While I said last week that country night was always my least favorite night of the season, Motown night (or something close to it) is usually my favorite. There is just so much good music that came out of that era and music that is great for the big voices that this show always attracts. Has Smokey Robinson done the mentor thing before? I feel like I remember him doing it, but either way he did a great job.
My favorite performance of the night was Adam Lambert. 3 reasons: First, he showed us that he is capable of changing things up and succeeding at at it. My friend Eileen said that "he far surpasses all other contestants in knowing strategically what to do" and I couldn't agree more. He is smart and talented, a killer combination on this show. Second, I love acoustic sets and stripped-down, coffee house music (Gavin Degraw live, Amos Lee, Damien Rice, Ray LaMontagne) so his artistic pick this week was right up my alley. I don't see him making an album like this, but I think that it shows his versatility which is always good in the contemporary market. Third... he was sporting some Chuck Bass hair. omfg!
Coming in a close second was Matt Giraud. Forgetting that flub during his first semi-final round, he has shown that he really knows what kind of music he wants to make as an artist and has chosen songs well. Let's Get it On could very easily have been the cheesiest song pick of the night but he didn't let it go there. It was sensual and controlled.
Of course, I also loved Allison. I never cease to be amazed at how insanely talented she is and she picked a perfect song. I really hope that last week was just a fluke and she doesn't spend a ton of time in the bottom three. However, given the track record of female rocker contestants, I think it's likely she'll be departing before her time. Then again, I also think that unless Danny, Adam or Matt gets the boot sooner, she'll be the most likely candidate for the "Judge's Save".
Middle of the pack for me this week were Danny, Kris, Lil and Anoop. They all had good vocals but would have done better if they had picked different songs. Kris, Lil and Anoop are just sitting ducks. They are all good but not good or interesting enough to push out the front-runners. Danny is a different story. He is a front-runner and (unless he starts really screwing up) will probably win this season. I just wish I found him as remarkable as everyone else seems to.
That leaves Scott, Meghan, and Michael. Michael should have gone home last week and did nothing this week to prove that America 'got it wrong'. He seems like a great guy but is just out of his league with the other insane talent on the show this season.
Scott is awful. Enough said.
Meghan... honey. Has she ever seen this show before? There is one artist above all artists whose work you do not touch. You do not sing his music on Idol. Ever. There are no excuses and there are no exceptions. This artist is Stevie Wonder and no one on Idol has ever truly succeeded at covering Stevie Wonder. (Ok, exception for the week the idiot producers decided to do Stevie Wonder as a theme week.) She has no one to blame for this but herself and no "I'm sick" excuse to win sympathy votes and save her.
Bottom 3:
Meghan
Michael
Lil
Who I want to go home:
Scott
Who I think will go home:
Michael or Meghan (I'm torn...)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Michael Jackson night... really?
I would really like to know who thought that Michael Jackson night would be a good idea. Every time someone tries to sing Michael Jackson they get a speech about how he is one of those artists that is just untouchable and should be left alone. Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston are also on this list. Why the producers thought it would be a good idea to start the year (again, remember we started with The Beatles last year) with an untouchable is beyond me. The whole thing was just TMTH.
I wouldn't say that anyone really bombed it and the night showed us that there is probably more talent this year than in any season before. Adam, Alexis, Lil, Allison, Matt and Danny are all incredibly talented. Anoop, Jasmine, Meghan, Kris, Jorge and Michael are all pretty good too and totally sing the pants off the second string of previous seasons.
LIL ROUNDS
The Way you Make Me Feel
She is very talented. The beginning of the song was unimpressive for me but she turned it around in the middle and made a good performance out of it.
SCOTT
Keep the Faith
We all know I'm not a fan. Kara kept promising us that we would really see him shine when we put him behind a piano. She lied. I think now they both should go. Anyone else?
DANNY
PYT
It's not that he's not talented. He is. Or that he doesn't seem like a great guy. He does. I just can't understand the nationwide obsession with this guy. He's good but, for me, there's nothing special about him.
MICHAEL
You Are Not Alone
Not gonna lie, I really expected him to bomb this week but his rendition of You Are Not Alone was much better than I was expecting.
JASMIN
I'll Be There
She should never have been put through. She is not ready and this is now the third time in a row she has demonstrated that. Sorry, dear, you're a good singer but this competition is above your head.
KRIS
Remember the Time
Like I said before, his role here is that of the "token pop singer". For some reason, he thinks that allows him to play the acoustic guitar to MJ and wear flannel shirts. No, hunny, that's not how the token pop singer plays it. He's hot enough that he should be safe this week, but he's going to need to heed my advice if he wants to stick around longer.
