The top 6 finalists had the honor of opening the show singing a group performance of All I Ask Of You from Phantom of the Opera as Andrew Lloyd Webber accompanied on the piano. Unfortunately, since a couple of the finalists are vocally challenged, this great song didn't sound as great as it should have. Everyone else seemed to tone it down in order to remain in the weak and limited range of Jason Castro and Brooke White.
Ryan asked the finalists to come out in pairs and find out who was going to be safe and who would be in the Bottom Two. The first to hear the news was the Davids, and no surprise, they are both safe. That surprise came when it was revealed that Brooke White is safe and Syesha Mercado is in the bottom two.
In Britain, Simon Cowell created a show called X Factor which is basically just like American Idol. The winner last season was a young woman named Leona Lewis and she ended up breaking all sales and airplay records in Britain with her first release. Turns out that she is also doing very well here in the states. Her album, Spirit, was just #1 on the Billboard Albums chart and her single, Bleeding Love, has spent two weeks on top of the Billboard HOT 100 singles chart. She came to American Idol stage to sing her smash hit.
The remaining finalists, Carly Smithson and Jason Castro then got to hear the next surprise of the night: Jason is safe and Carly is joining Syesha in the bottom two. These two very talented young women then showed off how this is the best bottom two ever as they both gave encore performances from last night. No matter what happens the news is going to be bad - a very talented finalist will be going home too soon. In this case, Syesha is safe and Carly is going home.
Really, it doesn't come as a surprise because the evidence has been there that both Carly and Syesha have had a hard time connecting with the audience. They have both ended up in the bottom three a few times, but it still doesn't make it any easier to accept. So I didn't get any of my predictions correct this week. It makes absolutely no sense that people are voting every week to keep Brooke and Jason on the show. Jason has demonstrated every week that his pretty little head is completely empty in that he is incapable of articulating a complete sentence much less express any knowledge or passion for creating music. Brooke is just looking more awkward every week as she is clearly too small of a talent for a stage this big. Brooke and Jason should both feel very lucky to have this opportunity as they are taking it away from more deserving finalists.
Showing posts with label Andrew Lloyd Webber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Lloyd Webber. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The top 6 sing Andrew Lloyd Webber
Some of the most memorable songs from the Broadway stage in the past 40 years have been composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tonight the top 6 finalists had to prove their ability to interpret these amazing songs.
When it comes to naming one's favorite show tunes, few people immediately think of those catchy songs from Starlight Express. That did not stop Syesha Mercado from selecting One Rock and Roll Too Many and truly making it work. While it may not have been familiar to most listeners, she proved herself as a very talented live stage performer. Her voice sounded even stronger than ever and she exuded a vibrant and fun personality that was the perfect match for the song. This was the best she has done so far.
One of the favorite show tunes that just about everyone mentions is Memory from Cats. People have loved hearing Betty Buckley, Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow elevate these lyrics with their powerful and impressive vocal ranges. As we have learned so far in the competition Jason Castro has never impressed with his vocal range. This young man knew nothing about what he was doing when he selected this song. It is a complete mis-match for his folk singing, acoustic guitar driven style. The final performance was a complete mess.
Just when we thought one finalist making a complete mess was tragic enough, we are given another. Brooke White messed up pretty bad last week when she had to rise to the Mariah standard and failed and now she has to go out of her element again with a show tune. When Andrew Lloyd Webber created an original song for Madonna in the movie version of Evita, You Must Love Me ended up winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. The song tells of the overwhelming sadness as Eva Perron realizes that she is close to death. In Brooke's hands the song was just plain sad. She couldn't remember the lyrics and the trembling in her voice was not from getting into character, it was from her acceptance that she is completely out classed by the other finalists.
David Archuleta chose to sing Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera. He has demonstrated once again that he can sing anything and make it sound like an inspirational adult contemporary hit. He has a very effortless vocal range that expresses the sentiment of the lyrics exactly as they should be every time. He is already a star whether he wins the Miss American Idol crown or not, but if he keeps on winning over fans with songs like this....
