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The Music of The Beatles

 

Second week and I was able to get myself in check somewhat.  I was even able to enjoy some of the performances and do more than whine and mope.  I know you are thrilled!  Let’s get to it.

 

1.  Amanda Overmeyer (Back In The U.S.S.R)

 

It sounded like she was doing more talking and less singing.  I don’t know if tuneless is the best way to describe it, but I think it would have sounded the same if you took out the music and she just recited the lyrics.  The judges made a good call when they said that she was coming across as boring, because she’s been bringing the same show every week.  At this point, I’m not sure if it is worth trying to hold out for something better.

 

2.  Kristy Lee Cook (You Got To Hide Your Love Away)

 

Maybe she should have thought about practicing a bit more – both vocally and with her expressions.  She wasn’t exactly hitting the right notes and pitches, and that was a bit painful to tolerate.  Her face stays the same throughout the entire performance, which to me defeats the purpose.  There is a reason songs are written, and there is emotion behind every piece – she fails to connect with anything of the sort when she sings.

 

3.  David Archuleta (The Long and Winding Road)

 

I’ve never heard the song before, so that was a plus (because I didn’t go in with too much of a bias).  I found myself holding my breath because I love this kid, and I really wanted him to get back into his comfort zone, remember his words, and pull off a killer performance.  He blew it out of the water and I was so happy.  His fan base is such that I couldn’t see him going home, even with last week’s debacle, but I still want him to do amazingly every time he is on that stage…and luckily, that is exactly what he did this week.

 

4.  Michael Johns (A Day In The Life)

 

I don’t like his high notes/attempts at falsetto, but the rest of the performance was fine.  I mean, he sounded like he usually does, but I’ve been waiting for him to do something different or raise his game or something and he just isn’t.  I’m guessing he will be back next week, so we’ll see if a change in artists shakes up what he has to offer.

 

5.  Brooke White (Here Comes The Sun)

 

Not a good performance for me because I was just bored.  It might have been the best song for her to do, but she didn’t sell it at all.  In addition, all the talking and rationalizing about why her performance went the way it did was all just so over the top.  I wanted her to just be quiet, take the criticism and leave the stage.

 

6.  David Cook (Daytripper)

 

It’s American Idol, not your first world tour.  He takes a whole bunch of liberties like he’s the only one in the running, when really he’s falling flat for me with very similar performances every week.  I’ve said it before, and apparently I feel like it needs to be said again – just like Chris Daughtry, he is shaping up into a really pretty one trick pony.

 

7.  Carly Smithson (Blackbird)

 

I was a little worried when her first notes were a little too soft, a little too hesitant, but then she brought it home.  She personally connected with the song through her brother, and she translated it with her performance such that the audience (in the arena and at home) could feel it.  Her tone and control was amazing, and I am thrilled at the prospect of what she will do next week.

 

8.  Jason Castro (Michelle)

 

I was actually mildly impressed by him this week, but more because he memorized the French and did really well with those parts of the song.  It wasn’t a performance that wowed me, but he hasn’t yet – it’s just always pleasant which, I suppose, is much better than being horrible every time.

 

9.  Syesha Mercado (Yesterday)

 

Her hair was fab!  But anyway, I was a little uncomfortable with some of her higher notes, but when she brought it down to her lower registers and infused that rich tone into the song, I was back to loving it.  She demonstrated that there is power in knowing intimately what your voice can do, and using it well.

 

10.  Chikezie (I’ve Just Seen A Face)

 

I’m not sure I get him.  It’s like he got good/positive reviews on a country kind of song, so he’s sticking with it, but I just wasn’t really entertained by it.  I would have preferred he pick something else, but no one asked me :)

 

11.  Ramiele Malubay (I Should Have Known Better)

 

I know that her aim was to try and be less boring, but it substituting a ballad for something that is faster paced doesn’t fix the problems that I felt she had.  She tried to hit some notes that didn’t work out for her, and overall it could have been much better.

