The Top 3 finalists will all sing three songs tonight: The first one will be selected by mentor Jimmy Iovine, The second will be selected by Mariah Carey and the rest of the judges and the third will be selected by the American Idol producers.
Round One:
Kree Harrison started out the night with Perfect that was a hit for Pink in 2011. The song has a nice message, but vocally it didn't offer her much to do. Overall it was a flat and lackluster performance.
Candice Glover put her own spin on One by U2 from 1991. Her outstanding vocals were a wonderful match this song. She sounded like a pro.
Angie Miller took on the hit that Elton John took to #6 in 1976, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. It was subtle, lovely and showed off her entire vocal range. She decided to just stand center stage rather than play piano and the choice completely worked in her favor.
Round Two:
The judges chose Next To Me by Emile Sande that is currently #36 this week on the Billboard HOT 100 for Candice Glover to sing. It allowed her to perform something fresh and vibrant while also showcasing her exceptional vocal abilities.
The judges chose Try by Pink that peaked at #9 in 2012 for Angie Miller to sing. This is an example of a finalist delivering a performance that far surpasses the original. Angie's vocal range is nothing short of incredible and she brought amazing energy and presence to the stage.
The judges chose Here Comes Goodye by Rascal Flatts for Kree Harrison to sing. Once again, it was a simple little song that when paired with her bland performance style left no impression to speak of.
Round Three:
For the first time in the evening Angie Miller sat at the piano for her performance of Maybe by Emile Sande that the American Idol producers selected for her. With this performance she illustrated the bottom line that separates her from the other finalists: Angie is the total package. She is an exceptional singer with the most impressive vocal range, she looks amazing every time she takes the stage and she is an accomplished musician. On top of that, she is also a songwriter. She should easily make it to the finals next week and she should be the ultimate winner as well.
That sound you hear is the energy being sucked out of the room when Kree Harrison starts to sing. She contributed nothing to Better Dig Two by The Band Perry that the American Idol producers selected for her. It sounded even more dreary and morbid than the original.
At only 23 years old, the American Idol producers added a few decades to Candice Glover's age with their selection of Somewhere from the classic musical West Side Story. Now that being said, she definitely has the vocal skill necessary to do it justice. Very well done.
After seeing and hearing all of these performances tonight it became very clear that Angie and Candice should be the ones to make it to the finals next week. They are stepping up their game and delivering outstanding performances every time. Kree does not seem to be putting much effort into her performances and she should be eliminated tomorrow night.
Showing posts with label Elton John. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elton John. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Top 11 sing Elton John
Tonight the Top 11 finalists made a song selection from the legendary pop music catalog of Elton John:
Scotty McCreery found the one and only country song that Elton John ever did from his album Tumbleweed Connection. The song Country Comfort allowed Scotty to stay in the safety of his comfort zone and give his legion of fans more of the same.
Naima Adedapo is leaving her mark once again on the American Idol stage as the one finalist who tries something different and mixes things up every week. Tonight she re-worked Elton's I'm Still Standing (#12 in 1983) into a festive reggae jam. It was wonderfully entertaining.
Paul McDonald took his guitar in hand to put his folksy stamp on Elton's Rocket Man (#6 1972). This is the second time Paul showed off his jacket embroidered with red roses as well as the second time he's tried to sing Elton. We didn't need to see the suit again and we do not need to hear him ruin Elton's music again.
Pia Toscano selected a song that Elton made into a smash hit twice! Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (#2 in 1974, #1 in 1991) As we have come to expect from her, she looked stunning in a short sparkly number and her vocals were amazing.
Stefano Langone wrapped his fantastic voice around one of Elton's classic songs that never actually hit the singles chart. Tiny Dancer is the opening track on the album Madman Across The Water and Stefano was simply dreamy in every respect with this heartfelt performance.
Lauren Alaina chose a song that has had many lives. Candle In The Wind was originally on the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It hit #6 in 1987, but in 1997 it spent 14 weeks at #1 in tribute to Princess Diana. Left in Lauren's hands, unfortunately, this song might never be a hit again. Her version was flat and boring.
James Durbin wants to remind the fans that Elton John used to know how to ROCK before he started doing only one ballad after another later in his career. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting hit #12 in 1973 and James worked his way through the audience like a seasoned professional with this one.
Thia Megia graced the song Daniel (#2 - 1973) with her lovely vocals. In addition to her exceptionally pure voice, Thia added an impressive depth of maturity that is far beyond her years. It was much more than just singing. Thia interpreted this classic and brought it to life making us feel the story and get to know the characters.
Casey Abrams was saved by the judges last week even though the voters were sick of hearing him scream every week. Tonight he did his best to tone it down as he performed Your Song (#8 - 1970) and it's what he needed to do. He's still not that great, but it's clear that he's trying.
