AI Season 12 - 8 Remain

     I was thrilled to see Amber Holcomb in the bottom three, because of all the girls she is the least talented and prepared for the mantle of American Idol. And this year's AI should definitely be a girl. I was a little surprised Lazaro wasn't in the bottom, but not as surprised as I was to hear that he didn't really have only one day to learn his song, as he claimed. His claim of that won him a lot of sympathy from me, so I might have tossed a few votes his way if I had voted. When Jimmy said Lazaro must have misspoke on that, I was shocked. That's not the kind of thing that's a simple mistake. So I think Lazaro may lose a lot of the understanding he had from viewers, because he's misrepresenting and playing the "poor me" card unfairly.
     I wasn't sorry to see Paul Jolley go. He was my bottom contestant last week, and he just wasn't getting what the judges were saying. This was clear in his sing for your life choice re-perform of "Alone." If he wants to be pop country as he claims, he should have done "Amazed." And left out any bizarre Broadway overselling. He wasn't one of the top males I liked from the 20 anyway, he was just an alternate. So ta-ta, Paul.

     So it looks like we're doing Motown this week. Yup. Oh. . . or maybe Detroit in general? I don't know if most of these shrimps can take on that challenge. Seriously, I hope at some point there's a backlash against these know-nothing neophytes and real struggling artists get to compete on a talent show. I was happy at least that jimmy agreed with me last week about the Beatles. Yes, if you're trying to be an American Idol, you should make sure you have some music knowledge. As Jimmy said, in some ways it should be treated as a job interview. Unfortunately, Jimmy, I fear the voters don't really know or care much about music history, so I don't think they care if the contestants don't know the basics or the classics.


     How wonderful that Candice got such a positive reaction from Smokey Robinson about "I Who Have Nothing." I am sick of hearing the most famous Motown songs on AI's Motown week, but with any luck Candice will do a little something new with "I Heard it Through the Grapevine."
     Hm. Going a little more bluesy R&B with it, with kind of some '80s R&B pop rock in there. But it still doesn't come out sounding much different. But her singing is excellent. At times really on par with some of the best established singers. Fantastic.
     I don't know if I agree with Keith that it was her best performance, but it was close at least. I still don't know what Nicki is talking about with Candice's face, because I agree with what Jimmy said last week; Candice is always emoting through her face and there's nothing wrong with that. Why is Mariah even bringing up Candice belonging in the competition? Was that in question? Randy mentioned it too. I also don't know what Mariah is referring to when she says what she wants to hear, even though apparently they've talked about it a lot. Not enough for me, apparently. Oh, I guess it's churchy jazz.

     Okay, so it is Detroit in general, since they are forcing Kree and Janelle to sing Madonna (by way of Jennifer Nettles). With the two of them doing a duet, it's going to put their voices close enough side by side that you can really compare. Kree comes out on top, I think. It's hard because Janelle's voice is unique, but Kree's is perfect. But this isn't a good song for either of them. Bleh.
     I disagree with Nicki's assessment that they both look great. Janelle's silver shirt is not flattering. It's clinging in the wrong places across the tummy on a normal-sized girl who doesn't have a problematic tummy. I do however agree with the rest of Nicki's judging. Kree rose well above Janelle. Randy is right as well, Janelle was off a couple of times, in pitch and once even on cue. I don't know what Mariah's talking about with Kree missing a lyric. I'd have to watch back on that. Keith's on crack saying the song worked well, and is his usual wuss self saying he won't critique them "because they're not a duo." True Keith, but you could hear them both singing, and solo performers do sing with others sometimes.

     Lazaro is singing "For Once in My Life" and apparently is answering back to Jimmy. Well, either Jimmy was telling the truth or Lazaro was, and I'm assuming it was Jimmy since they didn't announce that Jimmy was wrong and Lazaro did only have a night to learn his Beatles song. So I don't know what the answer back is suppose to be about. It doesn't seem like anything is changing, either. As usual when he sings, in the studio Lazaro is mushing and blurring the words in the lyrics as if he doesn't know the words: "For once in ma life, I woenmledsorohurdmeee. . ." I like Lazaro, but I'm getting tired of the excuses and the marbles in his mouth. It's not about stuttering, it's about the opposite: string the words together in a fast smear.
      In his performance, he doesn't even say "life." And he sounds too close to the microphone again. He slurs "whamahausetodreamuh--uh-of" (what my heart used to dream of). But this performance is miles better than anything he's done recently. I think this is the first time since he made the top 10 that he's given a real performance. He's still nervously sweaty, and there's definitely the enunciation problems, but it was good. It looks like Lazaro's lost the humble acceptance of criticism as well, to the point where he seems weirdly cocky. He may have swung too far in the other direction now. I feel a little confused by his attitude, saying "no problem, yeah, no problem, boo," to Randy. Huh?! This is an established professional judging you. Show a little respect. don't let him walk all over you, but don't shrug, eyebrow wiggle, and call the dude "boo." Nicki is on the crazy train with Lazaro, it seems, hitting on Smokey Robinson and cheering Lazaro for not listening to Jimmy (I thought he precisely listened to Jimmy, but whatever, Nicki. . . ).

