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"Kinda Hot, Colorful, Grotesque - that’s American Idol"
-- Ryan Seacrest
If anybody is paying attention to Simon's tactic tonight, he was trying to throw off anybody that looks vulnerable, randomly, to see who would fall. And sadly, Chikezie Eze fell in his trap when Chik talked back. Then Simon went on a rampage and started to whip around Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, Luke Menard, Colton Berry, and Garrett Haley. However, Danny's facial retort was to me the only thing that went back to Simon hard that cracked his face with a smile. Go Danny!!
Simon's Whip fell on the most vulnerable. Could he be right with his comments?
Chikezie Eze --- hideous, old fashioned, corny, cheesy
Jason Yeager --- cruise-ship, dependable old dog
Danny Noriega --- verging on grotesque
Luke Menard --- forgettable (Simon even pouted his lips)
Colton Berry --- no relevance, complete waste of time, very karaoke
Garrett Haley --- boring, whiny, verging on haunted
My personal observation of tonight's performances:
Spot on: Jason Castro, David Archuleta Originally Entertaining: David Cook, Michael Johns, Robbie Carrico Vocally Sound: David Hernandez, Chikezie Eze (but he bit Simon) Safe: Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, Colton Berry Going Home: Garrett Haley, Luke Menard
So, as early as now, basing on Simon's formula of a great recording artist as someone possessing PERSONALITY, ORIGINALITY, AND VOCAL POTENTIAL (Tone, Timbre, Quality, Range, Maturity), I'd like to make my early list of the
TOP 6 Boys - for the TOP12 finalists Michael Johns David Cook Jason Castro David Archuleta David Hernandez Robbie Carrico
I pretty much agree with your assessment Mattsie, though the guys in general did little to inspire me. I'd have to say that David Cook was my favorite, not because he was the best, but because he had the most interesting take on a song/performance. I also liked Michael Johns alot, and Robbie Carrico too.
As to who's going home, well, I think all of Simon's whipping boys are vulnerable at this point. Especially Chikezie, who started off on the attack last night. Not a good portent if the past is any indication. So I'll go with Garett ( how depressing was he? Haunted was a good description) and Chikezie. The boring Luke and Colton might last another week.
I agree that the guys were uninspiring on the whole. Most were boring, but there are some very cute guys who will survive. Luke Menard was boring and most of his notes were sharp, although he has good vocal potential. IMO Chikeze blew it br trying to take on Simon, his vocals were only fair and he doesn't seem to be current, . I will have to go with Chikeze and Luke Menard for elimination this week for the guys.
thanks, bill.
Top Performances
I have to agree with you on David Cook. I thought this guy could really bring something on stage. He made his song interesting and enjoyable, garnishing it with a kind of new pop-rock vocal creativity. It felt current to me, yes. He would go further along.
Jason Castro and David Archuleta would join DC in this category. Notice the ones who play instruments would easily be spot on with their performances, given their great vocal abilties already. Timing, rhythm, phrasing , presentation--- perfect. Jason's voice is versatile. He could do many things with his voice. He articulates it very well. And, he's got a great speaking voice too. Great kid, nice attitude. I can no longer pimp David Archuleta more than the judges or anyone can. He's adorable all around with a great gift and talent, what can I say?
Michael Johns didn't choose another song. He already sang this during Hollywood week. So, the consistency looked being there. Robbie Carrico's personality conforms to that of a rock star but he doesn't really strike me as one, vocally. David Cook is a rock star - vocally and personality-wise. Robbie's performance was good and enjoyable enough, too. Michael Johns is the new Tom Jones -- a great soul-rock vocalist.
But if you're being keen with Simon's comments to MJ as a "great lead singer", that doesn't exactly translate, for me, as a great solo recording artist. However, if in fact they think that rock would be the theme for this year's show, then, they are looking for another Daughtry, indeed. MJ and DC would meet Carly Smithson in the final 3. Now, if they are leaning towards POP/Country, Archuleta would be ever pimped along with a couple of Underwood sounding vocalists. But, we can never discount the presence of R&B vocals in the cast. That genre will have to be given a chance to create a balance between POP/Country and ROCK, and the girls will bring it on in Syesha, Ramiele, and Asia'H.
