Round 1:
Jason Castro - "Forever in Blue Jeans" Dull, boring, weak.
David Cook - "I'm Alive" A typical performance, not great, not horrible, just serviceable.
Brooke White - "I'm a Believer" Such a cheery performance, but nothing too vocally challenging.
David Archuleta - "Sweet Carolina" Yet another safe vocal, but it wasn't all that memorable.
Syesha Mercado - "Hello Again" I'm grateful there is someone left who can carry a melody, though the song was so-so.
Round 2:
Jason Castro - "September Morn" wake me up when he's done, that was brutally boring.
David Cook - "All I Really Need is You" A sappy song, but it was a good vocal.
Brooke White - "I Said I Am" a better effort from Brooke, but nothing truly outstanding on this song.
David Archuleta - "America" the lyrics are too repetitive, makes his vocals drone on and on, not a good song voice, but ended well.
Syesha Mercado - "Thanks the Lord for the Night Time" At least she's comfortable moving around the stage (no one else left can do it as well as Syesha).
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Rankings
Enjoyable
Syesha
Solid but could have been better
David Cook
David Archuleta
Under-performed
Brooke White
Once was enough
Jason
I think or Jason Castro is going home.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
American Idol season 7 - Top 6 finalists
Syesha Mercado - "One Rock-n-Roll too Many" Didn't care for the song, but she sounded pretty strong thorughout the performance, but if she had more lower registers to her voice, it might have sounded better, provided more grit to the song.
Jason Castro - "Memories" I want to stuff socks in my ears after listening to Jason's wispy performance. Ugh.
Brooke White - "You Must Love Me" Didn't love it. It started out really rocky, but I just never thought she really knew the song well enough to fake it.
David Archuleta - "Think of Me" He did all right with his spin of the song, and it almost sounded contemporary, but he's got that soothing glaze to his vocals that makes his songs sound pleasant and warm.
Carly Smithson - "Jesus Christ Superstar" I thought the backing vocals sounded better than Carly. Her vocals just sounded too thin to me, plus she's still trying to win us over with her power screams/vocals that do nothing for me.
David Cook - "Music of the Night" Pretty weak start, and had some problems with the melody, and basically framed his performance around 2 long notes. Not one of my favorites of his performances this season.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
Syesha Mercado
David Archuleta
Could have been better
David Cook
Under-performed
Carly Smithson
Once was enough
Jason Castro
Brooke White
I think or Jason Castro or Brooke White is going home.
Jason Castro - "Memories" I want to stuff socks in my ears after listening to Jason's wispy performance. Ugh.
Brooke White - "You Must Love Me" Didn't love it. It started out really rocky, but I just never thought she really knew the song well enough to fake it.
David Archuleta - "Think of Me" He did all right with his spin of the song, and it almost sounded contemporary, but he's got that soothing glaze to his vocals that makes his songs sound pleasant and warm.
Carly Smithson - "Jesus Christ Superstar" I thought the backing vocals sounded better than Carly. Her vocals just sounded too thin to me, plus she's still trying to win us over with her power screams/vocals that do nothing for me.
David Cook - "Music of the Night" Pretty weak start, and had some problems with the melody, and basically framed his performance around 2 long notes. Not one of my favorites of his performances this season.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
Syesha Mercado
David Archuleta
Could have been better
David Cook
Under-performed
Carly Smithson
Once was enough
Jason Castro
Brooke White
I think or Jason Castro or Brooke White is going home.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
American Idol season 7 - Top 7 finalists
David Archuleta - "When You Believe" I thought the band was playing a little loud (over-produced) in the middle of the song, but David did a good job with the song overall, without trying to sound like Mariah, but still doing justice to the song.
Carly Smithson - "Without You" Liked what she was doing with the low notes in the beginning, but her upper range got exposed because she was struggling during the last half of the song, and it was not a good performance.
Syesha Mercado - "Vanishing" Pretty strong performance by Syesha, but I didn't love it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but her singing seldom moves me.
Brooke White - "Hero" Oddly enough, Brooke started okay, but then was quivering mightily during the performance, and the pace was a little off at the end because she seem to be struggling to the end with slightly frantic singing, almost out of breath at times.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Forever" KLC sang the chorus great, but the melodies in the rest of the song got downplayed to somewhat boring singing until the chorus section, so it was about 50/50 of a good/bad performance. Is this the first time we see KLC's bare legs? Her singing posture is better, but she still closes her eyes through half the song.
