‘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
Carly
March 29th, 2012
1:14 pm
I clearly see why some of the comments said Phil is trying to rip off Dave Matthews. Check out his “Tripping Billies” and “Ants Marching” stage performances and then look at the photo of Phil at the top of this blog. He stands and holds the guitar like Dave but very much lacks Dave’s range and stage command. I absolutely believe he is trying to channel Dave Matthews. And he knows with the success in Idol Performers such as Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox and Kris Allen, Phil knows he audience LIKES that kind of performer. I compensates for his so-so voice/range by growling through half the lyrics.
G
March 29th, 2012
1:37 pm
Carly, you are pretty much on point with Phil. But Dave Mathews? The closet Phil can come to Dave is playing air guitar.
Outside of Phil and Colton, I pretty much like this crop contestants. Sure I have my preferences, but I’m cool with any of those 7 (outside of Colton and Phil) winning it all. Like I said earlier, you can stick any local bar singer in Atlanta (with a guitar) in Phil’s place and get the same results.
Ryan
March 29th, 2012
1:38 pm
A Song for You is a freakin Leon Russell song.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
Been there, done that Ryan but thanks for the input.
Mercedes S.
March 29th, 2012
2:03 pm
First, big thanks to Gary at 9:57 for link to Harry Nilsson’s “Without You”. Got stuck a while on Youtube, checked out Maria’s version which was way out in melisma-land, then looked at beginning of “Midnight Cowboy” with Harry singing “Everybody’s Talking”… and hey, there was Angie’s dad playing Joe Buck!
Later went to Barnes & Noble and ordered a cd of Nilsson’s “Best of”.
Mercedes S.
March 29th, 2012
2:05 pm
Second, Elise “would do well at upbeat Bar Bitzvah parties” – agree!
Alex, yes, I have problems posting too.
Agree with your 10:04 post about banning certain singers. Although I think Hollie pretty much nailed “Jesus Take the Wheel”.
Mercedes S.
March 29th, 2012
2:11 pm
Last, I have given up on good/well, but it really looks so much better if people can tell the difference between “here’ and “hear”, “then” and “than”… and the tenses go “sing/sang/sung”.
My fingers often type “shoe” when my brain means “show”, but that’s because I’m shoe obsessed.
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
2:13 pm
???
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
2:14 pm
Ok, I’m back in…
@Mercedes S, the judges didn’t think Hollie did well with “Jesus Take the Wheel.” What they need to do is replaced these 3 fickle judges with wax figures of them and let us enjoy the rest of the seaon.
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
2:19 pm
Good idea Pitchster! Wax dummies would be infinately more interesting and on target than these clowns. The question is “Can Idol survive another season of this dreck judging”?
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
2:20 pm
infinitely!
Pitchy
March 29th, 2012
2:27 pm
That seems to be the million dollar question. Can Idol survive. Apparently, the million dollars is still in the safe!!!
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
2:30 pm
With you, Pitchy and Sam! I re-watched Hollie’s Jesus Take the Wheel… it was just as great the second time! WHAT were they hearing? (well, Jennifer liked it, actually.)
And G, from 1:37 – you put into words my EXACT problem with Phil. You can stick any local bar singer in Atlanta (with a guitar) in Phil’s place and get the same results.
Well said my friend. THIS is why I would have such a problem with Phil winning.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
2:33 pm
And Nutmeg said somewhere that she’s so tired of WGWGs winning. Me too.
I HATE knowing that just because a guy is cute and carries a guitar, his odds of winning are suddenly 50:1 over people who may have much greater talent. Is America really that dense?
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
2:41 pm
I readily admit to knowing nothing about Dave Matthews – never seen him perform, don’t know any of his songs. Philx2 reminds me of Chris Martin of Coldplay. Cuter face, but similar and twinkly kind of personality like Chris M.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
2:51 pm
Nutmeg also said that Phil was good, really good. And I’ll stand by the poll results, which name my top 3 picks and my bottom three picks from last night. Since I don’t actually believe that people voted according to my picks, I guess I’m just in the majority….which also makes me mainstream(a dirty word to some, I know.)
Neg
March 29th, 2012
2:55 pm
Neg’s take:
1. Elise – Simply one of the greatest performances in Idol history. Incredible vocals, authenticity, intensity, looked great and demonstrated fearless stage presence. She flat killed it. Moving forward, Elise is the Idol for me this season. She’s The One.
2. Phillip – I see a lot of similarities between Elise and Phillip. He pours it all out into every song, is fearless, and has a strong, gritty vocal style. He lacks some range and versatility, but when in his wheelhouse he’s absolutely fantastic.
3. Heejun – Yes, I really, actually liked him tonight! I thought it was a moving performance, pitch-perfect vocal, and ideal song choice for him. Enjoyed seeing sincerity for once, too.
