The results show this week was even much more of a concert than usual. The actual results were pushed all the way back to the end of the show without anything being revealed until the very last last 5 minutes!
We started out with the Top 8 finalists doing a group performance of Bob Seger's Old Time Rock and Roll and then Season 11 Miss American Idol finalist, Colton Dixon returned to the Idol stage. Colton has done pretty well in the area of Christian Rock. He has released an album that has topped the Gospel and Christian charts, but it really just sounds like some fun pop rock music. He performed his latest single, Love Has Come For Me.
The Season 5 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Katharine McPhee, has been singing some amazing music every week on the awesome TV show Smash every week, but she didn't perform any of that music for her return visit tonight. Instead she joined pop group One Republic on there latest single. Katharine looks and sounds wonderful in everything she does these days. It was nice to see her.
American Idol judge Keith Urban does not have a new album out, so he took the stage and sang one of his great songs from his 2010 album, Get Closer. He is a great artist and the song Long Hot Summer was a wonderful introduction to him for those fans who might not be aware of how accomplished he is.
After the complete disaster of a group performance from last night it was no surprise that the three boys, Lazaro, Devin and Burnell were in the bottom three while all of the girls were safe. It turned out that Devin had to sing for his life and even though he genuinely moved the crowd with his outstanding version of Impossible, the judges chose to not use their save and he has been eliminated from the competition too soon.
I only got one of my predictions right this week.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Top 8 sing Motown
The top 8 finalists are singing the music of Motown/Detroit:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine was a huge hit for both Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye with very different versions. Candice Glover opened the show with a third completely different arrangement of this great song. It was jazzy and sultry and she sounded wonderful.
Madonna hit #1 in 1989 with Like A Prayer. Kree Harrison did a really good job serving as a background singer for Janelle Arthur. Where Kree was bland, boring and almost not even noticeable, Janelle was vibrant and showcasing big star quality.
For Once In My Life was a signature hit song by Stevie Wonder that peaked at #2 in 1968. Lazaro Arbos once again lit up the stage with his radiant smile, outstanding fashion sense and sweet personality. This song allowed him to deliver another crystal clear vocal performance. He can do no wrong!
You Keep Me Hanging On was one of the 12 #1 hit songs by Diana Ross and The Supremes. Janelle Arthur completely exuded even more star quality with her stripped down acoustic version of this classic. She played guitar and her vocals were emotionally heartfelt and she told the story in the lyrics better than anyone ever has.
The Tracks of My Tears was a hit in 1965 for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Devin Velez settled nicely in his comfort zone with this wonderful song. It was simple, straightforward and nothing distracted from his voice.
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me was a huge Motown collaboration by the Supremes and the Temptations that hit #2 in 1968. Tonight the Miss American Idol huge collaboration was delivered by Angie Miller, Candice Glover and Amber Holcomb. Candice and Amber were the ones relegated to back-up singers because they were simply overshadowed by Angie's stellar stage presence and superior vocals.
My Cherie Amour hit #4 in 1969 by Stevie Wonder. Burnell Taylor should just pack his bags and go home now. It was strained, clumsy and awkward. He looks like he's asleep up there.
Shop Around was a #2 smash hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1961. Angie Miller completely owned the stage with a hard rock, guitar driven arrangement of this fun song. You couldn't take your eyes off of her because she looked fantastic as she totally worked it out and entertained the crowd.
Lately by Stevie Wonder didn't actually become a hit until 1993 when Jodeci hit #4 with it. Amber Holcomb belted it out exactly how it needs to be done. She has a powerful voice and this song let her show it off.
I Can't Help Myself was a #1 hit for the Four Tops in 1965. Devin, Burnell and Lazaro, unfortunately, struggled to remember the lyrics on the pop classic. At least Devin and Lazaro looked great, but Burnell has a strange eye contact problem. He doesn't seem to be present because he is looking off into space.
Don't Play That Song was a hit for Aretha Franklin in 1970. Kree Harrison served up the most bland stereotypical white girl effort of trying to take on the Queen of Soul. It was pretty embarrassing. Kree has absolutely zero stage presence and no personality.
My prediction for the bottom three is Amber, Kree and Burnell with Burnell finally going home.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine was a huge hit for both Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye with very different versions. Candice Glover opened the show with a third completely different arrangement of this great song. It was jazzy and sultry and she sounded wonderful.