Jacob Lusk could only benefit from making a selection from the Elton John songbook since he's usually such an over-dramatic hot mess. The song he decided to tear up was Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word that peaked at #6 in 1976. All I will say is that given a good producer who can keep Jacob in check, he's not all bad.
Haley Reinhart was the drunk girl at the party who gets up on the piano to sing when no one wants her to. She made a fool of herself destroying Elton's #1 smash from 1974, Bennie and the Jets.
Since the judges used their SAVE last week, that means two of the finalists will be sent home tomorrow night. My prediction for the bottom three is Paul McDonald, Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart. I'm going to keep on predicting that Haley will be the one sent home until it finally happens. Casey will also be joining her.
Scotty McCreery found the one and only country song that Elton John ever did from his album Tumbleweed Connection. The song Country Comfort allowed Scotty to stay in the safety of his comfort zone and give his legion of fans more of the same.
Naima Adedapo is leaving her mark once again on the American Idol stage as the one finalist who tries something different and mixes things up every week. Tonight she re-worked Elton's I'm Still Standing (#12 in 1983) into a festive reggae jam. It was wonderfully entertaining.
Paul McDonald took his guitar in hand to put his folksy stamp on Elton's Rocket Man (#6 1972). This is the second time Paul showed off his jacket embroidered with red roses as well as the second time he's tried to sing Elton. We didn't need to see the suit again and we do not need to hear him ruin Elton's music again.
Pia Toscano selected a song that Elton made into a smash hit twice! Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (#2 in 1974, #1 in 1991) As we have come to expect from her, she looked stunning in a short sparkly number and her vocals were amazing.
Stefano Langone wrapped his fantastic voice around one of Elton's classic songs that never actually hit the singles chart. Tiny Dancer is the opening track on the album Madman Across The Water and Stefano was simply dreamy in every respect with this heartfelt performance.
Lauren Alaina chose a song that has had many lives. Candle In The Wind was originally on the 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. It hit #6 in 1987, but in 1997 it spent 14 weeks at #1 in tribute to Princess Diana. Left in Lauren's hands, unfortunately, this song might never be a hit again. Her version was flat and boring.
James Durbin wants to remind the fans that Elton John used to know how to ROCK before he started doing only one ballad after another later in his career. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting hit #12 in 1973 and James worked his way through the audience like a seasoned professional with this one.
Thia Megia graced the song Daniel (#2 - 1973) with her lovely vocals. In addition to her exceptionally pure voice, Thia added an impressive depth of maturity that is far beyond her years. It was much more than just singing. Thia interpreted this classic and brought it to life making us feel the story and get to know the characters.
Casey Abrams was saved by the judges last week even though the voters were sick of hearing him scream every week. Tonight he did his best to tone it down as he performed Your Song (#8 - 1970) and it's what he needed to do. He's still not that great, but it's clear that he's trying.
Jacob Lusk could only benefit from making a selection from the Elton John songbook since he's usually such an over-dramatic hot mess. The song he decided to tear up was Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word that peaked at #6 in 1976. All I will say is that given a good producer who can keep Jacob in check, he's not all bad.
Haley Reinhart was the drunk girl at the party who gets up on the piano to sing when no one wants her to. She made a fool of herself destroying Elton's #1 smash from 1974, Bennie and the Jets.
Since the judges used their SAVE last week, that means two of the finalists will be sent home tomorrow night. My prediction for the bottom three is Paul McDonald, Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart. I'm going to keep on predicting that Haley will be the one sent home until it finally happens. Casey will also be joining her.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Top 12 sing their beginnings....
This week the top 12 finalists were to select a song that came out the year they were born:
Naima Adedepo was born in 1984 and she performed Tina Turner's comeback smash hit that spent three weeks at #1 and Grammy winning Record of the Year, What's Love Got To Do With It. Tina's classic version was all about the image being a perfect match for the unique vocals, but Naima seemed to pay more attention to her image and less to her vocals. She's very talented, but still needs to work on combining her great style with her wonderful voice.
Paul McDonald was also born in 1984 and he performed Elton John's hit that peaked at #4, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. Paul does best when he finds the right song to match his quirky style and this was not it. He's cute and distinctive, but let's hope he never puts his stamp on this one again.
Thia Megia was born in 1995 and she performed the Oscar winning theme song from the film Pocahontas that Vanessa Williams took to #4. Thia was a stunning and beautiful princess as she performed this inspirational ballad with total vocal perfection. She is a young woman with limitless potential.
James Durbin was born in 1989 and he performed Bon Jovi's hit that spent one week at #1, I'll Be There For You. James served up more of his classic rock singing for this power ballad without going over the top as usual. From what we've come to expect from James, this was pretty tame.
Haley Reinhart was born in 1990 and she performed Whitney Houston's pop smash that spent one week at #1, I'm Your Baby Tonight. This version will definitely not become a pop smash as Haley turned it into a dreadful big band mis-step. She has tried to show herself as a vocal chameleon with previous performances, but this week the vocals were simply not good.
