So, tonight we have anysong that has ever been a "Top Download", obviously all that matters this week is getting in more ad time for iTunes...but whatever, it really opens up the songbook for these guys to pick current songs. However, in the past doing current songs has not bode well for the contestants. Is this time any different? I am also going to start listing the contestants in ranked order from best of the night to worst of the night in my opinion. So, let's download this information...
Kris Allen - This kid is bringing it every week, he is in it to win it for real. I underestimated him by a mile in the beginning because of his lack of exposure but that ideaology is long gone from my mind. TOnight, Kris showed that he could easily steal the thunder from one of this season's "sure bet" contestants. Love this song, loved his rendition and performance. He exuded confidence and he nailed it from start to finish.
Adam Lambert - I am loving this guy more and more and tonight was no exception. His power vocals were back along with the effortless sliding into that incredible upper register. I was entertained and enjoyed every minute of it. I love that each week he brings something new and fresh and keeps me on my toes. He is truly an artist (ugh, and I hate that Kara always uses that word, but in this case it is accurate).
Allison Iraheta - Another contestant I underestimated in the beginning. She has grown in the last couple weeks with choosing the right song and really performing it and using all the inflections of her vocal range. I think it is ridiculous that the judges could only criticize her dress, so what if she wanted to dress the part some, plus I doubt that outfit is far from something she would actually wear normally. Yes, I agree with Simon in the fact that she does get screamy at times, but some of that is part of her style, although I do not want her to go back to that totally.
Danny Gokey - To me, this was Danny's worst performance. He totally oversang the power notes and went off pitch. To me, he did more shouting then Allison. It was less the cool growl that I love about his voice and more screaming to hit those money notes. The song sounded to be in an odd key for him. I was excited when I heard he was singing this song, but it did not live up to my expectations. I am, however, looking forward to downloading the studio version of him doing this song on iTunes, because I am sure it will be flawless. I know he did this in an effort to step it up, but he overstepped on this one. I am shocked the judges loved it so much, but I think things sound A LOT different in the context of the live, studio performance than what comes across on TV.
Scott MacIntyre - This hurts me to even say, but in a crowd of rough performances, Scott came out in the upper eschelon this week. He did a much better job than I have ever heard him before. Still not a fan by any means, but can acknowledge his improvement. I almost think this shows that he should not perform with the band and simply stick to just piano? Ultimately, he is not right for this competition, but I think some really bad performances this week will be his saving grace...at least for one more week.
So, let me stop here to say that it was hard to decide what order these last 4 should go in because they were all bad. It really just come down to who was the better of the worst in my opinion. So here they are...
Lil Rounds - Do not get me wrong here, I think Lil was pretty terrible this week. Another week picking the WRONG song, the absolute WRONG style (clothes, hair) and she was all over with her pitch and she was not able to truly hit the money notes of this song. Why would she ever think she could take on Celine or even a song that Kelly Clarkson ROCKED in her season on Idol. I am also confused why each week the judges have nothing good to say about Lil, but then have to finish it off with "you are an amazing singer...you are the strongest singer....blah, blah, blah. NO SHE IS NOT AND THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT HER PERFORMANCES EACH WEEK! Oh well, she is so blah, no personality and just sub par vocally. But she will be around a while I have no doubt.
Anoop Desai - He is back to the exact behavior that put him in the bottom in the first part of the Finals. As soon as I heard the song he was doing I knew it would be bad. I totally agree with Simon...it was a bad attempt at being a copy cat, wanna-be. He changed nothing about the song to make it his own and it was just poor. Anoop is Scott's saving grace this week, without a doubt.
Matt Giraud - Another contestant back to the type of music that kept him from getting voted to the Finals and forced him to be put through by the judges wild card. Matt is super talented, but the scary thing is that based on his response to the judges comments, he actually thinks he can do rock/pop. No, Matt, you cannot. Stick with soulful, r&b type pop. You are about to become the next Chris Richardson of your season. WAKE UP! He did not belong in the bottom 3 last week, but he does this week.
Megan Joy - Oh, dear, sweet Megan. I love this girl as you all know, but this was her worst performance ever. She looked bored and unattached while singing and the song was BORING and uninspiring. She may really love this song but that did NOT convey in her performance. Everything I love about Megan was gone this week. So sad. Her fan base has been strong in support of her so far, so I am curious to see what they do this week.
So, based on my review the bottom 3 would be Anoop, Matt and Megan. However, this is American Idol and you must expect the unexpected. Being a die hard fan, I have sort of learned how America votes and how that can create unexpected contestants in the bottom 3, a la last week. I want to say that Matt's fan base will work their butt off to keep him out of the bottom again especially after the judges panned his performance tonight. The same could be said for Megan's fans who have kept her safe for the last few weeks. So, I think the alternate for the bottom 3 could be Allison, since she has been there before and she got sort of mixed reviews from the judges but overall did a great job. Her fans may not feel she is in need of their saving this week. In my opinion, Lil needs a trip to the bottom 3, but doubt we will see that. So I think it will be some combination of Anoop, Matt, Megan or Allison (although, she is undeserving). Ultimately, I think with her loss of charm and quirkiness, we will sadly say goodbye to Megan. We will see tomorrow night.
P.S. - Kara, it is Studio 54 NOT 57. She is becoming about as useless as Paula, but without the entertainment factor.