Madonna hit #1 in 1989 with Like A Prayer. Kree Harrison did a really good job serving as a background singer for Janelle Arthur. Where Kree was bland, boring and almost not even noticeable, Janelle was vibrant and showcasing big star quality.
For Once In My Life was a signature hit song by Stevie Wonder that peaked at #2 in 1968. Lazaro Arbos once again lit up the stage with his radiant smile, outstanding fashion sense and sweet personality. This song allowed him to deliver another crystal clear vocal performance. He can do no wrong!
You Keep Me Hanging On was one of the 12 #1 hit songs by Diana Ross and The Supremes. Janelle Arthur completely exuded even more star quality with her stripped down acoustic version of this classic. She played guitar and her vocals were emotionally heartfelt and she told the story in the lyrics better than anyone ever has.
The Tracks of My Tears was a hit in 1965 for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Devin Velez settled nicely in his comfort zone with this wonderful song. It was simple, straightforward and nothing distracted from his voice.
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me was a huge Motown collaboration by the Supremes and the Temptations that hit #2 in 1968. Tonight the Miss American Idol huge collaboration was delivered by Angie Miller, Candice Glover and Amber Holcomb. Candice and Amber were the ones relegated to back-up singers because they were simply overshadowed by Angie's stellar stage presence and superior vocals.
My Cherie Amour hit #4 in 1969 by Stevie Wonder. Burnell Taylor should just pack his bags and go home now. It was strained, clumsy and awkward. He looks like he's asleep up there.
Shop Around was a #2 smash hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1961. Angie Miller completely owned the stage with a hard rock, guitar driven arrangement of this fun song. You couldn't take your eyes off of her because she looked fantastic as she totally worked it out and entertained the crowd.
Lately by Stevie Wonder didn't actually become a hit until 1993 when Jodeci hit #4 with it. Amber Holcomb belted it out exactly how it needs to be done. She has a powerful voice and this song let her show it off.
I Can't Help Myself was a #1 hit for the Four Tops in 1965. Devin, Burnell and Lazaro, unfortunately, struggled to remember the lyrics on the pop classic. At least Devin and Lazaro looked great, but Burnell has a strange eye contact problem. He doesn't seem to be present because he is looking off into space.
Don't Play That Song was a hit for Aretha Franklin in 1970. Kree Harrison served up the most bland stereotypical white girl effort of trying to take on the Queen of Soul. It was pretty embarrassing. Kree has absolutely zero stage presence and no personality.
My prediction for the bottom three is Amber, Kree and Burnell with Burnell finally going home.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Results - The Beatles
The Season 12 finalists tapped into the Beatles songbook a couple of more times. First the boys sang Got To Get You Into My Life and then the girls took their turn on another song I had never heard before. Unfortunately, we also had to suffer through the dreadful return of Season 10 finalist Casey Abrams torturing us with his rendition of I Saw Her Standing There. He is just getting worse with age.
We were treated to a much better return in the form of the Season 11 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Jessica Sanchez. She truly looked wonderful performing her new single called Tonight. It's a fun dance pop jam that she performs as a duet with Ne-Yo. In Aprilwe should finally get to see Jessica make her singing, dancing and acting debut on some upcoming episodes of Glee. She is going to be an outstanding addition to the show.
Turns out that the bottom three this week is Paul Jolley, Devin Velez and Amber Holcomb. All three did a very good job last night and none of them deserve to be the lowest vote getters.
It was revealed that Paul was the lowest of the low and he performed Alone by Heart in the hopes of singing for his life. The judges decided not to save him, so he is going home way too soon. We will definitely miss him.
I only correctly predicted one of the bottom three.
We were treated to a much better return in the form of the Season 11 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Jessica Sanchez. She truly looked wonderful performing her new single called Tonight. It's a fun dance pop jam that she performs as a duet with Ne-Yo. In Aprilwe should finally get to see Jessica make her singing, dancing and acting debut on some upcoming episodes of Glee. She is going to be an outstanding addition to the show.
Turns out that the bottom three this week is Paul Jolley, Devin Velez and Amber Holcomb. All three did a very good job last night and none of them deserve to be the lowest vote getters.
It was revealed that Paul was the lowest of the low and he performed Alone by Heart in the hopes of singing for his life. The judges decided not to save him, so he is going home way too soon. We will definitely miss him.
