Despite his desire to make David Hasselhoff cry, Chris Sligh never intended to win the competition, and even considered dropping out after the round of 12 two weeks ago.
"I never came into this wanting to win it. I come from an indie, alternative-rock kind of background. For me, I think winning American Idol would hurt what I was really going for. I think what kind of solidified it for me was when I was pretty much universally trashed for my arrangement of 'Endless Love.'"
"I kind of thought, 'You know, this isn't really the competition for me.' Actually, I almost dropped out that week," said Sligh. "I went to the guy from 19 [Entertainment] and was like, 'If I drop out when I make the Top 10, can I still be on tour?' And they were like, 'No. You have to get voted out.' So I was like, 'Well, you know... we'll see what happens.'"
At first look, it seems like maybe he tried to get the boot this past week, but he maintains that his performance was genuine.
"This week I thought it was a pretty good song for my voice, and I gave it my best... and I think that's what I'm going out with, knowing I gave my best for every song I did. I admit it wasn't a great performance this week, but I didn't think it was a terrible performance either."
Chris plans to return to his hometown of Greenville, SC, and reunite with his band, Half Past Forever. He will rejoin the other nine remaining contestants this summer on the American Idol tour.
Elliot Yamin released a self-titled album on March 20th, and it's already skyrocketed to the top of the charts, entering the Billboard album charts at #3, and the independent album charts at #1.
According to his press release, Elliot is one of the first American Idol contestants to release a CD independently, and it has paid off. Elliot celebrated his debut by appearing on Regis and Kelly, Ellen, and E!, followed by appearances and autograph sessions at the Virgin Mega Store in Times Square in New York City, and then a Circuit City in his home state of Virginia. On March 24th, Elliot appeared at a Best Buy in Hollywood, CA.
We wish Elliot the best, and are excited about the success of his new album.
It's amazing what a few mediocre performances can do to a formerly popular contestant. It wasn't a huge surprise, but many Chris fans were wondering how their favorite singer could be voted off when Sanjaya Malakar wasn't even in the bottom three.
Sanjaya sailed through the vote after his fairly decent rendition of No Doubt's "Bathwater" on Tuesday night. Hunger Strike Girl is no doubt singing a sad tune of her own, but that's a topic for a different post.
Alas, Chris' dream of making David Hasselhoff cry will not come to fruition (or will it? Chris will still be performing at the finale). Even so, America was exposed to Chris for several weeks, and he will be one of the ten on tour this summer, so his music career is far from over. This may come as sad news for a few angry Christians, but I would bet most of America will be glad to see him stick around for a while.
It's No Doubt night. Gwen Stefani guest stars on American Idol tonight. Songs are from No Doubt and bands that inspired their unique sound. We have ten singers to get through in just an hour, and Ryan Seacrest wastes no time in getting things started. He shows a quick montage introducing Gwen Stefani and we're ready to go.
LaKisha kicks the night off singing Donna Summer's hit "Last Dance". It starts off a little shaky, her voice warbling a little bit, kind of like Stephanie's last week. It gets better as the song progresses, but never really gets to the level at which we're used to seeing her. The judges really seem to like her, but I wasn't really feeling it this week. She gets the lowest Buzz Score that she's received so far at an 8.
Randy: It's the first time I've seen you do an uptempo joint. That was hot! Paula: Donna Summer's not an easy artist to start out with. You did her proud. Simon: Love the boots. Great! You're 30 years younger this week. Great vocal.
Buzz Score: 8
Chris Sligh is next, and apparently they're not too strapped for time, because Seacrest is asking Chris a question; "What does he do in his spare time?" Answer: He doesn't have much spare time, and any he gets, he spends sleeping so he doesn't get sick. Tonight, Chris performs the Police hit "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." It starts off really pitchy, and without a lot of emotion. Towards the end of the song, he regains control of the song, but like LaKisha, he doesn't reach the standard that he's set in previous weeks.
Randy: It was a good song for you. The biggest problem was your tempo. You were way ahead rushing. Paula: Stay in the pocket (huh?). Vocally, it sat really nice. Simon: Forgets pockets, timing, whatever. I thought it was a mess.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Gina is up next with "I'll Stand By You". Gwen Stefani thought this song was perfect for Gina's voice, and I have to agree. The song fits very well with her. It's lacking a bit of emotion, but she gets control of it toward the end. The last note didn't really do it for me, but overall, it was one of her better peformances. The judges agree with me, all of them saying this was one of her best performances. Simon even said it was the best performance so far tonight.
Randy: I thought this was one of your best performances ever. Paula: You're improving each week. The song allowed you to soar. Your best performance so far. Simon: It was your best performance. The right song.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Sanjaya sings a No Doubt original, but the biggest surprise (if you can call it that) is his crazy mohwak-like hairstyle. In the video before his performance, Gwen sounds a little doubtful that he can pull it off, and I'm sure that most of America shares her sentiment. Hunger-strike girl is probably dancing around the room about now(if she can move).
Sanjaya is full of surprises, though. He actually sounds pretty good. This wasn't the best performance tonight, but it wasn't the worst either. Hunger-girl may have to starve herself for another week. Or maybe she could spend her time and energy on something actually important. Either way is good.
Randy: The hairdo is interesting. You can sing if you would just pull it out of there. Paula: If you had the gumption to really go for it, you could really do well. Simon: I don't think it matters anymore what we say. I think you are in your own universe.
Buzz Score: 8
Haley chose one of Gwen Stefani's favorite songs, "True Colors", but she was a little too over the top for Gwen. Would she tone it down for the television performance ? She starts off very mellow and sounds pretty good. The performance as a whole wasn't fantastic, but I think it was one of her better performances so far. Like Simon said, it was a little forgettable, but it was still good.
Randy: It started a little rough for me. It was just a'ight. Paula: It's a beautiful song that requires the melody. Aim to be more contemporary. Simon: Sweet, but forgettable. There was nothing to remember really.
Buzz Score: 8
Rebecca of Indianapolis asks how it feels to go from being a nobody to a star in a matter of weeks. Phil Stacey says it's nice, but he's just in it for the money! He's singing the second Police song of the night with "Every Breath You Take." Gwen was surprised at how good he sounded, and America might be surprised too. He sounds very good, even Sting-like. Hey, maybe even better than Sting. This is easily his best performance, and one of the best performances tonight. He's wearing a bit too much makeup, but no one's perfect. The judges liked it, but not as much as I thought they would.
Randy: I actually kind of liked that. Paula: That's a good choice. There's so much personality and color to your voice. Simon: I thought that was very good.