Peace out!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Final 10: Motown
Ooo, baby, baby…what a night last night with the soulful sounds of Motown. Overall, it was a good show. Some people are stepping up their game at just the right time while others continue to vanish into the realm of forgettable. So, “Get Ready” to discuss…
Matt Giraud – Yikes, the first spot of the night is usually never a good spot to have cause you get lost by viewers with short term memory. However, bravo! I doubt he will be forgotten this week. This kid is bringing his “A” game every week and showing why he absolutely deserves to be in the competition. I have no doubt he will prove to be another example of why the Wild Card round is vital! His rendition of “Let’s Get It On” was impeccable. He chose a song that could have been a cheese-fest nightmare and turned it out making it current and believable. Loved it!
Kris Allen – Broken record time…but I am just amazed that this kid came from nowhere and is doing so well. Once again he brought a solid performance. Loved the last, money note he hit. His charm with the ladies apparently got him here, but his talent is keeping him here. Nice.
Scott MacIntyre – Ugh. Can we put him AND US out of our misery already? His vocals are the weakest out of the bunch and he is boring. Whoever dressed him this week should be shot too. I’m so over the Scott saga! He looked and sounded totally unsure of himself and the song and he was all over the place. He is a great piano player though, he should stick with that. Singing, he should leave alone.
Megan Joy – I love this girl. She is unique, original, charming, beautiful and sweet. I have been saying all along what Smokey said last night, she is the most unique contestant AI has ever had on the show. If nothing else, she is polarizing; I think people either hate her or love her. However, this week she slipped up in her song choice, an area I usually find her to be very strong in. It just wasn’t the right song for her and it showed tonight. She obviously has a decent fan base though, which surprises me since she was not voted into the Finals by America. I had predicted she would be bottom 3 last week, but some people out there love her obviously because she was not in the bottom at all. Tonight, however, could be her night.
Anoop Desai – Finally the kid realizes what his strengths are. I am so glad to see Anoop out of that “funky song” phase. I think when he got put through in the Wild Card round after doing “My Prerogative” he thought that type of music should be his “gimmick”. Thank God he realizes that is not true and he needs to stick with R&B; THAT is his gimmick! He has strong vocals and he definitely showed it tonight. He sounded great and his vocals were right on. One piece of advice would be for him to support his falsetto note a little more so they have a little more power. Otherwise, great job from AnoopDogg!
Michael Sarver – Here is the deal with poor Michael…he has lost his charm. Yes, he has a nice voice and I TOTALLY agree with Randy that he does have some R&B chops but he is NOT an R&B singer, no matter how many runs he tries to squeeze into a song. I hear Michael as a more “Rascal Flatts” type artist…pop-country with some soul. He overdid it tonight and even he knew it. I just think he lost that likeability factor that was his niche that got him to where he is. He just fell flat again for me. Still a nice voice though, just not amazing. I agree with Simon too, Michael is just a participant in this competition, he will not win it. Honestly, I think that statement is true for everyone this year. I think everyone is competing for runner-up to Danny Gokey this season. However, I think only a select few even have a shot at that!
Lil Rounds – I’m sorry but I am awarding Lil the “Most Overrated” award. I do not think she is nearly as amazing as the judges proclaim her to be, or that she obviously believes she is. Lil is a lil’ jaded. There was no depth or range to her vocals again this week and she looked a HOT MESS! Her wig/weave/whatever was terrible and she was wearing Tina Turner’s dress. What, what?!? Anyway, I love my black girl singers, but Lil is not cutting it in my opinion. She’s like a lack luster copy of Fantasia without the edge. However, she is SO pimped by the judges and being the only representative of a certain demographic as the only black contestant will help her to stick around for a while.
Adam Lambert – “180” award is immediately given to Elvis…I mean Adam. Last week he was over the top with his rendition of “Ring of Fire” and this week we get reserved and subdued acoustic. Aside from his insane vocal ability, I like Adam because he keeps it interesting. Did anyone expect this from him this week? NO, and that is what makes him a star. One of the best of the night…period. P.S. – Kara is not good with numbers. She actually had 8 words for Adam as opposed to the 6 she proclaimed. LOL
Danny Gokey – Ok, his stage presence was a little awkward this week. It was like he did not know if he wanted to be in the front or the back of the stage. The little dance routine with the backup singers was fun though. Was this his best performance, no. Did he make a big mistake by disregarding the advise that Smokey gave him that we all saw take place on his video? Yes, and it could make him look arrogant to some people. Plus, I was also a little disappointed with his song choice. I think there were better Motown songs out there for him. This was also supported by the fact that he did not get the “pimp spot” this week and secure the last spot of the night which I was almost certain would go to him or Lil. Aside from that, his vocals are incredible and unique but, he cannot afford to slack or coast, because that is the moment someone else will come up and take the crown from him. This week he was outshined by some other performers and we just cannot be having that!
Allison Iraheta – And the pimp spot goes to Allison this week and it did not take long to see why. I was nervous when I heard she was doing this song, because I loved David Hernandez’s performance of this song last season, but she made it her own and knocked it out of the park. I loved Allison this week because she showed range. It was not all screams and screeches; it was restrained in the start and more soulful throughout the rest. She showed she actually has some impressive vocals, especially for 16 (which I am still waiting to find out she lied about her age…lol). Allison is another unique contestant in this season’s lot and that helps her tremendously. Looks like a Bottom 3 visit gave her the kick in the butt she needed to step it up.
So with an overall good night, who gets left behind? I believe the Bottom 3 will be Michael, Megan and Scott. To me, Scott should go home, but I highly doubt that will happen just yet. Based on Michael’s appearance in the Bottom 2 last week and the obligatory mentioning of his being sick this week, his fans should be energized to vote their butts off to save him, however I think Megan and Scott’s fan base’s are a little stronger and I am going to again predict Michael will be going home this week. But you never know, we will find out soon enough!
