Top 16 Elim, and the first Top 12 performance
All right - I finally got all my back log posted, and now I just need to post a bit about the last elimination and last night's show. Here we go!
Sundance, Sabrina, Antonella and Jared say goodbye...
Right. So I can see why Antonella and Jared went home...especially the former. All she did was try to be cute and kinda sing and hope that would get her through. I'm so glad it didn't work. There are enough people that did get through to torture us without adding her to the mix. But more on that later. Jared...he was a good kid, but I guess his personality didn't come through the way it should have to gain him enough fans. I certainly would have been happy to switch Brandon out for him but I'm only one American. I can only have so much of what I want. It shouldn't be that way but oh well!
As for Sabrina...how in the hell did she not make the Top 12? What moron thought highly enough of Haley to put her on top out of that duo? I'm not saying that Haley can't sing. Obviously she can. I'm also not saying that Sabrina was perfect - I had my issues. But side by side...Haley should be snuggling on the couch with her man, wishing she could be on the big stage. And now, as one of my coworkers said, she'll probably be in it for a few more weeks because of her sympathy gaining sobfest last night. *stalls self* Focus, Aud.
Sundance...oh Sundance. How I loved thee. You blew me away in your auditions. And I thought it was pretty cool that we had another lineage person (last season's Paris Bennett's gram is in Sounds of Blackness). But I can't help thinking that you thought you wouldn't have to try that hard. And I also think that your notariety once removed is what got you to the Top 24 after piss poor performances during Hollywood week. I thought surely getting this far, you would re-find your game and bring it home. It was not to be. Although you did astoundingly well with Mustang Sally, you failed me with Nights In White Satin and Jeremy. Maybe it was your song selection gene that was malfunctioning and not your ego. Either way, you didn't sit well with the American public and you had to go. Hopefully, you will be a lesson for those yet to travel your path. Hopefully you will get that job you are looking for :)
Now...on to this week. I probably won't keep looking for pictures if it means getting this up late...but I could change my mind. Oh that's just how I am :)
It was Diana Ross night, and here's what the contestants came up with...
1. Brandon Rogers “You Can’t Hurry Love”
For someone that has been a background singer and wants to try and move up front, he gave a piss poor performance. I can’t say that I would miss him if he left the competition but, if he manages to stay, he has A LOT of work to do. He got a little too caught up in where he was and what was going on that he lost his words, making the performance fall flatter than it already was. Not the best thing coming out of the Top 12 gate for the first time.
2. Melinda Doolittle “Home”
Melinda, on the other hand, showed exactly how to make the stage all about the person standing front and center. This song is amazing, and I have loved it for many years - but you have to do it well to get the right reaction. Holy crap - she sang her face off! I wasn’t sobbing like Paula was, but I was definitely tearing up. I think I’ll be saying something to this effect every week - see you at the finale!
3. Chris Sligh “Endless Love”
I normally love this guy but the horrible rearrangement of this song made me forget for 3 minutes why I did. I mean, his vocals were solid but I think it’s going to come down to personal taste with this one. If asked, and if this was the only thing I had heard from him, I wouldn’t throw any votes his way.
4. Gina Glocksen “Love Child”
I’m not all that familiar with this number, and it’s definitely not the style we love seeing Gina dress up in - but you really can’t when you have a Diana Ross theme. That said, she did an okay job. Knowing the history she has with the song made it easier to understand the fun she had on stage, so I think she’ll squeeze by.
5. Sanjaya Malakar “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
This performance could well land him in the bottom three. I believe that he was trying to take Diana’s words of wisdom to heart…I just don’t know if he really knew how to incorporate them very well. The biggest failing (I found) is that she told him he really needed to grab the audience when a song starts so immediately like the one he chose…but I couldn’t hear him clearly for most of the song, and I can’t imagine how that could have kept many people focused while he was on stage. But he’s sweet!
6. Haley Scarnato “Missing You”
I had a problem hearing her too, but since it was an isolated phenomenon (her and Sanjaya before her) I can only guess that their nerves about the new stage and the influx of people knocked them off whatever game they had. She tried to overcompensate and went for some big notes - those didn’t work either. So it makes me wonder again…why was Sabrina voted out??
7. Phil Stacey “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”
I know that I root for him for all of the wrong reasons (he’s goofy cute and his ears…I just want to pluck them!) but I would be fine with him leaving the competition if he was consistently handing out lackluster performances. I didn’t feel this was one of those. The most immediate thing was that he started off way better than he usually does…there was no warbly, quiet weirdness…it was solid, it was good. I definitely think he brought his game enough that he’ll be in it for at least another week.
