American Idol Rejects: The Top of the Heap
I've been quite remiss in posting my thoughts (as important as they are) about the performances and subsquesnt eliminations, so I'm hoping I can use this entry to catch up before we get into my completely caustic and detailed reports om the Top 12. Hold on to your panties!
Top 10 Guys!
1. Phil Stacey “Missing You” (John Waite)
First of all, I love this song. If asked to identify all time favorite songs, this would certainly be in the mix. Overall, Phil’s performance was okay. He sounded nice and hit the notes, but I was really waiting for the power notes that he showed off last week. When he did, I had that sense of “this is what your performances are about”. I don’t think that his song choice showed them off so that they would really shine, and I think that will be key for him staying in the competition. I’m rooting for him.
2. Jared Cotter “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye)
I have to point out that I was a little disturbed that he dedicated the performance to his parents, and then proceeded to sing this song. Maybe I’m the only one. *heh* In any case, he had some notes that were somewhat underwhelming but he had fun with it (the picture of his face was definitely worth a thousand words!) and I think he made it work.
3. AJ Tabaldo “Feeling Good” (Muse)
I’m not sure about his performance, and I think I have said something similar for him previously. It’s like it takes him time to get warmed up and exciting enough that the audience is committed to the performance. That might not be a huge detriment when you’re putting on a full fledge show, but here, they have what - 2 minutes to get the job done? I don’t know that he can afford that - and I don’t know how it will stand up next against the more “power vocalists”.
4. Sanjaya Malakar “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” (Tony Bennet)
I love this kid. He’s cute, he’s sweet, and I think he is capable of bringing the house down. At least more than he did with this number. It’s a great song, but the way he sang it made him sound like he was holding back, as if he was afraid of what would happen if he really allowed himself to shine. Maybe he is. It wouldn’t surprise me at 17. I’m just hoping that his likability (he was in the Top 4 Guys last week!) will keep him around a little longer. And I hope that he takes what the judges say to heart and really wow us next time.
5. Chris Sligh “Trouble” (Ray LaMontagne)
I’m not sure if he can do any wrong. Everything matched perfectly - the dedication (which was SO sweet) to the song, the song to his voice…it was just right, and just what he needed to do. I loved it, and I have no fear that we will hear much more from him.
6. Nick Pedro “You Give Me Fever” (Peggy Lee)
I was worried when I heard what he was doing because this song has always felt very female to me, and I didn’t know if he would be able to distract me from that. It ended up being okay even though he rushed it at the end. I think he seemed more concerned with appearance/”performing” (well - his girlfriend was there) than actual vocals. I think that may end up being his downfall, and I tag him to go home on Thursday.
7. Blake Lewis “Virtual Insanity” (Jamiroquai)
I gotta tell you, knowing this song - if they asked if any of them could pull it off, it would be Blake. The song, again, was a great great choice for him. He stuck closely where he needed to and then burst out in the middle with that beat box/scat thing he does that we all love and then went right back where he needed to be. I think the only thing I don’t like about him is that he took so long to try out and get on this show. Really - I would have much preferred to have him over…well, the list of those people is quite long. I guess I’ll skip it for now :)
8. Brandon Rogers “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper)
I’m all about loving your momma and your grandmomma, so it was a sweet dedication and a sweet sentiment…but I don’t know. The song wasn’t enough of a display and I wasn’t really…entertained. He might be able to hang on because he’s sweet…and because there are a couple other people that should go first. We’ll see.
9. Chris Richardson “Geek In The Pink” (Jason Mraz)
I wanted to slaughter the judges after that performance. I’m so over him pretending like he’s hip or something when he came off like a no rhythm/having a seizure boy instead. Umm. No. I hope that Jason Mraz threw his TV out the window after that. I want him gone. Yesterday.
10. Sundance Head “Mustang Sally” (Mack Rice)
YES! He’s back! And his performance (to me) highlights even more why the pervious one was so horrendous. He brought back that deep South blues sound he shared with us the first time out and you could tell that he felt more secure with this week’s choice by the solid sound of his voice. The audience reaction wasn’t too shabby either. THANK YOU! Excellent way to close the show!
Top 10 Girls!