I only correctly predicted one of the bottom three.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Top 9 Sing the Beatles
American Idol judge, Mariah Carey, has set the standard that all of the finalists are striving to achieve. She has sustained a 24 year career selling over 200 million albums worldwide. In the process she successfully catapulted 18 singles to #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 chart - more than any other solo artist in history! The only act to have more #1 singles than Mariah is the Beatles and tonight, the Top 9 finalists will perform a selection from their impressive catalog.
Before we get started: Congratulations to Aubrey Cleland who will be joining the 2013 American Idol Summer Tour!!!
With A Little Help From My Friends originally appeared on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Kree Harrison delivered a lackluster performance of this anthem. With her bland personality and no stage presence, the background singers and the band completely stole the spotlight from her. There was only a few moments when her voice was even audible.
Let It Be hit #1 for 2 weeks in April of 1970. Burnell Taylor seemed completely disconnected from the song that he had clearly never heard of before this week. His performance was awkward and the vocals sounded forced and unnatural.
She's Leaving Home is another track from the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Amber Holcomb used this lovely ballad to showcase her impressive vocal range. She looked classy and poised as she simply let the notes fly through the air and please our ears.
In My Life from the album Rubber Soul is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. When this tender ballad is matched with the charm and sweetness of Lazaro Arbos it is a completely winning combination. He just exudes tenderness and he is a pleasure to cheer for!
Come Together from the Abbey Road album hit #1 for 1 week in October of 1969. We already know that Candice Glover has a big voice with a big range, but with this song she also showed us that she can rock and jam as well.
Eleanor Rigby originally appeared on the album Revolver. Paul Jolley totally used this song to showcase his outstanding ability to be a wonderful story teller. The lyrics came to life and we felt them with every big note that he sang.
Yesterday spent 4 weeks at #1 in 1965. Angie Miller quite simply defined the essense of the Season 12 Miss American Idol winner with this effortless and stellar performance of this classic ballad. Her vocals out shined all of the competition and she genuinely commanded the stage while just standing there center stage at the microphone. She can sing anything!
The 20th and final #1 for the Beatles was The Long And Winding Road: 2 weeks in June 1970. Devin Velez performed a flawless vocal rendition of this song. It was simple and beautiful and should keep him in the competition.
I Will originally appeared on The White Album. Janelle Arthur was the embodiment of grace and beauty as she looked like an angel in a long white gown. She served up a delicious serving of vocal elegance.
It was a great night of Beatles classics tonight. My prediction for the bottom three is Kree Harrison, Burnell Taylor and Paul Jolley with the journey coming to an end for Burnell Taylor.
Before we get started: Congratulations to Aubrey Cleland who will be joining the 2013 American Idol Summer Tour!!!
With A Little Help From My Friends originally appeared on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Kree Harrison delivered a lackluster performance of this anthem. With her bland personality and no stage presence, the background singers and the band completely stole the spotlight from her. There was only a few moments when her voice was even audible.
Let It Be hit #1 for 2 weeks in April of 1970. Burnell Taylor seemed completely disconnected from the song that he had clearly never heard of before this week. His performance was awkward and the vocals sounded forced and unnatural.
She's Leaving Home is another track from the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Amber Holcomb used this lovely ballad to showcase her impressive vocal range. She looked classy and poised as she simply let the notes fly through the air and please our ears.
In My Life from the album Rubber Soul is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. When this tender ballad is matched with the charm and sweetness of Lazaro Arbos it is a completely winning combination. He just exudes tenderness and he is a pleasure to cheer for!
Come Together from the Abbey Road album hit #1 for 1 week in October of 1969. We already know that Candice Glover has a big voice with a big range, but with this song she also showed us that she can rock and jam as well.
Eleanor Rigby originally appeared on the album Revolver. Paul Jolley totally used this song to showcase his outstanding ability to be a wonderful story teller. The lyrics came to life and we felt them with every big note that he sang.
Yesterday spent 4 weeks at #1 in 1965. Angie Miller quite simply defined the essense of the Season 12 Miss American Idol winner with this effortless and stellar performance of this classic ballad. Her vocals out shined all of the competition and she genuinely commanded the stage while just standing there center stage at the microphone. She can sing anything!
The 20th and final #1 for the Beatles was The Long And Winding Road: 2 weeks in June 1970. Devin Velez performed a flawless vocal rendition of this song. It was simple and beautiful and should keep him in the competition.
I Will originally appeared on The White Album. Janelle Arthur was the embodiment of grace and beauty as she looked like an angel in a long white gown. She served up a delicious serving of vocal elegance.
