All 20 finalists opened the show with an unspectacular medley of 70's hits. Just like last week it was a drab collection of songs performed in a vocally boring way. At least, last week the finalists dressed up in funtabulous 60's mod fashions. Unfortunately, this week there were no super duper 70's clothes to save the ensemble piece.
The boys were first to face elimination. Michael Johns is safe and so are Chikezie and Jason Castro. We were left with either Danny Noriega or Jason Yeager going home. Even though Jason Yeager was my prediction, my fingers were crossed that we would be getting rid of Danny sooner than later. No such luck. Jason got the bad news and sang for the last time on the Idol stage.
Kristy Lee Cook was the first to be told that she is safe followed by Asia'h Epperson and Brooke White. That meant either Alexandrea Lushington or Amanda Overmyer were going to be sent packing. Turns out that Alexandrea is going to find out exactly what is going to happen if she leaves us now.
Carly Smithson was then told that she is safe. Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado are also coming back next week. Kady Malloy and Alaina Whitaker were called center stage to hear that they were among the three lowest vote getters. Alaina was brought to tears when she heard the news that her time has come to an end. The rest of the girls all gathered round her in support as she bravely performed.
The Davids are all safe: Cook, Archuleta and Hernandez. Luke Menard and Robbie Carrico were called center stage to hear that Robbie had to sing for the last time.
I got three out of my four predictions correct. Now that Kady is coming back next week she'll get a chance to choose the right song and blow us all away. It should be a great show! Hopefully we'll continue with the theme and get the TOTALLY AWESOME songs of the 80's!!!!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The top 10 girls get their second chance
Tonight the top 10 girls get their second chance to prove themselves. Here are the songs from the 70's that they chose:
Heart paved the way for women in rock when they hit the charts in 1976 with Crazy On You. Carly Smithson grabbed the wheel and drove away with this powerful vocal challenge. She clearly has a great voice and it is easily suited to a broad range of styles. All we have to do is hop in and enjoy the ride.
Billy Paul stayed at #1 for three weeks in 1972 with Me & Mrs. Jones. Syesha Mercado embarked on her illicit affair with Mr. Jones as she grabbed the mike and belted out this R&B power ballad. She looks cute and the soft notes were sweet, but she really shines when she brings home the big notes.
Carly Simon also stayed at #1 for three weeks in 1972 with You're So Vain. There was nothing vain about pure and innocent Brooke White as she strummed her guitar to perform this wonderful song. It was very well-suited to her voice and style. She's SO making the best of her opportunity on stage.
Thelma Houston hit the top of the charts in 1977 with Don't Leave Me This Way. Ramiele Malubay dimmed all the lights at the beginning to ease the crowd in before the disco lights began to shimmer and swirl. Her strong vocals carried her through very easily, but overall, it was a pretty safe performance.
Linda Ronstadt had her biggest #1 smash in 1975 with You're No Good. Kristy Lee Cook showed us that she's quite good as she strutted her stuff across the stage. This week she chose a song that better conveyed her vocal abilities and stage presence.
Kansas had their first chart success with Carry On Wayward Son in 1977. Amanda Overmyer sported Tracy Turnblad's hairsprayed hair flip as she rocked the audience through the roof. Her vocals were exactly as raspy and limited as expected but she really impressed with her wild dance moves.
Olivia Newton-John continued her string of hits in 1978 when Hopelessly Devoted To You peaked at #3. Alaina Whitaker did her best to match the pure and simple angelic vocals of Olivia, but honestly, that's impossible. That being the case, she did the song justice, but she didn't do anything special with it.
Chicago had their first #1 song in 1976 with If You Leave Me Now. Alexandrea Lushington did her best to re-arrange this adult contemporary ballad as a soulful slow jam. Her innovative effort unfortunately failed to be a success. This performance could lead to her leaving the show earlier than she'd like.
Heart had their first top 10 song with Magic Man in 1976. Kady Malloy has successfully proven herself as a multi-faceted vocalist off stage, but once again she didn't bring that personality to the American Idol stage. Is it possible that she doesn't have the passion for singing to really take this rare opportunity seriously? Even if her performances aren't that great, at least she's having fun.
Eric Carmen made his debut in 1976 when All By Myself peaked at #2. Asia'h Epperson definitely thinks she's a better singer than she actually is as she attempted to elevate her voice to the required levels for this song. She's still pretty good, but she doesn't appear to sing with the necessary effortless ease that some of the better singers have.
I don't think any of the girls put in an over the top winning performance tonight. They are all pretty good with Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado being slightly ahead of the rest. Any of the other girls could be in danger of going home. Alaina Whitaker, Kristy Lee Cook and Kady Malloy are almost interchangeable on stage. While Amanda Overmyer is definitely unique, it's debatable if she's winning over the voters and poor song choice is clearly going to hurt Alexandrea Lushington. I think the four lowest vote getters are going to be Alaina, Kady, Amanda and Alexandrea. My prediction is that Kady and Alexandrea will be going home.
Heart paved the way for women in rock when they hit the charts in 1976 with Crazy On You. Carly Smithson grabbed the wheel and drove away with this powerful vocal challenge. She clearly has a great voice and it is easily suited to a broad range of styles. All we have to do is hop in and enjoy the ride.
Billy Paul stayed at #1 for three weeks in 1972 with Me & Mrs. Jones. Syesha Mercado embarked on her illicit affair with Mr. Jones as she grabbed the mike and belted out this R&B power ballad. She looks cute and the soft notes were sweet, but she really shines when she brings home the big notes.
Carly Simon also stayed at #1 for three weeks in 1972 with You're So Vain. There was nothing vain about pure and innocent Brooke White as she strummed her guitar to perform this wonderful song. It was very well-suited to her voice and style. She's SO making the best of her opportunity on stage.
Thelma Houston hit the top of the charts in 1977 with Don't Leave Me This Way. Ramiele Malubay dimmed all the lights at the beginning to ease the crowd in before the disco lights began to shimmer and swirl. Her strong vocals carried her through very easily, but overall, it was a pretty safe performance.
