Elton John songs are sung every season but I don't remember Elton being done as an actual theme in the past handful of seasons. There are lots of great songs so it is definitely sure to please. I don't mean to beat a dead horse but I am still waiting on the new and inventive themes that we were promised. On with the show...
Scotty - "Country Comfort": Scotty is a mess and I mean that in the best possible way! :) That boy knows exactly what he is doing. He hits all the right notes and gestures each week to keep the girls voting and to keep all of us in the fan club. I loved it.
Naima - "I'm Still Standing": Naima definitely made this her own and managed to do so while hitting all the notes. I agree with the judges in that I am not completely sold with this as a reggae song but she did a much better job with this than she would have done if she had sung it as written.
Paul - "Rocket Man": Okay, Paul, I will admit that this is a hard sell for you since this is one of my favorite Elton songs. Unfortunately, I just didn't enjoy it. It was just not consistent and actually too soft in places. Paul mentioned that doing this song was disastrous for him 5 years ago and I don't think that it got any better.
Pia - "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me": This was a little more lively than what Pia has done in the past. She gave a solid vocal performance but I found myself remembering the performance of this song from season 2 and wishing that I was watching that instead.
Stefano - "Tiny Dancer": Another of my favorite songs. Stefano redeemed himself a little from last week. There is still something odd in his phrasing but his singing was much improved.
Lauren - "Candle in the Wind": I was dreading someone picking this song and I was worried when she said this was what she was going to sing. I shouldn't have worried. I thought she nailed this one. I loved the country tone to the song.
James - "Saturday Night's All Right": I really liked this up until the screaming at the end. James always seems so relaxed on stage. It is just like he is putting on a concert for us each week and I don't know that any Idol has ever set a piano on fire. I loved the "Pepsi moment".
Thia - "Daniel": I don't want to beat the poor girl up. It may be her age but she is just not as polished as everyone else. I am actually hoping that she is one of the contestants that is sent home this week.
Casey - "Your Song": Casey did a really good job this week. He reminded us why he was saved last week. He is a lovable cut up that can actually sing. I hope that people get out the vote for him this week so that the judges' save was not in vain.
Jacob - "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word": I enjoyed the first half of the song but I thought the second half lived up to what Jimmy Iovine said could be his downfall which is that it went too over the top. Jacob has a wonderful voice and he doesn't need to beat us over the head with it.
Haley - "Bennie and the Jets": I don't think this was the right song for Haley. I really didn't like it but the judges did not agree with me. Only the votes will tell so I guess we will find out tomorrow night if I am right or if the judges are.
The Best
Scotty, Lauren and Casey
The Worst
Thia, Paul and Haley
Going Home... Thia and Haley, I think.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Season 10: Top 11 - Motown
The executive producers of Idol spent the off season telling us that they were completely revamping the show. Not only would there be a new judging panel but they were going to mix up the themes as well. I give them a pass on the "Songs from the year they were born" theme because each year the contestants get younger and that lends itself to changing up the songs and bringing something new to the mix. Motown is a different story. I like songs from this era but forcing kids to sing something that was popular when their grandparents were in high school, does not bring anything new and exciting. This is the one thing that has been holding back what has, to this point, been one of the better Idol seasons of all time. Maybe they should let Jimmy Iovine pick the themes or instead of picking a genre of music use something like mood or a more general theme (solo female singers, girl groups, boy groups, etc) to give the contestants a chance to really pick something that will highlight "what kind of performer that they want to be". I am not 100% sure what the answer is but something has got to give. On another note, letting the contestants work with the performers to tweak the songs each week has really had a positive effect on the show each week (or there is just more talent this season than in seasons past). There don't seem to be nearly as many bad performances as we would usually see each week in previous seasons.
Casey - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine": Casey tried to change it up and make it his own. There were a couple of bad notes but it was good overall. I do, however, prefer his hair in its natural wild state to the moussed smoothed down version that he was sporting tonight.
Thia - "Heatwave": Her voice is just not that strong and there were lots of times that she seemed to get buried by the music. She definitely flubbed the words at least once. I thought that it was very pageant-like. One of the weaker performances of the night.
Jacob - "You're All I Need": Jacob took Jimmy's advice and trained to reign in a little of the church tonight. It worked much better for me. He did a really good job on this one without taking it over the top. Much, much better than last week.
Lauren - "You Keep Me Hanging On": Another strong week for Lauren. She nailed the song and made it look easy while doing it. She should definitely be safe.
