Last night was one full of odd and difficult song choices as the top four got a reprieve, a re-do, or whatever you wish to call it. Funny that the two who were in the bottom last week, Amber and Candice, received the most positive feedback from the judges last night. Kree and Angie, last week's darlings, dealt with harsh criticism from the judges. For me, Candice was the best last night, both of her performances were well orchestrated and clearly displayed the strength in her voice. I will say that her song choice of When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars was a little bit strange initially, but she made it work. Her vocals were so strong that I think we forgot all about the details. Her second song choice, You've Changed , had a beautiful jazz style and amazing vocal inflections.
I don't quite understand how Amber came in second with the judges comments. I did not like her performance of Just Give Me A Reason by Pink and Nate Ruess. I will admit that her performance of My Funny Valentine continues to be one of the best of the entire season. In this version, she made some great changes to the song that really showcased the strengths in her voice.
I didn't think Angie's performance of Diamonds by Rihanna was as bad as everyone thought it was. The mood of the song actually fit in quite well with who Angie is. Her second performance, Gershin's Someone To Watch Over Me was easy and melodic. Based on the fact that Angie was in the top two last week, I was pretty sure that she wasn't going anywhere, and I was right.
Kree once again was given the toughest time by the judges, something that up until a couple weeks ago, she wasn't used to. Kree is actually very lucky that she wasn't voted off the show all together. She was the weakest performer on Wednesday night. She sang See You Again by Carrie Underwood, I like this song, but I didn't think it was well known enough for her to sing for a current song. Her rendition of Stormy Weather started out strong but got muddy real quick. It went way off the melody and a classic song suddenly became complicated.
I am excited to see what happens next week when we all get to go home with Angie, Candice, and Kree. I also have no doubt in my mind that Amber Holcomb is headed for stardom.
Showing posts with label Mariah Carey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mariah Carey. Show all posts
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
American Idol Season 12: The Top 4 Fall Flat
Is it just me or did several weird things take place tonight on American Idol? Just a couple of weeks ago, a personal fave of mine, Amber Holcomb was consistently landing in the bottom two, and now the judges have all but handed her the Idol crown. First up was a solid performance of Power of Love by Celine Dion. I will admit that this was a good song choice for Amber because it displayed her versatility. Up next though was an odd duet of Rumor Has It by Adele with Kree. This song was not Amber's style, and yet the judges sang her praise while dissing Kree at the same time. Last but not least was a performance of MacArthur Park, and again, this is no offense because I like Amber, but that performance was anemic at best. Her voice cracked twice, and the low notes were so low that you could barely hear her.
On the contrary, Kree who has coasted through the majority of this competition and has a consistent body of work to show from throughout her Idol experience was criticized on her first performance. She was told that her vocal on Susan Tedeschi's It Hurts So Bad didn't have enough emotion. Keith said she didn't give enough in the performance. Nicki even went so far as to say that it wasn't top four worthy. Then when she didn't her second song, Whiter Shade of Pale, they said she redeemed herself. I am happy that Mariah at least turned around and said, for me, there was nothing for you to redeem, you're a true artist. I will be devastated if Kree goes home, because her Idol journey has been too amazing to end her. If she does go home, I have no doubt that this girl is potentially making an awesome record if she has the right people behind her.
Candice is probably the only contestant in this top four who has come out of this competition fairly unscathed so far. The judges haven't thrown her under the bus. Everyone has great comments when it comes to her vocals. There has been some criticism at times about her song choices. Last night was an example of that. She sang Find Your Love by Drake, and I have to say I agree with what Nicki put out there which was that the song has such a great melody and Candice changed that. I wouldn't have changed the melody; she could have still put her Candice spin on it without doing that. Then she sang Emotion which was a good choice for her, but the reviews were really mixed. Mariah called it stellar, but Keith felt she needed to separate herself from the other girls and choose a bare bones song that speaks to her.
Perhaps the dark horse in this competition, Angie had arguably the strongest night. Although she sang Jesse J's Who You Are in the audition rounds, this was completely different. She was at the piano and she just completely let go of all her inhibitions, and it was just so free. Randy called it a 10 out of 10 out of 10. Mariah thought it was stunning and thinks Angie has a career as a songwriter as well. On her second song, Cry Me a River, Randy felt that she won the night. I must agree, she really stepped up and I think she impressed everyone. When I think about the market now for musicians, there's no one like Angie out there. Keith called the performance mystically, celestially powerful. If she goes home, I think she gets a record deal when all is said and done, but I think if she's won hearts like I think she has, she's not going anywhere this week.
