‘American Idol’ top 9 performance recap: five standing o’s
Phillip Phillips opted for his idol Jonny Lang. CREDIT: Michael Becker/FOX
Loading ...The “American Idol” judges fell over themselves tonight. Five of the singers received standing ovations.
With the theme of picking your idols, everyone was able to pick songs they knew really well. So everybody had a chance to shine.
Unfortunately, I just wasn’t as excited as the judges. There weren’t any disastrous performances tonight but not really anything that would have lifted me to my feet – or at least off my couch.
And a show that now should be 90 minutes with nine singers has been stretched to two hours by Fox edict. So there was a pointless “fashion” bit with Tommy Hilfiger and three medleys that showcased Heejun Han’s inability to follow basic choreography and questionable fashion choice by Skylar Laine. (I did like Hollie singing Madonna. It worked. Skylar’s southern twang was a little jarring but interesting.)
I did like seeing the comfort of two old friends, Jimmy Iovine and guest mentor Stevie Nicks, who have worked together going back to the early 1970s.
I think Heejun is going home. He did a passable job on Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You” but I suspect the residual bittersweet taste of Billy Joel week lingers and he’s due. The bottom three? I bet it’s Joshua, Skylar and Heejun. I know folks here want DeAndre to go home but I don’t think so. Not yet. His fans will vote for him and that divisive falsetto of his.
My rankings: 1- Phillip 2- Hollie 3 – Elise 4- DeAndre 5- Jessica 6- Heejun 7- Skylar 8- Joshua 9 – Colton
Colton Dixon (Lifehouse’s “Everything”) – A snoozer of a song to me but fits Colton’s earnest approach. Vocally, I find his lower register boring and unimpressive. And even his full voice is very generic to me. Grade: B-minus
Skylar Laine (Miranda Lambert’s “Gunpowder and Lead”) – Sklyar opted for her strength: a honky-tonk rabble rouser. That’s what she excels at and she did what is a virtually note-by-note faithful rendition of this early Miranda hit. It was almost too faithful. She added nothing to the equation. Grade: B
Loading ...Heejun Han (Donny Hathaway’s “A Song For You”) – We’re back to serious Heejun after last week’s Vote for the Worst-level “My Life.” He lacks stage presence. I feel he’s too internalized when he sings something like this. It fits his voice well but I’m not sure this will inspire votes. His enunciation is distracting, too. Plus, I can’t help but think of Elliot Yamin’s version in 2006 that is hard to beat. Grade: B (standing ovation, by the way)
Hollie Cavanagh (Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus, Take the Wheel”) – She does an extremely faithful version of Carrie’s first hit. It’s sweet. Pretty dress this week, too. Couldn’t tell what shoes she was wearing. Lots of fog. Grade: B-plus/A-minus. (no standing o)
DeAndre Brackensick (Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry”) -I am not familiar with this song. Falsetto tends to bore me. He does it well but it isn’t my gig. Still, this was his best live performance to date. He showed confidence and some inkling of charisma. Grade: B-plus (standing o)
Jessica Sanchez (Beyonce’s ‘Sweet Dreams”) – Beyonce has done a very slow ballad version of this mid-tempo hit live in concert. Jessica opted, of course, for that version. As usual, technically, she’s solid. Jessica is good at play acting but not good enough for me: I don’t really believe her. She is too young to truly express the pain in this song. “Tattoo your name across my heart,” she sings. Really? Grade: B-plus (no standing o)
Phillip Phillips (Jonny Lang’s “Still Rainin’ “) – Obviously, he has sung this a thousand times. But his assuredness and natural charm carries him through a bluesy rock tune hardly anybody knows. I just like watching him as well as listening to him. Grade: A (standing o)
Joshua Ledet (Mariah Carey’s version of ‘Without You,” though Harry Nilsson really owned this) – I usually enjoy watching Joshua but this was soporific. His histrionics in this case only felt histrionic. But I do appreciate that he was so into the song that he cried at the end. Grade: B-minus (standing o)
Elise Testone (Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”) – Clearly, she is comfortable with this song and does a decent job. It’s hard to beat the energy and intensity of Robert Plant. She just isn’t that intense. It’s such a great song that this fact alone elevates Elise. And it’s clear why Nigel & Co. gave her the pimp spot. It was good but I simply don’t like her enough to care that much. Grade: B-plus (delayed standing o)
Cover it live polls
Six of the nine singers tonight had high negatives of 33% or more, with DeAndre running away with it at 66%. A lot of split decisions, especially Hollie, Colton and Joshua.
