The top 4 finalists are once again singing twice. The first time they are selecting a song that inspires them and for the second song they will get guidance from mega-pop performance art superstar, Lady Gaga.
Journey created a timeless classic when they first charted with Don't Stop Believin' at #9 in 1981. The song was already a consistent top download on itunes 30 years later, but then the cast of Glee performed it and breathed even more life into it. Now that James Durbin has done a fantastic job singing it, Don't Stop Believin' isn't going to stop being a fan favorite for a long time.
Michael Jackson had the ability to take a lyric about respect for our fragile planet and make it into a sweet and powerful anthem. Haley Reinhart has no similar capacity whatsoever. Her vocal ability is weak and once again she was more of a caricature than an artist. The screaming was completely unpleasant and her look and style was cartoonish.
Scotty McCreery knows how to appeal to his fans as he selected Alan Jackson's Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning. He did exactly what he had to do to make them happy.
Lauren Alaina finally selected the perfect song to showcase her voice at its best. Martina McBride's Any Way allowed her to have an emotional connection to both the song and the audience. It's a little late in the game, but she finally found herself.
Lady Gaga encouraged Haley to give in to her crazy drama and give the audience an over the top dramatic interpretation of I Who Have Nothing. Lady Gaga could easily see that Haley doesn't really have the vocal skills to pull this song off. It's a fantastic power ballad if you've heard a talented artist sing it, so all Haley could provide was a painfully comical parody.
Lady Gaga really pushed hard to get Scotty to express a sense of humor and have some personality with his rendition of Young Blood. Once he got on stage it was clear that he had taken her advice but still stayed true to his bland and conservative self.
Lady Gaga had the difficult challenge of getting Lauren to transform into the "good girl gone bad" performer for her performance of Trouble. But after all these weeks, Lauren has finally gotten comfortable on stage with her genuine good girl persona that this was all a little too much too soon.
James Durbin was actually pretty apprehensive about getting face to face with Lady Gaga, but in the end she was even able to help him take it up a notch. His arena rock extravaganza of Love Potion #9 was nothing short of amazing. He truly knows what he is doing on stage and his vocal range is simply outstanding.
America has got to get a clue and not allow Haley to make it into the top three. If there is any basis of reality and respect for talent my prediction of the bottom two will be accurate: Haley and Lauren should be in the bottom two and Haley should seriously, finally go home. I mean, Haley was truly awful tonight.
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Top 9 sing Rock&Roll Hall of Fame
Tonight the top 9 finalists had to make a selection from the inductees of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Jacob Lusk showed that he doesn't have any star quality remotely close to that of the King of Pop as he butchered Man In The Mirror (#1 for 2 weeks in 1988). He really should have switched places with the wonderfully talented singer and songwriter, Siedah Garrett, who was on stage with him doing background vocals. Jacob does not belong front and center.
Janis Joplin was inducted in 1995 and Haley Reinhart performed her classic Piece of my Heart. Haley is taking her game of playing dress up as a pop star way too far. She must be the niece of some high powered record executive to have gotten this far in the competition because she has no likable or desirable vocal talent at all. This was just comical screaming.
Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted in 1993. Have You Ever Seen The Rain hit #8 in 1971 and Casey Abrams got back up on stage with his upright bass and showed that he's much more of a musician than a singer. His vocals simply aren't that good.
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was inducted in 1987. Lauren Alaina took one of the greatest songs of all time, A Natural Woman (#8 - 1967) and made it very emotionless and boring. And the outfit she had on was not flattering at all.
George Harrison has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once with the Beatles in 1988 and then again as a solo artist in 2004. His power ballad While My Guitar Gently Weeps is the perfect showcase for James Durbin's dynamic musical and vocal range. This was a spectacular, powerful and emotional performance.
The King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Presley, was inducted in 1986. Elvis could successfully perform Rock, Soul, Country and Gospel where Scotty McCreery isn't quite as convincing when he steps out of his comfort zone. This was a respectable effort but he really needs to polish things up a lot more before he's ready for the big leagues.
Tina Turner was inducted in 1991 and one of her signature hits is River Deep, Mountain High. This song has a dramatic production value that is an exciting compliment to the outstanding vocals of Pia Toscano. She sounded even better than last week!
Percy Sledge was inducted in 2005 and he is most well-known for his fantastic smash When A Man Loves A Woman that hit #1 for two weeks in 1966. Stefano Langone once again showed that he has all the ingredients necessary to be a huge pop idol. His vocals were over the top amazing as he belted out every lyric with passion and conviction.
Johnny Cash was inducted in 1992 and he is probably the coolest cowboy ever. Paul McDonald is more like the cool cowboy's crazy cousin, but he definitely made Folsom Prison Blues his own. It was the same quirky Paul that we've seen every week.
The division between the good finalists with pop music potential and the other finalists is getting wider and wider. It's very clear that the talented front-runners are Pia, Stefano and James.
Then there's the not-so great ones who should be going home. My prediction for the bottom three vote getters this week is Jacob, Haley and Casey with Haley finally going home this week. Haley has absolutely no star quality or charisma and her performance style is so embarrassing and amateurish. We can only hope that we won't have to see her again.
Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Jacob Lusk showed that he doesn't have any star quality remotely close to that of the King of Pop as he butchered Man In The Mirror (#1 for 2 weeks in 1988). He really should have switched places with the wonderfully talented singer and songwriter, Siedah Garrett, who was on stage with him doing background vocals. Jacob does not belong front and center.
Janis Joplin was inducted in 1995 and Haley Reinhart performed her classic Piece of my Heart. Haley is taking her game of playing dress up as a pop star way too far. She must be the niece of some high powered record executive to have gotten this far in the competition because she has no likable or desirable vocal talent at all. This was just comical screaming.
Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted in 1993. Have You Ever Seen The Rain hit #8 in 1971 and Casey Abrams got back up on stage with his upright bass and showed that he's much more of a musician than a singer. His vocals simply aren't that good.
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was inducted in 1987. Lauren Alaina took one of the greatest songs of all time, A Natural Woman (#8 - 1967) and made it very emotionless and boring. And the outfit she had on was not flattering at all.
George Harrison has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once with the Beatles in 1988 and then again as a solo artist in 2004. His power ballad While My Guitar Gently Weeps is the perfect showcase for James Durbin's dynamic musical and vocal range. This was a spectacular, powerful and emotional performance.
The King of Rock-n-Roll, Elvis Presley, was inducted in 1986. Elvis could successfully perform Rock, Soul, Country and Gospel where Scotty McCreery isn't quite as convincing when he steps out of his comfort zone. This was a respectable effort but he really needs to polish things up a lot more before he's ready for the big leagues.
Tina Turner was inducted in 1991 and one of her signature hits is River Deep, Mountain High. This song has a dramatic production value that is an exciting compliment to the outstanding vocals of Pia Toscano. She sounded even better than last week!