My prediction to go home: Amber
On the contrary, Kree who has coasted through the majority of this competition and has a consistent body of work to show from throughout her Idol experience was criticized on her first performance. She was told that her vocal on Susan Tedeschi's It Hurts So Bad didn't have enough emotion. Keith said she didn't give enough in the performance. Nicki even went so far as to say that it wasn't top four worthy. Then when she didn't her second song, Whiter Shade of Pale, they said she redeemed herself. I am happy that Mariah at least turned around and said, for me, there was nothing for you to redeem, you're a true artist. I will be devastated if Kree goes home, because her Idol journey has been too amazing to end her. If she does go home, I have no doubt that this girl is potentially making an awesome record if she has the right people behind her.
Candice is probably the only contestant in this top four who has come out of this competition fairly unscathed so far. The judges haven't thrown her under the bus. Everyone has great comments when it comes to her vocals. There has been some criticism at times about her song choices. Last night was an example of that. She sang Find Your Love by Drake, and I have to say I agree with what Nicki put out there which was that the song has such a great melody and Candice changed that. I wouldn't have changed the melody; she could have still put her Candice spin on it without doing that. Then she sang Emotion which was a good choice for her, but the reviews were really mixed. Mariah called it stellar, but Keith felt she needed to separate herself from the other girls and choose a bare bones song that speaks to her.
Perhaps the dark horse in this competition, Angie had arguably the strongest night. Although she sang Jesse J's Who You Are in the audition rounds, this was completely different. She was at the piano and she just completely let go of all her inhibitions, and it was just so free. Randy called it a 10 out of 10 out of 10. Mariah thought it was stunning and thinks Angie has a career as a songwriter as well. On her second song, Cry Me a River, Randy felt that she won the night. I must agree, she really stepped up and I think she impressed everyone. When I think about the market now for musicians, there's no one like Angie out there. Keith called the performance mystically, celestially powerful. If she goes home, I think she gets a record deal when all is said and done, but I think if she's won hearts like I think she has, she's not going anywhere this week.
My prediction to go home: Amber
Thursday, April 18, 2013
American Idol Season 12: The Top Five Rise to the Occasion
It's been a while since the top five has been this on point. This top five had everything, and the best part is that each of them kept their own styles. The song selections overall were beautiful. I don't think anyone chose music that didn't fit them last night. I must agree with something that the judges said last night which is that I do think Janelle is in some trouble. Amber, Candice, and Kree have such big, powerful voices, and Angie, I think, really touched peoples hearts last night with her performances. I actually believe she had that breakthrough that the judges have been saying she needed to have. She came into her own and her song choices were just so heartfelt. If people don't vote for Amber after her performances last night, clearly, people don't have a grip on what true talent is. One way or another, Amber will be a star. Kree is also someone that is destined for stardom. I think those three ladies are the top three right now: Angie, Amber, and Kree. I love Candice, but something tells me she won't win this competition.
So the two themes for last night were: Songs from the Year you were Born and Divas.
Candice kicked off the show first (that is the kiss of death position by the way), it's tough to go first, and she did a great job. Amber got to end the show, and I hope that it gained her some votes because she deserves them.
Candice sang Straight Up by Paul Abdul and When You Believe by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey-- Her second performance was better than her first. I think it was because the style was more naturally her. I will say I loved the way that she changed Straight Up to suit her style and vocal ability more. I have no idea what Jimmy Iovine was talking about when he said that the arrangement wasn't right. Randy thought her performance of When You Believe was the best of the night. Mariah thought that she did the song justice and told Whitney to rest in peace. Keith loved watching the way Mariah supported Candice like a sisterhood.
Janelle sang When I Call You Name by Vince Gill and Dumb Blonde by Dolly Parton-- Janelle's first performance was better than her second. The Vince Gill song was touching and heartfelt. I love the idea of Janelle singing Dolly Parton, but she should have chosen another song. I loved Nicki's comments about Janelle's voice being angelic in the first song; that's exactly what I think of her voice too. That being said, Janelle could be in trouble tonight.