To complete my quest for a great vocalist, I'm very eager to hear the girls tonight. I'm hoping to hear a Katharine McPhee sound, if not, I could settle for a combination of maybe a Kelly Clarkson-Carrie Underwood hybrid, if that's possible
Bottom 3
In the case of Chikezie Eze, I'm torn for him. I thought he has a Peabo Bryson vibe to his voice, but he didn't guard his attitude. Vocally, he is good, and I hope there are good believers of his talent that voted for him last night. America could be forgiving if he admits his mistake right away. As far as his performance is concerned, I agree with Simon that it was old fashioned, and Chik failed to give it a more original creativity to it. He may or may not go home yet.
The most bottom performance, to me, vocally, is Luke Menard. If Luke is comfortable with his vocals, I would say, he's not going to carry it far on AI. He's 29. Randy was right with his comment that Luke was hanging there with all sharps. Maybe he didn't choose the right song for his "prided vocal", or he couldn't just keep his tenor voice lower. I don't know. He looks good, though, but the worst dresser of the night. The thing is, if you're a Chet Baker-Harry Connick Jr-Michael Buble kind, you would sing jazz-standards, right? But even kind of sounding like them on audition, he tried singing like a softer Kenny Loggins and failed to nail it. If I sounded like that, (if I were a guy) I would be embarrassed, seriously. In my voice class 30 years ago, teachers didn't choose this kind of voice as soloist potential at all. Sorry, I'm mean, but it's true. If it ticks to some, sorry it doesn't tick with me. Simon was right to say it's forgettable.
Garrett Haley is either too young or too limited in talent (or too terrified) to be creative enough with a Neil Sedaka song, using his vocals. He needs coaching, big time, if he survives this week. His attitude is ok, though. The girls might love his hair and the girly appearance of that. But body-wise, it's too boyish, though. Not yet a man. Far from Leif 's or Frampton's umph.
I appreciate your comment.
On the contrary, red sox, I happen to agree, mostly, with how the judges judged the contestants and gave their criticisms. We all have our old favorites, but we cannot be stuck there and think that someone younger is trying to be like them. We are looking for a great vocalist that could come up creatively big with his or her voice- to endure barages and barages of tours, concerts, interviews, recordings, innuendos, etc. Therefore, we will not impose the standards of yesteryears on them but be considerate enough on them with what they have as talents. Out of a hundred thousand contestants, we're now down to 24. Someone will win and another will be a runner up. I pained for Katharine, if you only knew and read my posts before. But I'm getting out of that painful experience and use it to understand how American Idol, as a show, works. Joe (sjwolves), CoJo, and Greg (gregoriancant) enlightened me well on that and I'm grateful. Now, I see better. You have to get into the present POP CULTURE. We would like to have the yesteryear's music as a guide to achieving the purpose, but we also have to face the ever-present spoils and attraction of consumerism and commercialism. Whatever sell these days will sell, whether we like it or not. Great vocals, beautiful face, nice body, adorable smile, great personality, down-to-earth attitude. Yes, all of that. You know, most of the CD buyers are between 13 and 35 years of age. I'm out of that age range, but I enjoy watching AI because I love music and I get a kind of entertainment where my vote counts in its quest for a superstar.
I was hoping chikezie, was going after simon,
red sox - Please, try to be respectful of other's perceptions on a contestant and not tell them they're nuts. American Idol isn't the only place to find someone with a voice similiar to a Johnny Mathis, Perry Como or Billie Holiday. There's a lot of good new talent currently on the scene that will replaces those legends, so it's important to open your mind musically and not get stuck in a time warp.
FYI - Paula, I put down Chikeze and Luke Menard for your selections for Week 1.
For tomorrow's pool, I guess we would only have these performances to base on our predictions. Therefore, I'm expecting mistakes and surprises. Good luck, guys.