TV – because they’re saying they liked the performance despite the lousy song choice. What????
Adam Lambert
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
I’m sold. Adam wins. He will either win the whole season, or he will come in 3rd (like so many great contestants have) and have the runaway career that the Idol producers will always regret being able to cash in on. I thought that was amazing and I revise my opinion from earlier in the season. I used to think he was just “theater” and mostly a put-on, but I’m becoming convinced the real deal.
Kris Allen
Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
Wait – isn’t Kris the guitar dude? He’s doing this one at the keyboard with a string section sharing the stage with him. Way to change it up. I’m not sure I like the “I know, I know” part of his arrangement, but otherwise I thought it was really good. His vocals were dead on. I think maybe he has the #2 performance of the night, right behind Adam.
The top performers this evening are clearly Adam, Kris, and Allison/Danny (depending on your musical taste).
The bottom three tonight are Lil, Anoop and Megan. And unless Vote For the Worst has their way, Megan will be hitting the bricks tomorrow night.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
American Idol 8.3 - The Top 10 sing Motown
So sad... while I wasn't that surprised to see Alexis go home last week based on her performance, I think this competition will miss her. I liked her and I don't think she ever quite showed her full potential.
Incidentally, this is the first blog post I'm typing up on my brand-spanking-new HP Pavilion dv7 laptop. If anyone cares. I likes it.
Now, back to the topic at hand...
This week is Motown week on Idol. With Smokey Robinson acting as the guest vocal coach this could be one of the most fun shows of the season. There's certainly a lot of great songs for the idol hopefuls to choose from.
Matt Giraud
Let's Get it On
I've made no secret that Matt is not my favorite singer this year. That said, he is doing a very respectable job with this song. I like that he started at the piano and then got up and used the stage too. He did have a few pitchy moments when popping into falsetto, but overall I didn't find him that annoying... which is high praise of someone who, for reasons I can't explain, just puts my teeth on edge.
Kris Allen
How Sweet It Is
Kris is another one that I don't particularly care for. Unfortunately for him, tonight's performance didn't come across as well as Matt's. There's something irritating and smug about his singing tonight. The judges are fawning all over him, but if that was a record tomorrow, I wouldn't be buying it. Meh. Plus it was a terrible arrangement (bop choo wah).
Scott MacIntyre
You Can't Hurry Love
Ooh... a genuinely different sound and feel of a true classic. Hmmm... I liked the slower start more than I like the up-tempo stuff. He had some awkward pitches in that. His voice is nicer on the slower stuff - he's a little nasal on the faster part. I think Simon might have been a little harsh, but I think he might be right about this performance not exactly being relevant.
Megan Joy
For Once In My Life
Smokey is right about the Jazz/Cabaret sound that Megan has. He gets her. I get her. But she didn't quite nail the song tonight. It was good. It was what we have come to expect from Megan. But her pitch is weird tonight - not exactly bad, but she sounds unsupported in a bunch of places. I think the weird, throaty singing might be coming back to bite her - she may actually be damaging her voice. I'm worried about Megan this week.
Anoop Desai
Ohh, Baby Baby
OK. I'm impressed. Anoop didn't really do much that's unique with this song, but he sounds a lot like Smokey. This is hands-down his best performance of the season so far. And he is now validated in this competition as a legitimate crooner. Well done.
Michael Sarver
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
I want to be very clear about what I'm about to say. Michael needs to GO HOME!!! That was really terrible. I hated everything about it. His pitch was all over the place. He sounded something like a bad Elvis impersonator trying to sing while snockered. Very much not a good performance from a merely mediocre singer. P'tui.
Lil Rounds
Heat Wave
Lil is adorable tonight. She put on some hair and a fringe-covered flapper dress and stepped into a role. I'm not sure she is knocking this one out of the park though. Here's the problem for someone like Lil - she is a good singer. But this song makes me think she just doesn't have the natural support, depth and overall chops to ever really be a great singer. She did OK, but she oversang throughout and I'm just not blown away.
Adam Lambert
Tracks of My Tears
Wow. As much as I really hated Adam last week, I really like him this week. This is a great arrangement. And he has now proved that he's not just a stage creature - he's actually a really excellent vocalist. I'm impressed. Apropos of nothing, Andrew said he looks like k.d. Lang.
Danny Gokey
Get Ready
I like Danny. Unfortunately, tonight I just liked him. I don't think he had as strong a performance tonight as he could have. It wasn't bad. But it was only good - not fantastic.
Allison Iraheta
Papa Was a Rolling Stone
I continue to be impressed by Allison. She has such an interesting voice, and she knows how to use it. Unbelievable what she can do at only 16. She could potentially run away with this whole competition.
This was an overall good night. I think this may be the best total group of contestants of any season so far. But somebody's still gotta go home. Here's my bottom 3 for this week...
Michael Sarver - he's out of his depth in this competition.
Megan Joy - I like her, but tonight was not great and I don't think people "get" her.
Scott MacIntyre - He is a great pianist. He's not connecting with his music.
I think Megan might have sung her swan song.
Incidentally, this is the first blog post I'm typing up on my brand-spanking-new HP Pavilion dv7 laptop. If anyone cares. I likes it.
Now, back to the topic at hand...
This week is Motown week on Idol. With Smokey Robinson acting as the guest vocal coach this could be one of the most fun shows of the season. There's certainly a lot of great songs for the idol hopefuls to choose from.
