American Idol Final 9
Theme this week was Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Top to Bottom:
WORTH SEEING
1. Scotty - "That's Alright Mama": Veers dangerously close to Elvis impersonation, but he makes it his own enough to save this from being karaoke. I love this kid's voice. I thought it was really good.
2. Lauren - "Natural Woman": I thought this was a particularly poor song choice. But the thing I love most about Lauren is that she really knows how to sculpt a performance. This builds up really nicely to the glory notes at the end. She never seems karaoke. All that said, this was not as good as her best moments on the show.
3. Casey - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain": Normally I hate this guy, but even I have to admit he's got great phrasing and I liked this arrangement. Made me really enjoy a song I don't usually care too much about.
4. Jacob - "Man In The Mirror": Has no idea how to sculpt a performance. Just goes 100% all the time. But I still do love the tone in this guy's voice, though he has yet to turn out a great performance.
COMPETENT BUT BORING
5. Pia - "River Deep, Mountain High": I love her voice, and technically she's great, but she's never managed to put up a real performance. She's nothing more than a really good singer, which isn't really what I'm watching for.
6. Haley - "Piece of My Heart": Put me to sleep.
TERRIBLE:
James - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Stefano - "When A Man Loves A Woman"
Paul - "Folsom Prison Blues"
Top to Bottom:
WORTH SEEING
1. Scotty - "That's Alright Mama": Veers dangerously close to Elvis impersonation, but he makes it his own enough to save this from being karaoke. I love this kid's voice. I thought it was really good.
2. Lauren - "Natural Woman": I thought this was a particularly poor song choice. But the thing I love most about Lauren is that she really knows how to sculpt a performance. This builds up really nicely to the glory notes at the end. She never seems karaoke. All that said, this was not as good as her best moments on the show.
3. Casey - "Have You Ever Seen the Rain": Normally I hate this guy, but even I have to admit he's got great phrasing and I liked this arrangement. Made me really enjoy a song I don't usually care too much about.
4. Jacob - "Man In The Mirror": Has no idea how to sculpt a performance. Just goes 100% all the time. But I still do love the tone in this guy's voice, though he has yet to turn out a great performance.
COMPETENT BUT BORING
5. Pia - "River Deep, Mountain High": I love her voice, and technically she's great, but she's never managed to put up a real performance. She's nothing more than a really good singer, which isn't really what I'm watching for.
6. Haley - "Piece of My Heart": Put me to sleep.
TERRIBLE:
James - "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Stefano - "When A Man Loves A Woman"
Paul - "Folsom Prison Blues"