1. Gina Glocksen “Alone” (Heart)
I am so glad that she is picking the right kinds of songs to showcase that big voice she has. I was kinda wart because after hearing Carrie sing it a couple of years ago, that is hard to beat. But I was so very proud of her. Her last note was a little shaky but the rest of the song more than made up for it.
2. Alaina Alexander “I’m Not Ready To Make Nice” (Dixie Chicks)
This was okay. This week’s song worked better with her voice than last week’s. However, I think that in trying to make a better impression, she rushed through parts and it made it difficult to understand what she was saying in places. And it wasn’t really intriguing. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if she gets booted, but it wasn’t completely horrible.
3. Lakisha Jones “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Gladys Knight & The Pips)
She was great on this - of course. How many big black women have we seen sing this song over the years. I can fairly hear a chorus of Mandisa, Jennifer Hudson, and Frenchie Davis backing her up. It makes me wonder how come they never call them predictable. Oh well. I loved the performance, but I’m already waiting for something that will surprise me from her.
4. Melinda Doolittle “My Funny Valentine” (from Babes In Arms)
…and this is what I meant about surprising me. As a person, she comes across as shy, unsure of herself, unassuming…but when she gets on stage and opens her mouth, she becomes a completely different creature. Her song choices are unexpected and she nails them perfectly, every time. She takes vocal risks and executes them flawlessly. I’ll say it: I am in love with her voice. I continue to want her to take top prize.
5. Antonella Barbra “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion)
I thought after skidding past elimination last week, she would be smart enough to avoid songs that were bigger than her. Apparently she doesn’t understand the concept, and just went completely overboard. She was definitely pitchy throughout the song, with the exception of the one at the end I was sure she was going to miss. That one was actually nice. I just hope that stupid teenage boys aren’t out there voting for her because she’s pretty. She should go home on Thursday.
6. Jordin Sparks “Reflection” (Christina Aguilera)
The song really fits who she is…young and soulful. She performed it beautifully except for that last run. Because I love her voice, I will chalk that up to being emotional (it is SO CUTE how much she loves her brother) and give her an A+. Sailing through.
7. Stephanie Edwards “Dangerously In Love” (Beyonce)
Last week was a much better performance from her. This song lent itself to rushing the words, and her runs were shaky and all over the place. In addition, the arrangement was wrong somehow. I’m not completely familiar with the song, but it just didn’t work. All that being said, there’s no way she’s leaving the competition on Thursday. She’s too good (and much better than that performance).
8. Leslie Hunt “Feeling Good” (Nina Simone version)
Nope. She said she was going to be less flop and more star (or something to that effect) when she was talking to Ryan, but she failed. She can’t help herself. She did stop herself mid-flop but that was even worse. Also, since AJ Tabaldo just did this song on Tuesday, and performed a much better/more intriguing version, this came across as even more lackluster. PLEASE make her go home.
9. Haley Scarnato “Queen of the Night” (Whitney Houston)
When she said she wanted to go for something radically different from last week, I thought upbeat. When I heard it was Whitney, I guessed “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Obviously I was wrong and it took me a few seconds to get into it. Once I did, I could easily see that the performance was WORLDS better than last week, and she definitely upped her staying quotient.
10. Sabrina Sloan “All The Man That I Need” (Whitney Houston)
Again - last week was better for her. With this one, she had some pitch problems that she covered up with her power notes, but I agree with the judges that she bordered on shouting. She needs to make sure that she finds a middle ground that suits her. We’ll see what she comes up with for next week.
Alaina Alexander, AJ Tabaldo, Nick Pedro and Leslie Hunt are the next to go...
I probably had some longer drawn out commentary about the people who went home that I sent to my crew, but I will sum it up with the following:
1. Don't ever sing "Feelin' Good"; it led to the demise of both AJ and Leslie. I guess America is in a bad mood.
2. Don't be gawky and gangly, like Leslie. Have we gotten the sense that I didn't like her yet?
3. Don't sing a girl's song. Nick, you tried to sound sultry instead of femmey. It didn't work.
And that's about all I have to say for that. :)
Top 8 Guys!