% who liked it enough to vote, % who liked it but not to vote % not voting
Elise 80% 17% 3%
Phil 72% 19% 8%
Jessica’s 58% 29% 13%
Joshua 39%, 23%, 39%
Colton 30%, 27%, 42%
Hollie’s 25% , 42% 33%
Heejun 18% 48%, 33%
DeAndre 15% 20% 66%
Skylar 12% 56% 32%
Fleetwood Mac medley A-25% B-50% C-19% F-6%
Madonna medley A-10% B-48% C-32% F-10%
Michael Jackson medley A-3% B-24% C-45% F-27%
Favorite medley: Fleetwood Mac 42%, MJ 25%, Madonna 33%
Grade night as a whole: A-31% B-36% C- 25% F-8%
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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242 comments Add your comment
Atlanta Native
March 29th, 2012
10:15 am
Vast, I agree with your detailed assessment totally! You give props to Hollie and Skylar where others do not. Sylar is an exciting performer and a joy to watch with a great voice, and Hollie gets way too much criticism from the judges and I don’t know why, as she has a gorgeous voice and IMO better than Jessica’s, who over-sings and over-vibratos time and again, and when she over-does it her voice simply grates. She’d be great on Broadway, whereas Hollie is more operatic (and in such a small package. Wow.) And yes, Elise killed on Zeppelin but her voice, overall, never cut it for me; kinda too raspy and not pretty to listen to. Would do well at upbeat Bar Mitzvah parties and in an opener band for other groups. And Phillips, yeah, he is always interesting to watch but I’d like to see him change up the grit to show his softer more beautiful side (aside from his great looks!!!).
plow
March 29th, 2012
10:19 am
Ho, you suck at writing and judging.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
10:19 am
Pitchy, obviously can’t agree with you on Deandre but I think the judges feel that Jessica has all the fans she needs. I would bet that she is close to first place in the voting. That may be why they didn’t feel the need to “help” As a matter of fact, if you note all the standing o’s, most of them were for singers who might need a boost.
plow
March 29th, 2012
10:19 am
and a racist
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
10:22 am
Hollie has a lovely voice, no doubt about it. My problem with her is that she’s dull, and somewhat unemotional. Disappointing is what I’d call her most recent performances.
G
March 29th, 2012
10:22 am
@D. As usual, you have so much to comment on and there’s so little time. LOL! I’ll try to keep it brief. I read your earlier comments making reference to Ray Charles’ voice and how it’s not always about how talented a vocalist a person needs to be in order to be a top performer. I think your entire blog piece was aimed at protecting one of your favs (and my worst) lack of vocal talent…… Phil, aka PP.
My take on PP? I think he’s a talented musician, but struggles with vocals. He uses a lot of tricks, growls and screams to get through, and apparently the mainstream loves it. What’s also apparent, is that Idol mainstream loves all WGWG (white guy with a guitar). Case in point: If Idol selected Off-key Lee, they will accept anybody that’s a WGWG. PP is just a product of the mainstream trend.
Also, I wouldn’t dare compare this extra regular performer with the great Dave Mathews. Are you guys serious?! If his aim is to portray himself as a protege of Dave Matthews, then PP’s effort is simply……”pp”.
@DuRyteMan. A lot of your comments are on point.
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
10:22 am
Here’s another Deandre “hater” who happens to write for CBSNews.com
“Brackensick tried very hard. His voice searched orbits for higher tones. But his falsetto is sometimes simply false, leaving eyes narrowing, rather than ears widening.”
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
10:24 am
@Deirdre – can’t agree with me on DeAndre in what context? He sang THAT particular song well. Have you heard the original??
I was thinking along the lines that the judges may feel Jessica may have enough fans already as well. However, that’s not their job to show her less favor simply because she’s popular. They were wrong last night. Some of those that got O’s (well, standing ones that is), didn’t deserve one!!
