American Idol

[elwood731]

Didn't see a thread on this already, so here we go. Tonight starts either the most interesting or least interesting part of the competition--depending on your view. I'm running predictions on my website in a column.

[Reaver]

I have to say, this looks to have the best range of talent of any previous American Idol season. There are very few cliches (though how that dark-haired crooner got through, I'll never know), all of them look to have some actual talent, and I can't wait to see what's in store. Finally a good range of R&B, rock, and country, with a few strange birds in the mix to make it really interesting. Here's hoping the boys step it up this year.

[Vonner]

The winner will be either Ace, Kellie or Lisa. I'm hoping for Kellie, but think it will be Lisa.

[Reaver]

- Reaver's Rundown -

Mandisa - Eh. She's a big girl with a big voice, but her performance didn't really do it for me. A little over done, a little too big vocally, and just nothing I haven't seen before. Carrie did Heart MUCH better last season.

Kellie - I want to like this girl, as she seems like the real country deal, but this song, while heartfelt, didn't bowl me over. She tried a little too hard, and her wagon went off the trail a few too many times. Still, she is adorable as all hell, and that will carry her far.

Becky - She is so damn sexy, but that's about all she has, 'cause that performance was bad. She sounded rough, she didn't control the song, and in the end it felt like a train wreck. A beautiful train wreck, mind you, but still a wreck nonetheless. She should go this week.

Ayla - The first performance of the night that got through to me. Her voice was spot on, she owned the song, and the stage was all her's. I really enjoyed this one. Hopefully she'll get to go on.

Paris - Vocally, magnificent. "Midnight Train To Georgia" is a bear of a song if you don't have the talent to ride herd on it, but Paris more than has the voice for it. She probably has the strongest voice of all the women this year, and without a doubt the most talent. But, and I know this is probably just me, she comes off as a bit... manufactured. I don't know. Fake? I mean, the girl comes from a line of performers, so it's not as though any of this is new to her, yet she comes off as this niave waif dazzled and awed by the bright lights. Doesn't jive for me, and it sorta puts me off her. Still, she is a marvelous singer, and I know she will make to the Top 12.

Stevie - A cute girl (though much too skinny for my tastes), and I believe she has a great voice inside her, but tonight it was nowhere to be found. Dear lord, she undersang her song badly, and I was left completely underwhelmed. I could only shake my head at how badly she did. She probably won't make it through tonight.

Brenna - This girl needs to go. Her attitude chaffs me horribly, and I would love to see her get booted this week. Her performance was average at best, and I'm sure I won't recall anything about it by the time I finish this post, other than remembering how badly I'd like to see her get voted off.

Heather - First things first, this girl is beautiful. I wish she would let her natural hair color come through, but she has nice bone structure and a nice figure. That said, her singing was meh, and I barely recall anything about it that made me what to remember it. She seems like an honest person, and sans attitude, so we'll see how it goes if she gets through.

Melissa - Wow! I had no idea who this girl was when she got on stage, and so perhaps I had no preconceived notions about her, I was totally blown away. She has a wonderfully seductive and husky voice, and she controlled the song the entire time. Just great. My favorite singer of the night, and the only one I called to vote for.

Lisa - She's a great singer, she's young, I get it. I just don't want it. While I recognize her talent, as a performer she does nothing for me at all. I find her unappealing in almost every way. I want to like her, as I like to appreciate talent, but there is nothing about her that draws me in whatsoever. Just blah.

Kinnik - Sorry, but this woman was owned by ladies much younger than her, and with less talent. I thought she would come out and blow us all away, and by the end of it I thought I was watching some sort of transvestite talent show. I hate to be harsh, really, but this was just flat and nothing. She wanted me to be impressed, but she failed.

Katherine - Okay, I take it back. After rewatching her sing, this one is now my performance of the night. This girl is fantastic. She has marvelous stage presence, her voice is pure and brilliant, and she is just cute as all hell. She is the total package, and now is my favorite of the ladies. Just great great great.

So, in order of my favorites:

1. Katherine
2. Melissa
3. Ayla
4. Paris
5. Kellie
6. Heather
7. Lisa
8. Mandisa
9. Stevie
10. Kinnik
11. Brenna
12. Becky

[mtcarmel00]

I agree with the comment that Brenna needs to go. I don't like that attitude at all. I don't want to buy a brat's CD. All that posing was ridiculous.

[Vonner]

Does anyone else think Stevie is Anna Paquin's twin sister?

[Scourge]

When Stevie was chosen to go to Hollywood, I was happy because she was different and seemed talented and I thought it'd be great for her to go through to the end. Last night she was irritating in the pre-performance 'getting to know you' segment and horrible when she sang and had a bad attitude after she was told how poorly she did. She can go now. Ugh.