Kree Harrison sang She Talks to Angels by The Black Crowes and Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion-- Wow, I think Kree had an amazing night. She is someone I consistently don't know what to say about her because she is just so talented. I liked her first choice, but I loved her second choice. Kree was really able to show her versatility. She can sing rock, pop, country, jazz, R&B; she gives so much in each performance and put her own nuances into it. On the first song, Mariah and Nicki had a little disagreement. Nicki thought it was the first current performance of the night, but Mariah felt she didn't completely lose herself in the song like she usually does. On the second song, slam dunk! Kree got a standing ovation and it was just such an effortless vocal. All the judges thought it was beautiful and loved her versatility.
Angie Miller sang I'll Stand By You by The Pretenders and Halo by Beyonce-- Angie was world class last night. Her tribute to Boston was beautiful. I loved her sitting at the piano and just putting all her emotion and everything she had into it. Her spin on Halo was theatrical and filled with feeling. I loved towards the end where she kept repeating, "it's written all over your face" and "I pray it don't fade away". Nicki actually said you sang that Beyonce song like a Queen could. Keith predicted that she would be in the top three and Mariah exclaimed that Angie is here to stay.
Amber Holcomb sang Without You by Mariah Carey and What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life by Barbara Steisand-- Amber = young Whitney Houston. I think I loved her second performance more because as she said, it took her back to that jazzy blues style when she sang My Funny Valentine. That performance back when she began was when I knew she was the real deal. Amber was born to do this. She received standing ovations for both performances. I will agree with Nicki that when she sang Without You, it was tough for her to get down into that lower register of her voice. The second performance was perfection, Keith felt she knocked it out of the park and Mariah begged people to vote for Amber. I hope that they listened.
So the two themes for last night were: Songs from the Year you were Born and Divas.
Candice kicked off the show first (that is the kiss of death position by the way), it's tough to go first, and she did a great job. Amber got to end the show, and I hope that it gained her some votes because she deserves them.
Candice sang Straight Up by Paul Abdul and When You Believe by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey-- Her second performance was better than her first. I think it was because the style was more naturally her. I will say I loved the way that she changed Straight Up to suit her style and vocal ability more. I have no idea what Jimmy Iovine was talking about when he said that the arrangement wasn't right. Randy thought her performance of When You Believe was the best of the night. Mariah thought that she did the song justice and told Whitney to rest in peace. Keith loved watching the way Mariah supported Candice like a sisterhood.
Janelle sang When I Call You Name by Vince Gill and Dumb Blonde by Dolly Parton-- Janelle's first performance was better than her second. The Vince Gill song was touching and heartfelt. I love the idea of Janelle singing Dolly Parton, but she should have chosen another song. I loved Nicki's comments about Janelle's voice being angelic in the first song; that's exactly what I think of her voice too. That being said, Janelle could be in trouble tonight.
Kree Harrison sang She Talks to Angels by The Black Crowes and Have You Ever Been in Love by Celine Dion-- Wow, I think Kree had an amazing night. She is someone I consistently don't know what to say about her because she is just so talented. I liked her first choice, but I loved her second choice. Kree was really able to show her versatility. She can sing rock, pop, country, jazz, R&B; she gives so much in each performance and put her own nuances into it. On the first song, Mariah and Nicki had a little disagreement. Nicki thought it was the first current performance of the night, but Mariah felt she didn't completely lose herself in the song like she usually does. On the second song, slam dunk! Kree got a standing ovation and it was just such an effortless vocal. All the judges thought it was beautiful and loved her versatility.
Angie Miller sang I'll Stand By You by The Pretenders and Halo by Beyonce-- Angie was world class last night. Her tribute to Boston was beautiful. I loved her sitting at the piano and just putting all her emotion and everything she had into it. Her spin on Halo was theatrical and filled with feeling. I loved towards the end where she kept repeating, "it's written all over your face" and "I pray it don't fade away". Nicki actually said you sang that Beyonce song like a Queen could. Keith predicted that she would be in the top three and Mariah exclaimed that Angie is here to stay.
Amber Holcomb sang Without You by Mariah Carey and What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life by Barbara Steisand-- Amber = young Whitney Houston. I think I loved her second performance more because as she said, it took her back to that jazzy blues style when she sang My Funny Valentine. That performance back when she began was when I knew she was the real deal. Amber was born to do this. She received standing ovations for both performances. I will agree with Nicki that when she sang Without You, it was tough for her to get down into that lower register of her voice. The second performance was perfection, Keith felt she knocked it out of the park and Mariah begged people to vote for Amber. I hope that they listened.
