April 24 - Idol gives back - The performances

Ok, forget about the feel good nature of the show for a minute.
BONO!!!!! is the mentor! how the fuck awesome is that???

Ok, breathe! ... seriously though I was just thinking, I wonder what it would be like for a real rocker like Bono to be a mentor to these kids. This should be interesting for that part if nothing else.

Chris
I have to say I'm almost always turned off w/ the use of a mic stand and stool. It just tells me, I'm not going to work really hard. And Chris' voice just doesn't pull off that much energy.

Thank goodness he stood up. It was a nice improvisational performance of a very standard song. His runs are vocally on.

I think the judges were a bit more positive than I would be, but I did think he pulled it off nicely.


Melinda
I don't know the song, so it is hard for me to find a place to start, but that first belt just knocked me out. She might be shouting a bit much though. I mean it is melinda, there is nothing too harsh you can say. She is awesome. I wonder if she was shouting though. I can't tell.

I guess she wasn't shouting, according to the judges ... She did do exactly what Simon said; She really performed a cover as if it was hers for the first time.

Blake
I can't believe he chose imagine ... I mean I've heard people really sing it, so let's see if he can pull it off.
He's doing karaoke ... I'm sorry, but I'm not likin' it at all. I'm waiting for the belt, the hit, the wow!

Randy and Paula are both right ... Simon really stretched to get a compliment out of that for some reason!

Where is Bono!?! ... I thought he was mentoring? :(


Lakisha
well, I have to say, she had me listening THROUGHOUT the song. I couldn't type, I was so taken with the performance. She did just wonderfully. I wonder if she did it too much like Fantasia, but I don't know the song, so I can't tell.

it's hard for me to hear the detail that Simon is picking up with his critiques of Lakisha, but when I hear it, I must admit it resonates with me. I wonder though how they can be so critical of Lakisha, when they let Blake and Chris off the hook like that. It just tells me they might be trying to sway the voters.


Phil
This performance reminds me why I've always liked Phil. He really does have the best, but often most inconsistent voice. I love the tone and rasp of his vocal. he is belting well and really getting behind the meaning of the words.



Jordin
I'm just stuck stairing and listening. She is a Star!!!!
It is really hers to loose, I think. She has the looks and the voice. And oy! that smile!



Predictions
Blake, Lakisha, and Chris in the bottom 3.
And Blake is going, or Lakisha.

April 18, 2007 - the results - FINALLY

I think that Sanjaya is a great person, a lovable soul and deserves nothing but success and happiness in his life. And he didn't deserve the rude punishments that he's received in the public, and he has stood strong in light of so much abuse from Simon.

All that being said, he DID NOT belong in the finals nor to make it this far. He does not have a good or strong voice to back that open and warm personality that goes with it to make him an idol! He just doesn't have the package compared to those who were left standing beside him and even compared to those who were forced to leave before him.

While I think that no one who is gone, except maybe Gina, had a chance of winning, it is a shame that they had to watch a person stand by and get put back on the stage week after week while better people lost important time in the spotlight.

Ok, enough about Sanjaya.

Lakisha! Wow! in the bottom TWO! what the heck people? Ok, I know what is going on, it is just ludicrous to think that looks put Lakisha below Blake, Phil, or Chris. There isn't a woman on that stage who should not make it all the way to the last 2 episodes.

I was also REALLY surprised to find Blake up there. I mean, I didn't think this week's performance was great, but are people voting for an individual performance? Especially COUNTRY! Sheesh! Country? Yes, I know Carrie Underwood made it big in country, but an American Idol should be ALL about pop and rock and roll. Country will never be an international star, will barely ever except for Garth Brooks fill a football stadium. Let's get real here people, this is a pop music contest, or have I found my next reason to move to Canada.

Anyway, I think next week is where the real excitement brews. I think that Phil is getting on his last leg. He made it to his genre, but now I don't think he's going to hold a candle to everyone else moving forward. But America is fickle. So ya never know.