     I'm always excited to see Janelle, though a tad worried about the fact she's using an arrangement she orchestrated when she was fourteen. Smokey Robinson helped her, though, and I think it could be incredible. This could be her transformation star performance.
     I like that she sounds young and honest when she starts. It's desperate, raw, and totally different than the original version of "You Keep Me Hangin' On." I don't hear the changes Smokey made, but she still is fantastic. This was definitely taking a song you could be a little sick of hearing and making it into something you'd love to hear. So far she's my best of the night. Star transformation all the way.
     I wish Mariah would stop sucking up to Smokey Robinson, but apart from that she did a good job summing up Janelle's transcendence. And Keith heard the raw desperation I did, although he is completely unaware of that angst in the original either. I hear it more as tension and a sort of even, but roiling anger in the original. This one was more pain like she is reeling and begging for it to stop; the original is more like she's seething and steaming and demanding that it really end. Either way, I sense the angst. But I identify with it more in Janelle's version. I don't know what Nicki is talking about criticizing any pitch in this. I didn't hear much more than a quaver off, if that. I agree with Randy, it was one of her best. Maybe the best since since been Top Ten.
     And so cute to hear her uncle made her guitar! I think Keith doesn't know how a small girl looks with a full size guitar, because she looks normal to me. I hope they don't make her switch it out, especially if it's one that was made just for her that she's been playing forever.

     Devin is singing "The Tracks of My Tears." I don't know why, but I find it hard to believe Smokey's memory of how he came up with the lyrics, but who am I to say? He knows, I suppose. But he should know that you do see the tracks of tears, it's not the imaginary possibility he thought of. Has he never noticed that? I would think he must know that, especially having written the song and having thousands of people talk to him about it! Devin's take sounds interesting enough, but it is going to be hard to get the timing just right.
     The performance sounds good, though it comes off more old fashioned than everyone else tonight. Reminds me a little of the third-place finisher last year. Devin's voice sounded very pretty though. It was good.
     All the judges agree. They may be a little more loving of it than I was. I don't know how Nicki sees him as a ripe banana.

     I'm excited to see Burnell do Motown!

     Oh. Looks like I may have to wait through Amber, Angie, and Candice's Supremes performance. Starts W-E-A-K. And continues weak with Amber. Candice brings it to a professional level, and Angie continues, but with her usual overwhelming amount of Camera Eye. Amber is using a chicken in a book to get her man. Is it not obvious to everyone in the world how flat Amber falls next to these two? She's pretty, she's okay, but she's just not a star.
     Mariah, no one is going to use your word Pow, no matter how many times you try to get it heard. Hashtag or no hashtag. What the hell was that? How come Janelle and Kree got critiqued completely and these three just get a short word from Mariah? She's wrong about Amber. She may be made to wear one of the dresses the Supremes wore, but she wasn't made for singing their songs.

     Maybe they were just in a hurry to get to Burnell singing "My Cherie Amour!" What a great choice for him. Just don't go nasal, and don't do too much weird with it. I don't understand why he kept taking a breath after the fourth "la" in the studio rehearsal. You should be able to get the first line of them all out easily in one breath, the next in another breath.
     He does the same thing in the performance. I'm also confused, because he seems to be saying "amourb" or "amourn" rather than "amour." What's even weirder is that the first time he says "adore," there's a close up on his mouth and you can see he's saying "adorm!" And follows it up with "heart beats form." Why is he doing this, and why did nobody stop him? I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. "How I wish that you were mineD," he continues. "My cherie amourm, won't you tell me how good ignoreb. . . " I am dying. I can't even pay much attention to the singing with all this weirdness! "My cherie amourm, pretty little one that I adorm, you're the only girl my heart beats form, how I wish that you worm mine." And yes, I nitpick. I do. But I swear I am not nitpicking here. This isn't smearing one word to another. He is saying these words independently, with space in between. "Worm mine." He actually took a breath in between worm and mine there. It was psycho. His voice sounded okay, because at no point did that enter into the judgment. It was fine. But he has to sing in a language where the words make sense!
     Nicki didn't hear any of it, I guess. She also thinks he looks good in his pegged, under-lined white pants. They make him look hip heavy and cheap. Randy didn't hear it, Mariah didn't (and also likes the cheap, ill-fitting pants). Keith may have heard what I did and is excusing it as "Burnell," but he's so unwilling to criticize it's hard to say. Perhaps all the judges thought they just misheard the weirdness, and didn't have the benefit of the camera close ups to confirm their actual existence. Truth be told, if I didn't see it with my own eyes, I don't know if I'd believe it either, because it's just too bizarre.