Percy Sledge was inducted in 2005 and he is most well-known for his fantastic smash When A Man Loves A Woman that hit #1 for two weeks in 1966. Stefano Langone once again showed that he has all the ingredients necessary to be a huge pop idol. His vocals were over the top amazing as he belted out every lyric with passion and conviction.
Johnny Cash was inducted in 1992 and he is probably the coolest cowboy ever. Paul McDonald is more like the cool cowboy's crazy cousin, but he definitely made Folsom Prison Blues his own. It was the same quirky Paul that we've seen every week.
The division between the good finalists with pop music potential and the other finalists is getting wider and wider. It's very clear that the talented front-runners are Pia, Stefano and James.
Then there's the not-so great ones who should be going home. My prediction for the bottom three vote getters this week is Jacob, Haley and Casey with Haley finally going home this week. Haley has absolutely no star quality or charisma and her performance style is so embarrassing and amateurish. We can only hope that we won't have to see her again.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Results - Their Idols
The Lucky 13 opened the show with a fun medley of Michael Jackson's greatest hits. You could definitely tell that they were singing live as it was pretty choppy in places, but they did their best.
Jacob and Stefano are safe, but Karen ended up being the first one in the bottom three.
The Season 8 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Adam Lambert, returned to perform his song Aftermath. He is making it available as a charity single to support the It Gets Better Campaign that helps give gay youth support in the face of ignorant bullying. Adam's performance was just as dynamic and spectacular as we have come to expect from him. This acoustic rendition was jam packed with outstanding vocals conveying every emotion in the meaningful lyrics.
Then Lauren was informed that she is safe while both Ashthon and Haley had to join Karen in completing the bottom three.
Diddy Dirty Money, or Puff Daddy, or P Diddy then came out to perform his latest single Coming Home in the hopes of getting an American Idol bump to help improve its sales and airplay.
The good news was then given to Karen and Haley that they are coming back next week, while Ashthon got the bad news. And then it got worse when the judges decided that they were not going to use their SAVE on her. She sadly had to watch her brief Miss American Idol experience get summed up while listening to this season's new "Goodbye" song.
This year, the producers are giving a break to the Season 7 Miss American Idol winner, David Cook, who has recorded his own version of the 1985 #1 smash by Simple Minds, Don't You Forget About Me to be used as the "Goodbye" song.
I correctly predicted all three of the lowest vote getters, but I would have rather seen Haley go home instead of Ashthon.
Jacob and Stefano are safe, but Karen ended up being the first one in the bottom three.
The Season 8 Miss American Idol 1st Runner Up, Adam Lambert, returned to perform his song Aftermath. He is making it available as a charity single to support the It Gets Better Campaign that helps give gay youth support in the face of ignorant bullying. Adam's performance was just as dynamic and spectacular as we have come to expect from him. This acoustic rendition was jam packed with outstanding vocals conveying every emotion in the meaningful lyrics.
Then Lauren was informed that she is safe while both Ashthon and Haley had to join Karen in completing the bottom three.
Diddy Dirty Money, or Puff Daddy, or P Diddy then came out to perform his latest single Coming Home in the hopes of getting an American Idol bump to help improve its sales and airplay.
The good news was then given to Karen and Haley that they are coming back next week, while Ashthon got the bad news. And then it got worse when the judges decided that they were not going to use their SAVE on her. She sadly had to watch her brief Miss American Idol experience get summed up while listening to this season's new "Goodbye" song.
This year, the producers are giving a break to the Season 7 Miss American Idol winner, David Cook, who has recorded his own version of the 1985 #1 smash by Simple Minds, Don't You Forget About Me to be used as the "Goodbye" song.
I correctly predicted all three of the lowest vote getters, but I would have rather seen Haley go home instead of Ashthon.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Top 13 sing their IDOLS
Tonight the top 13 finalists had the chance to perform a selection from the catalog of their personal idol:
Lauren Alaina selected a song from the platinum selling superstar Shania Twain, Any Man of Mine. If Lauren gets far in this competition, she will be coasting on her sweet girl-next-door personality. The judges claim she has an amazing voice, but this performance was very low key and bland. She caps it off with a perky smile and wink and hopes that the fans are falling for it.
Casey Abrams selected the song we all grew to know and love as the theme song from The Wonder Years, Joe Cocker's version of With A Little Help From My Friends. He opened the song with a soft voice that we haven't heard from him before but it didn't last long enough. Next thing you know he's just screaming. Unfortunately, it was devoid of the emotional impact that the Wonder Years theme served up every week. There's no reason to listen to Casey's voice sing this when he's not live on stage.
Ashthon Jones selected the Diana Ross ballad When You Tell Me That You Love Me. She once again embodied the true diva essence standing center stage in an elegant silver gown. Her vocals were strong and confident and maybe, even better than the original.
Paul McDonald selected Come Pick Me Up from Ryan Adams. This guy is all smiles and cute moves in skinny jeans, so what he lacks in vocal power he makes up for with interesting presence. This song was a pretty weak choice to win over new fans, but he can definitely coast on the good looks.
Pia Toscano selected All By Myself by Celine Dion that hit #4 in 1997. She looked stunning in a sparkly little gold mini and the huge vocals that resonated from her were even more stunning. Pia is a genuinely talented singer who is sure to impress us more and more each week.
James Durbin selected Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney that hit #10 in 1977. James showed his ability to be more than a heavy metal screamer with his powerful vocal range on this wonderful love song. It was controlled and embodied all the depth necessary to make us feel the lyrics as they were intended to be.
Haley Reinhart selected Blue, the debut song that lead to Leann Rimes winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1996. I am surprised to admit that Haley managed to do this great song justice. It allowed her to show some range that we didn't know was there from the deep growl to the country yodel.
Jacob Lusk selected R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly that hit #2 in 1996. I don't believe I can listen to Jacob over-sing another song in this competition. He just gave us more of the same indulgent wailing that completely lacked attention to genuine emotion and melody. If only the backing choir that joined him on stage sang louder so they would have drowned him out it would have been listenable.
Thia Megia selected Smile that Michael Jackson recorded on his 1995 release History. She performed this classic with crystal clear, pure vocals that conveyed a maturity far beyond her years while also being fun, fresh and youthful. Thia mixed things up with an interesting funky arrangement that exemplifies her ability to be the best of the old and the new.
Stefano Langone selected Stevie Wonder's Lately that Jodeci took to #4 in 1993. He has everything that we want to hear on the radio right now. Stefano took this ballad and elevated it into a disco dance floor throw down anthem. His vocals were perfectly strong to convincingly pull off this dynamic transformation.