[Reaver]

- Reaver's Rundown -

Patrick - Nice looking guy, and I know he has a good voice, but here he didn't really hit it for me. The song choice was bad, and he didn't look comfortable doing it. I think he'll go on, but if this was the only time I'd seen him I would have escorted him out the door. Meh, really, and that's a shame, as I can see how good this guy could be.

David - Good lord, why do we always have to have these crooners? There is nothing wrong with people who can croon, don't get me wrong. I have several favorite singers who croon like crazy. But, when that is all you can do, you won't get far in the competition, and sadly I think David is so stuck in a certain mode of singing that he'll never get out of it. Plus, his face gets so torqued up that it makes me laugh, and that's not good. He should probably go.

Bucky - I actually got chills when he first started singing. That feeling didn't last for the entire song, but the boy can definitely sing, and I really look forward to seeing what he can do. And, that was a perfect song choice for him. I'd love to hear him sing Seven Mary Three's "Cumbersome."

Will - This TOTALLY didn't work for me. A horrible song choice, and his delivery of it was bad. Why on Earth would he choose that song? He's already too much of a kid to compound it by singing a song already made famous by a kid younger than him, a kid with a voice ten times as good to boot. Ugh...

Sway - I can tell that this guy can sing, and he has good stage presence, but that was NOT the right song for him. Hearing him sing that high was painful, and if he's smart he'll never try it again. I'd like to see him go on, but only if he sticks to his range.

Chris - I LOVE this guy! I mean, when I heard him say he was going to sing Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" I almost fell out of my chair. That is one of my all-time favorite songs, and to hear this guy attempt it was intriguing. And, he ROCKED that sucker! He sounded enough like Bon Jovi to carry it, but he also made it his own at the same time. Just brilliant.

Kevin - Dammit, this kid is so damn cute that it pains me to rag on him, but he just isn't cutting it, and the worst part is that I'm not sure it's his fault. He has a great voice, but for me it is ruined by this slur that sits beneath the surface. I can't listen past it, and it kills me. I want the best for him, but sadly I think he's a novelty act and won't make it far. If he does, it will be because he's adorable, and not because he has a great pure voice. I do respect, though, how fearless he is.

Gedeon - I really like this guy's voice. I really do. And, I love that he picked an unconventional song to start off with. He could have gone a safe route, but he didn't, and I respect that. One song I'd love to hear him do is Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." I think he could own that if he put his mind to it.

Ellott - I wouldn't agree with Simon that this guy has the best male voice the show has yet had, but he can definitely sing. He has a great natural voice, he has very good stage presence, and I think he will go very far in the competition. I love the power and poise in his voice. Very very nice.

Bobby - He has to go. That's all I can say. Just go. So so bad...

Ace - Oh. My. God. This guy can sing! Holy crap, he really has an amazing voice. He is obviously very good looking, and he has a massive amount of stage presence. The women will eat him up with a spoon. I knew he could sing, but when he got going I was blown away. Probably the best performance of the night. The guy is a star.

Taylor - I'm not entirely convinced that this guy can go the distance, but tonight he made me a bit of a believer. He didn't start off strong, but as it went on he got better and better, and by the end I thought he was great. I would love to hear him sing Blues Travellers' "Just Wait." I think it would fit his voice wonderfully. That, or "Blue Sky."

All in all, a much better night than the ladies had. Anyway, here is how I'd rank them.

1. Chris
2. Ace
3. Bucky
4. Ellott
5. Taylor
6. Gedeon
7. Patrick
8. Sway
9. Will
10. David
11. Kevin
12. Bobby

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by Reaver

- Reaver's Rundown -

Patrick - Nice looking guy, and I know he has a good voice, but here he didn't really hit it for me. The song choice was bad, and he didn't look comfortable doing it. I think he'll go on, but if this was the only time I'd seen him I would have escorted him out the door. Meh, really, and that's a shame, as I can see how good this guy could be.

Really, really poor song choice. Tell him there are melodic piano rock bands out there RIGHT NOW that have songs he should try out. Try Keane's "Bedshaped".

Originally Posted by Reaver

David - Good lord, why do we always have to have these crooners? There is nothing wrong with people who can croon, don't get me wrong. I have several favorite singers who croon like crazy. But, when that is all you can do, you won't get far in the competition, and sadly I think David is so stuck in a certain mode of singing that he'll never get out of it. Plus, his face gets so torqued up that it makes me laugh, and that's not good. He should probably go.

That was painful. It most certainly was a joke. A joke on us all. Gone.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Bucky - I actually got chills when he first started singing. That feeling didn't last for the entire song, but the boy can definitely sing, and I really look forward to seeing what he can do. And, that was a perfect song choice for him. I'd love to hear him sing Seven Mary Three's "Cumbersome."

