American Idol--Wild Card Performances

Tonight still seems like a waste, as I am sure that the judges have already decided their last three.

I also am hoping upon hope that they don't give us two girls out of this group--especially not Tatiana. Yes, I know she can sing, but we know that she won't last past week 1. Why even take her?

My review below.

Jesse Langseth--"Tell Me Something Good"--Rufus and Chaka Khan
I really didn't like her last time. I think she is a waste of a pick. This is my least favorite version of Rufus and Chaka Khan's song I've ever heard. I don't entirely blame Jesse; I thought the arrangement was bad. But Jesse didn't bring any fireworks. Next. Judges were nicer than I was expecting.

Matt Giraud--"Who's Loving You"--Jackson Five
Now this I liked. A bluesy take on a Jackson Five song. He has a good sound, and I would like to see more of him on the show. Judges are keen on him, so he could be one of the three.

Megan Corkrey--"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree"--K.T. Tunstall
Meh. She still has a weird stage presence. She is beautiful, but her voice is only better than average. She misses some notes, but parts were okay. I don't think she's Top 12-good. Judges are nicer than they should've been, so I'm wondering if they have picked her. Sigh. Is she better than I thought?

Von Smith--"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"--Elton John
I am really mixed on Von. He annoys me for a lot of his performance, but there are moments where I raise my eyebrows in appreciation. I don't think he'll make the Top 12, but I'm kind of indifferent on him making it. Either way, I wouldn't be surprised. The judges are off the Von Smith train. He will not be in the Top 12. No biggie.

Jasmine Murray--"Reflection"--Christina Aguilera
The judges told her to pick something young and current "Rihanna-esque," and she picked a ballad. Sigh. Way to listen. She is okay, but the song is too big for her, and she didn't hit everything she needed to hit. But she has potential. Again, the judges are nicer than I would have been. Sigh.

Ricky Braddy--"Superstition"--Stevie Wonder
I don't think this was the best choice for him. He picks it to show off his personality, but he looked uncomfortable. His voice was fine, but I think he was better in his last performance.
All judges are positive except for Simon. Ricky might be on the outside looking in, but I like him.

Tatiana Nicole Del Toro--"I'm Saving All My Love For You"--Whitney Houston
She's singing the same song she sang last time? Really? That will be a strike against her, I hope.
She's still good, but she's not as good as last time (especially at the beginning). The judges are mixed. I hope this means she is gone. Let's hope.

Anoop Desai--"My Perogative"--Bobby Brown
I really think Anoop is a sure thing for the Top 3. BUT another repeat song? He sang this during Hollywood. Granted, we only saw 5 seconds of this before, but still. The beginning was a little shaky, but he brought it home at the end. Fun performance. I like Anoop, so I hope he is in. The judges praise his personality.

The judges pick: Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, and Matt Giraud. And Anoop Desai.

They pull the old switcheroo and make Anoop feel that he didn't make it when he really did.

Argh! Two girls? AI said before the season they wouldn't push gender equality. Guess they were wrong.

I'm upset that Ricky didn't have a chance. I do think that if we had been shown him more before, he could have made some waves.

Other than that, I'm okay with the results. I wanted Matt and Anoop, and I got that.

Read more on "American Idol--Wild Card Performances"

American Idol--Wild Card Selections

Here are the eight performers the judges have selected as wild cards.

My somewhat cranky thoughts are below.



I don't necessarily have a problem with the individuals selected (below). Obviously they would probably do better with a second chance.

But the whole even split with males and females doesn't sit well with me. Jesse "Bette Davis Eyes" Langseth is better than Nick Mitchell? Really?

The bigger problem I have is that this process seems like a waste of time. The judges have chosen eight performers to sing, and then the last three spots of the top twelve will be chosen... by the judges.

Why bother with this intermediary step? I am sure that they have chosen who they want to be in the top 12. Just pick them and be done with it. I am prepared to watched canned comments that will be borderline rehearsed.

Also, I wonder if the will feel the need to balance the Top 12 as far as gender. Right now the Top 9 has 6 boys and 3 girls. I can't think of any girl from this wild card selection that I would rather see than Anoop, Matt Giraud, and Ricky Braddy. But will they really let three guys go on. I highly doubt it.

What I want: Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Ricky Braddy

My prediction: Anoop, Ricky Braddy, and Jasmine M.