Linda Ronstadt had her biggest #1 smash in 1975 with You're No Good. Kristy Lee Cook showed us that she's quite good as she strutted her stuff across the stage. This week she chose a song that better conveyed her vocal abilities and stage presence.
Kansas had their first chart success with Carry On Wayward Son in 1977. Amanda Overmyer sported Tracy Turnblad's hairsprayed hair flip as she rocked the audience through the roof. Her vocals were exactly as raspy and limited as expected but she really impressed with her wild dance moves.
Olivia Newton-John continued her string of hits in 1978 when Hopelessly Devoted To You peaked at #3. Alaina Whitaker did her best to match the pure and simple angelic vocals of Olivia, but honestly, that's impossible. That being the case, she did the song justice, but she didn't do anything special with it.
Chicago had their first #1 song in 1976 with If You Leave Me Now. Alexandrea Lushington did her best to re-arrange this adult contemporary ballad as a soulful slow jam. Her innovative effort unfortunately failed to be a success. This performance could lead to her leaving the show earlier than she'd like.
Heart had their first top 10 song with Magic Man in 1976. Kady Malloy has successfully proven herself as a multi-faceted vocalist off stage, but once again she didn't bring that personality to the American Idol stage. Is it possible that she doesn't have the passion for singing to really take this rare opportunity seriously? Even if her performances aren't that great, at least she's having fun.
Eric Carmen made his debut in 1976 when All By Myself peaked at #2. Asia'h Epperson definitely thinks she's a better singer than she actually is as she attempted to elevate her voice to the required levels for this song. She's still pretty good, but she doesn't appear to sing with the necessary effortless ease that some of the better singers have.
I don't think any of the girls put in an over the top winning performance tonight. They are all pretty good with Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado being slightly ahead of the rest. Any of the other girls could be in danger of going home. Alaina Whitaker, Kristy Lee Cook and Kady Malloy are almost interchangeable on stage. While Amanda Overmyer is definitely unique, it's debatable if she's winning over the voters and poor song choice is clearly going to hurt Alexandrea Lushington. I think the four lowest vote getters are going to be Alaina, Kady, Amanda and Alexandrea. My prediction is that Kady and Alexandrea will be going home.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The top 10 boys get their second chance
Tonight the top 10 boys get a second chance to prove they are worthy to stay in the competition. They are attempting to win us over with the music of the 70's:
Fleetwood Mac had their first top 10 hit in 1977 with Go Your Own Way. Michael Johns started the competition showing the more low-key side of his personality with this mellow classic. The song didn't give him much of a chance to set the night on fire, but you could still see the embers smoldering underneath it all. He's hot even when the song is not.
Andy Gibb had his first #1 song in 1977 when I Just Want To Be Your Everything topped the charts for four weeks. Back then it was a disco jam, but in the hands of Jason Castro it was re-invented as a guitar driven folk song. It was a creative arrangement, but it didn't make his voice stand out as exceptional.
Queen first hit the charts in 1975 with Killer Queen. Luke Menard took his talents to another level by attempting this dramatic song. He was able to display the full range of his impressive tenor while also giving the audience a chance to gaze into his dreamy eyes. Everybody wins!
Foreigner peaked at #3 in 1978 with the classic rock anthem Hot Blooded. Robbie Carrico continued to try and prove himself as a genuine rocker with this time in the spotlight. The lead singer of Foreigner, Lou Gramm, is the premier voice of rock and Robbie didn't come close with this effort.
The Carpenters continued their streak of hits in 1971 when Superstar peaked at #2. Danny Noriega was clearly channeling his inner Karen with his extremely awkward performance of this beautiful song. Unfortunately she failed to help him get close to re-creating the magic of the original. His voice isn't good enough to compensate for everything else he dishes out.
The Temptations had their fourth #1 song in 1972 with Papa Was A Rolling Stone. David Hernandez showed everyone that this is a singing competition that he intends to win. He took this epic R&B slice of life and sang every note with purity and conviction. He combined his wonderful vocals with enough dynamic stage presence and style to make him a front-runner.
The Doobie Brothers had their first top 10 hit in 1973 with Long Train Runnin'. It's one of the greatest rock songs ever, but it doesn't necessarily allow a finalist like Jason Yeager to sing at his best. It's clear that there's a very talented singer and musician in there, but Jason hasn't found a way to bring him to the American Idol stage yet.
Donny Hathaway was never very big on the music charts, but that didn't stop Chikezie from selecting one of his soulful jams. This was a significant improvement from last week's train wreck as he seemed more comfortable with the material. He showed off his big voice along with his big ego.
Free had their one and only hit when All Right Now peaked at #4 in 1970. David Cook chose this song which allowed him to rock with his electric guitar just the way he likes. He gave us another performance that is exactly what we expect from him.
John Lennon took Imagine to #3 in 1971. It's very easy imagine the extremely talented and charismatic David Archuleta in the finals after his impressive and mature rendition of this timeless and inspirational song. This young man oozes sincerity with every note that skillfully pours out of him. He's already a star.
My predictions for the boys last week were completely off and I'm predicting that I'm gonna be way off again this week. None of the boys are totally and completely awful. While David Archuleta is at the top of the heap by himself, David Hernandez has joined Michael Johns as a contender. I think Luke Menard saved himself this week from being too nice, too handsome and too boring. I guess I'm left with predicting that Jason Yeager, Jason Castro, Robbie Carrico and of course, Danny Noriega , will be the lowest vote getters. I'd love to say that Danny will be going home, but I think the weirdos are still gonna be voting for him. That leaves me predicting that Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico will be going home.
Fleetwood Mac had their first top 10 hit in 1977 with Go Your Own Way. Michael Johns started the competition showing the more low-key side of his personality with this mellow classic. The song didn't give him much of a chance to set the night on fire, but you could still see the embers smoldering underneath it all. He's hot even when the song is not.