Stefano - "Hello": I usually like Stefano but he started off by saying that he had never heard of the song before which I kind of have a hard time believing since it has been done on the show before (very well by Cookie). Maybe I am just old and out of touch with the youth of today. This was a mis-step for him. I did not like his phrasing on the song and thought that he pronounced some of the words oddly in order to make them fit with what he was trying to do. He should get a chance to redeem himself next week based on his previous performances and the fact that only young girls are voting so the girls will have to go first.
Haley - "You Really Got A Hold On Me": It started rough and never really completely got on track. She pulled it together in the middle but then she put in way too much of the growling. I don't know that this was enough to save her from the fate that millions of little girls have in store for her this week.
Scotty - "For Once In My Life": I was worried about Scotty when I saw the theme but he surprised me. I shouldn't have been worried. He showed a broader range this week by hitting higher notes that I wasn't sure he was capable of and keeping in those deep notes that he is known for. I really think that he has a future in country music.
Pia - "All In Love is Fair": Another beautiful ballad by Pia. She has a wonderful voice and certainly looks the part but, yet again, I just don't feel a connection from her when she sings.
Paul - "Tracks of My Tears": Paul is much better with his guitar. This was my favorite performance from him since the actual competition started. He definitely needs the guitar to make him more comfortable and control the chicken foot. :)
Naima - "Dancing in the Street": This is not a difficult song to sing but Naima sang better on this song than she has in weeks. I was worried about her longevity but the producers helped her find a way to incorporate the dancing with her singing and yet keep her from hitting those wonky notes. She put together a complete performance and proved that, despite a couple of rough weeks, she should still be here.
James - "Living for the City": James has such a strong presence on stage during his performances. He makes it look effortless. I am still not a huge fan of the high notes, but James seems to have a talent for only using them where they make sense which Adam Lambert was never able to do. He should be a solid contender.
The Best
Jacob, Lauren, Scotty and Pia
The Worst
Thia, Stefano and Haley
Going Home
Based on the fact that she has been living in the bottom three -- Haley. I would prefer it if Thia would go, though.
Casey - "I Heard It Through The Grapevine": Casey tried to change it up and make it his own. There were a couple of bad notes but it was good overall. I do, however, prefer his hair in its natural wild state to the moussed smoothed down version that he was sporting tonight.
Thia - "Heatwave": Her voice is just not that strong and there were lots of times that she seemed to get buried by the music. She definitely flubbed the words at least once. I thought that it was very pageant-like. One of the weaker performances of the night.
Jacob - "You're All I Need": Jacob took Jimmy's advice and trained to reign in a little of the church tonight. It worked much better for me. He did a really good job on this one without taking it over the top. Much, much better than last week.
Lauren - "You Keep Me Hanging On": Another strong week for Lauren. She nailed the song and made it look easy while doing it. She should definitely be safe.
Stefano - "Hello": I usually like Stefano but he started off by saying that he had never heard of the song before which I kind of have a hard time believing since it has been done on the show before (very well by Cookie). Maybe I am just old and out of touch with the youth of today. This was a mis-step for him. I did not like his phrasing on the song and thought that he pronounced some of the words oddly in order to make them fit with what he was trying to do. He should get a chance to redeem himself next week based on his previous performances and the fact that only young girls are voting so the girls will have to go first.
Haley - "You Really Got A Hold On Me": It started rough and never really completely got on track. She pulled it together in the middle but then she put in way too much of the growling. I don't know that this was enough to save her from the fate that millions of little girls have in store for her this week.
Scotty - "For Once In My Life": I was worried about Scotty when I saw the theme but he surprised me. I shouldn't have been worried. He showed a broader range this week by hitting higher notes that I wasn't sure he was capable of and keeping in those deep notes that he is known for. I really think that he has a future in country music.
Pia - "All In Love is Fair": Another beautiful ballad by Pia. She has a wonderful voice and certainly looks the part but, yet again, I just don't feel a connection from her when she sings.
Paul - "Tracks of My Tears": Paul is much better with his guitar. This was my favorite performance from him since the actual competition started. He definitely needs the guitar to make him more comfortable and control the chicken foot. :)
Naima - "Dancing in the Street": This is not a difficult song to sing but Naima sang better on this song than she has in weeks. I was worried about her longevity but the producers helped her find a way to incorporate the dancing with her singing and yet keep her from hitting those wonky notes. She put together a complete performance and proved that, despite a couple of rough weeks, she should still be here.