Stefano Langone was born in 1989 and he performed Simply Red's fantastic cover of the Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes classic that spent one week at #1, If You Don't Know Me By Now. With Stefano's charming good looks and flawless vocal interpretation, this song could be a hit all over again.
Pia Toscano was born in 1988 and she performed Whitney Houston's hit that spent two weeks at #1, Where Do Broken Hearts Go. Pia was able to lift this lovely ballad to new heights with an exciting uptempo arrangement that showcased her amazing voice even more than usual.
Scotty McCreery was born in 1993 and he performed Can I Trust You With My Heart by Travis Tritt. We already know he's got a nice deep voice, but he's not showing much range or personality. He's the type of artist where the song is more interesting than he is.
Karen Rodriguez was born in 1989 and she performed Taylor Dayne's biggest hit that spent one week at #1, Love Will Lead You Back. First can we say, WOW! what a cute outfit! the go-go boots and mini dress are fierce with the big hair and huge hoop earrings!!! And her voice was just perfect also.
Casey Abrams was born in 1991 and he performed Nirvana's huge cross-over smash that peaked at #6, Smells Like Teen Spirit. He seemed to be going for respectful as he performed a very safe version of this song that defined a generation. And, of course, he provided his signature screaming.
Lauren Alaina was born in 1994 and she performed a song that peaked at #8 for Melissa Etheridge, I'm The Only One. Lauren has successfully earned herself the title of the most over-rated finalist of the season. The judges rave about her, but she never seems to deliver on stage and tonight was no exception.
Jacob Lusk was born in 1987 and he performed Heart's rocking power ballad that spent three weeks at #1, Alone. He should stick to gospel, but he is also a contender for the most over-rated finalist of the season. The judges don't know what they are talking about.
The most clear shoe-in for one of the bottom three vote getters is Haley. It's gonna be a toss up for who will be joining her so I'm just gonna take a random guess and predict Naima and Paul will be in there also. But Haley should definitely be the one going home.
Naima Adedepo was born in 1984 and she performed Tina Turner's comeback smash hit that spent three weeks at #1 and Grammy winning Record of the Year, What's Love Got To Do With It. Tina's classic version was all about the image being a perfect match for the unique vocals, but Naima seemed to pay more attention to her image and less to her vocals. She's very talented, but still needs to work on combining her great style with her wonderful voice.
Paul McDonald was also born in 1984 and he performed Elton John's hit that peaked at #4, I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. Paul does best when he finds the right song to match his quirky style and this was not it. He's cute and distinctive, but let's hope he never puts his stamp on this one again.
Thia Megia was born in 1995 and she performed the Oscar winning theme song from the film Pocahontas that Vanessa Williams took to #4. Thia was a stunning and beautiful princess as she performed this inspirational ballad with total vocal perfection. She is a young woman with limitless potential.
James Durbin was born in 1989 and he performed Bon Jovi's hit that spent one week at #1, I'll Be There For You. James served up more of his classic rock singing for this power ballad without going over the top as usual. From what we've come to expect from James, this was pretty tame.
Haley Reinhart was born in 1990 and she performed Whitney Houston's pop smash that spent one week at #1, I'm Your Baby Tonight. This version will definitely not become a pop smash as Haley turned it into a dreadful big band mis-step. She has tried to show herself as a vocal chameleon with previous performances, but this week the vocals were simply not good.
Stefano Langone was born in 1989 and he performed Simply Red's fantastic cover of the Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes classic that spent one week at #1, If You Don't Know Me By Now. With Stefano's charming good looks and flawless vocal interpretation, this song could be a hit all over again.
Pia Toscano was born in 1988 and she performed Whitney Houston's hit that spent two weeks at #1, Where Do Broken Hearts Go. Pia was able to lift this lovely ballad to new heights with an exciting uptempo arrangement that showcased her amazing voice even more than usual.
Scotty McCreery was born in 1993 and he performed Can I Trust You With My Heart by Travis Tritt. We already know he's got a nice deep voice, but he's not showing much range or personality. He's the type of artist where the song is more interesting than he is.
Karen Rodriguez was born in 1989 and she performed Taylor Dayne's biggest hit that spent one week at #1, Love Will Lead You Back. First can we say, WOW! what a cute outfit! the go-go boots and mini dress are fierce with the big hair and huge hoop earrings!!! And her voice was just perfect also.
Casey Abrams was born in 1991 and he performed Nirvana's huge cross-over smash that peaked at #6, Smells Like Teen Spirit. He seemed to be going for respectful as he performed a very safe version of this song that defined a generation. And, of course, he provided his signature screaming.