Matt Giraud
Let's Get it On
I've made no secret that Matt is not my favorite singer this year. That said, he is doing a very respectable job with this song. I like that he started at the piano and then got up and used the stage too. He did have a few pitchy moments when popping into falsetto, but overall I didn't find him that annoying... which is high praise of someone who, for reasons I can't explain, just puts my teeth on edge.
Kris Allen
How Sweet It Is
Kris is another one that I don't particularly care for. Unfortunately for him, tonight's performance didn't come across as well as Matt's. There's something irritating and smug about his singing tonight. The judges are fawning all over him, but if that was a record tomorrow, I wouldn't be buying it. Meh. Plus it was a terrible arrangement (bop choo wah).
Scott MacIntyre
You Can't Hurry Love
Ooh... a genuinely different sound and feel of a true classic. Hmmm... I liked the slower start more than I like the up-tempo stuff. He had some awkward pitches in that. His voice is nicer on the slower stuff - he's a little nasal on the faster part. I think Simon might have been a little harsh, but I think he might be right about this performance not exactly being relevant.
Megan Joy
For Once In My Life
Smokey is right about the Jazz/Cabaret sound that Megan has. He gets her. I get her. But she didn't quite nail the song tonight. It was good. It was what we have come to expect from Megan. But her pitch is weird tonight - not exactly bad, but she sounds unsupported in a bunch of places. I think the weird, throaty singing might be coming back to bite her - she may actually be damaging her voice. I'm worried about Megan this week.
Anoop Desai
Ohh, Baby Baby
OK. I'm impressed. Anoop didn't really do much that's unique with this song, but he sounds a lot like Smokey. This is hands-down his best performance of the season so far. And he is now validated in this competition as a legitimate crooner. Well done.
Michael Sarver
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
I want to be very clear about what I'm about to say. Michael needs to GO HOME!!! That was really terrible. I hated everything about it. His pitch was all over the place. He sounded something like a bad Elvis impersonator trying to sing while snockered. Very much not a good performance from a merely mediocre singer. P'tui.
Lil Rounds
Heat Wave
Lil is adorable tonight. She put on some hair and a fringe-covered flapper dress and stepped into a role. I'm not sure she is knocking this one out of the park though. Here's the problem for someone like Lil - she is a good singer. But this song makes me think she just doesn't have the natural support, depth and overall chops to ever really be a great singer. She did OK, but she oversang throughout and I'm just not blown away.
Adam Lambert
Tracks of My Tears
Wow. As much as I really hated Adam last week, I really like him this week. This is a great arrangement. And he has now proved that he's not just a stage creature - he's actually a really excellent vocalist. I'm impressed. Apropos of nothing, Andrew said he looks like k.d. Lang.
Danny Gokey
Get Ready
I like Danny. Unfortunately, tonight I just liked him. I don't think he had as strong a performance tonight as he could have. It wasn't bad. But it was only good - not fantastic.
Allison Iraheta
Papa Was a Rolling Stone
I continue to be impressed by Allison. She has such an interesting voice, and she knows how to use it. Unbelievable what she can do at only 16. She could potentially run away with this whole competition.
This was an overall good night. I think this may be the best total group of contestants of any season so far. But somebody's still gotta go home. Here's my bottom 3 for this week...
Michael Sarver - he's out of his depth in this competition.
Megan Joy - I like her, but tonight was not great and I don't think people "get" her.
Scott MacIntyre - He is a great pianist. He's not connecting with his music.
I think Megan might have sung her swan song.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
American Idol 8.2 - The Top 11 sing the Grand Ole Opry
Last week it was Jasmine Murray and Jorge Nunez who failed to make the cut. No big surprises there - it was two of my bottom 3 who ended up going home.
Who will it be this week? Country may be a challenge for some of our more rock-oriented contestants. This week's guest coach is Randy Travis.
Michael Sarver
Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up
He's in his roundhouse here. Michael is probably headed for the country music genre if he makes it as a recording artist so he's totally comfortable here. There might have been a couple of minor pitch problems, but overall he does well and should easily be safe for another week.
Allison Iraheta
Blame it on Your Heart
I would not have thought Allison would do well with country music, but I enjoyed her performance a lot. If you changed up the arrangement to make it less country and more rock, she could have a hit with this. Allison is one of my favorites this season, and she sang this one to pieces. Excellent. Interesting that Paula almost seemed to give her a criticism, urging her to experiment with being more vulnerable with her vocals.
Kris Allen
To Make You Feel My Love
I'm not sure it was the right decision for him to put down his guitar this week. He's sitting on a stool and looks a tiny bit uncomfortable to me. But in a way that he didn't manage last week, he made me believe he could be a force in this competition with a really nice vocal. Very well done.
As a side note, I wonder if the judges are pulling a fast one on us tonight. Simon is being unusually supportive, and Paula is going out of her way to find moments to critique. Interesting.
Lil Rounds
Independence Day
Oh dear. Lil just told Ryan that the idols spend "quite a few time together" during the week. Lucky for her this is a singing competition and not an English test. This was a great song for her. She's got the pipes for it. She sang it well - not perfect, but she will easily be back for the next round.
I take back what I just said about Simon. He was probably harder on Lil than she deserved. And he kept calling her "Little" because he thinks that's what "Lil" is short for. Hello? Cowell? Have you never met someone named Lilian? Duh!!
Adam Lambert
Ring of Fire
I think I'm bleeding from my ears. In fairness, I'd love to see Adam play the roll of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar - I think he'd knock it out of the park. But this performance made me feel physically nauseous. I did not like it even a little bit. It was creepy. Those who like this sort of thing will vote for him a lot and we'll be subjected to Adam again next week.