Yeah, much potential to really open up and be something great in the near future. Possibly. Hopefully. Paula was right that he was pushing too strongly and should pull back some.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Will - This TOTALLY didn't work for me. A horrible song choice, and his delivery of it was bad. Why on Earth would he choose that song? He's already too much of a kid to compound it by singing a song already made famous by a kid younger than him, a kid with a voice ten times as good to boot. Ugh...

I smiled. The problem with this is that he didn't sing the song in the right register so it ended up sounding like something off a Kid's Bop cd. He should have done it in falsetto, orrrrrrr... done a different song. But thank god I guess he didn't do it in falsetto because...

Originally Posted by Reaver

Sway - I can tell that this guy can sing, and he has good stage presence, but that was NOT the right song for him. Hearing him sing that high was painful, and if he's smart he'll never try it again. I'd like to see him go on, but only if he sticks to his range.

This was 50% brilliant and 50% train wreck. Actually, maybe more like 65%/35%.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Chris - I LOVE this guy! I mean, when I heard him say he was going to sing Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" I almost fell out of my chair. That is one of my all-time favorite songs, and to hear this guy attempt it was intriguing. And, he ROCKED that sucker! He sounded enough like Bon Jovi to carry it, but he also made it his own at the same time. Just brilliant.

When he went out I told my son, "Oh my god, he's going to do Bon Jovi?! On American Idol?!" - When he was finished I said, "Oh my god, he totally rocked the Bon Jovi!!"

Originally Posted by Reaver

Kevin - Dammit, this kid is so damn cute that it pains me to rag on him, but he just isn't cutting it, and the worst part is that I'm not sure it's his fault. He has a great voice, but for me it is ruined by this slur that sits beneath the surface. I can't listen past it, and it kills me. I want the best for him, but sadly I think he's a novelty act and won't make it far. If he does, it will be because he's adorable, and not because he has a great pure voice. I do respect, though, how fearless he is.

Pass. Likable, fairly decent voice but I think we might have seen his best already.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Gedeon - I really like this guy's voice. I really do. And, I love that he picked an unconventional song to start off with. He could have gone a safe route, but he didn't, and I respect that. One song I'd love to hear him do is Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." I think he could own that if he put his mind to it.

I have to disagree with you here. While he did a fine job with the song, the song is so vocally easy I thought it was a cop out. The guy has a primadonna attitude and his real talent is going to come through in the next few episodes. By real talent I mean lack thereof.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Ellott - I wouldn't agree with Simon that this guy has the best male voice the show has yet had, but he can definitely sing. He has a great natural voice, he has very good stage presence, and I think he will go very far in the competition. I love the power and poise in his voice. Very very nice.

Very well done. Perfect song choice.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Bobby - He has to go. That's all I can say. Just go. So so bad...

Jesus. Gone.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Ace - Oh. My. God. This guy can sing! Holy crap, he really has an amazing voice. He is obviously very good looking, and he has a massive amount of stage presence. The women will eat him up with a spoon. I knew he could sing, but when he got going I was blown away. Probably the best performance of the night. The guy is a star.

I thought vocally it was kind of dull. Not enough snap and punch in the vocals for the song. Regardless, it was really good and he'll get far even if his voice remains dull. But I bet he can do better.

Originally Posted by Reaver

Taylor - I'm not entirely convinced that this guy can go the distance, but tonight he made me a bit of a believer. He didn't start off strong, but as it went on he got better and better, and by the end I thought he was great. I would love to hear him sing Blues Travellers' "Just Wait." I think it would fit his voice wonderfully. That, or "Blue Sky."

I'm impressed with this guy. The timing on Levon is difficult, and how many people do you know that sing an Elton John song and don't try to sound like Elton John? He stayed true to himself AND at the same time picked a difficult song outside his Ray Charles/Joe Cocker mold.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by Scourge

This was 50% brilliant and 50% train wreck. Actually, maybe more like 65%/35%.

I'd say 25%/75%, but we agree mostly.

When he went out I told my son, "Oh my god, he's going to do Bon Jovi?! On American Idol?!" - When he was finished I said, "Oh my god, he totally rocked the Bon Jovi!!"

Yes. Yes he did.

I have to disagree with you here. While he did a fine job with the song, the song is so vocally easy I thought it was a cop out. The guy has a primadonna attitude and his real talent is going to come through in the next few episodes. By real talent I mean lack thereof.

I meant that he chose a song that very few people would have chosen. Yeah, it was an easy vocal, but it was still an unsual song to see sung on Idol, and I was glad to hear it.

[elwood731]

Well, there was at least one surprise in that cast off--Becky. She's not the best singer, but I certainly didn't expect her to be one of the first gone (even if she deserved it). Heather and others were far less entertaining. My full reactions

[Reaver]

Good choices to go. I wish Patrick had stayed and instead Will or Kevin had gone instead, but it still wasn't unexpected. Thank the gods Stevie, Becky, and Bobby are gone though. Whew.