 

 

This week, there are several people (Ramiele, Brooke, Amanda) that I see as the weakest links, so I will go for them as my bottom three.  My hope is that Amanda will be sent home because I think the other two have potential to step up their game.  By Thursday morning, we’ll know what America thinks.  Until then…

 

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Okay just finished watching the elimination show, and WHAT?

 

1.  How the hell did Carly end up in the bottom three?  I mean, I haven't been voting, but my problem has been the same before - the people I think are totally safe that I don't need to vote for (Hello Mindy Doolittle!) get crap for votes and are in danger.  AUGH.  Luckily, she was spared.

 

2.  I don't like either Amanda or Kristy at this point, but I would almost rather hear same old same old Amanda and not can't hit the notes or carry a tune Kristy.  And now she is going on tour??? Good grief.  Maybe she will go next week, so that if I decide I want to go to the concert, I will have some semblance of a break from her voice.

 

So yes, Amanda was sent packing.  It might not be all bad since the other night she seemed to think that filling a bar for a show of hers was a good thing.  *hrm*oh well.  As long as I never see Carly in the down and out section again, I'm okay.  I guess that means I have to vote!

 

Until next week...

He did it last night before her second song and he did it once when he was on the streets asking the public who were their favorites.  Ryan come on, her name is Melinda.  Seacrest, out!

I want a Top 3 Female American Idol next week!  This is final four week and Blake or LaKisha will be getting the ax tonight.  No doubt!  Blake was crappy last night with both songs and I thought LaKisha was better the second time.  One DJ this morning said that everything LaKisha sings sounds gospel.  I'm waiting for her to sing anything by Yolanda Adams or Martha Munizzi but oh well, that won't be a category.  Perhaps she'll have a gospel hit CD if she chooses.  Blake well I like him just as much as I like LaKisha.  He just needs to realize there is a time for beat-boxing and then other times he needs to lay off of it.

I believe Melinda or Jordin will win this year.  It's going to be a tight race!

Inspirational night was excellent.  It was needed after last week's 3 tragedies - VA Tech, NASA, Blue Angel's Air Show Crash.  I'm looking forward to tonight's "Idol Gives Back" special. It was touching to see the judges and Ryan out and about.  The best was a humbled Simon.

Melinda and Jordin are the best in this competition.  Phenomenal voices!

My bottom 3 picks for this week

LaKisha - I think she has a fabulous voice.  I don't understand though why she picked songs by back-to-back Idol winners 2 weeks in a row.  I don't think she screamed (as Simon said) "I Believe" any more than Fantasia does.  It's one of my favorites and I play that song a lot to this day.  But of course she's going to be compared to the former Idols.

Blake - I loved his Imagine but his voice did crack a little.  Plus he was in the bottom three last week.

Chris/Phil - Could go either way because there has to be a bottom three.  In all of these weeks I never would have thought LaKisha had a greater chance of going home before these two.

Who will be in the bottom 3 tonight? 

My pick:
Sanjaya - I won't say any more because I might have to repent.  Eliminate SANJAYA!
Chris - He's boring to me.
LaKeisha - I love her voice and don't think she was as bad as the judges said.  I just have a feeling it will be a close call.

If I could replace one person on this list it would be Phil with LaKeisha.  Right now there are more guys in the race - Blake, Phil, Chris, Sanjaya -vs- Melinda, Jordin, LaKeisha! 

Will America get it right?  We'll see!

Unfortunately I don't think so. I will commend Sanjaya for yesterday's show. He sang the bilingual "Besame Mucho" and it wasn't all that bad. Now wait, I didn't say he was good either just better than usual. 

He wasn't as bad as Haley who sang in English and made mincemeat the lyrics to "Turnthebeataround!" The poor girl probably is clueless about Simon's insult as well. She does have a cute smile.

Tonight I think either Haley or Phil will go.