Barbara McDowell

Happy Friday to all!  After the sun we had all day in Cleveland (as opposed to a tease then return to normal cloud cover), I feel like taking to the hallways and breaking into the Hustle.  Amazing what some sun can do for mood.

Anyway, I watched the results show last night.  Duh, well of course I did as all good AI addicts would.  It was the typical show with some “star” performances, tons of contestant filler, fake “dim the lights” drama for bottom three/elimination announcements and the dreaded contestant medley.  Instead of the medley, I’d much prefer to have a contestant or two repeat their Wednesday night performance.  Kind of like the judges pick that Dancing with the Stars does where the judges bring back performances that stood out.  That way we (possibly) get to see something outstanding versus the garblegook of soloists failing to blend well on stage.

Idol Thoughts:

• I felt bad for Lee DeWyze.  Ryan says he’s one of the nicest people, which may be true, but he is in Taylor Hicks land as far as successful winners go.  He sang most of the song with his head tilted up and eyes closed.  Nice audience connection there, dude.  And the single was forgettable…just like his season.  When I think back over past seasons, I keep skipping that one and saying Kris Allen and Adam Lambert were the finalists last year.  Bad sign.
• That was actually an okay Black Eyed Peas performance.  Maybe they wanted to redeem themselves from the hot mess that was their Superbowl show.  And props to Fergie for softening her makeup and looking like a normal pretty lady instead of an overdone scraggly has-been.
• Yea!  Tamyra Gray was in the audience.  LOVE her.  I still think of her as the first AI winner.  Yes, I know she went out in fourth place that season.  Whatever.  She was robbed.  And the rules back then, making all the finalists have to wait to put out their album after the winner, hurt her (and some others) success chances.  By that time, the momentum was gone.  The producers came to their senses Season Two and had Clay’s material out at the same time as Rueben’s to not lose the post-season buying drive.
• Casey didn’t do the scary face last night.  Whew.
• Go me for getting two of the bottom three.  (Why does Paul have so many fans?!!!)
• I was surprised that Karen was voted off.  I knew she put in a lackluster performance, but figured she had more fans, above Naima, that would be willing to give support.  Figured Karen would be toast in the next week or two, just not last night.
• Haley has a snotty kid funk about her and Naima’s attitude wasn’t much better.  If I was a contestant standing up there wanting to win (that is the goal, right?), I wouldn’t be making faces and side comments like I’m expecting to be in the bottom three.  Even if I channeled Nikki McKibbin and delivered a horrible performance, I’d be showing some gratitude for support and hoping to be given another chance.
• Go Stefano!  I think having to sing for a wildcard spot may have actually helped him.  It put a desperation fire into his spirit and he dug down to deliver a soulful and moving song.  In that moment, America got to see what he could do—no fancy lights, no techno beat—just him on the mic bringing it.  Now when we see him perform, we know what he is capable of and are paying attention to the talent of his voice above some of the more well-known (e.g., well-pimped by the producers) contestants.
• Let’s see if Thia can really get it together and move out of the dreary muck hole.

And like Seacrest, I’m out!

Flickr image by ! robodot

Naima – What on earth?  Jerky dancing, jerky singing.  You don’t do that to a classic from Ms. Tina Turner!  You are the weakest link.  Goodbye.

Paul – What on earth part two.  We are doing a double elimination tomorrow.  No?  Dang it.

Thia – Didn’t I say the Disney was coming? I called it on March 4: “If Thia starts breaking out Disney soundtrack hits, I’m going to need counseling.”  Yep.  There it was folks and we are only at week two of the finals.  I’m done.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. 

James – This felt a bit predictable and boring for me.  I liked him better last week.  Steven was right that his performance verged into pop land.

Haley – Randy’s right.  She has no clue who she wants to be as an artist.  That was clear when she hopped to country last week.  She’ll probably hang on for another week or two.  Not the worst in the group, but she’s not helping herself. 

Stefano – I do think he has a nice voice and he’s quietly moving forward and up in terms of his stage presence and singing.  Maybe it is the song, which I don’t like, that made this a “just okay” performance for me.  He was in the top 3 of performers for me.

Pia – The ballads are going to get old.  She sang well, but I didn’t get the same sense of tapped in emotion as from her earlier performances.  And, um producers, please put away the Casio keyboard techno beats you’ve fallen in love with this season.  She was good enough for my top 3, but needs to change it up next week. 

Scotty – His style of country isn’t my thing.  Could that be why all his songs are sounding like one?  His limited range doesn’t help either.  I know some people will love this and he does have good stage presence, but meh.

Karen – Okay Karen.  What is the point of rambling into a few Spanish lines for sport?  It felt like tossing it in for points versus feelings.  And did you rob a Barbarella exhibit on the way to the stage?  Nothing special about this performance.

Casey – Now he got a handful of points for bringing us some Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”  He then lost said points as his voice moved into a strained, animal in distress sound as he entered the chorus.  Then I looked up.  Egad!!!  He looked like a psychopath getting ready to launch into a crowd with a knife in each hand.  What was that grimace, teeth-baring thing?  He likes it when J-Lo says he’s sexy, but dude that was far far far from sexy.  Yikes, I just saw the playback and jumped again. 

Lauren – Too bad they didn’t quarantine her.  I get this feeling from her that she’s playing country star dress up.  Singing Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m the Only One,” I felt no believable passion from her.  Yes, I get that she’s 16, but get some acting skills, tap into some life emotion or don’t sing it.  She even broke in the middle to ask for some audience participation.  Bad karaoke.  What on earth were the judges hearing and pimping?

Jacob – Heart’s “Alone.”  I so did not see that coming from him.  I’ll give him Casey’s lost points for the unique choice since he’s a gospel-rooted singer.  He got a little off-pitch as he screamed higher, but he is example number one of a singer with passion.  I felt and believed what he was singing to me.  The vocal wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed the performance and he’s in my top 3 of the night.

Update:  I didn’t sleep so well last night and I blame it on Casey and that face.  He looked like one of the rage virus infected from 28 Days Later.  Based on last night’s performances alone, my bottom three would be definitely Naima and Paul with a toss-up between Karen and Haley.  I lean towards Haley because her stage presence was also so awkward.  Either way, I think Naima is going home.