Finals Week

Two Finalists, One Winner

American Idol show notes for Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Each of our two finalists sang three songs. The first round songs were chosen by Simon Fuller. Second round, contestant favorites from this season. Third round, contestant's recordable new single.

Jessica Sanchez first sang a sound-a-like version of a Whitney Houston tune. Didn't make it her own. Score: 7. Second song was called The Prayer. Slow and sleepy. Her big high notes sounded strained, constricted, and not pleasing to the ear. Score: 7. Third song was called Change Nothing. All her songs seemed to start out low, slow, and breathy. She was pitchy and boring. Sorry. Score: 6.

Phillip Phillips played great guitar while singing a cool slow relaxed unique version of Stand By Me. Score: 8. Moving Out by Billy Joel was definitely a Phillipized version of a classic standard. Score: 9. Third song sounded like a travelling minstrel tune, complete with marching band drummers and an audience singalong (oh oh oh). Score: 8.

If Phillip Phillips is not named the winner of this American Idol season, I vow to stop watching American Idol...until next year. What do YOU think? Thanks for all the comments this year. It's been fun!

American Idol

PhilliPhillips

Here are my notes for the May 16, 2012 American Idol Show: Each contestant sang 3 songs. They all had their great moments during tonight's show. Joshua's best was his last song. I really enjoyed it and would give it a 9 on a 1-10 scale. He should be in the Final Two. Jessica's best was also the last one. She sang an early Michael Jackson tune and really did a great job. However, she is starting to weaken a bit. Her best score tonight: 8. Phillip's second and third songs were great. That mellower funky second tune would be fun to see in concert at the Fargo Theatre. His last song forced him to actually sing a real song with a real melody. It was amazing that he could sing like normal, even tho this is a singing competition. Best Score: 9.

First Place: Phillip Phillips.

Close Second Place: Joshua Ledet.

Third Place: Jessica Sanchez - a great singer but not quite enough to win.

California Dreaming

Please leave any comments you'd like to share regarding the May 9/10 American Idol shows. We are down to the Final Four. The winner will be announced in two short weeks. Who did well this week? Who will be eliminated? Who do you like to win the whole thing?

Back to the Sixties

American Idol Show Notes from May 2, 2012

Hollie Cavanagh: Song 1 - was just OK. Big production but not very likeable. Score: 7 / Song 2 - excellent choice. She finally had a "moment". Loved the 1st part better, before she changed to a higher key. She is peaking at the right time. Score: 9

Phillip Phillips: Song 1 - he did his own cool version of a 60s song. Long on originality. Liked it. Score: 8 / Song 2 - did not do it for me. He popped out his ear-piece early on indicating technical problems. Repeating chorus was too high for his voice. Score: 7

Skylar Laine: Song 1 - chose a CCR song. Nice choice for her voice/style. Good as usual for her. Score: 8 / Song 2 - slow ballad, thought it was great. Liked the more mellow, first part better. Score: 9

Jessica Sanchez: Song 1 - did an OK version of Proud Mary. Nothing special, but a good overall performance. Score: 8 / Song 2 - while sitting on the floor, she sang an intimate version of You Are So Beautiful. So much talent, incredible voice and range. Score: 9

Joshua Ledet: Song 1 - picked a MoTown tune that was actually a great choice for his voice. Not too much of the raspyelling that I hate. Score: 8 / Song 2 - closed the show with a BeeGees song. The judges go gaga over his songs. I strenuously disagree. You won't find a CD of his raspy yelling in my boombox. Score: 6

Top performance: Hollie's 2nd song
Worst performances: Phillip's 2nd song & Joshua's 2nd song
Bottom Three: Joshua, Phillip, Jessica
Bottom Two: Joshua, Jessica
Going Home: Joshua

Idol America

The former Randy Jackson.

