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Season 12 American Idol Results Overview (Top 3 Announced)


amber holcomb

Before we talk about tonight’s results, I want look back at the past eleven “top 3′s.” Let’s see how this season’s top 3 stacks up with the others.

Season 1: This probably would have been a solid top 3 if Tamyra had made it. Nikki was a cute underdog but she was clearly out of her league against the other 2.

Season 2: This top 3 was absolutely perfect with Ruben, Kimberly and Clay. In fact…I really loved Josh Gracin during that season so I even thought the top 4 was perfect.

Season 3: I know everyone LOVED the “three divas” during the season…but I honestly wasn’t a huge fan of Jhud until Dreamgirls. That being said, the “three divas” being the top 3 would have been better than Jasmine Trias making it. What bunk!

Season 4: This…is not a season I know much about (I know, ironic). So…I honestly don’t know anything about Vonzell. Next!

Season 5: Overall, this was a good top 3. Similar to Jennifer Hudson, I didn’t feel much for Daughtry while he was in the competition. Confession alert: Taylor Hicks was actually my favorite during the season. So…I dunno, maybe this top 3 would have been better if Daughtry had been in there for McPhee…

Season 6: Unlike a lot of people, season 6 is actual a favorite of mine (minus Sanjaya…although he was hilariously bad, unlike some other VFTW picks who were simply bad). I quite liked this top 3. But, I probably would have switched Blake for Lakisha.

Season 7: This season focused so much on “David vs. David” that the third finalist didn’t even matter much. Sorry!

Season 8: Ugh. What was Danny Gokey doing there? Replace him with the wonderful Allison Iraheta and we would have had the best top 3 ever.

Season 9: Season 9 sucked. Top 3? More like top 1 (and that “1″ was Crystal Bowersox.)

Season 10: Solid top 3 but Haley was CLEARLY on another level.

Season 11: Overall good top 3…but I still have very mixed feelings over Phillip Phillips.

So…I think I would say the most “evenly matched” tops 3′s occurred during season 2, season 5, season 6, and the last couple of seasons. Why the long introduction? Just so I could make the declaration that season 12, despite all its problems, has given us one of the strongest, most evenly matched top 3′s in American Idol history. I’m not saying this was a perfect season as a whole. I’m not even saying the top 10 was all that great. But these three girls remaining are (for the most part) the cream that have thankfully risen to the top of my mocha cap.

And I think this is a very diverse top 3. We have Candice who has an R&B Jazmine Sullivan thing going on. We have Angie who is a Miley Cyrus-inspired pop rocker, sort of a female Billy Joel if you will. And then we have Kree: the thoughtful, mature country girl. All three contestants have something great to offer. And…most importantly…THEY ARE ALL GIRLS. I know I know…we’ve known this for 3+ weeks now; but this season is going to give us our first female winner in 6 years. Quelle exciting!

So people can bitch and complain at how manipulative this show has been this season (because American Idol TOTALLY has never been manipulative before). I will be enjoying these fine ladies battle it out until the end. And, while I’m still rooting for an Angie/Candice finale at this point, even the thought of Kree winning makes me smile. I’m happy…

But, a few minutes ago, I was a bawling mess. I usually don’t cry during eliminations. The last few times I remember crying was when Haley was eliminated in season 10, Allison in season 8, and Melinda in season 6 (I also cried after Crystal performed “People Get Ready” in season 9 but that’s different story.) But when my little Amber Holcomb got eliminated, my stomach dropped. And then when she was trying to get through “I Believe in You and Me,” my eyes water. And when her father came on stage to hug her, I lost it. Wooh! Emotions!

This wasn’t surprising. We all saw it coming. Most people believed Amber should have been the next to go. Honestly, I still prefer Amber to Kree but…maybe it was Amber’s time. It was Amber’s time. She had a great run but, quite honestly, I have to compare her to Candice. Candice is simply the stronger, more experienced artist. So if one of them had to go…then it’s good that it was Amber. I wish Amber had grown more during her run…but maybe that needs to happen off the show.

But…she really was a contestant I enjoyed immensely throughout the competition. Some of her performances early in the season still stick in my head (She’s Loving Home – which is definitely making my top 20 list in a few weeks, Lately, What About Love, Love on Top). It’s very impressive that she was able to make it far despite barely being featured before the Las Vegas round. She clearly made her mark with “My Funny Valentine” (her first performance) and that’s impressive enough. Even though she’s gone, she will always be a member of the “original fab 4.”

So…where does she go from here? Who knows? I’m not going to sit here and pretend she’ll be the next Whitney. It seems like fewer and fewer AI finalists find commercial success post tour. But…she still did something a lot of singers would not have been able to do and that’s a reward in itself.

However…if/when she puts out a new single (maybe with the help of Nicki?), I’ll be the first to download it.

Anyway, I think I’m just going to end this post here. A few other things happened but I think everything I needed say was said tonight. See ya next week (…maybe.)

Byeeeez!!!!

2013
05/02
CATEGORY
american idol
drama
fox
music
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Season 12 American Idol Quick Recap (Top 4 Perform Again!)


american idol top 4

So, here’s the deal: I’m in the midst of exam week and I literally have zero time to watch television (except for Veep of course…yay renewal!) but…I made a commitment to this show. So I’m going to review all the performances…but I’m going to do that thing where I only use 4 SENTENCES for each performance. K? Coo. First up…

Angie Miller: She sang “Diamonds” by Rihanna. Side note: she’s hilarious with Harry Connick Jr. This is my favorite Rihanna song so I won’t be biased. Angie continues to amaze me every week. I prefer the original arrangement more…but I could definitely see myself listening to this version a few more times. And I really can’t complain when someone changes a song and makes it their own.

Amber Holcomb: She sang “Just Give Me A Reason” by Pink and Nate Ruess. Very interesting song choice…definitely a risk. She’s still has problems with diction…I couldn’t understand half the words she was singing, dawg. The uptempo parts were better than the slow beginning. Her voice is still slammin’ good but  I don’t think she was fully comfortable with the song.

Candice Glover: She sang “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. This is another perfect performance from Miss Candice. When the beat really kicks in, she truly shines. She is a true professional and just seems so “at home” on stage. Now for a negative thing: I wish she had chosen something more uptempo to show how current she can really be…but that’s just me.

Kree Harrison: She sang “See You Again” by Carrie Underwood. I have mixed feelings: While her voice was excellent and pure…and while she showed some emotion during the performance (much more than last weeks’s)…I still tuned out a little during the performance. It’s probably her strongest performance in a while…but, musically, I still don’t think she’s truly jumped out the box yet.

Here’s how I’d rank the girls so far tonight: 1. Angie 2. Candice 3. Amber and Kree are tied. Kree technically gave a better performance, but Amber’s didn’t bore me (if that makes sense).

Time for the old songs…

Angie Miller: She sang “Someone to Watch Over Me.” I think Angie does two things very well: She’s very classy and sophisticated, but at the same she still has a little rock opera edge towards the end which I always enjoy. It would have been interesting to see her play this on the piano, but I still liked the performance overall.

Amber Holcomb: She sang “My Funny Valentine.” Awww….poor Amber…but Harry Connick Jr. may have a point. Oh geez…Amber is crying. This makes me sad. I think it must be tough to be told all this praise by the judges, and then have everyone hate you because of that praise, and then still end up in the bottom 2 week after week. I think she knows she probably didn’t do enough to make it to the next round. But – still – very good performance.