On a side note, I'm wondering if anyone has ever asked Fox for an audit of the votes. Who makes sure that Fox is playing fair with our votes and our emotions. Since Fox gets a kickback on the successes of their idols, I would think that they want to make sure that America votes for the right idol, to maximize this tremendous investment. I want to see the some accounting agency like Price Waterhouse do the tabulations, or at least audit the voting records.

BTW, I'm sorry I'm late with this post. See ya next week!

April 17 - The Performance

So away we go ... Country Music. WHY????? oh Why????

Phil Stacy
This song is great for him, but he's blowin' it b/c he is not putting the energy the song can pull off. This is a stadium song and he's singing a dirge. "Typical Phil Stacy, " Theresa.

I think he sings every song like it is his last, as opposed to his first.

I can understand why the judges liked it, but I didn't agree. I'm sorry, I'm a harder judge than even Simon.

If this is his genre, he sure doesn't dress like it. Sheesh!


Jordin Sparks

Wow! this song is good when you take out the twang! Jordin rocks! (the dress is a bit "pitchy")

This one I can't agree more w/ the judges ... It happens!


Sanjaya
I have hopes for Sanjaya.
Good critic by the coach. I have always said he is too mellow.

Well, he is barely doing Bonnie justice, but it doesn't "suck". He is sorta dead like Phil. Let's see what the judges say?

Thank G-d! Randy stood up there.
Simon had to put some kick into Paula's review.

It's like Sanjaya is getting good ratings due to the negative campaign so I think Ryan was told to press him so Sanjaya could get more air time increasing his chances of staying on the show.


Lakish

I'm left here a bit struck by the performance. She was great! pitchy at points, but still overall a great performance.
I like Randie's recommendation to make it Gospel.
all the judges nailed it.

Chris
HE TWANGS!!!!
Which might be good for him. I find myself oddly liking the song and his vocal of it. He cracks well, twangs really well and while pitchy, I think country allows for it. He might be more country than soul after all. But I do think that the overall quality of the performance can't hold a candle to any of the remaining gals that's for sure.

I think I agree with Randy and Paula.
My gut was to like it, but isn't that what should matter. The judges are right about the details, but I don't think it was that bad. But I did like Phil more than Chris.


Melinda
She is lookin' GOOD!
She is pulling off this song sooooo welll! She is just an amazing performer.
She is really the ONLY one who PERFORMS!!!! Yes, she can sing, but she performs.

Simon nails it by pushing her to be more confident.


Blake
he looks like a TV test pattern. So we'll ignore that.
He has a sorta "British" thing going on. I think that's his thing. He isn't good b/c this is a bit too far from his comfort zone and he couldn't make it his own.

I'm confused by the judges on that one and I'm starting to think that the judges are prodded in some way to manipulate things. I just don't know, but the review of Blake felt way too forgiving and they didn't even try to really talk about anything important, LIKE THE PERFORMNCE!!!!


The Review
Phil, Sanjaya and Chris are the bottom 3; no doubt.

-- dave

April 11, 2007 - The Results

I have to say, I was bored. It was exactly as I predicted. Phil and Haley in the bottom 3 and Haley getting booted.

So, an early prediction is that Phil is out next week. There is no one else who is an easy out, or for that matter a difficult out. Exceptions could be Sanjaya, but he seems to have 9 lives.

Country Music? Yucko! ... I don't eve want to watch.

Oh well, till next week ... 8-)

-- dave

April 10 - Performances

Ok, I'm lovin' gettin' to look at j-lo for an hour.

Melinda
Well, I hate the hair and the song choice is way too old! This is an opportunity to be contempo and she still hasn't pulled off that aspect. And the rouge is too much. I'm disappointed with everything but the vocals. I'm bored! NEXT!

Thank God! for Simon ... He's the only one who is honest. It's amazing and scary how often he and I agree!


Lakisha
"Do the conga" ... this already looses me on song choice. But at least she is doing something contemporary and trying to get past her body issues. But the performance is horrible for her. She can't pull off the proper intonations so it sounds like a wedding singer.

Sometimes I think that Randy is in another world sometimes.
I can't believe Paula went there ... BRAVO!!!!