James - "Living for the City": James has such a strong presence on stage during his performances. He makes it look effortless. I am still not a huge fan of the high notes, but James seems to have a talent for only using them where they make sense which Adam Lambert was never able to do. He should be a solid contender.
The Best
Jacob, Lauren, Scotty and Pia
The Worst
Thia, Stefano and Haley
Going Home
Based on the fact that she has been living in the bottom three -- Haley. I would prefer it if Thia would go, though.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Season 10 - Top 12: Songs from the year they were born
This is the theme that I have started to dread because with each passing year more and more of the contestants were born after I graduated high school. That is just depressing people... and not something that I want to dwell on. Idol continued to bring things that we haven't seen in previous seasons which I applaud. However, they need to make sure that they aren't over producing some of the contestants right off the show, as well.
Naima - 1984 - "What;s Love Got To Do With It?": Naima attempted to bring Tina's hit into 2011 and I think it would have worked if the singing had been better. Unfortunately, it wasn't and I didn't enjoy it. I am glad that the judges finally called her out on the pitch issues. I do want to give her props for not starting her performance with that little dance move that she has used for the past two weeks though. I was starting to think that she couldn't start a performance without it. I really liked Naima during the audition rounds be seems to have lost her spark since the competition part of the show kicked into high gear. Hopefully she can get it back.
Paul - 1984 - "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues": I need Paul to stop addressing the crowd right before he starts singing. Not only is it annoying but it seems to throw him off because the first half of all his performances are generally not very good. I could use less chicken foot as well. Maybe if he cuts out both things then his singing will improve greatly. I have definitely heard him do better during the audition rounds. If he makes it through he should try sitting on a stool next week.
Thia - 1995 - "Colors of the Wind": The theme from a sub par Disney movie, Thia? Really? There had to be a better song than this from 1995 though, as has already been discussed, I am too old and forgetful to name one right now. The singing was okay but it was not very lively and I could...not...wait...for it to end.
James - 1989 - "I'll Be There For You": James was right and this was a really good time in music. Though I may be biased because this was when I was in my prime and rocking Garinger High School. ;) James brought out the big guns with Bon Jovi. There were some notes that were off which is the first time that he has done that. He does a really good job of putting enough of himself into each song to make it his own. I am still not sold on him personally but I definitely think that he has possibilities as an Idol.
Haley - 1990 - "I'm Your Baby, Tonight": Again, I think poor song selection was to blame for a strange almost desperate vocal performance. There had to be a better song than this from 1990 sung by someone other than Whitney. She was all over the place literally and figuratively. The "red lipstick massacre" did provide a little comic relief to liven up the end of the performance.
Stefano - 1989 - "If You Don't Know Me By Now": Too many runs. I usually like Stefano but this was just okay for me. The judges obviously think differently. He made light of Milli Vanilli in his taped piece and they have an infamous place in music history but I think I would have preferred to hear him sing them, though I would have wanted "Blame it on the Rain" over "Girl, You know it's True".
Pia - 1988 - "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?": When I heard that this is what Pia was going to sing my first thought was "here we go again with ballad number...". Once she started singing and I got to hear Whitney - The Remix, I was begging for the standard ballad. This was proof that despite what the "awesome" "super-talented" producers of this season think you can't make every song better by playing a dance track behind it.
Scotty - 1993 - "Can I Trust You With My Heart?": Go Scotty! I am so glad that Scotty is sticking with what he does best and not letting them change him and steer him away from country music. I am not going to say that this was a really difficult song to sing but he nailed it with no bad notes which is the first time that happened tonight.
Karen - 1989 - "Love Will Lead You Back": Karen seems to really want to be a diva that can belt out the big notes but she just doesn't have a strong enough voice for that. She also seems to be raiding JLo's closet and she was really channeling her again tonight. There were less wonky notes so she showed improvement but I am not sure that Karen knows what kind of singer she wants be yet.
Casey - 1991 - "Smells Like Teen Spirit": Casey is the freaking man! He is completely NOT AFRAID. I agree with JLo that he was screaming some of the notes, however, I distinctly remember Kurt doing that as well. That was kind of the point of song though I am sure that Jennifer was not a Nirvana fan no matter how much she wants us to believe that she was.