Lauren Alaina was born in 1994 and she performed a song that peaked at #8 for Melissa Etheridge, I'm The Only One. Lauren has successfully earned herself the title of the most over-rated finalist of the season. The judges rave about her, but she never seems to deliver on stage and tonight was no exception.
Jacob Lusk was born in 1987 and he performed Heart's rocking power ballad that spent three weeks at #1, Alone. He should stick to gospel, but he is also a contender for the most over-rated finalist of the season. The judges don't know what they are talking about.
The most clear shoe-in for one of the bottom three vote getters is Haley. It's gonna be a toss up for who will be joining her so I'm just gonna take a random guess and predict Naima and Paul will be in there also. But Haley should definitely be the one going home.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Results - Inspiration
More than two hours of musical entertainment tonight for Idol Gives Back: (but brace yourself because the show was pretty dreary)
Things got off to a fun start with the Black Eyed Peas singing another jam after releasing three #1 smash hits from their album The E.N.D. - Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling and Imma Be. Could the song they performed tonight, Rock That Body, be headed to the top of the Billboard HOT 100 next?
Joss Stone and Jeff Beck did a cover of I Put A Spell On You followed by this week's mentor, Alicia Keys taking the stage. She did a medley starting with Unthinkable and leading into her recent #1 hit Empire State of Mind.
The highlight of the night came from the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four Winner and ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, Carrie Underwood. She performed a fantastic song called Change from her spectacular multi-platinum latest album, Play On. She looked and sounded even better than ever.
It seems like Annie Lennox has completely given up on singing anything catchy and entertaining since about 1989. She once again showed up at Idol Gives Back to drone out a heartfelt, but completely boring song about a Universal Child.
One of the biggest hits on rock radio of all time is Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven and it never even cracked the Billboard HOT 100. Maybe that will change with the new cover performed tonight by the Queen of Hip Hop, Mary J. Blige. It's possible that a new generation of fans is ready to take this classic up the charts.
Elton John first hit the Billboard HOT 100 at #8 in 1970 with Your Song and forty years of hits followed. His performance tonight of this lovely debut single was just as moving and inspiration as always.
I am pleased to report that I correctly predicted two of the bottom three. I knew there was no way Lee was going to be in there, but he's just completely over-rated and the judges are giving him a free pass so I took advantage of the chance to take him down a notch. Unfortunately the two I correctly predicted to be in the bottom, Casey and Aaron, are both coming back to torture us again next week. That leaves the charming and bright smile of Tim Urban getting cut from the competition. He showed some great growth from week to week and we wish him well.
Things got off to a fun start with the Black Eyed Peas singing another jam after releasing three #1 smash hits from their album The E.N.D. - Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling and Imma Be. Could the song they performed tonight, Rock That Body, be headed to the top of the Billboard HOT 100 next?
Joss Stone and Jeff Beck did a cover of I Put A Spell On You followed by this week's mentor, Alicia Keys taking the stage. She did a medley starting with Unthinkable and leading into her recent #1 hit Empire State of Mind.
The highlight of the night came from the Supreme Miss American Idol, Season Four Winner and ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, Carrie Underwood. She performed a fantastic song called Change from her spectacular multi-platinum latest album, Play On. She looked and sounded even better than ever.
It seems like Annie Lennox has completely given up on singing anything catchy and entertaining since about 1989. She once again showed up at Idol Gives Back to drone out a heartfelt, but completely boring song about a Universal Child.
One of the biggest hits on rock radio of all time is Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven and it never even cracked the Billboard HOT 100. Maybe that will change with the new cover performed tonight by the Queen of Hip Hop, Mary J. Blige. It's possible that a new generation of fans is ready to take this classic up the charts.
Elton John first hit the Billboard HOT 100 at #8 in 1970 with Your Song and forty years of hits followed. His performance tonight of this lovely debut single was just as moving and inspiration as always.
I am pleased to report that I correctly predicted two of the bottom three. I knew there was no way Lee was going to be in there, but he's just completely over-rated and the judges are giving him a free pass so I took advantage of the chance to take him down a notch. Unfortunately the two I correctly predicted to be in the bottom, Casey and Aaron, are both coming back to torture us again next week. That leaves the charming and bright smile of Tim Urban getting cut from the competition. He showed some great growth from week to week and we wish him well.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
WILD CARD round!
This is the last chance make it or break it opportunity to make it to the TOP 12 of season 8. Here's what the lucky contenders did to try and impress the judges:
Jesse Langseth hoped that she would be hearing something good after singing the Chaka Khan top 5 hit from 1974, Tell Me Something Good. She has the personality and style to shine best when performing live on stage. Really, she would be best playing in a coffee shop or a dive bar. I don' t think the judges are going to think she's big enough for the American Idol stage.
Matt Giraud did his best to get the lovin of the judges with his rendition of the Jackson 5's Who's Lovin You. He worked it by trying to be a blue eyed soul crooner, but he lacked the energy to really breath any life into the performance. Ultimately, he lacks the impressive and effortless vocal range to really stand out.