Karen Rodriguez selected I Could Fall In Love that Selena to to #15 in 1995. It was clear that something wasn't quite right with Karen as she attempted to perform this song from her idol. The vocals weren't quite at the level that we have come to expect from her, so hopefully she will get another chance to prove herself.
Scotty McCreery selected The River by Garth Brooks. Everyone knows that I am a fan of Country Music and I acknowledge that Scotty has a good voice. But the fact is that he is not bringing anything exceptional to the table. He's just a kid with a deep voice getting a chance to sing some of his favorite songs on TV.
Naima Adedapo selected a song that spent 7 weeks at #1 in 2007 for Rihanna, Umbrella. The best was saved for last. Naima has an exhilarating star quality how she showed off her strong vocals with her fantastic stage presence dancing on the stage. She also mixed it up with a reggae dance break showing that she can do it all.
I am so happy to report that there were many VERY good performances tonight from some very talented finalists. The best being Thia Megia, Pia Toscano, James Durbin, Naima Adedapo and Stefano Langone.
My prediction for the bottom three vote getters is Haley Reinhart, Karen Rodriguez and Ashthon Jones. These girls are all pretty good, but it's gonna be hard to stand out in this group. I think Haley will be going home.
Lauren Alaina selected a song from the platinum selling superstar Shania Twain, Any Man of Mine. If Lauren gets far in this competition, she will be coasting on her sweet girl-next-door personality. The judges claim she has an amazing voice, but this performance was very low key and bland. She caps it off with a perky smile and wink and hopes that the fans are falling for it.
Casey Abrams selected the song we all grew to know and love as the theme song from The Wonder Years, Joe Cocker's version of With A Little Help From My Friends. He opened the song with a soft voice that we haven't heard from him before but it didn't last long enough. Next thing you know he's just screaming. Unfortunately, it was devoid of the emotional impact that the Wonder Years theme served up every week. There's no reason to listen to Casey's voice sing this when he's not live on stage.
Ashthon Jones selected the Diana Ross ballad When You Tell Me That You Love Me. She once again embodied the true diva essence standing center stage in an elegant silver gown. Her vocals were strong and confident and maybe, even better than the original.
Paul McDonald selected Come Pick Me Up from Ryan Adams. This guy is all smiles and cute moves in skinny jeans, so what he lacks in vocal power he makes up for with interesting presence. This song was a pretty weak choice to win over new fans, but he can definitely coast on the good looks.
Pia Toscano selected All By Myself by Celine Dion that hit #4 in 1997. She looked stunning in a sparkly little gold mini and the huge vocals that resonated from her were even more stunning. Pia is a genuinely talented singer who is sure to impress us more and more each week.
James Durbin selected Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney that hit #10 in 1977. James showed his ability to be more than a heavy metal screamer with his powerful vocal range on this wonderful love song. It was controlled and embodied all the depth necessary to make us feel the lyrics as they were intended to be.
Haley Reinhart selected Blue, the debut song that lead to Leann Rimes winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1996. I am surprised to admit that Haley managed to do this great song justice. It allowed her to show some range that we didn't know was there from the deep growl to the country yodel.
Jacob Lusk selected R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly that hit #2 in 1996. I don't believe I can listen to Jacob over-sing another song in this competition. He just gave us more of the same indulgent wailing that completely lacked attention to genuine emotion and melody. If only the backing choir that joined him on stage sang louder so they would have drowned him out it would have been listenable.
Thia Megia selected Smile that Michael Jackson recorded on his 1995 release History. She performed this classic with crystal clear, pure vocals that conveyed a maturity far beyond her years while also being fun, fresh and youthful. Thia mixed things up with an interesting funky arrangement that exemplifies her ability to be the best of the old and the new.
Stefano Langone selected Stevie Wonder's Lately that Jodeci took to #4 in 1993. He has everything that we want to hear on the radio right now. Stefano took this ballad and elevated it into a disco dance floor throw down anthem. His vocals were perfectly strong to convincingly pull off this dynamic transformation.
Karen Rodriguez selected I Could Fall In Love that Selena to to #15 in 1995. It was clear that something wasn't quite right with Karen as she attempted to perform this song from her idol. The vocals weren't quite at the level that we have come to expect from her, so hopefully she will get another chance to prove herself.
Scotty McCreery selected The River by Garth Brooks. Everyone knows that I am a fan of Country Music and I acknowledge that Scotty has a good voice. But the fact is that he is not bringing anything exceptional to the table. He's just a kid with a deep voice getting a chance to sing some of his favorite songs on TV.
Naima Adedapo selected a song that spent 7 weeks at #1 in 2007 for Rihanna, Umbrella. The best was saved for last. Naima has an exhilarating star quality how she showed off her strong vocals with her fantastic stage presence dancing on the stage. She also mixed it up with a reggae dance break showing that she can do it all.
I am so happy to report that there were many VERY good performances tonight from some very talented finalists. The best being Thia Megia, Pia Toscano, James Durbin, Naima Adedapo and Stefano Langone.
My prediction for the bottom three vote getters is Haley Reinhart, Karen Rodriguez and Ashthon Jones. These girls are all pretty good, but it's gonna be hard to stand out in this group. I think Haley will be going home.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Top 4 sing Movie Music
Tonight, Jamie Foxx, the Oscar winning star of Ray and DreamGirls (in which he co-starred with Season Three Miss American Idol finalist and also an Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson) is here to work with the Top 4 as they attempt to interpret songs from the silver screen.
Seal won the 1996 Grammy for Record of the Year with his smash that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 for one week in 1995, Kiss From A Rose. It was featured in the movie Batman Forever and Lee DeWyze sounded completely off-key and flat during this dreary performance. He is still completely lacking any personality so this was just sleep inducing instead of energizing.
Michael Jackson took Will You Be There up to #7 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1993. This inspirational gospel choir ballad is from the film Free Willy, but it didn't really give Michael Lynche a chance to truly shine. His voice is very good, but with the songs arrangement having so many layers the voice ended up getting a little buried within it all.
Falling Slowly won the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Song from the movie Once and tonight Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox joined forces to introduce it to the American Idol audience. They both faced each other as they played their guitars, but where her vocals were pristine and flawless, his were mumbled and unintelligible. Crystal did a wonderful job saving this duet from being a total disaster.
Simon and Garfunkle spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1968 with Mrs. Robinson from the movie The Graduate. Casey James sat on the edge of the stage with a ukulele and proceeded to tragically drain the life out of this fantastic song. His vocals were bland and laid back and the energy was totally lacking.
Kenny Loggins hit #7 in 1980 with I'm Alright, the theme from Caddyshack. Crystal Bowersox put on her own Lilith Fair music festival with this rousing acoustic rendition that was highlighted by her exceptional vocal range and talent. It had a fun and high energy vibe that was completely entertaining and infectious.