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
10:25 am
JLo did croon and wallow in crap over the worst singers last night, especially with DeAndre (”people, pick up the phones and vote for him” – vomit!) – so are they saying they would like the better singers (and that’s everyone save DeAndre and Jacob IMO) to go home first? Don’t get her silly stuff.
And Nana, yay – no goosies at all – maybe someone told her how stupid that makes her look.
Frank
March 29th, 2012
10:27 am
A Standing O for Deandre? Really????? That may have been the worst top 10 song I ever heard on Idol, this years groups and the judges suck, no more Idol for me.
Joe Crocker
March 29th, 2012
10:30 am
Deandre’s “singing” brought to mind a cat screeching cause soemone stomped on it’s tail!
Potski
March 29th, 2012
10:30 am
I think Jessica is way ahead of the competition. Her control is amazing. Aside from her and Phillip, everyone else sings mediocre. American Idol is trying their best to hype the other singers to keep it interesting, but talent wise, Jessica and Phillip stand out.
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
10:31 am
Pitchy, we have to part here. DeAndre actually hurt my ears last night. he sounded like two cats in heat screetching at each other. It’s beyond my imagination (and I have a pretty good one) to understand how anyone could interpret his performance as “good”. It was extremelly unpleasant to hear. And it doesn’t matter at all about what the Benet character’s performance sounded like (which I’m guessing I’d also hate if it was a single iota like that thing last night), we weren’t listening to him, only to DeAndre – just a wholly painful experience. And shame he’s such a poor singer because he has a really cute face (hate the hair, but I think you kinda agree about that), and seems to be a very sweet young man. I’d really like to see him with a good voice, since I have to see him on the show, but it hasn’t/won’t happen.
Alex
March 29th, 2012
10:33 am
Anyone else having trouble getting through today?
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
10:39 am
“And it doesn’t matter at all about what the Benet character’s performance sounded like (which I’m guessing I’d also hate if it was a single iota like that…” – And that’s the point, Sam-A. He sang the song the way the song was meant to be sung. You wouldn’t like the original so of course you wouldn’t like his version.
Now, how many hear are NOT comparing the original songs to how the Idols are performing them, THEN adding how they are actually singing the song? My point is how the original song is sung DEEPLY reflects on how the Idols are performing it. Not everyone can or should change the original tempo of the song and get away with it like Jessica did last week.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
10:52 am
@Alex – I have trouble everyday. Try going through Google Chrome.
G
March 29th, 2012
10:57 am
My top performers of the night:
1.Jessica – This was an okay performance for me, but she’s just that good. No idol vocalist is on her level. She’s simply the best I’ve seen on Idol in years.
2.Elise – Quite evident she’s performed this song countless times before. Her performance is where Phil aspires to be. Great job!
3.Joshua – He just pulled off a song that I thought was going to be a disaster. He is who he is…..another talented vocalist that has no chance of winning. Great job last night.
4.Heejun – You can’t just sing a Donny Hathoway song, you have to connect with it. Heejun felt the song and it came through. Yeah, his enunciation was a bit weak, but he handled that song with confidence. Great job!
5.DeAndre – Difficult song to perform, and those who have heard the original know what I mean. This was right down his alley, and he was actually decent IMO. If you didn’t like Deandre’s performance, you probably wouldn’t care for the original either. Be real about it. Like I always say, the guy can sing, but he needs training to reach his full potential. Good job.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
10:59 am
3.Joshua – He just pulled off a song that I thought was going to be a disaster. He is who he is…..another talented vocalist that has no chance of winning. Great job last night.
YEP!
G
March 29th, 2012
11:06 am
As stated above, my top performers last night were Jessica, Elise, and Joshua. My take on everybody else:
Hollie – Forgettable performance. I’m tired of her ballads, and the tempo needs to pick up. She’s slipping slowly into obscurity. Good vocalist, but severely lacks a personality. This will haunt her in the near future. Decent job.
Colton – AKA Cricket [legs] was forgettable last night too. He was better in the group performance. You could actually tell he was a much better singer than Phil (not hard to do).