[elwood731]

Originally Posted by Reaver

Good choices to go. I wish Patrick had stayed and instead Will or Kevin had gone instead, but it still wasn't unexpected. Thank the gods Stevie, Becky, and Bobby are gone though. Whew.

I'm just surprsied that becky IS gone. I didn't really view her as the worst woman (thugh she was bad). Plus, I figured her looks would get a pass at least until week 2 or 3. There are much worse looking women with no talent and personality who made it another week. That's just...surprising.

[Niki]

I was surprised too that Becky got voted off so soon. I wasn't a fan of her voice, but I figured her beauty would take her further.

I was glad Stevie got voted off. I thought she was boring when I heard her Tuesday night and even changed the channel.

My favorite singers are Kellie (a NC girl), Chris (a NC guy), Taylor (I just love his voice for some reason), Ace, Paris, Katherine, Bucky (a NC guy) and Heather (a NC girl). Ayla is pretty good, too.

[Reaver]

Speaking of Becky...

[Lex M]

To steal a Dennis Miller line, it's official: America is gay.

How else to explain voting out two of the pretty, tall, skinny girls, and leaving in so many fugly ones? I realize the show isn't a beauty contest, but inherent in the "Idol" of the title is someone who has the full package, someone appealing and marketable. Looks are a big part of that. For that reason, I can't even fathom kicking out a beautiful girl with a decent voice before an ugly, fat, or awkward girl with a great voice.

Take Paris -- sweet kid, good pipes, but a total dork. So much campy mugging, grating personality, she looks like she's 12 years old, no charisma. Or take Brenna, who's campy and annoying, with not even the best voice.

If Ayla, Katherine, or Heather go anytime before the final three, it's proof positive that the main voting bloc is unattractive women with a disdain for cute girls.

[Scourge]

Originally Posted by Lex M

If Ayla, Katherine, or Heather go anytime before the final three, it's proof positive that the main voting bloc is unattractive women with a disdain for cute girls.

Kellie is the cutest girl there and you didn't mention her at all. Stevie = neurotic psycho. Paris has no charisma? Maybe you should look up the definition of charisma. Becky had zero.

[Lex M]

Originally Posted by Scourge

Kellie is the cutest girl there and you didn't mention her at all. Stevie = neurotic psycho. Paris has no charisma? Maybe you should look up the definition of charisma. Becky had zero.

Kellie is a bumpkin with a disingenuous "Who? Li'l old me????" personality. The show's judges and producers suck up to her enough, she doesn't need me adding to the chorus. She's also not as tall and statuesque as some of the other "cute" girls, so I don't know how you can even compare her to them, unless the "southern rube with a Pa in jail" is tugging the heartstrings in the way the show's powers-that-be are hoping.

She's kinda W.T. for my tastes.

Paris is not an attractive kid.

[Scourge]

Yes, because tall and statuesque have been critical criteria in past American Idol final choices.

[Lex M]

Originally Posted by Scourge

Yes, because tall and statuesque have been critical criteria in past American Idol final choices.

No, they're critical criteria in terms of Lex deciding if a woman is "the cutest," which was what we were talking about.

Pickler is WAY too girl-next-door my tastes, but more power to you.

Sway is going to do a Jasmine Trias and SAIL thru this fucker like no one's business, since he has pretty much the entire Filipino community (and likely the state of Hawaii, which has a huge Filipino population) voting for him en masse. (I know this to be true based on message board posts about chainmail that's blazing thru the Filipino community instructing everyone to call in for him.)

Then again, that vote didn't help the tubby kid who sand Manilow.

[elwood731]

Predictions for this week
I think this season so far has shown the women and much stronger than the men, as usual. There are a couple of guys, but the women far outshined them last week.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by elwood731

I think this season so far has shown the women and much stronger than the men, as usual. There are a couple of guys, but the women far outshined them last week.

Couldn't disagree more. There are only three women that I actually think have talent and that I'd like to see continue on, while with the guys there are five. So, by the numbers, I think the men are bringing it more this season.

[elwood731]

Originally Posted by Reaver

Couldn't disagree more. There are only three women that I actually think have talent and that I'd like to see continue on, while with the guys there are five. So, by the numbers, I think the men are bringing it more this season.

Well, you're seeing something in the guys that I simply don't think is there. They were sad to watch last week, for the most part.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by elwood731

Well, you're seeing something in the guys that I simply don't think is there. They were sad to watch last week, for the most part.

Chris, Ace, Taylor, and Elliot all knocked it out of the park, and I even liked Gedeon for the most part. Where the women are concerned, the only one I really think has a chance is Katherine.