Monday, April 1, 2013
American Idol Season 12: The Top 8 Become 7
This week on American Idol, the contestants were mentored by Motown legend Smokey Robinson as they took on the songs of Motown. Overall, it was a night filled with okay performances.
The top three performances of the night for me were Amber, Kree, and Janelle in that order with Burnell coming a close fourth.
Amber sang Lately by Stevie Wonder-- She was the only contestant of the night to receive a standing ovation from the judges. Her vocal was honestly in a class by itself. I think so much has been made of Candice throughout this competition, and everyone has kind of forgotten about Amber. To me, she has a voice like Whitney Houston. Mariah called it a tour de force. Keith told her that she sang it and felt it beautifully. Nicki told her that her vocals are unmatched. Randy said she was the best of the night and continues to grow every week.
Kree sang Don't Play that Song by Aretha Franklin and even got props from the Queen of Soul herself. Kree's voice was strong in this, and she just proves every week how much she wants to be here. Randy told her that she is here to stay in this competition. Keith loved that she sounded like herself but sang an Aretha song. Nicki called Kree a "Queen".
Janelle sang You Keep Me Hangin' On by The Supremes-- I absolutely loved the way she reinvented this piece. She breathed new life into, and made it sound like something we could hear on country or pop radio today. Mariah thought that the performance was Janelle at her finest. Keith loved her fearlessness and the arrangement. Nicki didn't like it very much and thought it wasn't like it normally was. Randy felt quite the opposite and thought it was one of Janelle's best performances on the show.
Burnell, my honorable mention of the week, sang My Cherie Amor by Stevie Wonder-- Beautifully phrased and always original, Burnell leads not follows with each song choice and performance. It's not what he sings, but how he sings it.
The rest of the story: Love Lazaro, but sooner or later, the votes are going to catch up to him and not be enough to keep pushing him through and allowing him more chances in the competition. He sang For Once in my Life, but it wasn't believable.
Candice played it safer than I like. She sang I Heard it Through the Grapevine which was rather predictable, but what wasn't was the rock twist she put on the song. It wasn't her. She remains one of the strongest contestants though.
Poor Devin was sacrificed this week after turning in his best performance to date with Tracks of my Tears. When you look at the entire picture, it was probably right for him to go this week. If you're looking at contestants in terms of improvement, then he didn't deserve to go because he has consistently improved. He took criticism well, and it wasn't always pretty. Overall, Lazaro probably should have gone home.
Angie sang Shop Around; this was super strange. It was not Angie's style. Luckily, she's stronger than a number of contestants and this performance wasn't her last, but she needs to forget about everyone in her ear telling her to do something different. People like Angie because of who she is, and that should never be compromised. She needs to take a cue from Burnell and remember to be herself at all times.
That's my take, and with Devin gone, we're down to seven, and only two of those seven are guys. I also wanted to comment on Nicki's comments on Twitter after Devin was voted off. This article says it all; read away! Nicki is the one who needs to be gracious and grow up, none of the other judges are acting like this, and it's all a testament to her tastelessness and tackiness. It's so cheap of her to take shots at the contestants, and I get critiquing them, but embarrassing them? Nicki is purposely not using the save because Devin is a male; it's just not right. And when exactly did the young man not act gracious? When Nicki chided him on national TV? Also, Nicki's hatred for Mariah Carey is reflecting onto the contestants and that's wrong too; Nicki do your job and save the hate for later. I want Devin to succeed as a result of her hate because at 30, she just doesn't act it. I definitely do not want to see her on Idol next year.
The top three performances of the night for me were Amber, Kree, and Janelle in that order with Burnell coming a close fourth.
Amber sang Lately by Stevie Wonder-- She was the only contestant of the night to receive a standing ovation from the judges. Her vocal was honestly in a class by itself. I think so much has been made of Candice throughout this competition, and everyone has kind of forgotten about Amber. To me, she has a voice like Whitney Houston. Mariah called it a tour de force. Keith told her that she sang it and felt it beautifully. Nicki told her that her vocals are unmatched. Randy said she was the best of the night and continues to grow every week.
Kree sang Don't Play that Song by Aretha Franklin and even got props from the Queen of Soul herself. Kree's voice was strong in this, and she just proves every week how much she wants to be here. Randy told her that she is here to stay in this competition. Keith loved that she sounded like herself but sang an Aretha song. Nicki called Kree a "Queen".
