After a less than stellar week from the majority of our Idol hopefuls, Wednesday night went down almost how I predicted it would. Here are some thoughts from the Results portion this week.
1. Where in the world is the dramatic recap?! I like to get a little refresher of the performance night before Seacrest starts chopping up people's hopes and dreams. Not really sure why they didn't include it in this episode.
2. "Don't Stop Believing" was the group song this week. However, the contestants did nothing to make us stop believing that they lip-sync the mess out of these songs. The vocals were pretty solid, but there was no choreography at all to pick on. Dang it. I'll say it again, Adam can sing high! I bet he would have sang this song as his pick this week had the producers not already chose it for the group number. But at least they gave him the glory note (even though he is the only person, man or woman, on the show who could hit them).
3. The Ford commercial sorta freaked me out, but was sorta cool. I dunno, it was weird but it made me kind of happy.
4. This group of contestants seem like they genuinely like each other. Their impersonations of their fellow competitors were hilarious. Anoop trumped them all with his impression of Kris lol. Llama jaw!!
5. Ryan introduces yet ANOTHER way to suspensefully deduce who is in the bottom 3 by separating them into 3 groups of 3. One of each group is in the bottom three. The groups are 1. Kris, Megan, and Matt, 2. Adam, Lil', and Allison, and 3. Scott, Danny, and Anoop. When they first showed this, I was POSITIVE that it was Megan, Lil', and Anoop. The shocker was that Lil' is safe AGAIN, and Allison is in the bottom 3, also again. This is getting borderline ridiculous. Allison is a much more consistent performer than Lil' is and I'm not sure that she has earned the right to be in the bottom 3 TWICE!
So the bottom 3 consists of Megan (who "flew" over to her stool, cawing again. I love this girls weirdness), Allison, and Anoop. Finally, they use all of the stools!
6. David Cook sounded no where near as good as he did when he was on Idol. I guess that is the curse of winning AI. You get a nice fancy record contract, but the songs that they make you sing are fodder and not at all a representation of your talent. Wait til he can break away from 19 Records and start doing his own thing. Then you'll see him shine.
7. Lady Gaga is crazy. Why in the world does she have a zipper over her eye and what is she wearing?! I just don't understand. I mean, yea, the song is catchy and all, but she is just out of her mind. I guess that's part of her gig though.
8. Once the show comes back to the reason we are watching, Ryan asks the judges if any are worth saving. "One is" says Simon. He obviously means Allison. Ryan informs us that Allison is safe (DUR) and that it's between Megan and Anoop. After leaving Anoop in suspense again for the 18,000th time this season, it is revealed that he is safe and Megan is going home. Simon said there was no shot at her being saved so this was her "Swan Song." She sang (and I use that term loosely) her song for the judges and proceeded to watch her farewell video. As cool as she's played it so far in the episode, knowing that she was probably going to be the one to go, she breaks down once they start showing her baby and all of her quirky moments in the house. You can tell that she was one of the ones who drew this group of contestants together and I think that she will really be missed by them.
For the most part, what happened is what was supposed to have happened. It's giving me a little more faith in the voters (besides the whole Allison debacle). Next week is "Songs from the Year they were Born" week. I have NO earthly idea how I'm going to pull off my predictions. :-\
You know the deal. Until next week...
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Top 9: Performance Results
Another week down, another batch of performances to critique. So, the category was more or less right this week: “ITunes Top Downloads.” This was pretty wide open for the contestants, seeing as they were not limited to the top 100 like I was. This should be a good thing, right?! They get to pick any song that they would like as long as it’s popular on ITunes. They should KILL it tonight! … Never underestimate the power of stupidity. Though (again) I had an inaccurate list to go on, I still got 2 predictions correct this week. At this rate, I should be able to accurately predict the songs the contestants will sing in the finals, since I’m averaging 2.3 right a week. Let’s move on to the reviews, shall we?
Anoop Desai – Usher “Caught Up”
Poor Anoop. He really defines the term “inconsistent” on this show. After two solid weeks, he gave another subpar imitation of an up-tempo song. It’s making me start to worry about how seriously he is taking this competition. I also think that he has an overly inflated image of who he is as a vocalist. As the pride and joy of the UNC Clef Hangers, it’d be easy to see how that could go to his head. Anoop is good, and he knows he is, but he doesn’t realize that he can’t just come out and sing any song he likes. Usher is a tough act to pull. Not only is Usher a great vocalist, but he’s also a great ENTERTAINER. And when you choose a song like this and don’t PERFORM it well, it comes off as karaoke and dull. This was the same issue that Anoop had during Michael Jackson week. He simply can’t pull off these kinds of songs. He’s proving to be a one trick, balladeer pony, and in order to win this competition, you have to show a little more versatility than that. Anoop is in trouble this week.
Megan Joy – Bob Marley/Lauryn Hill “Turn Your Lights Down Low”
According to my roommate, Kara HAS to be reading this blog! HEY KARA!! Seriously though, she and I are on the same page every episode. The same holds true this week. Megan completely missed the mark. She, again, showed that she has an innate ability to pick the complete wrong song. I suggested that she sing “Chasing Pavements” by Adele, and Kara reiterated this suggestion (this counts as a correct pick for me). Her tone and phrasing screamed this song, but she went with a song that she loved rather than what she would sound good on. Even though I didn’t like the performance, I did feel pretty bad for her. This makes two straight weeks that the judges have ripped her a new one. She is in trouble this week, but her face when she did the mock dial motion was PRICELESS!
Danny Gokey – Rascal Flatts “What Hurts the Most”
As news broke late in the day Tuesday that Danny’s Grandfather had passed away, I had a feeling he would go with a more heartfelt, sentimental choice. I am glad, however, that Idol Producers didn’t feel the need to publicize it on the show. As for his choice of song, I felt that this was a surprisingly good pick for Danny. The past two weeks have been decent, but a bit lackluster in my book for what I expect from him. This week he delivered. There were a few high notes that he didn’t quite hit, but the passion that he put into the song more than made up for that. I’ve always said that Danny was a good vocalist, and I think he made a statement with his performance tonight. He is still a front-runner in this competition and can still sound good on any song. Don’t mistake this as my endorsement for the crown, because I’m still not routing for him, just a subjective observation. Props are given where props are due on this blog.
Allison Iraheta – No Doubt “Don’t Speak”
Allison got some bad reviews this week, but they might have been a little unmerited. Most of the critiques addressed her ensemble more than her actual performance. She did not look completely and utterly foolish up there, so I won’t talk about that. As for her performance, this was a little below par for the standard she has set for herself. Her guitar playing at the beginning was incredibly sloppy. The tempo fluctuated greatly when she played and she seemed completely uncomfortable until she switched to just vocals. My advice to her: don’t do anything on that stage that you aren’t comfortable doing in your sleep. It comes off as amateur. But for what it was worth, her ok performance this week is still better than Megan or Scott’s best performances all season.
Scott MacIntyre – Billy Joel “I Love You Just the Way You Are”
So, Scott finally did a song that he could perform pretty decently. His piano playing was pretty epic tonight, and the vocals weren’t half bad either. I would have chosen a few different phrasings- specific notes that he could have held out longer, parts where he could have went higher in his range, etc. Overall, it was good for him, but it still left me wanting more. I think I will feel this way after a majority, if not all, of Scott’s performance. The dynamics are just not there in his vocals and his tone always bugs me for some reason. It’s because when he sings it’s a mix between being nasal and yawning, if that makes sense. He needs to drop his jaw, raise his soft palette, and get some good resonance out of his notes. With the issues that Scott has shown, plus the overall talent level of the other contestants, there is no possibility of him winning this competition, so I expect him to be in trouble this week.