It was a great night of Beatles classics tonight. My prediction for the bottom three is Kree Harrison, Burnell Taylor and Paul Jolley with the journey coming to an end for Burnell Taylor.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Results - American Idols
The show may have started with a group performance from the Season 12 Miss American Idol Top 10 finalists just like any other Results show from years past, but there were many fun changes and surprises in store!
The group song was an uplifted, inspirational new song from the upcoming animated film, The Croods. As expected, the girls sounded great, while the boys struggled to get their way through it just like in the performances last night.
Also, the same as usual was the performances to entertain us while we waited to finally hear the results. Tonight we had the chance to see Bon Jovi sing their new single from their forthcoming album, What About Now. We also heard the Season 11 Miss American Idol winner, Phillips Phillips sing his new single, Gone Gone Gone. Lucky for him, this song is going to be the Season 12 "farewell song" that will be played each week at the end of the Results Shows over the montage of the finalist who has been eliminated. That should be some great promotion to help the single get close to being as big as his debut single, Home. That song has been everywhere from insurance company commercials to the theme song for the Gold medal winning US Women's Olympics Gymnastics team. Randy came out on stage to present Phillip with a commemorative picture recognizing that Home has reached sales of over 4 Million!
So then, on to the new stuff. This year the producers are giving the fans the chance to vote more finalist into the American Idol Summer Tour. One boy and one girl performed tonight and whoever gets the most votes will be awarded with a spot on the tour. Charlie Askew was the contender for the boys. He sat at the piano and screeched out an original song of his called Sky Blue Diamond. He's an awkward and unstable young man and in no way will he be able to handle the pressures of being on a nationwide tour. The much better contender from the girls was Aubrey Cleland. Aubrey should have been in the top 10 instead of Kree Harrison, so now is America's chance to make an effort to fix things. She sang Out Here On My Own from the 1980 film Fame and she completely nailed it. Aubrey is exceptionally beautiful and she sounded wonderful.
Also new for Season 12 is the fact that the producers are revealing the actual ranking of the finalists for the first time. Here is how the voting went from the most votes to the least:
Angie Miller
Candice Glover
Kree Harrison
4. Lazaro Arbos
5. Amber Holcomb
6. Janelle Arthur
7. Burnell Taylor
8. Paul Jolley
9. Devin Velez
10. Curtis Finch Jr.
The judges once again have a SAVE that they can use if they unanimously agree that it's too soon for the finalist to be eliminated. Curtis once again sang I Believe and once again it was lackluster. The judges decided to let him go.
I correctly predicted two of the bottom three, but this year we can see how close I was to almost getting all three right. I was also correct in predicting that Curtis would be the finalist going home.
The group song was an uplifted, inspirational new song from the upcoming animated film, The Croods. As expected, the girls sounded great, while the boys struggled to get their way through it just like in the performances last night.
Also, the same as usual was the performances to entertain us while we waited to finally hear the results. Tonight we had the chance to see Bon Jovi sing their new single from their forthcoming album, What About Now. We also heard the Season 11 Miss American Idol winner, Phillips Phillips sing his new single, Gone Gone Gone. Lucky for him, this song is going to be the Season 12 "farewell song" that will be played each week at the end of the Results Shows over the montage of the finalist who has been eliminated. That should be some great promotion to help the single get close to being as big as his debut single, Home. That song has been everywhere from insurance company commercials to the theme song for the Gold medal winning US Women's Olympics Gymnastics team. Randy came out on stage to present Phillip with a commemorative picture recognizing that Home has reached sales of over 4 Million!
So then, on to the new stuff. This year the producers are giving the fans the chance to vote more finalist into the American Idol Summer Tour. One boy and one girl performed tonight and whoever gets the most votes will be awarded with a spot on the tour. Charlie Askew was the contender for the boys. He sat at the piano and screeched out an original song of his called Sky Blue Diamond. He's an awkward and unstable young man and in no way will he be able to handle the pressures of being on a nationwide tour. The much better contender from the girls was Aubrey Cleland. Aubrey should have been in the top 10 instead of Kree Harrison, so now is America's chance to make an effort to fix things. She sang Out Here On My Own from the 1980 film Fame and she completely nailed it. Aubrey is exceptionally beautiful and she sounded wonderful.
