‘Idol’ bits: my Power 9, Daughtry at Cobb Energy Centre March 27
Daughtry, at the Gwinnett Arena in December for Star 94's Jingle Jam, returns to Atlanta at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Tuesday night, March 27. CREDIT: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Chris Daughtry, just three months after headlining the Star 94 Jingle Jam, talked to my colleague Melissa Ruggieri about his show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre Tuesday, March 27. He recently performed on “Idol” and told her he still gets nervous when going on that stage, even six years after the fact.
He will play a full set, of course, with more cuts from the new album. At the Star 94 concert, he did a trimmed down one hour focused on the hits. His last single ‘Crawling Back to You” peaked at No. 6 on the Hot AC chart. His harder-rockin’ “Outta My Head” is out next.
You can buy Daughtry tickets here.
- “Idol” ratings continue to lag far behind year ago numbers. Last Wednesday, the show drew 17.21 million viewers (5.1 rating 18-49) vs. 23.95 million for the comparable 2011 episode (7.1 rating 18-49). Last Thursday was a season low 15.58 million viewers and 4.2 rating 18-49 vs. 21.3 million and 6.4 rating 18-49 a year earlier.
- Simon Cowell’s security system must be on the fritz or staff must have been snoozing. An intruder threw a brick through a window and walked in on him.
-Adam Lambert’s new album “Trespassing” was pushed back from March. A release date has been set for May 15. His latest single “Better Than I Know Myself” has received mixed reviews and modest radio airplay. (It’s at No. 20 on the Hot AC chart.) Locally, Star 94 recently hosted him for a mini-concert (yes, the one I forgot about at Buckhead Theatre) and has added the song, giving it 15 spins the past week.
- Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Stronger” remains No. 1 on the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.
- Steven Tyler’s Aerosmith is coming to Phillips Arena July 26. Tix go on sale 10 a.m. on Saturday.
My Power 9 as the theme this Wednesday is songs from their Idols. Stevie Nicks will be the guest mentor.
1. Phillip Phillps (holding) – I’m still a fan and sure, the fact he’s from Georgia doesn’t hurt. Although he showed resistance to an image makeover last week, which some regarded as arrogant, I appreciate that he knows who he is and won’t budge because what he is is appealing and entertaining. Is this another WGWG year? Probably.
2. Colton Dixon (up from 5) I’m still not sold on the guy despite an impressive “Piano Man” last week, but he seems to have the looks and persona that would get him far in this competition. In this case it’s WGWP, as in White Guy With Piano. Will he sing Daughtry again?
3. Jessica Sanchez (down from 2) She’s one of those powerhouse singers that knows how to bring out a ballad and run with it. She took an obscure, relatively weak Billy Joel song last week and injected some life into it. She has confidence and fashion sense. Personally, I can’t get into her Mariah-isms. She feels derivative vocally. In other words, I’d love for her to to create her own persona but I’m not sure she’s there yet. Still, she’s virtually guaranteed to do a Mariah song Wednesday.
4. Hollie Cavanagh (down from 3) – Like Jessica, she’s young and a bit of a blank slate. She also has no fashion sense. Vocally, she is a bit less controlled than Jessica as well. And her confidence isn’t quite there. But on the same thought process, she is more vulnerable than Jessica, which is appealing. She will be around for awhile.
5. Joshua Ledet (up from 6) – He still screams mid-finisher to me. Great vocalist but he has a style (like Jacob Lusk) that isn’t as broadly appealing as the folks above him in this ranking. I didn’t mind his performance last week but not everyone bought it. Given his singular style, he better pick an Idol this week that helps him capitalize on his emotions and bring it home.
6. Elise Testone (up from 10) – She is like a less attractive Haley Reinhart. She has great vocal control, a jazzy flair but a less than sprightly persona. She’s going to have to keep taking risks and going all out to stay alive. I thought her take on a very obscure Billy Joel song last week worked to all her strengths. We’ll see if she can maintain the momentum.
7.Skylar Laine (down from 4) – I had her at No. 2 opening the top 13 but she has lost serious steam the past two weeks. No matter how much I like her Reba routine, I’m getting the impression she is more a one-trick pony than a real artist at this stage. She isn’t ever terrible, just lackluster when she’s not doing something overtly upbeat. It’s like she isn’t old enough or mature enough to really connect with a real love song.
8. DeAndre Brackensick (up from 10) – He’s as lightweight as it gets and his take on “Only the Good Die Young,” with all the bouncing and flouncing, proved it. He’s more Andrew Ridgeley than George Michael. There’s no there there. But plenty of hair. His fans will only keep him around so long. Or so I hope.