Phil – His enunciation was bad. His voice clarity was awful. His inconsonance was apparent in the group performance. He moves as though he suffers from incontinence. Best part of his performance is that it was an up-tempo song. I can sub this guy for any bar singer in Atlanta and Idol mainstream will vote for him regardless. His success is based on the mainstream’s love for WGWG. What can I say?
Skylar – She’s steadily declining. Her phrasing is suffering, she’s not controlling her breathing during songs, and her weaknesses are being exposed every week. She used to be one of my favorites. How disappointing.
Woodpappy
March 29th, 2012
11:07 am
Ok, pacman has eaten my last 2 entries….I give up
Bill
March 29th, 2012
11:10 am
My opinion (only valuable to me, I know)
Deandre: sick, whiney, I fast forward when he is on
Colton: not quite as bad as Deandre, but almost
HeeJun: korny, boring – pls get him out of there
Joshua: better than HeeJun – but worse than everyone else – he is too screechy
Hollie: she can do it – she just needs the right song and coaching – she is a little too timid
Skylar: fascinating to watch, I love that Southern Rocker girl style
Jessica: always good – but not great last night – she is a little boring
Philip: always good, original, and consistent – but maybe too consistent
Elise: was the best last night, – I sure do wish she would sing “Stairway to Heaven”
Woodpappy
March 29th, 2012
11:12 am
Now I know what it is…Joe Co&ker’s name can’t be written as it is spelled, but he too Dierdre has a strange voice but can sure sing! And Sam-A…one of the best comments I have read in a long time about stomping and the grape barrel. LOL
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
11:15 am
Wow. dump on Deirdre Day! LOL!
Yes, Pitchy I agree that the judges’ job is not to boost the down-trodden. I wasn’t defending them, just saying that the standing o’s seemed to have an ulterior motive.
As for Eric Benet’s version, I have already stated that I know it and like it. IMO, Deandre’s version was a terrible, off-key imitation. My opinion, nothing more.
And G…that’s for the psycho-analysis but it’s faulty considering that I was thinking of Elise when I talked about singers vs voices.
skeeter
March 29th, 2012
11:19 am
I promise you, last night was the only time I have watched AI in about three years. Guess what, the guy DeAndre was singing. My wife was in the bathroom doing her hair and she came out to see who this kid was and see smiled. I didn’t know who song he sang and didn’t care but his voice took me back to the late 60’s or early 70’s. Sorta reminded me of Stylists, Blue Magic??, or Phillip Bailey w/ EWF. Not at their level, but reminded me of them.
I also knew, the vast majority of the bloggers on here didn’t like this type of music. So, I checked in and wasn’t disappointed.
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
11:21 am
Amazing that all the people calling us Deandre “haters” are “hating” on her queeness!
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
11:25 am
Wp, yes Joe is another singer as opposed to a voice.
The argument for most people is that Idol picks the best singer. All I’m saying is sometimes the best singer isn’t the one with the best voice.
Ex. Jordin Sparks had the best voice but Melinda Doolittle was the best singer(again, my opinion, not some edict from the gods) Yes, obviously Jordin was more marketable and, again, imo, has become a really good singer since Idol.
To me, this year, Jessica has the best voice but Elise is a better singer. Doesn’t mean I think Elise should win but it DOES mean I think she deserves a chance.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
11:28 am
@skeeter- Not at their level, but reminded me of them. And that’s my whole point.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
11:31 am
@Deirdre – I didn’t take it you were defending them. I was piggybacking on your comment. Well, I thought I was.
Yes, the blog machine doesn’t like the word pea “co*ck.
JTesla
March 29th, 2012
11:33 am
Rabid fan base like Clay and Adam: check
Is on American Idol: check
Therefore: DeAndre is a shoe in for 2nd place. Hate all you want hating haters of haterville, but DeAndre is in it to come close to winning, but fall short. Oh and remember who inflicted DeAndre on us, the judges all loved him as evidenced by the standing ovation that they gave to everyone last night. So expect him to be saved, because like Keanu Reeves, he is the one.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
11:35 am
Sorry Pitchy…it’s just been that kind of day.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
11:36 am
LOL, JT
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
11:38 am
@JTesla – remember, everyone did NOT get a standing O.
