Wednesday, March 26, 2014

American Idol Season 13: The Top 9 Nine Bring it on Band Night

Alex Preston sang Don't Speak by No Doubt-- I was digging this performance. I think he did such a good job of putting something together that stayed true to him but honored the original arrangement of the song. Keith wanted him to bring a little bit more edge. Jennifer said it's the kind of song that you can't help but identify with the original artist. This laid back version of it kind of sucked the energy out of the song. Harry wants to see him move around and engage the audience more.
Score: 7 out of 10

Majesty Rose sang  Shake it Out by Florence and the Machine-- The song was too big for her, and as a result vocally she seemed to get swallowed up by the song. Her performance was entertaining but the vocal still isn't there for me. Jenn admitted the vocals were all over the place but the performance was a ten. Harry felt she was so close to connecting and breaking through in this competition. You're so diverse that it's hard for people to find something to latch onto. He added that he was proud of her. Keith felt it was the perfect song for her but her energy gets dispersed with the energy of the crowd. You need to center yourself.
Score: 7 out of 10

Dexter Roberts sang Boondocks by Little Big Town-- Harry said you choose huge songs and it's rhythmically driven, and you need to be able to make it your own. Keith said had Little Big Town not sang that song and it was given to you, it would have been a hit on country radio for you. Jenn said she could see what Harry and Keith were saying, but felt  Dexter did a good job. It was hard for me to judge Dexter's performance cause vocally it was solid, but performance wise, it could have used a little bit more. I most identify with Keith's comments. I think he definitely could record country hits today, I think it's a matter of him showing us what is so special about him.
Score: 8 out of 10

Malaya Watson sang The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles-- Malaya's voice was just absolutely flawless in this number. I felt every word, and she took this song by The Beatles and she made it relevant to today; that's meaningful. I hear a passion in her voice, and it's not just a passion that is about her connection with words, but a passion to singing itself. t's very Lauryn Hill in Sister Act. Keith said that was beautiful baby. It really showed me your spirit. Jenn said your voice stands out above everyone else's for me. She compared him to a young Michael Jackson. Harry said you consistently improve. The performance was strong, you can become something great, don't worry about stardom, work on your craft.
Score: 10 out of 10

Sam Woolf sang Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's-- The performance had a good flow to it, vocally it was a solid performance, now he just needs to connect on a more emotional level with the song. Jenn said that song was perfectly suited to you. She wanted him to make a better connection to the song. Harry liked the stripped down performance of the song. Harry felt it was the most comfortable he has seen him. He agreed with Jenn's telling him to make a connection. Keith said don't feel obligated to hit every note perfectly, loosen the edges, glide around the words.
Score: 8 out of 10

Jessica Meuse sang Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac-- The song fit Jessica perfectly, this was her vibe totally. I could see her making a record very reminiscent of what Stevie Nicks did when Fleetwood Mac was at it's height. Harry said you did a nice job, you felt focused, and you were thinking about what the song means to you. This performance seemed different to me, nice job. Keith thought she looked comfortable. He said work on being as comfortable without an instrument as you are with it. Jenn said you have the voice, now I need to feel something too.
Score: 8 out of 10

CJ Harris sang If It Hadn't Been For Love by The SteelDrivers -- I love the feeling that CJ brings to his performances. He is committed, the problem was, vocally, it was not sound enough. There were a lot of hole in the vocals. Keith said it's not just about getting the note out but getting the point across. Keith and Jenn didn't think it was the best choice of song for him. Jenn didn't know the song well enough to be with him throughout the performance. Harry said you need to do a lot of things seamlessly and juggle many things to have a successful performance. Harry repeated that he has to work on his pitch. He said it was a good performance but he can do better.
Score: 7 out of 10

Caleb Johnson sang Dazed and Confused by Led Zepplin-- Nothing that Caleb does, surprises me, he is definitely the man to beat in this competition. Jenn said he can be her front man anytime. Harry said it was a great performance but something weird happened at the end. He said it's going to be tough for whoever is following that.
Score: 10 out of 10

Jena Irene sang Bring Me to Life by Evanescence-- I loved this performance, I am a huge Amy Lee fan, and this was Jena's wheelhouse. Vocally, she was strong, there was so much abandon in her voice, yet so much control. Harry said she followed Caleb's performance. He said she worked the audience, worked the bands, and I hope you're happy. Keith said she delivered. Jenn said she sounded phenomenal, she wanted her to be more messy.
Score: 10 out of 10

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