Bryan Adams spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1995 with Have You Ever really Loved A Woman? from the film Don Juan DeMarco. It was a dreary song back then and it was even more dreary with Casey James and Michael Lynche trying to make something of it. They also stood there with their guitars, but the song didn't allow them to really show off their voices. Casey just fumbled and once again the material let Michael down.
This is it - the night of my big and bold prediction! I see Casey and Lee being in the bottom two and the shock of the season will be that Lee is going home.
Seal won the 1996 Grammy for Record of the Year with his smash that hit #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 for one week in 1995, Kiss From A Rose. It was featured in the movie Batman Forever and Lee DeWyze sounded completely off-key and flat during this dreary performance. He is still completely lacking any personality so this was just sleep inducing instead of energizing.
Michael Jackson took Will You Be There up to #7 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1993. This inspirational gospel choir ballad is from the film Free Willy, but it didn't really give Michael Lynche a chance to truly shine. His voice is very good, but with the songs arrangement having so many layers the voice ended up getting a little buried within it all.
Falling Slowly won the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Song from the movie Once and tonight Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox joined forces to introduce it to the American Idol audience. They both faced each other as they played their guitars, but where her vocals were pristine and flawless, his were mumbled and unintelligible. Crystal did a wonderful job saving this duet from being a total disaster.
Simon and Garfunkle spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1968 with Mrs. Robinson from the movie The Graduate. Casey James sat on the edge of the stage with a ukulele and proceeded to tragically drain the life out of this fantastic song. His vocals were bland and laid back and the energy was totally lacking.
Kenny Loggins hit #7 in 1980 with I'm Alright, the theme from Caddyshack. Crystal Bowersox put on her own Lilith Fair music festival with this rousing acoustic rendition that was highlighted by her exceptional vocal range and talent. It had a fun and high energy vibe that was completely entertaining and infectious.
Bryan Adams spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1995 with Have You Ever really Loved A Woman? from the film Don Juan DeMarco. It was a dreary song back then and it was even more dreary with Casey James and Michael Lynche trying to make something of it. They also stood there with their guitars, but the song didn't allow them to really show off their voices. Casey just fumbled and once again the material let Michael down.
This is it - the night of my big and bold prediction! I see Casey and Lee being in the bottom two and the shock of the season will be that Lee is going home.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Top 13 sing Michael Jackson
The top 13 finalists must make a selection from the legendary pop catalog of thriller Michael Jackson. Even though everyone was thrilled to get 13 finalists, turns out that the lowest TWO vote getters will be sent home if they fail to thrill us.
The Way You Make Me Feel spent a week at #1 in 1987. Lil Rounds gave an example of what she is sure to do for many weeks to come. She elevated a great pop song to an even higher level of greatness with her impressive vocal range and energy. And this is surely just a small taste of what she can do.
Keep the Faith is a track from the 1991 album Dangerous. The lyrics state that you can be a winner if you keep the faith. Scott MacIntyre was able to be at his piano and convey this inspirational message to his many fans. It was every bit as great as can be expected. Scott showed off his effortless musical talent as well as his ability to sing very well.
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) went to the top 10 in 1983. Danny Gokey did his best to re-invent this post disco groove and make it a hard edged rock jam. He definitely brought a high level of energy to his performance and it was a lot of fun. The last time the American Idol fans got excited by someone like this, Taylor Hicks went all the way to winning the crown.
You Are Not Alone hit #1 in 1995. Michael Sarver used this sweet and simple ballad to show the world that he can belt out the big notes with sincerity and passion. Honestly, he already looked and sounded great, but this was his best yet.
I'll Be There spent five weeks at #1 in 1970 and then two more weeks at the top in 1992. Jasmine Murray took on one of the biggest hits of all time and completely did it justice. This young woman carried herself with elegant poise and style as she delivered this beautiful rendition.
Remember The Time went top 5 in 1992. Kris Allen gave a valiant effort with his guitar on stage to re-envision this R&B favorite into a pop/rock style. Kris is obviously not the best singer in the competition, but he is an undeniable sweetheart and all around good guy. His looks and personality should get him a little farther.
Give In To Me is another track from the 1991 album Dangerous. Alison Iraheta kept her version very true to the original. It's a strong guitar driven rocker that allowed her to belt out the vocals and set herself apart with her unique style and hot pink haired stage presence.
Beat It spent three weeks at #1 in 1983 and went on the win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Anoop Desai got very lucky last week and had the rules rewritten for him so he could be here tonight. This song was not the best way to show that he deserved this opportunity. The song is great but his performance was plain.
Never Can Say Goodbye peaked at #2 in 1971. This was a great song for Jorge Nunez to express his very smooth vocals even though the available choices proved challenging for him. He did the best he could and it would be a shame to lose him this early in the game.
Rockin Robin also peaked at #2 but in 1972. Megan Joy Corkrey used this quirky song choice to show just how quirky she is. It was a kinda silly performance that didn't showcase her vocal range at all, but she's doing whatever she wants.
Black or White spent seven weeks at #1 in 1991. Adam Lambert did a fantastic job bringing this pop anthem to life. He has the moves and stage presence to be convincing where others just seem phony. And his voice is perfect for catchy hit records.
Human Nature went top 10 1983. Matt Giraud sat behind the piano and went into his high falsetto to try and show the world that he can channel Justin Timberlake trying to be Michael Jackson. While it was pretty good, seeing him made it very clear that he is a far cry from the real Justin Timberlake or Michael Jackson.
Dirty Diana spent one week at #1 in 1988. Alexis Grace really made a strange choice with this rock selection. The song really doesn't have a melody that will show her voice at it's best, so she was only able to scream out loud notes to get her point across. It's also possible that her black hot pants weren't the best way to show off her stage presence either.
Since two finalists will be going home tomorrow, I'm going to mix things up and predict a bottom four instead of a bottom three. My prediction for the bottom four is not quite as easy to make as it has been in years past. For the most part, this top 13 is pretty good and there isn't a blatant contestant who doesn't belong. While I have already been clear on who my favorites are, tonight's performances haven't changed that at all. So I'm admittedly just guessing my bottom four at random: I think they might be Anoop Desai, Megan Joy Corkery, Jorge Nunez and Alexis Grace. I think they could all get better if given the chance to come back, but unfortunately my prediction is that Alexis Grace and Jorge Nunez won't be getting another chance.
The Way You Make Me Feel spent a week at #1 in 1987. Lil Rounds gave an example of what she is sure to do for many weeks to come. She elevated a great pop song to an even higher level of greatness with her impressive vocal range and energy. And this is surely just a small taste of what she can do.
Keep the Faith is a track from the 1991 album Dangerous. The lyrics state that you can be a winner if you keep the faith. Scott MacIntyre was able to be at his piano and convey this inspirational message to his many fans. It was every bit as great as can be expected. Scott showed off his effortless musical talent as well as his ability to sing very well.
