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Season 12 American Idol Results (Top 5 Revealed…SPOILERS!)


candice glover glitter

Omigod…that was a close one.

I am in such a giddy mood right now. So…here’s the deal. I’ve been a wreck this whole day. When American Idol gets intense, I can’t help but obsess over the show. I’ve read every online recap…every Youtube comment…trying to understand…trying to pray and hope that the person who should be eliminated ends up eliminated. Every Thursday, I have class until about 8:30…and I was literally in a rut. I wasn’t paying attention. I was in a bad mood.

I was nervous.

I figured two things would could happen.

1. A girl would be the lowest vote getter…probably Janelle or Amber…and she would have been eliminated without the save because…well…at this point, what’s the point, right?

2. Or…a girl would be the lowest vote getter…again, probably Amber or Janelle…and the judges would use the save. No problem.

Both situations would have been awful for reasons that are obvious.

Last night, I predicted that Lazaro would be eliminated…but I thought maybe I was just wishful thinking. I mean, he performed really bad this week…but he also performed pretty bad last week and he was still in the top 3. He clearly had a passionate fanbase who was “inspired” by him. So…it wasn’t a confident prediction…

…but in the end…it was the right prediction.

I really hope I’m  not hallucinating right now. I really hope I’m not going nuts. Lazaro Arbos WAS eliminated, right? Like…let me check wikipedia real quick…OK, he was.

I really hope I’m not dreaming right now.

Anyway…what can I say about this? He…showed potential…and promise. He was a nice guy (I guess). And it is pretty remarkable that he’s able to sing without a stutter. He’s an…barf…”inspiration.”

But I (and I don’t recap audition episodes so there’s no way to prove this but still…) NEVER thought he was great. I didn’t think his audition was all that good. And I wouldn’t have put him past Hollywood week. While people (even respected bloggers like Michael Slezak – whom, by the way, I trust and respect more than anyone) were showering him with praise during the early stages of the season…I was sitting back and wondering what people were hearing. I’m not going to pretend that he suddenly had a downfall during the finals. Through my ears, he’s always been “not ready” for this competition. And I’m not going to sit here and offer some insincere praise towards him. It’s not technically his fault. He just played the game. The judges/producers/whoever should have realized this early on and not offer him false praise through the rounds. This is why he got as far as he did. And this is why he’s gotten all this “hate.”

I really hope Nigel can learn from this experience. DON’T JUDGE TALENT BY THE SOB STORY!

So fans of Lazaro…if you’re distressed…then prove us wrong. Support Lazaro. Buy his album. While you do that, I’ll be listening to Crystal Bowersox’s.

In other news…this is the best top 5 we’ve had in a while. AND…we’re finally going to have a girl winner. Yes, I feel a little guilty how it came to this (desperately finding amazing girls to compete against mediocre guys). But…after 5 years of WGWGs (and cough cough 3 undeserved wins), it was time. THESE GIRLS ARE TALENTED. And I think right now, they’re all deserving to win. Even with the backstage manipulation, let’s not pretend we have a sucky top 5. We don’t. Each girl has given at least a couple amazing performances and…I’ve never been more excited for a latter half of a season…coincidentally the last time I felt this way was during season 6…after Sanjaya was eliminated. Hmmmm…

I don’t want to rank these girls…

…let’s rank these girls.

1. CANDICE - OK, she’s finally number one on my list. I tear up thinking about her. Ever since she was unfairly eliminated last season, I’ve been begrudgingly following her on Youtube, wondering if she would ever make it…She’s made it. No matter what happens, I think she’ll be fine. She’ll, at worst, make 60,000 dollars a year performing gigs and making music…and that’s pretty much what one should hope for after leaving American Idol (assuming that’s not what he or she was doing before Idol…)

2. AMBER - She needs to work on diction. But I still love her “Love on Top” performance. I have to enjoy this uptempo break for as long as I can because next week she’ll be back to singing ballads (also,next week will probably be her last week so…)

3. KREE - She’s getting boring…na mean? She’s so consistent…but Candice has also been consistent, yet she’s produced more exciting moments. There might be a time when I’ll stop rooting for her…like when she’s in the top 2 with Candice.

