I have enjoyed reading everyone's analysis of last night's show. It's a testimony to the enduring love of a great band like Queen and a phenomenal performer like Freddie Mercury.
Here are my thoughts for whatever they are worth:
I thought last night was very entertaining and thought everyone turned in surprisingly pleasing performances. These are in no particular order.
Bucky- Sweet, Bucky. I love that husky quality in his voice. I really enjoyed the countrified Fat Bottom Girls. Nice kid, good voice, but definitely NOT the next American Idol. With only 8 left, his number is just about up.
Ace- I usually don't like Ace at all. I hate his gay falsetto stuff. But, I must say, I may be one of the only people that actually kind of enjoyed his performance. It was different for him, and I didn't find him repulsive, for once.
Katharine- I hate to say this, but I think this will be another bottom 3 week for her. She is my favorite, she is beautiful and has a fantastic voice. She just has a hard time really connecting with the audience, and after all, that't how you sell records. She is always just sitting on the verge of something great, but just can't get there.
Kellie- I can't believe I'm saying this, but pretty nice job with a seriously difficult song and arrangement. However, I hate the antics she puts on. The grabbing of the head, tussling the hair thing, YUK! She always looks like she's trying to hard. I also HATE how she sings words with extra letters in them. Over emphasizing y's. Anyone else notice this? It's excrutiating. If she could lose that quality in here singing, she'd sound much better.
Paris- Same goes for her words. Something odd in the way she sings. It sounds like she has a sore throat or something. Her facial expressions remind me of what a cat looks like after they have been sniffing something. That open mouth thing they do. I can't quite describe it, but it's odd. I know most think she is a great singer, even the Queen guys, but I just don't see it, never have. Probably, it's just me.
Taylor- Good song choice for him, enjoyable and entertaining performance. I just can't help myself for liking him. He makes me smile. Is he the next Idol, probably not, but should have a good career after the show.
Elliott- I'm in love with Elliott. He has a beautiful and pure voice which if nurtured, could put him in the ranks of Luther and Marvin, IMHO. You don't have to be gorgeous and hip to sell records, but you do to be an Idol, that's Elliott's difficulty. I thought this performance was wonderful! It was very different for him, he looked much more at ease, and I found it to be very pleasing. Elliott would fit well and be marketable . in a group setting with lead vocals like a Boys to Men, etc. However, it would be selling him short. He's way to good to share. I think the way to go for him is solo R&B.
Chris- Probably a decent song choice for his style. I really like Chris, but I don't find him very versatile. He is starting to get a little boring to me. I really want him to have a break away performance and show us another Walk the Line blow out. I'm not sure Chris is the next AI.
LMAO! High praise, indeed.
Re: Paris it was just too low for her, IMO. In the little rehearsal clip they showed she sounded great and I said to my husband, "Oh no! She's going to do really good!" Then her actual performance wasn't as good. Like others have said, it's like she didn't "get" the song. It seemed like she missed the target on intensity and got harshness instead.
Hi, CB :)
McPhee had a perfectly good song to start with--she could have really had a moment, like Simon said. But instead she chose a very boring song to perform. It's like she's sabotaging herself.