Matt Giraud – Yikes, the first spot of the night is usually never a good spot to have cause you get lost by viewers with short term memory. However, bravo! I doubt he will be forgotten this week. This kid is bringing his “A” game every week and showing why he absolutely deserves to be in the competition. I have no doubt he will prove to be another example of why the Wild Card round is vital! His rendition of “Let’s Get It On” was impeccable. He chose a song that could have been a cheese-fest nightmare and turned it out making it current and believable. Loved it!
Kris Allen – Broken record time…but I am just amazed that this kid came from nowhere and is doing so well. Once again he brought a solid performance. Loved the last, money note he hit. His charm with the ladies apparently got him here, but his talent is keeping him here. Nice.
Scott MacIntyre – Ugh. Can we put him AND US out of our misery already? His vocals are the weakest out of the bunch and he is boring. Whoever dressed him this week should be shot too. I’m so over the Scott saga! He looked and sounded totally unsure of himself and the song and he was all over the place. He is a great piano player though, he should stick with that. Singing, he should leave alone.
Megan Joy – I love this girl. She is unique, original, charming, beautiful and sweet. I have been saying all along what Smokey said last night, she is the most unique contestant AI has ever had on the show. If nothing else, she is polarizing; I think people either hate her or love her. However, this week she slipped up in her song choice, an area I usually find her to be very strong in. It just wasn’t the right song for her and it showed tonight. She obviously has a decent fan base though, which surprises me since she was not voted into the Finals by America. I had predicted she would be bottom 3 last week, but some people out there love her obviously because she was not in the bottom at all. Tonight, however, could be her night.
Anoop Desai – Finally the kid realizes what his strengths are. I am so glad to see Anoop out of that “funky song” phase. I think when he got put through in the Wild Card round after doing “My Prerogative” he thought that type of music should be his “gimmick”. Thank God he realizes that is not true and he needs to stick with R&B; THAT is his gimmick! He has strong vocals and he definitely showed it tonight. He sounded great and his vocals were right on. One piece of advice would be for him to support his falsetto note a little more so they have a little more power. Otherwise, great job from AnoopDogg!
Michael Sarver – Here is the deal with poor Michael…he has lost his charm. Yes, he has a nice voice and I TOTALLY agree with Randy that he does have some R&B chops but he is NOT an R&B singer, no matter how many runs he tries to squeeze into a song. I hear Michael as a more “Rascal Flatts” type artist…pop-country with some soul. He overdid it tonight and even he knew it. I just think he lost that likeability factor that was his niche that got him to where he is. He just fell flat again for me. Still a nice voice though, just not amazing. I agree with Simon too, Michael is just a participant in this competition, he will not win it. Honestly, I think that statement is true for everyone this year. I think everyone is competing for runner-up to Danny Gokey this season. However, I think only a select few even have a shot at that!
Lil Rounds – I’m sorry but I am awarding Lil the “Most Overrated” award. I do not think she is nearly as amazing as the judges proclaim her to be, or that she obviously believes she is. Lil is a lil’ jaded. There was no depth or range to her vocals again this week and she looked a HOT MESS! Her wig/weave/whatever was terrible and she was wearing Tina Turner’s dress. What, what?!? Anyway, I love my black girl singers, but Lil is not cutting it in my opinion. She’s like a lack luster copy of Fantasia without the edge. However, she is SO pimped by the judges and being the only representative of a certain demographic as the only black contestant will help her to stick around for a while.
Adam Lambert – “180” award is immediately given to Elvis…I mean Adam. Last week he was over the top with his rendition of “Ring of Fire” and this week we get reserved and subdued acoustic. Aside from his insane vocal ability, I like Adam because he keeps it interesting. Did anyone expect this from him this week? NO, and that is what makes him a star. One of the best of the night…period. P.S. – Kara is not good with numbers. She actually had 8 words for Adam as opposed to the 6 she proclaimed. LOL
Danny Gokey – Ok, his stage presence was a little awkward this week. It was like he did not know if he wanted to be in the front or the back of the stage. The little dance routine with the backup singers was fun though. Was this his best performance, no. Did he make a big mistake by disregarding the advise that Smokey gave him that we all saw take place on his video? Yes, and it could make him look arrogant to some people. Plus, I was also a little disappointed with his song choice. I think there were better Motown songs out there for him. This was also supported by the fact that he did not get the “pimp spot” this week and secure the last spot of the night which I was almost certain would go to him or Lil. Aside from that, his vocals are incredible and unique but, he cannot afford to slack or coast, because that is the moment someone else will come up and take the crown from him. This week he was outshined by some other performers and we just cannot be having that!
Allison Iraheta – And the pimp spot goes to Allison this week and it did not take long to see why. I was nervous when I heard she was doing this song, because I loved David Hernandez’s performance of this song last season, but she made it her own and knocked it out of the park. I loved Allison this week because she showed range. It was not all screams and screeches; it was restrained in the start and more soulful throughout the rest. She showed she actually has some impressive vocals, especially for 16 (which I am still waiting to find out she lied about her age…lol). Allison is another unique contestant in this season’s lot and that helps her tremendously. Looks like a Bottom 3 visit gave her the kick in the butt she needed to step it up.