4. ANGIE - I love how, when she has the chance, she chooses Christian songs from semi-obscure singers. I’ll…probably never like her more than my top 3…

5. JANELLE - Keep doing what you do!

So…what else? I pretty much missed the first half of the show, but I did see Kelly Clarkson perform. Her new single is awesome and she sounded great (what’s new?) For a while, because she was a mentor on Duets and The Voice, I thought maybe she was silently turning her back on Idol. I’m glad to see that she still has time to perform on it and act nice…even if (like everyone else) she probably thinks the show should just end. Hey…it’s not like any future winner would overshadow her. She’s unstoppable! I also liked her little back and forth with Mariah…and how the producers were trying to cut to commercial but they couldn’t because Kelly and Mariah are just that awesome. You know…Mariah is a weird/non-present judge…but I like her as a person, y’know? (And her obsession with Mean Girls makes me smile.)

So…does this mean the save is just not going to be used? This will be the first season since the save was first introduced that it won’t be used? Iiinteeerrresting…

Anyway. I’m happy. I’m going to bed. Goodnight, lovelies!

2013
04/11
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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 Results (Top 7 Becomes Top 6…my ranking)


Even Candice realizes this elimination is BS.

Even Candice realizes this elimination is BS.

Definitely definitely an emotional results show for me.

In my desperate quest for a female winner, I’ve been pretty ambivalent towards the eliminations thus far. Curtis Finch Jr. was unrelatable. Michael Polley was too “vanilla”. Devin Velez lacked connection. These were three eliminations (for the most part) I agreed with.

And…honestly…if Lazaro couldn’t go home (more on that later), I knew it had to be Burnell Taylor. And I’m glad, despite the circumstance, it was Burnell. But…still…so sad. He did really well throughout the competition. He has a beautiful tone and a great personality…and I’ll miss him on the show. I think he needs to work harder on his diction because even during his save-me song (“Ready to Love”), despite how wonderful he was, I still had a tough time understanding many of the words he was singing. But, he should be proud of his journey and…y’know, I’m going to guess he’s not going to be a HUGE Carrie Underwood sized success…but he should still be proud of the experience and realize he did something a lot of people could only dream of doing: performing The Color Purple on the 2nd most popular singing competition in the country.

Now, with all that lovey-dovey crap aside…the top 3 truly spooked me. WHAT THE FRAK, AMERICA??? STOP VOTING FOR LAZARO! TOP 3???? You know why the producers decided to reveal the top 3 this week…to subtle-y tell America to stop voting for this dude. So, everyone, let’s listen to Nigel and create a balls to the wall top 5 with the fierce ladies. I will not be able to fully enjoy this show until this bulge is outtie…K?? K.

A top 3 without Candice is like…a moon without its stars.

OTHER SHIZ:

  • The show started off with a performance of “Somebody to Love” by the top 7. I’m 70% sure they lip synched this. However, I love how Candice was given the “Mercedes” solo towards the end. Fierce! 
  • Casey James came back to perform “The Good Life.” I honestly disliked season 9 (anyone who claims season 12 as being the worst season has clearly only started watching the show since season 10). The only contestant I truly loved in that season was Crystal Bowersox. But…Casey James is a cool dude and I have to admit, he had a couple better-than-decent moments while he was on the show. Right now, I definitely like this country/laid back thing he has going on. And I enjoyed the performance and song very much.
  • Carrie Underwood came and performed her newest single “See You Again.” The major pimpage she got was actually deserved considering she’s one of maybe 5 bonafied successes from the show. In fact, she has sold more albums than any other alum. Despite all this fame, it’s nice to see Underwood have such raw appreciation for the show and her journey. Seeing her well up a bit and at least attempt to compliment the rest of the contestants and give them hope was a nice moment from this neck of the woods. She has a nasally voice live…but it’s my nasally voice, and I love her.