     I don't know why Angie is doing "Shop Around." She's also putting a lot of gravity into it in the studio. It's a lighthearted song. His mama is telling him to be more lighthearted. Smokey seemed to pick up on that and warned her against the heavy. Angie thinks Jimmy is unaware of her background and therefore thinks it's a funny coincidence he tells her to not make it My Fair Lady. I'm sure Jimmy knows what she's done. He knows what she has to get away from. Altogether this does not sound like it's going to be a good mix for Angie, song or arrangement or changes or temperament.
     She comes right out of the gate with the enunciation Jimmy warned her off. "Understand now" and "before you ask" sounded like she was in elocution class. The vocals a little lost in the mix, but it sounds like she's singing okay in most parts. The ends of lines are getting a little muddled or trail off. The whole thing is a mess to me. The dramatic halting end was a nightmare. Ugh. Her worst performance by far.
     Randy agrees it was strange, pitchy, and not great. I agree with Mariah that Angie looks fantastic. Mariah sucks up to Smokey again, tells Angie this was the wrong song, and suggests "I'll Be There" at the piano could have been a winner. I agree. Keith has some good ideas also---Angie was getting way too excited about the song. I don't know what the melody had to do with it. But I do hope she continues, because she's great. Nicki agrees with me that the melody isn't a problem. And I agree with Nicki that this was a weird departure for Angie that was trying to hard to show things she needn't go near. It was like she was trying to be a silly-sexy pop singer. Smokey looks a little upset for Angie, which is sweet. I wish we were getting a word from him on this. Angie vows to keep having fun if she sticks around (not the best idea since that's what she claimed she did on this song) and gives her doe-eyed Marie Osmond Stepford stare into the camera.

     I'm excited to see Keith Urban tomorrow night. Pretty pretty!

     Amber is singing "Lately," so far the only girl besides Janelle to go sweet and pleading. It's a great plan, but she doesn't have the same kind of effortless connection and sincerity Janelle does.
     She sounds nervous a little immature as she starts. She sounds more like a competition singer than the other girls this season, and that's the simple fact. Her breathing and power aren't as natural. It's halting and stilted. It's a little better when she adds more power, because when she's just singing plain she really sounds like a child. But even with the power, it doesn't feel like enough. I hear the possibility of what she could do sometime, but she's just not there yet.
     As before, the judges don't agree with me. Mariah thought it was a tour de force, which she hints no one knows the definition of yet refuses to define (I guess she doesn't know either). Keith claims he heard emotion, and I am wondering where on earth he did. Amber is a singing robot, a coin-op Whitney player. I head anxiety and childishness with heaping dollops of power to cover up the simple childlike mechanisms. Amber is confident she was never gone, and I agree, she didn't perform any worse than usual last week. None of it is good enough, that's the problem.

     Devin, Lazaro, and Burnell are ending the group numbers with "I Can't Help Myself." They look good, but these guys cannot speak properly, so they're losing words right and left in this song. Uh oh! That read like Lazaro missed a cue! I don't know if it really was, but if not, this song is the Burnell-Devin show, because Lazaro sang literally about ten words the whole time. The entire performance sounded under rehearsed and full of holes. I guess Burnell came out sounding the best, Devin as if he were trying to be the head honcho and loudest, and Lazaro was the sad halfhearted followup.
     Nicki was justifiably outraged, and told them all to get off the stage. Burnell defended his choices, Devin threw the others under the bus in every way he could, and Lazaro played the "we didn't know the words" excuse recording again.

     Kree will be a welcome relief. She's singing "Don't Play that Song," and looks like the one who is most honestly aware of how staggering it is to meet Smokey Robinson and sing Aretha Franklin on AI! They didn't let us hear much from the studio, but I expect big things considering Smokey said it was the best he'd heard in the studio.
     Kree has such a gorgeous voice, it's not like she's just country, so this works beautifully. She reminds me of Linda Ronstadt. And she's one of few people tonight who really knew and understood her song well enough to sing it properly. To me, it wasn't my favorite performance of Kree's, because the song isn't my favorite style, but it was awesome and flawless. Maybe one waver out of control.
     I think Randy feels the same as I do, given his comments. Excited, complimentary, not saying it was the greatest, but enthusiastic about Kree and seeing her again. Mariah is along the same lines with some self-promotion and sucking up added. Keith reminds the other judges that blues and soul is at the heart of country music as well, and thoughtfully compliments Kree on not trying to be Aretha. That's true, too many people do that, and you're never going to be her, so why try? Nicki compliments Kree on her security of self and consistent confidence.


  

Tonight's Ranking:

1. Janelle Arthur
2. Kree Harrison
3. Candice Glover

These three were so incredible and so far above everyone else it's near pointless to put them in the same categorization list. But I had no choice, so I just split it up with some commentary.

4. Amber Holcomb
5. Devin Velez
6. Lazaro Arbos

Once again, there is a major distinction between the passable middle of the pack and the bottom. I don't know what happened to these two this week, but each for their own reasons, they failed spectacularly. Someone needs to tell Burnell you have to sing the words, not your own interpretation of words.

7. Angie Miller
8. Burnell Taylor


Who should go? Even though I have the bottom two I do, I'd say one of the passable middle three should go, because their lackluster performances were par for their courses. I'd say Lazaro. But Burnell or Devin would be fine also. I feel bad because I like Burnell, but he's not living up to what he can do, and the words tonight were just madness. All the guys will have to go soon enough anyway. But right now Lazaro is delivering the weakest total package.


     

AI season 12 - 9 Remain

     Apparently when I wrote last week I just saved the post, didn't publish, so if you were looking for last week's rundown, it's there now! I'm still new to the new "streamlined" Blogspot format.