Candice Glover: She sang “You’ve Changed.” Candice always has such control when she’s singing and tonight is no different. This was just a beautiful, breezy performance with the right amount of subtlety and power. I just love how her voice is able to go through different emotions, volumes and levels…all in one 2 minute performance. Perfection.

Kree Harrison: She sang “Stormy Weather.” Same thing again: Points for voice. Points for maturity and consistency. But demerits for being bland and sleepy. I think this song needed more sass and grit. She just seemed timid here…like she was in her own world (and not in a good way.)

They closed the show with a group performance of “Wings” which…I found funnier more than anything. It was just so cheesy and fake. I especially cracked up at the part towards the end when they’re marching or something. Just…I didn’t get it, TBH.

Anyway…it was nice to hear these girls again. I LOVED Harry Connick Jr. for the most part and…I agree with the majority, I think they should consider hiring him to be a judge. I thought he was incredibly insightful (and hilarious.)

But…now it’s time for the competition to really begin. Time for an elimination! At this point, I’m pretty much rooting for an Angie/Candice finale so I think those 2 should be in the top 2. I wouldn’t mind seeing Amber leave, but I still like her more than Kree who has been boring me recently. However, if Kree must stay another week, I hope she at least gets a taste of the bottom 2 to give her the push she needs. But, yeah, I think Amber’s going.

OK…see ya guys tonight! And I promise, no more rants.

2013
05/02
CATEGORY
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2013 Early Emmy Talk #1(The “locks”)


modern family

Last year, when I did this post for the 2012 Emmys, I actually predicted most of the locks right. The only ones I got wrong was Parks and Recreation for Series and John Slattery for Supporting Actor. However, I was still very weary about making a post this year because…for some reason, I feel like we’re in store for some really big surprises this summer. With some shows finishing out their tenures (and some new shows coming out), it’s tough figuring which shows and people are “safe.” The truth is…no one’s ever truly safe. Last year, everyone and their mother predicted Parks and Recreation and Louie for series nominations, and maybe even wins. Instead, they were surprisingly overturned by the likes of Veep (yay!) and Girls. So…it may be a bit silly to make predictions this early in the season…but, the Emmy bug is itching so…here goes.

Just a reminder, here are some ground rules:

1. This is not an OFFICIAL prediction list. I actually don’t make concrete predictions until voting’s over. I’m just going to name the 1 or 2 people in each category that, no matter what, will most likely get a nomination. That’s all…

2. I never consider new shows and new actors “locks.” Even if it’s PAINFULLY obvious, I leave them out for now. Remember when we all thought Luck would dominate? Exactly. (Side note: are there really any new series this year that are major contenders this year? Is House of Cards that big of a threat?)

3. …I think that’s it, actually.

OK. Here are the locks for the 2013 Emmys as of April 29th…

COMEDY

Lead Actor: With Larry David out of the way this year, we have one slot open…a slot that will probably be filled by either Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) or Jason Bateman (Arrested Development). However, this a category that seldom sees much movement so…Alec Baldwin (for his last season), Jim Parsons, Jon Cryer (last year’s winner) and Louie CK remain the four strongest contenders this year. Don Cheadle is very much in the game but…I can’t help thinking that last year might have been a “one time thing.” I guess we’ll see.

Lead Actress: She probably won’t win, but Tina Fey is most definitely getting in for her last season of 30 Rock. Last year’s winner and reliable Emmy favorite Julia Louis Dreyfuss is also in (and might even win again if the rest of season 2 is as good as these first 3 episodes). Parks and Recreation may be losing stock, but the likable Amy Poehler should stick around. And, last, I think America’s sweetheart Lena Dunham should have another chance of Emmy gold after being routinely snubbed last year. There aren’t many new contenders in this category, so we might very well see the same nominations we got last year. Newbie Mindy Kaling could squeeze in though…but again, I’m not considering newbies (not that I that I think she’s much of a lock anyway).

Supporting Actor: Is it too easy to assume that all four Modern Family dudes will be back this year? It’s tough because Arrested Development could bring a couple supporting actors of their own…and that would still be a perfect six. But still…supporting actor is tighter than you may think. I haven’t watched a single episode of MF this year so I have no inkling who’s been standing out. But…I think previous winners Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell are safe. If this is going to be the year that voters think outside the “Modern Family box.” then I believe those two will be left standing.

Supporting Actress: Because there are only two adult women in the Modern Family cast, I think it’ll be easier for Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara to get in easily. As for everyone else? Good luck. If Jane Krakowski hadn’t been egregiously snubbed last year, she would definitely be a lock because it was 30 Rock‘s final season. However, because Emmy voters usually play the “Once you’re out, you’re always out” game, it’ll be a tough road for Jane K. Jessica Walter (AD) may also be a contender and could even win if given the chance. And last year’s surprise nominees Mayim Bialik and Merrit Weaver are still in the game…even though I’m quite confident both will be knocked out come July. (Hey…a Girls gotta eat.)

Series: There are three locks this year: Modern Family because…well…it’s Modern Family, 30 Rock (because their last season was universally acclaimed unlike the last seasons of past Emmy bait shows like Will and Grace. ) and Girls. Everything else is in a bubble. For Veep, it’s too early to say…although I would love to see it get nominated again. For Arrested Development….it’s even more too early because none of the episodes have premiered yet and, well, they could in theory be crap (also, we don’t quite know how voters will react to online television being in contention). Big Bang Theory remains the highest rated comedy on television. I haven’t watched it all this season (actually there are a lot of comedy shows I’ve missed on this season for one reason or another)…but I’ve heard even the most diehard fans say how uneven this season’s been. Louie SHOULD get in…but it’s last 2 (IMO superior) seasons have been snubbed so maybe we should just give it up. It’s also the last season of The Office but…unless the very last episode is spectacular, I’m not seeing right now. And, for the fun of it, let’s not leave out New Girls, Parks and Rec, Episodes, and Enlightened, k?

DRAMA

Lead Actor: The likes of Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) have been getting a good amount of buzz…but they’re new shows so…Also, The Newsroom is a hella polarizing. Just sayin’. Anyway, I think the magic three (Bryan Cranston, Jon Hamm, Damian Lewis) will pop up. Steve Buscemi is a little shaky just because Boardwalk Empire isn’t a “hot button” show anymore (at least, that’s what it seems like to me…BTW, I don’t follow the show so maybe I’m wrong), but I still think it’s a lock. I think those 4 definitely have a better chance than Hugh Bonneville and Timothy Olyphant. Michael C. Hall will probably get a nomination, but I wouldn’t consider him a lock persay.

Lead Actress: Once again, I’m not going to put Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men) on the list because there’s still that slight chance she’ll switch to supporting (thus giving Jessica Pare a better chance to prevail). Who knows what’s up with Moss or her character or how long we’ll follow her this season? So…she’s not a lock. Call me strange but, like Lead Actor, I think there are 4 locks: Julianna Margulies, Claire Danes, Glenn Close (if she could manage a nomination last year, she’ll probably get in again this year for the last season of Damages) and Michelle Dockery (Golden Globe and SAG nominee who definitely stood out this last season of Downton Abbey). With Kathy Bates out, there is pretty much one slot open. Will it go to Kerry Washington? Connie Britton? Jessica Pare? Mariska Hargitay?