9. Heejun Han (down from 
– I opened the top 13 with him at 4 but he’s been slipping, slipping, slipping. I liked that he went all “Vote for the Worst” what the hell last week, but that doesn’t exactly endear him for long-term survival. When Steven Tyler reprimands you, you know you’ve gone to the dark side of goofiness. As we’ve seen before last week, an earnest Heejun has been a boring Heejun. I oddly prefer the Silly Heejun. But it also means he’s going to have to do something wild and wooly this week to survive. He knows he has zero chance of winning and allows his insecurities to overwhelm him. I’m not sure which direction he’ll take: dull or daring.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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38 comments Add your comment
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
12:55 pm
Rodney: I’m getting the impression she is more a one-trick pony than a real artist at this stage. She isn’t ever terrible, just lackluster when she’s not doing something overtly upbeat. It’s like she isn’t old enough or mature enough to really connect with a real love song.
Do you realize that this perfectly describes(except for the “she”) last year’s winner?
Woodpappy
March 26th, 2012
1:11 pm
Am wondering what Phillip is going to wear this week, and what he might sing.
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
1:18 pm
Another Idol bit (from last thread):
Last season’s second place finisher (Lauren Alaina Suddeth) is joining the Sugarland tour as an opening act:
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends-weekend/index.html?playlist_id=163197&intcmp=features#/v/1529230715001/teen-idol-gets-big-gig/
G
March 26th, 2012
2:12 pm
RoHo, I like your term “WGWG”. As of the past couple of years, they’ve had an impresive track record…….whether they’re decent vocalist or not. If that trend still applies, PP will be our next Ido winner.
I see the top 5 shaping up as follows:
1. Phil – He follows the WGWG trend of success. Best chance to win it all.
2. Jessica – Is there really a big difference between her and Melanie Amaro? If she can’t win it all for the females, I don’t know what type of artist will.
3. Joshua – If Jacob Lusk can finish top 5, why shouldn’t Joshua? Chances of him winning it all is not possible. Idol mainstream is done with r&b/gospel style winners.
4. Skylar – All of her fans aren’t country, and they’re only going to take her so far.
5. Colton – I think people are buying his act for now, but he will not win trying to be a poor man’s Daughtry.
SN: The Voice is on tonight!!!!! YES!!!!
I wanted to place Hollie in the top 5, and that may change in the near future. But her personality is being eclipsed by her voice, and that’s not the winning formula for Idol.
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
2:27 pm
RoHo: “He still screams mid-finisher to me.”
Rickster: “To me… he still screams.”
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
3:05 pm
I would have absolutely no objection to Philx2 being our next winner. I think the guy is talented. Been watching a few Dave Matthews youtubes and find them quite different. I expected( from everything that people have been saying that Philx2 is a cheap imitation of DM. I don’t think that’s true at all.
I agree that Jessica is the lone female with a chance to win and I also agree that she deserves it. She has a lot more commercial appeal than Melanie Amaro if not quite the depth. I would not object to her winning either and would almost hope she does just to break the WGWG stigma that has attached itself to Idol.
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
3:08 pm
And let me add that most of our WGWG winners are good. David Cook is really talented. Kris Allen, despite the uproar when Adam didn’t win, is also quite talented.
Off-key Lee was the absolute worst winner in Idol history and Scotty seems like your average nice guy with a nice voice, nothing special.
To me, Philx2 fits in with Cook and Allen.
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
3:20 pm
I’d also add that I think Joshua is way better than Jacob Lutz. However, his attitude worries me.
G
March 26th, 2012
3:20 pm
I don’t get the Dave Mathews and Phil comparison. Dave actually sings. Can’t picture Phil “attempting” to sing “Crash Into Me”, which is one of my favorites by DM. I can understand the appeal of PP if I’m in a bar and about 5 drinks in…..LOL!!!
@D. Even though I wasn’t a supporter of Cook and Allen, those guys could at least hold a note or two. I agree with you on off-key Lee and Scotty. But PP is more or less like Casey, in full growl mode. However, Casey really didn’t need to growl to get his point across.
Mercedes S.
March 26th, 2012
3:21 pm
Woodpappy… something gray for Phillip, I think. Cotton. Wrinkled, like he’s slept in it.
I don’t fault Phillip too much for not taking Hilfger’s advice – he must have noticed poor Hollis’s glittery spectacles.