ALLISON
Give in to Me
16 or 26, this girl is just insanely talented. She sings with a maturiy for her age that we haven't seen since... well since last year with David Archuletta... but before that it had been a really long time. She won't win. Actually, she'll probably be the first truly shocking elimination of the year, but she should land on her feet after her stint here.
NOOP DAWG
Beat It
We all know I'm a fan... a supporter, but this was not his best showing. I understand why he picked the song. He's the feature in an A Capella choir, the classics are what they do. But that won't work here on Idol and I hope he realizes it soon.
JORGE
Never Gonna Say Goodbye
I liked him last week. He was new and interesting then. This week... not so much. After that performance, I don't think I'll have to spend much time next week thinking about if I enjoyed him.
MEGHAN
Rockin Robin
Talk about a weird yet simultaneously perfect song choice. My biggest issue... as if her dancing wasn't already awkward enough, this week she felt the need to add wings. I hope she re-thinks that decision next week...
ADAM
Black or White
Oh Adam Lambert, why do I love thee so much? Is it because I can just see the super-fabulous-ness that you are desperately repressing trying to explode out from inside of you every time you take the stage? Is it because you can hit notes I didn't know existed? Is it because you are the only contestant who drags Paula back to her lovable, incoherent self? For these reasons and more, I will vote for you every week.
MATT
Human Nature
I still worry that he peaked in Hollywood week and we'll never see him live up to the potential he showed there, but this week's performance was decent and it was good to see him at the piano again.
ALEXIS
Dirty Diana
I am always amazed to hear that giant voice come out of something so tiny. She will probably make it farther than any of the girls this season.
My Bottom 3
Scott
Jasmine
Jorge
Who I Want to go Home
Scott
Jasmine
Who Will go Home
Jasmine
Jorge
I wouldn't say that anyone really bombed it and the night showed us that there is probably more talent this year than in any season before. Adam, Alexis, Lil, Allison, Matt and Danny are all incredibly talented. Anoop, Jasmine, Meghan, Kris, Jorge and Michael are all pretty good too and totally sing the pants off the second string of previous seasons.
LIL ROUNDS
The Way you Make Me Feel
She is very talented. The beginning of the song was unimpressive for me but she turned it around in the middle and made a good performance out of it.
SCOTT
Keep the Faith
We all know I'm not a fan. Kara kept promising us that we would really see him shine when we put him behind a piano. She lied. I think now they both should go. Anyone else?
DANNY
PYT
It's not that he's not talented. He is. Or that he doesn't seem like a great guy. He does. I just can't understand the nationwide obsession with this guy. He's good but, for me, there's nothing special about him.
MICHAEL
You Are Not Alone
Not gonna lie, I really expected him to bomb this week but his rendition of You Are Not Alone was much better than I was expecting.
JASMIN
I'll Be There
She should never have been put through. She is not ready and this is now the third time in a row she has demonstrated that. Sorry, dear, you're a good singer but this competition is above your head.
KRIS
Remember the Time
Like I said before, his role here is that of the "token pop singer". For some reason, he thinks that allows him to play the acoustic guitar to MJ and wear flannel shirts. No, hunny, that's not how the token pop singer plays it. He's hot enough that he should be safe this week, but he's going to need to heed my advice if he wants to stick around longer.
ALLISON
Give in to Me
16 or 26, this girl is just insanely talented. She sings with a maturiy for her age that we haven't seen since... well since last year with David Archuletta... but before that it had been a really long time. She won't win. Actually, she'll probably be the first truly shocking elimination of the year, but she should land on her feet after her stint here.
NOOP DAWG
Beat It
We all know I'm a fan... a supporter, but this was not his best showing. I understand why he picked the song. He's the feature in an A Capella choir, the classics are what they do. But that won't work here on Idol and I hope he realizes it soon.
JORGE
Never Gonna Say Goodbye
I liked him last week. He was new and interesting then. This week... not so much. After that performance, I don't think I'll have to spend much time next week thinking about if I enjoyed him.
MEGHAN
Rockin Robin
Talk about a weird yet simultaneously perfect song choice. My biggest issue... as if her dancing wasn't already awkward enough, this week she felt the need to add wings. I hope she re-thinks that decision next week...
ADAM
Black or White
Oh Adam Lambert, why do I love thee so much? Is it because I can just see the super-fabulous-ness that you are desperately repressing trying to explode out from inside of you every time you take the stage? Is it because you can hit notes I didn't know existed? Is it because you are the only contestant who drags Paula back to her lovable, incoherent self? For these reasons and more, I will vote for you every week.