Supporting Actor: The Supporting Drama Actor category is looser than a…something that’s loose. Yeah, Aaron Paul and Peter Dinklage are virtual locks. But outside that…it’s anyone’s game. I mean, let’s remember, last year…two guys from Downton Abbey got in. You never know what the voters are thinking. I do believe Mandy Pantinkin (Homeland) and Jonathon Banks (Breaking Bad) are probably the next up…but they’ve never been nominated before [for these roles] so…again…very loose.

Supporting Actress: The Good Wife is in an interesting position. For the last three years, they’ve been able to hold on to those 2 supporting actress slots. But this year their hurt by a couple things. One, is Archie Panjabi’s really bad story line during the 1st half of the season. And two, the show as a whole being snubbed series which signifies that voters may be letting go of the series slowly but surely. Will these otherwise amazing actresses be the next victims? Only time will tell. Right now, they’re not locks. Maggie Smith and Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad) definitely are. (Hayden Panettiere FYC).

Series: It’s strange. All 6 nominees from last year could get in this year. In fact, that’s probably what I would predict if I were making a real prediction right now. However, for the sake of me not being bold, I’ll say that the only locks right now are Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and last year’s winner Homeland (even though critics and fans alike were very critical of the latter half of the season). Downton Abbey could be the token period piece / network show this category needs but…I dunno, it’s not everyone’s favorite show. And, hey, The Good Wife could come back and take the spot from Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire. Maybe? Probably not. House of Cards, The Newsroom, The Americans, and even Nashville are also contenders. But, again, I think it’ll probably just be the same 6 as last year…

Cool. I got that out of my system. Did I leave out any BIG contenders? Am I underestimating the power of Malibu County? What about Glee? Is that still a thing? Would it be so totally awesome if Shameless got any love besides Joan Cusack? Sound off below.

2013
04/29
CATEGORY
awards
connie britton
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 5 Perform) + a mini rant


top 5 girls

Who run the world? GIRLS!! GIRLS! Rock it pop it lock it…yeah, I don’t know the lyrics of the song.

Anyway…I have to say I have mixed feelings coming into this episode. On the one hand, I absolutely adore this top 5…definitely one of the strongest top fives in a the history of the show. I just feel so loose and refreshed…I think, at least right now, any of these five would be deserving of the win (including the recent VFTW pick…)

HOWEVER…I took a look at the leaked song list and…I gotta say, I’m pretty disappointed with the boring, bland song choices. (Why is it that Angie has the most interesting/current song on the list?) I will repeat my sentiments from last week…if you’re allowed to sing two songs in one night, then YOU MUST make one of the songs uptempo. This is why I didn’t LOVE Candice’s “Lovesong” as much as everyone else in the world seemed to…it was a ballad that came after a slew of more ballads. When too many ballads are sung in one night, they all begin to melt together and become insignificant. So…unless Amber has turned one of her ballad songs into an uptempo remix, then I won’t be truly satisfied with her.

Now…before I begin this recap, I need to address something. After Lazaro’s elimination last week, I’ve been reading a lot of comments and blog posts that are sort of similar to this sentiment: “The producers (aka TPTB) are so manipulative this year! They purposely paired the girls with AWFUL guys this year so a girl would win. It’s not right! This isn’t the right way to get a girl to win. And, even though I like this top 5, who ever wins won’t TRULY be a winner because of the backstage manipulation. Humph! End of rant!”

Now…’statements like these are bullshit…and I’m going to explain why right now.One, saying that the guys this year were AWFUL is really over-exaggerating it a bit. Yes, the girls were undeniably stronger. But at the same time contestants like Burnell and Devin were quite good TBH. Actually, they each had at least one excellent moment on the show (“It’s Impossible” and “I’m Here.”) Curtis Finch Jr. didn’t choose the best songs but he didn’t have a bad voice. And Paul Jolley, despite his “vanilla flavor,” actually had potential. Lazaro was really bad…but he would have been put through any other season anyway because of his stutter and inspiring story (remember Scott Macintyre of season 8?). The point is…the dudes weren’t that bad.

Two, I know we’ve all been making comments about how the producers purposely stacked the shows with “bad” male singers so a girl could win.,.but it’s mostly been in jest/snark (at least coming from me.) I feel like people are taking this speculation way too seriously. The truth is…there is no hard boiled concrete evidence that this was Nigel’s intention. Yes, maybe they were trying to find male singers who weren’t white and gifted at the guitar for the sake of diversity, but there’s no proof that they were purposely seeking out sucky male singers. This isn’t Superstar USA. 

The truth is…if the producers were manipulative this season…they weren’t any more manipulative than they have been the last few seasons. It’s the nature of the show. TPTB choose contestants who they believe will be the most successful post-Idol and pimp them out until they win. This is why contestants like Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery were constantly receiving praise, while all Haley Reinhart had to do was sing one night off key to get an undignified “dawg” from Randy. Joshua Ledet constantly got standing O’s from the judges and Phillip Phillips was given a kick ass coronation song, while Elise and Skylar weren’t given nearly enough credit. And when Jessica made the top 2 what possible coronation song was she given? Exactly.

And what did all this manipulation lead to? FIVE FIVE FIVE WGWG winners in a row. Now, I don’t know how people can bash a historic top 5 all female finale, while being “OK” with the fact that the last five winners have been of the same color, gender and musical instrument of choice. I’m certainly not OK with that. I’m not OK with the fact that Lee Dewyze’s distant stage presence and “awe shucks” routine allowed him to steal the American Idol crown from the spectacular Crystal Bowersox. Season nine was truly an awful season. From Ellen Degeneres to Tim Urban and an overall questionable top 10 to an aloof Simon Cowell, it was awful season. Crystal Bowersox was the ONE THING that made the season watchable. And yet she got second place. I don’t care that she never became a success after the show, she still deserved to win (and it’s not like the actual winner did much better himself…actually he pretty much did worse.)

The show has been downright sexist for the last three years; and I find it a little disturbing that America has finally embraced female singers yet there are people out there who find the need to complain. I think it’s insulting to these 5 women. I’ll repeat what I said last week…these are five TALENTED women. And I refuse to see Candice’s (or Kree’s or Angie’s) eventual win be tainted because there are some pissy thirteen year old girls out there who hate the fact that there’s no eye candy on the show for them anymore. You guys are upset about this season? Well, I’m still upset over the last three.

All I’m sayin’…is that if you think this is the first season Nigel or the producers or the judges have manipulated things…then you’re truly naive. S’all! I be done!

Anyway…let’s review these performances. Uh…I sort of spent a long time on this rant so…four sentences per performance, K?

First the contestants will be performing songs from the year they were born!

Candice Glover: She was born in 1989 so she sang Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up.” Wow, what a creative arrangement. This is how someone takes an old song and makes it current and interesting. She sounded great – what’s new? Also…I really liked the camera work in this one…it was interesting. (Also…that was very nice of her to give Janelle props for the song choice.)

Janelle Arthur: She was born in 1989 so she sang “When I Call Your Name.” I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, she sounded perfectly pleasant and lovely. However…maybe I’m just not a big country fan…but the song was a little too sleepy for me. It didn’t leave a big impression on me…but she still sounded beautiful.

Kree Harrison: She was born in 1990 so she sang “She Talks to Angels.” I really enjoyed this performance and song. Her voice is perfect…so I think now she needs to work on stage presence. She’s getting better and better with every week…but I think she could still be livelier. I think she’s so concerned with having a nice voice that she pulls back a bit.

Omigod…I love Nicki and Mariah so so much.