Matt Giraud – The Fray “You Found Me”
Second correct pick of the show! So, the judges said that this was the wrong song for Matt. I disagree. I think it definitely started out rough with a few pitchy areas and some nerves taking over, but once he settled into the song I thought it was actually quite good. I liked the innovation of performing amongst the crowd. I liked how the band cut out for the first part of the chorus, ultimately crescendoing into a pretty impressive ending. There was a lot of energy in his performance and he sounded good singing it. I think the judges were a little too harsh on him. Just because you sing R&B mostly doesn’t mean that you should be pigeon-holed into that one genre. You should be allowed to express yourself in whatever ways you want. Matt toned down that runs and didn’t oversing the song. I think his fans will appreciate that performance.
Lil’ Rounds – Celine Dion “I Surrender”
So when the video was playing for Lil’ and she said that she thought long and hard about what song would be perfect for her, I was excited…until I heard what song it was. Sorry, dear, but this was not the perfect song choice for you. The entire first half of the song was off pitch and you could tell that the judges comments from the previous two weeks were taking their toll on her. Once she got into the chorus, she found her pitch and showed the big voice that we expect to hear from her, but it was still only ok at best. Lil’ needs to learn that her voice is not well suited for big-belter, white girls songs (remember “Independence Day”). She is an R&B singer and she has gotten away from that. Simon hit it on the head when he suggested Mary J’s cover of “One.” I believe that Lil’ could possibly be in trouble for the first time this season, given three weeks of less-than-stellar performances.
Adam Lambert – Wild Cherry “Play That Funky Music White Boy”
Dang it! I was really hoping Adam would do Journey, but alas, I was still entertained nonetheless. His vocal range is absolutely frickin’ ridiculous. I’m going to try to put this into perspective for you. Last week, Paula gushed over Kris Allen hitting a high A in his song. Tonight, Adam hit the A# above the octave above what Kris sang last week! (that is up one octave and then one half-step if you couldn’t follow that). I’m sure that some people might label it as “screaming” but there is something to be said for him being able to do that live! His riff at the end was pretty baller too, something that people haven’t seen from him yet. Yes, it was slightly indulgent, as Simon would say, but Adam still managed to get away with it and have fun. It was no “Tracks of My Tears,” but it was vintage Adam, it was original, and it was something that people will talk about.
Kris Allen – Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine”
Kris Allen is a machine right now. Aside from Adam, he is more consistent than any other contestant on this show (dare I say, even Gokey?!). This was his best performance of the season so far (though “Just To Prove My Love” is very close). The fact that he went to the keyboard impressed me as well as his arrangement of the song. A string quartet?! You know I have a soft spot in my heart for some staccato string parts! Kris was pitch perfect, his tone was great, and his piano playing was actually quite good! I’m seeing Kris as the ultimate dark horse this season. I’ve always been a Kris fan, but I never truly thought he had what it takes to overthrow the current front-runners. Each week, though, he is proving me wrong and wrong again, consistently inching closer and closer towards Gokey and Lambert. This season is going to have a nice little showdown towards the end, I think!
Overall, tonight’s performances were average. There weren’t many that blew me away, but the one’s that did (Kris Allen specifically) were great. Now is the point in the show where we are seeing which contestants are serious about winning this thing. Some are remaining stagnant while others are consistently pulling away from the herd. It is still up for grabs among the top 5. A few good performances in the next coming weeks can vault anyone from pretender to contender. In my opinion, the contestants who should be the most worried tonight are Anoop, Megan, Scott, and Lil’. I expect that Scott will be safe, given that he performed better than last week, but I don’t think it will save him for long. Megan can’t continue to dodge the bullet and Anoop and Lil’ have been far too inconsistent. My vote as for who SHOULD go home is Megan, but I think that votefortheworst.com will save their poster child again and we will be watching the goodbye video for Anoop. If that is the case, I doubt that the judges will use their save on him. He’s gotten too many second chances on this show already.
A new section is going to be added to the end of each performance review consisting of my power rankings as they stand in MY mind. This does not necessarily mean that the bottom 3 in my rankings are in my bottom 3 predicted for the results show. This is an overall, cumulative ranking whereas the weekly bottom 3 fluctuates due to weekly performances.
1. Adam Lambert
2. Danny Gokey
3. Kris Allen
4. Allison Iraheta
5. Matt Giraud
6. Lil’ Rounds
7. Anoop Desai
8. Scott MacIntrye
9. Megan Joy
You know the deal by now- give me your opinions and discuss openly in the comments section. I expect to get a lot of flack for my homeward-bound prediction, so convince me why I am wrong. Take care, and keep voting for your favorites!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Anoop Desai – Usher “Caught Up”
Poor Anoop. He really defines the term “inconsistent” on this show. After two solid weeks, he gave another subpar imitation of an up-tempo song. It’s making me start to worry about how seriously he is taking this competition. I also think that he has an overly inflated image of who he is as a vocalist. As the pride and joy of the UNC Clef Hangers, it’d be easy to see how that could go to his head. Anoop is good, and he knows he is, but he doesn’t realize that he can’t just come out and sing any song he likes. Usher is a tough act to pull. Not only is Usher a great vocalist, but he’s also a great ENTERTAINER. And when you choose a song like this and don’t PERFORM it well, it comes off as karaoke and dull. This was the same issue that Anoop had during Michael Jackson week. He simply can’t pull off these kinds of songs. He’s proving to be a one trick, balladeer pony, and in order to win this competition, you have to show a little more versatility than that. Anoop is in trouble this week.
Megan Joy – Bob Marley/Lauryn Hill “Turn Your Lights Down Low”
According to my roommate, Kara HAS to be reading this blog! HEY KARA!! Seriously though, she and I are on the same page every episode. The same holds true this week. Megan completely missed the mark. She, again, showed that she has an innate ability to pick the complete wrong song. I suggested that she sing “Chasing Pavements” by Adele, and Kara reiterated this suggestion (this counts as a correct pick for me). Her tone and phrasing screamed this song, but she went with a song that she loved rather than what she would sound good on. Even though I didn’t like the performance, I did feel pretty bad for her. This makes two straight weeks that the judges have ripped her a new one. She is in trouble this week, but her face when she did the mock dial motion was PRICELESS!
Danny Gokey – Rascal Flatts “What Hurts the Most”
As news broke late in the day Tuesday that Danny’s Grandfather had passed away, I had a feeling he would go with a more heartfelt, sentimental choice. I am glad, however, that Idol Producers didn’t feel the need to publicize it on the show. As for his choice of song, I felt that this was a surprisingly good pick for Danny. The past two weeks have been decent, but a bit lackluster in my book for what I expect from him. This week he delivered. There were a few high notes that he didn’t quite hit, but the passion that he put into the song more than made up for that. I’ve always said that Danny was a good vocalist, and I think he made a statement with his performance tonight. He is still a front-runner in this competition and can still sound good on any song. Don’t mistake this as my endorsement for the crown, because I’m still not routing for him, just a subjective observation. Props are given where props are due on this blog.
Allison Iraheta – No Doubt “Don’t Speak”
Allison got some bad reviews this week, but they might have been a little unmerited. Most of the critiques addressed her ensemble more than her actual performance. She did not look completely and utterly foolish up there, so I won’t talk about that. As for her performance, this was a little below par for the standard she has set for herself. Her guitar playing at the beginning was incredibly sloppy. The tempo fluctuated greatly when she played and she seemed completely uncomfortable until she switched to just vocals. My advice to her: don’t do anything on that stage that you aren’t comfortable doing in your sleep. It comes off as amateur. But for what it was worth, her ok performance this week is still better than Megan or Scott’s best performances all season.