Megan Joy Corkrey got up there and did her swivel hips moves while singing KT Tunstell's Black Horse and The Cherry Tree. It was a very good choice that illustrates her quirky image and shows more of what she will bring in weeks to come. She has a very good chance of making the cut.
Von Smith tried to rise to the occasion with the top 10 hit from 1976 by Elton John, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. It started out very slow and bland, but he saved it all for the end where he hit the big notes for the climactic finish. It's sad. So sad. It's a sad sad situation that this probably won't be enough to push him into the next round.
Jasmine Murray hoped that by singing the song that first introduced the world to #1 hitmaker and Grammy winner for Best New Artist, Christina Aguilera, the judges would see who she really is inside. It wasn't exactly the song that showcased her as a contemporary chart topper, but it clearly demonstrated that she has an impressive vocal range. She may be getting more chances to show off her stuff.
Ricky Braddy sang the song that Stevie Wonder took all the way to #1 in 1972, Superstition. It's clear that he has a good voice and he did his best to show that he has the stage presence and showmanship to go along with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like he has it all. It's not likely that he will be moving on.
You gotta wonder why Tatiana Del Toro decided to sing Whitney Houston's 1985 #1 hit Saving All My Love For You again. She just did it a few weeks ago, albeit pretty well, but it didn't impress the viewers to vote for her back then. While it was just as good this time around it's not likely to make the judges think she can do anything else in coming weeks.
Anoop Desai did his best to impress with the 1988 #1 hit by Bobby Brown, My Prerogative. While he also has a good voice along with a genuine and sincere personality, this song pointed out quite clearly how completely uncool he is. It was vocally bland and the showmanship was very unconvincing. This should be his last chance.
Overall, I don't think this group of lucky 8 finalists did what they had to do to make the best argument for a shot in the top 12.
Here's what the judges decided:
Jasmine Murray got the good news that she has made it into the top 12. Ricky Braddy will not. Megan Joy Corkrey will also be taking her place in the top 12 while Tatiana Del Toro once again did not make the cut. Jesse Langseth also did not. Neither did Von Smith. With just Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai remaining the very lucky twist was revealed that they have both made it into the TOP 13!!!
So here are the finalists who have made it to the next round of competition:
Scott MacIntyre
Adam Lambert
Lil Rounds
Danny Gokey
Jasmine Murray
Alexis Grace
Kris Allen
Jorge Nunez
Michael Sarver
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Megan Joy Corkrey
Anoop Desai
My prediction is that Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert are going to be headed all the way up to the top three and one of them will be crowned the Season 8 Miss American Idol!
Jesse Langseth hoped that she would be hearing something good after singing the Chaka Khan top 5 hit from 1974, Tell Me Something Good. She has the personality and style to shine best when performing live on stage. Really, she would be best playing in a coffee shop or a dive bar. I don' t think the judges are going to think she's big enough for the American Idol stage.
Matt Giraud did his best to get the lovin of the judges with his rendition of the Jackson 5's Who's Lovin You. He worked it by trying to be a blue eyed soul crooner, but he lacked the energy to really breath any life into the performance. Ultimately, he lacks the impressive and effortless vocal range to really stand out.
Megan Joy Corkrey got up there and did her swivel hips moves while singing KT Tunstell's Black Horse and The Cherry Tree. It was a very good choice that illustrates her quirky image and shows more of what she will bring in weeks to come. She has a very good chance of making the cut.
Von Smith tried to rise to the occasion with the top 10 hit from 1976 by Elton John, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word. It started out very slow and bland, but he saved it all for the end where he hit the big notes for the climactic finish. It's sad. So sad. It's a sad sad situation that this probably won't be enough to push him into the next round.
Jasmine Murray hoped that by singing the song that first introduced the world to #1 hitmaker and Grammy winner for Best New Artist, Christina Aguilera, the judges would see who she really is inside. It wasn't exactly the song that showcased her as a contemporary chart topper, but it clearly demonstrated that she has an impressive vocal range. She may be getting more chances to show off her stuff.
Ricky Braddy sang the song that Stevie Wonder took all the way to #1 in 1972, Superstition. It's clear that he has a good voice and he did his best to show that he has the stage presence and showmanship to go along with it. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like he has it all. It's not likely that he will be moving on.
You gotta wonder why Tatiana Del Toro decided to sing Whitney Houston's 1985 #1 hit Saving All My Love For You again. She just did it a few weeks ago, albeit pretty well, but it didn't impress the viewers to vote for her back then. While it was just as good this time around it's not likely to make the judges think she can do anything else in coming weeks.
Anoop Desai did his best to impress with the 1988 #1 hit by Bobby Brown, My Prerogative. While he also has a good voice along with a genuine and sincere personality, this song pointed out quite clearly how completely uncool he is. It was vocally bland and the showmanship was very unconvincing. This should be his last chance.