     So according to the results show, they are letting an eleventh "idol" join the tour this summer. That seems strange to me, and it's even stranger how they introduced it. I recall no mention of this on any previous show, so how were the choices narrowed to Charlie Askew (terrific last name) and Aubrey Cleland? I was all for Charlie for a while, but then when he sang in the Top 20, I wanted to die for him. It was the kind of thing where you have to look away from the screen sometimes. Unfortunately for AI, I don't think he was the only one this year that engendered such a reaction. As for Charlie specifically, I feel like he went from funky underdog to a little too off and slightly pathetic. However, in spite of loving her name ("and Aubrey was her name. . . "), I find Aubrey super irritating, and she can clearly make it without AI, since everyone's been throwing contracts at her since she flashed her first model smile. Talk about pageants, Jimmy!
     The two contestants I'd have picked for a shot at a spot would be Breanna and the alien guy who sounds like David Gates. That's the closest to Aubrey they should have gotten. But I'm hoping alien will be back next year, with a real chance to compete. Perhaps in the ensuing months he should work on his appearance so I remember his name and not just his haunting voice and alien visual impact. Sorry aliens, but this is American Idol after all, not Alien Idol.

     I was ecstatic that Curtis Finch, Jr. went home last week. That almost never happens for me. I mean, I guess I often guess right who is going home, but it's not usually the person I really most want to go home. To be fair, if Curtis is genuinely not as he appears, he needs major PR help for his horrible portrayal of his inner, better self. If he is a overzealous religious singer who pantomimes like an evil magician from a 1960s B-movie for children, he's already doing an excellent job. But AI should also take some blame for letting the footage air that showed him being an ass to other contestants. If you want to give someone a fair shake, you don't start him off with a strike against him.
     Not only that, but three of my top four (and probably what I'd have put as the unbiased top three) were the actual top three. Thanks, Idol, for implementing this new, open listing of the rankings. It doesn't matter much delineating between the top three, but having the rest ranked could show people when a contestant they love is really in danger even though they appear "safe." I'd have never imagined Paul Jolley was so close to the bottom had they not shown the order of safety. I don't care that much, but someone might. I was thrilled that Janelle was so close to the top.

     Beatles week! This early? Yikes. There are still some stinkers I don't want to hear sing Beatles songs. But I guess it could help get rid of them more quickly.

     Wow, I don't know exactly who Carly Rae Jepson is, although I've seen her picture. Now I know she has trouble with acting and is fake and irritating. Not surprising for someone who is either a prefab popster or a very early sellout.

     Charlie and Aubrey are back to see who survives. If Charlie does make it, at the very least it indicates a positive change in the way teens are seeing each other and the future. It would give me more hope for music and for society in general if he would win. He looks so much better tonight than recently. But he needs to lay off the turtle a bit now, or get a more subtle indication toward it.
     Anyone who knows modern teenagers is not surprised my hopes are dashed and Aubrey is on her way to the summer tour to smile and prance.

     I'm upset that Kree is singing "With A Little Help from My Friends." With the whole Beatles catalog to choose from, why would she do this? It's one song I really have only appreciated when the Beatles sing it. I love Kree, but mean I think she's the one to change that. It's possible. But not likely.
     Ah, it sounds like Jimmy chose it for her. It's okay, I guess. Maybe it's where she can show a little bit of rock soul without having to delve too far into it, and maybe it's a time when she can afford to do that rather than putting her best foot forward performancewise. She is putting her best foot forward as much as she can, and I suppose other people may love this. It was the absolute best she could hope for with this song, in my eyes. I still would have picked something different. But it was still a top performance.
     Basically, Keith sums up all my positives without any mention of negatives. I think his real feeling is close to mine since when Randy asked if the performance was the bomb, Keith said "I like Kree." The rest of the judges were on the bomb train.

     Burnell is up next with his adorable family and a fantastic opportunity with "Let It Be." A wasted opportunity with the disgusting fact he doesn't know "Let It Be." How can you not know "Let It Be?" See, this is one of those times when I find myself wondering what kind of people these contestants really are. What kind of singer or music lover doesn't know "Let It Be?" But let's see if he's just young and ignorant, and able to appreciate greatness and learn from it when he's exposed to it.
     Sounds pretty damn good, and like he understands the lyrics in a way that lets him sing them as if he really feels them. So that's great. His delivery earns him a pass on not knowing the song to begin with. He may even have surpassed Kree, but it's hard for me to judge that without further consideration, since he got to sing such a more moving and potent song. I still hate the way he sounds when he dips low, but it was stellar. OOO! And he humbly notes "I don't know them like I should know them" when Randy asks about the Beatles. Mariah had pretty much the exact same reaction path as I did: Yay, he gets "Let It Be!" Oh, no, he doesn't know it! Wow, he's doing it well. Mariah just subtracted the disgust, or at least politely didn't describe it.
    