Scott MacIntyre – Billy Joel “I Love You Just the Way You Are”
So, Scott finally did a song that he could perform pretty decently. His piano playing was pretty epic tonight, and the vocals weren’t half bad either. I would have chosen a few different phrasings- specific notes that he could have held out longer, parts where he could have went higher in his range, etc. Overall, it was good for him, but it still left me wanting more. I think I will feel this way after a majority, if not all, of Scott’s performance. The dynamics are just not there in his vocals and his tone always bugs me for some reason. It’s because when he sings it’s a mix between being nasal and yawning, if that makes sense. He needs to drop his jaw, raise his soft palette, and get some good resonance out of his notes. With the issues that Scott has shown, plus the overall talent level of the other contestants, there is no possibility of him winning this competition, so I expect him to be in trouble this week.
Matt Giraud – The Fray “You Found Me”
Second correct pick of the show! So, the judges said that this was the wrong song for Matt. I disagree. I think it definitely started out rough with a few pitchy areas and some nerves taking over, but once he settled into the song I thought it was actually quite good. I liked the innovation of performing amongst the crowd. I liked how the band cut out for the first part of the chorus, ultimately crescendoing into a pretty impressive ending. There was a lot of energy in his performance and he sounded good singing it. I think the judges were a little too harsh on him. Just because you sing R&B mostly doesn’t mean that you should be pigeon-holed into that one genre. You should be allowed to express yourself in whatever ways you want. Matt toned down that runs and didn’t oversing the song. I think his fans will appreciate that performance.
Lil’ Rounds – Celine Dion “I Surrender”
So when the video was playing for Lil’ and she said that she thought long and hard about what song would be perfect for her, I was excited…until I heard what song it was. Sorry, dear, but this was not the perfect song choice for you. The entire first half of the song was off pitch and you could tell that the judges comments from the previous two weeks were taking their toll on her. Once she got into the chorus, she found her pitch and showed the big voice that we expect to hear from her, but it was still only ok at best. Lil’ needs to learn that her voice is not well suited for big-belter, white girls songs (remember “Independence Day”). She is an R&B singer and she has gotten away from that. Simon hit it on the head when he suggested Mary J’s cover of “One.” I believe that Lil’ could possibly be in trouble for the first time this season, given three weeks of less-than-stellar performances.
Adam Lambert – Wild Cherry “Play That Funky Music White Boy”
Dang it! I was really hoping Adam would do Journey, but alas, I was still entertained nonetheless. His vocal range is absolutely frickin’ ridiculous. I’m going to try to put this into perspective for you. Last week, Paula gushed over Kris Allen hitting a high A in his song. Tonight, Adam hit the A# above the octave above what Kris sang last week! (that is up one octave and then one half-step if you couldn’t follow that). I’m sure that some people might label it as “screaming” but there is something to be said for him being able to do that live! His riff at the end was pretty baller too, something that people haven’t seen from him yet. Yes, it was slightly indulgent, as Simon would say, but Adam still managed to get away with it and have fun. It was no “Tracks of My Tears,” but it was vintage Adam, it was original, and it was something that people will talk about.
Kris Allen – Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine”
Kris Allen is a machine right now. Aside from Adam, he is more consistent than any other contestant on this show (dare I say, even Gokey?!). This was his best performance of the season so far (though “Just To Prove My Love” is very close). The fact that he went to the keyboard impressed me as well as his arrangement of the song. A string quartet?! You know I have a soft spot in my heart for some staccato string parts! Kris was pitch perfect, his tone was great, and his piano playing was actually quite good! I’m seeing Kris as the ultimate dark horse this season. I’ve always been a Kris fan, but I never truly thought he had what it takes to overthrow the current front-runners. Each week, though, he is proving me wrong and wrong again, consistently inching closer and closer towards Gokey and Lambert. This season is going to have a nice little showdown towards the end, I think!
Overall, tonight’s performances were average. There weren’t many that blew me away, but the one’s that did (Kris Allen specifically) were great. Now is the point in the show where we are seeing which contestants are serious about winning this thing. Some are remaining stagnant while others are consistently pulling away from the herd. It is still up for grabs among the top 5. A few good performances in the next coming weeks can vault anyone from pretender to contender. In my opinion, the contestants who should be the most worried tonight are Anoop, Megan, Scott, and Lil’. I expect that Scott will be safe, given that he performed better than last week, but I don’t think it will save him for long. Megan can’t continue to dodge the bullet and Anoop and Lil’ have been far too inconsistent. My vote as for who SHOULD go home is Megan, but I think that votefortheworst.com will save their poster child again and we will be watching the goodbye video for Anoop. If that is the case, I doubt that the judges will use their save on him. He’s gotten too many second chances on this show already.
A new section is going to be added to the end of each performance review consisting of my power rankings as they stand in MY mind. This does not necessarily mean that the bottom 3 in my rankings are in my bottom 3 predicted for the results show. This is an overall, cumulative ranking whereas the weekly bottom 3 fluctuates due to weekly performances.
1. Adam Lambert
2. Danny Gokey
3. Kris Allen
4. Allison Iraheta
5. Matt Giraud
6. Lil’ Rounds
7. Anoop Desai
8. Scott MacIntrye
9. Megan Joy
You know the deal by now- give me your opinions and discuss openly in the comments section. I expect to get a lot of flack for my homeward-bound prediction, so convince me why I am wrong. Take care, and keep voting for your favorites!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Top 9: Song Predictions- ITunes Top 100
Good day all my fellow American Idol Junkies! This week is (reportedly) ITunes Top 100 week. For the first time this season, they did not OFFICIALLY give us the theme of the week, so this has potential to be completely off. Even if Paula Abdul DID state in an interview that this was the theme, we all know that she is about one shot away from being passed out drunk most of the time. The list that I used is provided in the link below. Here goes nothing…
http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2009/03/american-idol-top-9-theme-itunes-top-100.html
Adam Lambert – Journey “Don’t Stop Believing” or Paramore “Decode”
With a list full of rap songs that don’t even deserve to be sung, Adam initially looks like he’s in trouble this week. That is, until you see Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” hanging around the bottom. This is clearly a no brainer for Adam. He showed his soft side last week with his amazing rendition of “Tracks of My Tears,” but I expect him to fully entertain us this week, a la his first two performances. He is the only singer on the show who can sing the notes that Steve Perry belts out , and plus, there is a rumor that he has his own version of this song that he’s been wanting America to hear. Some of you just went “OH NO! ‘RING OF FIRE!!’” but I’m hoping that he uses a little discretion in taking on a song that is an anthem to Karaoke bars everywhere. If someone else picks that song ahead of him, maybe he could do “Decode,” the theme song from Twilight, since Randy has already dropped that reference on him.
Danny Gokey – Nickelback “Gotta Be Somebody” or Miley Cyrus “The Climb”
I had a hard time placing a song for Danny this week. His voice is hard to put on any of the choices that are on this list, but I’m hoping that he goes a different route than he has been doing. He’s been good, but not great, and if he wants to keep it strong heading into the final weeks, he needs to deliver a big performance. I can see him “Gotta Be Somebody,” seeing as Chad Kroger has a similar tamber to his voice as Danny does. I had another song picked before I put “The Climb” as an option. I was reading last night that Danny’s Grandfather apparently passed away some time this week and he had to fly back to Milwaukee for the funeral. This is all according to a blog from a member of his church. He’s had a rough year, and this is one of the only “stirring” songs on the list. This might not come to pass, however. I think he is trying to downplay the media, seeing as the original blog has since expunged all references of the death and there has not been any mention of it in the news headlines. I don’t think he liked the fact that Idol Producers exploited his wife’s death to such an extent that people labeled him as getting sympathy votes.