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) went to the top 10 in 1983. Danny Gokey did his best to re-invent this post disco groove and make it a hard edged rock jam. He definitely brought a high level of energy to his performance and it was a lot of fun. The last time the American Idol fans got excited by someone like this, Taylor Hicks went all the way to winning the crown.
You Are Not Alone hit #1 in 1995. Michael Sarver used this sweet and simple ballad to show the world that he can belt out the big notes with sincerity and passion. Honestly, he already looked and sounded great, but this was his best yet.
I'll Be There spent five weeks at #1 in 1970 and then two more weeks at the top in 1992. Jasmine Murray took on one of the biggest hits of all time and completely did it justice. This young woman carried herself with elegant poise and style as she delivered this beautiful rendition.
Remember The Time went top 5 in 1992. Kris Allen gave a valiant effort with his guitar on stage to re-envision this R&B favorite into a pop/rock style. Kris is obviously not the best singer in the competition, but he is an undeniable sweetheart and all around good guy. His looks and personality should get him a little farther.
Give In To Me is another track from the 1991 album Dangerous. Alison Iraheta kept her version very true to the original. It's a strong guitar driven rocker that allowed her to belt out the vocals and set herself apart with her unique style and hot pink haired stage presence.
Beat It spent three weeks at #1 in 1983 and went on the win the Grammy for Record of the Year. Anoop Desai got very lucky last week and had the rules rewritten for him so he could be here tonight. This song was not the best way to show that he deserved this opportunity. The song is great but his performance was plain.
Never Can Say Goodbye peaked at #2 in 1971. This was a great song for Jorge Nunez to express his very smooth vocals even though the available choices proved challenging for him. He did the best he could and it would be a shame to lose him this early in the game.
Rockin Robin also peaked at #2 but in 1972. Megan Joy Corkrey used this quirky song choice to show just how quirky she is. It was a kinda silly performance that didn't showcase her vocal range at all, but she's doing whatever she wants.
Black or White spent seven weeks at #1 in 1991. Adam Lambert did a fantastic job bringing this pop anthem to life. He has the moves and stage presence to be convincing where others just seem phony. And his voice is perfect for catchy hit records.
Human Nature went top 10 1983. Matt Giraud sat behind the piano and went into his high falsetto to try and show the world that he can channel Justin Timberlake trying to be Michael Jackson. While it was pretty good, seeing him made it very clear that he is a far cry from the real Justin Timberlake or Michael Jackson.
Dirty Diana spent one week at #1 in 1988. Alexis Grace really made a strange choice with this rock selection. The song really doesn't have a melody that will show her voice at it's best, so she was only able to scream out loud notes to get her point across. It's also possible that her black hot pants weren't the best way to show off her stage presence either.
Since two finalists will be going home tomorrow, I'm going to mix things up and predict a bottom four instead of a bottom three. My prediction for the bottom four is not quite as easy to make as it has been in years past. For the most part, this top 13 is pretty good and there isn't a blatant contestant who doesn't belong. While I have already been clear on who my favorites are, tonight's performances haven't changed that at all. So I'm admittedly just guessing my bottom four at random: I think they might be Anoop Desai, Megan Joy Corkery, Jorge Nunez and Alexis Grace. I think they could all get better if given the chance to come back, but unfortunately my prediction is that Alexis Grace and Jorge Nunez won't be getting another chance.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The next batch of finalists....
Only three of the next 12 finalists will be moving forward and joining last week's group. Here's what they did to win you over...
Jasmine Murray chose to sing the Sara Bareilles song that peaked at #4 in 2008, Love Song. This illustrates the perfect example of how important it is to select the right song. Jasmine only has a minute and a half to make an impression tonight, but this song didn't show her at her best. While it's a fun catchy song, its pop/folk style isn't a match at all for her attractive and youthful look. She could easily be the whole package if she had presented herself better tonight. We might not be seeing her again.
Matt Giraud chose to sing the 2008 Grammy winning Song of the Year by ColdPlay, Viva La Vida. This song was a huge #1 smash on the Billboard HOT 100 for ColdPlay last year as well. Matt kinda looks and sounds like the lead singer Chris Martin so it should have been a good match, but it didn't translate on the American Idol stage. He tried to oversing some parts where he shouldn't have and it just wasn't cool. We're not likely to be seeing him again.
Jeanine Vailes chose to sing the 2004 hit by Maroon 5, This Love. While this song helped Maroon 5 win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year, it's not going to help Jeanine very much. She's a nice looking young woman with noticeably long legs and her voice is actually pretty good, but the song didn't allow her to show it off. Yet another illustration of a finalist picking the wrong song. We won't be seeing her again.
Nick Mitchell chose to sing his very own special version of the song that contributed to season three finalist Jennifer Hudson winning an Oscar for her performance in DreamGirls, And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. He's a silly comedian wearing his sparkly shirt, short pants and headband. Is he making a mockery of the competition? Is he just looking for some exposure to get his comic career started? Who knows, but somehow, someway, we will certainly be seeing more of him.
Allison Iraheta chose to sing the song that many other finalists have chosen before her: Heart's song that spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT in 1987, Alone. She's young and she's got hair as red as Hawaiian Punch, but don't be distracted. She took this song that we've heard numerous times before and she made it her own. It was very good, but she still has room to grow. We should be seeing that growth in the weeks ahead.
Kris Allen chose to the sing the song Michael Jackson took to #1 for two weeks in 1988, Man in the Mirror. Michael Jackson built his career around a larger than life image and that is something that Kris does not have at all. Make no mistake, though, he's very handsome, albeit in a very normal sort of way. And his voice is good, but not very exceptional. He'd make a great boyfriend, but not a great Idol finalist. We aren't likely to be seeing more of him.
Megan Joy Corkrey chose to sing Put Your Records On and the whole time left you thinking "put your shoes on". She stood up there in slippers! It's all a matter of taste - some will say she looked awkward at the microphone, while others will call it her unique stage presence. She has a very pretty face that doesn't seem to go along with the tattoo sleeve covering her right arm. And that isn't even saying anything about her vocals - which were OK. This collection of mismatched pieces makes her memorably forgettable, but we are likely to see her again.
Matt Breitzke chose to sing If You Could Only See by Tonic. It's just your basic alternative rock love song and he did just a basic rendition. There was almost no personality or energy conveyed with his lackluster stage presence. He's totally working the blue collar "hey, I'm a welder" persona to rope in the fans, but it's not likely going to be enough for us to see him again.
Jesse Langseth chose to sing the Kim Carnes one hit wonder smash that spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1981, Bette Davis Eyes. Jesse got up there and oozed her totally awesome vibe of laid back cool. Vocally she completely wrapped herself around it and made it her own. Her only obstacle is going to be being even more memorable than the competition, and it's tough. We might not be seeing her again.
