American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part II)

FOX ^ | 3-25-06

[silent_jonny]

still for Tammy

[Netizen]

Excellent wrap up! Check out these latest numbers from dial idol. Didn't someone suggest the bottom 8? lol

DialIdol Rank	Idol	DialIdol Score	Actual Rank
1	Taylor Hicks	40.6993	-
2	Kellie Pickler	32.951	-
3	Chris Daughtry	26.5524	-
4	Elliott Yamin	18.8601	-
5	Lisa Tucker	18.3497	-
6	Paris Bennett	16.3077	-
7	Mandisa	15.2657	-
8	Bucky Covington	14.8601	-
9	Ace Young	14.5245	-
10	Katharine McPhee	14.3217

[silent_jonny]

fell asleep during Paris' song and missed Elliott!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

And it was the best performance ever!!

Well not really, but he was better than all the rest last night ;)

[kevkrom]

I'd like to begin this recap/review with a "thank you" to American Idol; thank you for reminding me why I don't listen to the current stuff on the radio.

I mean... I knew this was going to be a tough week, but if I were watching AI for the very first time last night, it would have been the very last time as well. Is this really what the top 10 undiscovered talents in the country sound like?

If I had to summarize the night in one word, I think "crap" would win out by a whisker over "boring". If I could take two words, "boring crap" beats any other description by a landslide. Part of it has to be the material, but the contestants also seemed to go out of their way to choose things that were monotonous and dull.

Frankly, I'd have rather sat through an hour of Mikaylah Gordon and Kevin Covais doing Motown duets. That would at least have had humor value. Heaven help me, I was actually getting nostalgic for the 1980s... and I'm talking "Duran Duran" kind of '80s here.

So, bearing in mind that I flat-out just don't "get" this stuff, here are my rankings:

1. Elliott - Ok, fess up... did anyone else think he looked like Adam Sandler up there? Elliott wins the night by default -- not a perfect performance, but clearly his most consistent start-to-finish number of the year so far. My Grade: B+
2. Paris - Another week, another "act". When is she going to stop with the impersonations and show us who "Paris Bennett" really is? She executed well, though, if a bit over the top. My Grade: B
3. Chris - You know what I'm going to say, I know what I'm going to say. It's not like the song choice helped much. I take exception, however, to Randy saying that it seemed "sharp" -- I thoroughly disagree, as there was no discernible pitch to call sharp or flat. My Grade: B
4. Mandisa - I lover her energy and her performance skills, but this just wasn't a good song. The beginning was monotonous, and the rest sounded like screaming. I know she's better than this. My Grade: B-
5. Kellie - Give the girl some credit for knowing her style. Pretty good performance, the singing was just ok, though. There seemed to be a lack of support under the higher and longer-held notes, and if you closed your eyes, it sounded very karaoke. My Grade: C+
6. Bucky - He keeps hanging around out of sheer will, because it's not talent. Also someone who knows his own style, he still suffers from a very narrow vocal range, and diction issues. C'mon, even Paula was calling him on it. The band also swallowed him up -- again -- and I'm not sure it's the band's fault. My Grade: C
7. Taylor - I just found myself losing interest halfway through the song. The vocal was ok, but there were some breaks on the held notes. My Grade: C
8. Ace - What's with the rocking back and forth? He looked like he'd never been on stage before tonight. The tone was very nasal/pinched. My Grade: C-
9. Lisa - The second half of the song showed good pop style, but Lisa had pitch issues all over the place. I like the fact that she tried something a little less "musical theater", but the execution wasn't there. My Grade: C-
10. Katherine - I didn't have the McPheever today. Everyone keeps picking this song, and, I guess it's supposed to sound that way, but to me it sounded like she never had the key and was searching all over for it -- she looked very uncomfortable during the opening section. The song was a poor fit for her voice, and she showed inconsistency in the ranges. My Grade: D

Overall rankings:

1. Chris Daughtry (+2)
2. Katherine McPhee (-1)
3. Mandisa (-1)
4. Paris Bennett (NC)
5. Elliott Yamin (+2)
6. Taylor Hicks (NC)
7. Lisa Tucker (-2)
8. Ace Young (NC)
9. Kellie Pickler (NC)
10. Bucky Covington (NC)

[kevkrom]

Do you suppose it's possible to both act dumber than a box of rocks and actually be that dumb at the same time?

Yes. I saw Ellen Green ("Audrey" in Litte Shop of Horrors, stage and screen versions) on Letterman or Leno once... she seems dumber in real life than "Audrey" ever was.

[silent_jonny]

Morning, Wolfstar :)

Sorry. I know you like him, but Chris was just downright horrible tonight.

WHAT!?

I'm kidding :) Yeah, he was pretty bad. I have to agree with Simon (even though he's sending Chris mixed signals), that song and performance was indulgent. It was like he was singing to himself. If you call screaming "singing".

Rock performances like that are a dime a dozen.

Yep. This is about the fourth or fifth consecutive week that Chris has performed this same type of song. It's boring now. And he cheapens himself every time he does it.

He's capable of better and I think last night's reaction might have woke him up.

I still haven't picked one favorite to root for this year

This year is a little odd, isn't it? There don't seem to be any obvious front runners, like Kelly in the first season, or Carrie and Bo last season. They're all pretty even this year--and that's good, I guess, but no one is really breaking away from the pack.

[A knight without armor]

I voted for Taylor Hicks. I thought he did the best last night. I did not like his clothes but his body looked different, tanner and thinner. Perhaps all this has put him outside more and he has lost weight? Or it is the make up artist.