Buzz Score: 9
Melinda is singing "Heaven Knows", and Gwen is very impressed. She sounds quite confident that Miss Doolittle will perform fantastically tonight. There's no need for her to worry. Melinda did a bang-up job, as expected. Her dress is very nice, her energy is high, and her presence on stage is just phenomenal. There's only so much I can say. Melinda is great!
Randy: The reason I called you the pro is because a pro does what you do every week. You are living the words. Paula: You have charisma from the word go. It's fun. You're so joyful when you're singing. Simon: Vocally, you were, as usual, outstanding. Hate the outfit.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Blake came out singing "Love Song" by the cure as remixed by 311, bringing his reggae feel to it. The singing was very good, if a little boring, but the overall performance was very solid. I think we'll see Blake back next week.
Randy: It's not my perfect song choice. I liked it. Paula: I love what you did with the song. Simon: You're the strongest guy in the competition.
Buzz Score: 8
Jordin Sparks sang "Hey Baby" by No Doubt. All decked out like a Holla Back girl, with lots of makeup, she looked like maybe she was going a little too far in emulating Gwen Stefani. The verses were very good, but the chorus wasn't great. That's mostly the fault of the song itself, though. I mean, there's not a whole lot you can do with "Hey baby hey baby hey." Overall, pretty good.
Randy: That was a very risky thing to do. You can literally ding anything. That was brilliant. Paula: You're adorable and hip and young. I love seeing you in this kind of mode. Simon: I think you are probably the most improved contestant. I'm seeing another side of you.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Chris Richardson sings one of my favorite No Doubt songs, "Don't Speak". Gwen tells him to focus on the song and the emotion. Chris brings a Blake-style remix to the song with some record-scratching, etc., and the vocals are solid. I think he is lacking a bit on the emotion side, and the vocals got really pitchy at the bridge. When he breaks it down at the end, it adds some of the energy he was missing before, and turns it into a solid performance, though not a great performance.
Randy: I liked your twist on it. I enjoy the runs. That was good. Paula: You're good, Chris. You're good. Simon: This was a much much better choice of song. I wasn't crazy about the vocal.
Buzz Score: 8
And with that, we've wrapped up yet another week of Idol action. On the whole, it was a good night for the performers, making it a very hard night for me to predict who will be booted tomorrow evening. Despite their strong performances, I think Phil, Gina, and Haley are all on the bubble. Chris Richardson seems like he doesn't resonate well with America, but his late time-slot should help him some. Big favorite Chris Sligh may even be in trouble this week. It's a tough choice, but I think I know who to go with.....
The odds have been posted on who will go home tomorrow night. According to Bookmaker.com, Sanjaya is the most likely candidate, followed by Phil Stacey and Gina Glocksen.
Sanjaya Malakar - 2.55 Phil Stacey - 2.80 Gina Glocksen - 3.20 Haley Scarnato - 3.65 Chris Richardson - 9.00 Chris Sligh - 9.00 Jordin Sparks - 11.00 Blake Lewis - 41.00 LaKisha Jones - 67.00 Melinda Doolittle - 71.00
I'd say Haley and Chris Richardson have the best odds when compared to their chances of going home. Chris received the second lowest number of votes last week, and though he is a good singer, it seems that America hasn't really made a connection with him.
Other than Chris Richardson, I think Bookmaker.com has it pretty close. It would be a huge chock if any of the last four contestants on the list went home this week.
Wow! Sanjaya Malakara has spawned some bitter enemies.
One fan of the show, who goes by "J", is so upset that Sanjaya continues to sing to her and millions of other Americans every Tuesday night that she has decided to go on a hunger strike until the 17 year old contestant is booted from American Idol.
It's no surprise that plenty of Idol viewers are not fans of Sanjaya Malakar. He's been publically maligned more than any top 12 contestant I can think of since John Stevens.
Still, to go on a hunger strike until he is voted of is a bit extreme, in my opinion. In fact, it's more than a bit extreme; it's insane! This is a television show, for heaven's sake. How anyone can get that worked up over something as trivial as this is beyond me.
Now on her ninth day of starving herself, "J" is looking to call it quits this week, whether Sanjaya is given the old heave-ho or not. She posts on her blog: "I know I promised you guys a YouTube video, but I am just feeling too tired and weak to do it tonight. I don't even know how I'm typing this right now.
It's getting to a point where I don't know if I can continue on like this anymore, my parents are starting to get concerned. i am going to try my best to make it until Wednesday night though. We'll see."
A bit too devoted to the show, as far as I'm concerned. Here's a YouTube video of her explaining the whole hunger strike.
So it seems that some fundamentalist Christians from Bob Jones University, a South Carolina University that Chris Sligh attended in the late 90s, are upset that Chris Sligh hasn't been singing strictly Christian songs in his American Idol performances. At least that's what it seems like from this quote from an MSNBC article:
Jonathan Pait of fundamentalist Bob Jones University, which Sligh attended for several years, said: “We really are somewhat disappointed with the direction he has gone musically.”
I'm not sure what Mr. Pait expects, but as far as I know, there aren't many "British Invasion" Christian songs to choose from, nor did Diana Ross sing any Christian-themed songs, to my knowledge. I'm not sure exactly what he could have done differently.
Not everyone is dissapointed in him.
"Cheryl Greene, the professor who helped Sligh hone his vocal talents, said just because Sligh may not be singing strictly Christian-themed songs shouldn’t reflect on the depth of his faith."
but even she has concerns...
“Is he going to stand strong by his true Christian morals?” Greene said. “Christianity is a lifestyle ... and there are things in your life that you do need to stand for.”
I can see how someone might worry that the temptations of Hollywood can be overwhelming, even for a devout Christian, but I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that Chris is making a move towards the dark side. In fact, I would think that fundmentalist Christians would be thrilled that they have one of their own on a national stage, able to give a face that America can relate to.
I can't think of any fundamentalist Christian in the public eye that non-Christians might see as a role model. I'm not sure what Mr. Pait would like Chris to do differently, but the whole thing doesn't make much sense to me.
During a media conference call on Thursday, recently ousted American Idol contestant revealed that she wasn't surprised by the results.
"I think that I just had a feeling that I was going to be in the bottom, just because of what the judges said about my performance. And I was right," the singer said.
The Idol Buzz gave her the second lowest score of the evening for her performance of "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", and the judges weren't too thrilled with her performance either. "It was a little pitchy for me", said Randy. Simon though she was losing your edge, and that the song was terrible for her. Apparently, America agreed with the judges.