David Cook - "You'll Always Be My Baby" Good twist on the original, it worked and probably gets the best performance of the night. David just looks the most comfortable on stage and performing.
Jason Castro - "Don't Wanna Cry" Most of the time, Jason sounds like he's always biting off more than he can chew with his singing. His performance was decent, but it wasn't fantastic.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
David Cook
David Archuleta
Solid but could have been better
Kristy Lee Cook
Syesha Mercado
Under-performed
Brooke White
Jason Castro
Once was enough
Carly Smithson
I think or Jason Castro or Carly Smithson is going home.
Carly Smithson - "Without You" Liked what she was doing with the low notes in the beginning, but her upper range got exposed because she was struggling during the last half of the song, and it was not a good performance.
Syesha Mercado - "Vanishing" Pretty strong performance by Syesha, but I didn't love it. I can't quite put my finger on it, but her singing seldom moves me.
Brooke White - "Hero" Oddly enough, Brooke started okay, but then was quivering mightily during the performance, and the pace was a little off at the end because she seem to be struggling to the end with slightly frantic singing, almost out of breath at times.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Forever" KLC sang the chorus great, but the melodies in the rest of the song got downplayed to somewhat boring singing until the chorus section, so it was about 50/50 of a good/bad performance. Is this the first time we see KLC's bare legs? Her singing posture is better, but she still closes her eyes through half the song.
David Cook - "You'll Always Be My Baby" Good twist on the original, it worked and probably gets the best performance of the night. David just looks the most comfortable on stage and performing.
Jason Castro - "Don't Wanna Cry" Most of the time, Jason sounds like he's always biting off more than he can chew with his singing. His performance was decent, but it wasn't fantastic.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
David Cook
David Archuleta
Solid but could have been better
Kristy Lee Cook
Syesha Mercado
Under-performed
Brooke White
Jason Castro
Once was enough
Carly Smithson
I think or Jason Castro or Carly Smithson is going home.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
American Idol season 7 - Top 8 finalists
Michael Johns - "Dream On" It was all right, but felt more karoake than sincere, plus, just too much screaming at the end, he should have picked a better song.
Syesha Mercado - "I Believe" I believe her performance was over-produced and the sounds collide with disharmony and made for a bland performance.
Jason Castro - "Over the Rainbow" After listening to Jason blowing the falsetto bit in the opening stanza of the song, no lie, my mind wondered how my 401K was doing. I really didn't think much of his vocally weak rendition of this song.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Anyway" Vocally, it was fine, she got off a nice long note without the Carly-screaming factor. She stills needs to work on her habit of closing her eyes when she sings because it's off-putting at times.
David Cook - "Innocent" Maybe it was me, but it sounded like his mic was mixed really poorly because I wasn't hearing some of the words he was singing, and his performance was stilted in spots.
Carly Smithson - "Show Must Go On" The mic mix was off, though the power screams were again icky sounding, and the performance was kind of bumpy given her attitude she brought to the song.
David Archuleta - "Angels" He is back on track, the start was a bit boring, but the finish was pretty strong.
Brooke White - "You've Got a Friend" I thought it was tortorous, Brooke was over-singing, over-emoting, just plain over-did most of it.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
David Archuleta
Solid but could have been better
Michael Johns
Kristy Lee Cook
Syesha Mercado
Under-performed
David Cook
Brooke White
Once was enough
Carly Smithson
Jason Castro
I think or Jason Castro or Carly Smithson is going home.
Syesha Mercado - "I Believe" I believe her performance was over-produced and the sounds collide with disharmony and made for a bland performance.
Jason Castro - "Over the Rainbow" After listening to Jason blowing the falsetto bit in the opening stanza of the song, no lie, my mind wondered how my 401K was doing. I really didn't think much of his vocally weak rendition of this song.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Anyway" Vocally, it was fine, she got off a nice long note without the Carly-screaming factor. She stills needs to work on her habit of closing her eyes when she sings because it's off-putting at times.
David Cook - "Innocent" Maybe it was me, but it sounded like his mic was mixed really poorly because I wasn't hearing some of the words he was singing, and his performance was stilted in spots.
Carly Smithson - "Show Must Go On" The mic mix was off, though the power screams were again icky sounding, and the performance was kind of bumpy given her attitude she brought to the song.
