Top 5 Perform - Neil Diamond night

Carly is watching from home tonight. Say hi, Carly! Ryan is such a jerk!

This is American Idol. Neil Diamond night. Nothing against him but they have got to stop these theme nights. Tired, tired, tired.

Jason Castro – Mr. Goofy. It must be extremely frustrating for a true musician to have to deal with his dumb ass. First song, terrible. But I had the same low expectations that I have always had for him, so no surprise. The arrangement didn’t work for me at all in the beginning. Please give my eardrums the happiest day of their life and send him home.

David Cook – His singing was ok but the guitar playing was a little off. I am not sure if it was him or the band. I liked the drums. It was quick and short.

It seemed like they were rushing through the first 30 minutes of the show. How about this idea AI, stop being a whore and make the show 30 minutes with real performances? Just a thought…

Brooke – Was way to enthusiastic. I didn’t like the lower register. I think this is everyone’s weakest weak yet. So it’s right now a battle for who sucks less. Hold on while I fast forward…

David Archuleta – That was painful. I think this did not work for me because he was supposed to be enthusiastic and he doesn’t know how to show emotions. I have karaoke the hell out of the song and it is a fun song. He made it weak and boring.

Syesha – She looked beautiful. They found a good look for her. Best of the night so far. I loved this song as a kid. She did a very sweet performance. Now that is singing. She should have ended with this song since she is the last performance. This would have been nice to end with. I re-listened a second...not as strong the 2nd time around but still good.

2^nd Performances

Jason Castro – I liked this performance a lot better. I know those young fools when vote him through because he was doing that soft, singing and licking his lips.

David Cook – I don’t like them making the songs their own. It was ok but much like his earlier performances. I think I would have liked this without the guitar.

Brooke – OK. My disdain for her is more than I have Jason Castro. This is your dream to make it on Idol. You have a week to learn 2 minutes of 2 songs. You shouldn’t need hand crib notes. Look – I was Annie in my high school play. I understand pressure!!!

(ok..I was just checking to see who reads these. But I was Annie. A couple of drinks and I will show you the pictures). I did like the performance better than the first.

David Archuleta – Better. I just wish he would loosen up. If he could, he would truly be great. That is an emotional, patriotic song and he sang it well, but bland. I hate when people say this…its so crass…but I am going there. Brotha needs to get laid.

Umm…did Paula just call him a savant? I’m sure she meant the nice definition.

Syesha – I did not like this version. It should have just been her and the piano. Simon called it. He was right. She should have done the 1^st song last.

Going home – Syesha. It should be Jason Castro. I won’t throw anything. Ok…I will try not to throw anything. C-ya tomorrow.

Top 6 perform

Andrew Lloyd Webber night

This can really show people who shine or be really, really bad. Even worse than the previous themes because you have to have a big voice to sing Broadway. Let’s see how they do…

Up first, Syesha: I didn’t like it. She started off on the wrong beat (look at Asian composer looking around confused). I thought her voice was weak. I didn’t like it. Because it didn’t suck doesn’t mean it was good. I don’t think she has a Broadway voice like Jennifer Hudson or Fantasia. I don’t think she will be the worse tonight but a weak performance.

John Castro: Please oh please send him home. What a terrible pre-video! Basically Andrew said he was and idiot. That we know. But damn! Ok…the performance is not the best. It started off better than I thought. It then fell apart when he tried to use his lower register. It didn’t completely suck. Which is making me really, really mad because I want him to go home!!!! I think he should have totally picked another song.

I like Andrew Lloyd Webber. Brutally honest.

Brooke: Ok. I think I have recovered. I spent about 5 minutes in SHOCK with the show on pause (thank heavens for a DVR!!!). OMG. That had to be the single most shocking and embarrassing moment in Idol history! Big props for her getting it back together. I thought this was on its way to being her best performance, not vocally, but the performance. I think minus the slip, it still was. I did feel it and I thought she did too. I compared this to Madonna’s version. I thought it was good to see her in a different light. Stronger. I’m glad she stretched herself. I am very glad she listened and didn’t speak to the judges. She was fighting back tears and I’m glad she won. Big ups!!!

Loving me some Andrew Lloyd Webber

David A: Beautiful vocally. He was struggling to keep those eyes open. I agree 100%. When he opened his eyes he seemed to get more emotional. It allows him to better express some else besides golly gee shucks. I agree with Simon. He should stay but not a stand out performance. Pretty, but no chills.

Did I say how much I love Andrew Lloyd Webber

Carly: That’s my girl!!! She brought it! Are you kidding?!?! That performance was the bomb. I will note that Paula knows her music and that Carly cheated with the chorus. I agreed that it still sounded good.

David Cook: Wow! Chills. Man, he is the one to beat. I’m loving me some David Cook. Wow! Versatility!!!! Man. Wow. That’s all I can say. David A is such a little boy compared to him.

I loved this night. I had everything! Long live Idol!!

I can’t call it!!! It should be John Castro. But who knows what America will do.

See you all tomorrow!

Top 7 - Mariah Carey Week

Okay,,,now not only is John Castro an idiot…but so is Mariah Carey. Uhh..let me bring my dog to the practice. Idiot. And I thought black was not supposed to make you look fat? Mariah theme night? Are you crazy?!? Really bad idea. I know ever frickin Mariah Carey song so this is going to be hard. I was a “lamb” (what MC called her fans). I hope this goes well…on with the show.