1. Blake Lewis “All Mixed Up” (311)
Okay, this week - Blake is a conundrum. We all love his unique sassy self because there’s never been someone who does musical vocalization like he does. But I’m quickly wondering, now that the judges have said that they missed it a couple weeks back, whether he’s going to do that all the time. I would hate for it to be Broadway week, for him to pick…oh, Phantom of the Opera…and have him feel the need to break it down freestyle *heh* it’d be interesting, but I want him to stretch him limits in other ways while keeping the good at a level that it’s not taking over everything. Is that gonna be hard for him? Maybe. But I think he can do it.
2. Sanjaya Malakar “Waiting On the World To Change” (John Mayer)
First off, the song is not a real favorite for me. I mean, it’s cool and it’s kinda catchy but I wouldn’t listen to it over an over again. However, I think it suited his voice well which, in and of itself, makes this performance WORLDS better than last week. You could actually hear him most of the time which is a plus in a singing competition. :) I wrote that it would still be iffy whether or not he would be in the Top 12, but there were 6 more to come. After the fact, I’m really hoping he will be because some of the others…*shakes head* Anyway.
3. Sundance Head “Jeremy” (Pearl Jam)
What the hell? I was so excited that he got it right last week, and I was looking forward to seeing him sail right into the Top 12. This week, I want him to be cut just to teach him a freaking lesson. I don’t care what kind of soul rock spin Randy liked on the song - it was a bad choice. That said, and given the others, he still did well enough to be back next week.
4. Chris Richardson “Tonight I Wanna Cry” (Keith Urban)
I’m going to try and be positive here: at least he put no rhythm seizure boy on the shelf for a week. And that’s about all I’ve got. I’ve been good! Please send him home this week! And after you do, then can I smack the judges for praising him? Thanks!
5. Jared Cotter “If You Really Love Me” (Stevie Wonder)
His vocals were good, but his “I’m having a hard time in the loo” faces were a bit much. I found myself looking away from the screen more so that I could enjoy the performance, and I did. He was more solid than most tonight - but it may come down to popularity. I don’t know that he could win out vote wise. We’ll see.
6. Brandon Rogers “I Just Want to Celebrate” (Rare Earth)
Nope. It was not exciting at all. I even walked out of the room to do something else, which I rarely do. But it’s right before the Final 12 are chosen and you do that? He should know by now that you have to bring WAY more game than that. In addition, I think I have been comparing him to Melinda (they were both previously background singers). Where she shines, he does not.
7. Phil Stacey “I Need You” (LeAnn Rimes)
*heh* okay here’s the deal. I have adored this guy since the beginning. He just has a genuine feel good vibe to him, he amuses me, and for the most part he sings well. He has serious weaknesses, most notably in his lower/softer notes, and always when he starts the song. It’s weird. But I feel like he recovers wonderfully, and it all balances out into a good performance. I’m hoping that the latter part gets him enough cred to stay on a few more weeks. I want to see him work at it and get better.
8. Chris Sligh “Wanna Be Loved” (DC Talk)
Definitely saved the best for last this week - he was strong, as always, but the thing that I like the most about him is that he really seems to try and take the criticism he gets and tries to work it into his next performance. Some of the people take it well, but do the same thing over and over. So yeah - he is a definite shoe-in for the big stage for me!
So my hope for the Top 6 Guys (in order of favorites and talent, based solely on last night):
o Chris Sligh
o Blake Lewis
o Phil Stacey
o Jared Cotter
o Sundance Head
o Sanjaya Malakar
I think that it’s quite possible Sanjaya could get switched out for Brandon (depending on popularity turnover into votes), but I hope not.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/AIBlog/m5.gif
Top 8 Girls!
1. Jordin Sparks “Heartbreaker” (Pat Benatar)
What a way to start off the show, and what a way to completely show up the boys’ show in its entirety. She exploded on to the stage with a blast of power, she was sure of herself, positive and amazing. She showed the kind of performance you need to give to seal your spot in the final group of 12.
2. Sabrina Sloan “Don’t Let Go” (En Vogue)
There is no doubting that she has the talent that can take her far. She had some sharp points at the beginning but she did well in her attempts to smooth it out. She knows what she has and for the most part knows how to use it. The test for her will be seeing if she can do that within the given themes throughout the next weeks to the finale.