Also new for Season 12 is the fact that the producers are revealing the actual ranking of the finalists for the first time. Here is how the voting went from the most votes to the least:
Angie Miller
Candice Glover
Kree Harrison
4. Lazaro Arbos
5. Amber Holcomb
6. Janelle Arthur
7. Burnell Taylor
8. Paul Jolley
9. Devin Velez
10. Curtis Finch Jr.
The judges once again have a SAVE that they can use if they unanimously agree that it's too soon for the finalist to be eliminated. Curtis once again sang I Believe and once again it was lackluster. The judges decided to let him go.
I correctly predicted two of the bottom three, but this year we can see how close I was to almost getting all three right. I was also correct in predicting that Curtis would be the finalist going home.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Top 10 sing the American Idols!
The Top 10 finalists must select a song that was performed by a previous American Idol winner:
Curtis Finch Jr. selected the winning single from the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2004. I Believe is a wonderful R and B Gospel, anthem that Fantasia truly soared, but Curtis simply does not have the same impressive range. It fell a little flat in comparison.
Janelle Arthur selected a song that Season 10 Miss American Idol winner, Scotty McCreery, performed once. Gone by Montgomery Gentry allowed Janelle to strut around the stage and belt out some aggressive and strong vocals. She definitely showed more style and personality that Scotty ever did.
Devin Velez selected the song Temporary Home that hit #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart in 2010 by the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood. He has a very nice voice, but where Carrie made it into an emotional showcase with her outstanding vocal range, it sort of just fizzled with Devin. This shouldn't hurt him too much for now, but he needs to really make more stand out choices in the future.
Angie Miller selected a song that Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson performed. I Surrender by Celine Dion truly highlighted the fact the Angie is the front runner in the Season 12 competition. She looks fantastic on stage and her vocal range is pure, powerful and effortless. Genuinely wonderful!
Paul Jolley selected another song that Scotty McCreery did once. This time it was the Billboard HOT 100 #1 hit from 2001, Amazed by Lonestar. Paul provided a toned down tender vocal that illustrated his range and abilities. He's a good guy and very talented.
Candice Glover selected a song that the Season 6 Miss American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, totally took through the roof, I Who Have Nothing. Candice was able to take this very challenging song and tear another hole through the roof. This girl knows how to take command of the stage and sing!
Lazaro Arbos selected the title track from Kelly Clarkson's huge hit album, Breakaway. He completely immersed himself in the lyrics expressing all the vulnerability and raw emotion in him. Lazaro is an absolutely charming and sincere presence on the stage and it comes through in everything he does. He can do no wrong.
Kree Harrison selected a song that Carrie Underwood performed. Cryin by Roy Orbison is an emotional and vocal rollercoaster that Kree merely performed going through the motions. While her voice sounds strained at times it is pretty good, but she completely lacks any personality, stage presence or style. She's a nice, frumpy girl but she is completely forgettable compared to Janelle, Angie and Candice.
Burnell Taylor selected the winning single from the Season 2 Miss American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard, that peaked at #2 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2003. Flying Without Wings is a simple little inspirational ballad and, to be blunt, Burnell did nothing with the song. It actually sounded like he was straining to hit most of the notes.
Amber Holcomb selected the winning single from the Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2002. A Moment Like This set the standard and as Amber stood center stage and belted it out with her joy and enthusiasm she easily lived up to that standard.
The girls did a great job tonight so none of them will be in my prediction for the bottom three vote getters of the week. The three boys who will be at risk of going home are Curtis Finch Jr., Devin Velez and Burnell Taylor. I think Curtis will be the one going home.
Curtis Finch Jr. selected the winning single from the Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2004. I Believe is a wonderful R and B Gospel, anthem that Fantasia truly soared, but Curtis simply does not have the same impressive range. It fell a little flat in comparison.
Janelle Arthur selected a song that Season 10 Miss American Idol winner, Scotty McCreery, performed once. Gone by Montgomery Gentry allowed Janelle to strut around the stage and belt out some aggressive and strong vocals. She definitely showed more style and personality that Scotty ever did.
Devin Velez selected the song Temporary Home that hit #1 on the Billboard Country Songs chart in 2010 by the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood. He has a very nice voice, but where Carrie made it into an emotional showcase with her outstanding vocal range, it sort of just fizzled with Devin. This shouldn't hurt him too much for now, but he needs to really make more stand out choices in the future.
Angie Miller selected a song that Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson performed. I Surrender by Celine Dion truly highlighted the fact the Angie is the front runner in the Season 12 competition. She looks fantastic on stage and her vocal range is pure, powerful and effortless. Genuinely wonderful!