Paris might have had the next best song. I don't know. I just cannot like her because to me she is such an overdone doll. She seems way too young to me.

I'm all for Mandisa proving to the world she can get up on the stage and be her best and not be super thin. Yet come on, I feel those jeans she wore last night were too homey and unflattering.

[Netizen]

Thought you might like to see this from The Official Soul Patrol HQ. :)

"Taylor Hicks, Birmingham's American Idol, has jumped on board with Kid One Transport to help raise funds for this Birmingham, Alabama based non-profit! Taylor has been kind enough to round up 15 American Idol contestants and have them personally autograph an official American Idol T-Shirt to be auctioned off to the public in support of this organization!

Taylor is very familiar with Kid One Transport and came up with this idea to bring in funds to help support its mission of “Transporting children and expectant mothers, with limited or no transportation, to medical care”; the mission is simple.

All proceeds from this personally autographed American Idol t-shirt will go straight to benefit thousands of children from around the state who continue to forego medical care because their family lacks adequate means of transportation; your support will help meet this critical need. Kid One Transport is the only non-profit transit system in Alabama providing free transportation to thousands of children and expectant mothers, who have little or no means of transportation, to needed medical appointments.

Kid One Transport would like to personally thank Taylor Hicks for coordinating this project, believing in Kid One, and supporting charities such as this in his hometown. In addition, we would like to thank all of the American Idols who offered their autographs in support of such a wonderful cause."

Sincerely,

The Kid One Transport Staff

www.kidone.org

[heylady]

BTW - Nashville Star just blew Idol out of the water tonight. 7 Amazing performances"

Nashville Star is so superior to the screeching on American Idol. These kids are so much more talented. After one guy sang a Keith Whitley song I had to log onto Amazon and buy a Whitley CD. They are all so good I can't pick a favorite.

They just need to get rid of Cowboy Troy and it would be a great show.

[commish]

OK everyone is talking about Simon giving Chris mixed signals, but he really isn't. Let me explain.

Last week when he Complemented Chris on not compromising he was talking about Chris' ability to take somgs like "Higher Ground" and "Walk the Line" and find a version that fits his vocal style. Chris does that very well.

However, this week Chris did not take a song that is not generally considered a rock song and find a rock version. He went Hard Rock. aqnd he went to far in my opinion.

"Walk the line" with a rock edge played to the AI audience, last night was too hard for AI. Chris crossed the line last night, and unless he pulls out a kickass ballad or something his popularity will continue to wane as the weeks progress. That was what Simon was on him about.

Simon likes Chris, he is trying to reign Chris in now because he wants Chris to be in the top 2, and he knows that "Creed" will not get Chris into the top 2 on AI.

[silent_jonny]

Paris - You know, I find her so acutely boring that I can't even comment legitimately on her performance. Next ....

LMAO!!!

Last night's show was awful--in every way. No one was really good. The band played too fast. Everything felt rushed and constricted. Not pleasant.

But I am looking forward to the results tonight. Lisa will probably get the boot. But I'm more interested in seeing who joins her in the bottom 3. Could be a shock :)

[kevkrom]

"What's a genre?" /pickler :)

That should be: "What's a John-ra?"

[silent_jonny]

-Ace sucked. Scar-rubbing does not an Idol make.

But the scar is all he has! :)

[silent_jonny]

Kind of funny, tho. Last week he applauds Chris for not compromising, and this week he slams him for staying too much the same!

Exactly. No wonder Chris stays the same--he's been praised for not changing for over a month.

[silent_jonny]

If I had to summarize the night in one word, I think "crap" would win out by a whisker over "boring". If I could take two words, "boring crap" beats any other description by a landslide. Part of it has to be the material, but the contestants also seemed to go out of their way to choose things that were monotonous and dull.

That one paragraph sums up last night's show perfectly.

[Netizen]

A little more info on the AI autographed shirt auction. The shirt was signed by the following:

* Kellie Pickler
* Ace Young
* Will Makar
* Chris Daughtry
* Bucky Covington
* Katharine McPhee
* Taylor Hicks
* Sway
* Elliot Yamin
* Mandisa
* Ayla Brown
* Kevin Covais
* Paris Bennett
* Melissa McGhee
* Lisa Tucker

***This auction will begin on EBay at 3:00pm Pacific Standard Time TOMORROW - March 29th.***

[silent_jonny]

Chris crossed the line last night, and unless he pulls out a kickass ballad or something his popularity will continue to wane as the weeks progress

Can't argue with that. I predict we'll get a ballad from Chris next week. Something very slow and quiet to make up for last night's scream fest.

[Samwise]

Simon's advice to Chris was interesting, telling him to play more to his female audience.
Kind of funny, tho. Last week he applauds Chris for not compromising, and this week he slams him for staying too much the same!

I think that the difference is because Chris was good last week and horrible this week. He lost me as a fan. I can't stand rockers who just scream...and that's what he did, scream into the mike.

I liked the tone of Taylor's performance. More calm and less herky jerky.

I liked Taylor better that I've ever liked him before.

Looking forward to better performances next week. I just want to hear Elliott sing twice in one show. ":^)

I look forward to hearing more from him too. He is growing. Part of the fun of American Idol is seeing who grows from the experience and who deteriorates. I think Ace self destructed. The local FOX and Friends hosts were talking about how creepy he was.

[retrokitten]

Poor jonny. Here's a prize...

a cowboy shower curtain!

[retrokitten]

Yes! It's a great song. You were close, Little Big Town is the name of the band.

[retrokitten]

:-D

I aim to please.