Edwards said before the performance that choosing the song was the hardest part of preparing for the competition each week, and she thinks that it was the song choice that ultimately did her in. "It was the song I think." If she could do it over again, "I would have definitely had chosen an upbeat, fast song because the judges like me singing a faster song... [America] would have related better if I did a faster, upbeat song, I think, which the judges even said they like to see me do and I think that my fans probably like to see me do. So they didn't like it and they didn't vote."
Every summer, the top 10 contestants go on tour, so missing it by just one week really hits hard. "It's a bummer, but I'm trying to look at the bright side. Maybe one day I will go on tour, even if it's not with American Idol."
In a shocking results show, Stephanie Edwards was voted off of American Idol on Wednesday night.
Wow! As you may have seen in my review of Tuesday's show, I thought Stephanie sang pretty poorly on Tuesday night. Even so, she has done phenomenally all season, and I thought there was no way that one bad performance would be the end of her, but apparently, America's attention span is shorter than I thought.
Though she is leaving earlier than she probably should have, she would have had to step up her game in a big way to have any chance at the title, so it's not the end of the world that she got voted off.
Chris Richardson being second to last was also a pretty big shocker. I thought his performance was very good, and so did the judges. Maybe his Timberlake-like qualities make it hard for America to embrace him like they apparently have embraced Sanjaya.
Speaking of Sanjaya Malakar, VoteForTheWorst apparently came through for him more than I thought they would. I heard the contestants hair stylist on the radio this morning, and according to him, Sanjaya knows he's not cutting it, and he feels kind of bad about still being around while other contestants have gone home.
In the end, though, it really doesn't matter. There's almost no way he could possibly win the whole competition, so in the end the truly most popular contestant will reign victorious regardless.
British Pop is invading American Idol tonight. For a minute, I thought that Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe was coaching the boys this week. Come to find out, it was his doppelgänger Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits. British 60s pop singer Lulu is helping the girls this week.
Haley Scarnato is trying to break out of her streak of boring performances by singing "Tell Him". She started off in the audience, obviously trying very hard to make her performance one to remember. Since she's going first toinght, that's even more important than usual. At first it looked a little awkward, but as she continued, she seemed to find her groove. The singing was good, but nothing fantastic. Like Simon said, though, people won't be talking about her singing, just her performance as a whole. I think the dancing and the energy she brought to the stage may help keep her around for another week, but we'll have to see how the rest of the performances go.
The Verdict:
Randy: That was the perfect song for you. Haley's back in the competition. Paula: You have this girlish quality about you. Adorable. Simon: You naughty little thing. Fun, young, a bit shrieky.
Buzz Score: 8
Chris Richardson (also known as Justin Timberlake's doppelgänger) is slowing it down this week with "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying". I always say ballads and being one of the first performers of the evening don't mix. Ballads can easily be forgettable, and that is a big problem when you're relying on an audience with a 10-minute attention span to keep you in the competition or send you home. You really have to sing well to make it worthwhile. Can Chris pull it off? The guitar player on stage is a nice touch, and the song starts off really well. A few pitchy spots, but overall very good.
I think that he and Haley both did a good job of taking songs several decades old, and making them sound modern without over-modernizing them like Chris and Blake did last week. The judges really liked his performance, even going as far as saying it was his best performance to date. If the audience can still remember him by the end of the show, he'll be on stage next Tuesday.
The Verdict:
Randy: That was another great performance. It showed a different side to you. One of your best vocals yet. Paula: It's all about being smart with your choices. Very sexy and charming. Simon: I think that was your best performance so far.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Up next is Stephanie Edwards. She tells Ryan that the hardest part of preparing each week is choosing the best song for her. The song she chose this week is "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me", a Dusty Springfield tune. The arrangment starts off really cool, with just the band, the backup singers, and dim lights. When she started off, her performance reminded me of a song from a Broadway show. As the song progressed, her voice got pitchy, and a little warbled. Overall, I didn't like it nearly as much as her previous performances. I think she's probably safe for next week based on her previous performances, but this week didn't do it for me at all.
The Verdict:
Randy: It was a little pitchy for me. Paula: I love what you're wearing. Some notes fell off. Start going back to having fun. Simon: I think you are losing your edge/your soul. That song wasn't you.
Buzz Score: 7
Blake Lewis: Loved by youngsters and oldsters alike. He got Paula dancing right away. His vocals were decent, and the beat-boxing added something to the song without being over the top. Much different from last week. His high notes sounded very strained to me. The judges loved him, but I wasn't quite as impressed. I liked it, but it definitely wasn't his best performance. Like Randy, I'm a big Blake fan, and I definitely expect him to be back next week.
The Verdict:
Randy: I'm a huge Blake fan. You made the song really current. Brilliant. Paula: You have raised the bar. Simon: A million times better than last week. You found a way to make the song contemporary without messing up the song. Storngest per formance so far.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Lulu tried to convince Lakisha Jones to sing "You're My World", but she decided in the end to sing "Diamonds are Forever". Like Stephanie, the song started out sounding a lot like a Broadway performance. Lakisha can sing very well, and this song was no different from any of her past performances. Very good overall. It's too bad that they showed Lulu's comments before the performance though, because I can't keep from thinking that "You're My World" would have suited her better, and been a song she could really bring the house down with. Randy and Simon agreed with my sentiment. Lakisha can definitely sing, but the performance wasn't as memorable as the others have been.
The Verdict:
Randy: I don't know if it was my favorite performance. Not enough Lakisha. Paula: You picked the right song. Simon: You are a fantastic singer. However, this is Lakisha in 50 years.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Phil Stacey was looking for a fun song, and chose "Tobacco Road". Peter Noone said Phil's voice is unique, and is perfect for this song. Coming out on stage sporting the patented Bo Bice microphone-and-stand hold. His vocals were very good, and it looks like Peter was right; his voice is very good for this song. Phil's "look" doesn't match very well with the vibe he was trying for, and as such, it looked a little strange to me. I liked the performance, though, and I hope America does too. I'd like to see him back next week.
The Verdict:
Randy: It was a pretty good performance. I like your upper register. Paula: Good choice of song. I feel like there were some parts that were pitchy. Simon: I wasn't crazy about it. A third division bar band performance. You need grit in your voice.
Buzz Score: 8
Jordin Sparks is "so excited" about the performance tonight. Lulu loves her song choice, and thinks Jordin is amazing. The performance starts off like Stephanie's, with the band and the dim lights. Jordin handles the song better than Stephanie, though, almost immediately eliciting cheers from the audience. You can tell right away that this song is perfect for her. I'm not sure what it is about 60s British pop music that reminds me of Broadway musicals, but once again, I can totally envision watching this on a stage in Times Square. I've always liked Jordin, but not until tonight did I think she had any chance against Melinda, Lakisha, or Stephanie. If she can keep this up, she could win the whole thing.