Andy Gibb had his first #1 song in 1977 when I Just Want To Be Your Everything topped the charts for four weeks. Back then it was a disco jam, but in the hands of Jason Castro it was re-invented as a guitar driven folk song. It was a creative arrangement, but it didn't make his voice stand out as exceptional.
Queen first hit the charts in 1975 with Killer Queen. Luke Menard took his talents to another level by attempting this dramatic song. He was able to display the full range of his impressive tenor while also giving the audience a chance to gaze into his dreamy eyes. Everybody wins!
Foreigner peaked at #3 in 1978 with the classic rock anthem Hot Blooded. Robbie Carrico continued to try and prove himself as a genuine rocker with this time in the spotlight. The lead singer of Foreigner, Lou Gramm, is the premier voice of rock and Robbie didn't come close with this effort.
The Carpenters continued their streak of hits in 1971 when Superstar peaked at #2. Danny Noriega was clearly channeling his inner Karen with his extremely awkward performance of this beautiful song. Unfortunately she failed to help him get close to re-creating the magic of the original. His voice isn't good enough to compensate for everything else he dishes out.
The Temptations had their fourth #1 song in 1972 with Papa Was A Rolling Stone. David Hernandez showed everyone that this is a singing competition that he intends to win. He took this epic R&B slice of life and sang every note with purity and conviction. He combined his wonderful vocals with enough dynamic stage presence and style to make him a front-runner.
The Doobie Brothers had their first top 10 hit in 1973 with Long Train Runnin'. It's one of the greatest rock songs ever, but it doesn't necessarily allow a finalist like Jason Yeager to sing at his best. It's clear that there's a very talented singer and musician in there, but Jason hasn't found a way to bring him to the American Idol stage yet.
Donny Hathaway was never very big on the music charts, but that didn't stop Chikezie from selecting one of his soulful jams. This was a significant improvement from last week's train wreck as he seemed more comfortable with the material. He showed off his big voice along with his big ego.
Free had their one and only hit when All Right Now peaked at #4 in 1970. David Cook chose this song which allowed him to rock with his electric guitar just the way he likes. He gave us another performance that is exactly what we expect from him.
John Lennon took Imagine to #3 in 1971. It's very easy imagine the extremely talented and charismatic David Archuleta in the finals after his impressive and mature rendition of this timeless and inspirational song. This young man oozes sincerity with every note that skillfully pours out of him. He's already a star.
My predictions for the boys last week were completely off and I'm predicting that I'm gonna be way off again this week. None of the boys are totally and completely awful. While David Archuleta is at the top of the heap by himself, David Hernandez has joined Michael Johns as a contender. I think Luke Menard saved himself this week from being too nice, too handsome and too boring. I guess I'm left with predicting that Jason Yeager, Jason Castro, Robbie Carrico and of course, Danny Noriega , will be the lowest vote getters. I'd love to say that Danny will be going home, but I think the weirdos are still gonna be voting for him. That leaves me predicting that Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico will be going home.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The first four to go home...
The time has come to send the four lowest vote getters home. Just like in past seasons, the announcements must be stretched to an hour so we had time to see all 24 finalists perform a 60's medley. It was supposed to be a fun filled energetic showcase of music, but it failed to live up to expectations. It didn't work on so many levels. All-around, the vocals were weak and lacking enthusiasm. The song choices were just plain wrong. They weren't catchy or memorable favorites at all. The best thing I can say about the performance was that it gave this attractive bunch of kids the chance to play dress up in very cool 60's Mod outfits. The boys looked very handsome and sleek in their suits and skinny ties, while the girls looked ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS in their mini-skirts, go-go boots and big hair-dos!
There was also plenty of time to plug Randy's new album coming out on March 11th that has a new song that he produced for Paula. In the early 90's she was the queen of the pop charts taking 6 smash hits all the way to #1. But it has been 17 years since Promise Of A New Day hit the top so Paula was filled with anxiety as the video was introduced for all of American Idol's millions of viewers to see. It was just as overproduced as her earlier hits and it highlighted her dancing more than her vocals. It was kinda catchy. It has a good beat you can dance to. It might actually become a minor hit for her.
When Ryan finally got around to revealing the elimations, he asked Garrett Haley to join him center stage and then blurted out that he was the first one to go. Poor little Garrett is such a sweet boy with a nice voice. It was sad to hear him perform Breaking Up is Hard to Do one last time.
When it came time for the girls, Ryan was quite mean asking Kristy Lee Cook to step forward just to fake her out and reveal that Amy Davis is out of here. That's when the wave of emotions took over. She did her best to tremble through Where The Boys Are while the rest of the finalists couldn't hold back their tears any longer.
The tears continued to flow while Ryan asked Amanda Overmyer and Joanne Borgella to join him center stage. Turns out that a little prayer wasn't enough to keep Joanne safe. The pouty lips holding back sobs were prominent when Ryan asked Chikezie and Colton Berry to step forward. This time Colton got the bad news that no one wants to hear him sing again.
I got both of my predictions right regarding the girls, but I was completely wrong about the boys. I'm not surprised at all about Colton, but I would have liked to see a nice kid like Garrett get the opportunity to have another chance.
There was also plenty of time to plug Randy's new album coming out on March 11th that has a new song that he produced for Paula. In the early 90's she was the queen of the pop charts taking 6 smash hits all the way to #1. But it has been 17 years since Promise Of A New Day hit the top so Paula was filled with anxiety as the video was introduced for all of American Idol's millions of viewers to see. It was just as overproduced as her earlier hits and it highlighted her dancing more than her vocals. It was kinda catchy. It has a good beat you can dance to. It might actually become a minor hit for her.
When Ryan finally got around to revealing the elimations, he asked Garrett Haley to join him center stage and then blurted out that he was the first one to go. Poor little Garrett is such a sweet boy with a nice voice. It was sad to hear him perform Breaking Up is Hard to Do one last time.