Overall, I don't think this group of lucky 8 finalists did what they had to do to make the best argument for a shot in the top 12.
Here's what the judges decided:
Jasmine Murray got the good news that she has made it into the top 12. Ricky Braddy will not. Megan Joy Corkrey will also be taking her place in the top 12 while Tatiana Del Toro once again did not make the cut. Jesse Langseth also did not. Neither did Von Smith. With just Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai remaining the very lucky twist was revealed that they have both made it into the TOP 13!!!
So here are the finalists who have made it to the next round of competition:
Scott MacIntyre
Adam Lambert
Lil Rounds
Danny Gokey
Jasmine Murray
Alexis Grace
Kris Allen
Jorge Nunez
Michael Sarver
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Megan Joy Corkrey
Anoop Desai
My prediction is that Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds and Adam Lambert are going to be headed all the way up to the top three and one of them will be crowned the Season 8 Miss American Idol!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Another group of finalists...
Only three of the next 12 finalists will be moving forward and joining the six who are already moving forward. Here's what they did to win you over...
Von Smith chose to sing a song that went top 10 in 1968 by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, You're All I Need To Get By. Being a duet this song is packed with a full range of notes for both a male and female voice. Von gave his best effort to show that he can tackle the entire spectrum of vocalizations required - some of it worked and some of it seemed forced. He's nice looking and talented so it's possible we will be seeing more of him.
Taylor Vaifanua chose to sing the 2004 top 5 hit from Alicia Keys, If I Ain't Got You. She played it very safe and stayed true to an almost exact recreation of the original. While it sounded good, it didn't give Taylor a chance to step out as a unique new artist. She is destined to be a back up singer who we will not be seeing more of.
Alex Wagner-Trugman chose to sing Elton John's I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues that went top 5 in 1983. Alex is a skinny little guy who used this song to define for us why they call it a tragic hot mess. He was acting like a total goof ball and his vocalizations were much more like screaming than singing. Since only three finalists make it through the odds are that we will not be seeing him again.
Arianna Afsar chose to sing the song Abba took to the top 10 in 1980, The Winner Takes It All. Meryl Streep should have gotten an Oscar nomination for her emotional performance of this anthem in last Summer's Mamma Mia. Arianna is no Meryl Streep. She's got a nice voice, but this performance was vocally inconsistent. There were definitely some sour notes mixed in with the good ones. She may have messed up her chance for us to see her again.
Ju'not Joyner chose to sing the 2006 #1 hit, Hey There Delilah, by the Plain White T's. This song is a plain and simple love song and Ju'not made it even more plain. This is gonna be a matter of taste - you either like this slightly soulful version or you think it's just a drab rendition of the original. His personality is leaning more toward the drab so I don't think we'll be seeing him again.
Kristen McNamara chose to sing Tracy Chapman's top 5 hit from 1996, Give Me One Reason. The original version is a slow and subtle acoustic folk song and Kristen showed that can punch a little life into it. She brought some pop/rock energy to this version as well as showing off her impressive vocal range. She managed to give the surprise that she's more talented than expected. Because she impressed rather than disappointed we should be seeing more of her.
Nathaniel Marshall chose to sing the huge comeback song that Meatloaf took to #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1993, I Would Do Anything For Love, But I Won't Do That. It's the perfect song for a finalist who is all about the drama. The over the top production allowed him to vocally try to match his vibrantly loud outfit. He's great for some comic relief, but since he's not ready to be taken seriously, we should not be seeing him again.
Felicia Barton chose to sing the 2007 #1 smash from Alicia Keys, No One. Felicia showed that she is perfectly capable of handling the vocals required and she also knows how to dress the part. She looked great and there's a good chance we'll be seeing her again.
Scott MacIntyre chose to sing Mandolin Rain, that Bruce Hornsby took to the top 5 in 1987. It doesn't really matter that this wasn't the most dynamic song choice because Scott knows how to bring out the emotional connection every time he sings. There's a raw vulnerability that comes through when he takes the stage that keeps you captivated. We should definitely be seeing him again.
Kendall Beard chose to sing This Is For The Girls by Martina McBride. After the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, was crowned in Season Four we were immediately served the cheap knock-off, Kellie Pickler. Are we ready for another pale comparison to Carrie in Season Eight? Kendall is pretty good. She's attractive and has a nice voice so we might be seeing her again.
Jorge Nunez chose to sing a song that was a huge hit for Elton John peaking at #2 in 1974 and going all the way to #1 in 1992, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Jorge has a very smooth voice and he expresses it on stage effortlessly. He has a very sincere and genuine personality. In addition, he's a very handsome guy. All the necessary pieces are there, so we should definitely be seeing more of him.