Scott MacIntyre
Wild Angels
Scott got a haircut since last week and it helps. And this was a great song choice for him. He's not the best vocalist in the competition by a long shot, but he knows how to use his voice to it's best effect. Being sure of his skills gives him more gravitas than he would have otherwise.
Alexis Grace
Jolene
I really like Alexis, but I'm not 100% of tonight's performance. There were a few places in the middle of the song that felt weak - kind of disconnected. She ended strong, but this was not her best performance.
Danny Gokey
Jesus Take the Wheel
I hate this song choice for Danny. It's safe. It's expected. I don't think he showed anything new or interesting tonight. And geez - his pitch is kind of all over the place. He's such a good singer that I'm sure he'll be safe, but he really missed it tonight. Normally he's amazing. This performance was not amazing
Anoop Desai
Always On My Mind
Maybe it's my imagination, but I don't think his piano player helped him tonight. The front half of the song felt very uneven to me. And while he was much better vocally than last week, there was boredom on my mind pretty much throughout the whole thing. I almost would have preferred to listen to Adam again. Not quite, but almost.
Megan Joy
I Go Walking After Midnight
Interesting - they changed her last name. Megan is adorable. I like her. And I love the '40s vibe she puts on all her performances. She didn't have a lot of power vocally tonight, but the coughing afterwards gives it away - she was singing with the flu. I know she's not everyone's taste, but I think she's terrific.
Matt Giraud
So Small
I don't love Matt. He might be my least favorite tonight - even with the ear-bleeding antics of Adam. He is boring. There's no power in his performance. I don't care for his voice. I don't find him inspiring. I don't enjoy looking at him (not my type; and yes, that matters).
So, who is going home this week? It's a seriously tough call. I know that some of the performers I just hate are hugely popular with the main demographic that watches this show. Some of my favorites are people who don't fit the idol stereotype. And truthfully, style preferences and vocal mistakes aside, nobody completely sucked this week.
Since I feel obligated to guess at the bottom three, here are my pics to find their way to the floor this week:
Michael Sarver - he was not helped by going first and there was nothing really wow about his performance. This was his genre and he was only solid, nothing special.
Alexis Grace - I really like her overall and she is adorable, but her performance tonight was lacking.
Megan Joy - I hate putting her name here because I like her a lot, but I think there is one too many cute, jazzy blonds in the competition - she and Alexis are going for the same votes and Alexis may be more relevant.
...and for good measure...
Anoop Desai - He was much better than last week, but I still just don't like him and think he's outclassed by the field. *shrug*
There are singers I don't like as well as some of the ones on this list, but I suspect the ousted contestant will be one of these four.
Who will it be this week? Country may be a challenge for some of our more rock-oriented contestants. This week's guest coach is Randy Travis.
Michael Sarver
Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up
He's in his roundhouse here. Michael is probably headed for the country music genre if he makes it as a recording artist so he's totally comfortable here. There might have been a couple of minor pitch problems, but overall he does well and should easily be safe for another week.
Allison Iraheta
Blame it on Your Heart
I would not have thought Allison would do well with country music, but I enjoyed her performance a lot. If you changed up the arrangement to make it less country and more rock, she could have a hit with this. Allison is one of my favorites this season, and she sang this one to pieces. Excellent. Interesting that Paula almost seemed to give her a criticism, urging her to experiment with being more vulnerable with her vocals.
Kris Allen
To Make You Feel My Love
I'm not sure it was the right decision for him to put down his guitar this week. He's sitting on a stool and looks a tiny bit uncomfortable to me. But in a way that he didn't manage last week, he made me believe he could be a force in this competition with a really nice vocal. Very well done.
As a side note, I wonder if the judges are pulling a fast one on us tonight. Simon is being unusually supportive, and Paula is going out of her way to find moments to critique. Interesting.
Lil Rounds
Independence Day
Oh dear. Lil just told Ryan that the idols spend "quite a few time together" during the week. Lucky for her this is a singing competition and not an English test. This was a great song for her. She's got the pipes for it. She sang it well - not perfect, but she will easily be back for the next round.
I take back what I just said about Simon. He was probably harder on Lil than she deserved. And he kept calling her "Little" because he thinks that's what "Lil" is short for. Hello? Cowell? Have you never met someone named Lilian? Duh!!
Adam Lambert
Ring of Fire
I think I'm bleeding from my ears. In fairness, I'd love to see Adam play the roll of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar - I think he'd knock it out of the park. But this performance made me feel physically nauseous. I did not like it even a little bit. It was creepy. Those who like this sort of thing will vote for him a lot and we'll be subjected to Adam again next week.
Scott MacIntyre
Wild Angels
Scott got a haircut since last week and it helps. And this was a great song choice for him. He's not the best vocalist in the competition by a long shot, but he knows how to use his voice to it's best effect. Being sure of his skills gives him more gravitas than he would have otherwise.
Alexis Grace
Jolene
I really like Alexis, but I'm not 100% of tonight's performance. There were a few places in the middle of the song that felt weak - kind of disconnected. She ended strong, but this was not her best performance.
Danny Gokey
Jesus Take the Wheel
I hate this song choice for Danny. It's safe. It's expected. I don't think he showed anything new or interesting tonight. And geez - his pitch is kind of all over the place. He's such a good singer that I'm sure he'll be safe, but he really missed it tonight. Normally he's amazing. This performance was not amazing
Anoop Desai
Always On My Mind
Maybe it's my imagination, but I don't think his piano player helped him tonight. The front half of the song felt very uneven to me. And while he was much better vocally than last week, there was boredom on my mind pretty much throughout the whole thing. I almost would have preferred to listen to Adam again. Not quite, but almost.