OK…that’s all for now. Next week the contestants are singing two songs. One from the Bacharach/David songbook…and the other is pretty much anything the contestant wants. So hopefully, the top 6 uses the opportunity to sing something current (Candice), fresh (Kree), and upbeat (Amber). And…well…on key (VFTW pick).

Let’s rank them:

1. AMBER - The heart wants what the heart wants. I can’t lie to myself anymore. I anticipate her more than the others at this point. But…still she really needs to sing something fun and upbeat. “What About Love” isn’t necessarily a ballad…but she certainly didn’t rock it out like expected. But, for now, I’ll put her at 1.

2. CANDICE - Consistent consistent consistent. I’d like to hear her sing some Jazmine Sullivan. Preferably “Holding You Down” or “Need U Bad.”

3. KREE - I agree with other fans, I think Kree is getting a little too comfortable on stage. That’s why I honestly loved her performance the other night (“Piece of My Heart”) because I felt like there was some genuine struggle in her voice and it was refreshing. I think she desperately needs to sing something from the new millennium quick so we can really see what kind of artist she is.

4. ANGIE - I don’t think she’ll ever be above the top 3 from my picks…but I really do like her and she redeemed herself this week. I would not mind if she won. She’s so good!

5. JANELLE - Cutie patootey. I feel like I’m never giving her the praise she deserves. She’s probably taken more risks than the other girls, I admit that. She’s been wonderful these last few weeks.

6. LAZARO - I think maybe a Bruno Mars song would be a nice change of pace for him. Or maybe even Michael Buble. Also…it’s a travesty that he’s still here.

Thanks for reading!

2013
04/05
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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 Results Review (Top 7 Revealed…my ranking)


american idol results

OK…let’s get this out of the way. Our very own Devin Velez was eliminated. And…I do have some mixed feelings about it. Devin has such a beautiful tone and voice. He never sang off key. He truly was a professional who appreciated his craft. His performance during semifinals still remains one of the strongest in competition, and I’m really glad he gave us a reprise of “It’s Impossible” for the the save. The fact that he’s gone and Lazaro is still in the competition is really not good at all.

However…I wouldn’t have used the save. And this isn’t an elimination I feel too down about. The girls are better than the guys this year…by a mile. So, it feels nice that the guys are being eliminated one by one while the fab 4 5 is still in tact. I mean, the only person who really deserved to be eliminated over Devin was Lazaro…the other 6 contestants IMO were stronger. So…I don’t think it was the right time to be using the save because there are still some really amazing singers in the competition. In fact, if this male genocide continues like it should, the judges might not even have to use the save…

The truth is…that Devin never fully connected with me or America. I think he relied too much on his voice and played it safe. He was going in the right direction…but even last week, it was too little too late. He’s a great guy. He took the elimination very well (I think he knew that he would be the one)…but I’m very glad the judges didn’t use the save. I may be in the minority…but I need that “Save” to be saved for Candice or Kree… or Amber or Angie.

I have to say though that the silver lining in all this is that Lazaro finally made a trip to the bottom 3 like he was supposed to for the last  2 weeks. I feel like America is slowly starting to realize… I don’t take back what I said last night. I really do commend Laz for taking a risk and singing uptempo (even though “For Once in My Life” is a song that literally EVERYONE knows)…but he will forever always be on the bottom of my list and he does not belong here. Sorry. Of course, I’m also happy that Amber avoided the bottom 3…but girlfriend was probably in the bottom 4 so she should still work hard…and sing uptempo next week.

Sad night. First real heart breaker of an elimination…but the heart break only lasted seconds for me…to you… dawg.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

1. It was nice seeing Colton Dixon back. He performed “Love Has Come For Me.” I really did like him last season. He’s not a HUGE success post-Idol but, apparently, for a Christian artist, he’s done pretty decently for himself. I love how, after his glorified video intro, he said to Ryan, “You made me look really good up there.” What to make of that…

2. I LOVE One Direction Republic with a passion. I constantly play “If I Lose Myself” on my iPod. Definitely the best song of the year so far. I just love how bold and dancey it is. Ryan Tedder is a genius IMO. And Katharine McPhee did a nice job singing along.