8. Lakisha Jones “God Bless The Child”
She definitely did the song up right: the hair, the dress, the performance - they were all sleek, and she wore them well. She exercised a lot of control, and she gave just the right amount of what was needed to make the performance shine. I can see her and Melinda in the fnale. Talk about Diva Vote Split.
9. Blake Lewis “You Keep Me Hanging On”
This change of arrangement was better (but not great) so for that he gets a thumbs up. It definitely wasn’t a favorite for me, which seems to speak to how he performed without his beat box. Regardless, he held his own well enough that he should be around to show us what else he has to offer next week.
10. Stephanie Edwards “Love Hangover”
Her voice…when it’s lower and in that sultry space and time…that’s where I love her. However, she always feels the need to go for the power notes, and while that is normally a good thing, she never seems to quite nail it from where I’m sitting. She sounds screechy when she tries to do runs in her higher register. Compared to others though, she should have no fear of leaving the competition early.
11. Chris Richardson “The Boss”
FINALLY. One of the judges got it right. I could have kissed the screen when Simon dissed the vocals in this performance. In actuality, he gave Chris more credit than I ever would - saying that he had personality and stage presence that has been helping him along. I’m hoping that Paula and Randy get their ears cleaned before they watch the show back. They have more influence over the public than they know. Summary: He can’t sing. Go home.
12. Jordin Sparks “If We Hold On Together”
I didn’t really like this song - I wasn’t familiar with it and it really didn’t do anything for me. I also felt it was an odd choice, given the wealth of Diana Ross songs they had to choose from. There were some pitch issues, but overall, even a bad night for her (this wasn’t it by far) is better than other people’s fantastic night.
I see the bottom three being:
o Chris Richardson
o Brandon Rogers
o Sanjaya Malakar
Out of those three, I most want to see Chris go home (were you surprised by that?? I knew you would be! *heh*), but I’m afraid that the people that have been voting for him might keep him here another week. Out of the other two, I’d be happier to see Brandon go - but it’s anyone’s guess how the votes will fall.
Stay tuned! :)
See you tomorrow! :)
Sundance, Sabrina, Antonella and Jared say goodbye...
Right. So I can see why Antonella and Jared went home...especially the former. All she did was try to be cute and kinda sing and hope that would get her through. I'm so glad it didn't work. There are enough people that did get through to torture us without adding her to the mix. But more on that later. Jared...he was a good kid, but I guess his personality didn't come through the way it should have to gain him enough fans. I certainly would have been happy to switch Brandon out for him but I'm only one American. I can only have so much of what I want. It shouldn't be that way but oh well!
As for Sabrina...how in the hell did she not make the Top 12? What moron thought highly enough of Haley to put her on top out of that duo? I'm not saying that Haley can't sing. Obviously she can. I'm also not saying that Sabrina was perfect - I had my issues. But side by side...Haley should be snuggling on the couch with her man, wishing she could be on the big stage. And now, as one of my coworkers said, she'll probably be in it for a few more weeks because of her sympathy gaining sobfest last night. *stalls self* Focus, Aud.
Sundance...oh Sundance. How I loved thee. You blew me away in your auditions. And I thought it was pretty cool that we had another lineage person (last season's Paris Bennett's gram is in Sounds of Blackness). But I can't help thinking that you thought you wouldn't have to try that hard. And I also think that your notariety once removed is what got you to the Top 24 after piss poor performances during Hollywood week. I thought surely getting this far, you would re-find your game and bring it home. It was not to be. Although you did astoundingly well with Mustang Sally, you failed me with Nights In White Satin and Jeremy. Maybe it was your song selection gene that was malfunctioning and not your ego. Either way, you didn't sit well with the American public and you had to go. Hopefully, you will be a lesson for those yet to travel your path. Hopefully you will get that job you are looking for :)
Now...on to this week. I probably won't keep looking for pictures if it means getting this up late...but I could change my mind. Oh that's just how I am :)
It was Diana Ross night, and here's what the contestants came up with...
1. Brandon Rogers “You Can’t Hurry Love”
For someone that has been a background singer and wants to try and move up front, he gave a piss poor performance. I can’t say that I would miss him if he left the competition but, if he manages to stay, he has A LOT of work to do. He got a little too caught up in where he was and what was going on that he lost his words, making the performance fall flatter than it already was. Not the best thing coming out of the Top 12 gate for the first time.