American Idol Show Notes from April 25, 2012

Jessica Sanchez: She is only 16. Not enough personal experience to handle winning. Song #1 Bohemian Rhapsody. Just OK. Not great. Seems too immature in depth of spirit & voice. Rock songs ain't her thing. Need to throw this fish back to grow some more. Score: 7.5 / Song #2 Lower softer voice is really nice. Her big-voice high-notes sound tight, weak, and strained. Score: 7

Skylar Laine: She is stocky. A stocky rocker. Song #1 Sang The Show Must Go On. Wowie. She can easily switch from Country to Rock. Like the tone of her voice & how she pronounces her words. Score: 9 / Song #2 Another solid performance. Feels so comfortable on stage. Score: 8

Joshua Ledet: Looks like a cross between Will Smith & Eddie Murphy. Song #1 Was holding an old style mic that looked like a shaver. Pretty good performance if you like him, which I don't (like his shreaking). Score: 7 / Song #2 Shreakfest started out with a mellower voice which was almost enjoyable. Then the obligatory shreakfest ensued. Score: 8

Elise Testone: Dreamy Eyes. Reincarnated 60s rocker. Song #1 Definitely a rocker. Has an incredible instrument. Worthy of Top 5. Great song choice For Elise (as in: Fur Elise by Beethoven) Score: 8 / Song #2 Sang a Jimi Hendrix. Started out too held back. Then she really let it go. Great. Loved it. Score: 9

PhilliPhillips: Has the best name of all the remaining contestants. He'd be fun guy to have a bier with (now that he's 21). Song #1 Not crazy about it. For more than half of it, he just sang along with a choir. I could frickin do that. Narrow-range blues yellfest. Score: 7.5 / Song #2 Finally a Dave Matthewsong! Yes, yes. Cool version, quite respectful of the original. Loved it. Score: 9er

Hollie Cavanagh: Looks like a pixie. Song #1 Sang Save Me. 1st part sucked. 2nd part also sucked. But big high heels! Bad choice of song for her. Score: 6.5 / Song #2 Not impressive. Voice is starting to sound too treble & nazaly. Getting a little tired of her. Score: 7

In Trouble: Joshua, Hollie, Jessica.
Going Home: Hollie

Long Road Home

Who will be homeward bound?

April 18, 2012 American Idol Show Notes:

Round One
Hollie: Rolling in the Deep, came out of her shell, excellent. Score 9.

Colton: Bad Romance by GaGa, futuristic rocker, liked it, needs to pronounce the end of his words for all the non-deaf listeners. Score: 8.

Elise: No One by Alicia Keys, rough-edge rocker wearing orange curtains, OK but didn't really like it. Score: 7.

Phillip: You Got It Bad by Usher, cool slow Afro-beat, playing 12-string guitar, soulful, growly, true artist. Score: 9.

Jessica: Fallen by Alicia Keys, slow sexy song, pretty good, blended in with backup singers too much, needs more confidence. Score: 8. 

Skylar: Born This Way by GaGa, sounds like a pro, like her country version of any song, good choice, rockin country, effortless. Score: 9.

Joshua: Sang some gospel-sounding song, big notes sound pitchy and strained. Score: 7.

Round Two
Hollie: Son of a Preacher Man, narrow range, OK, nothing special. Score: 7.

Colton: Took a favorite Earth Wind and Fire song and made it his own, but I hated it. It sounded like a long slow ballad instead of the original upbeat clean energy. Sounds like he's crying. Score: 7.

Elise: Let's Get It On, she has an incredible instrument, mature voice, but the judges did not like it, and talked too much, bad sign. Score: 7.

Phillip: Wait Til The Midnight Hour, no guitar, awkward movement, more of the same, one-trick pony? Score: 7.

Jessica: Try A Little Tenderness, stepped out and gave a crazy big-voice performance. Score: 9.

Skylar: Heard It Thru The Grapevine, more of the same countryization of a good choice for her, but she too is a one-trick pony, but has fun up there. Score: 8.