The Verdict:
Randy: Very controlled. One of the best poerformances we'll see tonight. Paula: You're a good singer and a wonderful performer. Simon: You sang it beautifully, but I feel like jumping off a bridge. So gloomy.
Buzz Score: 9
When they showed the two songs Sanjaya Malakar was considering singing, I felt like choosing one would just be choosing the lesser of two evils. Unfortunately, he chose the evilest of two evils. We've all seen Sanjaya sing over the past several weeks, and although he's not as good as most of the other singers, there's no doubt that he can sing well. I risk sounding like Simon by saying this, but tonight's performance sounded like a very bad karaoke version of that song. I think I could probably perform that song better than he did, and I am a terrible singer. Everything about the performance made me just wish it would end. He was off pitch, and screamed half the song. Somehow, the judges seemed to like it at least pretty well, which was very surprising to me.
Sanjaya brought at least one audience member to tears. It was hard to tell if they were tears of joy, or if she realized this was probably it for Sanjaya this week. Sanjaya does have VoteForTheWorst.com working in his favor again this week. They might keep him from being voted out, but there's no doubt that he was the worst this week.
The Verdict:
Randy: Usually, you're reserved, but you came out of your shell tonight. Best performance to date. Paula: You looked like you were having fun up there. Simon: The little girl's face says it all.
Buzz Score: 6
Gina Glocksen will be singing "Painted Black", a song that seems like it would be very good for her. This song is interesting the way at switches back and forth from mellow to rocked out constantly through the song, and I wondered how she would handle this. I think overall, she did a pretty good job at it. The mellow parts had a tendency to get a little pitchy, but her 'performing' was very good. I was expecting a little bit more for her with this song, but it wasn't bad.
The Verdict:
Randy: I love the edge vibe. It was just alright for me. Paula: I think it was miles better than last week. Simon: There were moments of complete torture. Off melody. Not very good. Style over content.
Buzz Score: 8
Chris Sligh revealed to America that Peter Noone was voted sexiest singer alive in 2001. It makes me wonder who voted in that poll. Chris Sligh wins the award for traveling the farthest into the audience during a performance than any other singer in American Idol history. He was 90 seconds into the song before he even got to the stage, Singing "She's Not There" by the Zombies, he managed some great vocals, and the performance was very good overall, especially considering that he was weaving through the audience while he was performing.
The Verdict:
Randy: It started off a little rough, but you wound up good. Paula: Your vocals were really good. Simon: I thought it was fun. Not the best vocal tonight, but still very good.
Buzz Score: 8
Melinda Doolitle said that "As Long As He Needs Me" is as far out of her comfort song that any song has been so far this season. Lulu thinks it's the perfect song for her. This time, the song actually is from a musical, rounding out the evening of "Four of six girls singing songs that sound like they're from musicals, including one that actually is from a musical."
The performance was fantastic, as I think everyone probably expected. It wasn't as powerful as previous performances by Melinda, but it was still amazing. It's hard for me to imagine how it would even be possible for Melinda to miss out on making the finals in this competition.
The Verdict:
Randy: We saved the best vocal for last. you have great relative pitch. You are a pro up there. Paula: You are in your own league. Beautiful. Simon: Are you really as nice as you seem? A boring song, but you made it sensational.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Alright, this is a tough week to predict who will be voted out of the competition. I think Sanjaya was clearly the worst, but he has VoteForTheWorst.com behind him. Even so, he was in the bottom three last week, and VFTW had just been mentioned on Howard Stern that day.
Phil Stacey might still be in trouble, but I think if it's not Sanjaya, it's most likely to be Haley. Basically, my prediction comes down to whether or not VoteForTheWorst will be able to keep Sanjaya in or not. I'm going to guess no, and go with Sanjaya.
Voting Prediction:
Sanjaya Malakar will be voted off Wednesday night.
The field is finally down to 12. The contestants are finally performing on a real stage. Six guys and six girls will compete against each other for the first time. Seacrest reminds us of how great some of the past top 12 contestants were, and we're underway.
Simon said that this new stage can change everything. It looks like it affected Brandon Rogers. During rehearsals, Diana Ross encouraged Brandon to go back to his center. For next week, she should encourage him to memorize his lyrics. Singing the Supremes hit, "Can't Hurry Love", he came out a little weak, but got his bearings pretty quickly. A few times, he tried to "make the song his own", but it didn't work very well. He brought out a few hip-swinging dance moves, but apparently dancing makes him forget his lyrics. Perhaps next week, he should just do one at a time. Overall, a good performance, but not great.
Randy - Needs to be better than that. Paula - There are many things that you do right. Simon - That was a complete letdown. Predictable.
Buzz Score: 7
My favorite contestant so far, Melinda Doolittle, was asked what the hardest part of the competition was. The tough performances, the pressure, the composure on stage; According to Melinda, that all pales in comparison to the discomfort of a dress and high heels. In rehearsals, her singing gave Diana Ross goosebumps. Singing "Home" from the musical "The Wiz", her performance was great from start to finish. I didn't like the song itself too much, but her performance was fantastic! She brought herself to tears, and Paula followed suit. To emotional to talk to Seacrest, Paula told Ryan that she was having an "out of body experience".
Randy - Really really strong. Girls - 1, Boys - 0 Paula - {While crying} I have goosebumps. I'm so excited for you. Simon - You made a very boring song fantastic. You remind me of a young Gladys Knight.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Chris Sligh and Diana Ross have matching hair. A little more teasing, and Chris can have bigger hair than Diana. "Endless Love" is one of my favorite songs. Turning it into a one-person song is a challenge in and of itself. Chris wanted to completely change the style and tone of the song.
Chris is a great singer and he didn't dissapoint tonight, but I hated the remake of the song. They turned a beautiful love song into a very strange arrangement. When the song started, my wife commented that it sounded like a Coldplay song. Sure enough, Randy said exactly that when the song was over. All the emotion that the song usually contains was lost in this new arrangement. Good vocals, but a boring and unemotional song.
Randy - Weird for me. Paula - Trying to hard to be ultra-hip Simon - I think you murdered the arrangement.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Starstruck Gina Glocksen plans to tell a story with the Supremes #1 hit "Love Child". This song fits pretty well with Gina's 'rocker' image; as well as a Diana Ross song could. She had some pitchy spots throughout, especially in the low parts. The performance was decent, but the singing was average, in my opinion.