Janelle sang You Keep Me Hangin' On by The Supremes-- I absolutely loved the way she reinvented this piece. She breathed new life into, and made it sound like something we could hear on country or pop radio today. Mariah thought that the performance was Janelle at her finest. Keith loved her fearlessness and the arrangement. Nicki didn't like it very much and thought it wasn't like it normally was. Randy felt quite the opposite and thought it was one of Janelle's best performances on the show.
Burnell, my honorable mention of the week, sang My Cherie Amor by Stevie Wonder-- Beautifully phrased and always original, Burnell leads not follows with each song choice and performance. It's not what he sings, but how he sings it.
The rest of the story: Love Lazaro, but sooner or later, the votes are going to catch up to him and not be enough to keep pushing him through and allowing him more chances in the competition. He sang For Once in my Life, but it wasn't believable.
Candice played it safer than I like. She sang I Heard it Through the Grapevine which was rather predictable, but what wasn't was the rock twist she put on the song. It wasn't her. She remains one of the strongest contestants though.
Poor Devin was sacrificed this week after turning in his best performance to date with Tracks of my Tears. When you look at the entire picture, it was probably right for him to go this week. If you're looking at contestants in terms of improvement, then he didn't deserve to go because he has consistently improved. He took criticism well, and it wasn't always pretty. Overall, Lazaro probably should have gone home.
Angie sang Shop Around; this was super strange. It was not Angie's style. Luckily, she's stronger than a number of contestants and this performance wasn't her last, but she needs to forget about everyone in her ear telling her to do something different. People like Angie because of who she is, and that should never be compromised. She needs to take a cue from Burnell and remember to be herself at all times.
That's my take, and with Devin gone, we're down to seven, and only two of those seven are guys. I also wanted to comment on Nicki's comments on Twitter after Devin was voted off. This article says it all; read away! Nicki is the one who needs to be gracious and grow up, none of the other judges are acting like this, and it's all a testament to her tastelessness and tackiness. It's so cheap of her to take shots at the contestants, and I get critiquing them, but embarrassing them? Nicki is purposely not using the save because Devin is a male; it's just not right. And when exactly did the young man not act gracious? When Nicki chided him on national TV? Also, Nicki's hatred for Mariah Carey is reflecting onto the contestants and that's wrong too; Nicki do your job and save the hate for later. I want Devin to succeed as a result of her hate because at 30, she just doesn't act it. I definitely do not want to see her on Idol next year.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
American Idol: Season 12-- 10 of the Men Sing, Five Go Home
It was another one of those nights, except tonight it was ten of the men, some contestants chose songs that were completely unrecognizable and thus they rendered themselves unmemorable as well. Tonight was also the same as last night in that I agreed with four out of the five choices as to who should move on in this competition. I'd like to argue that Johnny Keyser did not deserve to get sent home. Devin Velez shouldn't have gone through, the song choice, Listen by Beyonce, was questionable at best, and the vocal was not really that impressive. Keyser is someone I had been watching since Idol Season 11, he's someone that I had in my top ten this year. I think he's grown immeasurably in that one year, perhaps what Velez needs now.
Who Just Didn't Do it For Me--
JDA (pronounced Jada) sang Rumor Has It by Adele-- Okay, okay, I'll give him the performance factor but the vocals just weren't there.
Kevin Harris sang Everything I Do I Do it For You by Bryan Adams-- I actually felt his sincerity as a person in this performance, but for some reason, the vocal sat flat. I also didn't like the ending, I found it over the top and abrupt. Randy found this performance boring as well as several other performances tonight which I completely agree with. I don't quite understand what was going on, but little really moved me.
Chris Watson sang Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding-- I'll admit that Chris has good looks to go along with the good voice, but this song choice just didn't make sense. I was thrown off by the outfit with the song; it just didn't go together. It seemed very strange. Mariah didn't think it was his best performance but felt his charisma; I felt it too, maybe a wild card winner along with Johnny Keyser?
Jimmy Smith sang Raining on Sunday by Keith Urban-- I think I saw and heard what Mariah was talking about when she said there's something special about Jimmy. Unfortunately, tonight, when there were a few standouts, this just wasn't enough. Nicki and Randy found it boring, and I can't help but agree.
Who Should Have Gone Home?
Sorry Devin Velez, you weren't terrible, but personal preference, Johnny was better. Unless the next group of ten men is terrible, you'll be leaving us shortly. Randy thought it was amazing...... that statement is slightly exaggerated.
Who Stayed?