When it came time for the girls, Ryan was quite mean asking Kristy Lee Cook to step forward just to fake her out and reveal that Amy Davis is out of here. That's when the wave of emotions took over. She did her best to tremble through Where The Boys Are while the rest of the finalists couldn't hold back their tears any longer.
The tears continued to flow while Ryan asked Amanda Overmyer and Joanne Borgella to join him center stage. Turns out that a little prayer wasn't enough to keep Joanne safe. The pouty lips holding back sobs were prominent when Ryan asked Chikezie and Colton Berry to step forward. This time Colton got the bad news that no one wants to hear him sing again.
I got both of my predictions right regarding the girls, but I was completely wrong about the boys. I'm not surprised at all about Colton, but I would have liked to see a nice kid like Garrett get the opportunity to have another chance.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The top 12 Girls make their First Impression
The boys did their best last night to leave a lasting impression and now it's time for the top 12 girls to introduce themselves to us. Here's how they decided to interpret the songs of the 60's:
Kristy Lee Cook is 24 and she chose to put her Barbie Doll persona onto the soulful Fontella Bass smash from 1965, Rescue Me. She's very pretty and has a very sweet voice, but she didn't bring anything special to the song. A bland first impression.
Joanne Borgella is 25 and she chose to tackle a track that both Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin had hits with, I Say A Little Prayer. It's a party friendly crowd pleaser, but she lacked the energy to get the party started. A lack-luster first impression.
Alaina Whitaker is 16 and she chose to teach a lesson to one of the boys. Last night Chikezie sucked the life out of More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Staircase and tonight this pretty young thing completely brought it back to life. She both re-invented and updated a wonderful pop gem. A great first impression.
Amanda Overmyer is 23 and she chose to introduce the American Idol audience to the electric guitar! She exploded onto the stage and urgently pleaded with her raspy vocal passion that we please don't go. She's got nothing to worry about. An electric first impression.
Amy Davis is 25 and she chose to sing the 1961 classic by Connie Francis, Where The Boys Are. She really made a sincere effort, but the vocal strength wasn't there to sustain her to the end. Just another nice looking girl with a nice voice. A shaky first impression.
Brooke White is 24 and she chose to put her sweet Polly pure bred spin on the Turtle's #1 smash from 1967, Happy Together. She provided the polar opposite from David Cook's version last night. She's definitely committed to staying true to her good girl image so far, even if it doesn't make for a very dynamic performance. An innocent first impression.
Alexandrea Lushington is 17 and she chose to put all of her Blood, Sweat and Tears into her performance of their 1969 hit that peaked at #2, Spinning Wheel. She dominated the stage with her confidence and strong vocals. A totally fresh first impression.
Kady Malloy is 18 and she chose to bring the energy level down a notch with the boring Phil Collins version of the Mindbender's #2 hit from 1966, A Groovy Kind Of Love. Such an unfortunate choice because she has a great voice. She belted out some big notes, but it wasn't enough to save the poor song choice. A regrettable first impression.
Asia'h Epperson is 19 and she chose to add her own twist to Janis Joplin's 1968 Piece Of My Heart. It seemed like a kind of clunky arrangement that she struggled through. As a result, the vocal performance came off as strained and forced rather than intense. She has room for improvement. A weird first impression.
Ramiele Malubay is 20 and she chose to sing Dusty Springfield's biggest hit from 1966, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me. She has a really nice voice, but she has to learn how to showcase her talent from the beginning. Thankfully, she delivered at the end. A good first impression.
Syesha Mercado is 21 and she chose to resurrect a minor 1964 hit by the Nashville Teens, Tobacco Road. She completely revitalized the song into a contemporary jam for a new generation. She looked and sounded great as she owned the stage. A smokin' first impression.
Carly Smithson is 24 and she chose to make it look easy. Her vocal interpretation was effortless and the strongest most impressive notes of the evening filled the airwaves. The only way she could be better is to select catchier songs. A great first impression.
Were the girls better than the boys? Only slightly. Are this year's girls better than last year's? No. Most of the girls this year have better personalities off stage than they do on stage. Comparing them on stage they have a tendency to all blur together - Just one pretty girl with a nice voice after another. Amanda and Carly managed to set themselves apart as distinctive, at least. Any of the other girls could be sent home tomorrow. I think Kristy Lee Cook, Joanne Borgella, Amy Davis and Kady Malloy are in the greatest danger. My prediction is that Joanne Borgella and Amy Davis will wind up losing in the end.
Kristy Lee Cook is 24 and she chose to put her Barbie Doll persona onto the soulful Fontella Bass smash from 1965, Rescue Me. She's very pretty and has a very sweet voice, but she didn't bring anything special to the song. A bland first impression.
Joanne Borgella is 25 and she chose to tackle a track that both Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin had hits with, I Say A Little Prayer. It's a party friendly crowd pleaser, but she lacked the energy to get the party started. A lack-luster first impression.
Alaina Whitaker is 16 and she chose to teach a lesson to one of the boys. Last night Chikezie sucked the life out of More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Staircase and tonight this pretty young thing completely brought it back to life. She both re-invented and updated a wonderful pop gem. A great first impression.
Amanda Overmyer is 23 and she chose to introduce the American Idol audience to the electric guitar! She exploded onto the stage and urgently pleaded with her raspy vocal passion that we please don't go. She's got nothing to worry about. An electric first impression.
Amy Davis is 25 and she chose to sing the 1961 classic by Connie Francis, Where The Boys Are. She really made a sincere effort, but the vocal strength wasn't there to sustain her to the end. Just another nice looking girl with a nice voice. A shaky first impression.
Brooke White is 24 and she chose to put her sweet Polly pure bred spin on the Turtle's #1 smash from 1967, Happy Together. She provided the polar opposite from David Cook's version last night. She's definitely committed to staying true to her good girl image so far, even if it doesn't make for a very dynamic performance. An innocent first impression.
Alexandrea Lushington is 17 and she chose to put all of her Blood, Sweat and Tears into her performance of their 1969 hit that peaked at #2, Spinning Wheel. She dominated the stage with her confidence and strong vocals. A totally fresh first impression.