Megan Joy
I Go Walking After Midnight
Interesting - they changed her last name. Megan is adorable. I like her. And I love the '40s vibe she puts on all her performances. She didn't have a lot of power vocally tonight, but the coughing afterwards gives it away - she was singing with the flu. I know she's not everyone's taste, but I think she's terrific.
Matt Giraud
So Small
I don't love Matt. He might be my least favorite tonight - even with the ear-bleeding antics of Adam. He is boring. There's no power in his performance. I don't care for his voice. I don't find him inspiring. I don't enjoy looking at him (not my type; and yes, that matters).
So, who is going home this week? It's a seriously tough call. I know that some of the performers I just hate are hugely popular with the main demographic that watches this show. Some of my favorites are people who don't fit the idol stereotype. And truthfully, style preferences and vocal mistakes aside, nobody completely sucked this week.
Since I feel obligated to guess at the bottom three, here are my pics to find their way to the floor this week:
Michael Sarver - he was not helped by going first and there was nothing really wow about his performance. This was his genre and he was only solid, nothing special.
Alexis Grace - I really like her overall and she is adorable, but her performance tonight was lacking.
Megan Joy - I hate putting her name here because I like her a lot, but I think there is one too many cute, jazzy blonds in the competition - she and Alexis are going for the same votes and Alexis may be more relevant.
...and for good measure...
Anoop Desai - He was much better than last week, but I still just don't like him and think he's outclassed by the field. *shrug*
There are singers I don't like as well as some of the ones on this list, but I suspect the ousted contestant will be one of these four.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
American Idol 8.1 - The Top 13 sing the music of Michael Jackson
Tonight marks multiple firsts for Idol. It's the first time there have been 13 in the finals. It's the first time there's not an even split of boys and girls. It's the first time there's been a ridiculous, cheesy entrance.... Oh wait, that one is pretty much a standard.
There's a lot of depth in the field this season. It should be interesting.
Oh - and Simon just announced that two are going home tomorrow night so it's not so abnormal after all.
Lil Rounds
The Way You Make Me Feel
I really like Lil. Tough song to sing but she sang really well. She was in a little slower groove than MJ hit on this song and she really made it work for her. Not 100% perfect, but she should easily be safe tonight.
Scott MacIntyre
Keep the Faith
Scott doesn't have the most perfect voice ever, but he definitely has a feel for the music. For those who are familiar with early Christian rock, he reminds me somewhat of Keith Green - both vocals and keyboarding. Again, I think Scott will get through with flying colors to the next round.
Danny Gokey
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Danny is my current favorite to run away with the whole kit and kaboodle. He's got the look, he's got the vocals, he knows what he can do with his voice, and he's a great showman. His dancing skills may need some work, but otherwise he's ready to go. Great job tonight.
Michael Sarver
You're Not Alone
I'll be honest: I am not Michael's biggest fan. That said, I think he did a very respectable job tonight. This is not the most engaging MJ song, but it suited his style well.
Jasmine Murray
I'll Be There
Probably the best possible song choice for her. This was Michael's breakout hit when he was just a teeny-weeny guy so it's a very good range fit for Jasmine. She is singing nicely... but just nicely. Nothing hugely interesting. I'm getting a little buzz on the chorus and I'm not sure if it's her voice, AI's sound, or my old crappy TV. And she wrapped it up perfectly with a little power. I thought she did ... nicely.
Kris Allen
Remember the Time
Kris is strummin away on his gee-tar. Yay. He looks a little like a country hayseed trying to get a feel of the big city. I'm not sure the plaid shirt does him any favors. But his voice is very good - probably more interesting than Scott's or Jasmine's. I'm guessing he'll be a crowd favorite because of the cute factor... and he probably even deserves to stay.
Allison Iraheta
Give In to Me
She reminds me of Heart or maybe Pat Benetar. It's amazing to me to see someone so young who has such a polished performance with such raw vocals. Wow - great performance in every way. Outstanding.
Anoop Desai
Beat It
Earlier in the night Simon told somebody that he'd chosen the wrong song because it wasn't one people would know. Simon was dead wrong. Anoop isn't performing badly, but he does not compare favorably to the original which even I know. His energy was probably a little lower than I would have liked. His pitch was weird in a few places. It just didn't work at all. Anoop came into this with a lot of teenybopper fan support, but tonight he did not do well.
Jorge Nunez
Never Can Say Goodbye
Hmmm... first phrase was not in the right key. He tightened it up after that, but overall I was really bored with the performance. I was unimpressed. *shrug*
Megan Corkey
Rockin' Robin
Megan is one of my personal favorites. I think she's adorable. Her personality reminds me of somebody, but I'm not sure who. Her vocals, on the other hand, are completely unique. I thought the song choice was brilliant - who even knew that old 50's standard was covered by the Jackson 5. Despite Simon's poo-pooing, I thought it was great. It was who she is.
Adam Lambert
Black or White
He is a caricature of himself, but dang if the boy can't sing. Adam is not my favorite, and he was a little flat on a couple of his siren notes, but the fact that he could pull off this song at all is saying something. Andrew just said that he sounds like Axl Rose constipated on the toilet and I just had to share. :) Adam will be safe, but that doesn't mean I have to like him.
