AI: Top 10
Tonight's theme is Soul and R&B (did we really need two "ands"?) with Usher as the mentor. Evidently, they're just going to continue to go with young mentors for the audience instead of experienced musicians who could actually provide assistance and real mentorship to the performers. *sigh*
Siobhan is up first, and I love that she tells Usher, "I'm wicked nervous." (shout out to E-F!) She's going to sing Through the Fire. This is the first time I've heard any flat notes from her, but it's fine. She's wearing a very odd 80s-movie-interpretation of a shortie toga with flat space/wrestling shoes that appear to come with shin guards. She does have the voice to handle that song, but it wasn't her style. I'm still a fan, but this was her weakest performance of the season. Not bad, but not good either. Love her makeup tonight. Oh yuck -- as they go to commercial, she looks like she's about to cry. Poor thing! The judges were hard on her, but they were fair. I might actually call for her because I do NOT want her to go home this week! And double yuck -- they showed her going sadly into the green room for some food. There was NO need to show that! Poor thing.
Casey is going to sing Hold On, I'm coming, and he likes it because it won't get any closer to blues than R&B. I have to say it -- I like what he's wearing and his hair back in a ponytail :) He looks great. I still can't decide if I like the way he sings or not, but he definitely has talent. It's just not my thing. He has personality, he's really having fun on stage, and he's likeable. The song is a little repetitive, but he's doing it well. And I think he knows it's going well, too. Interesting -- Ellen says it seemed a little generic, which I don't disagree with. Kara puts a finer point on it. She's right. Interesting that Simon says it's his strongest week so far, which I agree with. But it wasn't knock-your-socks-off, which I think is what the others were saying.
Big Mike gets some really good advice from Usher, I think, and is singing Ready for Love. He's sitting and playing a guitar, so he's already cut off from the crowd. Interesting, given the advice Usher gave him to sing to the back of the room. And he's had his eyes closed for 90% of the song so far. This is nice in an intimate way. No pitch problems, and it's great for his voice, but the world already has a Ruben Studdard and they haven't treated the one we have very well. I just don't know how far he can go on this. It was great -- really great, but he's sort of a one-trick pony.
And now we have Didi getting emotional and crying in front of Usher because her song is emotional. She's singing What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. Again, I'm impressed with his advice. I'll have to retract my complaints from the beginning of this entry. She looks sort of like Michelle Pfeiffer in "The Fabulous Baker Boys", with a stand up mike and a fabulous gold evening gown, with blonde finger waves. I'm bored of this song, but she sounds good. She has done so many songs that sounded like Adele-wannabee songs that this is refreshing from a tone and styling perspective, but I don't really like the song, and I'm not sure she conveyed any emotion. It was nice and on-key, though. I wonder if she was so worried about breaking down that she totally blocked all the emotion from the song, but that was a mistake. I like her, but this wasn't her night. The Seacrest handholding exchange was seriously awkward at the end. What the heck?!
And now mop-top Tim is up next. He's singing Sweet Love, and I think he's brave to choose a song like this will crazy intervals and lots of challenges vocally. The jump from his low register to his sweet spot is a little awkward because the rest of the song was sort of soft and love song-y, and then BOOM! different sound! This isn't bad, honestly. He's nowhere near as nervous as he's been in previous weeks. It's not fab, but I think he really chose something to challenge himself, and he's singing it well. It's not modern or current at all, but he's had much worse performances, too. Poor kid is always so nervous! He did a bang-up job, for him. Nice.
Up next is Andrew singing Chris Brown's Forever. It's the song from that wedding video (WHY DOES THAT ALWAYS MAKE ME CRY?), if you can't figure out why it's so familiar. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I want him to look less frog-like and lower one of his feet from the stool. I think I like this, but it's odd. It's definitely better than the last few weeks for him, and it's one of the better performances of the night, I think, but I'm kind of "meh" on it. Not sure why. Is it because it doesn't sound at all soul-y or R&B-y? It's so much better than his last few nights, though, that he's not going anywhere tomorrow.
Katie is going to sing Chain of Fools, but I think it will sound like a cruise ship performance and not a 17 year old. Seriously, Katie? A formal short romper with (possibly leather) leggings? Ick. She is not doing Aretha justice. It's fine, and she's not flat, and has a big voice, but this is blech. There's nothing special or modern, or most importantly, 17 years old about this. Dislike. Randy says it's one of the best vocal performances ... which is technically accurate. But she had no idea what the song meant -- there was no interpretation, no feeling whatsoever. Just a song.