Paul Jolley sang Tonight I Wanna Cry by Keith Urban-- No offense to Keith, but I didn't think this was the best song for Paul. I actually agree with what Jimmy Iovine said, great singer, wrong song. Something Keith said that was really great was that Paul should not underestimate the power of his voice.
Curtis Finch Jr. sang Superstar by Luther Vandross-- Curtis has a great voice, he's definitely a gospel style singer, but I agree with the judges, he has to be careful not to play it too old. He's only 25, and he reads 40. Randy is right though, so far his voice is unparalleled in this competition.
Elijah Liu sang Talking to the Moon by Bruno Mars-- I really like this young man, at the age of 18, he is exactly what he should be right now. As Keith said, he is relevant and that was the perfect song for him to sing. The combination of his voice and tone is amazing. Nicki called him a super duper star and said she loves him, and that his voice is beautiful. I feel like we'll be seeing him in the top ten.
Charlie Askew is another contestant who I think is going to go far in this competition, and he sang Rocket Man by Elton John-- I really had my doubts on this one because this could have been a big mess, but it was anything but. Charlie was really nervous, and he had absolutely no reason to be, this was perfection. Keith Urban described Charlie is: If Freddie Mercury had a love child at Woodstock. Nicki said that his awkwardness excites her and he is a rock star. Mariah loved the song choice. I think this is another young man top ten bound.
Who Didn't Deserve to Go?
Johnny Keyser sang I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz-- Keith said the performance had a definite effortlessness about it; his voice did too. Nicki felt that he looked sexy and came out relaxed. Mariah said she loves how committed he is to music and hopes that he is around for a while. Well all I have to say is, unless you guys plan on bringing him back for some kind of wild card that's up your sleeve, he won't be around for a while.
What did all of you think? Was this the right five to move forward?
Staying: Charlie Askew, Curtis Finch Jr., Elijah Liu, Paul Jolley, Devin Velez
Who Just Didn't Do it For Me--
JDA (pronounced Jada) sang Rumor Has It by Adele-- Okay, okay, I'll give him the performance factor but the vocals just weren't there.
Kevin Harris sang Everything I Do I Do it For You by Bryan Adams-- I actually felt his sincerity as a person in this performance, but for some reason, the vocal sat flat. I also didn't like the ending, I found it over the top and abrupt. Randy found this performance boring as well as several other performances tonight which I completely agree with. I don't quite understand what was going on, but little really moved me.
Chris Watson sang Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding-- I'll admit that Chris has good looks to go along with the good voice, but this song choice just didn't make sense. I was thrown off by the outfit with the song; it just didn't go together. It seemed very strange. Mariah didn't think it was his best performance but felt his charisma; I felt it too, maybe a wild card winner along with Johnny Keyser?
Jimmy Smith sang Raining on Sunday by Keith Urban-- I think I saw and heard what Mariah was talking about when she said there's something special about Jimmy. Unfortunately, tonight, when there were a few standouts, this just wasn't enough. Nicki and Randy found it boring, and I can't help but agree.
Who Should Have Gone Home?
Sorry Devin Velez, you weren't terrible, but personal preference, Johnny was better. Unless the next group of ten men is terrible, you'll be leaving us shortly. Randy thought it was amazing...... that statement is slightly exaggerated.
Who Stayed?
Paul Jolley sang Tonight I Wanna Cry by Keith Urban-- No offense to Keith, but I didn't think this was the best song for Paul. I actually agree with what Jimmy Iovine said, great singer, wrong song. Something Keith said that was really great was that Paul should not underestimate the power of his voice.
Curtis Finch Jr. sang Superstar by Luther Vandross-- Curtis has a great voice, he's definitely a gospel style singer, but I agree with the judges, he has to be careful not to play it too old. He's only 25, and he reads 40. Randy is right though, so far his voice is unparalleled in this competition.
Elijah Liu sang Talking to the Moon by Bruno Mars-- I really like this young man, at the age of 18, he is exactly what he should be right now. As Keith said, he is relevant and that was the perfect song for him to sing. The combination of his voice and tone is amazing. Nicki called him a super duper star and said she loves him, and that his voice is beautiful. I feel like we'll be seeing him in the top ten.