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
3:26 pm
Top 3:
1. Jessica Sanchez – Best all-around performer this season. The “Total Package.”
2. Hollie Cavanaugh – Big things (like her voice) come in small packages
3. Colton Le Pew – Moving up on the Rickstermeter
Middle 3:
4. Phillip Phillips: Seems to have a dark/angry side that reminds me a lot of Casey Abrams. I didn’t like it on Casey either.
5. Skylar Laine: She’d be fun to go muddin’ with. Wouldn’t pay to go to one of her concerts.
6. Elise Testone: Good voice but lacks personality and confidence.
Bottom 3 (in no particular order):
Deandre: Never should have gotten a wildcard
Joshua: To borrow a line from a Kat McPhee song, “I’m so over it.”
HeeJun: You go Heejun! No… really. Go. Leave. Take Deandre’ & Joshua with you.
G
March 26th, 2012
3:30 pm
Jacob is a better singer that Joshua in the higher register. However, Joshua overall has a bit more control and rasp than Jacob. The thing they both have in common is their gospel roots. Unfortunately, those gospel roots go misunderstood and underappreciated in the mainstream of Idol.
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
3:32 pm
I’m a little surprised at the emphasis on Philx2 not taking Tommy’s advice when it was pretty clear that just about all the other singers didn’t either. I don’t think ANYONE, never mind TH, would have dressed Hollie in that monstrosity. Joshua wore all black even though Tommy said don’t. Elise did not wear the bell bottoms. Skylar didn’t wear the boots. Jessica picked out her own dress And Heejun just didn’t bother to listen at all.
Mercedes S.
March 26th, 2012
3:33 pm
Rickstermeter? Sounds like something you use to get rid of small rodents.
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
3:35 pm
“And Heejun just didn’t bother to listen at all.”
I look forward to the show when we don’t have to listen to him either!
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
3:39 pm
Gospel roots have been very appreciated on Idol. Fantasia and Ruben(both winners) both with gospel roots. But here’s the trouble with that. Some singers with gospel roots can’t do anything else and on Idol that doesn’t work. We watched Joshua refuse to embrace his Billy Joel song last week because he didn’t know it or didn’t like it or whatever. As a contestant, you cannot expect to get to do whatever you want on Idol. That’s not the way it works.
It isn’t the way it works on The Voice either. The battle round songs have been chosen by the mentors whether the contestants like them or not. Adapt and excel or move on.
Woodpappy
March 26th, 2012
4:05 pm
I agree Mercedes on the gray and wrinkled. Another thing, why the Tommy Hilfiger how to dress episodes all of a sudden?? A time killer for the 2 hour shows?
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
4:07 pm
If I want to get rid of small rodents, I’ll just turn up one of Joshua’s performances!
G
March 26th, 2012
4:15 pm
You’re right, D…..Gospel roots HAVE BEEN appreciated on Idol. That’s been a long time ago. My point is that the Idol audience of today is far removed from supporting those type of past winners. The best those type of artists can do is be happy to finish top 5, then prepare to be eliminated in a week or so. I think the hard edge rockers also have a problem winning it all.
Gospel rooted singers IMO are versitile singers. They have to always hold back and alter their style and strengths, just to fit in. One trick Scotty and Off-key Lee were two of the least versitile winners in Idol history. I just think the mainstream is not knowledgeable or simply don’t like gospel/r&b style singers of today. It blows, but hey……that’s life. Lucky for V-103 listeners that their heavy rotation isn’t depending on Idol approved r&b singers. LOL!!!
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
4:34 pm
I agree on Scotty and Lee. No range and yet they won! With Lee, his only serious competition was another limited singer. While I thought Crystal was extremely talented she was VERY genre specific. No one else that season really stepped up to the plate consistently. Lee won by the process of elimination.
As for Scotty, he was extremely genre specific as well but his voice was unique. I can see why he won although I didn’t vote for him. What I don’t get at all is how Lauren, yet another country singer, took second. I think, in a season famous for quirkiness, Lauren and Scotty just felt “normal”.
Mercedes S.
March 26th, 2012
4:37 pm
I don’t mind the kids getting dolled up by a designer, but why not pick a designer of the here and now? Tommy Hilfiger to me says 1980’s sportswear.
Deirdre
March 26th, 2012
4:42 pm
The trouble with “here and now” is that it’s much harder to get and it’s way more expensive.
Mercedes S.
March 26th, 2012
5:04 pm
Speaking of rodents and varmints, does anybody have a good idea on how to get rid of carpenter bees?
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
5:06 pm
Speaking of “here and now”
I’m outta here…. and now.
Mercedes S.