HOWEVER, I would not be surprised if Tatiana makes it through. This is the judges' pick, AND there is supposed to be a segment of the show this season dedicated to how the Top 12 relates and gets along in the house in which they will live. With this soap opera reality element, Tatiana may make for some fireworks. I, for one, hope that AI does not go in this direction, but it wouldn't surprise me.


Anoop Desai
Jasmine Murray
Jesse Langseth
Matt Giraud
Megan Corkrey
Ricky Braddy
Tatiana Nicole Del Toro
Von Smith

Thoughts?

Read more on "American Idol--Wild Card Selections"

American Idol--Top 36--Group 3

My thoughts of group 3 are below. Read on.



I hope tonight goes well. My early picks for the night are Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds, and Von Smith. I bet that one of these three will go last. My guess is Lil.


Von Smith--"You're All I Need"--Marvin Gaye
I'm glad to see that Von doesn't want to be the "screamy" guy. Maybe he can be someone I like because he does have a good voice. I think he starts off too low and muddy. He gets a bit better as the songs goes on, but I never felt that he was in the pocket. Good but not great. Going this early and not being spectacular may not be enough for him. Judges give him a tongue bath, but I don't think it was as good as all that.

Taylor Vaifanua--"If I Got You"-Alicia Keys
Mixed bag here. The end is nice, but the beginning is a bit rough. It wasn't memorable to me. Judges give generally blah comments.

Alex Wagner-Trugman--"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues"--Elton John
Okay. Reality check. Yes, I know he's not the best voice. He's got this growly thing he does with his voice at times that sounds like he is losing his breath, and he doesn't come across as the most confident of performers; however, I must say I like him. There is a dorky sense of fun that you get from watching him. I liked it, but I don't think he'll get the phone calls. Judges praise his energy but pan the vocals.

Arianna Afsar--"The Winner Takes It All"--ABBA
Bad and boring. Another seventeen-year-old bites the dust. Judges pretty much pan the song choice and the performance.

Ju'not Joyner--"Hey There, Delilah"
He is singing a much more relaxed version of the song. I'm not a fan of the arrangement. I don't think it shows off his voice as much as it could. It actually isn't bad, but there are parts where his weaknesses are evident. Another not bad, not great performance. Judges were pretty complimentary. Ends up he had some asthma issues. I'll give him benefit of the doubt.

Kristen McNamara--"Give Me One Reason"--Tracy Chapman
A slightly jazzier version of this song. I like the take. May not be the best song for her, but she's good. Judges like her but not the song or her image.

Nathaniel Marshall--"I Would Do Anything For Love"--Meat Loaf
I love this song. He better not mess it up! The slower parts are okay, but the uptempo parts sound karaoke. His voice isn't strong enough for this song, methinks. He is talented, but I think this is the last we will see of Nate. Judges were anti song, but pretty much pro him.

Felicia Barton--"No One"--Alicia Keys
Despite some voice cracking at the top of her range, this was a contemporary-feeling performance. Not perfect but nice job. Judges were for the most part positive.

Scott Macintyre--"Mandolin Rain"--Bruce Hornsby and the Range
For the most part, I liked this, but there were some bum notes that really hurt my ears. The ending though was strong. I'd like Scott to make it to the Top 12, so I can see him play the piano and sing. If he doesn't make it though tomorrow night, he'll be a wild card choice, methinks. Mixed reviews on the singing but high praise from all the judges. They are pushing hard for him. I like how Scott high fives Ryan (making fun of how Ryan tried to high five him in Hollywood).

Kendall Beard--"This One's for the Girls"--Martina McBride
Now they say she's from Lufkin instead of Austin. I was not crazy for her in Hollywood, and I'm still not crazy for her. This is better than then, but I still don't feel her. Some notes really hurt. I'll leave the real critique of the song to people who know this song. Judges thought she showed who she was but didn't like the vocals.

Jorge Nunez Mendez--"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"--Elton John
I was not a fan of Jorge before, but I really liked his performance. There are still some pronunciation problems, but I like his tone with this song. I really liked this! He gets roundly praised and cries. That should give him a spot in the Top 12 (probably votes; if not, by wild card).

Lil Rounds--"Be Without You"--Mary J. Blige
My prediction about Lil Rounds going last (first made last week) was right. Great voice. She's not overdoing it like she did in Hollywood. It was just a strong performance. If she sings like this consistently, she'll be the girl to contend with. Judges praise her to the moon. She'll be through.