Angie Miller: She was born in 1994 so she sang “I’ll Stand By You.” She dedicated it to the Boston bombings. All the judges stand except…Nicki for some reason. Call this blasphemous…but I liked this version more than Pia Toscano’s. While Pia’s was, in my opinion, a little pageanty…I feel Angie really put some new found feeling and edge into this one. I do think this song has become over sung so I’m a bit disappointed with the song choice…but she did her best with what she chose (or was given, whatever).

Amber Holcomb: She was born in 1994 so she sang the Mariah Carey version of “Without You.” (Yeah…I agree, this is sort of a cheat.) Nicki must be in a bad mood or something. Yeah, I agree with her. Things got a little awkward when Amber sang low. But, Amber is so great when it comes to musical climaxes. Her voice just rockets. I really don’t like this song…but she sung it well. I just don’t think it was “on your feet” worthy.

I think Candice definitely won this first round, followed by Angie Miller.

NEXT UP…A DIVA IS A FEMALE VERSION OF A HUSTLA….my lip gloss be poppin’ (Again, I don’t know these songs.)

Candice Glover: She sang “When You Believe” by Mariah and Whitney. Finally Nicki stood up with the rest of judges! Candice is just so effortless. She moves me every time she sings. I simply loved it. You go glen coco.

Have you guys noticed that there is a small band of irrational “Candice haters” who are roaming through the message boards with shit like “She isn’t current enough. STOP VOTING FOR HER!” I don’t know who these people are…but I’m really glad they’re not the majority.

Janelle Arthur: She sang “Dumb Blonde” by Dolly Parton. No! The judges are wrong. Keep doing what you do, Janelle! Thank you for livening things up a bit. She chose a song that very few people know exist. It was fun and peppy and upbeat. She takes risks. And, she sounded great. This wasn’t supposed to be a “moment” and that’s OK. At least she didn’t try to attempt “I Will Always Love You.” I’m starting to like this chick more and more…

Kree Harrison: She sang “Have You Ever Been in Love” by Celine Dion. Yes, this was another ballad…but I feel like this is the performance I’ve been waiting for from Kree. Something that I can truly take in. Something that’s powerful and uninhibited. I think she proved, with this performance, that she’s still in the competition.

Angie Miller: She sang “Halo” by Beyonce. I was hoping she would do the fast version from Glee. And she too gets a standing O from the judges (poor Janelle). Anyway, I love the current song choice. I mean…it’s ridiculous how rare these are this season. In fact, Angie might be the contestant who has chosen the most “current songs” so…I commend her for that. I love how Angie’s voice just soars. It’s so ethereal and beautiful. And I think this song allowed her to do that. She sounded a great without the piano…but it would have been kinda cool to see her play the piano hook herself. Anyway, great job.

Amber Holcomb: She sang “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?” by Barbra Streisand. There was a raw maturity in this performance that I hadn’t really seen from her previous ones. Yes, I like it when she’s having fun and acting young (like last week’s “Love On Top.”) But I thought there was something nice about how composed and grown up she was. I think this performance will keep her for another week…

Hm…I think…Angie won this second round. So, I pretty much think Angie and Candice stood out last night. But, really, all five of them did wonderful…and I’m really going to enjoy this season.

So, here’s the deal…if the save is used tonight, I’m not going to post a quick recap or ranking. If the save isn’t then I obviously will. But..,I believe in terms of scheduling, the judges MUST use the save…or else we’ll all die. Even if it’s Janelle going home (and I think it will be her), then I think they still have to use the save despite their clear ambivalence towards her.

Anyway…uh…that’s all folks. Byeee!

2013
04/18
CATEGORY
american idol
fox
music
predictions
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 6 Perform)


top 6

I’m about to watch the episode. I’m definitely nervous and excited at the same time. I do want to, at some point, discuss why so many people have been disliking this season (and, I suppose, why the ratings are dipping…even though it’s still doing very well for a show in its 12th season and that if FOX were to cancel the show, they wouldn’t be able to find something to replace it that would be as successful). But…maybe I’ll just hold that off for another time. I do think it’s a little absurd that for all the complaints this show gets about not being current, they decide to have a “Burt Bacharach theme.” Why would Nigel Lythgoe do this? Can we not have a “Songs from the last 12 months” theme? Or maybe a “Songs that have never been covered on the show” theme (that would be hard considering with the billion dollar revenue the show receives, they only have like 100 songs cleared for copyright). Anyway, I’m going on a tangent. Let’s get this over with…

Angie Miller: She likes to make embarrassing Youtube videos with her friends. So don’t watch them while  we show you clips. She sang “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” I agree with the judges on this. This was a great performance, like most of her past performances…but there was very little connection to the song. I don’t think she fully understood what she was singing about so, in turn, I didn’t fully understand what the song was about either. I didn’t know if she was sad or…angry or happy or anything. The vocals were excellent. I actually liked when she reached her upper register – so lovely. But…I needed more. 

Amber Holcomb: She likes eating frozen shrimp (not raw). Adorbs! Anyway, she sang “I Say Little Prayer.” I really don’t like this song (or I’ve heard it so many times that I have hard time enjoying it anymore.) So the song choice, in my opinion, was a little uninspiring. But still this was a perfectly enjoyable performance. She had some very nice moments/runs throughout. I mean she can SANG! However…because this was one of her most uptempo songs so far, I wish she had moved around more and had more fun with it. She seemed a bit too restrained…like she was too focused on hitting the right notes. I’m not sure if this is performance where she has truly broken out of her shell…but it seems like a nice start.

Lazaro Arbos: He likes four wheelers and he likes to hunt…so people call him the “Spanish Redneck Guy.” He sang “Close to You.” OK…true story. After a weekend of being angry over Lazaro’s top 3 placement in the results, I was ready…I was ready to be normal and not hold any grudges against him for this recap. It’s hard to do that when he’s not even trying. He just slept walked through this performance. I mean…this is already a terrible song (Nigel, these theme weeks are killing me!) but a superior singer would be able to rise above it. This was embarrassing and I shan’t think about this performance anymore.

Kree Harrison: She loves rodeos. By the tone of her voice and her totally not dead eyes, it’s clear that she really loves rodeos. She sang “What the World Needs Now is Love.” This is another song that I have a hard time taking seriously (thanks sitcoms)! But a least Kree made an effort to put some dignity in the song. I like how she started out in acapella. I love the arrangement. It felt so fresh and soothing. She’s just so sincere and she works so hard. I’m not sure if I would qualify as a MOMENT…but maybe that’s not what Kree was going after, which is admirable in its own right.

Janelle Arthur: Her big reveal is that when she was in grade school she was in a play…and she played a BOY. GASP!!! She sang “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.” I agree with Keith…I feel Janelle is always doing something new every week…but at the same time she never loses her “country roots.” There were some moments where sounded a little “under the note.” But I actually enjoyed the song (“Promises Promises” is the sh@t) and I enjoy her bubbly, warm personality.

Now, I wish someone had sung “Turkey Lurkey Time.”

Candice Glover: Her big thing is that in her hometown she speaks a dialect called “Geechee.” It’s freakin’ awesome! She’s tied with Amber for the most interesting package tidbit. She sang “Don’t Make Me Over.” Standing O from the judges! Definitely the best Burt Bacharach performance of the night. I loved how the stage was set up. I love the strings. I like how she was on her own platform. Her voice is just crazy amazing. Last week was probably disappointing for her. She wasn’t in the top 3 from America’s votes, and she was snubbed by 3 of the 4 judges. I don’t she think she ever needed to redeem herself…but she did anyway. I think after this show, she could be a relatively successful R&B singer (Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi, Melanie Fiona). Not bad at all if you ask me. “ACCEPT ME FOR WHAT I AM!!!!”