Kai Kalama chose to sing What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted that went top 10 in 1966 for Jimmy Ruffin. For some reason he thought wearing a mop on his head was a good fashion choice. The vocals weren't very exceptional and certainly weren't noticeable enough to distract from that mop on his head. We shouldn't be seeing him again.
Mishavonna Henson chose to sing Drops of Jupiter by Train. You gotta wonder what she was thinking. She auditioned in season 7 but got cut in the Hollywood round. So now she made it to the top 36 in season 8 and this is how she decided to use her minute and half in the spotlight. It was completely bland and forgettable. We will not be seeing her again.
Adam Lambert chose to sing the first song the Rolling Stones took to #1 back in 1965, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction . This was the first in their 40 years of hitmaking and Adam seems to show the ability to follow in those footsteps. He's got a very impressive vocal range, a very contemporary look, and an incredibly high energy stage presence. Give him 40 years of songs and he'll make 40 years of hits. We will definitely be seeing more of him.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition. Here are my predictions:
Adam Lambert will be the top boy vote getter and Allison Iraheta will be the top girl. Megan Joy Corkrey will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Jasmine Murray chose to sing the Sara Bareilles song that peaked at #4 in 2008, Love Song. This illustrates the perfect example of how important it is to select the right song. Jasmine only has a minute and a half to make an impression tonight, but this song didn't show her at her best. While it's a fun catchy song, its pop/folk style isn't a match at all for her attractive and youthful look. She could easily be the whole package if she had presented herself better tonight. We might not be seeing her again.
Matt Giraud chose to sing the 2008 Grammy winning Song of the Year by ColdPlay, Viva La Vida. This song was a huge #1 smash on the Billboard HOT 100 for ColdPlay last year as well. Matt kinda looks and sounds like the lead singer Chris Martin so it should have been a good match, but it didn't translate on the American Idol stage. He tried to oversing some parts where he shouldn't have and it just wasn't cool. We're not likely to be seeing him again.
Jeanine Vailes chose to sing the 2004 hit by Maroon 5, This Love. While this song helped Maroon 5 win the Grammy for Best New Artist that year, it's not going to help Jeanine very much. She's a nice looking young woman with noticeably long legs and her voice is actually pretty good, but the song didn't allow her to show it off. Yet another illustration of a finalist picking the wrong song. We won't be seeing her again.
Nick Mitchell chose to sing his very own special version of the song that contributed to season three finalist Jennifer Hudson winning an Oscar for her performance in DreamGirls, And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going. He's a silly comedian wearing his sparkly shirt, short pants and headband. Is he making a mockery of the competition? Is he just looking for some exposure to get his comic career started? Who knows, but somehow, someway, we will certainly be seeing more of him.
Allison Iraheta chose to sing the song that many other finalists have chosen before her: Heart's song that spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT in 1987, Alone. She's young and she's got hair as red as Hawaiian Punch, but don't be distracted. She took this song that we've heard numerous times before and she made it her own. It was very good, but she still has room to grow. We should be seeing that growth in the weeks ahead.
Kris Allen chose to the sing the song Michael Jackson took to #1 for two weeks in 1988, Man in the Mirror. Michael Jackson built his career around a larger than life image and that is something that Kris does not have at all. Make no mistake, though, he's very handsome, albeit in a very normal sort of way. And his voice is good, but not very exceptional. He'd make a great boyfriend, but not a great Idol finalist. We aren't likely to be seeing more of him.
Megan Joy Corkrey chose to sing Put Your Records On and the whole time left you thinking "put your shoes on". She stood up there in slippers! It's all a matter of taste - some will say she looked awkward at the microphone, while others will call it her unique stage presence. She has a very pretty face that doesn't seem to go along with the tattoo sleeve covering her right arm. And that isn't even saying anything about her vocals - which were OK. This collection of mismatched pieces makes her memorably forgettable, but we are likely to see her again.
Matt Breitzke chose to sing If You Could Only See by Tonic. It's just your basic alternative rock love song and he did just a basic rendition. There was almost no personality or energy conveyed with his lackluster stage presence. He's totally working the blue collar "hey, I'm a welder" persona to rope in the fans, but it's not likely going to be enough for us to see him again.
Jesse Langseth chose to sing the Kim Carnes one hit wonder smash that spent 10 weeks at #1 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1981, Bette Davis Eyes. Jesse got up there and oozed her totally awesome vibe of laid back cool. Vocally she completely wrapped herself around it and made it her own. Her only obstacle is going to be being even more memorable than the competition, and it's tough. We might not be seeing her again.
Kai Kalama chose to sing What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted that went top 10 in 1966 for Jimmy Ruffin. For some reason he thought wearing a mop on his head was a good fashion choice. The vocals weren't very exceptional and certainly weren't noticeable enough to distract from that mop on his head. We shouldn't be seeing him again.
Mishavonna Henson chose to sing Drops of Jupiter by Train. You gotta wonder what she was thinking. She auditioned in season 7 but got cut in the Hollywood round. So now she made it to the top 36 in season 8 and this is how she decided to use her minute and half in the spotlight. It was completely bland and forgettable. We will not be seeing her again.
Adam Lambert chose to sing the first song the Rolling Stones took to #1 back in 1965, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction . This was the first in their 40 years of hitmaking and Adam seems to show the ability to follow in those footsteps. He's got a very impressive vocal range, a very contemporary look, and an incredibly high energy stage presence. Give him 40 years of songs and he'll make 40 years of hits. We will definitely be seeing more of him.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition. Here are my predictions:
Adam Lambert will be the top boy vote getter and Allison Iraheta will be the top girl. Megan Joy Corkrey will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The competition begins....
Only three of the next 12 finalists will be moving forward. Here's what they did to win you over...
Jackie Tohn got the competition started with her version of the Elvis Presley track A Little Less Conversation. She may think she's an amazing performer with the style and charisma of the King of Rock n Roll, but she didn't show it tonight. Her vocals were scratchy and weak and were not a good fit for the song at all. The performance was like Katy Perry's at the Grammy Awards this year, but even worse. Jackie needed huge pieces of fruit on stage to distract us from her dreadful outfit. We definitely will not be seeing her again.
Ricky Braddy went in a completely different direction with his rendition of Leon Russell's A Song For You. He's a nice looking young man who didn't feel the need to resort to any gimmicks in the form of a crazy costume or wacky stage antics. He took this vocally challenging ballad and he demonstrated how it's done. It was packed with genuine emotion and big notes highlighting his broad vocal range. We should see more of him.
Alexis Grace attempted to win us over by taking on the first top 10 song by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You). It was a very strong attempt as this little white girl got up there in her little black dress and belted out vocals worthy of this 1967 classic song. We should see more of her.