Lauren Alaina - 1994 - "I'm The Only One": Lauren used the sexy flem that her bout with the flu provided to knock this one out of the park. Definitely one of the best of the night. I also want to mention that her Dad seems like an awesome man and father...and he made me cry. ;)
Jacob - 1987 - "Alone": Jacob has a really good voice and the beginning and end were good but the middle had a little too much "lusky stank" on it for me.
The Best
Casey, Scotty and Lauren
The Worst
Naima, Paul and Haley
Naima - 1984 - "What;s Love Got To Do With It?": Naima attempted to bring Tina's hit into 2011 and I think it would have worked if the singing had been better. Unfortunately, it wasn't and I didn't enjoy it. I am glad that the judges finally called her out on the pitch issues. I do want to give her props for not starting her performance with that little dance move that she has used for the past two weeks though. I was starting to think that she couldn't start a performance without it. I really liked Naima during the audition rounds be seems to have lost her spark since the competition part of the show kicked into high gear. Hopefully she can get it back.
Paul - 1984 - "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues": I need Paul to stop addressing the crowd right before he starts singing. Not only is it annoying but it seems to throw him off because the first half of all his performances are generally not very good. I could use less chicken foot as well. Maybe if he cuts out both things then his singing will improve greatly. I have definitely heard him do better during the audition rounds. If he makes it through he should try sitting on a stool next week.
Thia - 1995 - "Colors of the Wind": The theme from a sub par Disney movie, Thia? Really? There had to be a better song than this from 1995 though, as has already been discussed, I am too old and forgetful to name one right now. The singing was okay but it was not very lively and I could...not...wait...for it to end.
James - 1989 - "I'll Be There For You": James was right and this was a really good time in music. Though I may be biased because this was when I was in my prime and rocking Garinger High School. ;) James brought out the big guns with Bon Jovi. There were some notes that were off which is the first time that he has done that. He does a really good job of putting enough of himself into each song to make it his own. I am still not sold on him personally but I definitely think that he has possibilities as an Idol.
Haley - 1990 - "I'm Your Baby, Tonight": Again, I think poor song selection was to blame for a strange almost desperate vocal performance. There had to be a better song than this from 1990 sung by someone other than Whitney. She was all over the place literally and figuratively. The "red lipstick massacre" did provide a little comic relief to liven up the end of the performance.
Stefano - 1989 - "If You Don't Know Me By Now": Too many runs. I usually like Stefano but this was just okay for me. The judges obviously think differently. He made light of Milli Vanilli in his taped piece and they have an infamous place in music history but I think I would have preferred to hear him sing them, though I would have wanted "Blame it on the Rain" over "Girl, You know it's True".
Pia - 1988 - "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?": When I heard that this is what Pia was going to sing my first thought was "here we go again with ballad number...". Once she started singing and I got to hear Whitney - The Remix, I was begging for the standard ballad. This was proof that despite what the "awesome" "super-talented" producers of this season think you can't make every song better by playing a dance track behind it.
Scotty - 1993 - "Can I Trust You With My Heart?": Go Scotty! I am so glad that Scotty is sticking with what he does best and not letting them change him and steer him away from country music. I am not going to say that this was a really difficult song to sing but he nailed it with no bad notes which is the first time that happened tonight.
Karen - 1989 - "Love Will Lead You Back": Karen seems to really want to be a diva that can belt out the big notes but she just doesn't have a strong enough voice for that. She also seems to be raiding JLo's closet and she was really channeling her again tonight. There were less wonky notes so she showed improvement but I am not sure that Karen knows what kind of singer she wants be yet.
Casey - 1991 - "Smells Like Teen Spirit": Casey is the freaking man! He is completely NOT AFRAID. I agree with JLo that he was screaming some of the notes, however, I distinctly remember Kurt doing that as well. That was kind of the point of song though I am sure that Jennifer was not a Nirvana fan no matter how much she wants us to believe that she was.
Lauren Alaina - 1994 - "I'm The Only One": Lauren used the sexy flem that her bout with the flu provided to knock this one out of the park. Definitely one of the best of the night. I also want to mention that her Dad seems like an awesome man and father...and he made me cry. ;)
Jacob - 1987 - "Alone": Jacob has a really good voice and the beginning and end were good but the middle had a little too much "lusky stank" on it for me.