Kady Malloy is 18 and she chose to bring the energy level down a notch with the boring Phil Collins version of the Mindbender's #2 hit from 1966, A Groovy Kind Of Love. Such an unfortunate choice because she has a great voice. She belted out some big notes, but it wasn't enough to save the poor song choice. A regrettable first impression.
Asia'h Epperson is 19 and she chose to add her own twist to Janis Joplin's 1968 Piece Of My Heart. It seemed like a kind of clunky arrangement that she struggled through. As a result, the vocal performance came off as strained and forced rather than intense. She has room for improvement. A weird first impression.
Ramiele Malubay is 20 and she chose to sing Dusty Springfield's biggest hit from 1966, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me. She has a really nice voice, but she has to learn how to showcase her talent from the beginning. Thankfully, she delivered at the end. A good first impression.
Syesha Mercado is 21 and she chose to resurrect a minor 1964 hit by the Nashville Teens, Tobacco Road. She completely revitalized the song into a contemporary jam for a new generation. She looked and sounded great as she owned the stage. A smokin' first impression.
Carly Smithson is 24 and she chose to make it look easy. Her vocal interpretation was effortless and the strongest most impressive notes of the evening filled the airwaves. The only way she could be better is to select catchier songs. A great first impression.
Were the girls better than the boys? Only slightly. Are this year's girls better than last year's? No. Most of the girls this year have better personalities off stage than they do on stage. Comparing them on stage they have a tendency to all blur together - Just one pretty girl with a nice voice after another. Amanda and Carly managed to set themselves apart as distinctive, at least. Any of the other girls could be sent home tomorrow. I think Kristy Lee Cook, Joanne Borgella, Amy Davis and Kady Malloy are in the greatest danger. My prediction is that Joanne Borgella and Amy Davis will wind up losing in the end.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The top 12 Boys make their First Impression
After weeks of auditions some of these 12 boys are finally getting their first opportunity to get more than a minute on camera. For others, this is merely their first performance. As far as I'm concerned, the playing field is leveled!! All 12 are getting up on that stage to introduce themselves to us and win our votes. Here's what they offered as they sang songs from the 60's:
David Hernandez is 24 and he chose to put his own smooth soul stamp on Wilson Picket's In The Midnight Hour from 1965. His vocals are literally as smooth as his baby soft face. He re-invented and updated a classic song. He looks good and sounded great. A very good first impression.
Chikezie is 22 and he chose to suck the life out of the 1969 hit by Spiral Staircase, More Today Than Yesterday. The original is an upbeat and lively toe-tapper and for some reason he decided to perform it like a drowsy lounge lizard. Re-invented, but not updated. Not a good first impression.
David Cook is 25 and he chose to rock out to the Turtles #1 smash from 1967, Happy Together. He's the latest in the long line of rockers with limited vocal range doing their best to succeed on the Miss American Idol stage. The rock arrangement worked, but he'd better develop more stage presence if he wants his voice to be viewed as passion and not just screaming. A luke warm first impression.
Jason Yeager is 28 and he chose to navigate his way through the Breakfast at Tiffany's movie song from 1961, Moon River. It started out as such smooth sailing it could put you to sleep. Even when he made some waves proving he could hit the big notes, it was barely enough to keep us afloat. A weak first impression.
Robbie Carrico is 26 and he chose to try and rock our worlds with the Three Dog Night jam from 1969, One. Where some rockers have a rough and raspy edge to their voices, his came off as somewhat thin and shrill. Seems like he's working harder to look like a rocker than sounding like one. A paper thin first impression.
David Archuleta is 17 and he chose to light up the stage with his version of Shop Around by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1961. Sincerity just radiates from his bright smile. Even though his voice isn't the most distinctive or the most powerful, you just want to pinch his cheeks and look forward to seeing him next week. A great first impression every time.
Danny Noriega is 18 and he chose to reach back to the 50's and perform Jailhouse Rock that Elvis took to #1 for 7 weeks in 1957. The sound coming out of his mouth does not match the skinny awkward boy on stage. He tried his best to be energetic and show off his dancing skills, but his hips do not move nearly as well as those of The King of Rock and Roll. He was totally unconvincing. A comical first impression.
Luke Menard is 29 and he chose to play the Midnight Cowboy and sing Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin from 1969. It was a very bland performance that leads one to believe that he's hoping to coast on his rugged good looks. A "looks 10, vocals 3" impression.
Colton Berry is 18 and he chose to perform the last #1 hit song for Elvis - 1969's Suspicious Minds. Elvis had the style and talent to chart with over 100 songs and take 18 all the way to #1. Colton doesn't have enough of anything to chart at all. It just didn't work. A messy first impression.
Garrett Haley is 17 and he chose to wrap his warm falsetto around Neil Sedaka's 1962 chart-topper Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. He poured it over the fans like syrup on a stack of hot cakes - very sweet. It would have been nice, though, if he had mixed up the ballad version with the up-tempo arrangment. Oh well. A good first impression.
Jason Castro is 20 and he chose to pull back his dirty dread-locks, pick up his guitar and perform the song that peaked at #2 for the Lovin' Spoonful in 1966, Daydream. He took us right back there and embodied the era with his look and vocal interpretation. Was he bare foot up there? A retro first impression.
Michael Johns is 29 and he chose to heat things up by pulling out his inner Jim Morrison and scorching the crowd with the Doors #1 song from 1967, Light My Fire. He totally looks and sounds the part with great vocals and dynamic stage presence. A hot first impression.
They always try to hype up the audience by saying "this is the BEST top 24 EVER!". I will say that this year's group of boys is better than last year's, but there isn't anyone one as unique as last year's 1st runner-up, Blake Lewis. So far, the only two who are a sure thing for the top 12 are David Archuleta and Michael Johns. As for the rest of them, any could be sent packing this Thursday. My prediction for the lowest vote getters is Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, Luke Menard and Colton Berry. Danny has the ego and the potential to be another trainwreck like Sanjaya, so I fear he will be saved by weird people calling in for him. I think that Jason and Luke will be going home because they are too nice, too handsome and too forgettable.