Brent Keith chose to stick with what he knows best by singing a fun country song called Hick Town. He's got a great look and sound for country music world, but he didn't show off his vocal range with this effort. He went for the fans who want to get up and line dance and two-step and there's quite a few of them out there so we very well may be seeing more of him.
Stevie Wright stayed with the country theme by choosing a song by teen chart topper Taylor Swift. It was a sweet little uptempo tale of teen love, but just like Taylor, Stevie doesn't have much of an impressive vocal range. Taylor manages to sell millions of albums despite her weak vocal abilities, but on this show Stevie failed to make a choice that impressed. We should not be seeing more of her.
Anoop Desai took on the #1 smash from 1999 by Monica, Angel of Mine. This song was actually a very good match for his impressive range. But the song itself is somewhat forgettable. Monica managed to have a hit with it as she was riding the wave of success of even bigger #1 smash hits, The Boy Is Mine and The First Night. Anoop wasn't following up any bigger hits, so this was his only chance to leave his mark. That means we might not being seeing more of him.
Casey Carlson did her best to make the 1981 hit by The Police, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic her own. She's a very attractive young woman and we know from the auditions that she has a good voice, but nothing about it worked. She had no opportunity to show off her vocal range at all. It's sad, but we will not be seeing more of her.
Michael Sarver sang the 2005 hit song by Gavin DeGraw, I Don't Want To Be. The song is a real crowd pleaser, but Michael's vocals were kinda bland. He did not get the opportunity to really impress us with his singing. He did, though, have more time to show off his winning personality. If we see more of him it's going to be based solely on his nice personality.
Ann Marie Boskovich took on the Queen of Soul as well with Aretha Franklin's (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. Aretha was successfully having a string of hits in 1967 but Ann Marie isn't likely to experience the same thing in this year or in any year. She has a nice voice, but the song was bigger than she can handle. This young contestant doesn't have the personality or the soul to pull it off. Being attractive isn't enough. We will not be seeing more of her.
Stephen Fowler reached back to 1980 to sing the dance groove of Michael Jackson's huge #1 smash Rock With You. This song is a classic jam, but Stephen failed to breath any life into it. He has a good voice that he simply did not use at it's best with this song. We will not be seeing more of him.
Tatiana Del Toro took on the first #1 song by Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You from 1986. She did her best to pull back the drama from Hollywood Week and just let her vocal abilities shine through. The fact is that she actually can hit many of the notes required in a song like this. She has some real talent in there and she's not going to let anything stop her from making the best of this rare opportunity. We will be seeing more of her.
Danny Gokey learned a lesson last year when Mariah Carey was a guest mentor for the finalists last year: Boys can cover her songs better than girls. He took on her #1 hit anthem from 1994, Hero. You could feel that he genuinely connects with the spirit of the song to believe in yourself while he sang every note. He is definitely marketing himself very well. He knows how to pick a song, sing it and tell the story of his life with every appearance he makes. We will definitely be seeing more of him.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition. Here are my predictions:
Danny Gokey will be the top boy vote getter and Tatiana Del Toro will be the top girl. Michael Sarver will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Jackie Tohn got the competition started with her version of the Elvis Presley track A Little Less Conversation. She may think she's an amazing performer with the style and charisma of the King of Rock n Roll, but she didn't show it tonight. Her vocals were scratchy and weak and were not a good fit for the song at all. The performance was like Katy Perry's at the Grammy Awards this year, but even worse. Jackie needed huge pieces of fruit on stage to distract us from her dreadful outfit. We definitely will not be seeing her again.
Ricky Braddy went in a completely different direction with his rendition of Leon Russell's A Song For You. He's a nice looking young man who didn't feel the need to resort to any gimmicks in the form of a crazy costume or wacky stage antics. He took this vocally challenging ballad and he demonstrated how it's done. It was packed with genuine emotion and big notes highlighting his broad vocal range. We should see more of him.
Alexis Grace attempted to win us over by taking on the first top 10 song by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You). It was a very strong attempt as this little white girl got up there in her little black dress and belted out vocals worthy of this 1967 classic song. We should see more of her.
Brent Keith chose to stick with what he knows best by singing a fun country song called Hick Town. He's got a great look and sound for country music world, but he didn't show off his vocal range with this effort. He went for the fans who want to get up and line dance and two-step and there's quite a few of them out there so we very well may be seeing more of him.
Stevie Wright stayed with the country theme by choosing a song by teen chart topper Taylor Swift. It was a sweet little uptempo tale of teen love, but just like Taylor, Stevie doesn't have much of an impressive vocal range. Taylor manages to sell millions of albums despite her weak vocal abilities, but on this show Stevie failed to make a choice that impressed. We should not be seeing more of her.
Anoop Desai took on the #1 smash from 1999 by Monica, Angel of Mine. This song was actually a very good match for his impressive range. But the song itself is somewhat forgettable. Monica managed to have a hit with it as she was riding the wave of success of even bigger #1 smash hits, The Boy Is Mine and The First Night. Anoop wasn't following up any bigger hits, so this was his only chance to leave his mark. That means we might not being seeing more of him.
Casey Carlson did her best to make the 1981 hit by The Police, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic her own. She's a very attractive young woman and we know from the auditions that she has a good voice, but nothing about it worked. She had no opportunity to show off her vocal range at all. It's sad, but we will not be seeing more of her.
Michael Sarver sang the 2005 hit song by Gavin DeGraw, I Don't Want To Be. The song is a real crowd pleaser, but Michael's vocals were kinda bland. He did not get the opportunity to really impress us with his singing. He did, though, have more time to show off his winning personality. If we see more of him it's going to be based solely on his nice personality.
Ann Marie Boskovich took on the Queen of Soul as well with Aretha Franklin's (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. Aretha was successfully having a string of hits in 1967 but Ann Marie isn't likely to experience the same thing in this year or in any year. She has a nice voice, but the song was bigger than she can handle. This young contestant doesn't have the personality or the soul to pull it off. Being attractive isn't enough. We will not be seeing more of her.
Stephen Fowler reached back to 1980 to sing the dance groove of Michael Jackson's huge #1 smash Rock With You. This song is a classic jam, but Stephen failed to breath any life into it. He has a good voice that he simply did not use at it's best with this song. We will not be seeing more of him.
Tatiana Del Toro took on the first #1 song by Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You from 1986. She did her best to pull back the drama from Hollywood Week and just let her vocal abilities shine through. The fact is that she actually can hit many of the notes required in a song like this. She has some real talent in there and she's not going to let anything stop her from making the best of this rare opportunity. We will be seeing more of her.