So, I think from tonight's show, we'll get Lil Rounds, Jorge Nunez Mendez, and Scott MacIntyre.

My guess for Wild Cards will be: Anoop, Von Smith, and Matt Giraud (or Ricky Braddy). If they must take a girl, maybe they'll take Anne Marie Boskovich.

Thoughts?

Read more on "American Idol--Top 36--Group 3"

American Idol--Top 36--Group 2

Here are my thoughts on Group 2. Pre-show, I still stand my prediction of Adam Lambert (probably going last), Jasmine Murray, and Matt Giraud.



Ryan is looking casual tonight.

Stupid phrase of the night comes from Kara: "This it it. There are no second chances." Um, have the producers told her about the Wild Card show where 12 singers will get... wait for it... a second chance? Are they hoping that the viewers forget about this so they can surprise us later?

Whatev.

I was right with my guess of Adam Lambert going last. Look, I like the guy, too, but could the producers be more transparent about wanting to showcase their chosen ones?

Wait a sec! Did Ryan just say that they will be singing from Billboard's Hot 100? Wow! That's a disadvantage to this group. It seemed like last week's group could pick any song (admittedly to their detriment at times). What is up with that?! Is it only the current Top 100? Or any Top 100? I hope for the latter.

Sigh.

Jasmine Murray--"Love Song"--Sara Bareilles
This is the song that Kara wanted someone to sing last week. I think this could be a good song for her. It might be me, but the vocals seem muddy and indistinct. I'm not saying that it's bad, but I don't think it stands out the way it should. Fair start, but I'm starting to back off of my prediction of her being the girl from this round. Maye not the right song. Judges aren't too positive. Not feeling strong any more.

Matt Giraud--"Viva La Vida"--Coldplay
Rats! It looks like they all have to be modern songs. I really call shenanigans on this. Changing the rules midstream, AI? Tsk tsk! I pretty much am bored by Coldplay, but this song isn't awful (because they ripped it off from Joe Satriani). I hope this works. Sigh. This was a mixed bag for me. For me, this was entirely the wrong song for him. After hearing him sing soulfully on "Georgia" and then singing this, I am so disappointed. Parts were good, but there were also some notes that made me cringe. I wonder what he would have sung if not hampered by the "list." The judges weren't wowed either, but it seems like they are still pulling for him. I was disappointed.

Two of my faves to go on from this round have disappointed. Maybe this will be an opportunity for an unknown to make a big splash.

Jeanine Vailes--"This Love" by Maroon 5
Wait another second. This was a hit some years back, so maybe it is ANY Top 100 list. Hmm... Dunno. Jeanine is a bartender with very, very short-shorts that we have not seen before. Ouch! This was okay until the chorus came along. She seemed like she was in a duel with the background singers and lost. The end is better, but I can't forget the intense pain that I just endured. I'll pass. The judges agree that she picked the wrong song and has good legs. She admits that since she hasn't been shown much, she felt that she needed to come out strong. I get that, but the key is to sing WELL. I feel bad for her, but that was NOT good. B'bye.

Nick Mitchell--"And I'm Telling You"--Dreamgirls
It's Norman Gentle time. I'm a bit disappointed that he's singing this song again, but at least he'll be playing to his strength. I think I have lost my ever-loving mind, but this guy entertains me. Serious. I am still convinced that this show is not for him, but he makes me smile every time he sings. I even liked his vocal pauses to share his innermost thoughts--wanting to impress the judges, staying on the show, and saying hi to Doogie Howser in the audience. He is a bonafide trip. He gave it his all. The singing was not bad for the most part. There was one part where he lost some vocal control that hurt me, but the rest was really well sung--in that campy style that he sings. Simon predictably pans him while the others praise the entertainment value. He is memorable. Paula speaks in tongues at one point. That was also memorable. Things do get a bit weird and manic as Ryan tries to help give out Nick's number. I actually love live TV for moments where things go wrong.

Allison Iraheta--"Alone"--Heart
She is 16, but looks about 32. Her interview with Ryan is painful. She has a hard time completing a sentence. Please make her stop. Tough song. She has two styles: soft at the beginning, hard at the end. But it's the best vocals of the night so far though. It was a tad screamy for me at times, but she does have a good voice. Do I want to see her every week? Dunno. Newsflash, Paula: I can sing the telephone book, too. Seriously, I can. Not well, but still. The judges are highly complimentary. She seems to be this season's Jason Castro in terms of interviewing skills.