Allison Iraheta – Pink “Sober” or Miley Cyrus “The Climb”
All season, the judges have told Allison that she has the whole “Pink vibe” going for her. She’s got the same tone, same style, and same attitude in her voice as Pink does. Many would consider it stupid for her to pass up this opportunity. Granted since she has the same voice type, the judges would probably label her as Cabaret, but I think that she would be VERY hard pressed to find anything else on this list that would suit her voice as well. That being said, I would actually love to hear her sing “The Climb” as well. Before you start thinking anything, no, I don’t have an unusual obsession with this song. It just seems to fit for Danny and Allison this week. I’ve stated previously that I want to see Allison do a ballad and this would be a surprisingly nice pick for her voice. Potential to be an “Idol Moment”…perhaps.
Matt Giraud – The Fray “You Found Me” or Kanye “Heartless” (Fray Version)
Matt was a wreck after he found out that he was in the bottom 2 last week. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone as distraught as he was, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. I’m not the biggest Matt G. fan out there, but I do recognize that he didn’t deserve to be in the bottom 2 over Scott and Megan. I think he got the classic voter response “Oh he did great this week, enough people will vote for him that I don’t have to.” Wrong. I imagine that since last week he left the piano to “perform” a little more (and that did him no good), this week he’ll be seated firmly and comfortably at the ivory. There aren’t many piano friendly songs on the list, but either of the Fray songs are possibilities. I think “You Found Me” is a better choice for his voice, but “Heartless” would be a fun little spin. They could give him a synthesizer and everything. As cool as that would be, I doubt he’ll be that risky since he was so close to going home last week. Expect him to play it safe with the first option. Matt G. fans- your boy needs your vote!
Kris Allen – Matt Nathanson “Come on Get Higher” or Plain White T’s “1, 2, 3, 4”
Well, Kris is continuously giving solid performance after solid performance. “Come on Get Higher” would be another one of those. He can play his guitar again and swoon the ladies at the same time. It’s also a pretty catchy little song, so people will remember it. You could also take some liberties with the melody and do some funky stuff to spice it up. I would like to here “1, 2, 3, 4.” Not many people know this song yet, I don’t think, but it is a pretty awesome and clever song. Another guitar lady-killer. However, don’t be shocked if he pulls out some rap song like “Live Your Life” by TI. My boy got some swagga to him, I think.
Anoop Desai – Ne Yo “Mad”
Surprisingly, there are not that many R&B songs on the list as I would have thought there’d be. I think Anoop has learned his lesson in taking on songs that don’t fit his voice at all. I wouldn’t expect him to turn too far from his soulful roots, and this is one of the only songs that I feel could let him do that. Now, if he’s feeling risky, he might be able to turn one of these songs on it’s head and put a completely different spin on it. I’m not sure what song would fit in that category, but he might be able to pull it off.
Lil’ Rounds – Beyonce “Halo” or Pussycat Dolls “I Hate This Part”
Two less-than-stellar weeks in a row from Lil’ have people questioning whether she is as good as we thought she was. Last week Randy advised her to just go out there and SANG! I expect her to do that this week. Again, not too many R&B ballads on the list this week, but I can hear her singing “Halo” by Beyonce. Good song where she can focus simply on the vocals, and it can also highlight some dynamics, should she choose to show them. “I Hate This Part” could also be a good choice, but I expect the allure of singing Beyonce to win in that fight. This is a crucial week for Lil’. If she does not perform tonight, then I think she is in the realm of needing to be really worried.
Scott MacIntyre – Brad Paisley “Then”
Ok, so if nothing has convinced me that Scott should not be on the show, it was this week (in addition to every past week). We have had 3 themed weeks so far (Michael Jackson, Grande Ole’ Opry, and Motown). Not ONE of those weeks was there a song that could fit his voice/style. That is the same problem that I’m seeing this week. It is going to be very hard for him to pick from this list and find something that is going to grab our attention. If he was smart (which, given his song choice so far, he is not) he should do “Then” by Brad Paisley. 1. It’s a simple song that doesn’t go out of his range. 2. It is a piano driven song. 3. It’s emotional and he can connect to the audience like he did in Hollywood with his passion, something he’s lost of late. 4. And perhaps the biggest plus, he would be able to pick up some of the country voters who were pulling for Michael Sarver. From a strategic standpoint, I think this is the way to go.
Megan Corkery – Adele “Chasing Pavements,” or Taylor Swift “Love Story”
If ever there was a time that Megan was going to sing a song perfect for her voice, it would be now. “Chasing Pavements” is a no brainer here. Megan has the same bluesy/jazzy voice that Adele has as well as similar vocal phrasing. There will never EVER come a time with a more perfect song for you, Megan, so don’t be stupid here. After the past few weeks though, I fully expect her to be stupid and pass on the song perfect for her for another one that she can mar to oblivion. “Love Story” would be my pick if she decided to do that. It’s a popular song that draws in multiple voting groups (country and pop) thanks to the rereleased version with the synthesized drum kit (LAME!). She wouldn’t sound terrible on it, since Taylor Swift isn’t that strong of a vocalist, but I think she would be gyping herself if she went anywhere away from Adele. She wasn’t in the bottom 3 last week, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have been. Since this week is showcasing some of the most radio friendly songs in the country, we’ll see if Clayton’s assertion that she would be the best on the radio stands true. (P.S. If you are wondering why she sucks as a performer, it’s because she’s NEVER performed on a stage before. She is a complete novice when it comes to this. It helped put things in perspective for me. It’s sad that I have more experience singing in front of people than a top 9 contestant on American Idol…)
There you have it folks, my predictions for ITunes Top 100 week! Let me know what you think. All comments are welcome, even those saying that I’m a complete goober and don’t know what I’m talking about. The board needs to be re-energized, so bring it!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
(P.S. If Normund Gentle was still on the show he would so pick “I’m On a Boat!” And it would have been awesome.)
http://blog.zap2it.com/americanidol/2009/03/american-idol-top-9-theme-itunes-top-100.html
Adam Lambert – Journey “Don’t Stop Believing” or Paramore “Decode”
With a list full of rap songs that don’t even deserve to be sung, Adam initially looks like he’s in trouble this week. That is, until you see Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” hanging around the bottom. This is clearly a no brainer for Adam. He showed his soft side last week with his amazing rendition of “Tracks of My Tears,” but I expect him to fully entertain us this week, a la his first two performances. He is the only singer on the show who can sing the notes that Steve Perry belts out , and plus, there is a rumor that he has his own version of this song that he’s been wanting America to hear. Some of you just went “OH NO! ‘RING OF FIRE!!’” but I’m hoping that he uses a little discretion in taking on a song that is an anthem to Karaoke bars everywhere. If someone else picks that song ahead of him, maybe he could do “Decode,” the theme song from Twilight, since Randy has already dropped that reference on him.
Danny Gokey – Nickelback “Gotta Be Somebody” or Miley Cyrus “The Climb”
I had a hard time placing a song for Danny this week. His voice is hard to put on any of the choices that are on this list, but I’m hoping that he goes a different route than he has been doing. He’s been good, but not great, and if he wants to keep it strong heading into the final weeks, he needs to deliver a big performance. I can see him “Gotta Be Somebody,” seeing as Chad Kroger has a similar tamber to his voice as Danny does. I had another song picked before I put “The Climb” as an option. I was reading last night that Danny’s Grandfather apparently passed away some time this week and he had to fly back to Milwaukee for the funeral. This is all according to a blog from a member of his church. He’s had a rough year, and this is one of the only “stirring” songs on the list. This might not come to pass, however. I think he is trying to downplay the media, seeing as the original blog has since expunged all references of the death and there has not been any mention of it in the news headlines. I don’t think he liked the fact that Idol Producers exploited his wife’s death to such an extent that people labeled him as getting sympathy votes.
