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.