3. Antonella Barbra “Put Your Records On” (Corinne Bailey Rae)
This song choice was MUCH better than her previous choices - much more palatable. Where the other songs pretty much swallowed her whole, she was able to stand toe to toe with this one. However, her talent in no way measures up to the people that she is in the running with, and I believe she only got as far as she did because of her looks. It remains to be seen which factor will win out, but I’m hoping she is one of the people to go.
4. Haley Scarnato “If My Heart Had Wings” (Faith Hill)
The bottom line with her is that she isn’t as good as some of the others. In addition, she proved yet again that her voice isn’t quite what people are looking for in this competition (well, the judges anyway - but they put her there). She sounds like she would do fantastic on Broadway, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of (I certainly couldn’t do it). I pick her as the second to go.
5. Stephanie Edwards “Sweet Thing” (Chaka Khan)
I love love love this song, and it has to be done just right. She didn’t, but it was an admirable effort. She went overboard into shouting with some notes but wasn’t so out of her depth that she wouldn’t make it to the Top 12. However, if she doesn’t figure out some of her control issues, she could head off the show earlier than she should.
6. Lakisha Jones “I Have Nothing” (Whitney Houston)
There’s no doubt she will be back next week. She was a little warbly in spots, but that could conceivably be written off as an aspect of the song. I think she is part of the talent pool that is making this show more exciting than it has been in a while.
7. Gina Glocksen “Call Me When You’re Sober” (Evanescence)
I had to throw some votes at my girl last night. I was more than pleased that she was true to form with her song selection - it just fit her. She had a couple of pitch problems, but you could tell how much more fun she had this week. But I am worried that she is too radical from what ends up being more of “the norm” for this show, and I wanted to try and help her stay and try to make sure that the two I mentioned above would be gone. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it works!
8. Melinda Doolittle “I’m A Woman” (Peggy Lee)
I actually said out loud after this performance “What do you say after a performance like this?” To say that she is the consummate professional is almost a slam to her. I have said from the beginning that she is going to win this thing, and week after week, she makes sure that everybody knows it. Always the perfect song, always the perfect rendition, always the perfect performance. Just makes me want to congratulate her right now!
o Melinda Doolittle
o Jordin Sparks
o Lakisha Jones
o Gina Glocksen
o Stephanie Edwards
o Sabrina Sloan
I think it would be best if I put my thoughts about the final 12 in a separate post. This one is HELLA long already :)
Top 10 Guys!
1. Phil Stacey “Missing You” (John Waite)
First of all, I love this song. If asked to identify all time favorite songs, this would certainly be in the mix. Overall, Phil’s performance was okay. He sounded nice and hit the notes, but I was really waiting for the power notes that he showed off last week. When he did, I had that sense of “this is what your performances are about”. I don’t think that his song choice showed them off so that they would really shine, and I think that will be key for him staying in the competition. I’m rooting for him.
2. Jared Cotter “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye)
I have to point out that I was a little disturbed that he dedicated the performance to his parents, and then proceeded to sing this song. Maybe I’m the only one. *heh* In any case, he had some notes that were somewhat underwhelming but he had fun with it (the picture of his face was definitely worth a thousand words!) and I think he made it work.
3. AJ Tabaldo “Feeling Good” (Muse)
I’m not sure about his performance, and I think I have said something similar for him previously. It’s like it takes him time to get warmed up and exciting enough that the audience is committed to the performance. That might not be a huge detriment when you’re putting on a full fledge show, but here, they have what - 2 minutes to get the job done? I don’t know that he can afford that - and I don’t know how it will stand up next against the more “power vocalists”.
4. Sanjaya Malakar “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” (Tony Bennet)
I love this kid. He’s cute, he’s sweet, and I think he is capable of bringing the house down. At least more than he did with this number. It’s a great song, but the way he sang it made him sound like he was holding back, as if he was afraid of what would happen if he really allowed himself to shine. Maybe he is. It wouldn’t surprise me at 17. I’m just hoping that his likability (he was in the Top 4 Guys last week!) will keep him around a little longer. And I hope that he takes what the judges say to heart and really wow us next time.
5. Chris Sligh “Trouble” (Ray LaMontagne)
I’m not sure if he can do any wrong. Everything matched perfectly - the dedication (which was SO sweet) to the song, the song to his voice…it was just right, and just what he needed to do. I loved it, and I have no fear that we will hear much more from him.