Paul Jolley selected another song that Scotty McCreery did once. This time it was the Billboard HOT 100 #1 hit from 2001, Amazed by Lonestar. Paul provided a toned down tender vocal that illustrated his range and abilities. He's a good guy and very talented.
Candice Glover selected a song that the Season 6 Miss American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks, totally took through the roof, I Who Have Nothing. Candice was able to take this very challenging song and tear another hole through the roof. This girl knows how to take command of the stage and sing!
Lazaro Arbos selected the title track from Kelly Clarkson's huge hit album, Breakaway. He completely immersed himself in the lyrics expressing all the vulnerability and raw emotion in him. Lazaro is an absolutely charming and sincere presence on the stage and it comes through in everything he does. He can do no wrong.
Kree Harrison selected a song that Carrie Underwood performed. Cryin by Roy Orbison is an emotional and vocal rollercoaster that Kree merely performed going through the motions. While her voice sounds strained at times it is pretty good, but she completely lacks any personality, stage presence or style. She's a nice, frumpy girl but she is completely forgettable compared to Janelle, Angie and Candice.
Burnell Taylor selected the winning single from the Season 2 Miss American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard, that peaked at #2 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2003. Flying Without Wings is a simple little inspirational ballad and, to be blunt, Burnell did nothing with the song. It actually sounded like he was straining to hit most of the notes.
Amber Holcomb selected the winning single from the Season 1 Miss American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2002. A Moment Like This set the standard and as Amber stood center stage and belted it out with her joy and enthusiasm she easily lived up to that standard.
The girls did a great job tonight so none of them will be in my prediction for the bottom three vote getters of the week. The three boys who will be at risk of going home are Curtis Finch Jr., Devin Velez and Burnell Taylor. I think Curtis will be the one going home.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Season 12 Top 10 are revealed
It's been a long journey so far, but we are finally at the point where the votes have been counted at the Season 12 Top 10 finalists can be revealed. As we took a look back at how we got up to this point, the fantastic new Mariah Carey single, Almost Home was played. The inspirational lyrics and outstanding vocals were the perfect match how hard these finalists have worked to get here.
The format for the results show was completely different from any other season thus far. The 20 finalists were left to sit back stage while waiting for Ryan to one by one reveal who had made it through. After he informed the finalists who was going to be able to continue in the competition, that finalist was treated to the superstar star treatment. They had the chance to make a grand entrance onto the stage to the roar of the live audience cheering for them. And then they got to sing a celebratory performance for the appreciative crowd. It was very entertaining.
The boys learned the news first. Burnell Taylor, Curtis Finch Jr., and Devin Velez will be joining the clear frontunners Paul Jolley and Lazaro Arbos. Paul impressed the the crowd with a rendition of Alone by Heart while Lazaro delivered his version of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.
It was then announced that the top 5 girls are Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Kree Harrison. The group of girls is very strong as demonstrated by Janelle's wonderful version of Dierks Bentley's Home, Candice Glover's I'm Going Down, by Mary J. Blige, and Whitney Houston's I'm Every Woman done by Amber.
I did pretty well accurately predicting 7 of the Top 10. The next American Idol could very easily be Angie Miller, but she definitely has some significant competition. Her performance tonight of I Was Here was quite a declaration of not only her talent, but also of her drive and passion.
The format for the results show was completely different from any other season thus far. The 20 finalists were left to sit back stage while waiting for Ryan to one by one reveal who had made it through. After he informed the finalists who was going to be able to continue in the competition, that finalist was treated to the superstar star treatment. They had the chance to make a grand entrance onto the stage to the roar of the live audience cheering for them. And then they got to sing a celebratory performance for the appreciative crowd. It was very entertaining.
The boys learned the news first. Burnell Taylor, Curtis Finch Jr., and Devin Velez will be joining the clear frontunners Paul Jolley and Lazaro Arbos. Paul impressed the the crowd with a rendition of Alone by Heart while Lazaro delivered his version of Simon and Garfunkel's Bridge Over Troubled Water.
It was then announced that the top 5 girls are Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Kree Harrison. The group of girls is very strong as demonstrated by Janelle's wonderful version of Dierks Bentley's Home, Candice Glover's I'm Going Down, by Mary J. Blige, and Whitney Houston's I'm Every Woman done by Amber.