Randy - Pitchy in spots. I didn't feel any excitement from you. Paula - I feel that you're much better than how you did tonight. At times, you were shouting. Simon - It was okay. It wasn't terrible, it wasn't fantastic. Good song for you.
Buzz Score: 7.5
"Sanjaya Malakar is Love". That's what Diana Ross thinks. Sanjaya's singing Diana's first solo hit, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". It appears he'e trying to channel Diana's energy through himself by emulating her hairstyle. Just like last week, I feel like we can barely hear what he's singing at first. It makes his voice sound weak, and the song boring. And like last week, the performance got louder and more energy-filled as it went on. Not very good overall, but the second half of the song was average.
Randy - It wasn't very good. Thank goodness for the background singers. The hair is rockin' though. Paula - I can understand why Diana said you're pure love. You have to explode with your vocal sound. Simon - When you hear a wail in Beverly Hills, that's where Diana Ross is watching the show.
Buzz Score: 6.5
Haley Scarnato has a "recording studio voice"; an "inside voice". That describes Sanjaya far more than Haley, as far as I'm concerned. Singing "Missing You", Haley started out using her inside voice. Her voice was muffled and the performance was boring. When she stood up, she instantly brought more energy to the stage. Unfortunately, her pitch also suffered and she forgot her lyrics. Overall, the performance wasn't great, but I didn't think it was terrible either. Average at best, but okay. After the judges comments, Paula commented that the audience "doesn't know anything". I guess now we all know where we the audience stand with Ms. Abdul. I wonder if she had that kind of contempt for her audience when she was a singer.
Randy - You gave a valiant effort. You sounded nervous when you started. A little surprised. Paula - You look lovely tonight. Fogettting the words is never a great thing to do. you're still adorable. Simon - I didn't think it was that bad. I think we will remember you. Your nerves got the best of you.
Buzz Score: 7
Phil Stacey has trouble coming to the stage and starting his songs off well. The first 10 seconds of every song this season have been pretty rough. Diana's advice was to look at the audience. Did the advice pay off? Phil comes to the stage tonight singing "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", and his beginning was much better than usual. The whole performance was leaps and bounds better than last week, though that's certainly not a hard feat to achieve. Even so, he brought it form start to finish, and this was probably his best peformance. I agree with Randy and Paula that the song was average but the vocals were very good.
Randy - It was boring, but the vocals were hot. Paula - Your vocals sound really good, but that song meeds to be more up-tempo. Simon - It was okay. Good choice of song. You have a tendency to shout.
Buzz Score: 8.5
La Kisha has never sung "God Bless The Child" before this week, but after watching her performance, you would think she'd been singing it all her life. She came on stage in an elegant white dress and a rich smooth tone that did service to the song. "Kiki" brought the same emotion to the stage that she does every week, and there's no question that she deserves to be in this competetion. If she doesn't make the top three, I will be very surprised. A fantastic performance!
Randy - Wow! Kiki's in the house. Perfect song choice for you. Unbelievable vocal. Sensational! Paula - You're a beautiful peformer. Your heart comes through when you sing. Simon - You've got it! You and Melinda are in a different league than everyone else.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Blake Lewis' favorite music is underground hip hop, electronic music, experimental stuff; everything that Diana Ross' music is not - or is it? He took Diana Ross' hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On", and used his computer to change the tempo, the beat, and modernize the song. The remix is interesting, but I wouldn't send it to the Grammy Hall of Fame yet. The vocals were too high for Blake, causing him to strain while he sang. After the interest in seeing the song remixed wore off, the song simply became long and boring. Simon was right in that if you heard that song by itself, it just wouldn't be good. I like Blake, and America likes Blake. I think he'll be around next week. Hopefully, he can do better then.
Randy - There were some good things about it. You don't have to Blake-ize every song. Paula - You could have a hit with that. {huh?} Simon - I didn't get that at all.
Buzz Score: 7
Stephanie Edwards is in love with Diana Ross. Diana told Stephanie to deliver a sexy voice when singing "Love Hangover". It would seem that Stephanie took her advice. Her voice was smooth and sultry. Her movements were a little awkward; Stephanie's probably still getting used to the big stage. The song ended a little awkward as well. Most songs have a big finish, and this one just kind of ended. The judges definitely took note of this, and implored Stephanie to change her ways next week.
Randy - It's been an interesting night as far as forgettign the words. Not a strong finish. Paula - Everyone was waiting for the strong finish. Strong vocals, but strive for better. Simon - You teased everybody with the good part, but failed to deliver.
Buzz Score: 8
"The Boss" is a "work the audience" kind of song, according to Diana. Chris Richardson isn't the best at working the stage or the audience, but he tried, by being the first contestant this season to utilize the stage behind-the judges for part of the song. His dancing was awkward, but his vocals were pretty good, and got better as the song went on. I haven't been able to figure Chris out yet. It seems like his style changes every week. I think he's still trying to find his niche in this competition. I worry that if he doesn't find it soon, he'll be heading home.
Randy - You overdid it a little bit. It was interesting for me. Paula - I think out of the guys, you nailed the blend of contemporary and old-fashioned. Great job. Simon - Vocals were dreadful. It was terrible.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Jordin Sparks hair is trying to win the Diana Ross Look-Alike contest, and despite tough competition from Chris Sligh and Sanjaya, Jordin's hair may have won the blue ribbon. Her song of choice was "If We Hold On Together" from The Land Before Time. The performance was a little boring, but the vocals were good. The judges thought she was fantastic, but I wouldn't go quite that far. Her performance was solid, and I expect to see her again next week.
Randy - I'm so very impressed with you. You just made it a three-girl race. Paula - You are a natural gift. You can sing your little heart out. Simon - A little bit gooey. Very very good vocal. You have a shot at making the finals.
Buzz Score: 8
I think that either Haley or Brandon will go home this week. It's very tough to predict this week, but I'm going to go with Brandon. His performance was forgettable, he went first out of twelve, and the judges didn't like his performance. So, let's make it official.......
The girls are up tonight. Can they top the dismal performances by the guys last night? Let's get started...
Even the girls are athletes. Jordin Sparks thought about playing football in high school. Instead she decided to become a singer. Tonight, she's singing "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benetar. I like the energy she exuded in her performance, and the vocals were pretty good. It was a little over the top, but overall, definitely a solid performance.
The Verdict:
Randy - That was hot. Way to start off the night. Paula - I liked the performance. Simon - A bit manic and shrieky. Not your strongest performance.