6. Nick Pedro “You Give Me Fever” (Peggy Lee)
I was worried when I heard what he was doing because this song has always felt very female to me, and I didn’t know if he would be able to distract me from that. It ended up being okay even though he rushed it at the end. I think he seemed more concerned with appearance/”performing” (well - his girlfriend was there) than actual vocals. I think that may end up being his downfall, and I tag him to go home on Thursday.
7. Blake Lewis “Virtual Insanity” (Jamiroquai)
I gotta tell you, knowing this song - if they asked if any of them could pull it off, it would be Blake. The song, again, was a great great choice for him. He stuck closely where he needed to and then burst out in the middle with that beat box/scat thing he does that we all love and then went right back where he needed to be. I think the only thing I don’t like about him is that he took so long to try out and get on this show. Really - I would have much preferred to have him over…well, the list of those people is quite long. I guess I’ll skip it for now :)
8. Brandon Rogers “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper)
I’m all about loving your momma and your grandmomma, so it was a sweet dedication and a sweet sentiment…but I don’t know. The song wasn’t enough of a display and I wasn’t really…entertained. He might be able to hang on because he’s sweet…and because there are a couple other people that should go first. We’ll see.
9. Chris Richardson “Geek In The Pink” (Jason Mraz)
I wanted to slaughter the judges after that performance. I’m so over him pretending like he’s hip or something when he came off like a no rhythm/having a seizure boy instead. Umm. No. I hope that Jason Mraz threw his TV out the window after that. I want him gone. Yesterday.
10. Sundance Head “Mustang Sally” (Mack Rice)
YES! He’s back! And his performance (to me) highlights even more why the pervious one was so horrendous. He brought back that deep South blues sound he shared with us the first time out and you could tell that he felt more secure with this week’s choice by the solid sound of his voice. The audience reaction wasn’t too shabby either. THANK YOU! Excellent way to close the show!
Top 10 Girls!
1. Gina Glocksen “Alone” (Heart)
I am so glad that she is picking the right kinds of songs to showcase that big voice she has. I was kinda wart because after hearing Carrie sing it a couple of years ago, that is hard to beat. But I was so very proud of her. Her last note was a little shaky but the rest of the song more than made up for it.
2. Alaina Alexander “I’m Not Ready To Make Nice” (Dixie Chicks)
This was okay. This week’s song worked better with her voice than last week’s. However, I think that in trying to make a better impression, she rushed through parts and it made it difficult to understand what she was saying in places. And it wasn’t really intriguing. So, it wouldn’t surprise me if she gets booted, but it wasn’t completely horrible.
3. Lakisha Jones “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Gladys Knight & The Pips)
She was great on this - of course. How many big black women have we seen sing this song over the years. I can fairly hear a chorus of Mandisa, Jennifer Hudson, and Frenchie Davis backing her up. It makes me wonder how come they never call them predictable. Oh well. I loved the performance, but I’m already waiting for something that will surprise me from her.
4. Melinda Doolittle “My Funny Valentine” (from Babes In Arms)
…and this is what I meant about surprising me. As a person, she comes across as shy, unsure of herself, unassuming…but when she gets on stage and opens her mouth, she becomes a completely different creature. Her song choices are unexpected and she nails them perfectly, every time. She takes vocal risks and executes them flawlessly. I’ll say it: I am in love with her voice. I continue to want her to take top prize.
5. Antonella Barbra “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion)
I thought after skidding past elimination last week, she would be smart enough to avoid songs that were bigger than her. Apparently she doesn’t understand the concept, and just went completely overboard. She was definitely pitchy throughout the song, with the exception of the one at the end I was sure she was going to miss. That one was actually nice. I just hope that stupid teenage boys aren’t out there voting for her because she’s pretty. She should go home on Thursday.
6. Jordin Sparks “Reflection” (Christina Aguilera)
The song really fits who she is…young and soulful. She performed it beautifully except for that last run. Because I love her voice, I will chalk that up to being emotional (it is SO CUTE how much she loves her brother) and give her an A+. Sailing through.
7. Stephanie Edwards “Dangerously In Love” (Beyonce)
Last week was a much better performance from her. This song lent itself to rushing the words, and her runs were shaky and all over the place. In addition, the arrangement was wrong somehow. I’m not completely familiar with the song, but it just didn’t work. All that being said, there’s no way she’s leaving the competition on Thursday. She’s too good (and much better than that performance).