So with an overall good night, who gets left behind? I believe the Bottom 3 will be Michael, Megan and Scott. To me, Scott should go home, but I highly doubt that will happen just yet. Based on Michael’s appearance in the Bottom 2 last week and the obligatory mentioning of his being sick this week, his fans should be energized to vote their butts off to save him, however I think Megan and Scott’s fan base’s are a little stronger and I am going to again predict Michael will be going home this week. But you never know, we will find out soon enough!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Final 11: Grand Ole Opry
Country night, or in Season 8’s case “Grand Ole Opry” night…always a tough night for contestants on American Idol, and tonight had its ups and downs. For me, there seemed to be a role reversal with the front runners faltering a bit and the underdogs stepping up. This is an interesting season. Also, what was with Paula last night and fumbling and stuttering over every comment she made. Settle down little Lady! Anyway, let the discussion begin…
Michael Sarver – We kick it off with the 1 contestant I have been saying I feel is made for country music. Perhaps, I should take that back now though. No, actually it was more about a terrible song choice. I mean, come on, why even do that to yourself? This is THE week to do your absolute best so that you can secure a spot on tour and continue your exposure after the show ends. Picking this Garth song was vocal suicide. He fumbled some words, no real surprise, and just came off cheesy to me. It’s a shame because he has a nice voice. Also, Michael should bite his tongue a little when being critiqued. Too much talking back is never good. I’m so tired of the “I had a lot of fun” comment that we keep hearing from contestants when the judges give them a bad review. Yes, fun is nice, but great singing is what wins the show people.
Allison Iraheta – This girl just does NOT look or sound 16 or 17 to me, which we keep seeing commented about on the show as well. I swear we are going to find out down the road that this girl is actually like 24 years old or something and lied about her age. Either way, she did an ok job and kept true to her style. She is more of a shouter than a singer I think. Her voice reminds me of Miley Cyrus which is helping her because she is current. She doesn’t have much of a range though, so she has to keep it in the pocket when choosing songs. Allison continues the talking back to the judge’s routine like Michael. Hey guess what, she had fun! Ugh.
Kris Allen – I am still amazed every week that this guy, who had no screen time prior to the Semi Finals, made it through to this point. I mean, he has a nice voice, but so did Ricky Braddy (a better singer in my opinion). Just wonder who his fan base is. Ladies, are his looks THAT great? Anywho, tonight was a good night. He kept it simple, the arrangement was great and his voice was right on (minus the one cracked note). Nothing super fantastic, but solid performance.
Lil Rounds – I have been on the fence about Little Lil (LOL…funny Simon moment) and this week makes me lean more towards the fact that she is overrated. She wanted to make it less R&B and “pay tribute to the artist and the genre”…she should NEVER do that again. Her voice was flat and had no life in it. Her power notes were just under the pitch too. In all, it fell short for me. I just am not sure what kind of an artist she would be in the music world. I would not rush out to buy her CD if she made one. I wonder how many people would? Are the producers telling the contestants to talk back tonight?? Why is this happening so much? I hate it. Be quiet Lil. You NEVER interrupt or talk over Simon Cowell!! GEEZ!
Adam Lambert – Could his reel with Randy Travis be anymore awkward? Randy Travis obviously says whatever he thinks with no filter. Anyway, Adam does a country song HIS way. I am glad that he held back vocally and was not over the top. I am always impressed by his vocal abilities. He goes into his upper register (which is phenomenally high) with ease and little effort. Wow. I think he did a good job and owned it. I am sure Johnny Cash is turning over in his grave though. LOL
Scott McIntrye – Seriously, Martina McBride? I am sorry, I know I am a broken record, but I just do not feel Scott is a strong enough vocalist to be on this show. I understand he is endearing to people with his story, but his vocals are subpar. It’s funny, as soon as I saw him at the piano I thought, “is this all we are going to get from him every week”? Then Paula is bold enough to actually say it! I’m sorry but I just don’t like listening to him and I can’t bear watching him with his crazy facial expressions. Anyway, I know he will continue to be around for a while and I just have to suck it up and deal.
Alexis Grace – Oh little Alexis with the big voice, tonight was kind of boring. Not sure why she picked this song when there are so many more bluesy country songs she could have done. Honestly, in the words of Simon, this was a forgettable performance for me. Not much to say about it. Ok, Alexis is in talk-back mode too. Is anyone else tired of the “dirty” references?
Danny Gokey – Ok, we all know my devotion to Danny as he is my pick to win it all. However…tonight Danny sacrificed the beginning of the song in order to do his trademark power vocals in the chorus. The start of the song was weak and, although I knew he would kick into high gear in the last half, it made me not enjoy the WHOLE performance. He needs to be careful with this. Yes, his power vocals are his trademark, but he needs to be sure he chooses songs/keys in which he can be strong through the whole song. This might mean not choosing female songs, which he seems to enjoy doing. Anyway, one he hit his stride
Anoop Desai – Anoop Dog did a much better job this week; he wins “Most Improved”. He showed he does have a voice and did a great rendition of the song. The one contestant that I figured as a throw away for this week may have just turned the tide. On top of a good performance, he was center stage with Jorge last week, so if he has a good enough fan base, they will be voting hard for him as well to make sure he is safe. This could provide a deadly combination for someone who might have been expected to last longer.
Megan Joy – My favorite female this season. She is unique AND the girl knows how to pick songs that fit her voice and style. Is she the strongest vocalist, obviously not, but she stands out and brings something different to the competition. Her voice is reminiscent of something you might hear back in the 1940’s. A solid performance from Megan AND on top of having a very serious flu virus! The girl is a champ!
Matt Giraud – Ok, it is on now! Matt is not messing around! Here is an example of a guy taking a female song and changing it so that he can have strong vocals from start to finish. Seriously, this was my overall favorite of the night! It was emotional and moving and fantastic! Kara says there is “nothing small” about Matt…easy Kara you are moving into Paula territory. THANK GOD Simon acknowledged the fact that Matt has been lost in the shadows and deserves much more credit then he has received so far. Matt is slowly but surely making his way to an upset.