3. Keith Urban also rocked it and…he just looked like he was having a blast up there. The song seemed a bit too long but…I still enjoyed it.

OK…next week…I don’t know what the top 7 is singing next week. But…I’ll be watching! Uh…let’s quickly do my personal ranking.

1. KREE - She’s still my number 1 gal.

2. CANDICE - Actually…she’s pretty much tied with Kree at this point. These two are in a league of their own.

3. AMBER - No matter how amazing she is…if she sings another ballad, I may be forced to move her down. She should stand out more and take more risks. I feel like she’s (unfairly) being compared to Candice…and we can’t let that happen.

4. ANGIE - The performance wasn’t perfect…but still! I don’t understand why she’s so polarizing.

5. JANELLE - She REALLY stepped it up these last 2 weeks, forcing me to change my “fab 4″ to a clean “fab 5.”

6. BURNELL - The last great male left in the competition. He just needs to work on his diction…OK, my adorm?

7. LAZARO - He honestly sounds better when he’s not singing a ballad. He should consider singing uptempo for next week. Also…who the hell keeps voting for him?

Thanks for reading, lovelies. See ya on the flip side!

2013
03/28
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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 Results (Top 8 Revealed…my ranking)


So, it’s 8:36. I just back to my dorm from class. And I’m watching this results show on crappy internet television. But I want to review this results show now so I can get it over with.

So, right now, Paul and Devin are (deservedly) in the bottom 3. Unfortunately, Lazaro isn’t joining them. Once again, he is completely safe, which means…well it means someone who performed better than him will be in the bottom 3. Fairness!

So, I’m a little worried right now. It’s comforting seeing 2 guys in the bottom…but I’m not sure if Burnell is going to be the one who joins them, which means…oh, God. I don’t even want to think about it.

Now we’re gearing up for Jessica Sanchez to premiere her new single with Ne-Yo. It’s called “Tonight.” I downloaded it earlier today and I think it’s very catchy and it’s a nice lead single. OK…back to the show!

That was fun performance from Jessica. It’s nice to see her come out of her shell. I liked how she was moving and dancing and shaking her little bum and showing some attitude (snap snap snap). And the voice is still amazing. If people in America aren’t going to embrace her, hopefully her Filipino fans will keep her and her album afloat.

Back to the results…Amber is in the bottom 3. Not surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. And the audience agreed because they booed…right? (Nah, the American Idol audience apparently loves every contestant that’s on the stage.) I guess this is what Amber gets for taking a risk, choosing an interesting song, and singing it on key. How dare she.

Paul Jolley GOT THE LOWEST NUMBER OF VOTES! YES! I’m just happy that it’s not Amber. He’s repeating his performance of “Alone” from a couple weeks ago for the save he’s clearly not going to get. I don’t think the audience really cares. He’s going home. There’s no way Nicki is going to save him,

I do love “Alone” though…no matter who’s singing it.

The judges will not use the save. Paul is his usual jolly self. And I am jolly too, for the most part. Paul was never bad…but he certainly was not among the strongest…and I can deal with him leaving…which means the “white guy” streak has broken at last. Can we also break the overall “guy” streak?

OK, let’s rank the contestants. These are are MY PERSONAL rankings so far…

1. KREE HARRISON - She’s still my number 1 girl. I’d like to see her do something a little faster next week.

2. CANDICE GLOVER - Since she took a risk and sang uptempo, she can get away with a rousing ballad next week. (I have to say Candice has performed better than Kree these last 2 weeks…if this happens again, I’ll probably move Candice to #1)

3. AMBER HOLCOMB - Amber’s placement in the bottom 3 was thoroughly upsetting. I don’t think there’s really much she can do to get a bigger fan base. On American Idol, there’s only room for one African American female in the top 5…and it’ll probably be Candice Glover.

4. ANGIE MILLER - Fab 4 is still alive.

5. JANELLE ARTHUR - I like her. But I don’t think I’ll ever like her more than the other 4 girls. We’ll see…

6. BURNELL TAYLOR - He’s young and hip. He should utilize that sing something fast and show off any potential dance moves.