David A. – I really cannot stand Kermit. Terrible arrangement. The performance was just okay. But I can’t blame him because the speed was terrible. The song was almost unrecognizable. He’ll stay because he has momentum.

Carly – She looked fantastic!!!! Finally. Her best performance to date. Soft, no shouting, understated. Beautiful! I did agree with Randy that I was scared in the beginning. But I think she pulled it off. It was hard because she can blow it out of the park and wanted to try something new. I think they should have appreciated that. I think if she would have powered through it as she has done on every other song, they would have said karaoke and over the top. I liken this to when Fantasia did Summertime. Not my favorite performance but it showed her range.

Syesha – Yo go sista girl! Bringing her A game. “All things considered”?!? Go play your base, Randy. No one can imitate Mariah. What the hell are they expecting?!? Syesha did a good job understanding she is singing a GREAT singer’s song.

Brooke – Rough vocals. It may have been better if she was just singing it without playing. The playing was extremely shaky and the stumble at the end didn’t help. I think an acoustic guitar would have been a nice touch. She did a very safe and bland performance. She seemed very nervous and rushed.

Kristy Lee – Yuck! Painful! Please stop! She is destroying this song. Not too mention the piano is bad. A country hit? What are country listeners deaf!

David C. – Did not work for me. But this is one of my favorite Mariah Carey songs (w/ the Venus of Love sample). I think he could have done this with Visions of Love because the lyrics are more generic. And Mariah is OF COURSE going to rip this off if the public likes it. I know I am going to be in the minority with people liking this…well...I’m already a minority so I’m use to it. I would agree with Paula that this could be in a sappy movie soundtrack song.

John Castro – Next to the previous performance, it was weak. But I think if I had heard that early on, it would have been better. I liked the opening. The middle and the end fell apart for me. His voice is far to weak for him to remain. But I liked it ok.

No a bad night. I thought it was going to be way worse. Top performance David C., David A. (even though not my cup of tea) and Carly. Bottom performances Kristy Lee, Brooke.

Going home…Syesha. Life’s not fair.

C-ya tomorrow.

Idol Gives Back

I watched Idol Gives Back last year and swore I would stay away this time. So much depression, tired performances and more Seacrest….not my idea of an entertaining night. So I didn’t really watch this year. But the kids tv was blaring and I found myself constantly flipping the channel back to Fox to catch a performance or two.

The bad:

I couldn’t stomach Fergie or Mile Cyrus. So can’t comment on them. Brad Pitt getting a standing ovation? Mariah Carey oversinging as usual (still good) but a little too much. Kimmell’s jokes about Simon. Snoop Dogg? Robin frickin Williams.

The good:

Chris Daughtry (miss u!). Gloria Estefan still rocking out and what??? How old is she?!? She seems ageless! Ben Stiller and the last scene of the show when he is cursing (did you turn the channel and miss it?).

Best of the best:

Annie Lennox – gave a really great, touching performance. See link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEVEjG3KrtM

Seasons of Love – I thought they did this well. Very understated. They may not have blended 100% but I was really impressed Kristy Cook. She is going to be around for awhile. David A. was good even though he fumbled though his lyrics. Carly has too much power. Syesha and David Cook were good as well. Even Johnny “Dopehead” Castro sounded great. See link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34UguUZRABg

Carrie Underwood – finally the best performance of the night. I was never a fan (I wanted Bo to win that season). And she went the country music route so she completely lost me. But she has always been a fantastic singer. Tonight she proved it. She can sing any genre. It was a very soulful, heartfelt performance. See link below (just after Simon's comments).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuv5ZT0r1jA

Enjoy!

Top 8 Week

Sorry I missed you guys last week for Chikeze and Ramiel vote off. I had a few internet issues. But I am back!!! I was sad to see Chikeze go home. He was not going to win…but I liked his performances. Ramiel definitely needed to go home. She is extremely talented but needs more time to mature and grow and be groomed by the right producer.

Michael Johns – Liked it. Liked his falsetto. But he still needs to work on stage performance. A little stiff.

Syesha – Don’t do someone who made a name for themselves on a song! After re-watching Fantasia on the season 3 finale on youtube, this paled in comparison. Go watch it! It is fantastic!!! Syesha…not so much. I think she is going home based on the performance. No emotion. Fantasia’s version will have you crying.

John Castro – OK I canot be impartial because I can’t stand him. I will assume it was good. Simple little tune. Star? Heck no. But sang a familiar easy song well.

Kristy Lee Cook – Boring. Even when she tried to bring it on home. But better performance to me than Syesha and John.

David Cook – Not my style of song and by far his worst performance. People like him and will keep him in but that was terrible. Extremely indulgent to think he can get up there and sing whatever?!? And the helluva corny “give back” on his hand? Give Me back that 1:30 seconds.

Carly Smithson – BAD song choice! What did they tell her about bluesy, soulful songs?!? Stick to those!!! Her need to do rock is going to be her downfall. Because when she does, karaoke all the way. She doesn’t clearly define her style. Great singer…but that is NOT enough.

David A. – Great performance. Loved the endings. I would have liked it better without the band and just the piano, would have been touching. I think he excels when he sings slow, soulful songs.

Brooke – She has definite niche. Sunday afternoon, easy listening, adult contemporary. She picks good songs for her. Not much change or stretch. But nice still.

Top 2 – David A, and Michael Johns.

Bottom 2 – Syesha and Kristy.

Going home…Syesha. See ya Thursday! (The Office is back!)