So, with the weaker being stronger this week and the stronger not as strong, who will be in the bottom 3 and who will go home? I think this week we will see Michael, Alexis and Megan (only because I’m not sure how strong Megan’s fan base is) in the bottom 3. With the poorest performance and also the deadly 1st spot of the night this week, I think Michael will go home. However, I would not be surprised by an upset of Alexis being sent home. If that happens, will the judges use their “save”? I doubt they would. I know they are saving that for a potential Danny or Lil or Adam surprise appearance in the bottom 3. Last week I was 100% right with my predictions; let’s see how this week goes.
Michael Sarver – We kick it off with the 1 contestant I have been saying I feel is made for country music. Perhaps, I should take that back now though. No, actually it was more about a terrible song choice. I mean, come on, why even do that to yourself? This is THE week to do your absolute best so that you can secure a spot on tour and continue your exposure after the show ends. Picking this Garth song was vocal suicide. He fumbled some words, no real surprise, and just came off cheesy to me. It’s a shame because he has a nice voice. Also, Michael should bite his tongue a little when being critiqued. Too much talking back is never good. I’m so tired of the “I had a lot of fun” comment that we keep hearing from contestants when the judges give them a bad review. Yes, fun is nice, but great singing is what wins the show people.
Allison Iraheta – This girl just does NOT look or sound 16 or 17 to me, which we keep seeing commented about on the show as well. I swear we are going to find out down the road that this girl is actually like 24 years old or something and lied about her age. Either way, she did an ok job and kept true to her style. She is more of a shouter than a singer I think. Her voice reminds me of Miley Cyrus which is helping her because she is current. She doesn’t have much of a range though, so she has to keep it in the pocket when choosing songs. Allison continues the talking back to the judge’s routine like Michael. Hey guess what, she had fun! Ugh.
Kris Allen – I am still amazed every week that this guy, who had no screen time prior to the Semi Finals, made it through to this point. I mean, he has a nice voice, but so did Ricky Braddy (a better singer in my opinion). Just wonder who his fan base is. Ladies, are his looks THAT great? Anywho, tonight was a good night. He kept it simple, the arrangement was great and his voice was right on (minus the one cracked note). Nothing super fantastic, but solid performance.
Lil Rounds – I have been on the fence about Little Lil (LOL…funny Simon moment) and this week makes me lean more towards the fact that she is overrated. She wanted to make it less R&B and “pay tribute to the artist and the genre”…she should NEVER do that again. Her voice was flat and had no life in it. Her power notes were just under the pitch too. In all, it fell short for me. I just am not sure what kind of an artist she would be in the music world. I would not rush out to buy her CD if she made one. I wonder how many people would? Are the producers telling the contestants to talk back tonight?? Why is this happening so much? I hate it. Be quiet Lil. You NEVER interrupt or talk over Simon Cowell!! GEEZ!
Adam Lambert – Could his reel with Randy Travis be anymore awkward? Randy Travis obviously says whatever he thinks with no filter. Anyway, Adam does a country song HIS way. I am glad that he held back vocally and was not over the top. I am always impressed by his vocal abilities. He goes into his upper register (which is phenomenally high) with ease and little effort. Wow. I think he did a good job and owned it. I am sure Johnny Cash is turning over in his grave though. LOL
Scott McIntrye – Seriously, Martina McBride? I am sorry, I know I am a broken record, but I just do not feel Scott is a strong enough vocalist to be on this show. I understand he is endearing to people with his story, but his vocals are subpar. It’s funny, as soon as I saw him at the piano I thought, “is this all we are going to get from him every week”? Then Paula is bold enough to actually say it! I’m sorry but I just don’t like listening to him and I can’t bear watching him with his crazy facial expressions. Anyway, I know he will continue to be around for a while and I just have to suck it up and deal.
Alexis Grace – Oh little Alexis with the big voice, tonight was kind of boring. Not sure why she picked this song when there are so many more bluesy country songs she could have done. Honestly, in the words of Simon, this was a forgettable performance for me. Not much to say about it. Ok, Alexis is in talk-back mode too. Is anyone else tired of the “dirty” references?
Danny Gokey – Ok, we all know my devotion to Danny as he is my pick to win it all. However…tonight Danny sacrificed the beginning of the song in order to do his trademark power vocals in the chorus. The start of the song was weak and, although I knew he would kick into high gear in the last half, it made me not enjoy the WHOLE performance. He needs to be careful with this. Yes, his power vocals are his trademark, but he needs to be sure he chooses songs/keys in which he can be strong through the whole song. This might mean not choosing female songs, which he seems to enjoy doing. Anyway, one he hit his stride
Anoop Desai – Anoop Dog did a much better job this week; he wins “Most Improved”. He showed he does have a voice and did a great rendition of the song. The one contestant that I figured as a throw away for this week may have just turned the tide. On top of a good performance, he was center stage with Jorge last week, so if he has a good enough fan base, they will be voting hard for him as well to make sure he is safe. This could provide a deadly combination for someone who might have been expected to last longer.
Megan Joy – My favorite female this season. She is unique AND the girl knows how to pick songs that fit her voice and style. Is she the strongest vocalist, obviously not, but she stands out and brings something different to the competition. Her voice is reminiscent of something you might hear back in the 1940’s. A solid performance from Megan AND on top of having a very serious flu virus! The girl is a champ!