Matt Giraud
Human Nature
I don't like anything about Matt. He can sing OK I guess, but that's the only good thing I have to say about him. Listening to him is making me feel nauseous. His pitch is absolutely solid and he can play the keys, but I find his voice irritating and the whole thing feels overcooked to me. His high note at the end was like fingernails on a chalkboard. He'll still be here next week, but I will be counting the days until he's gone. Ugh.
Alexis Grace
Dirty Diana
She's a little breathless so the overall flow of the song maybe isn't what it should be, but I love her to bits. Her pitch is very good. Her overall performance is fine. She needs to get a little more stage presence. I agree with Randy - it wasn't great but it was good with an attitude.
Pretty decent night overall. I think Jorge, Anoop and Jasmine might be in trouble, although you never know about someone as quirky and interesting as Megan - she's a bit of an unknown because it is a little hard to classify her.
There's a lot of depth in the field this season. It should be interesting.
Oh - and Simon just announced that two are going home tomorrow night so it's not so abnormal after all.
Lil Rounds
The Way You Make Me Feel
I really like Lil. Tough song to sing but she sang really well. She was in a little slower groove than MJ hit on this song and she really made it work for her. Not 100% perfect, but she should easily be safe tonight.
Scott MacIntyre
Keep the Faith
Scott doesn't have the most perfect voice ever, but he definitely has a feel for the music. For those who are familiar with early Christian rock, he reminds me somewhat of Keith Green - both vocals and keyboarding. Again, I think Scott will get through with flying colors to the next round.
Danny Gokey
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
Danny is my current favorite to run away with the whole kit and kaboodle. He's got the look, he's got the vocals, he knows what he can do with his voice, and he's a great showman. His dancing skills may need some work, but otherwise he's ready to go. Great job tonight.
Michael Sarver
You're Not Alone
I'll be honest: I am not Michael's biggest fan. That said, I think he did a very respectable job tonight. This is not the most engaging MJ song, but it suited his style well.
Jasmine Murray
I'll Be There
Probably the best possible song choice for her. This was Michael's breakout hit when he was just a teeny-weeny guy so it's a very good range fit for Jasmine. She is singing nicely... but just nicely. Nothing hugely interesting. I'm getting a little buzz on the chorus and I'm not sure if it's her voice, AI's sound, or my old crappy TV. And she wrapped it up perfectly with a little power. I thought she did ... nicely.
Kris Allen
Remember the Time
Kris is strummin away on his gee-tar. Yay. He looks a little like a country hayseed trying to get a feel of the big city. I'm not sure the plaid shirt does him any favors. But his voice is very good - probably more interesting than Scott's or Jasmine's. I'm guessing he'll be a crowd favorite because of the cute factor... and he probably even deserves to stay.
Allison Iraheta
Give In to Me
She reminds me of Heart or maybe Pat Benetar. It's amazing to me to see someone so young who has such a polished performance with such raw vocals. Wow - great performance in every way. Outstanding.
Anoop Desai
Beat It
Earlier in the night Simon told somebody that he'd chosen the wrong song because it wasn't one people would know. Simon was dead wrong. Anoop isn't performing badly, but he does not compare favorably to the original which even I know. His energy was probably a little lower than I would have liked. His pitch was weird in a few places. It just didn't work at all. Anoop came into this with a lot of teenybopper fan support, but tonight he did not do well.
Jorge Nunez
Never Can Say Goodbye
Hmmm... first phrase was not in the right key. He tightened it up after that, but overall I was really bored with the performance. I was unimpressed. *shrug*
Megan Corkey
Rockin' Robin
Megan is one of my personal favorites. I think she's adorable. Her personality reminds me of somebody, but I'm not sure who. Her vocals, on the other hand, are completely unique. I thought the song choice was brilliant - who even knew that old 50's standard was covered by the Jackson 5. Despite Simon's poo-pooing, I thought it was great. It was who she is.
Adam Lambert
Black or White
He is a caricature of himself, but dang if the boy can't sing. Adam is not my favorite, and he was a little flat on a couple of his siren notes, but the fact that he could pull off this song at all is saying something. Andrew just said that he sounds like Axl Rose constipated on the toilet and I just had to share. :) Adam will be safe, but that doesn't mean I have to like him.
Matt Giraud
Human Nature
I don't like anything about Matt. He can sing OK I guess, but that's the only good thing I have to say about him. Listening to him is making me feel nauseous. His pitch is absolutely solid and he can play the keys, but I find his voice irritating and the whole thing feels overcooked to me. His high note at the end was like fingernails on a chalkboard. He'll still be here next week, but I will be counting the days until he's gone. Ugh.
Alexis Grace
Dirty Diana
She's a little breathless so the overall flow of the song maybe isn't what it should be, but I love her to bits. Her pitch is very good. Her overall performance is fine. She needs to get a little more stage presence. I agree with Randy - it wasn't great but it was good with an attitude.
Pretty decent night overall. I think Jorge, Anoop and Jasmine might be in trouble, although you never know about someone as quirky and interesting as Megan - she's a bit of an unknown because it is a little hard to classify her.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
American Idol 8 - final reduction week 3
Here I am for the 3rd week of top 12 selections.
Last week Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, and Kris Allen joined first round finalists Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, and Michael Sarver in the top 12. These are not necessarily the exact 6 I would have chosen so far, but there are no huge errors or surprises in this group.
Let's get on with seeing how tonight's group of 12 does.