Lee is up next to sing Treat Her Like a Lady, which Usher says is a special treat :) I have to say I really do like the way this guy sings. Like! Now THIS is a current, modern, commercial, whatever you want to call it interpretation. This actually could be on the radio tomorrow. And it's the first of the night that could, IMO. I think the only things I can criticize in this are 1. he shouldn't be on the stage by himself -- should have had some of the band down there with him, and 2. it's a little bit all one dynamic range -- a little yell-y, but that's something that's totally coachable. Best of the night so far.
Last up is Crystal, who is actually wearing heels! LOL that Seacrest pointed that out. She's singing Midnight Train to Georgia, and accompanying herself on the piano. I like the bups at the piano with her. Whoa. That is a seriously un-Crystal-like push-up bra. This is great for her voice, and she's singing well, but she needs to look up from her hands and not close her eyes. Wow! She just stood up and she's smiling. This is a surprise. It's not her sound at all, but she's REALLY doing it well. Nicely done. No complaints from me. Ellen is right -- she was actually competing with that song. Simon is right to caution her not to let this competition change her. The push-up bra and heels are not her. I bet next week she's back. Let's face it; that bra wouldn't make it easy to play a guitar.
Which means Aaron is last. He's doing Ain't No Sunshine, which seems very grownup for him, but his voice sounded good with Usher. Ooh. Starts out sounding really nervous. I like the tone in his voice, though. The quiver makes me feel uncomfortable, though. I just remembered he generally does country music, which is why I like this better -- there is no discernible country sound in it. It's pretty good, and he's finally gotten some Hollywood-grade Proactiv, but they made a programming mistake having him go last. Not strong enough. Lee and Crystal were way better. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't fabulous. He's safe for another week, for sure.
Predictie McLeaverson thinks we'll say goodbye to:
Didi or Tim
(Predictie would like to see Katie or Aaron go, though)
Best of the night? Lee and Crystal
And I owe Usher an apology. He actually did a great job mentoring this week. I think he took it very seriously, and gave pretty good advice.
Siobhan is up first, and I love that she tells Usher, "I'm wicked nervous." (shout out to E-F!) She's going to sing Through the Fire. This is the first time I've heard any flat notes from her, but it's fine. She's wearing a very odd 80s-movie-interpretation of a shortie toga with flat space/wrestling shoes that appear to come with shin guards. She does have the voice to handle that song, but it wasn't her style. I'm still a fan, but this was her weakest performance of the season. Not bad, but not good either. Love her makeup tonight. Oh yuck -- as they go to commercial, she looks like she's about to cry. Poor thing! The judges were hard on her, but they were fair. I might actually call for her because I do NOT want her to go home this week! And double yuck -- they showed her going sadly into the green room for some food. There was NO need to show that! Poor thing.
Casey is going to sing Hold On, I'm coming, and he likes it because it won't get any closer to blues than R&B. I have to say it -- I like what he's wearing and his hair back in a ponytail :) He looks great. I still can't decide if I like the way he sings or not, but he definitely has talent. It's just not my thing. He has personality, he's really having fun on stage, and he's likeable. The song is a little repetitive, but he's doing it well. And I think he knows it's going well, too. Interesting -- Ellen says it seemed a little generic, which I don't disagree with. Kara puts a finer point on it. She's right. Interesting that Simon says it's his strongest week so far, which I agree with. But it wasn't knock-your-socks-off, which I think is what the others were saying.
Big Mike gets some really good advice from Usher, I think, and is singing Ready for Love. He's sitting and playing a guitar, so he's already cut off from the crowd. Interesting, given the advice Usher gave him to sing to the back of the room. And he's had his eyes closed for 90% of the song so far. This is nice in an intimate way. No pitch problems, and it's great for his voice, but the world already has a Ruben Studdard and they haven't treated the one we have very well. I just don't know how far he can go on this. It was great -- really great, but he's sort of a one-trick pony.