Chris
Great song choice. I love Santana ... but I can't really like Chris at anything. He's behind a mic on this song which is a mistake as far as I'm concerned. He should be playin' the crowd. But I think the ending vocals were dead on and very good. I hate to say it but he was better than the chicks.

No issues w/ the judges


Haley
Awesome song ... "Turn the beat around!" ... I LOVE IT!
Weird remix ... Great legs as usual. :) ... but she is doing it a little. and she can't enunciate loud enough the fast lyrics. Too much background singer in there. But I think her energy was the best so far.

I think Simon is harshin' too much. But he is accurate. She should have been gone a long time ago.


Phil
Great song again ... can't go wrong w/ Santana.
What is it w/ the sitting thing! No one is going to win this thing by playing it center stage, unless you pull a Celine, which none of them can do.
Wow! he is torturing me with this song. I think he is really blowing these vocals. He's emphasizing is just not really workin' for me.

I think Randy and I are in sync on this one. Simon is also very true to it. Paula was off this time.


Jordin
A great song choice ..
Great outfit. It's teh best she's looked, but the performance is slow and held back. The vocals have moments of greatness, but the overall performance has moments of boredom. It's too up and down; the pacing is off and the emotion is lacking. I love Jordin, but this one didn't do it for me.

I think Randy is off again ... too enthusiastic. It was good, but not GREAT!
Paula is paula ... shitty.
Simon is nailing it as far as I'm concerned all night.


Blake
I'm sorta speechless. He leads me in at the beginning and then I'm lost like the others. I think the problem is that this group of singers lacks ritmo latino. They don't know how to bring passion into these songs. ... I'm sorry, I'm not likin' it.

Why is Randy so easy on these people?
Paula is being Paula
Simon is right it is the "best" performance so far, but that just explains how bad all of them have been.

Sanjaya
Besame mucho ... wow! ... He is Sanjaya
What's w/ the fu man chu? yikes! he cna't pull it off at all. But it does bring out his eyes.
His vocals are on, but they don't project. But his passion is in there, which you can't say about the others, not nearly as much.

Simon ... he is sooo funny!


My thoughts on the night
If it was just about tonight, I'd vote off the super stars for huge disappointments. I'm sorry they let me down--Melinda and Lakisha. I just have very high expectations.

But in total I think my bottom 3 are:
Haley - She's gotta go
Phil
Sanjaya

I actually think Sanjaya will not be in the bottom 3 b/c of his detractors voting for him, but also b/c I think he won some people over. Maybe that might work against him.

Maybe for the bottom 3 is Chris.

Please! will someone knock out Haley or Phil!

Well, see ya tomorrow!

Apr 4 - the results -- Is the show doomed?

Man, I don't think i can go on after last night.
let's forget my personal taste towards rockers for a moment, Gina is totally in the middle group of talent and people like Haley and Sanjaya are just a joke.

I know I'm coming in late w/ my blog post this week, but I was in so much shock. I know Simon is a calculating prick but to say that it is expected that Gina is up there next to Haley is ridiculous.

I've also noticed a 2 week trend here. That the people who are loosing are people who have never been at the bottom 3 before or not for long stretches.

I'm serious, the producers should consider that they have a HUGE problem on their hands as it is really ruining it for people. I knwo people like Mr. Stern can care less, as the whole thing is a joke to him and yes, it really isn't that important, but I think if Dice Clay came on your show and ruined it for the world who loves you, you might get a little pissed about it.

What really gets me is the lack of integrity of the performers. Sanjaya should quit. He is a joke and he is bringing down the show. I know that he can't be asked to leave b/c he is playing by the rules, but he has to know that he isn't talented compared to the top 6 and that if he wins due to antics by "VFTW" then it will really kill the show's true power as a means of propelling talent forward.

I declare we start a new compaign ... The Sanjaya should quite campaign! ... Who's with me? Letting Gina get voted off is a travesty and shows that America has no soul and is contemptible.

I'm sooo pissed! (can you tell?)

April 3 - The performances

Tony Bennett brings some swing and old standards to the pop idol singers. Let's see what happens.