     Amber's dad seems sweet enough, but I think maybe they should have laid off her family complications for a little bit longer. This bit only complicated matters more for me, and made what I was assuming was your average divorce-remarriage seem like something more odd.
     The song for Amber is "She's Leaving Home," and now I'm a little annoyed with what is clearly evident: these songs are being given to them, they are not selecting them as in previous years. So not only does that mean people will get songs they don't necessarily know or want to sing, it means the producers can hand pick who gets the best songs. Like Amber. Though it sounds like she's already messing with it in a way that's meant to show off but more shows she's not relating to the song, just trying to sound impressive. That's a fail in my book, even though Jimmy finds her changes "sophisticated."
     Ha ha, she forgets lyrics from the second line. But it sounds pretty good. It's just too bad she's more concerned with changing the song than appreciating its beauty and learning it. The result is good singing but without a real connection and meaning there. It works well enough, but it doesn't move me at all, and this is a song that usually makes me cry from a few lines in.
     Randy highlights the obvious fact Amber just learned the song. Mariah covers for all the people who excuse themselves for not knowing basic Beatles songs by claiming she didn't know it before. But then Keith excuses her fails by saying it was a fresh, modern take on his favorite Beatles song. I don't believe it. Nicki was seeing what I was: Amber wasn't there in the song as she was singing, she was biding her time and trying to do what she's most comfortable with. I say, if you want to be an artist, learn, don't stagnate.  You don't have to do your learnin' in school, but at least know enough to absorb the strength of masterpieces other artists have given the world.

     I believe they may have let Lazaro choose his own song because he's had some issues with knowing songs in the past. If he knows "In My Life," then it will be a good choice for him. Jimmy's description of Lazaro's take on it as a lighter vocal has me a little worried, though, since the only issue I have with Lazaro is his whispery, blurry delivery of lyrics.
     It is a little whispery and blurry, and sounds a little old-fashioned. But he certainly gets the emotion through. I get my usual teary feeling up until they bring in the other instruments and he stands up. He sounds more comfortable then, but less emotionally deep. Maybe the confidence is more important for him at this point, though.
     I'm shocked, but Mariah instantly keys in on my feeling about the backing music, and it's true what she and Keith say about the key as well. Nicki apparently didn't see any of the increased confidence I saw. Randy is wrong and insulting. It was not out of tune at all! Now Lazaro seems like he's going to cry. That's horrible that they made him change his song last minute! I had thought they would take extra care to give him one he could do well, but I guess they just don't really care. Fairly stupid, given these contestants all have the potential to be cultivated into moneymakers. I'm glad Lazaro revealed the truth about the situation to the voters.

    
     Why in hell would they give anyone who doesn't beg for it "Come Together?" The lyrics are going to unfairly impossible to learn, and that coupled with any unfamiliarity with the song will leave a singer unable to properly connect wit h and convey the emotion. Ah, I see Jimmy is just telling Candice to junk any meaning of the verses and concentrate on the chorus. Thanks for such competent musical insight, Jimmy. I'm losing respect for you like sand through a sieve. I get that maybe they really want to use the Beatles to get rock in for some of the singers they don't think might otherwise have the right opportunity with it, but you have to have a little mercy!
     Not that I don't think Candice can handle it. I do worry about the lyrics, but I'm hoping if they gave her enough time to learn them, she actually did have time to understand the story they tell, which is really the best way to remember them.
     Seems like that's just what she did. She was right on it all the way. I didn't appreciate the end run, but I guess that was a nod to her usual preferences.
     Keith jumps on the planned bandwagon by describing her performance as "rock chick." Randy reinforces that this proves she can do upbeat (upbeat? He must mean literally) songs.
    
     Paul tells the sweet story of moving from a trailer to a farm where his family hand built their own home from farm trees. This presents him in an utterly new light to me, at least. A little confusing that he says he grew up in the trailer and the pictures show him as a child when the house is being built. Of course, back in the studio, he's the diva he's always appeared to be.
     He's got "Eleanor Rigby," another solemn, deep, and moving song like "She's Leaving Home," though it reads a little angrier to me. Given his problems with sincerity and oversinging in the past, I'm doubtful for him with this one, especially hearing some of the gymnastics he's doing in the rehearsal studio.
     His opening falsetto is off key and impotently wispy. He recovers in the repeat. His initial looks to the audience/camera seems sincere, but he's already going to a cheesy place with the vocals. By the time he gets to Father MacKenzie, it's down to straight cheese. He's doing some silly Panic! At the Disco emo Phantom of the Opera faux-drama crap with a song whose power lies in its meaning, not in snarly looks and vocal high jumps. Blegh. A total letdown for me. As always, it's not his voice that's the problem, it's his presentation and attitude.
     Oh! And by presentation, I don't mean his outfit. I agree with Nicki, his threads are perfect this evening. Very handsome. But the song was all, all wrong. I disagree with Nicki that it was bland, safe, or forgettable. On the contrary, it was too overdone. I agree more with Randy, that he wasn't connected (because he went the usual plastic performer route). Mariah and Randy both seem to be pointing out that while he did show some singing ability there, the emotion and sincerity was not. Keith points out the good bits and his vocal talents, but again slips in a hint of his true take on the matter by saying "if we get to hear you again."
     It makes me even more upset that Paul felt he was truthfully feeling the lyrics, and disappoints me greatly that he feels he could not do his country take on a Beatles song. He is utterly clueless in both regards.