Next up…the contestants will perform songs they wish they had written…

Angie Miller: She sang Kari Jobe’s “Love Came Down.” First, I love the “obscure” song choice. This is probably a song she had to fight for so I commend her for picking it. Second…this is a freakin’ amazing performance. I will probably never get tired of Angie singing behind a piano. This was a powerful performance and she definitely pulled all the stops. She has a big fan base. She has the country vote. I don’t think she’s going anywhere.

Amber Holcomb: She sang Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” I’m not gonna lie…I was smiling throughout the performance. This is what I’ve been waiting for from her. It wasn’t…perfect though. Especially in the beginning, she got tongue tied in some places (again, she needs to work on diction). There were places that sounded a little mushy-mouthed. And, again, her top register wasn’t always there. But I have to appreciate the risk. I have to appreciate the different song choice (a song I loved before anyway). And, if you allow me to pull a Nicki, I think she looked great up there. She’ll probably…be in the bottom 3 TBH. But, the judges love her and they’ll use the save  on her if they have to so…she doesn’t have to worry too much right now.

Lazaro Arbos: He sang “Angels.” Compared to some of his past performances, this wasn’t the worst thing in the world. I have a sweet spot song for this song…especially the Jessica Simpson cover (remember when she used to be a thing?) But…I mean, if I want to listen to this song again, I’m certainly not going to listen to Lazaro’s version. What I’m trying to say is…if he’s not eliminated next week, I will punch an Asian in the head.

Kree Harrison: She sang “Help Me Make it Through the Night.” I don’t understand some of these contestants. If there’s a week where you’re allowed to sing two solo songs, then you don’t make them BOTH ballads. Anyway…I’m gonna be mean here. This was a “Devin Velez” sort of performance. Perfectly on pitch and definitely powerful…but just boring. There just wasn’t much for me to grab on to. I still love her but, man…she needs to step it up. However…she’s most likely going to avoid the bottom 2 or 3 again this week.

Janelle Arthur: She sang Garth Brooks’s “The Dance.” Overall, I liked this performance. I think she clearly loves the song and I could see a connection between her and the song. It’s just…a little forgettable for a contestant that’s usually on the more eclectic side of things.

Candice Glover: She sang The Cure’s “Lovesong.” The judges NUTS, esp. Keith who was on his knees bowing down. (I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before.) Definitely the performance/moment of the night. She’s spectacular and is almost in a class of her own. However…I wish she had chosen something more uptempo to show how commercial and current she could be. I’m not trying to take away from this moment…

…its just that this night was a little more ballad heavy than I had hoped. When 5 of the last 6 songs are ballads, they all sort of mush together unfortunately. However, it was clear that Lazaro is completely out of his league and it would be a pity if a girl is eliminated before him, because I think all 5 of them deserve to be the top 5. So, I’m just going to end this by saying that Lazaro will probably be in the bottom three with Janelle and Amber. And, you know what? I’m going to predict him for the elimination. Is it wishful thinking? Maybe. But I feel like there’s been a lot of hate on the internet directed towards Lazaro and I’m starting to wonder where his fans are coming from. It’s honestly time for him to go. If a girl HAD to be eliminated…then I’d probably choose Janelle. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that though.

I’m tired. Good night.

2013
04/11
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Season 12 American Idol Quick Recap (Top 7 Perform…Classic Rock NO BALLADS ALLOWED)


You can literally crop Lazaro out of this picture

You can literally crop Lazaro out of this picture

OK, I’m sorry this is coming SO late…and I have some more bad news: I’m going to have to do that thing where I only use THREE sentences for each performance. I’m just super stressed and super busy and…I don’t have time to put much work into this. For the sake of consistent continuity, I’m going to put a recap up…even if it is half assed. (Unfortunate, because I was really looking forward to this night.)

Also, I have to watch the performances through the youtube channel so I won’t be able to make comments on how the judges reacted or how their mentoring sessions went (not that I did that much before anyway.)

OK! Time for some old time rock and roll.

Burnell Taylor: He sang “You Give Love a Bad Name.” There were some nice moments where he showed real grit. However, his diction was off (once again) and he looked mad uncomfortable and winded. Not as good as Blake Lewis…(not fair because that performance was pretty legendary).

Angie and Lazaro: They sang “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Poor Angie. Get that man (and his tight red bulge) off that stage! Again…Angie sounded decent.

Kree Harrison: She sang “Piece of My Heart.” I actually liked this performance for the most part. There was vulnerability (OK, maybe a strain) in her voice that I strangely appreciated. But…it didn’t look like she liked the song much very much.

Candice and  Burnell: They sang “The Letter.” Very fun performance. They harmonized really well. Candice was the stronger, more confident performer, but Burnell sort of redeemed himself after his lackluster solo performance.

Janelle Arthur: She sang “You May Be Right.” I’ve never heard this song (interesting). Probably a step down from last week, but I still really liked this performance. It was fun, even though her voice was a little “ouch” in some places.

Lazaro Arbos: He sang “We Are the Champions.” Not giving him the benefit of the doubt. It was still a bad performance. There’s nothing that he can do that will ever convince me he deserves to stay longer. (And this was more ballad than uptempo).

Janelle, Amber, Kree: They sang “It’s Still Rock N Roll To Me.” The parts where they sang together were a little weak. The solo parts were better. Amber stood out IMO.

Candice Glover: She sang “Satisfaction.” (eff ya!) Perfect song for her! You can tell that she has a LOT of fun rocking out, and I love watching her. It’s funny how in the beginning of the competition, people were worried she wouldn’t be able to go uptempo; well, she has definitely proved those naysayers wrong.

Amber Holcomb: She sang “What About Love.” Would have preferred if she had chosen a more uptempo song. She’s stronger in her lower register than higher. Don’t get me wrong…still amazing and strong.

Angie Miller: She sang “Bring Me To Life.” Interesting song choice. I loved it. It was dark and haunting and beautiful all wrapped in one.

So…this wasn’t the greatest night TBH. I think some of the contestants were out of their zone. I think some of the song choices could have been better. And, yeah, the girls far out shined the guys.

Best performance of the night: The last three performances were pretty amazing…I’m gonna go with Candice Glover this time.

Other stand outs: Angie’s at a very close second though. Amber (receiving her millionth standing ovation) was also top tier tonight.

Who Should Go Home: Lazaro. Burnell could also go because I honestly don’t think think either of these guys are as strong as the girls and I’d rather have one of them go than any of the girls. But…Lazaro is by far the worst contestant on the show. Don’t make me irrationally hate him, America!

Who Will Go Home: The bottom three will probably be Lazaro, Burnell, and a girl (obviously). It might be Janelle because she was technically the weakest female tonight. However, it could also be Amber because…well, she’s the only girl to land in the bottom 3 so far and her fanbase may not be as big and faithful as the other girls. In any case, I’m predicting Burnell for the boot. And I don’t think the judges will use a save for him…

OK, see ya tomorrow (tonight) for the results!

2013
04/04
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 8 Perform Songs from the Motor City!)


american idol season 12

So, I’m about to watch the episode for the first time and I’m really nervous. I’m nervous that Lazaro is going to do a decent job tonight, thus guaranteeing another undeserved week safe. I’m nervous that one of the girls will uncharacteristically wobble and thus they will be voted off (Amber Amber Amber). This is how I feel. There’s really nothing Laz can do to convince me that he deserves to make it further, even if he gives his best performance ever (unless he takes a risk a performs uptempo…we’ll see). So, yes, I hope he gives another train wreck performance…because at least he would have a stronger chance at making the bottom 3.