I did pretty well accurately predicting 7 of the Top 10. The next American Idol could very easily be Angie Miller, but she definitely has some significant competition. Her performance tonight of I Was Here was quite a declaration of not only her talent, but also of her drive and passion.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Top 10 Boys take their first shot
The Top 10 Boys can sing any song of their choice to try and win your votes:
Elijah Liu started the night out with a performance of Rihanna's hit Stay that is currently in the Top 10 this week. He is young and cute and this song presented himself as a pop star who is ready to be loved by the masses.
Cortez Shaw also took on a song that is presently dominating radio airplay. The recent #1 smash from Bruno Mars, Locked Out Of Heaven, allowed him to have fun and show off his dance moves as well as sing. He is very handsome, but his voice isn't the most impressive instrument of the group.
Nick Boddington sat at the piano and performed a sincere and vulnerable rendition of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls. He is a very nice guy who is clearly passionate about music and that comes through when he performs.
Burnell Taylor tried to recreate the magic of the showstopper I'm Here from the musical The Color Purple. Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, does this song and totally hits it out of the park, but Burnell just sounded like he was going through the motions. It lacked spirit, energy and left us without delivering a big powerful ending.
Paul Jolley is a tall, handsome and talented singer with a great smile. The song choice wasn't as strong as it should have been, but his personality and voice helped to compensate. He needs to lighten his style so he doesn't come off as so serious.
Lazaro Arbos has already won my heart in the past few weeks and he solidified it even more with his stellar performance of Feeling Good. The Season 3 Miss American Idol finalist and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson has made this song her own and now we have witnessed another Idol take it for himself. Lazaro is charming, sweet, easy on the eyes and his voice will just make you melt.
Curtis Finch Jr. hoped that his gospel infused rendition of R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly would make us all believers. While he has the passion and the heart every time he hits the stage, the problem is that his vocals aren't that impressive.
Devin Velez delivered the pop standard It's Impossible with effortless vocal ease. He has a smooth voice with a great range that he can sing in both Spanish and English. American Idol may have found their first international superstar.
Vincent Powell attempted to tackle the huge #1 hit from 1993 End of the Road by Boyz II Men. Unfortunately the song proved to be too big for him. His vocals got lost in there, even though we know he's good. He just didn't show it tonight.
The boys were supposed to bring their A Game tonight, but many of them didn't seem to get the memo. Here's my prediction for who I think should make the Top 5: Lazaro Arbos, Paul Jolley, Devin Velez, Elijah Liu and Nick Boddington.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Top 10 Girls take their first shot
The Top 10 Girls can sing any song of their choice to try and win your votes:
Zoanette Johnson went first with an attempt at Tina Turner's #1 hit from 1984 What's Love Got To Do With It. The expectations were high as the judges gushed about her, but she failed miserably. Zoanette could hardly remember the lyrics and she looked like a complete mess.
Breanna Steer stood center stage and let her vocal range be the focus. She looked very classy and poised performing Beyonce's 2007 R and B slow jam Flaws and All. It was tender, emotional and presented Breanna as a star of the future.
Aubrey Cleland chose to sing Big Girls Don't Cry that Fergie took to #1 in 2007. She is a strikingly beautiful young woman who is completely ready for starring in videos. Vocally it is evident that her range has its limitations, but this song did not challenge her too much.
Janelle Arthur is the definition of a classic country girl. She is sweet, genuine and lovely and with her vocals tonight she saved it all for the end. She belted out a superbly pure final note that was thoroughly impressive.
Tenna Torres served up a cover of a Faith Hill song twisting it up with a soulful and impeccable vocal. She clearly has a the range to hit the highs and the lows and everything in between. And along with all of this, Tenna is just a very nice girl as well.
Angie Miller sat at the piano, sang an outstanding vocal and thoroughly brought the house down. She carries herself like a seasoned professional who is quite simply a true artist. She performed a brand new song that can be found on the debut album from Season 11 Miss American Idol finalist Colton Dixon. He needs to thank her for helping to raise the profile of his album. I see a spike in sales after this.
Amber Holcomb took on the 1996 hit from Whitney Houston and the Preacher's Wife soundtrack, I Believe In You And Me. She could definitely rise to the challenge and pull it off and make it look effortless. Great job.
Kree Harrison struggled and strained vocally to hit the notes. She sounded weak and forced as she tried to sing the song. The judges seemed to like her, but I just didn't see it. She seems to totally lack stage presence, personality or any style whatsoever.