     Angie Miller has an adorable family and a gorgeous mom.  Angie's also lucked out in getting "Yesterday" (no doubt because she's a top pick of the producers). I expect she knows the song well and will sing it beautifully. Jimmy gives her the advice he should have given Paul, that sometimes power comes from restraint, not volume.
      Uh oh! Out of the gate, Angie's jumped the cue. She quickly just doubles up the "yes" in "Yesterday," but I hope she isn't completely thrown off track. Maybe her drama background will serve her recovery well. She's working a little too hard at appearing sincere and not feeling the lyrics as much as I'd hoped. She's awesome, but I don't feel touched as if she's telling me her own real story about yesterday. It's performance. She's singing so prettily, it's just not everything. But it's so well done, it's enough. In the audience, her mother looks worried.
     I was wondering if the judges were going to continue the "Angie" play with her name, and yes, still, they continue. Quit it already. It's annoying. I agree with Mariah that the arrangement was well done, showing her vocal abilities while still staying true to the song and respectful of it (unlike Paul's travesty). I think what Keith has to say may have been why i wasn't getting the right connection and emotion while she sang: perhaps she was too bus trying to sing the way she's been told. If that's the case, she has to stop worrying about that and just get back to being herself, naturally.
      Angie's hair does look nicer ironed out (though it could have been ironed better). She really needs to do something with her hair, because all those short layers with the long, long underneath is like some kind of weird girl mullet that doesn't work at all. It's less noticeable when it's straightened out a little, but it's still lumpy and odd.

     I'm shocked that Devin goes to military school, and it makes me like him more. So does meeting his family. The producers clearly like him, too, since they've given him "The Long and Winding Road." It sounds like he's going to do some sort of '70s funky Stevie Wonder spin on it, though. Ugh. Brian McKnight! Oh---what? Jimmy claims Brian McKnight and Stevie Wonder are in the same vein, but to me, they're not at all. I think that may be the problem: jimmy is wanting Stevie Wonder (which was what I was initially hearing in the mix), but Devin is going for Brian McKnight. It's not even the same era. What is Jimmy talking about? jimmy is also making me more and more nervous as he says that the plan is to "change" the Beatles song. I thought it was just going to stylistically lean toward Devin's strengths. I don't see how major changes are going to serve him or be good.
     I'm not hearing much change at all, and I'm hearing mostly Devin, with a Stevie Wonder-esque tone and ridiculously overdone Brian McKnight-type runs. There are way too many runs and trilling. It just sounds silly. It's a shame, because he was singing it beautifully to start. The runs cheesed it up and cheapened it.
     Of course the judges are fans of cheap, overdone R & B. He's a great vocalist, they're just not using him to his potential. I agree with Keith again. Not only is this one of my half-catalog of "favorite" Beatles songs, but Devin needs to be slightly more emotionally connected to the songs. He's better than most, but he could be more. Ah! Randy has commended Devin for his R & B flair, but points out that there needn't be a run in every breath. Thank goodness! Someone he may listen to has given him good advice.

     I've been eagerly waiting for Janelle to sing, and she's finally up, the capper for the show tonight. Janelle's mom and dad are darling, and Oliver Springs, Tennessee looks like the perfect little country town. Ah, Janell has chosen or been assigned "I Will." I hope she knows it well. I hope it has beauty with her lovely, lilting voice and no harmonies ---if they add background harmonies, I fear they'll overshadow her lead vocal to the point where it may be canceled out in voters' eyes. I think you could definitely do this soft and sweet and plain, delicate and true, and it would pierce right through. Elegant and simple. But it all needs to come together, and she has to have power in her simplicity to make it pierce. I have noticed that she loses a little power when she's singing sometimes, and maybe, as Jimmy seems to think, it is because of her breathing. Let's hope it's that and the issue is handled.
     Oh no, she's laughing before she starts! That's not good for your diaphragm. Maybe it's why her "still" wobbles slightly. But she's so sweet and clearly understands the song. She's entrancing. There's just a touch of background harmony in the chorus. And just a few breath problems. But her voice is lovely, welcoming, and wonderful. I didn't like the end as much as the beginning and middle, and she really was running out of breath at the end. I don't understand why the breathing is such a problem. Don't you naturally know where to breathe?  If you don't have time to breathe, you don't have the ability to sing that line the way you're singing it, and you have to sing it differently or run the risk of sounding deflated. The breath problems knocked her a teeny bit off a couple of notes, too, but she's so unusual and pretty to hear that it doesn't really add up to mattering much all together.
     Keith is all compliments, and Nicki is ready to remarry her "beautiful swan goddess." As I expected, it's not just me for whom the small flaws didn't matter. All the judges are freaking out for her. I don't know where Randy thinks Janelle was last week, but apparently she's back, and one of the best of the night (I agree). And yes, the "not quite a yodel" was unique and gorgeous. Yay! I hope she's in the top three in the results also.


Tonight's Ranking:

1. Janelle Arthur (she beats out Angie because to me in the Beatles perfect emotion matters more than perfect delivery)
2. Angie Miller
3. Candice Glover
4. Burnell Taylor
5. Kree Harrison
6. Devin Velez
7. Amber Holcomb
8. Lazaro Arbos
9. Paul Jolley

     I'm confident my bottom two are the real bottom two, and I wish Lazaro would stay over Paul, but I think Paul may get a boost from his low spot last week and Lazaro will go home. I hope it's Paul instead. He's never going to succeed with the mindset he has now, in spite of all his vocal talent.





    
    

AI Season 12 - The Top 10

   I completely disagreed with the male top five for this year’s American Idol, but I agreed completely with the female top five, and I think the competition is slanted for a female win, so I guess I don’t care too much that my favorite males were relegated to trying again next year. And I’m pleased that this means Lazaro gets a chance to compete.