7. DEVIN VELEZ - He needs to try something new this week. He has the voice. He has the look. Now he needs to not be boring.

8. LAZARO ARBOS - Out of his league.

Next week is Motown. I actually thought this week was really strong so I have a lot of hope for next week. With Curtis and Paul out of the way, I think people need to give this top 8 7 more credit. Thanks for reading!

BUY JESSICA SANCHEZ MUSIC!

2013
03/21
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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
CATEGORY
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Season 12 American Idol Results (Ranking the Top 9) SPOILER ALERT


Coming into this results show I was very very nervous. I felt like this was the ultimate test for America. We were in a situation where the girls were uniformly stronger than the guys. Last season, the girls were better than the guys also, but at least Joshua Ledet and Colton Dison and even Phillip Phillips gave them a good fight. This season, that is not the case at all. So…what I’m trying say is “if a girl was eliminated, even Janelle, I probably would have stopped watching this season.”

Luckily, the results gave me some hope for America and the future of this show. I’m not sure if I fully like the idea of the audience knowing how the contestants rank along the way (did they copy that from The X Factor?), but it was SOOO refreshing seeing Candice, Kree and Angie take up the top 3. Three women. Two of them “big boned.” It was a beautiful image.

What wasn’t beautiful was seeing Lazaro, who undeniably gave the worst performance of the night, at 4th place. WHAT?? Who is still voting for this kid? The fact that he got more votes than Amber made me grit my teeth a bit. Even among the guys, Burnell was the one who deserved to be at the top. The undying Lazaro love is killing me and, if continued, will kill this already lackluster season.

In the end, the bottom two was, unsurprisingly, Devin and Curtis. And…Curtis Finch, Jr. was the first idol that had to say goodbye to his Idol dreams. Honestly…he has a nice voice…but I don’t care. And the fact that the judges (and the audience who seemingly loves everyone) were even CONSIDERING saving him pissed me off. I usually like Nicki…but she overreacted to Curtis’s elimination to a tee. Maybe Curtis wasn’t the worst contestant…but he has far from the best. The save should only be saved for a girl who has been unfairly eliminated early because tweeny boppers don’t find her attractive and white enough. THAT IS ALL. Curtis Finch did not deserve a save…especially after repeating his “I Believe I can Fly” performance.

But, I gotta say, for a contestant that most people (not me) thought was too cocky, he really took the news well and just seemed all smiles. I think he knew he was going home…and I think he’s just happy that he’ll make a few extra bucks via the summer tour.

Some other things happened this episode. Phillip Phillips performed his newest single “Gone Gone Gone,” which was really good. I don’t want to be mean but…how he performed tonight was literally how he performed EVERY night while he was competing. I don’t know why Phillip Phillips can get away with doing that, but not Candice Glover with R&B music. Think about that!

One last note…actually, never mind, I don’t feel like talking about Charlie Askew…Let’s rank the contestants.

1. Kree Harrison – I was little underwhelmed by her performance this week, but she still remains the contestant I’m rooting for the most.

2. Candice Glover – I think, considering how popular she is, she’s safe enough to take a risk and try an uptempo song next week.

3. Amber Holcomb – She should have been 4th…in fact she should have been in the top 3. I’m worried about her position in the competition, but I still love her, and I think she has the potential to truly WOW us.

4. Angie Miller – The fab 4.

5. Janelle Arthur – I have to give her props for going uptempo this week. But has she given us a moment this season?

6. Burnell Taylor – I’d like to see him have more fun on that stage. He’s definitely the best male in the competition…not sayin’ much though.

7. Devin Velez – Don’t disappoint me next week, Devin.

8. Paul Jolley – You clearly have a fan base Jolley, so stop trying so hard. Pick better songs to sing. And…I have to agree with Jimmy Iovine on this one, I don’t fully buy you as a country star. So…prove us wrong…or sing something more poppy next week.

9. Lazaro Arbos – I can’t even.

OK, thanks for reading! I’ll be back next week!

2013
03/14
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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
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