Lil Rounds chose to sing the song that Mary J. Blige took to #2 in 2006, Be Without You. You have to say it at least once - her name may be lil', but there's nothing lil about her big voice! And she proved tonight that she can do exciting and contemporary things with that voice. Since she's talented enough to put out an album now, we should certainly be seeing more of her.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition.
Here are my predictions: Scott MacIntyre will be the top boy vote getter and Lil Rounds will be the top girl. Jorge Nunez will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Von Smith chose to sing a song that went top 10 in 1968 by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, You're All I Need To Get By. Being a duet this song is packed with a full range of notes for both a male and female voice. Von gave his best effort to show that he can tackle the entire spectrum of vocalizations required - some of it worked and some of it seemed forced. He's nice looking and talented so it's possible we will be seeing more of him.
Taylor Vaifanua chose to sing the 2004 top 5 hit from Alicia Keys, If I Ain't Got You. She played it very safe and stayed true to an almost exact recreation of the original. While it sounded good, it didn't give Taylor a chance to step out as a unique new artist. She is destined to be a back up singer who we will not be seeing more of.
Alex Wagner-Trugman chose to sing Elton John's I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues that went top 5 in 1983. Alex is a skinny little guy who used this song to define for us why they call it a tragic hot mess. He was acting like a total goof ball and his vocalizations were much more like screaming than singing. Since only three finalists make it through the odds are that we will not be seeing him again.
Arianna Afsar chose to sing the song Abba took to the top 10 in 1980, The Winner Takes It All. Meryl Streep should have gotten an Oscar nomination for her emotional performance of this anthem in last Summer's Mamma Mia. Arianna is no Meryl Streep. She's got a nice voice, but this performance was vocally inconsistent. There were definitely some sour notes mixed in with the good ones. She may have messed up her chance for us to see her again.
Ju'not Joyner chose to sing the 2006 #1 hit, Hey There Delilah, by the Plain White T's. This song is a plain and simple love song and Ju'not made it even more plain. This is gonna be a matter of taste - you either like this slightly soulful version or you think it's just a drab rendition of the original. His personality is leaning more toward the drab so I don't think we'll be seeing him again.
Kristen McNamara chose to sing Tracy Chapman's top 5 hit from 1996, Give Me One Reason. The original version is a slow and subtle acoustic folk song and Kristen showed that can punch a little life into it. She brought some pop/rock energy to this version as well as showing off her impressive vocal range. She managed to give the surprise that she's more talented than expected. Because she impressed rather than disappointed we should be seeing more of her.
Nathaniel Marshall chose to sing the huge comeback song that Meatloaf took to #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1993, I Would Do Anything For Love, But I Won't Do That. It's the perfect song for a finalist who is all about the drama. The over the top production allowed him to vocally try to match his vibrantly loud outfit. He's great for some comic relief, but since he's not ready to be taken seriously, we should not be seeing him again.
Felicia Barton chose to sing the 2007 #1 smash from Alicia Keys, No One. Felicia showed that she is perfectly capable of handling the vocals required and she also knows how to dress the part. She looked great and there's a good chance we'll be seeing her again.
Scott MacIntyre chose to sing Mandolin Rain, that Bruce Hornsby took to the top 5 in 1987. It doesn't really matter that this wasn't the most dynamic song choice because Scott knows how to bring out the emotional connection every time he sings. There's a raw vulnerability that comes through when he takes the stage that keeps you captivated. We should definitely be seeing him again.
Kendall Beard chose to sing This Is For The Girls by Martina McBride. After the Supreme Miss American Idol, Carrie Underwood, was crowned in Season Four we were immediately served the cheap knock-off, Kellie Pickler. Are we ready for another pale comparison to Carrie in Season Eight? Kendall is pretty good. She's attractive and has a nice voice so we might be seeing her again.
Jorge Nunez chose to sing a song that was a huge hit for Elton John peaking at #2 in 1974 and going all the way to #1 in 1992, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Jorge has a very smooth voice and he expresses it on stage effortlessly. He has a very sincere and genuine personality. In addition, he's a very handsome guy. All the necessary pieces are there, so we should definitely be seeing more of him.
Lil Rounds chose to sing the song that Mary J. Blige took to #2 in 2006, Be Without You. You have to say it at least once - her name may be lil', but there's nothing lil about her big voice! And she proved tonight that she can do exciting and contemporary things with that voice. Since she's talented enough to put out an album now, we should certainly be seeing more of her.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition.
Here are my predictions: Scott MacIntyre will be the top boy vote getter and Lil Rounds will be the top girl. Jorge Nunez will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Top 2 - FINAL match - up!