Allison Iraheta – Pink “Sober” or Miley Cyrus “The Climb”
All season, the judges have told Allison that she has the whole “Pink vibe” going for her. She’s got the same tone, same style, and same attitude in her voice as Pink does. Many would consider it stupid for her to pass up this opportunity. Granted since she has the same voice type, the judges would probably label her as Cabaret, but I think that she would be VERY hard pressed to find anything else on this list that would suit her voice as well. That being said, I would actually love to hear her sing “The Climb” as well. Before you start thinking anything, no, I don’t have an unusual obsession with this song. It just seems to fit for Danny and Allison this week. I’ve stated previously that I want to see Allison do a ballad and this would be a surprisingly nice pick for her voice. Potential to be an “Idol Moment”…perhaps.
Matt Giraud – The Fray “You Found Me” or Kanye “Heartless” (Fray Version)
Matt was a wreck after he found out that he was in the bottom 2 last week. I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone as distraught as he was, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. I’m not the biggest Matt G. fan out there, but I do recognize that he didn’t deserve to be in the bottom 2 over Scott and Megan. I think he got the classic voter response “Oh he did great this week, enough people will vote for him that I don’t have to.” Wrong. I imagine that since last week he left the piano to “perform” a little more (and that did him no good), this week he’ll be seated firmly and comfortably at the ivory. There aren’t many piano friendly songs on the list, but either of the Fray songs are possibilities. I think “You Found Me” is a better choice for his voice, but “Heartless” would be a fun little spin. They could give him a synthesizer and everything. As cool as that would be, I doubt he’ll be that risky since he was so close to going home last week. Expect him to play it safe with the first option. Matt G. fans- your boy needs your vote!
Kris Allen – Matt Nathanson “Come on Get Higher” or Plain White T’s “1, 2, 3, 4”
Well, Kris is continuously giving solid performance after solid performance. “Come on Get Higher” would be another one of those. He can play his guitar again and swoon the ladies at the same time. It’s also a pretty catchy little song, so people will remember it. You could also take some liberties with the melody and do some funky stuff to spice it up. I would like to here “1, 2, 3, 4.” Not many people know this song yet, I don’t think, but it is a pretty awesome and clever song. Another guitar lady-killer. However, don’t be shocked if he pulls out some rap song like “Live Your Life” by TI. My boy got some swagga to him, I think.
Anoop Desai – Ne Yo “Mad”
Surprisingly, there are not that many R&B songs on the list as I would have thought there’d be. I think Anoop has learned his lesson in taking on songs that don’t fit his voice at all. I wouldn’t expect him to turn too far from his soulful roots, and this is one of the only songs that I feel could let him do that. Now, if he’s feeling risky, he might be able to turn one of these songs on it’s head and put a completely different spin on it. I’m not sure what song would fit in that category, but he might be able to pull it off.
Lil’ Rounds – Beyonce “Halo” or Pussycat Dolls “I Hate This Part”
Two less-than-stellar weeks in a row from Lil’ have people questioning whether she is as good as we thought she was. Last week Randy advised her to just go out there and SANG! I expect her to do that this week. Again, not too many R&B ballads on the list this week, but I can hear her singing “Halo” by Beyonce. Good song where she can focus simply on the vocals, and it can also highlight some dynamics, should she choose to show them. “I Hate This Part” could also be a good choice, but I expect the allure of singing Beyonce to win in that fight. This is a crucial week for Lil’. If she does not perform tonight, then I think she is in the realm of needing to be really worried.
Scott MacIntyre – Brad Paisley “Then”
Ok, so if nothing has convinced me that Scott should not be on the show, it was this week (in addition to every past week). We have had 3 themed weeks so far (Michael Jackson, Grande Ole’ Opry, and Motown). Not ONE of those weeks was there a song that could fit his voice/style. That is the same problem that I’m seeing this week. It is going to be very hard for him to pick from this list and find something that is going to grab our attention. If he was smart (which, given his song choice so far, he is not) he should do “Then” by Brad Paisley. 1. It’s a simple song that doesn’t go out of his range. 2. It is a piano driven song. 3. It’s emotional and he can connect to the audience like he did in Hollywood with his passion, something he’s lost of late. 4. And perhaps the biggest plus, he would be able to pick up some of the country voters who were pulling for Michael Sarver. From a strategic standpoint, I think this is the way to go.
Megan Corkery – Adele “Chasing Pavements,” or Taylor Swift “Love Story”
If ever there was a time that Megan was going to sing a song perfect for her voice, it would be now. “Chasing Pavements” is a no brainer here. Megan has the same bluesy/jazzy voice that Adele has as well as similar vocal phrasing. There will never EVER come a time with a more perfect song for you, Megan, so don’t be stupid here. After the past few weeks though, I fully expect her to be stupid and pass on the song perfect for her for another one that she can mar to oblivion. “Love Story” would be my pick if she decided to do that. It’s a popular song that draws in multiple voting groups (country and pop) thanks to the rereleased version with the synthesized drum kit (LAME!). She wouldn’t sound terrible on it, since Taylor Swift isn’t that strong of a vocalist, but I think she would be gyping herself if she went anywhere away from Adele. She wasn’t in the bottom 3 last week, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have been. Since this week is showcasing some of the most radio friendly songs in the country, we’ll see if Clayton’s assertion that she would be the best on the radio stands true. (P.S. If you are wondering why she sucks as a performer, it’s because she’s NEVER performed on a stage before. She is a complete novice when it comes to this. It helped put things in perspective for me. It’s sad that I have more experience singing in front of people than a top 9 contestant on American Idol…)
There you have it folks, my predictions for ITunes Top 100 week! Let me know what you think. All comments are welcome, even those saying that I’m a complete goober and don’t know what I’m talking about. The board needs to be re-energized, so bring it!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
(P.S. If Normund Gentle was still on the show he would so pick “I’m On a Boat!” And it would have been awesome.)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
9 Ladies Dancing: Elimination Results (SPOILER ALERT!)
So, another week is down and we have our top 9. I'm glad to report that America got it right this week! A few quick thoughts on Thursday night's show:
1. What the crap was that opening number?! So the producers have gone to an all time low. Not only are they lip-syncing their performance, but they are PRE-FILMING them also. What strikes me as funny is that not many people picked up on it! It was painfully obvious with all of the quick camera cuts and the magical changing of formations instantly. But how can these people still not lip-sync well on a pre-recorded video?! If Britney Spears can do it, I'm pretty sure anyone can. Everyone in my living room busted out laughing when Matt G. tried to riff-sync and failed miserably. Oh, and I called "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," but I'm not counting it since it was part of that ridiculous medley.
2. I like how Ryan is now picking on Kara as well as Simon. He punked her about her math problem the other night. In referring to Adam's performance she said, "I've got six words for you. One of the best performances of the night!" Errrr, FAIL! That is 8 words, lady. Yet as previously commented, I'm sure she just got caught in the moment and meant "tonight" instead of "of the night."
3. Ford needs to get on the ball. They have not had very good commercials this year (wait, have they ever?). This weeks was just plain awful though. And "Pocket Full of Sunshine" is only about 2 years too late. Get with the times Ford. I know we are in a recession, but advertising is still important for a major company. Invest wisely, b/c that was a waste of money.
4. I want to quote one review that I read on Ruben Studdard's performance: "Ruben Studdard and the American Idol stage lights are in an abusive relationship. The poor guy sweats like a pedophile chasing a school bus." HAHAHA! I about fell out of my chair when I read that. Ruben sounded good tonight though. He would easily be top 3 this season.