Matt Giraud – Ok, it is on now! Matt is not messing around! Here is an example of a guy taking a female song and changing it so that he can have strong vocals from start to finish. Seriously, this was my overall favorite of the night! It was emotional and moving and fantastic! Kara says there is “nothing small” about Matt…easy Kara you are moving into Paula territory. THANK GOD Simon acknowledged the fact that Matt has been lost in the shadows and deserves much more credit then he has received so far. Matt is slowly but surely making his way to an upset.
So, with the weaker being stronger this week and the stronger not as strong, who will be in the bottom 3 and who will go home? I think this week we will see Michael, Alexis and Megan (only because I’m not sure how strong Megan’s fan base is) in the bottom 3. With the poorest performance and also the deadly 1st spot of the night this week, I think Michael will go home. However, I would not be surprised by an upset of Alexis being sent home. If that happens, will the judges use their “save”? I doubt they would. I know they are saving that for a potential Danny or Lil or Adam surprise appearance in the bottom 3. Last week I was 100% right with my predictions; let’s see how this week goes.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Final 13: Michael Jackson Songbook
Wow, what a way to kick off the Finals. I admit I was VERY nervous when they announced Michael Jackson was the night’s theme. However, I was pleasantly surprised by everyone overall, except for a couple. I’m also a little nervous about this so called “change to the rules” in regards to elimination nights and the judges that we are going to find out about tonight. Who KNOWS what it could be, but apparently it could “alter the face of the competition”. Are the judges somehow going to take control of who actually gets eliminated? The may follow the format of some of their sister shows like "Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew" or "So You Think You Can Dance". In these shows, America votes but the judges get the final say in who goes home out of the 2 (or 3) least vote getters. Not sure what I think about this. It could be good and it could be bad. The good would be keeping from having a “shocker” elimination like we usually have. The bad is the judges keep someone like Anoop or Jasmine over someone better. Anyway, we will find out tonight I guess. So, the performances…let’s discuss…
Lil Rounds – An okay opener. She did a fair job with her song, however I felt it was way too safe for her. There is not much range in that song and the melody pretty much stays within a few notes range. Did not show off her abilities to me. Of course, the judges pimped her hardcore…that’s getting to be an annoying occurance. I like her, but she is just lacking something. I can’t help but compare her to Fantasia and, to me, she does not measure up in talent or personality or stage presence so I think that is the problem for me.
Scott McIntyre – Ok, I know I sound like a broken record but I do not think his vocals are up to par and I think he is overly praised as some amazing singer by the judges unjustifiably. I just don’t get the whole Scott craze…sorry. Booooring.
Danny Gokey – Attention: It’s officially a bromance for me and Danny. Of course, he has no idea who I am so it’s one-sided, but that’s just a technicality. ANYWAY…his performance was stellar. Seriously, he reminded me why I picked him as my fave from the first moment I saw him. That gritty, powerful growl he does like he did in the chorus of this week’s song, gave me goosebumps…the first time this season. Seriously, can we just crown this guy the winner and be done with it? I agree with Paula…he will SAIL to the finals and, in my opinion, ultimately be named the American Idol of Season 8. That’s right, I’m calling it…I called it back in the initial audition rounds…and what!?!
Michael Sarver – Tonight, Michael showed us that he belongs in the Finals. He has a solid, soulful, rich and controlled voice. He did a good job with his song, although near the end I felt he might have lost the melody a little bit. I still say he should go country, because it would suit him, there is nobody else getting the country vote and it would set him apart from Danny and Matt who already hold the “soulful white boy” image this season. Country fans have also proven to be very dedicated, so it would be a wise move for him to make it he wants to stick around a little longer.
Jasmine Murray – Bleh…no surprise here for me. Jasmine tried to take on “big notes” and she felt flat, literally. She is not a power singer. I find the tone of her voice unpleasant and just don’t really enjoy hearing her sing. I think with more experience and training she could improve on that though. She has the basis to be a good singer, just not yet. I think she is in jeopardy tonight.
Kris Allen – The unknown contestant. Still can’t believe he made it with virtually no exposure prior to the Semi’s. Not really sure what image he is going for…is he country, is he R&B? Confused. He has an ok voice however by the end of the song he was pushing too hard and screeching to hit those notes…which he failed miserably at. I just wanted him to stop trying! Will his looks, which apparently is what got him here, going to be enough to keep him?
Allison Iraheta – I don’t know what it is but this girl just looks A LOT older than she is, and not in a good way. She looks like she has lived a hard life, ya know what I mean? Anyway, I am just not sure what I think of this girl. I am leaning towards, over rated by the judges. She does not have a very good upper register, if at all. Not sure why Kara complimented her on the “soaring high notes” or whatever she said. It was ok, and she has enough personality and individuality to stick around, so she will be fine.
Anoop Desai – KARAOKE!!! It’s the only think I could say during his whole performance. Ugh, awful. He is grasping at a gimmick to maintain his stay on the show. He thinks people like him for the whole “My Perogative” bad-boy song type of thing…NOT WORKING!! I was totally annoyed with his cocky attitude and face at the end of his performance too, like “Yea, that’s what’s up, I just rocked it out”…Um, NO, Annop, you did NOT rock it. THANK YOU JUDGES FOR AGREEING WITH ME….KARAOKE!! Sadly, his fanbase will go into high gear and keep him safe since he was bashed by the judges. Blerg!
Jorge Nunez – Yes, this guy can sing but I cannot watch him while he does. His facial expressions drive me bonkers. Was surprised how poorly the judges responded to him. Anyway, I think he is in danger, unless Puerto Rico bands together and all votes to keep him (a la Jasmine Trias and the Phillipines in Season 3). We shall see.