I do want a girl to win this season. Not only because the girls are undeniably stronger than the guys this year…but because between the last 5 seasons, a girl should have won three of them (I’ll say the girls right now: Crystal Bowersox, Haley Reinhart, JessicaSkylarElise). The blatant sexism on this show has gotten too far over the years. I don’t know why these 12 year old girls (the same girls who probably listen to Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Adele) feel the need to vote for the cute guy over stronger talent. I actually commend Nigel for “rigging” the show to ensure that the girls end up on top…but now it’s up to America to go further. We got rid of the last white guy, which was cool…but would Lazaro be a better winner? Honestly, between the two, I would have preferred Paul Jolley staying longer because…well…he mostly sang on key and never gave a bad performance.

Lazaro is very cute. And his story is inspiring. But if his fans really want to support him…they’d buy his album after his elimination. I think this show should be left to the good singers and…I don’t think someone (a GIRL yes) should suffer because his or her back story isn’t sobby enough. End of rant…let’s get on with the show.

Candice Glover: Shoot! They gave her the death slot??? F**k that sh*t! She sang “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” I didn’t love this performance. One, I thought the instrumentals were too loud and sometimes I had a hard time hearing her (not really her fault though). And two, I feel like she didn’t “go for it” like she usually does.  I commend her for not going the obvious route and singing power ballad. Her voice is still crazy good and she did some really interesting things tonight…but this wasn’t a favorite of mine.

Janelle and Kree: They sang “Like a Prayer.” I thought this was a really nice performance. They both did well. I think Kree is a better singer but, honestly, I think they both did equally good here. Just a simple, fun performance.

Lazaro Arbos: He sang “For Once in My Life” (UGH! MY FAVORITE SONG!!…AND IT’S UPTEMPO). OK, let’s say some good stuff. One, it’s very very very nice that he switched things up. In fact, I would have preferred if the whole performance was uptempo (as opposed to that beginning where it was slow with a piano) but whatevs. Second…this was his strongest performance. I actually enjoyed this more than I cringed. He looked confident and not as sweaty as he usually does. He still had some pitch issues but, when one sings uptempo, that’s almost forgivable. Not as good as Scotty McCreery’s or even Megan Joy’s (one of the most underrated performances of all time), but I still enjoyed it because I like the song and the risk.

Janelle Arthur: She sang “You Keep Me Hangin’ Out.” I loved this performance, really. I liked how she took an old R&B song and not only changed it to country, but made it contemporary. She made the song her own and I think her artistry came out this week. She’s been improving week after week and any doubt I had about her in the beginning of the competition is rapidly disappearing. Other contestants need to take note. This is how you make a song your own. Oh! And she cried!

Devin Velez: He sang “The Tracks of My Tears.” This was a stronger performance than the last couple of weeks. He definitely made an effort to change it up with a jazzier song selection. Like always, his voice is so flawless and perfect…but I’m still a little bored with him. I feel like I’m tuning in and out of his performances. But he’s getting there and improving…but I’m not sure this is the performance that will keep him out of the bottom three.

Candice, Angie, and Amber: They sang “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.” Standing O from the judges! I agree. I loved this performance. Candice definitely redeemed herself (although she didn’t have to do too much redeeming) and was most definitely the “Diana” of the group. Angie surprised me and didn’t stand out like a sore thumb like I thought she would. She had more fun up there than I’ve ever seen her have. If there was a slight weak link, it was probably Amber…but man, towards the end, those high notes…amazing.

Burnell Taylor: He sang “My Cherie Amour.” Silver Linings Playbook! Points off for getting rid of the glasses. Sometimes it sounded like he was singing “My Cherie Amorn” which was a little strange. This was a nice song choice (more tempo than he usually sings) and a solid performance. I always think the lalala part is difficult to sing so I think he pulled that off well. There were parts where his voice strained. And I think he still needs to work on his “vocal color” (different volumes and tones in a song). He has a great voice…but now’s the time to take it to the next level.

Angie Miller: She sang “Shop Around.” This was a rocky performance. One, like Candice, the instruments were too loud and drowned Angie out. Two, she clearly forgot the lyrics towards the middle of the performance. Her voice is crazy amazing…I disagree with Randy…I thought she was mostly on pitch. I like how she rocked it out and tried to have fun. The contestants tonight seem to be taking more risks so I can’t complain too much. But this wasn’t among her best performances IMO.

Amber Holcomb: She sang “Lately.” Standing O from the judges (including Mariah). It seems like the show really loves Amber because, if she wins or at least makes it reasonably far, she could actually be successful. She’s young. She’s pretty (those dimples). And her voice is bangin’! This was another stellar performance from her. I’ve become such a huge fan of her. I don’t necessarily think this performance was as epic as the judges made it seem to be (I think she has the potential to be even more.) But her voice is so smooth and consistent…I really want to hear more of her. (Also…I want to hear her sing uptempo.)

The Boys: They sang “Sugar Pie Honey Bunch.” Oh, this was weird. I don’t know who chose this song (cough cough producers) but this was just not good. This is exactly what each singer was thinking:

Burnell: “I remember listening to this song when I was little. I love it so much that I’m forgetting that I’m even in a competition!”

Devin: “Why am I between these two weirdos?”

Lazaro: “Even I know this is uncomfortable. Smile. Smile. Don’t forget to smile. Eh…I’m not going anywhere anyway.”

I blame the song choice more than the performers on the stage. Nigel really wants a girl to win this year…

Kree Harrison: She sang “Don’t Play that Song.” Interesting. I’ve never heard this before. Another soulful performance from Kree. I feel like she’s getting more and more comfortable on the stage and this was probably her most “alive” performance so far. Oh, and her voice is OOTW.

Overall, I was impressed with how much the contestants broke out of their shells. It wasn’t a perfect night…but I can’t complain too much when there’s so much uptempo tonight. Also, Smokey was actually a great mentor this week.

Best performance of the night: No one TRULY stood out…which is either a good thing or a bad thing. Anyway, I’ll give this one to Amber Holcomb (“Lately”), even though she sang a ballad.

Other stand outs: This was definitely a girls night with Janelle and Kree standing out in their solos, and Angie and Candice standing out in their group performance (not that group performances matter much…)

Who Should Go Home: I’m proud of Lazaro…but I meant what I said in the beginning. He was still pretty much the weakest tonight.

Who Will Go Home: Devin will probably be in the bottom 3. I’m not sure if he truly did enough to avoid elimination. I don’t know who will join him though. I would probably guess Amber (unfortunately) and Burnell. Candice was first but, like Kree last week, she has a strong enough fan base to stay out of the bottom I believe.

Thanks for reading! See ya tomorrow for my quick results recap.

2013
03/28
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 9 Perform)


american idol top 9

This week, the contestants are singing Beatles songs. Which I am excited for/bored of already. Anyway…I haven’t seen any of the performances. I’m just watching now. Let’s see how my “fab 4″ does. I’m a little nervous…especially for my cute underdog Amber Holcomb. Hopefully she can prove to the world that she IS a better singer than Lazaro.

Ryan starts things off that between Aubrey and Charlie Askew (the the finalist runner ups), Aubrey got the most votes so she is going on tour. Aubrey looked happy. Charlie took it well. And I did not care.