4. Did anyone else think that Joss Stone and Smokey Robinson sounded horrible together? Joss did her thing, but Smokey was struggling big time. As one site stated, Smokey looks like a cartoon! That had me laughing. I guess it doesn't matter, he's still a legend and I'm not. Nor are you, Anoop. His referring to himself as a legend was supposed to be a little funny, but came off the wrong way I think.
5. The bottom 3 consisted of Michael, Matt, and Scott this week. I'm fairly certain that Megan is only getting by on her looks because she should definitely be there over Matt. They treated Matt pretty wrong tonight. The entire time he was on the stools he was obviously emotional. He had the quivering chin, like he was fighting off tears. He couldn't even enjoy Stevie Wonder's performance because he was so nervous about being eliminated. Michael was all smiling and dancing and clapping and Matt was just standing there fighting back the rivers behind his eyes. After revealing that Scott was safe, leaving only Matt and Michael, you could tell Matt was on the verge of breaking. Once they announced he was safe, it was like Lightning McQueen! He jetted back over the safe couch! I'm glad he was safe, because he is much better than Michael, and you could tell that Michael had prepared himself to be going home. His bags were already packed I bet. He sounded much better tonight on "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." One last hoorah before he heads home. The fact that the judges took so long debating whether or not to save him was stupid though. Why save someone who has a 0% shot of winning the competition. Sorry, Mikey, but it was your time to go.
Well there you have it, my roundup of the results show. Sorry again for it being late. Did America get it right this week? Is Matt REALLY in trouble? Is Smokey Robinson really a cartoon? Let me know what you think!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Top 10: Performance Results
The songs have been sung. The votes have been cast. Last nights performances (for the most part) made me a believer in this group of contestants for the first time. Prior to this, I did not feel that they measured up to the standards that the previous Idol seasons had set (forgetting the Taylor Hicks season, of course). I've known that they could sing, but something had been missing. Maybe it's me just getting used to them. Or maybe it's the fact that they have gotten comfortable on the stage and are not letting nerves get the better of them. I'm thinking it's a little of both, but with this newfound confidence that some of the contestants are finding, this show has now moved from a two man battle to one where anyone can take it all. Well...most anyone.
Last night was Motown night. Smokey Robinson was in the house. I like that cat. He seems pretty cool. I was interested to see what songs the contestants were going to pick. I'm going to say I got 2/10 correct from my predictions, taking into account the whole "what you should have sang" thing. I was so close to having the 3rd had I just stuck to my gut, but I'll discuss that later. On to the critiques!
Matt Giraud, “Let’s Get It On”
So, I didn't think that anyone was going to attempt this song because of it's iconic nature, as well as sexually suggestive lyrics (wait, are they suggestive or just plain sexual?). However, I thought he pulled it off pretty nicely. I liked how he used the piano to show of his talents a bit, but not let it be a crutch to him like they told Scott last week. His vocals were also much more improved from last week. I'm not QUITE as excited about his riffing as Paula and Kara are. He can sing runs, there's no doubt about it, but they are not disciplined at all. Sometimes it sounds like he's shaking the notes out rather than singing them out. That was my only issue with this performance. The switches from chest voice to falsetto were very nice. This was another solid performance from Matt.
Kris Allen, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
The pros of doing this song: everyone knows it and loves it, plus it's easy enough to put your own spin on it (which Kris did). The cons: EVERYONE has done this song and no matter how you do it, it's ALWAYS just a tad on the "good but not great" side. I think Kris did a good job on this song. Like the judges said, he's in his zone and performing well on every song. For me though, the song just didn't have that much emotion in it. It was a very safe performance that didn't show me anything new from him. I sorta wish he would have just kept it him and the acoustic, because again, the band drowned out the pretty sweet chords he was playing. And I still can't get over the llama face, man. I like Kris a lot, but someone has got to tell this dude that he looks absolutely ridiculous when he juts his chin 3 inches to the right everytime he hits a high note! What was impressive, however, was Paula's ability to hear the correct note that Kris sang at the end. It was actually an A! Again, solid, but not great, performance from Kris.
Scott MacIntyre, “You Can’t Hurry Love”
WHAT!? My first correct pick of the season that the performer actually sang! What's funny is this was the one I was least sure of. Kudos to Scott for upping the tempo a little this week and having a little bit of fun up there. The singers around the piano was a nice touch. The performance itself was ok, bordering on not good, to me though. I disagree with Simon, I thought the piano playing was great, but I have just come to the conclusion that I don't think he can sing that well. I can pick 10 of my friends who can sing better than him. I think the well is running up sorta dry on Scott and I think he may be in trouble this week.
Megan Joy, “For Once In My Life"
Megan, Megan, Megan...I don't know what that was, doll, but it sho' won't good. You all know how I feel about her voice (don't like it), but she has never had a train-wreck as bad as this one. She didn't hit any of her high notes, her virbrato was crazy annoying, and it come off too forced. Kara and I must be on the same page, because she told Megan that she should have sang "My Guy," the song I picked for her (I count that as a correct pick. I shouldn't be penalized for the contestants stupidity!) I agree with the judges that she is simply picking the wrong songs for her style of voice. It's like she's never heard herself sing before and doesn't know what she can handle. This is something that most singers KNOW! Maybe it's nerves though, b/c I always seem to liker her singing in the videos better than I do live. Hmmmm...I do not know, but I think she is in trouble.
Anoop Desai, “Oooh, Baby Baby”
So, as you have read in previous blogs, I've often commented on how Chapel Hill girls are just short of throwing their panties at the TV after every Anoop performance. This time it literally happened! Girls brought their panties and threw them at my TV last night...and it was hilarious. Anyway, Anoop is hitting his stride right now. He sounded very good last night, aside from some off-pitch falsetto's. It was INCREDIBLY safe though. I don't know if he couldn't do "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" because he lost in the hat draw, but I would have rather heard him sing that song than the guy who actually did (more on that in a sec). Now that Anoop has found his vocals again, I want to hear/see him PERFORM like a superstar. If he finds a fast song that he can shred, he has a legit shot of becoming a front-runner. He's slowly climbing, but he still needs to show people that he is a total package.
Michael Sarver, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
I'm glad Michael is not too proud to beg (wait...how IRONIC...he IS begging to stay on the show right now!). You will hear it here every week until it happens. I want Michael off the show. He is terrible. He is fodder. He thinks he can sing much better than he actually can and it's starting to annoy me. His version of "Ain't Too Proud" was karaoke hell. Again, he doesn't open up his mouth when he sings, his runs are God awful (that's being nice), and he is awkward as mess on the stage. I'm sorry if any of you love Michael, but it's high time he went home.
Lil Rounds, “Heatwave”
The first thought that came to my mind when I saw Lil' was Beyonce's song "Pat yo' Weave." That was insane, but hey, whatever works for you, Lil'. As for the song, I stand by my pick. She would have sounded much better doing "Stop! In the Name of Love." Something that I have noticed from Lil', that didn't strike me until last night, is that she is capable of two settings: not singing at all and loud as all get out. I have not heard her back down off the pipes and every song lately has felt forced and screamed. It's like she thinks she has to out-power everyone else to showcase her voice. I don't know, but this song didn't do anything for me. She needs to learn that singing is about more than just belting every note you sing. You need dynamics. You need expression. You need emotion. I'm not seeing any of these things from Lil' right now.