The Best
Casey, Scotty and Lauren
The Worst
Naima, Paul and Haley
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Season 10: Top 13 - "Songs From Their Idols"
The first week of what I consider to be the real competition was a little drowsy due to song selection but it didn't seem like there were quite as many train wrecks as in previous years so we are off to a solid start. Life without Simon has continued to be refreshing and I wanted to note a couple of improvements that I have seen so far. They have yet to say that anyone sounded like they should be performing on a cruise ship and the judges are actually watching the contestants sing during their performance. What a change!
Lauren Alaina -- "Any Man of Mine": I am not sure if it was the song or the fact that she went first but it was a little boring and she seemed uncomfortable. I agreed with the judges that it was a little lacking and that her voice is much stronger than this kind of song. Lauren, honey, we are glad you had fun and all but the purpose of the show is to entertain the audience and you fell short this week.
Casey Abrams -- "With a Little Help from my Friends": Casey is lovingly odd. He found a lot more passion than Lauren. I don't know that he actually brought anything new to the song but it was good and I like him.
Ashthon Jones -- "When You Tell Me That You Love Me": Ashthon is a really pretty girl but her floaty arm movements grate on my nerves. The singing was okay but it definitely didn't blow me away. "Hey" Ashthon, we know who you are so stop greeting us at the end of each phrase in the song. It is annoying. Stop it immediately.
Paul McDonald -- "Come Pick Me Up": This is not an Idol-type song and I thought it was a horrible mess. It had no life to it at all. I was bored and uncomfortable. I am not really a fan of Ryan Adams music and this did not make me wish to give him another chance or steal his records. I have like Paul through the earlier rounds so I hope that he will make it through but this might have been the end for him.
Pia Toscano -- "All By Myself": Technically the singing is really good but for some reason I just have a disconnect from her. She looks and sounds the part but there is just something missing.
James Durbin -- "Maybe I'm Amazed": As much as I don't care for his personality, James has delivered two weeks in a row. I don't care for the primal screams (you all know how I feel about Screech) but he held it to the parts of the song where it made sense so I actually liked it.
Haley Reinhart -- "Blue": This was the best that Haley has done in the competition so far. I am not going to say that it was terribly exciting but then it fit the ballad theme that everyone seems to be going for tonight.
Jacob Lusk -- "I Believe I Can Fly": Jacob should have left R Kelly at home because he definitely hasn't been good enough to go to church. Hello people! Jacob has one of the best voices so he will hopefully be able to get enough votes to make it through to next week.
Thia Megia -- "Smile": Thia has a pretty voice but she let the producers lead her astray with the poppy beat near the middle of the song. It was much better in the beginning.
Stefano Langone -- "Lately": Stefano brought much needed life to the show after all the ballads. I actually enjoyed the peppy redo. Not the beautiful singing that Stefano displayed during the wild card but it was good.
Karen Rodriguez -- "I Could Fall In Love": Karen mentioned in the taped piece that she was going to add a Beyonce flair to the song but it seemed like a straightforward karaoke version to me. Not a fan.
Scotty McCreery -- "The River": Scotty certainly knows his wheelhouse. He was a little drowned out by the music at the beginning but he pulled it together. He doesn't have a wide range but as long as he can keep picking strong country songs he should go far. Babylockthemdoors knows his skill set. ;)
Naima Adedapo -- "Umbrella": I will give Naima credit for trying to make it her own but she should have took a lesson from Ta-Tynisha last week and just left Rihanna alone. Bad dancing, mediocre singing and reggae? I didn't get it.
Top 3
Casey, James and Haley
Bottom 3
Karen, Naima and Paul. I hope either Karen or Naima go home.
DialIdol Results
DialIdol hasn't had a chance to post any results yet. Check out their site if you are interested in seeing who they think is safe at www.dialidol.com.
We are going to be subjected to a performance by Adam Freaking Lambert for the results show which I am not looking forward to. To make up for it, David Cook, my favorite word nerd, is singing the going home song this year with his remake of "Don't You (Forget About Me)". At least I have one thing to look forward to while waiting an hour to see who is going home.
Lauren Alaina -- "Any Man of Mine": I am not sure if it was the song or the fact that she went first but it was a little boring and she seemed uncomfortable. I agreed with the judges that it was a little lacking and that her voice is much stronger than this kind of song. Lauren, honey, we are glad you had fun and all but the purpose of the show is to entertain the audience and you fell short this week.
Casey Abrams -- "With a Little Help from my Friends": Casey is lovingly odd. He found a lot more passion than Lauren. I don't know that he actually brought anything new to the song but it was good and I like him.