Megan Corkrey – Love this girl. No, she does not have the strongest vocals, BUT she plays to her strengths and makes wise choices with her songs. ROckin’ Robin…could not have picked a better one for her voice and style. She is cute and I do not find her schtick annoying (at least not yet) like others apparently do. The "caw-caw" at the end was GREAT!! LOL Whatever, she is cute but she might be in danger.
Adam Lambert – The kid can whale! He has pipes! He has stage presence! However, he overdid it a little bit this week. I love his range and his ability to go all over it with no effort but this was a little much in the upper register and not always so flattering to the ear. Whatever, he is a star and will be completely safe for now.
Matt Giraud – Much better from Matt. He is back in his comfort zone and it showed. I love his Timberlake vibe. He is unique in this competition which helps him stand out. He will be fine.
Alexis Grace – Wow, oversing much? They gave her the “pimp spot” and I think she let it get to her head just a wee bit. Overall she did ok, but many spots were forced and fell short of being on pitch. Not a good song choice for her because there were too many lyrics to fit in to her soulful style. Made her seem out of breath and behind the beat at times. She will be safe though without a doubt.
So who will be in the bottom? I predict Jasmine, Jorge and Kris. If there is a 4th person (since 2 are going home this week), I think Megan will be there, but will ultimately be safe. Again, we have no idea what the big change will be for the elmination shows, so it may be hard to predict who will actually go home. However, I am going to say Jasmine and Jorge will be the first disowned from the Idol family. We shall see!
Lil Rounds – An okay opener. She did a fair job with her song, however I felt it was way too safe for her. There is not much range in that song and the melody pretty much stays within a few notes range. Did not show off her abilities to me. Of course, the judges pimped her hardcore…that’s getting to be an annoying occurance. I like her, but she is just lacking something. I can’t help but compare her to Fantasia and, to me, she does not measure up in talent or personality or stage presence so I think that is the problem for me.
Scott McIntyre – Ok, I know I sound like a broken record but I do not think his vocals are up to par and I think he is overly praised as some amazing singer by the judges unjustifiably. I just don’t get the whole Scott craze…sorry. Booooring.
Danny Gokey – Attention: It’s officially a bromance for me and Danny. Of course, he has no idea who I am so it’s one-sided, but that’s just a technicality. ANYWAY…his performance was stellar. Seriously, he reminded me why I picked him as my fave from the first moment I saw him. That gritty, powerful growl he does like he did in the chorus of this week’s song, gave me goosebumps…the first time this season. Seriously, can we just crown this guy the winner and be done with it? I agree with Paula…he will SAIL to the finals and, in my opinion, ultimately be named the American Idol of Season 8. That’s right, I’m calling it…I called it back in the initial audition rounds…and what!?!
Michael Sarver – Tonight, Michael showed us that he belongs in the Finals. He has a solid, soulful, rich and controlled voice. He did a good job with his song, although near the end I felt he might have lost the melody a little bit. I still say he should go country, because it would suit him, there is nobody else getting the country vote and it would set him apart from Danny and Matt who already hold the “soulful white boy” image this season. Country fans have also proven to be very dedicated, so it would be a wise move for him to make it he wants to stick around a little longer.
Jasmine Murray – Bleh…no surprise here for me. Jasmine tried to take on “big notes” and she felt flat, literally. She is not a power singer. I find the tone of her voice unpleasant and just don’t really enjoy hearing her sing. I think with more experience and training she could improve on that though. She has the basis to be a good singer, just not yet. I think she is in jeopardy tonight.
Kris Allen – The unknown contestant. Still can’t believe he made it with virtually no exposure prior to the Semi’s. Not really sure what image he is going for…is he country, is he R&B? Confused. He has an ok voice however by the end of the song he was pushing too hard and screeching to hit those notes…which he failed miserably at. I just wanted him to stop trying! Will his looks, which apparently is what got him here, going to be enough to keep him?
Allison Iraheta – I don’t know what it is but this girl just looks A LOT older than she is, and not in a good way. She looks like she has lived a hard life, ya know what I mean? Anyway, I am just not sure what I think of this girl. I am leaning towards, over rated by the judges. She does not have a very good upper register, if at all. Not sure why Kara complimented her on the “soaring high notes” or whatever she said. It was ok, and she has enough personality and individuality to stick around, so she will be fine.
Anoop Desai – KARAOKE!!! It’s the only think I could say during his whole performance. Ugh, awful. He is grasping at a gimmick to maintain his stay on the show. He thinks people like him for the whole “My Perogative” bad-boy song type of thing…NOT WORKING!! I was totally annoyed with his cocky attitude and face at the end of his performance too, like “Yea, that’s what’s up, I just rocked it out”…Um, NO, Annop, you did NOT rock it. THANK YOU JUDGES FOR AGREEING WITH ME….KARAOKE!! Sadly, his fanbase will go into high gear and keep him safe since he was bashed by the judges. Blerg!
Jorge Nunez – Yes, this guy can sing but I cannot watch him while he does. His facial expressions drive me bonkers. Was surprised how poorly the judges responded to him. Anyway, I think he is in danger, unless Puerto Rico bands together and all votes to keep him (a la Jasmine Trias and the Phillipines in Season 3). We shall see.
Megan Corkrey – Love this girl. No, she does not have the strongest vocals, BUT she plays to her strengths and makes wise choices with her songs. ROckin’ Robin…could not have picked a better one for her voice and style. She is cute and I do not find her schtick annoying (at least not yet) like others apparently do. The "caw-caw" at the end was GREAT!! LOL Whatever, she is cute but she might be in danger.
