Rants from American Idol Addict: California Sleeping Top 4 Review and Some Predictions

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Barbara McDowell

Image source: Fox American Idol

Our ranting time this week was delayed because I was put into a deep sleep by most things Idol this week.  The theme of “California Dreamin'” took me there.  Our top four sang on Wednesday–a ditty by an artist from California (or about California), one they wish they’d written, and duets.  Could this theme be more random?  Then some guest artists performed on Thursday, there were Idol group numbers, and then someone went home.  Nothing that urged me to get up and dance or get up period.

I’m going to change things up and rock my thoughts by listing the Idol peeps in the order I felt they ranked for the night via summarizing all three performances, lowest to highest.  Then I’ll make some predictions for how it might all shake out based on the history of Idol.  Remember, I’m an addict and have watched from Season One’s first second.  While it feels like a bit of a toss-up between the top 3, history has some different tales to tell.

The Performances

Hollie Cavanagh – I am sad to put one of my early faves below Phillip this week, but she earned the lower ranking.  “Faithfully” round one was over sung schlock.  I’ve been a fan of Hollie since Top 24 week.  In fact, I called her a sleeper.  She has a great tone, power, and beauty in her voice.  She unfortunately also has a tendency to turn on that power and push the “go” button without knowing the location of the shutdown switch.  Meh.

“Eternal Flame,” Hollie’s duet with Jessica, was bad.  While listening, I tweeted “Oh this is tragic. ‘Eternal Flame’ on #Idol.  Jessica’s harmony was off. I’ll need counseling after tonight.”  While Hollie shined on the high notes she handled, the rest was BRUTAL.  Here’s a door prize for both.

Her last delivery was the Bonnie Raitt classic “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”  This is one of my absolute favorite songs.  It is on my “Life Theme Songs” iPod playlist and was on steady repeat during my first two years of college as I lived out the lyrics.  I tweeted “Oh no. Hollie is attempting my fave Bonnie Raitt song. *gritting teeth* She better not blow this.  #Idol.”

Hollie pasted an image of one in pain onto her face and stepped out to tackle the hit.  She tackled it right to the ground with some belting that overcast any element of depth and emotion.  The judges attacked her for it and were right.  I shook my head and tweeted “Hollie on ‘Can’t Make You Love Me’ is nothing near what Kimberly Locke did season 2 on #Idol.”  Kimberly, who should have at least made the top 2, sang with song with the quiet stated connection to pain that it has.  Sadly, here’s your door prize, Hollie.

Phillip Phillips – He sits here because he didn’t have a crash and burn moment tonight, not because I think he is deserving of making the top 3.  Hollie has the better voice.  Phillip has the repeated performance level each week that has reeled in steady fans.  Plus some folks think he’s dreamy.

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” was his same old, same old.  Sing some notes, look sleepy-eyed at the audience.  Phoned in, but user-friendly for his fans.  Here’s your door prize.

Phillip’s duet with Joshua on Maroon 5′s “This Love” was far better than their less than harmonic performance last week.  Was it magic? Nope, but at this point I’ll take less cringe-worthy.  Meh, but improved for them.

His last song was “Volcano,” which is one I’m not familiar with.  Dare I say it was a bit interesting?  For one of the few times this season–the other may have been his very first audition–I saw Phillip sitting on the stage and felt he was actually present.  He seemed connected and into the song (his choice for a title he wished he’d written).

Jessica Sanchez – Jessica, Jessica, Jessica.  Oh how you have grown to annoy me.  And oh, Jimmy, how you have failed yet again in your promise to pick age-appropriate songs for her to sing.  Etta James’ “Steal Away” is about sneaking to get one’s groove on late at night.  Yep, let’s have the youngest one purr and growl that one out.  It is a bit like watching a way talented kid at a pageant going to town.  Good voice, but meh on the unconnected delivery.

See above for the duet bomb.  Still ugh.

I got some hate tweets back for saying “Jessica singing a mega hit from ‘Dreamgirls’??? Oh mercy, guard your ears. #Idol” and “What can Jessica relate to in ‘And I Am Telling You’? Sorry, it isn’t about not wanting to leave a show. Just hollering. No feeling. #Idol”  Jessica said she picked this last song because, after falling to the bottom and having to be saved by the judges, she wants to stay.  Total misinterpretation of the song.