Ashthon Jones -- "When You Tell Me That You Love Me": Ashthon is a really pretty girl but her floaty arm movements grate on my nerves. The singing was okay but it definitely didn't blow me away. "Hey" Ashthon, we know who you are so stop greeting us at the end of each phrase in the song. It is annoying. Stop it immediately.
Paul McDonald -- "Come Pick Me Up": This is not an Idol-type song and I thought it was a horrible mess. It had no life to it at all. I was bored and uncomfortable. I am not really a fan of Ryan Adams music and this did not make me wish to give him another chance or steal his records. I have like Paul through the earlier rounds so I hope that he will make it through but this might have been the end for him.
Pia Toscano -- "All By Myself": Technically the singing is really good but for some reason I just have a disconnect from her. She looks and sounds the part but there is just something missing.
James Durbin -- "Maybe I'm Amazed": As much as I don't care for his personality, James has delivered two weeks in a row. I don't care for the primal screams (you all know how I feel about Screech) but he held it to the parts of the song where it made sense so I actually liked it.
Haley Reinhart -- "Blue": This was the best that Haley has done in the competition so far. I am not going to say that it was terribly exciting but then it fit the ballad theme that everyone seems to be going for tonight.
Jacob Lusk -- "I Believe I Can Fly": Jacob should have left R Kelly at home because he definitely hasn't been good enough to go to church. Hello people! Jacob has one of the best voices so he will hopefully be able to get enough votes to make it through to next week.
Thia Megia -- "Smile": Thia has a pretty voice but she let the producers lead her astray with the poppy beat near the middle of the song. It was much better in the beginning.
Stefano Langone -- "Lately": Stefano brought much needed life to the show after all the ballads. I actually enjoyed the peppy redo. Not the beautiful singing that Stefano displayed during the wild card but it was good.
Karen Rodriguez -- "I Could Fall In Love": Karen mentioned in the taped piece that she was going to add a Beyonce flair to the song but it seemed like a straightforward karaoke version to me. Not a fan.
Scotty McCreery -- "The River": Scotty certainly knows his wheelhouse. He was a little drowned out by the music at the beginning but he pulled it together. He doesn't have a wide range but as long as he can keep picking strong country songs he should go far. Babylockthemdoors knows his skill set. ;)
Naima Adedapo -- "Umbrella": I will give Naima credit for trying to make it her own but she should have took a lesson from Ta-Tynisha last week and just left Rihanna alone. Bad dancing, mediocre singing and reggae? I didn't get it.
Top 3
Casey, James and Haley
Bottom 3
Karen, Naima and Paul. I hope either Karen or Naima go home.
DialIdol Results
DialIdol hasn't had a chance to post any results yet. Check out their site if you are interested in seeing who they think is safe at www.dialidol.com.
We are going to be subjected to a performance by Adam Freaking Lambert for the results show which I am not looking forward to. To make up for it, David Cook, my favorite word nerd, is singing the going home song this year with his remake of "Don't You (Forget About Me)". At least I have one thing to look forward to while waiting an hour to see who is going home.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Season 10: Top 12 Girls
Ta-Tynisa Wilson: "Only Girl In The World" -- I missed this performance since I was late getting home from work but based on what I saw during the recap that was a really good thing. Rihanna she is not.
Naima Adedapo: "Summertime" -- This was completely different from the Fantasia version which is smart because that wouldn't have worked. I have liked Naima since the early rounds and hope that she makes it through.
Kendra Chantelle: "Impossible" -- The song was a little boring but she sang it really well. Will she stand out enough to get to the next round?
Rachel Zevita: "Criminal" -- This was unrecognizable from the Fiona Apple version in a really, really bad way. She made this too much of her own. She should definitely not make it through to the next round.
Karen Rodriguez: "Hero" -- I liked her better in the earlier rounds. Something about her performance tonight rubbed me wrong. It was a decent vocal but I didn't like how she kept switching from English to Spanish. I preferred the Spanish parts of the song since it made it seem like less of a Mariah song.
Lauren Turner: "Seven Day Fool" -- I don't know that I love this song but she has a really powerful bluesy voice that should get her to the next round.
Ashthon Jones: "Love All Over Me" -- Ashthon has the strongest stage presence of any of the female contestants. Again, I don't know if I am a fan of the song but she gave a strong vocal performance.
Julie Zorrilla: "Breakaway" -- Can you say disaster? I really liked Julie in the earlier rounds but this was a mess. I don't see any way that she can make it through after this. Leave Kelly Clarkson alone people! You will always pale in comparison!