Buzz Score: 8
Former high school anchor of "Diablo Heat" Sabrina Sloan kept the energy up with "Don't Let Go". She had a few pitchy parts, but they were lost in the powerful vocals. I've like Sabrina since the beginning, and she continues to impress me every week. The judges said she needed more personality, but I don't see it.
The Verdict:
Randy - Not your best performance, but good. Paula - You can sing sing sing. Simon - You're a great singer, but lacking emotion. A little bit robotic.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Antonella Barba had probably her best performance so far, which is good, but it still was average compared to most other performers. She was a little pitchy, but mostly her performance was just a little boring. Good violin player, though. Maybe she can fall back on that. VoteForTheWorst.com really likes her, though, so I think Antonella could find a spot in the top 12, much to Simon's chagrin.
The Verdict:
Randy - Pretty good song choice. Nice ending, but pitchy. Paula - The right song choice for you. Watch out for low notes. Simon - You've gone as far as you can go. You are surrounded by amazing girl singers. I wish you could sing better.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Former gymnast Haley Scarnato had a pretty good performance tonight. Although not overly exciting, the vocals were great, and she brought just enough energy to make it interesting. After last week's average performance, I think she needed a solid performance like this. Simon said she was very forgettable, and he has a point. She may be going home tomorrow night.
The Verdict:
Randy - I wasn't jumping up and down. No pizazz. No like yo. Paula - That's a song that you sing well. Simon - I thought it was horrible. Some terrible ghastly high school musical performance.
Buzz Score: 8
Stephanie Edwards opened up the show talking about how shy she used to be when asked to sing in front of people. She obviously overcame her shyness, because tonight she's singing in front of 30 million people, and she looks as confident as can be. I though her performance was fantastic! The only think lacking a little was emotion, but just a little. Very good performance!
The Verdict:
Randy - It was just okay for me. Paula - I thought you were darn near flawless. Beautiful voice. Simon - You're one of the best we've got. You have a copycat tendency.
Buzz Score: 9
Lakisha is up next. The judges always get on people for singing Whitney Houston songs. They always compare the contestant to Whitney, and say there's no way to match her vocals. I was wondering if they would do this to Lakisha tonight, and they did not. Threy like her too much to get on her about anything.
The vocals were good, and the performance was great overall. It wasn't terribly unique, but it was still great!
The Verdict:
Randy - Not your best performance, but great! Paula - You've already made us love you. Simon - You brought passion, talent, believability.
Buzz Score: 9
Will Gina Glocksen's good luck charms help her performance tonight? She came out rockin' tonight with an Evanescence tune. Her performance wasn't incresibly exciting, but the vocals were pretty good, and it was above average overall. She ended the song with some major pitchiness, but it was good enough to probably make it through to the top twelve.
The Verdict:
Randy - Finally, the real Gina comes out. This is who I always though that you were. Paula - Don't oversing. This is the style that suits you best. Simon - This is the first time I've seen you look comfortable. You deserve to be in the top twelve.
Buzz Score: 8
Melinda Doolittle brought it tonight! Funky, jazzy, and a fantatic vocal! No one has consistantly been as electric as her in this competition. Every week, she brings it to a whole new level! Not only is her singing great, but she is a fantastic performer!
The Verdict:
Randy - Check it out. You are a consummate pro. You're ready to make a record! Paula - You are so phenomenal. You're fantastic! Simon - You little tiger. It is very nice that you are actually enjoying every second on this show.
Buzz Score: 10
Predictions:
This is even tougher than the guys. I think the most forgettable/worst performances were Antonella and Haley, but I think Antonella will be sticking around thanks to VoteForTheWorst.com. Unfortunately, I think this is bad news for Jordin Sparks, who will probably receive the next fewest votes. Who will go home Thursday night?
We're back for the third and final preliminary week. By Thursday, we'll finally have our final twelve contestants, and American Idol will (thankfully!) be back to only twice a week. Once again, the guys will go first.
Up first is Blake Lewis, lover of improv comedy and Halloween. After introducing us to his alter-ego, he started out the show by singing a 311 song (his self-proclaimed favorite band). I was really excited when I heard the music, but the song sounded more like a karaoke version of the song that anything else. His self-censoring was cool, and the performance got better as it went on, but overall, it was average. How did the judges not know the song? It was top 40 not too long ago.
The Verdict:
Randy - That was hot! Paula - I was interested, even though I didn't know the song. Simon - You're making it current. You will still be here next week.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Following the first of many commercials, hula-dancer Sanjaya Malakar took the stage. After last week's dismal performance, I was glad to see him back with a pretty decent rendition of "Waiting For The World To Change". His moves looked a little awkward, but his voice was great, and his performance was very nice.
The Verdict:
Randy - That wasn't really that great. Paula - I don't agree completely with Randy. Try to get out of your comfort zone. Keep trying. Simon - It wasn't as ghastly as last week. It wasn't a very good vocal.
Buzz Score: 8
Sundance brought a Pearl Jam tune to the stage, with "Jeremy". His pitch wavered a lot throughout the song, but he still sounded better than Eddie Vedder ;) Overall, it was an average performance at best.
The Verdict:
Randy - Pitchy spots, but he brought his southern rock. Paula - Really kicked in to your Sundance groove. Simon - Didn't like it as much as last week.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Chris Robinson used to be a football player in college. Now, he's on American Idol singing a Keith Urban ballad. Listen up, jocks. That could be you one day. The performance was a little boring, but the vocals were good. He seems very likeable, and I think he'll be back next week.
The Verdict:
Randy - In it to win it! Paula - You've adapted well, and picked a great song. Simon - I'm not jumping out of my chair. It was good.
Buzz Score: 8
Everybody's an athlete! Jared Cotter played Division II college basketball. He's singing a Stevie Wonder tune tonight, and he's doing a pretty good job of it. He sounds a little strained, but his vocals are on, and he's bringing an excitement to the stage that I haven't seen yet from him. I liked his performance.
The Verdict:
Randy - Solid performance. It was good. Paula - Work on coloring up the way you sing. Sometimes you shout the entire song. Simon - I sort of know what Paula's trying to say. It wasn't very original.
Buzz Score: 8
Brandon Rogers has been a classical piano player since he was nine years old. Tonight, he's "Celebrate", a funky favorite currently best known for being the background music in a car commercial. He brought it tonight, though, and really made it his own. I was definitely impressed by the performance more than I though I would be when the song started.
The Verdict:
Randy - I love that song. Gives him a rock edge. Solid though. Paula - I think it was pretty phenomenal. Simon - I don't think you've represented yourself well.