You're All I Need to Get By
Von Smith
Von was OK in Hollywood week. I'm certain the cuteness factor helped him get through to the Semi-Finals because I think there were better singers. And tonight? He's OK. He sang fine, but there's something I can't quite put my finger on that I just really don't like. The judges all really liked him, but his performance didn't do a thing for me.
If I Ain't Got You
Taylor Vaifanua
OK - this is a really good performance. Her pitch is very good. She has stage presence. She sings supported. I find the overall performance quite good. The judges aren't jumping up and down, but I think they were really harsh - especially after falling all over themselves over Von.
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Oh Alex. Dear, sweet Alex. Please don't ever do that again. The vocal would have been fine if it hadn't been for the very odd affectation of vocal grinding. From someone who looks like he's about 14 it just sounds dumb.
Winner Takes it All
Arianna Afsar
It's too bad - I think maybe nerves got to her more than she expected. Her pitch is terrible. The arrangement was bleh. The runs were ... weird. She has a really pretty voice, but I don't think that makes up for an overall sketchy performance.
Hey There Delilah
Ju'Not Joyner
I don't think I've ever heard this song, but I like it. And I think Ju'Not did a very nice job with it. Maybe the best so far tonight. Good job.
Give Me One Reason
Kristen McNamara
Classic 5-bar blues style. And she's got the voice for it. Unfortunately with the blond bangs and the orange dress she came off as ever-so-slightly Harper Vally PTA to me. That's probably not entirely fair, but it is what it is. Still, I think with her overall performance she has a definite chance to move forward.
I Would Do Anything For Love
Nathaniel Marshall
The best thing about Nate's performance tonight is that he probably sealed his fate. It was nothing more than silly karaoke. I hated it. He can sing I guess, but that was just weird. Bye bye.
No One
Felicia Barton
It's the ultimate second chance. She got cut, and was called back to replace another contestant who was determined to actually be ineligible. Sadly for her, she didn't make her second chance count. The vocal is not good. Pitch is strange. It's not a good song for a show like this. Her final note was nice, but the rest was not. The judges seem to kinda like her, but I am not a fan.
Mandolin Rain
Scott MacIntyre
I think Scott is a shoe in. He hit a couple of bad notes, but he's got great pipes. The whole inspirational thing is also on his side. And on the off chance that America doesn't vote him through, the comments from the judges lead me to believe that they'll put him in as a wild card.
This One's For the Girls
Kendall Beard
I'm not a big fan of country music. And Kendall missed a couple of pitches here and there. But what makes this stand out for me is that she picked a song that suits her voice, that's young, and that comes across as relevant and contemporary. I can't say she's a certainty because of the pitch issues, but overall not bad. And for a wonder, the judges agree.
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
Jorge Nuñez
Before hearing a single note I'm not expecting to like this performance. I was not of fan of Jorge's during the auditions. His vocal talent didnt' impress me. He sounds better than I was expecting though. I think there will be a certain segment of the population that will love him to pieces. Lot's of people love an accent. I don't mind one, but I'm still not really a fan.
Be Without You
Lil Rounds
They saved the best for last this week. I think Lil was fantastic. She looked good. She sounded great. She picked the perfect song for her voice and style. Tons of star quality. Overall excellent.
It was a decent show overall tonight. Not as good as last week, but not excruciating either. I think the best shots to get by to the big show are going to be:
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
and Jorge Nuñez
But you can never be sure how America's going to vote. I think other potential top 12 material includes Ju'Not, Kendall, and Kristen. It will be a tough elimination night tomorrow no matter which way things end up going.
Last week Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, and Kris Allen joined first round finalists Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, and Michael Sarver in the top 12. These are not necessarily the exact 6 I would have chosen so far, but there are no huge errors or surprises in this group.
Let's get on with seeing how tonight's group of 12 does.
You're All I Need to Get By
Von Smith
Von was OK in Hollywood week. I'm certain the cuteness factor helped him get through to the Semi-Finals because I think there were better singers. And tonight? He's OK. He sang fine, but there's something I can't quite put my finger on that I just really don't like. The judges all really liked him, but his performance didn't do a thing for me.
If I Ain't Got You
Taylor Vaifanua
OK - this is a really good performance. Her pitch is very good. She has stage presence. She sings supported. I find the overall performance quite good. The judges aren't jumping up and down, but I think they were really harsh - especially after falling all over themselves over Von.
I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Oh Alex. Dear, sweet Alex. Please don't ever do that again. The vocal would have been fine if it hadn't been for the very odd affectation of vocal grinding. From someone who looks like he's about 14 it just sounds dumb.
Winner Takes it All
Arianna Afsar
It's too bad - I think maybe nerves got to her more than she expected. Her pitch is terrible. The arrangement was bleh. The runs were ... weird. She has a really pretty voice, but I don't think that makes up for an overall sketchy performance.
Hey There Delilah
Ju'Not Joyner
I don't think I've ever heard this song, but I like it. And I think Ju'Not did a very nice job with it. Maybe the best so far tonight. Good job.
Give Me One Reason
Kristen McNamara
Classic 5-bar blues style. And she's got the voice for it. Unfortunately with the blond bangs and the orange dress she came off as ever-so-slightly Harper Vally PTA to me. That's probably not entirely fair, but it is what it is. Still, I think with her overall performance she has a definite chance to move forward.
I Would Do Anything For Love
Nathaniel Marshall
The best thing about Nate's performance tonight is that he probably sealed his fate. It was nothing more than silly karaoke. I hated it. He can sing I guess, but that was just weird. Bye bye.