Adam Lambert, “Tracks of My Tears”
Amazing. This is exactly what Adam needed to do after he scared some people last week. I thought his arrangement of this song was perfect for his voice and he really showed a side that no one has seen from him this season. We know he can hit the big notes and entertain us with his stage presence. But what was crazy is that I thought he did a better job of capturing everyone's attention with this song than he did with any of his up-tempo numbers. It was somewhat captivating listening to him sing the words of that song and it felt like he was actually connecting to what he was singing. Kara hit it dead on. That is artistry.
Danny Gokey, “Get Ready”
As I'll say most weeks, Danny sang well this week. His voice sounded pretty good on the song (though this might have been his weakest performance yet). He does need to watch it with all of the cheese he's bringing every week. I'm not sure if people are really digging that. It might be just me, but ever since they stopped talking about his wife (RIP), interest in Danny is starting to slip. One website had him at number 4 in terms of popularity at the moment. I'm not sure if he is letting the proclamation of him being in the finals go to his head, but I think he needs to pick better songs and take this a little more seriously than he has. He's obviously safe, but if he doesn't do something to make people start talking about him again, he might be looking for the save card here in a few weeks.
Allison Iraheta, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
Ok, so if I had stuck to my gut, I would have gotten this pick right. I had it up there for her, and then erased it last minute...STUPID! What else can I say, Allison killed it tonight. She got the buzz going again with a great performance that showcased how extremely seasoned she is at 16. The last note was great and I don't think she'll need to worry about being in the bottom 3 this week. I DO still want to hear a ballad from her one of these days. But I'll settle for this for now.
Overall, it was a pretty good show tonight. I think Michael, Megan, and Scott will be in the bottom 3. They were just simply not up to par with everyone else. However, Idol wouldn't be Idol without it's "shock of the week," so expect the potential for Scott to be replaced with either Lil' or Kris (even though they don't deserve to be there).
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Michael should go home. End of discussion. Debate me if you must, but I will win.
Again, I apologize for the late post, but work was insane today! As always, leave your comments and let me know where I was right or wrong. The first week was GREAT! Now let's keep it going!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Last night was Motown night. Smokey Robinson was in the house. I like that cat. He seems pretty cool. I was interested to see what songs the contestants were going to pick. I'm going to say I got 2/10 correct from my predictions, taking into account the whole "what you should have sang" thing. I was so close to having the 3rd had I just stuck to my gut, but I'll discuss that later. On to the critiques!
Matt Giraud, “Let’s Get It On”
So, I didn't think that anyone was going to attempt this song because of it's iconic nature, as well as sexually suggestive lyrics (wait, are they suggestive or just plain sexual?). However, I thought he pulled it off pretty nicely. I liked how he used the piano to show of his talents a bit, but not let it be a crutch to him like they told Scott last week. His vocals were also much more improved from last week. I'm not QUITE as excited about his riffing as Paula and Kara are. He can sing runs, there's no doubt about it, but they are not disciplined at all. Sometimes it sounds like he's shaking the notes out rather than singing them out. That was my only issue with this performance. The switches from chest voice to falsetto were very nice. This was another solid performance from Matt.
Kris Allen, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
The pros of doing this song: everyone knows it and loves it, plus it's easy enough to put your own spin on it (which Kris did). The cons: EVERYONE has done this song and no matter how you do it, it's ALWAYS just a tad on the "good but not great" side. I think Kris did a good job on this song. Like the judges said, he's in his zone and performing well on every song. For me though, the song just didn't have that much emotion in it. It was a very safe performance that didn't show me anything new from him. I sorta wish he would have just kept it him and the acoustic, because again, the band drowned out the pretty sweet chords he was playing. And I still can't get over the llama face, man. I like Kris a lot, but someone has got to tell this dude that he looks absolutely ridiculous when he juts his chin 3 inches to the right everytime he hits a high note! What was impressive, however, was Paula's ability to hear the correct note that Kris sang at the end. It was actually an A! Again, solid, but not great, performance from Kris.
Scott MacIntyre, “You Can’t Hurry Love”
WHAT!? My first correct pick of the season that the performer actually sang! What's funny is this was the one I was least sure of. Kudos to Scott for upping the tempo a little this week and having a little bit of fun up there. The singers around the piano was a nice touch. The performance itself was ok, bordering on not good, to me though. I disagree with Simon, I thought the piano playing was great, but I have just come to the conclusion that I don't think he can sing that well. I can pick 10 of my friends who can sing better than him. I think the well is running up sorta dry on Scott and I think he may be in trouble this week.
Megan Joy, “For Once In My Life"
Megan, Megan, Megan...I don't know what that was, doll, but it sho' won't good. You all know how I feel about her voice (don't like it), but she has never had a train-wreck as bad as this one. She didn't hit any of her high notes, her virbrato was crazy annoying, and it come off too forced. Kara and I must be on the same page, because she told Megan that she should have sang "My Guy," the song I picked for her (I count that as a correct pick. I shouldn't be penalized for the contestants stupidity!) I agree with the judges that she is simply picking the wrong songs for her style of voice. It's like she's never heard herself sing before and doesn't know what she can handle. This is something that most singers KNOW! Maybe it's nerves though, b/c I always seem to liker her singing in the videos better than I do live. Hmmmm...I do not know, but I think she is in trouble.
Anoop Desai, “Oooh, Baby Baby”
So, as you have read in previous blogs, I've often commented on how Chapel Hill girls are just short of throwing their panties at the TV after every Anoop performance. This time it literally happened! Girls brought their panties and threw them at my TV last night...and it was hilarious. Anyway, Anoop is hitting his stride right now. He sounded very good last night, aside from some off-pitch falsetto's. It was INCREDIBLY safe though. I don't know if he couldn't do "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" because he lost in the hat draw, but I would have rather heard him sing that song than the guy who actually did (more on that in a sec). Now that Anoop has found his vocals again, I want to hear/see him PERFORM like a superstar. If he finds a fast song that he can shred, he has a legit shot of becoming a front-runner. He's slowly climbing, but he still needs to show people that he is a total package.
Michael Sarver, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
I'm glad Michael is not too proud to beg (wait...how IRONIC...he IS begging to stay on the show right now!). You will hear it here every week until it happens. I want Michael off the show. He is terrible. He is fodder. He thinks he can sing much better than he actually can and it's starting to annoy me. His version of "Ain't Too Proud" was karaoke hell. Again, he doesn't open up his mouth when he sings, his runs are God awful (that's being nice), and he is awkward as mess on the stage. I'm sorry if any of you love Michael, but it's high time he went home.
Lil Rounds, “Heatwave”
The first thought that came to my mind when I saw Lil' was Beyonce's song "Pat yo' Weave." That was insane, but hey, whatever works for you, Lil'. As for the song, I stand by my pick. She would have sounded much better doing "Stop! In the Name of Love." Something that I have noticed from Lil', that didn't strike me until last night, is that she is capable of two settings: not singing at all and loud as all get out. I have not heard her back down off the pipes and every song lately has felt forced and screamed. It's like she thinks she has to out-power everyone else to showcase her voice. I don't know, but this song didn't do anything for me. She needs to learn that singing is about more than just belting every note you sing. You need dynamics. You need expression. You need emotion. I'm not seeing any of these things from Lil' right now.
Adam Lambert, “Tracks of My Tears”
Amazing. This is exactly what Adam needed to do after he scared some people last week. I thought his arrangement of this song was perfect for his voice and he really showed a side that no one has seen from him this season. We know he can hit the big notes and entertain us with his stage presence. But what was crazy is that I thought he did a better job of capturing everyone's attention with this song than he did with any of his up-tempo numbers. It was somewhat captivating listening to him sing the words of that song and it felt like he was actually connecting to what he was singing. Kara hit it dead on. That is artistry.