Charlie Askew is another contestant who I think is going to go far in this competition, and he sang Rocket Man by Elton John-- I really had my doubts on this one because this could have been a big mess, but it was anything but. Charlie was really nervous, and he had absolutely no reason to be, this was perfection. Keith Urban described Charlie is: If Freddie Mercury had a love child at Woodstock. Nicki said that his awkwardness excites her and he is a rock star. Mariah loved the song choice. I think this is another young man top ten bound.
Who Didn't Deserve to Go?
Johnny Keyser sang I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz-- Keith said the performance had a definite effortlessness about it; his voice did too. Nicki felt that he looked sexy and came out relaxed. Mariah said she loves how committed he is to music and hopes that he is around for a while. Well all I have to say is, unless you guys plan on bringing him back for some kind of wild card that's up your sleeve, he won't be around for a while.
What did all of you think? Was this the right five to move forward?
Staying: Charlie Askew, Curtis Finch Jr., Elijah Liu, Paul Jolley, Devin Velez
American Idol: Season 12, Ten Ladies Sing-- Five Go Home
They tried something different on American Idol last night. At the beginning of the night, a total of 40 contestants remained in the competition: 20 women and 20 men vying for the title of American Idol. Last night, 10 of the women sang for their lives on the show with five of them being sent home before the night ended.
For the most part, I agree with the decisions that the judges made. I called four out of the five ladies moving on correctly. Only one was questionable, not to say that I don't think that she had talent. The last spot for me really came down to personal preference, and looking back on it now, I think the judges made the right call saving Teena Torres and sending Isabelle home.
The other four were a much easier call-- Bree Harrison, a clear standout for the night, Adriana Latonio, the mini powerhouse, Amber Holcomb, who could be a dark horse in this competition, and last but not least, judge's fave Angela Miller who is already singing and writing her own music.
Overall, the night was filled with lots of songs that I didn't know. The ladies did not do a good job of making sure that their song choices related to the audience. I understand that maybe they wanted to impress the judges, but you also want the public to start thinking about supporting you should you advance to the next round.
Songs I had no idea about:
Jenny Beth Willis-- Heaven, Heartache, and The Power of Love by Trisha Yearwood-- This was a stiff performance. I think her inexperience really showed through tonight, and the 17 year old was one of the ones sent home.
Teena Torres-- Soulmate by Natasha Bedingfield-- Although her entire performance complete with hair and outfit was a complete throwback to the 1980's, I think Teena has potential. I actually hope she doesn't lose that tone in her voice, I just want her to seriously think about doing something with her hair and updating her wardrobe. She advanced by the skin of her teeth.
Brandy Hotard-- I Don't Love You Anymore by Travis Tritt-- Sweet young woman, but her performance lacked credibility. I also think it was too heavy of a song for a night like this. This is the first time a lot of us are seeing her and it was all just a bit much.
Two eliminated ladies sang very well known songs, but ruined them by changing them up too much.
Shubba Vedula sang Born This Way by Lady Gaga, and I loved how she started the performance out at the piano. I really thought it was going to go somewhere, and it did, but not where I wanted it to go. She tried to do too much in a few minutes. She should have stayed at the piano, sang her heart and soul out and nailed it.
Kamaria Ousley sang Mr. Know it All by Kelly Clarkson, and it was a train wreck from start to finish. I actually feel badly for this girl because she has the resume to back up the talent, but this performance certainly didn't prove it. It was probably the worst performance of the night.
Now for the goodies!
Kree Harrison did a soul stirring rendition of Up to the Mountain by Patti Griffin; she was my favorite performer of the night. Her performance was so heartfelt and sincere. Nicki was so right when she said that the other ladies in this competition should be scared because this young woman is a force. Mariah Carey, of all people out there, said that Kree sang the hell out of that song. I cannot wait to see her in the Top 10 because if she isn't there, than there's something wrong with the public.
Adriana Latonio has tons of potential, especially considering that she is only 17. She's chock full of maturity, and she proved that by singing Ain't No Way by Aretha Franklin with lots of emotion. My one criticism is that she needs to make sure she isn't performing too "pageanty"; coming off too polished can almost hurt you in a way. The best singers, take Whitney Houston for example, were able to dirty up the performance with their emotion. It's almost like she really needs to get down into the song.
Angela Miller sang Nobody's Perfect by Jessie J., and I love Angela but I don't think this was the song to best showcase her actual abilities. I think anyone who saw her performance last week is still coming down from that, because she is so talented that regardless of the outcome of this competition, she's going to be a star. She's going to have musicians knocking on her door asking her to write and sing songs for them.