   The new way in which the top fives were introduced was also bizarre----I don’t know who came up with the "follow them to the stage from the waiting room” process, but I hope we don’t see it again.

   I hope we do see Keith Urban again in another season, because he is very nice to look at, act like a sweet gentleman, and seems to coincide with my taste most of the time.

   I'm appalled by the "app” voting that allows 50 votes at once, and voting during the show. There’s a reason why AI has not had that in the past, because you can easily jump the gun by voting without all the information, i.e. before everyone sings.

   Curtis Finch, Jr. is my least favorite contestant. When they showed him being a selfish ass toward his group mates in the auditions, I told a co--watcher not to worry, he won’t make it or they wouldn't have shown him being a jerk. But they kept it, and ultimately kept him. I don't understand why, because it puts a mark against him before he even begins to compete. Of course, he still got through, but I think it was a little "arranged," as it were. I don't understand the judges buying his particular brand of bull, because to me it seems so blatantly fake and pandering. It’s off putting to the point of being disgusting.

   He’s missing a lot of the lowest notes in the Fantasia song he's singing tonight. And that extended "believe” was way off. The judges don’t really seem too concerned with perfect singing this year, more with a package, so they didn’t really make any comments on his delivery. Other than Keith, who I think was pointing it out, but was a little overly polite and attributing it to: adrenaline.

   Janelle Arthur is one of my favorites this year, even though to be honest she didn’t Top 20 audition as well as some other people, and in the choices for top five was definitely the second--place country female. I think there’s room for two country contestants though, and I like her tone. Actually, I love both her and Kree's tones. They're more like the country singers of old and older, like a Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, and a Crystal Gayle. Oh, if they'd only both make albums! I'd listen to them both. 

     I don’t think this was the best choice of song for Janelle tonight, and there’s the occasional note knocked unsteady by her running around the stage. But it was a good performance.

   Shockingly, I agree with Nicki. I guess I occasionally do, and she certainly always looks pretty, with phenomenal makeup, but I find her annoying. She also beats the other judges down, so I find her a poor judge in that respect. Mariah isn’t the best judge either: I feel like she’s too concerned with herself to pay 100% attention to contestants. But she does have a great skill set and ample proper experience with which to judge.

  

   I liked Devin Velez in the auditions to a point, but he's not really the kind of singer I listen to, and I disliked that he went overboard singing in Spanish after doing it once. I'm glad he’s leaving that behind this week. He has a nice amount of connection to the song emoted through his singing. However, after the singing in Spanish so often, I think this was a really bad song choice. You don’t want to suggest, "It’s not where I belong." But it was okay. He shouldn’t have falsettoed the last note if he couldn’t do it well. And it wasn’t really powerful or notable.

   I guess Keith is agreeing with me. Nicki is not.

   Angie Miller is certainly talented, although I find it a little humorous that the judges flipped so much over her original song. It was good, but not a masterpiece or anything. Jimmy is a little unfair in characterizing her as "pageant," because I think that’s just the way she looks at the camera. I'd say it’s more Disney star. And that’s fitting, because she’s obviously Miley Cyrus!

   The audience applauds wildly when it sounds to me like she’s gone off key in her "surrender"." But that was just the once, and otherwise she was consistently strong. Sounded totally boring, but great. I don’t like the song, though, so I guess that’s why I say boring. But it sounded like something I'd change on the radio, so I guess that’s good for her. And the judges all agree with me. Nicki praises her cheap looking pleather dress as "looking like a billion dollars." And Nicki, if you think everyone stumbles in heels except Angie, you need to learn how to walk in them or abandon heels.

   Paul Jolley was another good auditioner up until the final five. And again, not my style, because he is exactly what everyone has said (and Jimmy is now saying), totally Broadway pop. I love Broadway, and enjoy pop, but I don’t like the fake effect produced when the two mix. I'm not a Josh Groban or Michael Craword fan.

   Paul is starting off brilliantly with "Amazed," The country twang in his delivery adds some sincerity he’s usually missing. He starts overdoing it a little right before he end, but luckily, instead of spinning off into overdone, the song ends. With a cheesball grin.

   Keith agrees with me. Nicki takes it ones step further in describing her sexual stimulation. Paul Jolley is gay, isn’t he? If not, they should make that clear, because he’s coming off absolutely gay. All the judges note the move away from the Vegas show melodrama. But I'm glad Mariah notes that the advice shouldn’t discourage him from being himself, either.

   Candice Glover was another favorite of mine. I remembered her from last year, when I couldn’t believe she wasn’t through after her Vegas group. But maybe it’s a good thing, because maybe she has a better chance this year. Her parents are cute!

   Jimmy doesn’t seem strict to me at all! It’s hilarious Candice thought that. I thought this performance of "I Who Have Nothing” by Jordin Sparks was very false and melodramatic (hello, Paul Jolley). I expect something more sincere and powerful from Candice. And I see it. She is a teeny sharp or flat on a couple of intermediary notes, but in general it is sincere, strong, and flawless. And then her giggle at the end is such a wonderful touch of humility. I love her! 