Let’s move on…

1. Kree Harrison: Oh no! Death slot! She sang “With a Little Help from My Friends.” What a great way to start the night. This is how “first performances” need to be. It had soul. It had heart. It had energy. And she sang really well. It was a very nice song choice. If I have to give a critique…I think she needs to look in a mirror and play with her eyes a bit. Sometimes she has these “deer in headlights” eyes. I know she’s confident…but I think she could show more of that through her face. Otherwise, I love her and I hope people remember her by the end of the episode.

2. Burnell Taylor: Why are they putting all the good singers first? He sang “Let it Be” (a song he apparently doesn’t know). I’m glad he brought the glasses back. I cant give him too much credit because “Let it Be” is one of those songs (there are probably 10 in the whole world) that anyone can sing good. I’ve rarely heard a bad performance of this song. What I’m saying is that the song choice is a bit uninspired. However…his best vocal performance so far nonetheless? I think so. His vocal “color” has improved so much since “I’m Here.” I was just captivated throughout.

3. Amber Holcomb: She has a really big family…and his dad is sort of awesome (at least I thinks so). She sang “She’s Leaving Home” (I’ve never heard this song…nice.) I actually really enjoyed this performance mostly because it’s a song I’ve never heard of…so it was interesting. I wasn’t perfect. I think her stage presence could have been a bit crisper. And she still needs to make her diction crisper also. But when she hits those high notes…beautiful! 

Can we have an uptempo song next? Please?

4. Lazaro Arbos: His parents are as attractive as he is. He sang “My Life.” I’ve been digging his style throughout these weeks.  Like the yellow jacket. Anyway…I feel like his nerves get the best of him. There are places where his voice quivers and other places where he is straight on pitchy and overly breathy. So he really needs to realize that he has a fan base and just relax. I think the best way to do that is by singing uptempo, instead of these sappy ballads. I think it’ll allow him to let loose (I say this knowing that he’s probably going to stay for a few more weeks against my will.)

5. Candice Glover: She tries something new by singing “Come Together.” YES! This is what I’ve been looking for from her. Great song choice. I absolutely loved this. Her voice was perfect (like always). Her attitude was there. She just looked like she was having a blast and I commend her for taking a risk…and that risk paid off. The judges (except maybe Keith) were WAY too lukewarm. I hope that doesn’t discourage Candice because I want more performances like this.

6. Paul Jolley: He sang “All The Lonely People.” Look, I don’t want Paul to win as much as the next person. But…I don’t understand this constant throwing under the bus. This was a good performance…probably his best so far. He was on key. He found the line between being underwhelming and not shouting. I feel like Nicki is only doing criticizing because Curtis was eliminated last week. If this wasn’t a good performance, then his past performances must be worse than this.

7. Angie/ela Miller: She sang “Yesterday.” Why didn’t she play the piano this time? Anyway, another gold star for Angie. This performance was so pure (those high notes were ethereal) yet raw at the same time. I like it was just her and the piano player on the stage. This was a simple, yet effective performance and definitely a highlight of this surprisingly good night.

8. Devin Velez: He sang “The Long and Winding Road.” This was an improvement over last week. His voice is just so pure…he will never sing a pitchy note. He just looks so comfortable on the stage. I just wish he had broke out of his comfort zone a bit more. This performance is too similar to his previous performances. I would think after making the bottom 2 last week, he would switch it up and maybe sing uptempo to stand out more. But…he’s 8th so he’s probably safe.

9. Janelle Arthur: She sang “I Will” (another song I’ve never heard of.) So no one sang “Imagine” or “Hey Jude.” Thank God! Inspiring song choice. I really like Janelle. I like her personality. I love how humble she is. And I think she has a nice country voice. This was a beautiful song and probably her most emotionally connecting performance so far. Her last two “I will”s were lovely.

Say what you will about the top 9…this was a pretty strong night. Still too “ballad heavy”…but still some very nice vocals throughout. It’s interesting that this is the week where the judges decide not to go crazy with the standing ovations.

Best Performance of the Night: Soul sistah Candice Glover with her rousing rendition “Come Together.” She definitely stood out the most.

Other stand outs: I hope people remember Kree and Amber because I found their performances more effective than some of the later ones IMO.

Worst Performance: Lazaro! C’mon guys!

Who Should Go Home: Lazaro! COME ON GUYS! However, I wouldn’t mind if Paul Jolley went home in his place. He’s just too “vanilla.” And as much as I love Devin, he has yet to truly excite me since Hollywood week and semis.

Who Will Go Home: None of the girls deserve to go home. But I think Amber might be on thin ice a bit. Paul Jolley is also with her. One of those two will probably be going home. We’ll see. Burnell Taylor could also join them in the bottom 3 because of his placement.

Thanks for reading!

2013
03/21
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 10 Perform…Songs from the Past Idols)


American-Idol-Season-12-Top-10

Uh oh! Where’s Nicki? Anyway, let’s get on with this…

Curtis Finch, Jr.: He sang Fantasia’s “I Believe.” Gawd…I love this song. I was pretty much singing along. Anyway, this was an OK performance. I liked it better than his last one. But…there’s just something about him that-…I don’t know. I’m still not completely feeling him. And I agree with Randy…I think next time he should step out of his comfort zone and do a different type of song. Something more “contemporary” and less “church.”

Janelle Arthur: She sang “Gone” as sung by Scotty McCreery (I like her Scotty impression BTW). Oh look! Nicki Minaj is back! I appreciate that she did a fiery uptempo song. I thought this was a risky move from her. But…I don’t think she completely pulled it off. Again, I agree with Randy…she never really went anywhere with the song. She was drowned out by the back up singers and instrumentals. It wasn’t a train wreck…but I’m not sure if this performance made me like her more.

Devin Velez: He sang Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home.” He undoubtedly has an amazing, pure, consistent voice. I don’t mind his song choice so much…I just found the performance too bland and too safe. I just felt like he was sleepwalking through the performance. If this song is supposed to mean something to him…I just didn’t feel it I’m afraid. Man…I’m starting to get worried here…

Angie/ella Miller: She sang “I Surrender” as sung by Kelly Clarkson (I guess…I’m sure other past contestants have sung it as well also but whatever…) Blammo! Another successful performance from her! Finally, this night has started. Just a pure, passionate, well sung performance. I don’t have anything else to add…stellar!

Paul Jolley: He sang “Amazed” as sung by Scotty McCreery. Like last week, this was another OK/good performance. I think he’s trying to not be so theatrical so I’ll give him that. I wish the song choice had been a little more interesting. But he did a serviceable job.

Candice Glover: She sang “I Have Nothing” as sung by Jordin Sparks. Uh…can she top Haley Reinhart? She didn’t. But the circumstances are different. When Reinhart sang it, she was pissed off and had to PROVE to the judges she deserved to be there. With Candice, it’s still early in the competition and she’s gotten nothing but praise up to this point. Anyway, this was another wonderful performance. She just has a stellar voice. I don’t think it was perfect or her best…but still powerful in its own right. And, she’s definitely a bright star in a pretty dull night so far.

Lazaro Arbos: He sang Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway.” It just…wasn’t… a good performance. He was pitchy. He was fighting with the background music. Like Nicki said, he looked scared and nervous throughout. Some of my favorite singers in the competition are coming up, so unless one of them uncharacteristically messes up, I really think Arbos should be the one going home. If a contestant is going to insist on only singing ballads (like Glover), the least he or she can do is own those ballads…and Arbos doesn’t. This wasn’t his first underwhelming performance btw.