Joshua: Surprisingly chose a Civil Rights song, sounded like a slow gospel which is maybe a good choice for him, but I would not pay to go hear him as the tone of his voice is not pleasing to my ears. Sorry. Score: 6.

Bottom Three: Joshua, Elise, Colton.
Hopefully going home: Joshua.

Seven To Six

Going from Seven 2 Six

American Idol show notes for April 11, 2012 in order of performance:

1. SkyLar Laine: Still improving, strummed a guitar to a country song, delivered the goods, could win it. Score: 8

2. Colton Dixon: Sat at and played a piano, nice controlled performance and vocals, not his normal red-faced pained look. Score: 8

3. Jessica Sanchez: Sat on grand piano, so good, so mature for her young age, wow, she nailed a tough song. Her singing ability is inversely proportional to her size. Score: 8.5

4. Joshua Ledet: Gave a great performance of a Bruno Marvelous song, great song choice, but a few big notes toward the end turned me off. Score: 8

5. Hollie Cavanaugh: My early fave gave a subpar performance, pitchy, too serious of a song choice, judges were awkwardly negative. Score: 7

6. Phillip your tank: More of the same good stuff. Score: 8

7. Elise Navidad: Great song choice to show off her abilites, slow rock song, maintained control. Score: 8

Best of the Night: Jessica!
Could go home: Hollie!

Eight To Seven

Judge not lest ye judge ye not.

My American Idol comments hereby follow, on this 4th day of April 2012:
Skylar moved to the Top Spot - wow!
Hollie is fading.
Joshua's stock rose, a little.
Phillip remains up there.
Jessica started strong but weakened.
Colton needs to pronunciate.
Deandre missed the mark.
Elise needs help.

Ameri Canidol

Jimmy Iovine is my name. Music is my game.

The Top Nine American Idol contestants were singing tonight to stay in the competition. These are my notes from the March 28, 2012 show.

Singer 1: Colton went from barely singing to cry-yelling (cryell). Don't like his pitchy singing. Score: 6

Singer 2: Skylar did OK but it seemed like just a good karaoke version of a country song. Score: 7

Singer 3: Heejun gave a seriously good performance and deserves to move on to the next round. Score: 8

Singer 4: Hollie is still my favorite and I would love to see her win it. Score: 8

Singer 5: Deandre should never sing falsetto again and stick with trusetto. Listening to that song was torture. Score: 6

Singer 6: Jessica sounded great singing a challenging song. Loved the simple harp to accompany her voice in the beginning. Score: 8

Singer 7: Phillip did a soulful blues version of a soulful Jonny Lang blues song. Score: 9

Singer 8: Joshua got good feedback from the judges but I hated his raspy yelling (raspyell). Score: 7

Singer 9: Elise took on Whole Lotta Love and definitely got the Led out. Score: 9

Bottom Three: Colton, Deandre, Joshua.

Going Home: Deandre.

Ten To Nine

Mr. American Idol: Ryan Seacrest

Long story short: We missed American Idol tonight. Johnnny played piano this evening. We set the show to record. The red light was on from 7-9 but nothing got recorded. Kit and Johnnny will have to read your comments to hear how the show went tonight. The Top Ten were going to perform and one person gets eliminated on Thursday night. What was the theme? Who did well? Who is going home?

Arrested Development

Judge Randall Darius Jackson

American Idol notes for March 14, 2012
Top Group:
Phillip could contend for the crown.
Joshua really gave a great performance.
Hollie is still my favorite to win it.
Upper Middle Group:
Elise was surprisingly good this round.
Skylar deserves to keepon keepin on.
Colton's skunkhead wasn't all bad.
Lower Middle Group:
Jessica was not great this time.
Heejun is likeable but too breathy & pitchy.
Deandre can't win but is OK.
Erika was blandly karaokesque.
Bottom Group:
Shannon is the weakest link. Good-bye.
Jermaine (already gone, needed a-rrest).