Amber Holcomb just impressed the heck out of me taking on My Funny Valentine. The soul was just so present, and she has what Adriana lacks, she got down into the performance, she really felt the lyrics. What was beautiful about this was that blend of toughness and vulnerability.
The semifinalist that could have been:
Isabelle was the girl who finished last night in that tough fifth or sixth place position. She sang God Bless the Child which was a great song choice, I think she just didn't make much of a mark though. She wasn't different enough or unique enough for the judges to be like, "we have originality right here". It's too bad because while her performance wasn't bad, it didn't stand out as phenomenal either.
For the most part, I agree with the decisions that the judges made. I called four out of the five ladies moving on correctly. Only one was questionable, not to say that I don't think that she had talent. The last spot for me really came down to personal preference, and looking back on it now, I think the judges made the right call saving Teena Torres and sending Isabelle home.
The other four were a much easier call-- Bree Harrison, a clear standout for the night, Adriana Latonio, the mini powerhouse, Amber Holcomb, who could be a dark horse in this competition, and last but not least, judge's fave Angela Miller who is already singing and writing her own music.
Overall, the night was filled with lots of songs that I didn't know. The ladies did not do a good job of making sure that their song choices related to the audience. I understand that maybe they wanted to impress the judges, but you also want the public to start thinking about supporting you should you advance to the next round.
Songs I had no idea about:
Jenny Beth Willis-- Heaven, Heartache, and The Power of Love by Trisha Yearwood-- This was a stiff performance. I think her inexperience really showed through tonight, and the 17 year old was one of the ones sent home.
Teena Torres-- Soulmate by Natasha Bedingfield-- Although her entire performance complete with hair and outfit was a complete throwback to the 1980's, I think Teena has potential. I actually hope she doesn't lose that tone in her voice, I just want her to seriously think about doing something with her hair and updating her wardrobe. She advanced by the skin of her teeth.
Brandy Hotard-- I Don't Love You Anymore by Travis Tritt-- Sweet young woman, but her performance lacked credibility. I also think it was too heavy of a song for a night like this. This is the first time a lot of us are seeing her and it was all just a bit much.
Two eliminated ladies sang very well known songs, but ruined them by changing them up too much.
Shubba Vedula sang Born This Way by Lady Gaga, and I loved how she started the performance out at the piano. I really thought it was going to go somewhere, and it did, but not where I wanted it to go. She tried to do too much in a few minutes. She should have stayed at the piano, sang her heart and soul out and nailed it.
Kamaria Ousley sang Mr. Know it All by Kelly Clarkson, and it was a train wreck from start to finish. I actually feel badly for this girl because she has the resume to back up the talent, but this performance certainly didn't prove it. It was probably the worst performance of the night.
Now for the goodies!
Kree Harrison did a soul stirring rendition of Up to the Mountain by Patti Griffin; she was my favorite performer of the night. Her performance was so heartfelt and sincere. Nicki was so right when she said that the other ladies in this competition should be scared because this young woman is a force. Mariah Carey, of all people out there, said that Kree sang the hell out of that song. I cannot wait to see her in the Top 10 because if she isn't there, than there's something wrong with the public.
Adriana Latonio has tons of potential, especially considering that she is only 17. She's chock full of maturity, and she proved that by singing Ain't No Way by Aretha Franklin with lots of emotion. My one criticism is that she needs to make sure she isn't performing too "pageanty"; coming off too polished can almost hurt you in a way. The best singers, take Whitney Houston for example, were able to dirty up the performance with their emotion. It's almost like she really needs to get down into the song.
Angela Miller sang Nobody's Perfect by Jessie J., and I love Angela but I don't think this was the song to best showcase her actual abilities. I think anyone who saw her performance last week is still coming down from that, because she is so talented that regardless of the outcome of this competition, she's going to be a star. She's going to have musicians knocking on her door asking her to write and sing songs for them.
Amber Holcomb just impressed the heck out of me taking on My Funny Valentine. The soul was just so present, and she has what Adriana lacks, she got down into the performance, she really felt the lyrics. What was beautiful about this was that blend of toughness and vulnerability.
The semifinalist that could have been:
Isabelle was the girl who finished last night in that tough fifth or sixth place position. She sang God Bless the Child which was a great song choice, I think she just didn't make much of a mark though. She wasn't different enough or unique enough for the judges to be like, "we have originality right here". It's too bad because while her performance wasn't bad, it didn't stand out as phenomenal either.
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