David Hernandez is 24 and he chose to put his own smooth soul stamp on Wilson Picket's In The Midnight Hour from 1965. His vocals are literally as smooth as his baby soft face. He re-invented and updated a classic song. He looks good and sounded great. A very good first impression.
Chikezie is 22 and he chose to suck the life out of the 1969 hit by Spiral Staircase, More Today Than Yesterday. The original is an upbeat and lively toe-tapper and for some reason he decided to perform it like a drowsy lounge lizard. Re-invented, but not updated. Not a good first impression.
David Cook is 25 and he chose to rock out to the Turtles #1 smash from 1967, Happy Together. He's the latest in the long line of rockers with limited vocal range doing their best to succeed on the Miss American Idol stage. The rock arrangement worked, but he'd better develop more stage presence if he wants his voice to be viewed as passion and not just screaming. A luke warm first impression.
Jason Yeager is 28 and he chose to navigate his way through the Breakfast at Tiffany's movie song from 1961, Moon River. It started out as such smooth sailing it could put you to sleep. Even when he made some waves proving he could hit the big notes, it was barely enough to keep us afloat. A weak first impression.
Robbie Carrico is 26 and he chose to try and rock our worlds with the Three Dog Night jam from 1969, One. Where some rockers have a rough and raspy edge to their voices, his came off as somewhat thin and shrill. Seems like he's working harder to look like a rocker than sounding like one. A paper thin first impression.
David Archuleta is 17 and he chose to light up the stage with his version of Shop Around by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1961. Sincerity just radiates from his bright smile. Even though his voice isn't the most distinctive or the most powerful, you just want to pinch his cheeks and look forward to seeing him next week. A great first impression every time.
Danny Noriega is 18 and he chose to reach back to the 50's and perform Jailhouse Rock that Elvis took to #1 for 7 weeks in 1957. The sound coming out of his mouth does not match the skinny awkward boy on stage. He tried his best to be energetic and show off his dancing skills, but his hips do not move nearly as well as those of The King of Rock and Roll. He was totally unconvincing. A comical first impression.
Luke Menard is 29 and he chose to play the Midnight Cowboy and sing Nilsson's Everybody's Talkin from 1969. It was a very bland performance that leads one to believe that he's hoping to coast on his rugged good looks. A "looks 10, vocals 3" impression.
Colton Berry is 18 and he chose to perform the last #1 hit song for Elvis - 1969's Suspicious Minds. Elvis had the style and talent to chart with over 100 songs and take 18 all the way to #1. Colton doesn't have enough of anything to chart at all. It just didn't work. A messy first impression.
Garrett Haley is 17 and he chose to wrap his warm falsetto around Neil Sedaka's 1962 chart-topper Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. He poured it over the fans like syrup on a stack of hot cakes - very sweet. It would have been nice, though, if he had mixed up the ballad version with the up-tempo arrangment. Oh well. A good first impression.
Jason Castro is 20 and he chose to pull back his dirty dread-locks, pick up his guitar and perform the song that peaked at #2 for the Lovin' Spoonful in 1966, Daydream. He took us right back there and embodied the era with his look and vocal interpretation. Was he bare foot up there? A retro first impression.
Michael Johns is 29 and he chose to heat things up by pulling out his inner Jim Morrison and scorching the crowd with the Doors #1 song from 1967, Light My Fire. He totally looks and sounds the part with great vocals and dynamic stage presence. A hot first impression.
They always try to hype up the audience by saying "this is the BEST top 24 EVER!". I will say that this year's group of boys is better than last year's, but there isn't anyone one as unique as last year's 1st runner-up, Blake Lewis. So far, the only two who are a sure thing for the top 12 are David Archuleta and Michael Johns. As for the rest of them, any could be sent packing this Thursday. My prediction for the lowest vote getters is Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, Luke Menard and Colton Berry. Danny has the ego and the potential to be another trainwreck like Sanjaya, so I fear he will be saved by weird people calling in for him. I think that Jason and Luke will be going home because they are too nice, too handsome and too forgettable.
Monday, February 18, 2008
I stand corrected...
Turns out I was wrong about the day that the top 24 performances are going to begin. I was all excited that it was going to be tonight, but it is tomorrow. Boy night will be Tuesday, Girl night will be Wednesday and Results night will be Thursday.
Since we have one more day to wait, I might as well share that Mariah's hot new single just keeps getting hotter. Radio stations all over the country are adding it to their playlists and putting it in heavy rotation. Wish I could be saying the same thing about season six Miss American Idol 1st runner up Blake Lewis and his music. Sadly, although it is great, catchy pop music, it is getting ignored. Season six Miss American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, is doing a little better. While her first top 10 hit, Tattoo, is on it's way down the charts, her new single duet with Chris Brown, No Air, is getting more spins every day.
Most times when I've been listening to the radio this week the DJ has segued directly from Mariah's Touch My Body to Jordin's latest smash. Good Times...
Since we have one more day to wait, I might as well share that Mariah's hot new single just keeps getting hotter. Radio stations all over the country are adding it to their playlists and putting it in heavy rotation. Wish I could be saying the same thing about season six Miss American Idol 1st runner up Blake Lewis and his music. Sadly, although it is great, catchy pop music, it is getting ignored. Season six Miss American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, is doing a little better. While her first top 10 hit, Tattoo, is on it's way down the charts, her new single duet with Chris Brown, No Air, is getting more spins every day.
Most times when I've been listening to the radio this week the DJ has segued directly from Mariah's Touch My Body to Jordin's latest smash. Good Times...
Friday, February 15, 2008
Season 7 top 24 and the ultimate PRIZE!
Here we are! We have finally made it through weeks of the dramatic auditions. We had to suffer through a lot bad talent, but I am pleased that we saw more good stuff than in previous seasons.
The Top 24 Finalists have been named and we will start seeing the real competition and performances this coming Monday night. Make sure to check back here for a thorough review of every finalist's good and bad choices.