Blake does - "Mac the knife"
Hey Blake can sing!
Now can he stop looking at the camera and start singing t o the audience. Pppplease!
He still can't belt though and the pace is a bit a fast.
but I do have to say it is one of his best performances as a vocalist to date.
Can Paula be any more useless with her review?

Phil - "Night & Day"
Ok, his voice has NEVER been so on, but I can't stand the mic stand approach. I want more!
but heck, he belted it!
Yes! Randy nailed it! ... I didn't feel it either!
I was trying to pull that Frank sinatra out for myself. Thanx Paula and she finally gave him a real criticism; the same critique that Simon gives but nicer.

Melinda - "I got rhythm"
She is going to nail this! ... I know it! What a great song choice.
What's w/ these print dresses the last 2 weeks? Is there some kind of a promo I'm missin'?
"Theresa says that Melinda is going to win it" ... Anyone say Yeah?
She has so much energy and really loves performing. I love watching her.
She just takes it to heart and poors her soul into her performances. She is AMAZING!!!!

Chris - "Mr. Saturday Night"
Lyrics? his problem is the lyrics? (this is all that Tony can talk about? Lyrics?)
I have to say again that I really don't like Chris and really think after Sanjaya that he should go.
Is Randy kidding? I think I was on a different planet!!!! Please Simon! I'm hoping you can help me out here ... Simon? ... Ah!!!!!! Ok, this is why I write this blog. Am I the only one who hears Shite when I hear Chris.

Jordin - "On a Clear Day"
While I think Melinda is better, i actually LIKE Jordin better, but don't tell my wife.
She is a slightly rougher version of Melinda and has more of a contemporary edge to her but has all the talent.
My wife just said that Jordin "has more spark." (pun intended)

Gina - "Smile"
Well, she is smiling well. I think I like this week a lot b/c I really think it brings out the vocals of everyone. I wouldn't have thought that Gina could pull off this week, so it is nice to see her do so well. Though I think that last "Smile" could have been better. Theresa hates the hair and makeup.

(I do think that everyone is at the top of their game tonight.)

Sanjaya - "Dancing cheek to cheek"
His singing is really horrible, so I don't think he's proven to America that he can sing at all.
Dancing w/ Paula is a nice touch though.

Haley - "Ain't Misbehavin'"
So basically, Tony's advice is to be true to the lyrics.
I thought this would have really been the show for Haley. She is a standards gal, but she really went the wrong way on the song. She chose a song that Lakisha should have done. I mean I'm thinking Nell Carter and I'm lookin' at Jessica Simpson. This isn't right. The voice doesn't go with the song and I think her over-mannurisms are killing the performance.

Lakisha - "Stormy Weather"
She just knows how to sing. And she can perform.


My Predictions for the bottom 3:
Chris, Haley, Phil
Haley or Phil are going to go, leaning towards Phil goes

(Sanjaya isn't being considered b/c of the "votefortheworst.com" site, though I hope he goes saving Phil who I really thought did sing well, even if soullessly.)

See ya all tomorrow night!

New York Times looks at Stern's game with Sanjaya

Howard Stern is committed to ruining American Idol says a recent NY Times article about the "success" of Sanjaya and the site VoteForTheWorst.com.

While I understand Stern's motives, as it is his way to make fun of anything and everything, this is a new type of disrespectful. There are throngs of people who obviously enjoy this show and who are keen viewers looking to see who will be the next star. Why disrespect them?

I used to think AI was a joke, and in some ways, it is pop fantasy, but it is also pretty good stuff.

Anyway, I would never tell Howard not to do something as it usually just spurs him on more, but I'm just disappointed that he has never really figured it out. oh well!

March 28, 2007 - the results

Nice hair Ryan ... Not Funny!

Gwen Stefani's new song is not all that cool to me. Little cheesy.

The Bottom 3 ...

1. Phil Stacy
2. Haley
3. Chris Sligh

My first choice for leaving is Haley. She's just been inconsistent. But I REALLY hated Chris Sligh's performance this time around and think this week in particular he should go.

Wow! America voted the way I would have (well, minus the Sanjaya stuff).