No One
Felicia Barton
It's the ultimate second chance. She got cut, and was called back to replace another contestant who was determined to actually be ineligible. Sadly for her, she didn't make her second chance count. The vocal is not good. Pitch is strange. It's not a good song for a show like this. Her final note was nice, but the rest was not. The judges seem to kinda like her, but I am not a fan.
Mandolin Rain
Scott MacIntyre
I think Scott is a shoe in. He hit a couple of bad notes, but he's got great pipes. The whole inspirational thing is also on his side. And on the off chance that America doesn't vote him through, the comments from the judges lead me to believe that they'll put him in as a wild card.
This One's For the Girls
Kendall Beard
I'm not a big fan of country music. And Kendall missed a couple of pitches here and there. But what makes this stand out for me is that she picked a song that suits her voice, that's young, and that comes across as relevant and contemporary. I can't say she's a certainty because of the pitch issues, but overall not bad. And for a wonder, the judges agree.
Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
Jorge Nuñez
Before hearing a single note I'm not expecting to like this performance. I was not of fan of Jorge's during the auditions. His vocal talent didnt' impress me. He sounds better than I was expecting though. I think there will be a certain segment of the population that will love him to pieces. Lot's of people love an accent. I don't mind one, but I'm still not really a fan.
Be Without You
Lil Rounds
They saved the best for last this week. I think Lil was fantastic. She looked good. She sounded great. She picked the perfect song for her voice and style. Tons of star quality. Overall excellent.
It was a decent show overall tonight. Not as good as last week, but not excruciating either. I think the best shots to get by to the big show are going to be:
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
and Jorge Nuñez
But you can never be sure how America's going to vote. I think other potential top 12 material includes Ju'Not, Kendall, and Kristen. It will be a tough elimination night tomorrow no matter which way things end up going.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Idol Interrupted
I will be blogging on this week's Idol show, I just don't know when. I had time to do it on Tuesday, but the presidential address meant it didn't air until Wednesday. I had other things I had to do on Wednesday night so I wasn't able to blog. Thursday night is looking bad too... this is just a very busy week for me.
Maybe I'll get caught up on Friday.
Maybe I'll get caught up on Friday.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
American Idol 8 - final reduction week 1
For anyone who has followed this blog - which is probably really nobody since it hasn't exactly gone anywhere - you already know that I kinda disappeared last year around the same time as my car was totaled. I needed to step back a bit and readjust my life.
But now I'm back. Yay me. No promises about how consistent this blog will be, but it's good for me to write and this is the ultimate in non-threatening environments for me to get back in the groove, so here goes.
Tonight is the first of the 'live audience' elimination nights that will whittle the current cast of 36 down to a more manageable 12. It will be handled differently this year - the top vote-getting girl and the top vote-getting guy will be through along with the next top vote-getter. I think that means there's a possibility it won't be an evenly split field this year. Interesting.
The final 3 contestants will come from a final "wild card" week with those who will get one last chance to perform presumably being picked by the judging panel.
Another change this year is the addition of Kara Dioguardi to the judging panel. Kara has been a nice addition already, bringing a voice of reason and professionalism to the audition process and keeping Simon from making Paula any more crazy than she already is.
Anyway - on to the show.
A Little Less Conversation
Jackie Tohn
Ummm.... this is an odd choice. She definitely has some talent and she's very comfortable on stage, but I hated the song, the style, the clothing choice, and pretty much everything else about her performance. It would have been fine for an off, off, off, off Broadway review, but I wouldn't spend a plug nickel buying her album if that was the single.
A Song For You
Ricky Braddy
He may not be much to look at, but dude, Ricky got some chops!! His voice is clear and powerful, his range is awesome. Definitely worth my vote.
Never Loved a Man
Alexis Grace
I love the pink hair. Seriously. Unfortunately she needs some stage presence. I don't think this was the right song choice for our darling Alexis. I hope it's good enough to at least get her a shot at a wild-card spot because I don't know if this will be enough for the guaranteed spot. Maybe I'm missing something though - the judges are falling all themselves to compliment her.
Hicktown
Brent Kieth
He has a nice voice. He's nice to look at. I'm not at all into country music so the song choice doesn't do a thing for me. My bias aside, I'm not sure at all that he was good enough to be in the top 3 tonight. Maybe he should have tried out for the Idol clone on CMT.
You Belong With Me
Stevie Wright
I've liked Stevie from the get go. I think she's adorable. But she's nervous on stage. She missed her entrance and she suddenly sounds like the 17-year-old wannabe that she really is. She's better than this. Maybe they'll give her a shot at the wild-card show because there's not chance of her going through tonight.
Angel of Mine
Anoop Desai
He has a pretty voice, but the performance was dull, flat and boring. Bad pitch. He would have done better with a more upbeat song. He's going home tonight. No shot even at the wildcard after that performance.
Every Little Thing (S)he Does is Magic
Casey Carlson
It's the Bubble Tea girl! It's a completely emasculated version of one of my favorite songs ever. If this was the gong show I'd be going for the big goofy mallet right now. Bye bye, bubble tea girl. Very classy response to Simon though... "I had fun."
I Don't Wanna Be
Michael Sarver
It's the oil rig guy! *deep sigh* I think this time the song was a pretty good choice. Unfortunately the performance was ... awkward. Not good pitch. Not good stage presence. I think Michael is going home.
Natural Woman
Ann Marie Boskovich
Not a bad performance. Not karaoke, but maybe like the demo vocal on a decent karaoke CD. So she's OK, but I don't think she's star material. I am uninspired by Ann Marie as an artist.