And now we have Didi getting emotional and crying in front of Usher because her song is emotional. She's singing What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. Again, I'm impressed with his advice. I'll have to retract my complaints from the beginning of this entry. She looks sort of like Michelle Pfeiffer in "The Fabulous Baker Boys", with a stand up mike and a fabulous gold evening gown, with blonde finger waves. I'm bored of this song, but she sounds good. She has done so many songs that sounded like Adele-wannabee songs that this is refreshing from a tone and styling perspective, but I don't really like the song, and I'm not sure she conveyed any emotion. It was nice and on-key, though. I wonder if she was so worried about breaking down that she totally blocked all the emotion from the song, but that was a mistake. I like her, but this wasn't her night. The Seacrest handholding exchange was seriously awkward at the end. What the heck?!
And now mop-top Tim is up next. He's singing Sweet Love, and I think he's brave to choose a song like this will crazy intervals and lots of challenges vocally. The jump from his low register to his sweet spot is a little awkward because the rest of the song was sort of soft and love song-y, and then BOOM! different sound! This isn't bad, honestly. He's nowhere near as nervous as he's been in previous weeks. It's not fab, but I think he really chose something to challenge himself, and he's singing it well. It's not modern or current at all, but he's had much worse performances, too. Poor kid is always so nervous! He did a bang-up job, for him. Nice.
Up next is Andrew singing Chris Brown's Forever. It's the song from that wedding video (WHY DOES THAT ALWAYS MAKE ME CRY?), if you can't figure out why it's so familiar. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I want him to look less frog-like and lower one of his feet from the stool. I think I like this, but it's odd. It's definitely better than the last few weeks for him, and it's one of the better performances of the night, I think, but I'm kind of "meh" on it. Not sure why. Is it because it doesn't sound at all soul-y or R&B-y? It's so much better than his last few nights, though, that he's not going anywhere tomorrow.
Katie is going to sing Chain of Fools, but I think it will sound like a cruise ship performance and not a 17 year old. Seriously, Katie? A formal short romper with (possibly leather) leggings? Ick. She is not doing Aretha justice. It's fine, and she's not flat, and has a big voice, but this is blech. There's nothing special or modern, or most importantly, 17 years old about this. Dislike. Randy says it's one of the best vocal performances ... which is technically accurate. But she had no idea what the song meant -- there was no interpretation, no feeling whatsoever. Just a song.
Lee is up next to sing Treat Her Like a Lady, which Usher says is a special treat :) I have to say I really do like the way this guy sings. Like! Now THIS is a current, modern, commercial, whatever you want to call it interpretation. This actually could be on the radio tomorrow. And it's the first of the night that could, IMO. I think the only things I can criticize in this are 1. he shouldn't be on the stage by himself -- should have had some of the band down there with him, and 2. it's a little bit all one dynamic range -- a little yell-y, but that's something that's totally coachable. Best of the night so far.
Last up is Crystal, who is actually wearing heels! LOL that Seacrest pointed that out. She's singing Midnight Train to Georgia, and accompanying herself on the piano. I like the bups at the piano with her. Whoa. That is a seriously un-Crystal-like push-up bra. This is great for her voice, and she's singing well, but she needs to look up from her hands and not close her eyes. Wow! She just stood up and she's smiling. This is a surprise. It's not her sound at all, but she's REALLY doing it well. Nicely done. No complaints from me. Ellen is right -- she was actually competing with that song. Simon is right to caution her not to let this competition change her. The push-up bra and heels are not her. I bet next week she's back. Let's face it; that bra wouldn't make it easy to play a guitar.
Which means Aaron is last. He's doing Ain't No Sunshine, which seems very grownup for him, but his voice sounded good with Usher. Ooh. Starts out sounding really nervous. I like the tone in his voice, though. The quiver makes me feel uncomfortable, though. I just remembered he generally does country music, which is why I like this better -- there is no discernible country sound in it. It's pretty good, and he's finally gotten some Hollywood-grade Proactiv, but they made a programming mistake having him go last. Not strong enough. Lee and Crystal were way better. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't fabulous. He's safe for another week, for sure.
Predictie McLeaverson thinks we'll say goodbye to:
Didi or Tim
(Predictie would like to see Katie or Aaron go, though)
Best of the night? Lee and Crystal
And I owe Usher an apology. He actually did a great job mentoring this week. I think he took it very seriously, and gave pretty good advice.