Kree Harrison: She sang “Crying” as sung by Carrie Underwood. I thought this was a very nice and sultry performance. I did think it was a little sleepy. It wasn’t as powerful as some of her earlier performances TBH. I appreciate that she’s trying to be calm and subtle. But…I think she could have done a little bit more. But…man…she is SO GOOD. She was made for the stage and, I agree with Keith, I would buy her album (well, Grammy nominated single because I don’t buy “albums” anymore.)

Burnell Taylor: He sang Ruben Studdard’s “Flying Without Wings.” Aww…he lost the glasses. I liked the glasses. I just really like Burnell’s voice. I think he has such a good tone. I think he’s definitely working on showing more variety in his voice. I pretty much feel the same way as Nicki. It’s a good performance…but I didn’t jump off my seat like I did last week. I think he really needs to try something different next week. I’d really like to see that. But…look at that…he was the best of the guys tonight so good for him!

Amber Holcomb: She sang Kelly Clarkson’s “A Moment Like This.” Another standing O from the judges! (The first one was for Candice). Like Keith said, Amber was SO effortless. She just stood there and sang and looked beautiful doing it. I really like her. I think she’s a very nice underdog and…I hope she makes it far. This was a very solid performance and definitely one of the best tonight.

So…no surprises here. The guys were blah and underwhelming. The girls were uniformly better. It’s sad that the girls (particularly Kree, Candice, and Amber) probably have to work harder to get “general America” to vote for them. Here’s hoping America makes the right choice.

Best Performance of the Night: I think I’ll say Amber Holcomb because she looked the most comfortable up there. “A Moment Like This” was a safe, yet admittedly risky choice.

Other Stand outs: The fab four all did really well: Amber, Candice, Angie and Kree. Those are the only four I care about…

Worst Performances: Lazaro Arbos was the weakest. He’s probably safe though.

Who Should Go Home: Lazaro, Curtis, and Devin deserve to be in the bottom 3. Paul Jolley or Janelle Arthur replacing either one of them wouldn’t be so bad. That’s ALL I’m going to say about that…

Please vote for a girl.

2013
03/13
CATEGORY
american idol
fox
music
predictions
recap
review
television
tv
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Season 12 American Idol Recap (Top 10 Guys)


This was the reaction to Burnell Taylor's performance. Candice raised a gospel hand. Kree wiped a tear. Beautiful.

This was the reaction to Burnell Taylor’s performance. Candice raised a gospel hand. Kree wiped a tear. Beautiful.

I have a confession…I didn’t watch any of the guy’s quarterfinals. I just…after how underwhelming their Hollywood week was, I just felt like there was little need. So…I’m writing this because I haven’t seen a lot of these contestants since Hollywood week. I’m not sure who’s supposed to be good or bad (for the most part). So…I guess this will be interesting…

I really want a girl to win this year.

So many black guys!!! Knowing the audience, they’ll all be cut tomorrow.

You know, I thought Keith Urban would be a fish out of water during the beginning of the season. I was worried for him. But, now I realize that he’s pretty much as awful as any judge. Good for him. He should get at least three more years.

Let’s get on with the sing-as!

Elijah Liu: He sang Rihanna’s “Stay.” This certainly wasn’t a train wreck…and it was a nice song choice. I didn’t love it, though. His voice was a bit too nasally for my taste. And there was a heaviness in some places…it didn’t seem like he really understood what he was singing about. It just had this “deer in the headlights” monotone vibe. Let’s see how the rest of the night goes…

Cortez Shaw: He sang Bruno Mars’s “Locked Out of Heaven.” I appreciated that he sang something upbeat and current. It’s a risk in this part of the competition. But…he was just kind of yelling most of the time. And it didn’t really look like he was having a fun time with the song. I’m not sure if he’ll make it through.

Charlie Askew: He sang Genesis’s “Mama.” Yeah, I agree with Randy…I did not get this performance. During Hollywood week, I actually found him endearing. But this time, I feel like he was trying too hard to be edgy and different here…and it didn’t work. And, y’know, the vocals weren’t great either. If you can’t screech convincingly (a la Adam Lambert), then don’t screech at all.

Nick Boddington: He sing Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.” This wasn’t a perfect performance (I think it got a bit too sleepy in some places), but it was certainly the first, like, good, performance of the night…and I think he deserved more credit from the judges. I like this bald dude. Let’s see if  he makes my top 5.

Burnell Taylor: He sang “I’m Here” from The Color Purple. Standing O from Keith! Gospel hand from Candice Glover! Jesus, I love this song. The only thing I can say is that he could have played with the lyrics and created a bigger of variety of tones throughout the song (it seemed like the whole song was in one volume.) But, he’s so adorable. I like the glasses. I applaud his weight loss (Can I have some tips?) And this was definitely the best performance of the night so far.

But…we still have 5 more singers left so…let’s see!

Paul Jolley: He sang “Just a Fool” from the judges that gave us The Voice. I…really liked this performance. His voice strained during the bigger moments but…there’s something about him that I find (I’m going to use the word again) endearing. Like Nicki said…it was a solid performance. That literally may be enough for him to make it through (that and his skin color).

Lazaro Arbos: He sang “Feeling Good.” You know…he has a major speech impediment. But, he is attractive as hell. He has that going for him. This is probably going to be my “Jacob Lusk/Hee jun” of the season. A contestant that EVERYONE loves, except me. A contestant that will probably make it far despite my objections. I’ve never been a huge fan of him. This was a sound performance but…I don’t know…I just don’t like the natural tone and rhythm of his voice. But I have to learn to live with him because he definitely has a big enough fan base to take him to tour.

Curtis Finch Jr.: He sang “I Believe I Can Fly” (Does he not have iTunes?) This was a GREAT performance. He has one of the best male voices in the competition. And his passion came out. But you canNOT create a moment out of this song. I REFUSE to acknowledge this as “a moment.” So I’ll just end this by saying that it was a really nice vocal performance and hopefully he can bring something new to the table next week.

Devin Velez: He sang “Somo Novios (It’s Impossible).” A beautiful, soulful performance. It was clean with a lot of passion. He hit all his notes and he chose an interesting song. He’s safe. He has nothing to worry about.

Vincent Powell: He sang “End of the Road.” He clearly has a great voice…but…I was disappointed by this performance. It took too long before the sparks flew. And there were moments when his voice was straining. And it didn’t look like he was particularly having a good time with it. Disappointing for the pimp slot but…still one of the better performances of the night, I suppose.

Yeah…a girl deserves to win this year. Unlike last week, there were no definite home runs.

Best performance of the night: Burnell Taylor’s “I’m Here” was really the only performance that made me smile. Also, the song choice was inspiring. I really hope he isn’t lost in the shuffle. I really hope he makes it through.

Who deserves to make it to the top 5: Burnell Taylor, Devin Velez, Nick Boddington, Paul Jolley

Who Probably Deserves Another Chance: Either Curtis Finch Jr. or Vincent Powell

Who really REALLY REALLY should not make to the next round: Cortez Shaw and Charlie Askew

I don’t think everyone in my “top 4″ will make it unfortunately. Paul Jolley probably won’t. Burnell Taylor will probably have a hard time because he sang an “unpopular” song and has to compete against two other R&B singers who sang later in the night. But…ya never know. We’ll see. Thanks for reading!

2013
03/07
CATEGORY
american idol
fox
music
predictions
recap
review
television
tv
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