Kris Allen--"Man in the Mirror"--Michael Jackson
Another one we haven't really seen. He's singing Michael? Really? After the performance, I must say, he is good. I think he is comfortable with that style. It seems like that was him. I know what to expect from him. I like it. A lot. Not perfect, but really good. The judges are so-so. I hate that Kara says that this wasn't as good as what he did in Hollywood WHEN WE NEVER SAW HIM IN HOLLYWOOD.
Megan (Joy) Corkrey--"Put Your Records On"--Corinne Bailey Rae
Tattoo sleeve mother. I like this song, so I hope she does justice. Her stage presence is weak, but her voice is not bad. She has an unusual voice quality but in a good way. It came across as a bit karaoke. The judges are nice to her. She and Allison are the front-runners for the girls.

Matt Breitzke--"If You Could Only See"--Tonic
Not a bad song. (Side note: I saw Tonic perform this before they got BIG, opening for David Garza at the White Rabbit in San Antonio. I didn't have them pegged for success. Shows what I know.) Not a bad performance, and he sure is likable, but I think this was a really good karaoke performance. I don't know if I felt a performer here. I just felt the song. Is it memorable enough? Judges are big on him but not on the performance or the song choice.

Pet Peeve: I really don't like when singers talk back to the judges. It just comes across to me as overly prideful and stubborn. Also, I don't think it wins over the viewers. Maybe I'm wrong.

Jesse Langseth--"Bette Davis Eyes"--Kim Carnes
Pass. This is painful, too. I swear that I've heard better renditions of this at karaoke bars. Not memorable for me. I will forget this by the time this show is over. Judges are mixed. I agree with Simon. Again.

Kai Kalama--"What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted"--Jimmy Ruffin
I like the song choice. (Obviously it's any year of the Billboard Hot 100. I take back my earlier complaint.) And he sings it fairly well (minus one part that was weak). I can hear him as a singer. He, to me, is memorable. I think he could be a wild card if he doesn't get through on votes. The judges are not as impressed as I was. Oh well. I didn't think it was that bad.


Mishavonna Henson--"Drops of Jupiter"--Train
Another unknown. This one is a keeper! I really like her. She has a sound. Perfect, no, but strong, yes. She commanded my attention. I think she should be the girl of the night (or at least a wild card selection). The judges don't like the song choice, but I didn't have a problem with that. I actually don't agree with the criticism of Mishavonna.


Adam Lambert--"Satisfaction"--Rolling Stones
Musical theater boy. He starts off reminding me of Constantine with the smoldering look (and the early vocals seemed scattered). But boy can this kid sing. Is it a bit much? At times, yes. But there is no doubting Adam's chops and his entertainment. I really think this will be a love it or hate it sort of thing. Is he likable enough to generate votes? I think so, but I think he'll have to soften up at some point to make it to the end (which he should with that voice). Watching him perform does illustrate the difference between him and the others. The judges drool predictably, though Simon is a bit on the fence.

Overall, this night was a wash. If I have to rank tonight's performances (which I feel I do), they would go like this:
1. Adam Lambert
2. Mishavonna Henson
3. Megan Joy Corkrey
4. Nick Mitchell
5. Kris Allen
6. Allison Iraheta
7. Kai Kalama
8. Matt Giraud
9. Matt Breitzke
10. Jasmine Murray
11. Jesse Langseth
12. Jeanine Vailes

My Picks: M: Adam F: Mishavonna V: Nick M.
My Predictions M: Adam F: Megan Corkrey V: Matt Giraud

Your thoughts?

Read more on "American Idol--Top 36--Group 2"

American Idol--Top 36--Group 3--Preview

Here is a look at Group 3.


Alex Wagner-Trugman
Arianna Afsar
Felicia Barton
Jorge Nunez Mendez
Ju'not Joyner
Kendall Beard
Kristen McNamara
Lil Rounds
Nathaniel Marshall
Scott Macintyre
Taylor Vaifanua
Von Smith

This seems to be stronger with women (according to screen time this season), though Lil Rounds seems to be the obvious choice. A few interesting match-ups. You have the powerful (maybe too powerful) voice of Von Smith versus Scott Macintyre (without his piano).

Alex (my geek ex-friend), Arianna, and Ju'not seem to be the others in the mix.

Read more on "American Idol--Top 36--Group 3--Preview"