Why are the finalists putting themselves through all of this? They will have every single note they sing scrutinized by millions of viewers. On top of that, everything they wear, every word they say and like we learned last season, they way they style their hair each week is fair game to get dissected by the media. So why are they doing this? What is the ultimate prize?
We got an example of what each of these finalists wishes will be happening to them someday:
With just one day of airplay, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (Island) earned enough airplay to jump onto the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at No. 78. "Body" is Carey's 41st song to appear on this survey. Her run began almost 18 years ago with "Vision of Love", which became the first of her 10 R&B No. 1 hits to date.
Mariah Carey's new single, "Touch My Body," debuts at No. 78, despite only garnering a few hours with of airplay in the chart tracking period. Her next album, "E=MC ²," arrives April 15.
With only 6 hours (approximately) of airplay on Tuesday, February 12, "Touch My Body" recorded an incredible total of 498 spins (Pop - 218, Rhythmic - 180, Urban - 89, Urban A/C - 9, Hot A/C - 2) that account for a total of 7.009 million audience impressions.
This is just the beginning for these Season Seven Miss American Idol Finalists. It is unlikely that any of them will achieve the standard of career longevity and excellence that Mariah Carey exemplifies. But if they have the genuine passion for entertaining and a sincere love of music like she does, it is so exciting to see them strive for the ultimate prize.
Here's to the kick-off of a great season!
The Top 24 Finalists have been named and we will start seeing the real competition and performances this coming Monday night. Make sure to check back here for a thorough review of every finalist's good and bad choices.
Why are the finalists putting themselves through all of this? They will have every single note they sing scrutinized by millions of viewers. On top of that, everything they wear, every word they say and like we learned last season, they way they style their hair each week is fair game to get dissected by the media. So why are they doing this? What is the ultimate prize?
We got an example of what each of these finalists wishes will be happening to them someday:
With just one day of airplay, Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" (Island) earned enough airplay to jump onto the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at No. 78. "Body" is Carey's 41st song to appear on this survey. Her run began almost 18 years ago with "Vision of Love", which became the first of her 10 R&B No. 1 hits to date.
Mariah Carey's new single, "Touch My Body," debuts at No. 78, despite only garnering a few hours with of airplay in the chart tracking period. Her next album, "E=MC ²," arrives April 15.
With only 6 hours (approximately) of airplay on Tuesday, February 12, "Touch My Body" recorded an incredible total of 498 spins (Pop - 218, Rhythmic - 180, Urban - 89, Urban A/C - 9, Hot A/C - 2) that account for a total of 7.009 million audience impressions.
This is just the beginning for these Season Seven Miss American Idol Finalists. It is unlikely that any of them will achieve the standard of career longevity and excellence that Mariah Carey exemplifies. But if they have the genuine passion for entertaining and a sincere love of music like she does, it is so exciting to see them strive for the ultimate prize.
Here's to the kick-off of a great season!
Idols and their Grammy WINS!!!
Fantasia and Chris Daughtry were each up for a handful of Grammy awards this years, but they had to settle for "it's an honor just to be nominated". In Fantasia's categories, she just couldn't get past the fact that Alicia Keys is a Grammy darling and will win every time she's nominated.
Daughtry got eclipsed by the the Foo Fighters who had the biggest Rock song on the charts in 2007 with The Pretender.
Then, of course, we have the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood. She was nominated a bunch of times and she won two this year just like she did last year. For the second year in a row she won Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Before He Cheats. The song also won the Songwriters award for Best Country Song of the Year.
In the category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, the Supreme Miss American Idol was up against Season One Miss American Idol Kelly Clarkson. Turns out that they both lost out to Willie Nelson and Ray Price.
The big news around the 50th Annual Grammy awards was the multiple nominations for Kanye West and Amy Winehouse. For the third time Kanye had to settle for winning Best Rap Album and losing the top award of the night, Album of the Year. This time it was a quite a surprise to see Album of the Year go to Herbie Hancock and his jazz tribute to the folk music of Joni Mitchell. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will soon. It's the first time in 43 years that a jazz album has won the top award.
Amy Winehouse somehow ended up being the big winner of the night capturing the other three top categories. The song that has become an ironic joke as a result of her completely messed up personal life, Rehab, managed to win both Record and Song of the Year.
What annoys me most is that she has tarnished my vision of the Best New Artist award. Some of the best, most talented artists in history have won it in the past included last year's winner, the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, along with Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Leann Rimes, Toni Braxton, Sheryl Crow, and of course, the artist all American Idol contestants strive to be, Mariah Carey. Now, somehow, Amy Winehouse, has the distinction of being in their company.
She was a complete mess as she performed via satellite from London. She looked completely unstable both physically and mentally and it was a relief when she was finally done. She has supposedly finally gotten herself into rehab, but it is not evident from her behavior. In less than a year, Amy Winehouse has become a bigger train wreck than Britney Spears.
Hopefully she'll go away as quickly as she came.
Daughtry got eclipsed by the the Foo Fighters who had the biggest Rock song on the charts in 2007 with The Pretender.
Then, of course, we have the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood. She was nominated a bunch of times and she won two this year just like she did last year. For the second year in a row she won Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Before He Cheats. The song also won the Songwriters award for Best Country Song of the Year.
In the category Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, the Supreme Miss American Idol was up against Season One Miss American Idol Kelly Clarkson. Turns out that they both lost out to Willie Nelson and Ray Price.
The big news around the 50th Annual Grammy awards was the multiple nominations for Kanye West and Amy Winehouse. For the third time Kanye had to settle for winning Best Rap Album and losing the top award of the night, Album of the Year. This time it was a quite a surprise to see Album of the Year go to Herbie Hancock and his jazz tribute to the folk music of Joni Mitchell. If you haven't heard of it yet, you will soon. It's the first time in 43 years that a jazz album has won the top award.