A person needs some life on them to sing that song and hit the truth of the emotion behind the lyrics.  Jessica has a beautiful voice and a wicked bag of tricks.  That is part of the problem.  She’s reaching back and relying on tricks like growling and runs to carry songs through.  It is just notes being hit.  Meh for the fake parts.

Joshua Ledet – There is the beauty of an old soul that just radiates out of his eyes.  Joshua is a contestant that has grown on me.  At first, I was a little put off by his “Mantasia” moments of reaching the bridge of each song, turning the corner, and taking it back to church.  There is a time and place for amping up like that and every song doesn’t need it.  But oh there are some moments where he hits and caresses notes just right that you can feel the angst and believe what he is bringing out.

“You Raise Me Up” was hard to listen to after recently hearing the beauty of what Chris Mann did with it on “The Voice.”  While Chris moved along with the simplicity of the soaring arrangement, Joshua took a step back and went psycho gospel singer on it.  Meh.

Again, see above for his duet with Phillip.

Joshua ended his performances with “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”  He cooed, howled, went low, raised high, and it was all appropriately arranged.  Masterful. Earth-stirring.  Soul bearing.  I’d listen again and I’m afraid my iPod will go up in flames.

A Brief Note on the Results Show

Producers, if you insist on keeping J-Lo on as a judge, please ban her in the future from performing her lip-synched dance songs.  Appreciate it.

David Cook returned to sing “The Last Song I’ll Write For You.”  The comment of the night for me was when my mom–who I turned into an Idol fan by Season Two–called to say he shouldn’t have written that one either.

Some Predictions

With Hollie making her exit this week, we are left with Jessica, Phillip, and Joshua as our Top 3.  While I’d love for Joshua to make the Top 2 and I believe he’d be worthy of holding the title based on his talent (though I’m concerned on marketing and song choice for his single and album), history on Idol tells us the road ahead might not be that easy. 

If we classify Joshua as R&B, Jessica as pop, and Phillip as artsy-alternative, Joshua’s days might be numbered.  Of the past 10 seasons, only six had final 3 rounds with an R&B singer left.  Of those, only twice has that person made the top 2 and that was during Seasons Two and Three where Rubin Studdard and Fantasia Barrino carried strong fan bases and won. 

Also, based on the ongoing pimping of the judges and steady fan love all season, I think Phillip is going to ride the slow horse on into the next round.  If the finale does end up as Jessica versus Phillip, may the one who performs in the most authentic way win.

What are your guesses for top 2?  How about for our final winner?  What changes would you like to see on the show next year?   

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Rants from American Idol Addict: The Groovy ’60s and Brit Pop Top 5 Review

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Barbara McDowell

This week’s throwback theme once again shows how Idol feels a bit stilted against the contemporary feel (and song choices) of “The Voice.”  Theme weeks are what rule Idol, but the argument can be made that some of the contestants are suffering because they can’t show who they want to be as modern artists and–due to format–are stuffed into songs that aren’t a good fit.  Someone like Elise would have fared better being able to pick and stay directly in her genre.