Danny Gokey learned a lesson last year when Mariah Carey was a guest mentor for the finalists last year: Boys can cover her songs better than girls. He took on her #1 hit anthem from 1994, Hero. You could feel that he genuinely connects with the spirit of the song to believe in yourself while he sang every note. He is definitely marketing himself very well. He knows how to pick a song, sing it and tell the story of his life with every appearance he makes. We will definitely be seeing more of him.
Only three of these 12 finalists are moving on in the competition. Here are my predictions:
Danny Gokey will be the top boy vote getter and Tatiana Del Toro will be the top girl. Michael Sarver will then come out ahead of the others to stay in the game.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Top 10 sing their beginnings
Tonight the top 10 finalists had to select a song that was a hit the year they were born.
Ramiele Malubay was born in 1987 when Heart spent three weeks at #1 with Alone. This song has become an American Idol favorite clearly because it allows the finalist to show off their entire range. Ramiele probably gave us her best vocal so far, but she doesn't have much of a gimmick to make her extra memorable.
Jason Castro was born in 1990 when Sting released Fragile. Rather than pursuing the haunting introspection of the original, Jason stuck with his limited abilities and made this song into a laid back spanish bilingual salsa. Because of his immaturity it was the same old gimmick with the guitar and the weak vocals.
Syesha Mercado was born in 1987 and for some reason she selected a song that Gladys Knight took to the top 10 in 1971, If I Were Your Woman. It's a great song but this arrangement wasn't as interesting as the original. Syesha still found a way to let her voice take center stage and sound as good as we always thought she could.
Chikezie was born in 1985 when Luther Vandross released If Only For One Night. For the past couple of weeks Chikezie has strutted his stuff showing a full range of performance versatility, but tonight he fell back into a rut. This was a very bland imitation of the original.
Brooke White was born in 1983 when the Police spent eight weeks at #1 with Every Breath You Take. Those were eight long boring weeks back then so it wasn't much for Brooke to work with, but it was actually a good fit for her performance limitations. She sat behind the piano and played in her comfort zone, even after a shaky start.
Michael Johns was born in 1978 when Queen hit the top 5 with We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions. It was a very good choice that Michael decided to sing a medley of both songs because he had the chance to truly entertain the crowd with rocking energy. He knows what he does best and this song allowed him to do it.
Carly Smithson was born in 1983 when Bonnie Tyler spent four weeks at #1 with Total Eclipse Of The Heart. This is a dramatic power ballad that allowed Carly to exhibit everything she can do better than the other finalists. It was passionate, intense and completely entertaining.
David Archuleta was born in 1990 and for some reason he picked an obscure song called You're The Voice by John Farnham. This was not a good song choice at all so he had to completely depend on that adorable cute face and sincere personality to make it work. It goes without saying that he has enough cuteness and sincerity to make anything work.
Kristy Lee Cook was born in 1984 when Lee Greenwood first served the world his patriotic anthem God Bless The USA. Kristy is a sweet talented young woman, but if she wants to have a chance in this competition she's going to need a much bigger gimmick to keep her alive. This was a blatant attempt to appeal to the audience that no one else is playing to and it will most likely work.
David Cook was born in 1982 when Michael Jackson took the world by storm and dominated the top of the charts for seven weeks with Billie Jean. David truly has the gimmick that is gonna take him to the finals. He has once again reinvented an oldie by turning it into an electrifying rock jam. David could easily be topping the charts very soon.
This season has proven itself to be very unpredictable. It doesn't matter if your the best vocalist in the competition, like Carly, you can still end up in the bottom three. Syesha found herself there as well, but I'm still gonna predict who I think SHOULD be in the bottom three. Brooke made up for her stammering start, but I don't think well enough. Chikezie should be joining Brooke because he settled back into bland. Ramiele's lack of a distinctive identity will not only have her in the bottom three with Brooke and Chikezie, but it should be sending her home.
Ramiele Malubay was born in 1987 when Heart spent three weeks at #1 with Alone. This song has become an American Idol favorite clearly because it allows the finalist to show off their entire range. Ramiele probably gave us her best vocal so far, but she doesn't have much of a gimmick to make her extra memorable.
Jason Castro was born in 1990 when Sting released Fragile. Rather than pursuing the haunting introspection of the original, Jason stuck with his limited abilities and made this song into a laid back spanish bilingual salsa. Because of his immaturity it was the same old gimmick with the guitar and the weak vocals.
Syesha Mercado was born in 1987 and for some reason she selected a song that Gladys Knight took to the top 10 in 1971, If I Were Your Woman. It's a great song but this arrangement wasn't as interesting as the original. Syesha still found a way to let her voice take center stage and sound as good as we always thought she could.
Chikezie was born in 1985 when Luther Vandross released If Only For One Night. For the past couple of weeks Chikezie has strutted his stuff showing a full range of performance versatility, but tonight he fell back into a rut. This was a very bland imitation of the original.
Brooke White was born in 1983 when the Police spent eight weeks at #1 with Every Breath You Take. Those were eight long boring weeks back then so it wasn't much for Brooke to work with, but it was actually a good fit for her performance limitations. She sat behind the piano and played in her comfort zone, even after a shaky start.
Michael Johns was born in 1978 when Queen hit the top 5 with We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions. It was a very good choice that Michael decided to sing a medley of both songs because he had the chance to truly entertain the crowd with rocking energy. He knows what he does best and this song allowed him to do it.
Carly Smithson was born in 1983 when Bonnie Tyler spent four weeks at #1 with Total Eclipse Of The Heart. This is a dramatic power ballad that allowed Carly to exhibit everything she can do better than the other finalists. It was passionate, intense and completely entertaining.
David Archuleta was born in 1990 and for some reason he picked an obscure song called You're The Voice by John Farnham. This was not a good song choice at all so he had to completely depend on that adorable cute face and sincere personality to make it work. It goes without saying that he has enough cuteness and sincerity to make anything work.
Kristy Lee Cook was born in 1984 when Lee Greenwood first served the world his patriotic anthem God Bless The USA. Kristy is a sweet talented young woman, but if she wants to have a chance in this competition she's going to need a much bigger gimmick to keep her alive. This was a blatant attempt to appeal to the audience that no one else is playing to and it will most likely work.
David Cook was born in 1982 when Michael Jackson took the world by storm and dominated the top of the charts for seven weeks with Billie Jean. David truly has the gimmick that is gonna take him to the finals. He has once again reinvented an oldie by turning it into an electrifying rock jam. David could easily be topping the charts very soon.
This season has proven itself to be very unpredictable. It doesn't matter if your the best vocalist in the competition, like Carly, you can still end up in the bottom three. Syesha found herself there as well, but I'm still gonna predict who I think SHOULD be in the bottom three. Brooke made up for her stammering start, but I don't think well enough. Chikezie should be joining Brooke because he settled back into bland. Ramiele's lack of a distinctive identity will not only have her in the bottom three with Brooke and Chikezie, but it should be sending her home.
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