Carly Smithson has one of the best voices in the competition this year, but each week she has struggled with everything from song choice, to expressing the emotions appropriately and deciding what to wear. Tonight, as she performed Jesus Christ Superstar, she did everything exactly as she should have. All of the pieces fell into place so that she could showcase her talents at their best. Very entertaining.
The Music of The Night is a haunting love song from Phantom of the Opera performed as the monster tries to seduce his captive young diva. Rather than needing to rework the song into his rock style, David Cook genuinely brought the song to life because he skillfully knows how to work the lyrics. His voice was the perfect match for the intensity and drama that needs to be conveyed with every syllable. The Davids could be in a serious wrestling match for the Miss American Idol crown.
Predicting the bottom three is going to be very difficult this week. While it is a no-brainer that Jason Castro and Brooke White should have never made the top 12, much less be here in the top 6. The difficult question comes when trying to predict which of the remaining far-superior finalists must join them in the bottom three. Unfortunately, both Syesha and Carly have struggled to find a fan-base and have ended up in the bottom three before. Even though Syesha clearly gave her best performance of the season so far, I fear she will end up in the bottom three for two reasons: She performed first and may be forgotten and she performed a song that was unfamiliar to most of the listening audience. I predicted that Brooke White was going to go home last week, but now it has to finally be her time.
When it comes to naming one's favorite show tunes, few people immediately think of those catchy songs from Starlight Express. That did not stop Syesha Mercado from selecting One Rock and Roll Too Many and truly making it work. While it may not have been familiar to most listeners, she proved herself as a very talented live stage performer. Her voice sounded even stronger than ever and she exuded a vibrant and fun personality that was the perfect match for the song. This was the best she has done so far.
One of the favorite show tunes that just about everyone mentions is Memory from Cats. People have loved hearing Betty Buckley, Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow elevate these lyrics with their powerful and impressive vocal ranges. As we have learned so far in the competition Jason Castro has never impressed with his vocal range. This young man knew nothing about what he was doing when he selected this song. It is a complete mis-match for his folk singing, acoustic guitar driven style. The final performance was a complete mess.
Just when we thought one finalist making a complete mess was tragic enough, we are given another. Brooke White messed up pretty bad last week when she had to rise to the Mariah standard and failed and now she has to go out of her element again with a show tune. When Andrew Lloyd Webber created an original song for Madonna in the movie version of Evita, You Must Love Me ended up winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. The song tells of the overwhelming sadness as Eva Perron realizes that she is close to death. In Brooke's hands the song was just plain sad. She couldn't remember the lyrics and the trembling in her voice was not from getting into character, it was from her acceptance that she is completely out classed by the other finalists.
David Archuleta chose to sing Think of Me from Phantom of the Opera. He has demonstrated once again that he can sing anything and make it sound like an inspirational adult contemporary hit. He has a very effortless vocal range that expresses the sentiment of the lyrics exactly as they should be every time. He is already a star whether he wins the Miss American Idol crown or not, but if he keeps on winning over fans with songs like this....
Carly Smithson has one of the best voices in the competition this year, but each week she has struggled with everything from song choice, to expressing the emotions appropriately and deciding what to wear. Tonight, as she performed Jesus Christ Superstar, she did everything exactly as she should have. All of the pieces fell into place so that she could showcase her talents at their best. Very entertaining.
The Music of The Night is a haunting love song from Phantom of the Opera performed as the monster tries to seduce his captive young diva. Rather than needing to rework the song into his rock style, David Cook genuinely brought the song to life because he skillfully knows how to work the lyrics. His voice was the perfect match for the intensity and drama that needs to be conveyed with every syllable. The Davids could be in a serious wrestling match for the Miss American Idol crown.