Haley Reinhart: "Fallin'" -- She growled her way through Alicia Keys like she was really believing it. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anywhere near the best either.
Thia Megia: "Out Here On My Own" -- This was the first time that I have heard Thia sing well. It was perfectly sung. Based on this performance she should probably make it through but I don't know that she has shown us enough to prove her spot if you take all of her performances into consideration.
Lauren Alaina: "On The Radio" -- This is not a difficult song to sing but she did a solid job with it. The thing that bothers me about Lauren is that I always get the impression that I am watching the talent portion of a beauty pageant when she is on stage. I definitely think that she will make it through. I did love it when she called Ryan "Peaches" and I think it might stick. ;)
Pia Toscado: "I'll Stand By You" -- I don't really even know why but I just really didn't think this was as spectacular as the judges did. I am not saying that it was bad but....
Should Make It Through:
Ashthon, Lauren Turner, Lauren Alaina, Kendra and Naima
Naima Adedapo: "Summertime" -- This was completely different from the Fantasia version which is smart because that wouldn't have worked. I have liked Naima since the early rounds and hope that she makes it through.
Kendra Chantelle: "Impossible" -- The song was a little boring but she sang it really well. Will she stand out enough to get to the next round?
Rachel Zevita: "Criminal" -- This was unrecognizable from the Fiona Apple version in a really, really bad way. She made this too much of her own. She should definitely not make it through to the next round.
Karen Rodriguez: "Hero" -- I liked her better in the earlier rounds. Something about her performance tonight rubbed me wrong. It was a decent vocal but I didn't like how she kept switching from English to Spanish. I preferred the Spanish parts of the song since it made it seem like less of a Mariah song.
Lauren Turner: "Seven Day Fool" -- I don't know that I love this song but she has a really powerful bluesy voice that should get her to the next round.
Ashthon Jones: "Love All Over Me" -- Ashthon has the strongest stage presence of any of the female contestants. Again, I don't know if I am a fan of the song but she gave a strong vocal performance.
Julie Zorrilla: "Breakaway" -- Can you say disaster? I really liked Julie in the earlier rounds but this was a mess. I don't see any way that she can make it through after this. Leave Kelly Clarkson alone people! You will always pale in comparison!
Haley Reinhart: "Fallin'" -- She growled her way through Alicia Keys like she was really believing it. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anywhere near the best either.
Thia Megia: "Out Here On My Own" -- This was the first time that I have heard Thia sing well. It was perfectly sung. Based on this performance she should probably make it through but I don't know that she has shown us enough to prove her spot if you take all of her performances into consideration.
Lauren Alaina: "On The Radio" -- This is not a difficult song to sing but she did a solid job with it. The thing that bothers me about Lauren is that I always get the impression that I am watching the talent portion of a beauty pageant when she is on stage. I definitely think that she will make it through. I did love it when she called Ryan "Peaches" and I think it might stick. ;)
Pia Toscado: "I'll Stand By You" -- I don't really even know why but I just really didn't think this was as spectacular as the judges did. I am not saying that it was bad but....
Should Make It Through:
Ashthon, Lauren Turner, Lauren Alaina, Kendra and Naima
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Season 10: Top 12 Guys
The competition has started! The night got off to a rocky start but ended strong. Hopefully this is a sign of a strong season to come…
Clint Jun Gamboa: “Superstitious” – I have heard worse but it was nowhere near perfect. He seemed a little manic. It has been done better in previous seasons.
Jovany Baretto: “I’ll Be” -- Nice abs but not a terribly strong singer. Other than a nice note near the end it was boring and forgettable.
Jordan Dorsey: “OMG” – Mr. You Are Not Talented Enough To Sing In My Group picked a song that features autotune which is designed to hide imperfect singing. It was all over the place and not good. As someone who was not a fan to start with, I hope that he will get the boot.
Tim Halperin: “Street Corner Symphony” -- I have liked Tim in his performances during the early rounds but this song was a complete misstep. It got a little better towards the end but the beginning and middle were a complete disaster. He obviously needs a piano to feel comfortable on stage.
Brett Loewenstern: “Light My Fire” – I don’t know if I can find the right words to express just what a hard to watch disaster this was. Good Lord! Jim Morrison is rolling in his grave.