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Elise not withstanding – the ones that didn’t get the Standing O were by and large the ones I liked the best. And Elise’s Standing O was delayed & begrudgingly given.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
11:49 am
@Rickster – looked like STyler didn’t want to stand at all. If it wasn’t for JLo getting up, he would have remained sitting.
JTesla
March 29th, 2012
11:50 am
True Pitchy, but I have less respect for the clowns than I do for DeAndre. DeAndre seems like he’s an ok kid, I just don’t like his singing. At all. Yes, I’m a hater, of the singing. The judges however are a joke, and have gone back to their glowing reviews that add nothing to the show.
G
March 29th, 2012
11:54 am
hhmmm@JT. I can see that. I can see Deandre carrying a similar fan base as Adam and Clay. That’s as far as I’m going with it. If your theory is correct, then it’s Deandre vs …….I guess Phil. I would vote for Deandre over Phil 10 out of 10 times.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
11:55 am
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE, JTESLA….THE JUDGES LOOK F O O L I S H and make us not take the show seriously anymore!!!!!
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
12:02 pm
It seems, “for me” that STyler hasn’t been all there (mentally, at least) the past 2-3 weeks.
RxDawg
March 29th, 2012
12:14 pm
“but DeAndre is in it to come close to winning,”
Nope. Not even close. he’ll be gone within 3 weeks.
I am back
March 29th, 2012
12:16 pm
I see where this is headed. Jessica is head and shoulders above the rest of the group in ability, however this is a talented group. The judges are going to have to use their save for the week she will be voted off because the audience is going to assume she is safe just on her ability and vote for their favorite. I believe the final two will be eventually be Jessica and Hollie with a female buildup of the Ruebin and Clay finale. Jessica will win but Hollie will be the bigger star, she has the look to pick up the Hannah Montana, Brittany Spears crowd which equals $$$. I do not see Jessica as a huge selling artist although she can sing better than anyone else. I think her issue is that she sings everyone else’s songs so well that we have yet to figure out what is her own style and her own voice. I am rooting for her to win the whole thing.
My prediction for the final 5 in no particular order, Jessica, Hollie, Colton, DeAndre, and Phillip. (I am not feeling the whole Phillip fever of him being one of the best).
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
12:16 pm
Rx: Promise???
MyPatootie
March 29th, 2012
12:19 pm
Someone mentioned that Colton was known to them as “Cricket” due to his toothpick legs. I had already earlier made a comment about Jessica and hers from the knees down, saying she should wear pants or long dresses. Now I’m thinking if you put Jessica standing in front of Colton and took a shot from the knees down, it would look like a baby giraffe! BTW what is it with Leesburg, GA (Phillp’s hometown)? Need to check the water there and distribute it nationally. That’s where Luke Bryan is from, one of country’s newer male stars. And also Buster Posey, the SF Giants catcher who I think was the MVP in the World Series two years ago. There’s somebody else that’s well-known from there and can’t think of who it is right now. That makes me proud to be a GA boy, born and raised about 75 miles from Leesburg, but now in SC.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
12:26 pm
Sam: catching up on comments, and funny that both our pets left/were removed from the room during Deandresanjaya’s disaster.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
12:29 pm
Oh, and even funnier that Patootie thought the cat had gotten his tail caught in the door again. I am still laughing about that one. Our poor animals, while that nightmare remains on the show.
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
12:41 pm
Season 8 champ Kris Allen (you know, Kris, the guy who actually won?) announces his new album title & release date:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-kris-allen-thank-you-camellia-305839
Rickster
March 29th, 2012
12:46 pm
And did it register with anyone else that one of the Fleetwood Mac songs they sang was one on which Christine McVie sang lead vocals?
Double Oreo
March 29th, 2012
12:49 pm
“Dump on Deirdre day.” hahaha!! Someone pass the Charmin please!
Cracker Jack
March 29th, 2012
12:52 pm
Jessica is getting boring. After that Whitney Houston song, she found she has success in singing iconic slow songs. Now that seems to be her crutch to win. If she doesn’t change it up, she’ll be in danger of going because we need to see some versatility there. And so far? Nah.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
1:04 pm
@Double Oreo – pass the Charmin…that is very funny to me.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
1:08 pm
LOL!
Didn’t mean it quite that way but hey…whatever fits!