B'bye Chris!!!! i think your inventiveness is going to be missed, but you are just not a great performer. Sorry buddy! this time the vote was right.

March 27, 2007 - The performances

Ok, first the intro. I've been watching Idol this season religiously b/c my wife is so into it. Ok, Ok. I admit, I like it too.

I'm going to review the songs/singers/etc. each week on the first night and then on the second review the results. I'll give you my pick for who should go as well.

And away we go ....

Lakisha
Amazing how Ms. Soul figures out how to make the Rockin' week and still pick a soul/disco singer and pull it off.

Chris Sligh
I'll see this is his worst performance EVER. He totally destroyed a classic and to be Simon for a moment, he was a complete "lounge act". I think that he totally lacks the energy. I had the mental image of Sting and the lads bouncing up and down like Flee from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And Chris? Damn! Could he be any more reserved? I really could barely watch it. It was this performance that really sparked the creation of this blog. I hope he gets kicked off just for murdering such a great song.

Gina
Wow! a ballad from the rock chick and while it took me awhile to get past what in my mind was a lost opportunity for her to rock out like she did w/ Pat Benatar a few weeks ago, she nailed the vocals like she's never done before and deserved the accalaids of the judges. This time.

Sanjaya
What the Fuck's w/ the hair!!!!!!?????!!!!!!!
I just can't take him seriously at all. And the song???? What the heck is with the song choice?
Seriously, he really can't sing and despite last week's passable performance, the hair, the bad singing ... I mean talking ... he really has to go. Now the question is should Chris go more than Sanjaya. To be honest, I think Chris tortured a much more important song.

Haley
Well she definitely keeps me lookin' at her. I think her voice needs to be much more uplifting, louder, bolder, confident. She still doesn't give her voice the same command that her physical presence captures. Great vocals, but just a tad toned down. The changes to the song arrangement and melody threw me and it was hard to keep track of. I thought Simon was a bit harsh, with the unforgettable, but definitely right on with the "have to do much better".

Phil Stacy
Great song and good use of gruffiness in the tone, but his playing with the melody is not workin' for me. His voice floods the ears well, but his body should be more upbeat. What is it with the guys? Can none of them dance or move their legs or SOMETHING? ANYTHING? Just give me more energy.

You go Paula!!!! Tell him that he needs a more complete performance!
The judges are not being critical enough. Simon, shame on you!


Melinda
I really think the soul sisters are cheating this round. Doing disco/soul songs with Gwen should be a demerit in my mind. It shows they don't stretch. Sure she can bang this out. She always bangs this out. Melinda ... darlin' ... time to stretch into something less comfy to show that you are MORE than just Detroit groove.

But besides this ... I love Melinda and really think she is da'bomb. She performs like no one else on that stage as a complete act. Why can't others fill a stage or stadium like she can?

Blake
Anyone who pulls of the Cure on national TV is alright by me. Point winner right there.
But I have never liked Blake's voice. It lacks a fullness and is flat, not in pitch, but in tone. The real song is much more up. He just isn't filling me up as I listen to it.
Thank G-d! he didn't box to the Cure ... Robert Smith just said "Whew!"
Please Paula ... get a clue!!!!
Well, being a front running guy is something to reference Simon, but I actually like Phil more.

Jordin
Wow! taking on the artist's own song.
The clothes just have to go though. I'm sorry she is so not a Mary Ann!
This is one of her worst performances. She's having fun, but the energy off. Not low, just off.
She had some pitchy vocals, but I think she wowed the judges.
but I think "The Dog" is right to applaud her b/c she stretched!!!!!! Kudos for that.

Chris Richardson
wow! Gwen must be crying back stage or something like that. No energy, poor vocal tone. I'm sooo over this guy. But he is pulling off the ending, just before the slow down. Better than Blake, Sanjaya and Sligh, but not up to my par.


The week in review.
bottom 3 are Sanjaya, Sligh, and Haley (with maybe Richardson).

If I HAD to pick someone to go, it has to be Sanjaya. I'm sorry Howard Stern, but stop the madness and just let us mercifully ask him to say adieu.

Well, come back tomorrow for more.