James Durbin: “Another Thing Coming” -- Okay. I have voiced my opinion on this guy to anyone that will listen. I have referred to him as Screech v 2.o. Tonight, he proved me wrong. Shocker! I don’t know how the rest of the season will go but the boy can sing some Rob Halford and earned his way through to the next round.
Robbie Rosen: “Angels” -- Sarah McLachlan was a lofty goal and Robbie fell miles away from the mark. It sounded like someone was strangling a sick cat. Bad!
Scotty McCreery: “Letters From Home” -- Scotty was a little cheesy with the posing (and those eyebrows!) but it was a solid performance. He showed personality but did not act crazy which was a plus. I think he showed enough to make it through either with the votes or as a wild card.
Stefano Langone: “Just The Way You Are” – Despite one really bad high note, he gave a solid vocal performance and showed great presence. He got the votes of my friend Maria’s little girl, Elizabeth, so he was obviously a hit with the younger crowd. ;)
Paul McDonald: “Maggie May” – It was weird how much he sounded like Rod Stewart. It fit him perfectly. I am not sure how far this guy will be able to go in the competition but he should definitely make it through.
Jacob Lusk: “A House Is Not A Home" -- I am not a big fan of over singing and the use of a lot of runs so Jacob concerned me since he has been prone to that in the early rounds. He truly stunned me tonight because he was able to show amazing talent and control. He is the best singer in the bunch. He also reminds me of a male version of Jennifer Hudson because they both sing larger than life.
Casey Abrams: "I Put A Spell On You" – Casey was really good but he may have owned the song too well. He was starting to freak me out. It was like he was stalking and threatening the audience. That said, he definitely deserves to make it through.
Who Should and Will Go Through?
Jacob Lusk, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, James Durbin, Stefano Langone and Scotty McCreery
Clint Jun Gamboa: “Superstitious” – I have heard worse but it was nowhere near perfect. He seemed a little manic. It has been done better in previous seasons.
Jovany Baretto: “I’ll Be” -- Nice abs but not a terribly strong singer. Other than a nice note near the end it was boring and forgettable.
Jordan Dorsey: “OMG” – Mr. You Are Not Talented Enough To Sing In My Group picked a song that features autotune which is designed to hide imperfect singing. It was all over the place and not good. As someone who was not a fan to start with, I hope that he will get the boot.
Tim Halperin: “Street Corner Symphony” -- I have liked Tim in his performances during the early rounds but this song was a complete misstep. It got a little better towards the end but the beginning and middle were a complete disaster. He obviously needs a piano to feel comfortable on stage.
Brett Loewenstern: “Light My Fire” – I don’t know if I can find the right words to express just what a hard to watch disaster this was. Good Lord! Jim Morrison is rolling in his grave.
James Durbin: “Another Thing Coming” -- Okay. I have voiced my opinion on this guy to anyone that will listen. I have referred to him as Screech v 2.o. Tonight, he proved me wrong. Shocker! I don’t know how the rest of the season will go but the boy can sing some Rob Halford and earned his way through to the next round.
Robbie Rosen: “Angels” -- Sarah McLachlan was a lofty goal and Robbie fell miles away from the mark. It sounded like someone was strangling a sick cat. Bad!
Scotty McCreery: “Letters From Home” -- Scotty was a little cheesy with the posing (and those eyebrows!) but it was a solid performance. He showed personality but did not act crazy which was a plus. I think he showed enough to make it through either with the votes or as a wild card.
Stefano Langone: “Just The Way You Are” – Despite one really bad high note, he gave a solid vocal performance and showed great presence. He got the votes of my friend Maria’s little girl, Elizabeth, so he was obviously a hit with the younger crowd. ;)
Paul McDonald: “Maggie May” – It was weird how much he sounded like Rod Stewart. It fit him perfectly. I am not sure how far this guy will be able to go in the competition but he should definitely make it through.
Jacob Lusk: “A House Is Not A Home" -- I am not a big fan of over singing and the use of a lot of runs so Jacob concerned me since he has been prone to that in the early rounds. He truly stunned me tonight because he was able to show amazing talent and control. He is the best singer in the bunch. He also reminds me of a male version of Jennifer Hudson because they both sing larger than life.
Casey Abrams: "I Put A Spell On You" – Casey was really good but he may have owned the song too well. He was starting to freak me out. It was like he was stalking and threatening the audience. That said, he definitely deserves to make it through.
Who Should and Will Go Through?
Jacob Lusk, Casey Abrams, Paul McDonald, James Durbin, Stefano Langone and Scotty McCreery
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