MATT
Human Nature
I still worry that he peaked in Hollywood week and we'll never see him live up to the potential he showed there, but this week's performance was decent and it was good to see him at the piano again.
ALEXIS
Dirty Diana
I am always amazed to hear that giant voice come out of something so tiny. She will probably make it farther than any of the girls this season.
My Bottom 3
Scott
Jasmine
Jorge
Who I Want to go Home
Scott
Jasmine
Who Will go Home
Jasmine
Jorge
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Semi-Final Week 3
Get your towels ready, kiddies. It's about to go down.
Every semi-final week it seems like there is a clear guy and girl that the Idol producers have destined to send through and this week it was definitely Scott and Lil. Lil killed it, she is really, really talented and knows exactly who she is as an artist. The only one last night to pick the perfect song, no matter what Simon says. I don't care for Scott but he did a good thing by picking that song and he didn't butcher it too bad. Like I said, he's destined to sail through, though. Also, though I know it's horrible to say, I am hoping that his style makeover includes a pair of sunglasses because I get a little creeped out watching him. Seems like a sweet guy but his voice doesn't cut it for me. He needs some polishing.
As for the third this week, that one is a lot harder to peg because I think there are several contenders. First is Jorge. Although I think that song needs to be officially retired from Idol, he did a good job with it and has a great personality. Both always count on Idol. Always. I don't know how much of the Idol audience is latino, but if it's any sizeable chunk, he will get that third spot easily.
But there are a couple others that could sneak in there. Kendle was the first country-esque performer this season to not terribly misstep and, as we have seen before (especially last year with Kristi Lee Cook), that voting demographic is fiercely protective of its own. Now that Nashville Star is no longer around to distract them, they may be back to annoy Simon (who hates country music) in full force.
Another possibility, and I hate to say it, is this week's votefortheworst.com bait Nathaniel. Like Tatiana Del Toro and Nick Mitchell before him, he didn't do a terrible job. The boy can sing. That aside, neither of his predecessors did enough to outshine the rest of the actual talent on their respective nights, but their respective nights had more memorable performances than last night did. Nathaniel has more of an actual shot, I think, than Tatiana or Nick did for that reason. The rest of the night was so mind-numbingly bland that his sparkly headbands and interesting yet not wholly surprising choice of Meat Loaf are bound to stand out.
Personally, if I could will the results my way, I would send through Lil, Jorge and Ju'not. All three have something that is both marketable in a contemporary pop market and something that is different from the six who have already been put through. You know I do not believe in affirmative action picks, there is no place for them after Hollywood, but these three would bring a diversity of musical genres to the table that are not being covered already. That is the kind of diversity I like in my Top 12.
Think about what we have already:
Alexis: The big-voiced, soulful little white girl. (Eg. Kelly Clarkson, Katherine McPhee)
Michael: The hometown-looking, decent-but-not-great singer that will make it farther than he should because he's such a nice guy (Eg. Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey)
Danny: The big-voiced white guy who can cover the classics in a way that pays homage but is still fresh and modern. (Eg. Taylor Hicks, Chris Sligh) [Note: this is why Scott is not necessary, this is the spot he would otherwise have filled and Danny will do it better]
Kris: The token pop singer. Hott. Decent, but unremarkable. (Eg. Ace Young, Chris Richardson)
Allison: The cooler than you rocker girl you would love to got out drinking with some night. (Eg. Gina Glocksen, Carly Smithsen)
Adam: Well... there's never been a artist like Adam before on Idol but that's why he must be there in the Top 12. He's like this weird hybrid of David Cook and Clay Aiken (with a hint of Constantine Maroulis thrown in) that will be fascinating to watch. I can't wait.
Now think about what I would add (and we'll throw my fantasy wild-card picks in here, too):
Lil: The super-talented, big-voiced black girl with a motivational story. (Eg. LaToya London, Vonzelle Solomon, LaKisha Jones)
Jorge: The latin heartthrob. (who unfortunately is not hot) (Eg. A.J. Gil, David Hernandez)
Ju'not: The velvet-voiced R&B singer. (Eg. Nikko Smith, Chikezie)
Matt Giraud: Semi Week 2: Viva La Vida - The soulful blues man. (Eg. Elliot Yamin, Michael Johns)
Megan Joy Corkrey: Semi Week 2: Girl Put Your Records On - The Starbucks special. (Eg. Paris Bennett, Jason Castro)
Kendle Beard: Semi Week 3: This One's for the Girls - The token country blond. (Eg. Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler)
I know it will never happen, (if, for no other reason than there are 7 guys and 5 girls) but this is the top 12 I would really like to see go through. They would bring a diversity of taste and talent to the top 12 that might, finally, make season 8 worth wasting three hours of your life a week to watch.