March 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
If a show could afford to pay Simon Cowell 40 million dollars – or was it 80? – per season, surely it can afford at least a stylist! Or why not make a deal with Project Runway designers?
Rickster
March 26th, 2012
5:09 pm
Though I don’t think carpenter bees are considered rodents or varmints, Mercedes, try ammonia. Put in a spray bottle, and spray around the bore hole. They hate it. (Vinegar too.)
Have a good evening, everyone.
Jenny
March 26th, 2012
5:16 pm
I love Stevie Nicks. This will be fun to watch.
On the power list: I think Jessica and Hollie are both more talented than Phil (who I do like, and have from the beginning)…. but the girls have more potential. For that reason, I absolutely *would* have a problem with Phil winning.
And I’d also have a problem because he’s yet another WGWG. I don’t object to that style, but I think Idol’s got a big issue with *only* WGWGs winning for the past 4 years, even when others are more talented.
David Cook deserved his win.
Kris Allen, though talented, did not. Adam was far better.
Off-Key Lee DEFINITELY did not. Everyone was far better.
Scotty was just average. Lauren or Haley deserved the win more. Lauren clearly outsang him in the finals, but she still had no chance.
Seth T
March 26th, 2012
7:12 pm
Pre-show odds for elimination this week:
50% DeAndre
35% Elise
15% Heejun
None of these 3 will be saved, regardless of how well they do in a “sing for your idol life” finale.
G
March 26th, 2012
8:20 pm
Watching The Voice right now! Nine days out of ten, Wade is a better singer than James. However, this one day out of ten, James was better by a smidge. Celo really hated to make that choice, but he had to make a fair decision. That’s exactly how we should be voting on Idol.
G
March 26th, 2012
8:33 pm
Mathai vs Nichole = Cutie Pies! Tough battle, but Nichole is having a few pitch and phrasing issues. Mathai is qurky, but she’s really solid. Nichole is a bit generic (Celo) and Idol worthy. They both ended kind of blah. Adam chooses Mathai.
Rodney Ho
March 26th, 2012
8:44 pm
I wasn’t all that impressed by either Mathai and Nicolle tonight. Mathai is more charming, even if she has some weird quirkiness about her. I just posted a new “Voice” entry so feel free to jump over there.
G
March 26th, 2012
8:55 pm
Country vs Hip Hop, performing to a rock and roll song (”Can’t Get No Satisfaction”). This is definitely something you wouldn’t see on Idol. Who will actually have the advantage? Moses vs The Line has got to be the weirdest battle round I’ve ever seen. What? The rapper is singing and sounding just as good as…..the country duo. Now he’s rapping. Seems like the country duo is performing backup for Moses. Christina preaches The Voice is more than……the voice and chooses Moses!
G
March 26th, 2012
8:55 pm
Thanks RoHo!
magiccyclopsh8er
March 27th, 2012
4:30 am
rodney always prefers the guys. always.
Rodney Ho
March 27th, 2012
7:40 am
@magiccyclopsh8er I was rooting for Crystal Bowersox all the way season 9. And look what happened then!
Highlander
March 27th, 2012
5:38 pm
Mercedes S., March 26th, 2012, 5:04 pm – “Speaking of rodents and varmints, does anybody have a good idea on how to get rid of carpenter bees?”
Unionize them and pretty soon they’ll walk off the job after asking for more benefits!
Highlander
March 27th, 2012
5:39 pm
Copied from the previous Idol thread:
Okay, I know this is probably going to annoy D (and maybe some others) but another difference between Idol and The Voice is the overall selection “mentors” and judges.
You have to admit The Voice has 4 judges who are all more currently stars in the music business than the 3 on Idol. (Christina Augilera is the only one not really releasing new music right now, but she’s 100% better vocally than JLo so that comparison isn’t even fair, I know.)
And for mentors, The Voice has artists like Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert and Ne-Yo.
Idol continues to dip into the past. Some of you were giving the contestants on Idol a pass last week because Billy Joel’s songs were hits before they were born. Well, the same goes for Stevie Nicks.
I don’t think Stevie Nicks would be on many folks’ best female singers list. When I saw Fleetwood Mac live (and it was during their heyday), Stevie sucked ‘live’. She couldn’t hit the same notes live as on the LP. And she hasn’t gotten any better with age!
Highlander
March 27th, 2012
5:41 pm
Rodney, right now (meaning things could change with a couple bad performances from anyone) I can agree pretty much with your listing of who currently may have the best chance at winning the whole thing except I’d still put Skylar above Elise and Joshua.