8. Leslie Hunt “Feeling Good” (Nina Simone version)
Nope. She said she was going to be less flop and more star (or something to that effect) when she was talking to Ryan, but she failed. She can’t help herself. She did stop herself mid-flop but that was even worse. Also, since AJ Tabaldo just did this song on Tuesday, and performed a much better/more intriguing version, this came across as even more lackluster. PLEASE make her go home.
9. Haley Scarnato “Queen of the Night” (Whitney Houston)
When she said she wanted to go for something radically different from last week, I thought upbeat. When I heard it was Whitney, I guessed “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. Obviously I was wrong and it took me a few seconds to get into it. Once I did, I could easily see that the performance was WORLDS better than last week, and she definitely upped her staying quotient.
10. Sabrina Sloan “All The Man That I Need” (Whitney Houston)
Again - last week was better for her. With this one, she had some pitch problems that she covered up with her power notes, but I agree with the judges that she bordered on shouting. She needs to make sure that she finds a middle ground that suits her. We’ll see what she comes up with for next week.
Alaina Alexander, AJ Tabaldo, Nick Pedro and Leslie Hunt are the next to go...
I probably had some longer drawn out commentary about the people who went home that I sent to my crew, but I will sum it up with the following:
1. Don't ever sing "Feelin' Good"; it led to the demise of both AJ and Leslie. I guess America is in a bad mood.
2. Don't be gawky and gangly, like Leslie. Have we gotten the sense that I didn't like her yet?
3. Don't sing a girl's song. Nick, you tried to sound sultry instead of femmey. It didn't work.
And that's about all I have to say for that. :)
Top 8 Guys!
1. Blake Lewis “All Mixed Up” (311)
Okay, this week - Blake is a conundrum. We all love his unique sassy self because there’s never been someone who does musical vocalization like he does. But I’m quickly wondering, now that the judges have said that they missed it a couple weeks back, whether he’s going to do that all the time. I would hate for it to be Broadway week, for him to pick…oh, Phantom of the Opera…and have him feel the need to break it down freestyle *heh* it’d be interesting, but I want him to stretch him limits in other ways while keeping the good at a level that it’s not taking over everything. Is that gonna be hard for him? Maybe. But I think he can do it.
2. Sanjaya Malakar “Waiting On the World To Change” (John Mayer)
First off, the song is not a real favorite for me. I mean, it’s cool and it’s kinda catchy but I wouldn’t listen to it over an over again. However, I think it suited his voice well which, in and of itself, makes this performance WORLDS better than last week. You could actually hear him most of the time which is a plus in a singing competition. :) I wrote that it would still be iffy whether or not he would be in the Top 12, but there were 6 more to come. After the fact, I’m really hoping he will be because some of the others…*shakes head* Anyway.
3. Sundance Head “Jeremy” (Pearl Jam)
What the hell? I was so excited that he got it right last week, and I was looking forward to seeing him sail right into the Top 12. This week, I want him to be cut just to teach him a freaking lesson. I don’t care what kind of soul rock spin Randy liked on the song - it was a bad choice. That said, and given the others, he still did well enough to be back next week.
4. Chris Richardson “Tonight I Wanna Cry” (Keith Urban)
I’m going to try and be positive here: at least he put no rhythm seizure boy on the shelf for a week. And that’s about all I’ve got. I’ve been good! Please send him home this week! And after you do, then can I smack the judges for praising him? Thanks!
5. Jared Cotter “If You Really Love Me” (Stevie Wonder)
His vocals were good, but his “I’m having a hard time in the loo” faces were a bit much. I found myself looking away from the screen more so that I could enjoy the performance, and I did. He was more solid than most tonight - but it may come down to popularity. I don’t know that he could win out vote wise. We’ll see.
6. Brandon Rogers “I Just Want to Celebrate” (Rare Earth)
Nope. It was not exciting at all. I even walked out of the room to do something else, which I rarely do. But it’s right before the Final 12 are chosen and you do that? He should know by now that you have to bring WAY more game than that. In addition, I think I have been comparing him to Melinda (they were both previously background singers). Where she shines, he does not.