   I agree with Keith and Nicki. And that was exactly what was wrong with Jordin Sparks’s version. She was always very put--on, and I'm a big girl, watch me be impressive," and that’s just weird, especially with a song like this, where you have to be vulnerable but tough and pained. Standing innovations, Mariah?

   Okay, so I guess the theme is the music of the American Idols, and that’s why they’re all repeating songs. Or doing Idols' singles. Did they say that at the beginning?

   I love Lazaro Arbos, as it seems many people do. That was so cute when he had to talk to the band before going onstage last week. But it shocked me that he didn’t know songs in Hollywood, and I am even more confused that he doesn’t know other songs he has to sing for performances. What does he listen to and sing at home? I always doubt people who claim to want to be singers or musicians who don’t know music. It just seems like they haven’t put a lot of time or passion into it, so what are they doing with their dream, really? It doesn’t seem like that’s working toward your dream in even the slightest way. It’s true that Lazaro has had other things to contend with and may also have had little American music in his home. But I feel like he should have been finding comfort in music, and not just Cuban music (I think he said he’s Cuban), but all kinds of music.

   This version of Kelly Clarkson’s "Break Away” isn’t that great, and I think Lazaro’s biggest problem is when he doesn’t feel completely comfortable with the song, he smears it. A lot of times I have trouble understanding him because he’s either too soft or right up against the microphone, and there isn’t enough confidence and force in his delivery. It’s not to do with his stutter, because, when he does know the song, it’s not a problem. He has a great voice, but it doesn’t always come through because he’s worrying about other things rather than using it.

   He gets incredibly sweaty when he’s nervous, and he’s nervous most of the time. Keith is so adorable. I'm confused as to why Lazaro always easily agrees with the judges when they say his performance was lacking or not up to par. It may be true, but he should at least say "okay," not "I know." Nicki sort of backs up this idea with her advice to be stronger in his self--confidence. I wish the black placket on his shirt were a skinny tie instead.

   I hope Jimmy Iovine gave Kree Harrison some other, better advice in her meeting with him, because to me she didn’t seem to ever be oversinging. Now I hope she doesn’t undersing! I did not like the way Carrie Underwood sang her version of "Crying." I liked the version, but not the delivery.

   I like Kree’s better from the start, but I think it may get a little too gentle in parts. I wish there was even more power, but I think Jimmy steered her wrong. It’s still really amazing and she sounds like an established professional. Perfect pitch from start to finish, full emotion.

   Keith is doing her a disservice saying she could sing the phone book, because I think she chose the exact right song, and she should get credit for doing so just as much as the others get criticized for choosing the wrong song. Nicki’s waffles compliment is hilarious. I too enjoy microwave--heated toasted waffles. I used Maple Grove sugar--free butter syrup, though. I agree with Randy and Mariah that it’s so wonderful to see her emotion and real feeling. 

  

   Burnell Taylor was one of the few spots where I agreed with the top 5 male picks. In fact, I think he was the only one. Yes. Paul Jolley was an alternate for me (a maybe for the 5th spot), but Burnell was the only one actually on my list. I feel like he has chosen a good song for the night, though of course Ruben Studdard sucked and his delivery of that song was awful. 

     I don’t like when Burnell randomly goes low like he does in a "places” and the "dren" of children, but I love to listen to him sing. He has a great tone. Ack! That "seem" was totally askew. He just didn’t make it. But I think he’s found another niche for himself in the way he sounds when he sings "for me it’s waking up beside you." He’s definitely got the R & B poppy thing. But whatever that hoarse breaking thing he did with "face” was a total wrong move. In general, it was a flawed performance, but displayed his promise.

   Keith praises the tone/timbre, and also praises the "Burnellisms” that I don’t like. How old was Nicki when Ruben’s first album came out? Perhaps that’s why she was obsessed with it. I like the own twist bit she and Randy are complimenting, but I don’t like the strictly Burnell bits like the "fa--a-ace."

   Amber Holcomb wasn’t someone I initially wanted, I liked Breanna, but after the top 20 performances she clearly had Breanna beat. She’s cute and fun to watch, and she can definitely sing. I just feel like she’s less musically mature than some of the other female contestants.

   I don’t like the way Amber has changed the phrasing of "A Moment Like This," and she sounds like she’s straining through a lot of this. The changes make song sound a lot more repetitive, and the straining makes it sound like the song is bigger than her. She was definitely the worst of the girls.

   I guess Keith disagrees with me. Effortless! I agreed with the judges when they said her Whitney song was effortless, but this was not. And I don’t know why. I don’t know why she had to make it sound so pushed. And what! Now Nicki is saying it’s the best of the night! That’s just garbage. I agree with the style advice: pink lipstick, short skirts. But the rest was total bunk. Which Randy goes along with. Could they not hear it? I don’t understand. Mariah Carey says something about a hashtag, which I'm not bothering to listen to. Clearly they all liked it. They didn’t hear what I heard.

Tonight’s ranking:

1. Kree Harrison

2. Candice Glover

3. Janelle Arthur

4. Angie Miller

5. Paul Jolley

6. Amber Holcomb

7. Devin Velez

8. Burnell Taylor

9. Lazaro Arbos

10. Curtis Finch, Jr.

   I really hope Curtis goes, not only because of his poor performance, but also because of his attitude. I don’t think anyone else should go, but I would understand if any of the bottom four did.