The Supreme Miss American Idol, Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood took I Told You So to #9 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 2009. Tonight Lauren and Scotty gave us their own inferior interpretation before hearing the news that they are safely returning next week.
Ashford & Simpson had a #12 hit with Solid in 1985 and Jacob and Naima tried to do it justice tonight. Right afterward Jacob learned that he is safe, while Naima is the first to be in the bottom three.
The Season 3 Miss American Idol winner, Fantasia, made a return trip to perform the third single from her Grammy winning latest release, Back To Me. She looked wonderful in a sparkly red gown and a fresh new blond do. The song, Collard Greens & Cornbread, is a fantastic slice of retro, old school fun and her vocal performance was perfect.
Thia, Haley and Pia then took the stage to perform the super-awesome best song of 2010, Teenage Dream, that Katy Perry took to #1 for 2 weeks. Thia and Pia continue to sound great while Haley is just confusing. In an unfortunate twist, Pia and Haley are both safe while sweet and talented Thia had to join Naima in the bottom three.
Paul McCartney and Wings hit #1 in 1974 with Band On The Run and the four remaining boys, James, Stefano, Casey and Paul all combined forces to make their own band and perform the incredible pop masterpiece. After the mis-guided judges save from last week, Casey learned that he is once again coming back to scream at us next week. James and Stefano are also safe leaving Paul to round out the bottom three.
Because the judges save was used last week, we are unfortunately losing two of the bottom three this week. With Paul being revealed to be safe that means that the very talented Naima Adadepo and Thia Megia are leaving the competition way too soon and instead of others who should be leaving before them.
I correctly predicted that Paul's hot mess of a performance last night would land him in the bottom three, but America is clearly throwing their pity party votes to Casey. Hopefully, the sympathy votes won't last long. Also, I now am very suspicious of what is really going on that is keeping Haley coming back each week. She is seriously not good.
Showing posts with label Paul McCartney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paul McCartney. Show all posts
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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 18, 2010
The Top 3 sing the judges choice
The top three finalists will each sing twice tonight: one song of their choice and another selected for them by the judges.
Casey James selected OK, It's Alright With Me for himself. He explained that he feels this is the kind of song he would write for himself. It was plain, simple and bland. There was no showstopper moment and no energy in this performance.
Crystal Bowersox selected the Melissa Etheridge hit Come To My Window for herself. She used this performance to showcase what a great live performer and musician she is. She played both her guitar and her harmonica while at the same time bringing the song to life with a thoughtful interpretation of the lyrics.
Lee DeWyze selected Lynard Skynard's Simple Man for himself. This was a simple performance for the simple guy who has no desire to expand beyond being the generic rock guy that he's been all season long. He is completely unable to convey any personality or showmanship when he is on stage.
Daughters by John Mayer won the 2004 Grammy for Song of the Year and Randy and Kara selected this song for Casey James to sing. This was never a very interesting song, so it is the perfect choice for Casey who hasn't been able to do anything interesting all season. The song requires no vocal range so that was a good fit for him, but it does require an emotional connection and Casey just wasn't convincing at all.
Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney hit #10 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1977 and Ellen selected this song for Crystal Bowersox to sing. For the very first time this season a finalist has given the audience a fantastic showstopper to be excited about. Crystal put all the instruments down and just let her outstanding vocal range speak for itself. She took us with her to every high and low and made us feel amazed every step of the way.
Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah has already been performed this season by finalist Tim Urban, but that didn't stop Simon from selecting it for Lee DeWyze. To be honest, Tim's version sounded better vocally and more sincere than Lee's. What Lee had in his favor was a much bigger and more dramatic arrangement with many back-up singers and swelling instruments to cover for his lack of vocal talent. To the untrained ear, one could be fooled into believing this was a good performance, but it was all smoke and mirrors unlike the true talent that Crystal was able to deliver.
It's very clear that Lee and Crystal should be in the finals and Casey should definitely be sent home. It's more than just a prediction, it should be considered an inevitability.
Casey James selected OK, It's Alright With Me for himself. He explained that he feels this is the kind of song he would write for himself. It was plain, simple and bland. There was no showstopper moment and no energy in this performance.
Crystal Bowersox selected the Melissa Etheridge hit Come To My Window for herself. She used this performance to showcase what a great live performer and musician she is. She played both her guitar and her harmonica while at the same time bringing the song to life with a thoughtful interpretation of the lyrics.
Lee DeWyze selected Lynard Skynard's Simple Man for himself. This was a simple performance for the simple guy who has no desire to expand beyond being the generic rock guy that he's been all season long. He is completely unable to convey any personality or showmanship when he is on stage.
Daughters by John Mayer won the 2004 Grammy for Song of the Year and Randy and Kara selected this song for Casey James to sing. This was never a very interesting song, so it is the perfect choice for Casey who hasn't been able to do anything interesting all season. The song requires no vocal range so that was a good fit for him, but it does require an emotional connection and Casey just wasn't convincing at all.
Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney hit #10 on the Billboard HOT 100 in 1977 and Ellen selected this song for Crystal Bowersox to sing. For the very first time this season a finalist has given the audience a fantastic showstopper to be excited about. Crystal put all the instruments down and just let her outstanding vocal range speak for itself. She took us with her to every high and low and made us feel amazed every step of the way.
Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah has already been performed this season by finalist Tim Urban, but that didn't stop Simon from selecting it for Lee DeWyze. To be honest, Tim's version sounded better vocally and more sincere than Lee's. What Lee had in his favor was a much bigger and more dramatic arrangement with many back-up singers and swelling instruments to cover for his lack of vocal talent. To the untrained ear, one could be fooled into believing this was a good performance, but it was all smoke and mirrors unlike the true talent that Crystal was able to deliver.
It's very clear that Lee and Crystal should be in the finals and Casey should definitely be sent home. It's more than just a prediction, it should be considered an inevitability.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Top 9 sing Lennon/McCartney
John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote and performed some of the greatest songs of all time with The Beatles, but are the songs great enough to survive what these finalists will do to them?
Aaron Kelly performed the song that spent two weeks at #1 in 1970, The Long and Winding Road. The arrangement was very true to the original but the vocals were much more drab and dreary. The little pixie added nothing interesting.
Katie Stevens selected another song that also spent two weeks at #1 in 1970, Let It Be. Thankfully this turned out to be the strong vocal performance that we knew was hidden in there all along. She finally belted out some big notes that complimented the song perfectly and she looked even cuter than usual.
Andrew Garcia brought his very special brand of not cool to his performance of the song that spent five weeks at #1 in 1964, Can't Buy Me Love. He's a dumpy guy with and weak voice and even the fun energy of the song couldn't save it from being another embarrassment.
Michael Lynche added some great life and power to Eleanor Rigby that peaked at #11 in 1966. His vocals were larger than life and the arrangement was vibrant and fun. It was a very interesting live performance that you may actually want to hear again.
Crystal Bowersox performed a song that spent one week at #1 in 1969, Come Together. As expected she brought her accomplished bluesy vocals and style to this fantastic song. She is continuing to stand out as a cut above the rest.
Tim Urban performed a song that sounds like a hit but it never actually hit the Billboard HOT 100. All My Loving was originally on the 1963 album With The Beatles and Tim performed the song with his hair styled like he was a member of the band and a big smile on his face. He was clearly having fun and so was the audience.
Casey James tried to show another side of himself with John Lennon's Jealous Guy. Rather than just being the good time party boy, he showed off his sensitive side. All this emotional depth can be great and all, but with him it was pretty boring.
Siobhan Magnus allowed her lovely vocals to take center stage as she performed Across The Universe, an album cut from the 1970 release Let It Be. She does something different every week not only with her voice, but with her look and style as well. She's a quirky young woman underneath it all, but she owns it and makes it work.
Lee Dewyze selected to take on the biggest Beatles hit of all time that spent nine weeks at #1 in 1968, Hey Jude. His manner of singing probably made much of the audience want to say, HEY LEE! Stop screaming at me! Lee clearly has his fans, but he's really not all that.
The finalists were very respectful of the Lennon/McCartney songbook and none of them messed it up too seriously. My prediction for the bottom three this week is Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Casey James. None of these guys did anything extra special, but the least of them should be Aaron Kelly going home.
Aaron Kelly performed the song that spent two weeks at #1 in 1970, The Long and Winding Road. The arrangement was very true to the original but the vocals were much more drab and dreary. The little pixie added nothing interesting.
Katie Stevens selected another song that also spent two weeks at #1 in 1970, Let It Be. Thankfully this turned out to be the strong vocal performance that we knew was hidden in there all along. She finally belted out some big notes that complimented the song perfectly and she looked even cuter than usual.
Andrew Garcia brought his very special brand of not cool to his performance of the song that spent five weeks at #1 in 1964, Can't Buy Me Love. He's a dumpy guy with and weak voice and even the fun energy of the song couldn't save it from being another embarrassment.
Michael Lynche added some great life and power to Eleanor Rigby that peaked at #11 in 1966. His vocals were larger than life and the arrangement was vibrant and fun. It was a very interesting live performance that you may actually want to hear again.
Crystal Bowersox performed a song that spent one week at #1 in 1969, Come Together. As expected she brought her accomplished bluesy vocals and style to this fantastic song. She is continuing to stand out as a cut above the rest.
Tim Urban performed a song that sounds like a hit but it never actually hit the Billboard HOT 100. All My Loving was originally on the 1963 album With The Beatles and Tim performed the song with his hair styled like he was a member of the band and a big smile on his face. He was clearly having fun and so was the audience.
Casey James tried to show another side of himself with John Lennon's Jealous Guy. Rather than just being the good time party boy, he showed off his sensitive side. All this emotional depth can be great and all, but with him it was pretty boring.
Siobhan Magnus allowed her lovely vocals to take center stage as she performed Across The Universe, an album cut from the 1970 release Let It Be. She does something different every week not only with her voice, but with her look and style as well. She's a quirky young woman underneath it all, but she owns it and makes it work.
Lee Dewyze selected to take on the biggest Beatles hit of all time that spent nine weeks at #1 in 1968, Hey Jude. His manner of singing probably made much of the audience want to say, HEY LEE! Stop screaming at me! Lee clearly has his fans, but he's really not all that.
The finalists were very respectful of the Lennon/McCartney songbook and none of them messed it up too seriously. My prediction for the bottom three this week is Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Casey James. None of these guys did anything extra special, but the least of them should be Aaron Kelly going home.
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