Adam Lambert – The kid can whale! He has pipes! He has stage presence! However, he overdid it a little bit this week. I love his range and his ability to go all over it with no effort but this was a little much in the upper register and not always so flattering to the ear. Whatever, he is a star and will be completely safe for now.
Matt Giraud – Much better from Matt. He is back in his comfort zone and it showed. I love his Timberlake vibe. He is unique in this competition which helps him stand out. He will be fine.
Alexis Grace – Wow, oversing much? They gave her the “pimp spot” and I think she let it get to her head just a wee bit. Overall she did ok, but many spots were forced and fell short of being on pitch. Not a good song choice for her because there were too many lyrics to fit in to her soulful style. Made her seem out of breath and behind the beat at times. She will be safe though without a doubt.
So who will be in the bottom? I predict Jasmine, Jorge and Kris. If there is a 4th person (since 2 are going home this week), I think Megan will be there, but will ultimately be safe. Again, we have no idea what the big change will be for the elmination shows, so it may be hard to predict who will actually go home. However, I am going to say Jasmine and Jorge will be the first disowned from the Idol family. We shall see!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Group 3 & Wild Card Choices: Pimpin' Ain't Easy...or is it?
Ok, so I am a little behind in my blogging. I apologize to those readers who have been asking where my blog was for this week. Here is the long and short of what my thoughts were about this week...
I predicted Lil and Scott to be the top vote getters. I figured 3rd place would be Ju'Not or Jorge. I think these 4 contestants have been and were shamelessly pimped by the judges. They practically have shoved Scott down our throats despite the fact that he is not at all a strong enough singer to be in this competition. Along with this pimping, his backstory made him a shoo-in from day 1 to make the final 12. BLEH!
Yes, Lil Rounds is a good singer, but I do not think she is AMAZING as the judges have pushed us to believe. The more I see her, the less impressed I am. I don't think she has that special something to be the next idol...there is a lacking of originality I guess. She has been promoted since the beginning and then was put in a group almost all the other females were bland; except Felicia! Honestly, I felt Felicia Barton was the stand out this week, but she did not make it through AND the judges did not give her another shot for Wild Card...SUCKY!!
Jorge is almost as gimmicky as Tatianna, sorry to say people. I mean, yes he technically has a nice voice; but what is up with the weird scrunchy facial expressions. Yikes. Then, the judges pressed and pressed and gave him some great, emotional airtime in order to convince America to put him through. Let's be honest, had he been in any other group he would not have made it through to the Final 12. Contestant placement is EVERYTHING on this show.
So, alas we have 3 more voted in and now it is up to the judges. I am not shocked at all about some of their choices for wild card...not even by Tatianna. Come on, one last chance to milk her drama for all it is worth! Let's hope they don't continue this into the Final 12! I was saying names of the choices before the judges even announced them...that's how predictable this was. Again, very disappointed not to see Felicia get a second shot with the wild card. But still happy with some of their picks.
Of the Wild Card choices I am rooting for Matt, Ricky and Megan to make it to the Final 12. However, this is the judges chance to even out the gender ratios. America has clearly spoken and said that the male talent this year FAR outshines the females (6 out of 9 voted through are males). So, will the judges pick based on gender or talent? Let's hope they let talent be the deciding factor and realize that we do not HAVE to have an even number of male and female contestants. Predictable choices the judges could make tonight would be Jasmine Murray (bleh), Anoop Desai (bleh) or Tatianna Del Torro (pure entertainment). I hope my faves are the ones the judges pick! We will see what the judges decide tonight!
I predicted Lil and Scott to be the top vote getters. I figured 3rd place would be Ju'Not or Jorge. I think these 4 contestants have been and were shamelessly pimped by the judges. They practically have shoved Scott down our throats despite the fact that he is not at all a strong enough singer to be in this competition. Along with this pimping, his backstory made him a shoo-in from day 1 to make the final 12. BLEH!
Yes, Lil Rounds is a good singer, but I do not think she is AMAZING as the judges have pushed us to believe. The more I see her, the less impressed I am. I don't think she has that special something to be the next idol...there is a lacking of originality I guess. She has been promoted since the beginning and then was put in a group almost all the other females were bland; except Felicia! Honestly, I felt Felicia Barton was the stand out this week, but she did not make it through AND the judges did not give her another shot for Wild Card...SUCKY!!
Jorge is almost as gimmicky as Tatianna, sorry to say people. I mean, yes he technically has a nice voice; but what is up with the weird scrunchy facial expressions. Yikes. Then, the judges pressed and pressed and gave him some great, emotional airtime in order to convince America to put him through. Let's be honest, had he been in any other group he would not have made it through to the Final 12. Contestant placement is EVERYTHING on this show.
So, alas we have 3 more voted in and now it is up to the judges. I am not shocked at all about some of their choices for wild card...not even by Tatianna. Come on, one last chance to milk her drama for all it is worth! Let's hope they don't continue this into the Final 12! I was saying names of the choices before the judges even announced them...that's how predictable this was. Again, very disappointed not to see Felicia get a second shot with the wild card. But still happy with some of their picks.
Of the Wild Card choices I am rooting for Matt, Ricky and Megan to make it to the Final 12. However, this is the judges chance to even out the gender ratios. America has clearly spoken and said that the male talent this year FAR outshines the females (6 out of 9 voted through are males). So, will the judges pick based on gender or talent? Let's hope they let talent be the deciding factor and realize that we do not HAVE to have an even number of male and female contestants. Predictable choices the judges could make tonight would be Jasmine Murray (bleh), Anoop Desai (bleh) or Tatianna Del Torro (pure entertainment). I hope my faves are the ones the judges pick! We will see what the judges decide tonight!
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