Danny Gokey, “Get Ready”
As I'll say most weeks, Danny sang well this week. His voice sounded pretty good on the song (though this might have been his weakest performance yet). He does need to watch it with all of the cheese he's bringing every week. I'm not sure if people are really digging that. It might be just me, but ever since they stopped talking about his wife (RIP), interest in Danny is starting to slip. One website had him at number 4 in terms of popularity at the moment. I'm not sure if he is letting the proclamation of him being in the finals go to his head, but I think he needs to pick better songs and take this a little more seriously than he has. He's obviously safe, but if he doesn't do something to make people start talking about him again, he might be looking for the save card here in a few weeks.
Allison Iraheta, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
Ok, so if I had stuck to my gut, I would have gotten this pick right. I had it up there for her, and then erased it last minute...STUPID! What else can I say, Allison killed it tonight. She got the buzz going again with a great performance that showcased how extremely seasoned she is at 16. The last note was great and I don't think she'll need to worry about being in the bottom 3 this week. I DO still want to hear a ballad from her one of these days. But I'll settle for this for now.
Overall, it was a pretty good show tonight. I think Michael, Megan, and Scott will be in the bottom 3. They were just simply not up to par with everyone else. However, Idol wouldn't be Idol without it's "shock of the week," so expect the potential for Scott to be replaced with either Lil' or Kris (even though they don't deserve to be there).
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Michael should go home. End of discussion. Debate me if you must, but I will win.
Again, I apologize for the late post, but work was insane today! As always, leave your comments and let me know where I was right or wrong. The first week was GREAT! Now let's keep it going!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Top 10: Song Predictions- 50 Years of Motown
Welcome back to another fun-filled post where I will (try to) predict which songs the American Idol contestants are going to sing this week. As was evident from last week, it’s tough to pick the songs when you don’t have the actual song list that the contestants are choosing from. The list I found last week turned out to be not-so-legit, so it seriously affected my numbers. This week I face the same problem because I only have a list of the top 100 songs from tonight’s category to help me in my choices. We’ll see how I do!
This week, the theme is “50 Years of Motown.” Anoop is probably running around the Idol Mansion like a kid at Christmas. Hopefully, he can perform. Here is the list of songs that I had to choose from:
http://www.nexttalks.com/blogs/1/posts/137
On to the predictions…
Adam Lambert – Edwin Starr “War” or Temptations “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”
This was a tough pick for me. After last weeks controversial “Ring of Fire,” I expect Adam to play it safe with a song that people can’t get as worked up over. He needs to win back some of the votes he lost, and do it in a way that won’t lose him more. However, I do feel like he will still be himself and pick something that sends a message about who he is. For some reason, “War” stands out as a perfect song for him to do. It’s got plenty of funk as well as some baller high notes (screams?) for him to show off on. “Papa” could also be a good pick, but how funny would it be if he did Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out?”
Danny Gokey – Marvin Gaye “What’s Goin’ On?”
Aside from Adam, Danny is probably the only other contestant who could touch a song as iconic as “What’s Goin’ On?” and pull it off. His natural rasp and soulful voice could sound great on this song, and I’m not the biggest fan of his voice. It also has a positive message that is not nearly as cheesy as “Jesus Take the Wheel” (Yes I’m still not over that yet). Look for big things from Danny.
Lil Rounds – Supremes “Stop! In the Name of Love”
So, after a so-so week from Lil’ where a LOT of people weren’t impressed, she needs to come through big time this week. The problem with Motown week for the girls is that aside from Gladys Knight, there weren’t any really big-belter singers. I mean, really, Diana Ross isn’t that GREAT of a singer. However, this is one song that has the ability to be converted into a power-song. I think she knows that she needs to go off this week, and picking a song that everyone knows, and killing it, is the way to do just that. Expect her to have a lot of fun and show off her personality.
Kris Allen – Stevie Wonder “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”
So, this is probably my favorite pick of the whole lot. I think that Kris would KILL this song. I have no idea why, but the energy that he brings with his up-tempo performances fits perfectly with the style of this song. It’s funky, it’s hip, and it’s got some soul, all things that Kris can flourish in. I’ve said since the beginning that he reminds me of Nick Lachey, but Kristen expounded on that sentiment by stating “he is Nick Lachey stuck in a drier.” HAHAHA! After the soft lady-killer from last week, expect him to jazz it up a little this week and show the kind of performance that got him into the top 13 in the first place.
Matt Giraud – Marvin Gaye “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”
A lot of people are excited about what Matt will bring to the table this week, and I am one of them. I am not the biggest proponent of Matt’s but I think he could do amazing this week with “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” His performance of “George” during Hollywood week showed how much soul he can have when singing, and though we haven’t seen it at it’s full potential since then, I think he can shine here. One website has him as #3 on their power poll, and a good performance this week can justify that ranking.
Anoop Desai – Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” or “My Girl”
Anoop is frothing at the mouth at a chance to show America his Motown vibe this week. Most of us who went to Carolina have heard how good Anoop can sound doing the likes of Boyz II Men. I’m hoping that Boyz II Men will be on their list to choose from, but if not then either of these songs would work nicely. “Ain’t Too Proud” is one of the most soul-filled songs around and it would be an opportunity for Anoop to show off his runs as well as his falsetto (something the judges go gah-gah over). “My Girl” would be another good choice to cater to the female vote. Crooning either of these would vault him into potential top 5 status.
Allison Iraheta – Gladys Knight & The Pips “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” or Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”
So, I’ve already given “Grapevine” to Matt G. but I wouldn’t be mad if I heard it from Allison. I’d actually be pretty stoked. I am in the boat that thinks that she needs to do a slow song, since most of her songs have sounded the same the past few weeks, but there aren’t many ballady options in the world of female Motown singers (at least the portion I’m familiar with). I think this song would be the best suited for her voice, but if Matt snatches it before her, she might be able to pull off a slowed down version of “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.”
Michael Sarver – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love”
Michael is hitting the bottom of the barrel this week. I couldn’t find anything that I thought would match his voice. He’d be wise to go with a slow song, since the fast ones seem to give him trouble. This was the only song that seemed simple enough for his mediocre voice. It might garner him some “aww shucks” votes and he might stay around another week (even though we all want to see him go next).
Scott MacIntyre – Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” (Phil Collins cover) or Four Tops “Baby I Need Your Lovin’
This is perhaps the hardest pick I had to make. I really do not expect either of these to actually happen, but I had to go with what I thought he SHOULD sing. After sounding the same for the past two weeks, Scott should listen to the judges critiques and have a little fun up there this week. I can hear a piano-based version of both of these songs in my head, and they sound nice. It would also show his ability to liven it up a little bit. But, sorry Paula, I doubt he’ll be able to “work the stage” like you suggested. Scott might be in trouble this week.
Megan Corkery – Mary Wells “My Guy”
Again, Megan does not have the greatest range, power, tamber, or heck just overall voice. She’s somewhat lucky this week in that, as aforementioned, there aren’t that many great Motown female singers. I would be surprised if she doesn’t choose this song. It’s a top 10 Motown hit and it doesn’t take superb vocals to pull it off. It could be an endearing performance, but probably not enough to sway the minds of people on this blog.
Bonus Prediction:
Group Song for Result Night- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Well, that's it. As always, leave your comments and feel free to agree or disagree. I want to know what you think!
Your American Idol Junkie,
Billy
Christians are taking over Idol!!
Here is an article that one of our members, Andrew Brown, sent to me. It's about the number of religious contestants on this season of Idol. What do you think? Does it even matter? Should we vote for someone just because they (might!) have the same beliefs as we do? Remember, some churches still be crazy...
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606966/20090313/story.jhtml
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606966/20090313/story.jhtml
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