David Archuleta - "Angels" He is back on track, the start was a bit boring, but the finish was pretty strong.
Brooke White - "You've Got a Friend" I thought it was tortorous, Brooke was over-singing, over-emoting, just plain over-did most of it.
----------------
Rankings
Enjoyable
David Archuleta
Solid but could have been better
Michael Johns
Kristy Lee Cook
Syesha Mercado
Under-performed
David Cook
Brooke White
Once was enough
Carly Smithson
Jason Castro
I think or Jason Castro or Carly Smithson is going home.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
American Idol season 7 - Top 9 finalists
Brooke White - "Jolene" A decent rendition, but it didn't really go anywhere vocally. It was a safe performance.
David Cook - "Little Sparrow" A nice performance of a song I've barely heard of, but he appeared to have updated it for today's musical climate, and imparted a nice catchy melody for the chorus. He almost sounded like the lead singer of "Mr. Mister" in spots.
Ramiele Malubay - "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" Showed more life in her performance, but still more karoake than a sincere effort. It didn't showcase her vocal range at all, a far too safe of a choice.
Jason Castro - "Traveling Through " A decent street corner performance by the dreaded one, but it didn't separate him from the pack. His vocals stayed in too narrow of a range, and it sounded quick, but monotonous.
Carly Smithson - "Here You Come Again" I liked about 80 seconds of that song, but good grief, yet another long-winded note at the end from Carly. If she could just not go for the big notes (they just don't sound good from her), and give into the melody of the song, it would make for a smoother performance.
David Archuleta - "Smokey Mountain Memories" That song was back in his wheel house, and he made the most of it, though in a few spots, he had to scoop a note or two, but overall a strong performance.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Coat of Many Colors" I think her eyes were closed for over half the song, and she seemed a little bored by the middle of the song. She gets bonus points for singing barefoot, though.
Syesha Mercado - "I Will Always Love You" It was pretty slow and drawn out for most of the song, but the last note was was solid (again, Carly, are you listening? that's how you do a long, powerful note at the end).
Michael Johns - "It's All Wrong" A very solid performance, carried by strong vocals that seared through the lyrics and got to the grit of the emotional thrust of the song. Best of the night.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
Michael Johns
David Archuleta
David Cook
Solid but could have been better
Syesha Mercado
Carly Smithson
Under-Performed
Brooke White
Kristy Lee Cook
Once was enough
Jason Castro
Ramiele Malubay
I think Ramiele or Jason Castro is going home.
David Cook - "Little Sparrow" A nice performance of a song I've barely heard of, but he appeared to have updated it for today's musical climate, and imparted a nice catchy melody for the chorus. He almost sounded like the lead singer of "Mr. Mister" in spots.
Ramiele Malubay - "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" Showed more life in her performance, but still more karoake than a sincere effort. It didn't showcase her vocal range at all, a far too safe of a choice.
Jason Castro - "Traveling Through " A decent street corner performance by the dreaded one, but it didn't separate him from the pack. His vocals stayed in too narrow of a range, and it sounded quick, but monotonous.
Carly Smithson - "Here You Come Again" I liked about 80 seconds of that song, but good grief, yet another long-winded note at the end from Carly. If she could just not go for the big notes (they just don't sound good from her), and give into the melody of the song, it would make for a smoother performance.
David Archuleta - "Smokey Mountain Memories" That song was back in his wheel house, and he made the most of it, though in a few spots, he had to scoop a note or two, but overall a strong performance.
Kristy Lee Cook - "Coat of Many Colors" I think her eyes were closed for over half the song, and she seemed a little bored by the middle of the song. She gets bonus points for singing barefoot, though.
Syesha Mercado - "I Will Always Love You" It was pretty slow and drawn out for most of the song, but the last note was was solid (again, Carly, are you listening? that's how you do a long, powerful note at the end).
Michael Johns - "It's All Wrong" A very solid performance, carried by strong vocals that seared through the lyrics and got to the grit of the emotional thrust of the song. Best of the night.
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Rankings
Enjoyable
Michael Johns
David Archuleta
David Cook
Solid but could have been better
Syesha Mercado
Carly Smithson
Under-Performed
Brooke White
Kristy Lee Cook
Once was enough
Jason Castro
Ramiele Malubay
I think Ramiele or Jason Castro is going home.
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