Amy Winehouse somehow ended up being the big winner of the night capturing the other three top categories. The song that has become an ironic joke as a result of her completely messed up personal life, Rehab, managed to win both Record and Song of the Year.
What annoys me most is that she has tarnished my vision of the Best New Artist award. Some of the best, most talented artists in history have won it in the past included last year's winner, the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, along with Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Leann Rimes, Toni Braxton, Sheryl Crow, and of course, the artist all American Idol contestants strive to be, Mariah Carey. Now, somehow, Amy Winehouse, has the distinction of being in their company.
She was a complete mess as she performed via satellite from London. She looked completely unstable both physically and mentally and it was a relief when she was finally done. She has supposedly finally gotten herself into rehab, but it is not evident from her behavior. In less than a year, Amy Winehouse has become a bigger train wreck than Britney Spears.
Hopefully she'll go away as quickly as she came.
Video link to Jordin at the Super Bowl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQYqdS5LGMA
click on the link above to see and hear Jordin's wonderful rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
You do realize that she is the first Miss American Idol EVER to get such a high profile opportunity as this. None of the others have ever sung at the Super Bowl and she set the standard very high for anyone who would come after her.
Great Job!
click on the link above to see and hear Jordin's wonderful rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl.
You do realize that she is the first Miss American Idol EVER to get such a high profile opportunity as this. None of the others have ever sung at the Super Bowl and she set the standard very high for anyone who would come after her.
Great Job!
Jordin at the SUPER BOWL!!!!
While Jordin has dropped out of the top 10 with her single, Tattoo, she has a humongous high profile appearance coming up to ignite more radio airplay and album sales.
Here's something from her official website:
Super Bowl Sunday is almost here! Jordin will be opening up the game with her stunning rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" while on her home turf of Glendale, Arizona! Tune in and don't miss a note this Sunday, February 3rd at 6:30 PM EST. After the game, check out iTunes where you can download the digital track of Jordin's live performance of the National Anthem!
Meanwhile, the season 7 auditions are dragging on. We still have another week before we get to Hollywood and narrow the finalists down to the top 24.
Here's something from her official website:
Super Bowl Sunday is almost here! Jordin will be opening up the game with her stunning rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" while on her home turf of Glendale, Arizona! Tune in and don't miss a note this Sunday, February 3rd at 6:30 PM EST. After the game, check out iTunes where you can download the digital track of Jordin's live performance of the National Anthem!
Meanwhile, the season 7 auditions are dragging on. We still have another week before we get to Hollywood and narrow the finalists down to the top 24.
You're Going To HOLLYWOOD!
I approached tonight's auditions with reluctance because I am bored of seeing the same old bad singers making fools of themselves. It might have been funny for a while, but after seven seasons, it is just tiresome. It is actually quite predictable.
I have to admit, that what we were given tonight was actually unexpected. The San Diego Season Seven auditions were much more good than bad. The line, "you're going to HOLLYWOOD" packed even more punch than usual. We heard it many times and each one was even more heartwarming and enjoyable than the last. We were given the chance to feel really happy for the contestants.
It is entertaining to see good singers get a chance at a music career and tonight's auditions proved that. I hope tomorrow's show gives us more good than bad. Now here I am setting myself up to see some good singers and they're gonna give feed us more junk.
I hope I'm wrong...
I have to admit, that what we were given tonight was actually unexpected. The San Diego Season Seven auditions were much more good than bad. The line, "you're going to HOLLYWOOD" packed even more punch than usual. We heard it many times and each one was even more heartwarming and enjoyable than the last. We were given the chance to feel really happy for the contestants.
It is entertaining to see good singers get a chance at a music career and tonight's auditions proved that. I hope tomorrow's show gives us more good than bad. Now here I am setting myself up to see some good singers and they're gonna give feed us more junk.
I hope I'm wrong...
Same Old Auditions
Yes, I know, sometimes the auditions can be funny, but really, I think it is getting tiresome.
Once again we are getting hours of coverage of auditions that are awful. We get very slight glimpses of a tiny fraction of the few who are making it to Hollywood.I've watched four hours of Season Seven so far, but it was really about two hours of auditions and two hours of commercials.
I'm looking forward to getting these lame auditions over with so the real entertainment can begin.
Jordin Sparks is still in the top 10 this week. :)
Once again we are getting hours of coverage of auditions that are awful. We get very slight glimpses of a tiny fraction of the few who are making it to Hollywood.I've watched four hours of Season Seven so far, but it was really about two hours of auditions and two hours of commercials.
I'm looking forward to getting these lame auditions over with so the real entertainment can begin.
Jordin Sparks is still in the top 10 this week. :)
Two More Days!!!
Just two more days and Season 7 of American Idol will have officially begun. Are you ready for it? Not sure if I am. I must admit that I will not start any official reviews until we get narrowed down to the top 24.
As I've stated before, I am not very interested in the lame auditions. It it was up to me, the bad singers would get almost no coverage. They are trying so hard to be funny, and it's just not funny. I'd like to see at least 20 seconds of every singer who makes it to hollywood. I'd like to decide for myself if the best ones make the top 24.
In chart news, Season Six Miss American Idol has been stalled in the top 10 of the HOT 100 singles chart at #8 for over a month now. Her hit song is called Tattoo and it is getting heavy airplay all over the radio and video channels. Can't wait for her next single to come out because all of the songs on her album are even better than Tattoo. If you don't believe me, how about you give it a listen for yourself...
As I've stated before, I am not very interested in the lame auditions. It it was up to me, the bad singers would get almost no coverage. They are trying so hard to be funny, and it's just not funny. I'd like to see at least 20 seconds of every singer who makes it to hollywood. I'd like to decide for myself if the best ones make the top 24.
In chart news, Season Six Miss American Idol has been stalled in the top 10 of the HOT 100 singles chart at #8 for over a month now. Her hit song is called Tattoo and it is getting heavy airplay all over the radio and video channels. Can't wait for her next single to come out because all of the songs on her album are even better than Tattoo. If you don't believe me, how about you give it a listen for yourself...
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