Rock With You
Stephen Fowler
Solo night was a disaster for him - he ended up walking off stage. He did much better tonight. But I'm going to channel my friend Mike for a moment and point out that Stephen ain't no MJ. This performance was nothing special. Stephen did not rock with me.
I'm Saving All My Love for You
Tatiana Del Toro
Tatiana can sing. Everything else about her like fingernails on a blackboard. But the performance itself was one of the strongest for the girls this evening - even despite a couple of rough notes. Her voice is really very good. It would not surprise me if between the legit votes she gets and the "vote for the worst" contingent she ends up as the top girl of the evening.
Hero
Danny Gokey
Danny might have been my favorite overall from the audition process. And He's my favorite overall tonight. Perfect song choice for his style. He got to show some soft moments as well as some huge vocal moments.
So I think we had a good start to the "real" idol season tonight. We saw some good and some not-so-good performances.
My guesses for who ends up in the top 12 are:
Danny Gokey
Ricky Braddy
Tatiana Del Toro
My guesses for who ends up on the wildcard show are:
Alexis Grace
Michael Sarver
Anoop Desai (maybe)
But now I'm back. Yay me. No promises about how consistent this blog will be, but it's good for me to write and this is the ultimate in non-threatening environments for me to get back in the groove, so here goes.
Tonight is the first of the 'live audience' elimination nights that will whittle the current cast of 36 down to a more manageable 12. It will be handled differently this year - the top vote-getting girl and the top vote-getting guy will be through along with the next top vote-getter. I think that means there's a possibility it won't be an evenly split field this year. Interesting.
The final 3 contestants will come from a final "wild card" week with those who will get one last chance to perform presumably being picked by the judging panel.
Another change this year is the addition of Kara Dioguardi to the judging panel. Kara has been a nice addition already, bringing a voice of reason and professionalism to the audition process and keeping Simon from making Paula any more crazy than she already is.
Anyway - on to the show.
A Little Less Conversation
Jackie Tohn
Ummm.... this is an odd choice. She definitely has some talent and she's very comfortable on stage, but I hated the song, the style, the clothing choice, and pretty much everything else about her performance. It would have been fine for an off, off, off, off Broadway review, but I wouldn't spend a plug nickel buying her album if that was the single.
A Song For You
Ricky Braddy
He may not be much to look at, but dude, Ricky got some chops!! His voice is clear and powerful, his range is awesome. Definitely worth my vote.
Never Loved a Man
Alexis Grace
I love the pink hair. Seriously. Unfortunately she needs some stage presence. I don't think this was the right song choice for our darling Alexis. I hope it's good enough to at least get her a shot at a wild-card spot because I don't know if this will be enough for the guaranteed spot. Maybe I'm missing something though - the judges are falling all themselves to compliment her.
Hicktown
Brent Kieth
He has a nice voice. He's nice to look at. I'm not at all into country music so the song choice doesn't do a thing for me. My bias aside, I'm not sure at all that he was good enough to be in the top 3 tonight. Maybe he should have tried out for the Idol clone on CMT.
You Belong With Me
Stevie Wright
I've liked Stevie from the get go. I think she's adorable. But she's nervous on stage. She missed her entrance and she suddenly sounds like the 17-year-old wannabe that she really is. She's better than this. Maybe they'll give her a shot at the wild-card show because there's not chance of her going through tonight.
Angel of Mine
Anoop Desai
He has a pretty voice, but the performance was dull, flat and boring. Bad pitch. He would have done better with a more upbeat song. He's going home tonight. No shot even at the wildcard after that performance.
Every Little Thing (S)he Does is Magic
Casey Carlson
It's the Bubble Tea girl! It's a completely emasculated version of one of my favorite songs ever. If this was the gong show I'd be going for the big goofy mallet right now. Bye bye, bubble tea girl. Very classy response to Simon though... "I had fun."
I Don't Wanna Be
Michael Sarver
It's the oil rig guy! *deep sigh* I think this time the song was a pretty good choice. Unfortunately the performance was ... awkward. Not good pitch. Not good stage presence. I think Michael is going home.
Natural Woman
Ann Marie Boskovich
Not a bad performance. Not karaoke, but maybe like the demo vocal on a decent karaoke CD. So she's OK, but I don't think she's star material. I am uninspired by Ann Marie as an artist.
Rock With You
Stephen Fowler
Solo night was a disaster for him - he ended up walking off stage. He did much better tonight. But I'm going to channel my friend Mike for a moment and point out that Stephen ain't no MJ. This performance was nothing special. Stephen did not rock with me.
I'm Saving All My Love for You
Tatiana Del Toro
Tatiana can sing. Everything else about her like fingernails on a blackboard. But the performance itself was one of the strongest for the girls this evening - even despite a couple of rough notes. Her voice is really very good. It would not surprise me if between the legit votes she gets and the "vote for the worst" contingent she ends up as the top girl of the evening.
Hero
Danny Gokey
Danny might have been my favorite overall from the audition process. And He's my favorite overall tonight. Perfect song choice for his style. He got to show some soft moments as well as some huge vocal moments.
So I think we had a good start to the "real" idol season tonight. We saw some good and some not-so-good performances.
My guesses for who ends up in the top 12 are:
Danny Gokey
Ricky Braddy
Tatiana Del Toro
My guesses for who ends up on the wildcard show are:
Alexis Grace
Michael Sarver
Anoop Desai (maybe)
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