Predicting the bottom three is going to be very difficult this week. While it is a no-brainer that Jason Castro and Brooke White should have never made the top 12, much less be here in the top 6. The difficult question comes when trying to predict which of the remaining far-superior finalists must join them in the bottom three. Unfortunately, both Syesha and Carly have struggled to find a fan-base and have ended up in the bottom three before. Even though Syesha clearly gave her best performance of the season so far, I fear she will end up in the bottom three for two reasons: She performed first and may be forgotten and she performed a song that was unfamiliar to most of the listening audience. I predicted that Brooke White was going to go home last week, but now it has to finally be her time.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Results - Beatles night - Part 2
Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond have been revealed as the Season Seven American Idol mentors - Quite impressive! Not so impressive was the medley of Beatles songs the top 11 finalists opened the show with.
One by one the finalists were to come center stage and find out if they get to sit comfortably on the couch and make the top 10 or sit in one of the stools reserved for the bottom three. Brooke White made it to the couch while Carly Smithson, in a shocker, had to go sit in the first stool. David Archuleta is safe and so is Michael Johns. David Cook was the next to make the safety of the couch while Kristy Lee Cook had to sit on a stool next to Carly. Jason Castro and Ramiele Malubay also got the good news of being in the top 10.
In Season Five Kellie Pickler was very easily written off as the poor man's Carrie Underwood. She managed to make the top 10 that year despite her limited vocal range and ditzy persona. In the time since then Ms. Pickler has actually released a very good collection of songs on her debut album and has become quite the respectable live performer. She came back to the American Idol stage to sing her crowd pleaser, Red High Heels and while she still doesn't come close to the sales and talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie, she still pulled off some good entertainment.
Syesha Mercado was the next to find out she is safe followed by Chikieze. That left Amanda Overmyer to join Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook in the bottom three. Carly Smithson was sent back to safety as was Kristy Lee Cook. In an unexpected twist, Amanda Overmyer has ended up as the lowest vote getter of the week and we have seen the last of her Janis Joplin southern rock musical interpretations.
I only got one of my predictions correct this week and while I am disappointed to see Amanda leave too soon, I am glad that Kristy Lee Cook is getting the chance to bring her girl next door persona back for another week. I gotta wonder what is wrong with these voters? Carly Smithson has one of the best voices ever to sing on the American Idol stage and yet people are calling in for Brooke White and Jason Castro. Brooke and Jason both score 10's when it comes to good personalities, but they are sorely lacking in vocal range and stage presence. Who knows what surprises we'll get next week.
One by one the finalists were to come center stage and find out if they get to sit comfortably on the couch and make the top 10 or sit in one of the stools reserved for the bottom three. Brooke White made it to the couch while Carly Smithson, in a shocker, had to go sit in the first stool. David Archuleta is safe and so is Michael Johns. David Cook was the next to make the safety of the couch while Kristy Lee Cook had to sit on a stool next to Carly. Jason Castro and Ramiele Malubay also got the good news of being in the top 10.
In Season Five Kellie Pickler was very easily written off as the poor man's Carrie Underwood. She managed to make the top 10 that year despite her limited vocal range and ditzy persona. In the time since then Ms. Pickler has actually released a very good collection of songs on her debut album and has become quite the respectable live performer. She came back to the American Idol stage to sing her crowd pleaser, Red High Heels and while she still doesn't come close to the sales and talents of the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie, she still pulled off some good entertainment.
Syesha Mercado was the next to find out she is safe followed by Chikieze. That left Amanda Overmyer to join Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook in the bottom three. Carly Smithson was sent back to safety as was Kristy Lee Cook. In an unexpected twist, Amanda Overmyer has ended up as the lowest vote getter of the week and we have seen the last of her Janis Joplin southern rock musical interpretations.
I only got one of my predictions correct this week and while I am disappointed to see Amanda leave too soon, I am glad that Kristy Lee Cook is getting the chance to bring her girl next door persona back for another week. I gotta wonder what is wrong with these voters? Carly Smithson has one of the best voices ever to sing on the American Idol stage and yet people are calling in for Brooke White and Jason Castro. Brooke and Jason both score 10's when it comes to good personalities, but they are sorely lacking in vocal range and stage presence. Who knows what surprises we'll get next week.
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