7. Phil Stacey “I Need You” (LeAnn Rimes)
*heh* okay here’s the deal. I have adored this guy since the beginning. He just has a genuine feel good vibe to him, he amuses me, and for the most part he sings well. He has serious weaknesses, most notably in his lower/softer notes, and always when he starts the song. It’s weird. But I feel like he recovers wonderfully, and it all balances out into a good performance. I’m hoping that the latter part gets him enough cred to stay on a few more weeks. I want to see him work at it and get better.
8. Chris Sligh “Wanna Be Loved” (DC Talk)
Definitely saved the best for last this week - he was strong, as always, but the thing that I like the most about him is that he really seems to try and take the criticism he gets and tries to work it into his next performance. Some of the people take it well, but do the same thing over and over. So yeah - he is a definite shoe-in for the big stage for me!
So my hope for the Top 6 Guys (in order of favorites and talent, based solely on last night):
o Chris Sligh
o Blake Lewis
o Phil Stacey
o Jared Cotter
o Sundance Head
o Sanjaya Malakar
I think that it’s quite possible Sanjaya could get switched out for Brandon (depending on popularity turnover into votes), but I hope not.
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u68/AIBlog/m5.gif
Top 8 Girls!
1. Jordin Sparks “Heartbreaker” (Pat Benatar)
What a way to start off the show, and what a way to completely show up the boys’ show in its entirety. She exploded on to the stage with a blast of power, she was sure of herself, positive and amazing. She showed the kind of performance you need to give to seal your spot in the final group of 12.
2. Sabrina Sloan “Don’t Let Go” (En Vogue)
There is no doubting that she has the talent that can take her far. She had some sharp points at the beginning but she did well in her attempts to smooth it out. She knows what she has and for the most part knows how to use it. The test for her will be seeing if she can do that within the given themes throughout the next weeks to the finale.
3. Antonella Barbra “Put Your Records On” (Corinne Bailey Rae)
This song choice was MUCH better than her previous choices - much more palatable. Where the other songs pretty much swallowed her whole, she was able to stand toe to toe with this one. However, her talent in no way measures up to the people that she is in the running with, and I believe she only got as far as she did because of her looks. It remains to be seen which factor will win out, but I’m hoping she is one of the people to go.
4. Haley Scarnato “If My Heart Had Wings” (Faith Hill)
The bottom line with her is that she isn’t as good as some of the others. In addition, she proved yet again that her voice isn’t quite what people are looking for in this competition (well, the judges anyway - but they put her there). She sounds like she would do fantastic on Broadway, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of (I certainly couldn’t do it). I pick her as the second to go.
5. Stephanie Edwards “Sweet Thing” (Chaka Khan)
I love love love this song, and it has to be done just right. She didn’t, but it was an admirable effort. She went overboard into shouting with some notes but wasn’t so out of her depth that she wouldn’t make it to the Top 12. However, if she doesn’t figure out some of her control issues, she could head off the show earlier than she should.
6. Lakisha Jones “I Have Nothing” (Whitney Houston)
There’s no doubt she will be back next week. She was a little warbly in spots, but that could conceivably be written off as an aspect of the song. I think she is part of the talent pool that is making this show more exciting than it has been in a while.
7. Gina Glocksen “Call Me When You’re Sober” (Evanescence)
I had to throw some votes at my girl last night. I was more than pleased that she was true to form with her song selection - it just fit her. She had a couple of pitch problems, but you could tell how much more fun she had this week. But I am worried that she is too radical from what ends up being more of “the norm” for this show, and I wanted to try and help her stay and try to make sure that the two I mentioned above would be gone. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that it works!
8. Melinda Doolittle “I’m A Woman” (Peggy Lee)
I actually said out loud after this performance “What do you say after a performance like this?” To say that she is the consummate professional is almost a slam to her. I have said from the beginning that she is going to win this thing, and week after week, she makes sure that everybody knows it. Always the perfect song, always the perfect rendition, always the perfect performance. Just makes me want to congratulate her right now!
o Melinda Doolittle
o Jordin Sparks
o Lakisha Jones
o Gina Glocksen
o Stephanie Edwards
o Sabrina Sloan
I think it would be best if I put my thoughts about the final 12 in a separate post. This one is HELLA long already :)