Buzz Score: 8.5
'The bald guy' Phil Stacey is next with a very off-key Leann Rimes song. I really like Phil Stacey, and I'm worried about this performance, because he really butchered basically the entire song. I'm hoping his likability will get him into the top twelve, because I think he can do great things. I was surprised that the judges didn't tear him apart in their verdict.
The Verdict:
Randy - Interesting song choice. A little weird. Not your best performance. Paula - Lower part of your register is off. Simon - I didn't get it. Very odd.
Buzz Score: 6
Phil Stacey used to have hair, and now he's bald. Chris Sligh used to be bald. Now he has long luxurious hippie hair; all natural. Chris capped off the evening with a funky redition of "Well All Wanna Be Loved". Of all the guys, I think Chris can rest the easiest this week. He always brings a good performance to the stage, he's very likable, and the judges seem to like him.
The Verdict:
Randy - Not my favorite song choice. Best performance of the night. Paula - Keep rising above. Middle of the road. Simon - Beginning was very good. Shouted in the middle. You have potential.
Buzz Score: 8
Predictions:
This is really tough this week, since we pool of contestants keeps getting better. I'm not sure Phil's likability can keep him on this week. This week's losers:
As I mentioned last week, one bad night by the guys didn't mean that they were definitely inferior to the girls on the whole. Last night, we finally got a glimpse of what some of the guys can do, and I think we separated the great from the good last night.
Can the girls rise to the occasion, or will the water cooler talk on Thursday be about how much better the guys are than the girls? There are ten girls left. Tomorrow, there will be eight. Let's break down the performances.
Gina Glockson got things started, dedicating "Alone" to her boyfriend Joe. My first thought when she started singing this song was that Carrie Underwood had performed the same song in an early round two years ago. Knowing how the judges like to bust out the comparisons (especially to Whitney Houston) in their critiques, I think it was a bit of a risk. For what it's worth, I don't think she was as good as Carrie was at this song, but it was a solid performance. Her voice seemed nasally, especially as the song progressed, and it looked like it was a bit of a struggle to keep up with the notes towards the end of the song. A good performance, but it didn't really stand out.
The Verdict:
Randy: Pitchy. Paula: Really Good. Simon: Vocals forced at the end. Confused as to who you are.
Buzz Score: 8
Alaina Alexander was next, dedicating "Not Ready To Make Nice" to her Mom. I really like Alaina, and her performance was very good. She nailed the vocals in the beginning, but the song got a little ahead of her later on. Overall, a good performance.
The Verdict:
Randy: First couple bars good. Chorus - pitch went away. Paula: Not nearly as bad as Randy said. Simon: Like Randy taking part in a 100 metre sprint. Ran out of steam 3/4 of the way through.
Buzz Score:8.5
I thought La Kisha Jones would have a hard time living up to the hype surrounding her after last week's performance. Singing "Midnight Train to Georgia", dedicated to her grandmother, she came out strong with great vocals. With as high as she set the bar last week, this performance didn't quite live up. She projected less emotion, and certainly didn't bring the house down, but it was very good performance, and she will surely stay around for a long time. She will probably contend for the American Idol crown. Time will only tell.
She threw in a brief dance move at the end that I really liked. It really added energy and some fun to the performance.
The Verdict:
Randy: That was hot. Started kinda rough, but ended great. Paula: I loved it, and I love you. Simon: Interesting dance at the end. Phenomenally good singer.
Buzz Score:8.5
My top-rated singer from last week, Melinda Doolittle, dedicated "My Funny Valentine" to her two best friends, who interestingly enough are also her vocal coach and stylist. It was hard to find fault in her performance. A lot of slow songs are easily forgettable, but not this one. Her voice is so smooth, and she sang almost flawlessly from start to finish, eliciting a standing ovation from Paula. Just fantastic!
The Verdict:
Randy: You came out here tonight to win it. The one to beat. Paula: Just astounding. Simon: Incredible. Without question, the best vocal of the season.
Buzz Score:9.5
Antonella Barba, fresh off a bunch of ridiculously hyped-up controversy, dedicated "Because You Loved Me" to her brother. Just like last week, the mic sounded weird. I think she must be holding it in a strange way. Maybe someone should tell her before she performs next week. She started out okay, and stayed pretty average the whole time. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly great either. When she sang the high notes, her voice was pretty impressive. Overall, I'd say it was average, but much better than last week.
The Verdict:
Randy: Completely wrong song. Pitch all over the place. Song too big. Paula: Made leaps and bounds from last week. Simon: Vocals weren't good enough.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Jordin Sparks dedicated her song, "Reflection", to her younger brother P.J., and joined Sundance Head in the "crying during the intro" club. Unfortunately for her, hearing the intro seemed to unnerve her, and her whole performance was off. I really liked her a lot last week, and I still hope she makes it through to next week, because I think she could go pretty far. I'm a little worried about her making it through tomorrow's vote, though.
The Verdict:
Randy: Pitchy moments, but can really sing. So impressed with her ability. Paula: Good human being., Good, talented girl. Simon: Wasn't your best, but comparatively excellent.
Buzz Score: 7.5
One of my favorites from last week, Stephanie Edwards, dedicated a Beyonce song to her parents. Good vocals, great range, and lots of emotion. That's about all there is to say. It was a great overall performance, and I think she should have no trouble making it through to next week.
The Verdict:
Randy: Good, but too much like Beyonce Paula: Fantastic. Brilliant. Simon: Terrific performance.
Buzz Score: 8.5
I almost predicted that Leslie Hunt would go home last week, but changed my mind at the last minute. She sang fine, but I think she's too non-descript and not unique enough to get America's votes. Singing "Feelin' Good", the same song A.J. sang last night, she brought a solid performance to the table for the voters to mull over.
I thought her voice fit very well with the song, but I didn't really like the scatting at the end. Singing the same song as another contestant will always draw comparisons, and I'm going to compare her now: It wasn't as good as A.J. last night, and I think some voters may be thinking the same thing when the break out their phones. Also, her outfit was a little strange. I'm not sure what America will think about her, and I think she may be going home tomorrow night.
The Verdict:
Randy: Pitchy. Liked the a cappella beginning. Paula: Back in your element. Simon: Doing the best she can, but lost among the other performers.
Buzz Score: 8
Haley Scarnato was up next, with a dedication to her fiance Bobby. Her song choice was much different from last week's Celine Dion tune, and I think it fit her well. The song was a little big for her, but it fit well with her voice. One thing I noticed was that the background vocals overshadow the lead vocals in some parts, and this was echoed by Randy. When the contestants sing a Whitney Houston song, you're sure to hear the judges say that you can't sing a Whitney song without being perfect, and sure enough, Simon said this in his comments. Overall, I though it was very good.