Adriana Latonio did her best to provide a showstopper, but her youth and inexperience didn't quite allow her to measure up. She has a very nice voice and a sweet personality, but that's not enough to carry her through.
Candice Glover added some passion and energy to John Legend's Ordinary People. It was an outstanding interpretation of a great song that she was able to make even better.
There was some great talent to be found in the top 10 girls tonight but only 5 can make it through. Here's my prediction: Aubrey Cleland, Janelle Arthur, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Candice Glover.
Zoanette Johnson went first with an attempt at Tina Turner's #1 hit from 1984 What's Love Got To Do With It. The expectations were high as the judges gushed about her, but she failed miserably. Zoanette could hardly remember the lyrics and she looked like a complete mess.
Breanna Steer stood center stage and let her vocal range be the focus. She looked very classy and poised performing Beyonce's 2007 R and B slow jam Flaws and All. It was tender, emotional and presented Breanna as a star of the future.
Aubrey Cleland chose to sing Big Girls Don't Cry that Fergie took to #1 in 2007. She is a strikingly beautiful young woman who is completely ready for starring in videos. Vocally it is evident that her range has its limitations, but this song did not challenge her too much.
Janelle Arthur is the definition of a classic country girl. She is sweet, genuine and lovely and with her vocals tonight she saved it all for the end. She belted out a superbly pure final note that was thoroughly impressive.
Tenna Torres served up a cover of a Faith Hill song twisting it up with a soulful and impeccable vocal. She clearly has a the range to hit the highs and the lows and everything in between. And along with all of this, Tenna is just a very nice girl as well.
Angie Miller sat at the piano, sang an outstanding vocal and thoroughly brought the house down. She carries herself like a seasoned professional who is quite simply a true artist. She performed a brand new song that can be found on the debut album from Season 11 Miss American Idol finalist Colton Dixon. He needs to thank her for helping to raise the profile of his album. I see a spike in sales after this.
Amber Holcomb took on the 1996 hit from Whitney Houston and the Preacher's Wife soundtrack, I Believe In You And Me. She could definitely rise to the challenge and pull it off and make it look effortless. Great job.
Kree Harrison struggled and strained vocally to hit the notes. She sounded weak and forced as she tried to sing the song. The judges seemed to like her, but I just didn't see it. She seems to totally lack stage presence, personality or any style whatsoever.
Adriana Latonio did her best to provide a showstopper, but her youth and inexperience didn't quite allow her to measure up. She has a very nice voice and a sweet personality, but that's not enough to carry her through.
Candice Glover added some passion and energy to John Legend's Ordinary People. It was an outstanding interpretation of a great song that she was able to make even better.
There was some great talent to be found in the top 10 girls tonight but only 5 can make it through. Here's my prediction: Aubrey Cleland, Janelle Arthur, Angie Miller, Amber Holcomb and Candice Glover.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Mark Your Calendars
There's a lot of American Idol activity coming up in the coming weeks.
First and foremost is the live performances for Season 12 starting this Tuesday March 5th. The Top 20 finalists will perform and the public will vote to see who makes it into the Top 10.
Monday March 18th is the premier of the latest season of Dancing with the Stars. This year, Season 5 Miss American Idol finalist, Kellie Pickler, is joining the cast. I have a very good feeling that a mirror ball trophy is going to be in her future.
Sunday April 7th is the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The nominations were announced recently and some familiar names were included on the list. The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson is in the category for Vocal Event of the Year for the track Don't Rush that she recorded with Vince Gill.
The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood has two nominations. One is for Female Vocalist of the Year and the other is for Album of the Year for her most recent release Blown Away.
First and foremost is the live performances for Season 12 starting this Tuesday March 5th. The Top 20 finalists will perform and the public will vote to see who makes it into the Top 10.
Monday March 18th is the premier of the latest season of Dancing with the Stars. This year, Season 5 Miss American Idol finalist, Kellie Pickler, is joining the cast. I have a very good feeling that a mirror ball trophy is going to be in her future.
Sunday April 7th is the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The nominations were announced recently and some familiar names were included on the list. The Season 1 Miss American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson is in the category for Vocal Event of the Year for the track Don't Rush that she recorded with Vince Gill.
The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner, Carrie Underwood has two nominations. One is for Female Vocalist of the Year and the other is for Album of the Year for her most recent release Blown Away.
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