After we see who gets in tonight, I'll put some actual thought into realistic wild-card picks but until then, this is what I'm going with.
Every semi-final week it seems like there is a clear guy and girl that the Idol producers have destined to send through and this week it was definitely Scott and Lil. Lil killed it, she is really, really talented and knows exactly who she is as an artist. The only one last night to pick the perfect song, no matter what Simon says. I don't care for Scott but he did a good thing by picking that song and he didn't butcher it too bad. Like I said, he's destined to sail through, though. Also, though I know it's horrible to say, I am hoping that his style makeover includes a pair of sunglasses because I get a little creeped out watching him. Seems like a sweet guy but his voice doesn't cut it for me. He needs some polishing.
As for the third this week, that one is a lot harder to peg because I think there are several contenders. First is Jorge. Although I think that song needs to be officially retired from Idol, he did a good job with it and has a great personality. Both always count on Idol. Always. I don't know how much of the Idol audience is latino, but if it's any sizeable chunk, he will get that third spot easily.
But there are a couple others that could sneak in there. Kendle was the first country-esque performer this season to not terribly misstep and, as we have seen before (especially last year with Kristi Lee Cook), that voting demographic is fiercely protective of its own. Now that Nashville Star is no longer around to distract them, they may be back to annoy Simon (who hates country music) in full force.
Another possibility, and I hate to say it, is this week's votefortheworst.com bait Nathaniel. Like Tatiana Del Toro and Nick Mitchell before him, he didn't do a terrible job. The boy can sing. That aside, neither of his predecessors did enough to outshine the rest of the actual talent on their respective nights, but their respective nights had more memorable performances than last night did. Nathaniel has more of an actual shot, I think, than Tatiana or Nick did for that reason. The rest of the night was so mind-numbingly bland that his sparkly headbands and interesting yet not wholly surprising choice of Meat Loaf are bound to stand out.
Personally, if I could will the results my way, I would send through Lil, Jorge and Ju'not. All three have something that is both marketable in a contemporary pop market and something that is different from the six who have already been put through. You know I do not believe in affirmative action picks, there is no place for them after Hollywood, but these three would bring a diversity of musical genres to the table that are not being covered already. That is the kind of diversity I like in my Top 12.
Think about what we have already:
Alexis: The big-voiced, soulful little white girl. (Eg. Kelly Clarkson, Katherine McPhee)
Michael: The hometown-looking, decent-but-not-great singer that will make it farther than he should because he's such a nice guy (Eg. Josh Gracin, Phil Stacey)
Danny: The big-voiced white guy who can cover the classics in a way that pays homage but is still fresh and modern. (Eg. Taylor Hicks, Chris Sligh) [Note: this is why Scott is not necessary, this is the spot he would otherwise have filled and Danny will do it better]
Kris: The token pop singer. Hott. Decent, but unremarkable. (Eg. Ace Young, Chris Richardson)
Allison: The cooler than you rocker girl you would love to got out drinking with some night. (Eg. Gina Glocksen, Carly Smithsen)
Adam: Well... there's never been a artist like Adam before on Idol but that's why he must be there in the Top 12. He's like this weird hybrid of David Cook and Clay Aiken (with a hint of Constantine Maroulis thrown in) that will be fascinating to watch. I can't wait.
Now think about what I would add (and we'll throw my fantasy wild-card picks in here, too):
Lil: The super-talented, big-voiced black girl with a motivational story. (Eg. LaToya London, Vonzelle Solomon, LaKisha Jones)
Jorge: The latin heartthrob. (who unfortunately is not hot) (Eg. A.J. Gil, David Hernandez)
Ju'not: The velvet-voiced R&B singer. (Eg. Nikko Smith, Chikezie)
Matt Giraud: Semi Week 2: Viva La Vida - The soulful blues man. (Eg. Elliot Yamin, Michael Johns)
Megan Joy Corkrey: Semi Week 2: Girl Put Your Records On - The Starbucks special. (Eg. Paris Bennett, Jason Castro)
Kendle Beard: Semi Week 3: This One's for the Girls - The token country blond. (Eg. Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler)
I know it will never happen, (if, for no other reason than there are 7 guys and 5 girls) but this is the top 12 I would really like to see go through. They would bring a diversity of taste and talent to the top 12 that might, finally, make season 8 worth wasting three hours of your life a week to watch.
After we see who gets in tonight, I'll put some actual thought into realistic wild-card picks but until then, this is what I'm going with.
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