The Verdict:
Randy: Wasn't great. Paula: Leaps and bounds better than last week. Simon: A for effort. Manic, verging on insane.
Buzz Score: 8
Closing out the evening was Sabrina Sloan, dedicating "All the Man I Need" to her Grammy. Again with the Whitney Houston song, and again with the judges comments about needing to sing Whitney perfect. I wonder why they rarely say this about any other singer? Anyway, the vocals were good, lots of emotion, great ending. Altogether a great performance! I think we'll probably see Sabrina back next week.
The Verdict:
Randy: Very nice overall. A little pitchy. Paula: Fantastic. She's a contender. Simon: Very good. She'll be back next week.
Buzz Score: 8.5
And that's that. Another week of performances is behind us. Who will go home tomorrow night? It's really tough to call. Antonella is still VoteForTheWorst.com's choice, so I doubt she's going anywhere anytime soon.
Jordin, Leslie and Haley have the best chance of going home, with Alaina not too far behind. This is a really tough one, and I've changed my mind about a dozen times before finally deciding on the following -->
Prediction: Leslie and Jordin will be going home Thursday night.
Phil Stacey got the guys started with "Since You've Been Gone". I really like Phil, but found this particular performance to be pretty boring and uninspired. He has a great voice though, and the song came together pretty well.
The Verdict:
Randy: Hot. Showing his power. Paula: Great tone. Can hear him on the radio. Simon: Nice guy. Unoriginal Voice.
Buzz Score:8
Jared Cotter was next, dedicating Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to his Mom and Dad. It started off great, and then regressed a little over the course of the song. His falsetto was very good however, and overall, it was a good performance. He drove the ladies (and Randy) wild at the end by slowly covering and then revealing his face with his hand.
The Verdict:
Randy: Loved the face move. Paula: Good looking guy. Simon: Reminded him of a cabaret singer on the Love Boat.
Buzz Score: 7.5
Third on the night was A.J. Tabaldo, dedicating "New Day" to his Mom and Dad. The whole performance was very different from the norm, and was quite refreshing. Jazzy, funky, and with a great vocal range, he really worked it out. Will America like it, though? I'm sure Ryan Seacrest would love for him to stick around, since A.J. appears to be the only male contestant shorter than he is.
The Verdict:
Randy: So much better than last week. Paula: Real real real real real good voice. Simon: Nearly very good. He looked strangely comfortable.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Sanjaya Malakar was next, dedicating "Steppin' Out" to his late grandfather. I like Sanjaya a lot, because he seems like a genuinely nice guy, but his performance left much to be desired. He has a very weak voice, and rarely brings out a nice smooth tone. It almost seemed like he was whispering half the song. I really felt like I was watching a high-school musical. The pitch was more or less fine, but the overall performance was completely uninteresting.
The Verdict:
Randy: Really weird. Bad high school talent show. Paula: Pick songs that sound great for you. Simon: Like a child dressing up and singing. Weak, weird.
Buzz Score: 6.5
It appears that some of the contestants took the idea of dedicating a song to someone seriously when choosing a song, and others definitely did not. Sanjaya chose a song from his grandfather's era - his dedication probably played a part in his song choice. Jared Cotter dedicated "Let's Get It On" to his parents - his dedication most likely did not play a part in his song choice.
Chris Sligh chose a song called "Trouble", and dedicated it to his wife. Simon comments later that he thought it was an odd song title to dedicate to your wife, but the lyrics late in the song were seemingly appropriate, and he sang them directly to his wife who was in the audience. Save for an unexciting ending, the song was very good, with great vocals. Chris will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming weeks.
The Verdict:
Randy: He's got skills. Better than last week. Paula: Watch your pitch. Real Awesome. Simon: Very good singer.
Buzz Score: 9
Nick Pedro dedicated "Fever" to his girlfriend Caitlin. I've seen this song sung many times on American Idol, in the earlier rounds, but it's always been sung by a girl. I though Nick brought a refreshing interpretation of the song, and was pretty good overall. One thing I worry about though, is that it was very forgettable. I had already forgotten about his performance when they rolled the summary at the end of the show. I like him a lot, but will America?
The Verdict:
Randy: Returned to his vibe. Kinda nice. Paula:Loved it. Simon: Lacked Charisma.
Buzz Score: 8.5
Blake Lewis was next with a great song by Jamiroqui, "Virtual Insanity", dedicated to his parents. It was hard to dislike this performance. The vocals were spot on, he brought a little remix in the middle, his energy was high, his falsetto was awesome. It's hard to have a more entertaining performance. Not only can he sing, but he's very likable. I see him sticking around for a while.
The Verdict:
Randy: So good to see you return to form. I like you, man! Paula: Smart choices, unique. Way to go! Simon: 1st part - Complete copycat. 2nd part - original. 3rd part - pitchy.
Buzz Score: 9.5
Brandon Rogers was up next, dedicating "Time After Time" to his grandmother. I really like how he is taking a song sung by a female, and making it his own. Unfortunately, his version was slow and not very original. His vocals were good, and the song was fun. I think his performance is another easy one to forget though.
The Verdict:
Randy: Didn't do enough for him. Vocally boring. Paula: Felt your heart. Didn't need to oversing. Simon: "Feeling the song" is nonsense. You need to show off your voice.
Buzz Score: 8
Chris Richardson dedicated "Geek in the Pink" to his grandma. An odd choice for grandma, perhaps, but a great choice for him. His vocals were great. He brought high energy to the stage, and ended up with a very unique performance that America will remember. A little pitchy in spots, but overall a very good song for Chris.
The Verdict:
Randy: In it to win it. Hotter than the original. Paula: Loved it. Simon: Best tonight by a male. (Didn't only males sing tonight? Maybe I missed something ;)
Buzz Score: 9
Fnally, the final performer of the evening. Sundance Head dedicated the song to his 2 1/2 month old son, Levi. His intro really showed a 'softer' side of Sundance when he shed some tears while talking about how much he missed his son. When he bust out with "Mustang Sally", I was ready for another boring, unoriginal performance, but I think he really brought a lot of energy to the song. The vocals were very good, and he really 'made the song his own' as Paula would say. Good performance overall.
The Verdict:
Randy: Dropped the bomb on it tonight. Hot. Paula: Bring it like that every week. Simon: Glad Sundance is back. You can do better.
Buzz Score: 9
So that's it. Who will go home? It's certainly not always the worst singers. It's usually the contestants who are easiest to forget between the time they sing and the time voting starts.
My prediction: Sanjaya Malakar and Jared Cotter will go home Thursday night