Top 13

There's always room for J-Lo

The Top 13 sang tonight. The guys did Stevie Wonder songs and the girls did Whitney. Here are my rankings from best to worst:

A:
Hollie Cavanagh - my personal favorite of all the contestants
Jessica Sanchez - did a great job and could win it

B:
Phillip Phillips - favorite guy, but too joe cocker-ish
Skylar Laine - one of my top 3 girls, makes country enjoyable

C:
Deandre Brackensick - master blaster was actually pretty good
Erika Van Pelt - ok, but not a fave
Colton Dixon - daniel boone hair did ok, liked it
Heejun Han - like him, but a little pitchy
Jeremy Rosado - ok, but cannot win it

D:
Jermaine Jones - wtf?
Elise Testone - should not be in the Top 10
Shannon Magrane - out of her league
Joshua Ledet - don't like the tone of his yelling

Top 25

Mr. Steven Tyler.  Just call me Steve.

This is the beginning of another American Idol adventure. The guys went first, then the girls. Please comment with your thoughts and feelings so far. Here are mine:

Guys that were OK: Reid the Drummer (moves weird), Aaron the vocal coach, Chase the tall country whistler, Crayton the sidewalk jester, Phillip Phillips (bad choice of song/slow arrangement), Heejun the cowboy hater, and Joshua.

Girls: Really liked little Hollie with the big voice. Also liked Skylar (Reba), and Jessica Sanchez.

A number of people really sucked. Hopefully some of them will be eliminated and none of the above mentioned contestants.

End Season Ten

Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina

Season Ten of American Idol is winding down. Pia Toscano is gone. Stefano: gone. Casey Abrams is gone. Haley (and the Jets): gone. James Durbin is gone!? I would have liked to see either Casey and/or James make it 2 The Finale, but neither made it. Either Scotty or Lauren will be the next American Idol. Thoughts? Predictions? Reactions?

GooGoo GaGa

Lady GaGa is really starting to blossom

American Idol is just two weeks away from the Big Finale. After this week we will be down to our Final Three. Here is how I called their performances on tonight's big show. Round 1 was inspirational songs followed by Round 2 with Lady GaGa dodo mentoring.

• Tied for First Place this week: Lauren Alaina and James Durbin.
• Third Place: Scotty McCreery
• Bottom: Haley Reinhart

Show notes:

• James got a pair of #9s for Don't Stop Believing by Journey, and Love Potion #9. Awesome singing with great performances.
• Lauren hit a pair of homeruns. She really sounds like she has improved a lot in a short period of time. Seems to be peaking at the perfect time. Her voice on that first song (Martina McBride) just flew away. Loved it.
• Scotty "The Cashier" will probably not be going home. He picked two perfect songs that showed his range of comfortability (is that a word?). But on the first song, he did not stand out from the backup singers, and that just ain't gunna cut it, dude. 
• Haley double dropped the ball and it landed on my ears. Steven Tyler positively proved he is incapable of any negative criticism. Chances are very good Haley will be joining Casey in American Idol statistics. Both of her choices magnified her weakness(es).

Crow Your Boat

Let me mentor you

Our final five American Idol contestants were mentored by Sheryl Crow. Each singer sang one current song and one from the 1960s. Who do you like? Who should get eliminated this week? Who is going to win?

I have a three-way tie for first place this week: James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, and Haley Reinhart. Scott McCreery is in fourth place. For me, Jacob Lusk is in last place.

• James: Sometimes pitchy but like when he sings normally with a softer voice.
• Lauren: Always on pitch and picks good songs.
• Haley: Started out last song acapella and really nailed it. She can do so many things with her voice.
• Scott: Hopefully will not win but certainly is going to get a lot of country music votes.
• Jacob: Who votes for this guy? This ain't a High Note Contest. He loses control and repels me.