2. Melinda Doolittle “Home”
Melinda, on the other hand, showed exactly how to make the stage all about the person standing front and center. This song is amazing, and I have loved it for many years - but you have to do it well to get the right reaction. Holy crap - she sang her face off! I wasn’t sobbing like Paula was, but I was definitely tearing up. I think I’ll be saying something to this effect every week - see you at the finale!
3. Chris Sligh “Endless Love”
I normally love this guy but the horrible rearrangement of this song made me forget for 3 minutes why I did. I mean, his vocals were solid but I think it’s going to come down to personal taste with this one. If asked, and if this was the only thing I had heard from him, I wouldn’t throw any votes his way.
4. Gina Glocksen “Love Child”
I’m not all that familiar with this number, and it’s definitely not the style we love seeing Gina dress up in - but you really can’t when you have a Diana Ross theme. That said, she did an okay job. Knowing the history she has with the song made it easier to understand the fun she had on stage, so I think she’ll squeeze by.
5. Sanjaya Malakar “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
This performance could well land him in the bottom three. I believe that he was trying to take Diana’s words of wisdom to heart…I just don’t know if he really knew how to incorporate them very well. The biggest failing (I found) is that she told him he really needed to grab the audience when a song starts so immediately like the one he chose…but I couldn’t hear him clearly for most of the song, and I can’t imagine how that could have kept many people focused while he was on stage. But he’s sweet!
6. Haley Scarnato “Missing You”
I had a problem hearing her too, but since it was an isolated phenomenon (her and Sanjaya before her) I can only guess that their nerves about the new stage and the influx of people knocked them off whatever game they had. She tried to overcompensate and went for some big notes - those didn’t work either. So it makes me wonder again…why was Sabrina voted out??
7. Phil Stacey “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”
I know that I root for him for all of the wrong reasons (he’s goofy cute and his ears…I just want to pluck them!) but I would be fine with him leaving the competition if he was consistently handing out lackluster performances. I didn’t feel this was one of those. The most immediate thing was that he started off way better than he usually does…there was no warbly, quiet weirdness…it was solid, it was good. I definitely think he brought his game enough that he’ll be in it for at least another week.
8. Lakisha Jones “God Bless The Child”
She definitely did the song up right: the hair, the dress, the performance - they were all sleek, and she wore them well. She exercised a lot of control, and she gave just the right amount of what was needed to make the performance shine. I can see her and Melinda in the fnale. Talk about Diva Vote Split.
9. Blake Lewis “You Keep Me Hanging On”
This change of arrangement was better (but not great) so for that he gets a thumbs up. It definitely wasn’t a favorite for me, which seems to speak to how he performed without his beat box. Regardless, he held his own well enough that he should be around to show us what else he has to offer next week.
10. Stephanie Edwards “Love Hangover”
Her voice…when it’s lower and in that sultry space and time…that’s where I love her. However, she always feels the need to go for the power notes, and while that is normally a good thing, she never seems to quite nail it from where I’m sitting. She sounds screechy when she tries to do runs in her higher register. Compared to others though, she should have no fear of leaving the competition early.
11. Chris Richardson “The Boss”
FINALLY. One of the judges got it right. I could have kissed the screen when Simon dissed the vocals in this performance. In actuality, he gave Chris more credit than I ever would - saying that he had personality and stage presence that has been helping him along. I’m hoping that Paula and Randy get their ears cleaned before they watch the show back. They have more influence over the public than they know. Summary: He can’t sing. Go home.
12. Jordin Sparks “If We Hold On Together”
I didn’t really like this song - I wasn’t familiar with it and it really didn’t do anything for me. I also felt it was an odd choice, given the wealth of Diana Ross songs they had to choose from. There were some pitch issues, but overall, even a bad night for her (this wasn’t it by far) is better than other people’s fantastic night.
I see the bottom three being:
o Chris Richardson
o Brandon Rogers
o Sanjaya Malakar
Out of those three, I most want to see Chris go home (were you surprised by that?? I knew you would be! *heh*), but I’m afraid that the people that have been voting for him might keep him here another week. Out of the other two, I’d be happier to see Brandon go - but it’s anyone’s guess how the votes will fall.
Stay tuned! :)
See you tomorrow! :)