Here we are in the Season 7 final match-up between the two Davids - both of whom have never landed in the bottom two all season long. They are coming in undefeated and it's a very close competition. It's also the first time since season 2 with Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard that there has been two guys going head to head in the finals. The Davids will face off in three rounds:
In round one the song selection was made by accomplished music producer, Clive Davis. For David Cook, Clive chose the song that spent two weeks at #1 in 1987 by U2, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. It's a good song, but it didn't really challenge Mr. Cook to show his range. The performance ended up being kinda straightforward and predictable. For David Archuleta, Clive chose the smash hit that has been a chart topper for Elton John twice. The first time in 1974 it peaked at #2, but in 1992 when he teamed up with George Michael, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me went all the way to #1. This song allowed Mr. Archuleta to do what he does best - start out the ballad slow and build to a dramatic climax.
For round two, the Davids had to interpret a brand new original song. Rather than both needing to sing the same song, they had the option of choosing one that they felt they could connect with best. Mr. Cook went for a song called Dream Big and he performed it with a very pop radio friendly rock arrangement that was a perfect match for his style. It was catchy and could easily become a hit. Mr. Archuleta selected something called In This Moment. It is the classic American Idol anthem with inspirational lyrics and big notes for him to belt out. He once again stayed true to showcasing his sweet innocent softness at the beginning and then bringing it home with the most sincere and earnest power notes at the end.
Round three was their last chance to present themselves to the voting audience and they could select any song of their own choice. David Cook took a risk, yet played it safe at the same time. He took a risk in that he chose a completely unfamiliar song that was never a big hit. He played it safe in that it was a very standard modern rock hit that didn't challenge him at all. The World I Know by Collective Soul sounded very good in Mr. Cook's hands, but it was kinda anti-climactic. David Archuleta had a slightly different risk/safe selection. His risk was in selecting a song that we have already heard him perform - John Lennon's #3 smash from 1971, Imagine. But it was safe, because it was a crowd pleaser the first time around and he easily went in for the knock-out giving an exceptional crowd pleaser again.
Over all, it was a great night of entertainment and a good competition. Neither of the David's went out on a limb and served us any big surprises. It would have been nice to hear David Cook work his magic by breathing new life into an old song one more time, but he didn't. Because of that my prediction for the Season 7 Miss American Idol Crown is going to have to be David Archuleta. He simply shined with his smooth pure vocals and he oozed that captivating sincere and earnest personality.
Hope you didn't turn off the TV too quickly or you would have missed the Season 2 Miss American Idol, Ruben Studdard come back to the center of the American Idol stage and perform Celebrate Me Home. The Velvet Teddy Bear sounded great.
In round one the song selection was made by accomplished music producer, Clive Davis. For David Cook, Clive chose the song that spent two weeks at #1 in 1987 by U2, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. It's a good song, but it didn't really challenge Mr. Cook to show his range. The performance ended up being kinda straightforward and predictable. For David Archuleta, Clive chose the smash hit that has been a chart topper for Elton John twice. The first time in 1974 it peaked at #2, but in 1992 when he teamed up with George Michael, Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me went all the way to #1. This song allowed Mr. Archuleta to do what he does best - start out the ballad slow and build to a dramatic climax.
For round two, the Davids had to interpret a brand new original song. Rather than both needing to sing the same song, they had the option of choosing one that they felt they could connect with best. Mr. Cook went for a song called Dream Big and he performed it with a very pop radio friendly rock arrangement that was a perfect match for his style. It was catchy and could easily become a hit. Mr. Archuleta selected something called In This Moment. It is the classic American Idol anthem with inspirational lyrics and big notes for him to belt out. He once again stayed true to showcasing his sweet innocent softness at the beginning and then bringing it home with the most sincere and earnest power notes at the end.
Round three was their last chance to present themselves to the voting audience and they could select any song of their own choice. David Cook took a risk, yet played it safe at the same time. He took a risk in that he chose a completely unfamiliar song that was never a big hit. He played it safe in that it was a very standard modern rock hit that didn't challenge him at all. The World I Know by Collective Soul sounded very good in Mr. Cook's hands, but it was kinda anti-climactic. David Archuleta had a slightly different risk/safe selection. His risk was in selecting a song that we have already heard him perform - John Lennon's #3 smash from 1971, Imagine. But it was safe, because it was a crowd pleaser the first time around and he easily went in for the knock-out giving an exceptional crowd pleaser again.
Over all, it was a great night of entertainment and a good competition. Neither of the David's went out on a limb and served us any big surprises. It would have been nice to hear David Cook work his magic by breathing new life into an old song one more time, but he didn't. Because of that my prediction for the Season 7 Miss American Idol Crown is going to have to be David Archuleta. He simply shined with his smooth pure vocals and he oozed that captivating sincere and earnest personality.
Hope you didn't turn off the TV too quickly or you would have missed the Season 2 Miss American Idol, Ruben Studdard come back to the center of the American Idol stage and perform Celebrate Me Home. The Velvet Teddy Bear sounded great.
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