Queen King

You've Got A Friend

Our six American Idol finalists faced song of Carole King this week. Here is how I saw it, on a scale of 1-10: James & Casey topped the group, each with a 9. Lauren scored an 8. Haley & Scotty trailed with a pair of 6s. Jacob bottoms out the group with a 5.

• James: Incredible acapella start. Nice to see soft side of hard rock turtle.
• Casey: Can't get much better. Full package. Good entertainer.
• Lauren: Really sold it. Felt like a concert. Still improving.
• Haley: Trainwreck of a performance. Bad choice. Done poorly. Nothing worked.
• Scotty: Picked a great song and ruined it. Almost terrible.
• Jacob: Shrill yelling sounds like crying, whining, complaining. Enough already.

Back To The Future

  American Idol goes to songs of the 21st Century. Seven contestants will soon be down to Six. Here is how Johnnny ranked them this week: #1 Casey Abrams: A+ In it to win it. So frickin good. Matches his best so far. #2 James Durbin: A- Awesome as usual. Not that crazy about it. Bit extreme. Futuristically cool. #3 Haley Reinhart: B+ My favorite of hers so far. Not too growley. Bit of the yodeler. Great choice for her. Nicely confident. #4 Scotty McCreery: B+ Nice medium upbeat performance. On pitch. Safe but boring. #5 Lauren Alaina: B+ Enough to stay in competition. Just OK. Needs to step it up. Enough make-up for a week. #6 Stefano Langone: C+ Tone of voice is shrill. Stopped singing half way thru. Trying to be too sexy man. #7 Jacob Lusk: C+ Don't pick songs that make you start crying. Tired of Mr. Overly Dramatic Scream Fest.

Songs From The Movies

The countdown continues with songs from movies

American Idol marches on with Songs From The Movies night. There are so many tunes from which to choose. How could you ever pick just one?

My notes in groups from best to non-best:
Top
James: I'm not a heavy metal fan. T'was incredible. He's being true to himself.
Casey: Great jazz version of Nature Boy. Successfully takes chances. True artist.
Lauren: Best woman left in the competition (only one other). Great song for her.
Middle
Paul: Crowd pleasing singalonger. Unique but limited.
Bottom
Stefano: Not pleasing to my ears. Strained. Wouldn't want his CD even if it twas free.
Scotty: Opryland here we come. (He should have sung his first choice.)
Haley: Average performance. Bad choice of song. Nicely dressed.
Jacob: Overly dramatic. Self indulgent. Predictably lusky.
Going Home
Stefano or Haley!

Rockin Roll Week

American Idols rockin the house

Tonight's American Idol show was Rock and Roll night. What a great theme for our nine singers to perform within. Everyone did well but someone will have to be eliminated. Sorry! I really enjoyed seeing Todd Rundgren (my favorite musician) get introduced from the audience, right after Pia had finished her yelling.

My performance notes in grouped order:

Top Group:
James Durbin sang Guitar Gently Weeps. Started a little boring but quickly got great. Very Adam Lambertish. Quite Durbinesque. Love that he takes chances.

Middle Group:
Haley actually did justice to Janis Joplin! Really liked it.
Jacob sang Man in the Mirror. This was the most that I have ever not disliked him.
Lauren did a nice job of Natural Woman, but bad hair and too mucho makeup.
Stefano: Surpri-sing-ly good sounding performance but could he ever open the eyes?
Casey sang Have U Ever Seen The Rain? Mist some due to a DVR pause mishap but saw the final recap. Why does he have to end every line with "eeee-ah" and look intensely evil for a second?

Bottom Group:
Paul McDonald had a farm: E-i, E-i, No! Johnny Cash would have gone thumbs down, but Rod Stewart probably loved it.
Scotty (beam me down) needs to learn how to hold the microphone normally. His Elvis didn't move the Pelvis.
Pia picked a nothing song that I didn't care for and she didn't do anything great with it.

Going Home: Paul. (Really going out on a limb!)