The Performances

  • When I heard that Hollie wanted to rock “River Deep, Mountain High,” I did a squee followed by an “oh no.”  I wonder if Elise had originally picked this baby and it became a freebie once she was gone.  Now she would have brought some grit.  One of my favorite Tina Turner songs, Hollie has the voice to be able to do it.  But—big but—like she was coached by Little Steven (Steven Van Zandt) and Jimmy Iovine, bringing pageantry to the stage with no soul and feeling makes it all showgirls.  Part of Hollie’s issue is being too married to technical training that she wanders into her head while performing and doesn’t make it down to her heart.  I so wanted to love this, but unfortunately she was a little showgirly to me.  I will cautiously listen again.
  • Phillip does “The Letter.”  Of course.  The.  Same.  Way.  He.  Does.  Every.  Week.  No, Randy, he didn’t “make it new” or “his own.”  I know me giving out his door prize can’t override all the teen girls voting for him.
  • Skylar went for “Fortunate Son,” per the push of the mentors.  No, Jimmy, Skylar is not the “voice of rebellion” in this group.  Rebels know for what they fight or sing.  By screaming and smiling while singing about sending folks to war, obviously Little Miss Tassels does not.  Here’s your door prize.
  • Joshua and Phillip were quite funny babbling an answer to Ryan’s question on what they thought when they heard they’d be singing together.  Now the two of them singing “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” was funny.  As they sat on stools side by side, Joshua kept semi-glancing at Phillip then stopping when realizing he didn’t want to be singing to him.  Heh, heh.  The duet was okay, but awkward, and their voices were too different to blend well.  Steven picked up on the body language and said they needed to just embrace, look in each other’s eyes, and go for it.  Yep, Steven.  Meh.
  • Oh, lawd.  Jessica decided to sing “Proud Mary.”  Each vocal “ha” and turned head glance she did to the camera made me roll my eyes.  I think my left one might be stuck in an upward position.  This was cabaret, post dinner cruise ship worthy.  When Jessica moves around the stage, her fake factor ratchets up a notch.  Thank you, Randy, for stating it didn’t sit well with you either.  Somebody catch her long enough to deliver the door prize.
  • Joshua aimed for some Motown love via “Ain’t To Proud To Beg.”  Hallelujah, somebody cue the church bells.  I think he finally gets it.  With his throwback-styled, old school voice, and new-found restraint, the performance was child’s play.  I closed my eye and it felt like I was listening to a Motown review recording.  Randy actually gets a bonus point for mentioning Terrence Trent D’Arby (high school girl squee!) and that Joshua could find success doing modern songs like him.  I saw Terrence at the concert for his first album and still have the t-shirt upstairs.  I’d listen again.
  • Hollie picked “Bleeding Love.”  She sure does love her power singers.  On paper, this is another song that Hollie’s voice should be able to tackle with no issues.  She delivered a more connected performance than round one and her stellar voice was on display.  That is what she should have shown all season.  As a minor complaint, I did feel a little cheated by the sky-high notes she failed to go for throughout and at the end.  I’d listen again.
  • For round two, Phillip picked “The Time of the Season.”  He’s still here?  They didn’t axe him during the break?  Bummer.  What has he done with the song that is different?  The arrangement here was the same as was his guitar strumming and cooing.  Here’s your door prize.
  • Hollie, Jessica, and Skylar brought a trio touch to “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.”  Boring.  Oh, and Jessica forgot the intro to a line.  Zzzzzz…door prizes for whoever did the arrangement.
  • It is madness that Skylar had to sing “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.”  This doesn’t remotely fit her style.  They’ve been pushing “sassy kitty” and then first round “rebel,” but then handcuff her with this schmaltz?  Here’s your door prize.
  • “You Are So Beautiful” allowed Jessica to provide us with an example of how there is so much more that goes into being a great singer and connecting beyond just having an outstanding voice.  The staging with Jessica surrounded by a bed of candles and her quieter approach were a push to have a “moment” and force-feed the viewers.  While I watched her sing, Will Ferrell’s line from “Elf” popped up: “You sit on a throne of lies.”  Mega meh.
  • I know the soul and R&B genre isn’t a big vote getter on Idol and doesn’t top the current Hot 100 charts (Usher’s new song, “Climax,” just cracked the top 20).  That is too bad because Joshua shut it down tonight with “To Love Somebody” and deserves to make it past this week and beyond.  I don’t know where he digs down to, but he found passion to give to a song he didn’t know before Idol and one about love that he, at 20, admitted he doesn’t know much about.  Amazing vocal skills?  Check.  Emotional connection?  Check.  Approachable?  Check.  Get out of my way!  I have a song to download.  I’d listen again.
  • Best of the night: Joshua and Hollie.
  • The rest in order of performance quality: Jessica, Skylar, and Phillip.  Send any of them home and I’m good.

The Results

  • Shouts out to Carrie Underwood.  I was not a fan of hers during her Idol season.  While she had a beautiful voice, she came across a bit robotic to me (pick up mic, sing the notes, hit a big one at the end, smile to the judges).  I can now give praise where it is due because her performance style is much improved and enjoyable to watch.
  • Squee! Coldplay performed too.  Their music is so every person, if that makes sense.
  •  The bottom two was Hollie and Skylar with Skylar going home.  I’m okay with that because Hollie did out perform her and has shown more growth and connection.  Skylar has a good voice, but I think she’s been directed wrong with just tossing songs at her that are her style or sound country enough without a care for the lyrics or meaning.  She sang us out singing “Gunpowder and Lead,” which while it is straight up country, it doesn’t relate to her life experience.  It is like when I see kids in pageants singing Billie Holiday.  All it is is pretty notes spurting out of a vocal piece with no connection.
Image source: Fox American Idol

Did the Idols help you find that loving feeling?  What are your thoughts on the judges’ feedback?  What would you sing from the ’60s or Brit Pop genre?   

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