4. Skylar – Incredible fireball on stage. Love her personality and sass, but her vocals are somewhat limited to a single range.
5. Hollie – She’s a cupie doll with a powerhouse voice. Like hearing her belt out the chorus, but when she’s trying to deliver subtlety in the verses she stumbles a bit.
6. Jessica – A little pompous with the elaborate staging and production, but props for artsy interpretation. Her voice and authenticity come up a bit thin for me.
7. Joshua – I’m not feeling him, and haven’t since the beginning. He sounds the same on every song, and his tone annoys me.
8. Colton – Like Joshua, not feeling him and haven’t since the beginning. He sounds the same on every song and his tone annoys me.
9. DeAndre – Go away. Please, please, please go away.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
2:58 pm
Still catching up… Hahaha, Pitchy, thank you for the comedy credit, but I was actually quoting from MyPatootie. It was his (her?) cat that was in question.
My own cat just looked bothered and left the room when Deandresanjaya sang…
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:00 pm
I must jump in to Deirdre’s defense here. She wasn’t hating… just simply stating her opinion, shared by MANY of us, that Deandre is not very good. He wasn’t actually voted into the top 12. He needed a wildcard to get there… and he has since been kept around by tweens who think he’s cute. I have not met one. single. adult. who likes him.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:01 pm
That defense was from the earlier debate. I’m still playing catch-up.
Mercedes S.
March 29th, 2012
3:09 pm
Jenny @ 2:33 – yes, America IS that dense … in many respects
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:20 pm
Deirdre, I absolutely DO agree that Phil is very good, a talented musician. I’ve liked him fairly well from the beginning (though his recent constipated expressions are beginning to bother me.)
I just think Jessica and Hollie are both more talented, and “Phil”s are a dime a dozen. For that reason, I have a big problem with Phil winning. And I 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.
Can America not see past a cute male? Really? Let’s take a look at the last 4 winners.
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. (and “cute” is debatable.)
Scotty was just average. Lauren or Haley deserved the win more. Lauren clearly outsang him in the finals, but she still had no chance.
(and again, “cute” is debatable… only if you like Howdy Doody.)
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:21 pm
Thanks for trying Jenny but as someone said earlier, you might as well just get out the Charmin.
Neg…I’m all for your picks except for Heejun. He DID do a lot better but still not of the quality of some of the others. I like Jessica’s voice a lot more than her singing.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:22 pm
Yes, Mercedes, they are… and it makes me sad.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
But Jenny, Adam would STILL have been a WG.
I thought Haley deserved the win but, since she was not in the finals, the voters chose correctly, imo. Lauren wasn’t good enough for 2nd place imo.
As for Lee…..EVERYBODY that year was awful or, at least, inconsistent except Crystal who’s genre was not even close to mainstream. As much as I hate to say it, that left off-key Lee the most likely, if not even close to the best, choice.
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
3:25 pm
A new thread up – getting ready for tonight.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
Well, D, someone also accused you of hating on Joshua, and at that point I had to respond…. earlier in the competition, I seem to remember you saying he had mad talent (or something like that) like Idol hadn’t seen in a long time. You were simply noting that his attitude has become not-so-good, as many of us also think.
I know to just get out the Charmin, but I also sometimes just have to get my two cents in.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:26 pm
whose! Sorry Mercedes!
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
Not only that, Jenny but I STILL like Joshua. He is who he is. And because of that, he won’t win. But I still like his voice
Rodney Ho
March 29th, 2012
3:27 pm
I accidentally posted my results recap 12 hours early. So I’ve taken it off line and it will reappear at about 6:30 p.m. so continue commenting here. (Just noticed now!)
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
3:28 pm
We’re actually getting alittle “racist” here – I surely don’t mind a “WG” winning if he deserves, but for several years girls have waaaaay outsung the guys, yet never winning.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:29 pm
Well, yes, that is true about Adam and I’ve thought of that before. I guess by WGWG I mean that style that Kris had. I don’t know really how to explain it better…. The polar opposite style from Adam….
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:30 pm
Thanks Rodney. I wasn’t sure where to post!
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:31 pm
Sam, exactly. And just for the record, I am using “WGWG” to describe a STYLE. Not the person’s race and gender. WGWG to me means that laid-back, guitar-strumming style.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:35 pm
So Crystal, if she had won, could also be labeled WGWG?
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:40 pm
The laid-back, guitar-strumming STYLE of singing didn’t deserve the win when Adam, Crystal, Lauren and Haley were all better.
Why couldn’t Crystal have won just because she wasn’t as mainstream? Everyone I knew thought she was far, far and away the best singer that season.
Deirdre… Why does the winner have to be mainstream? David Cook wasn’t as mainstream as David Archuleta (who, much to all of your certain dismay, I liked very well and voted for.
) They were both good and either of them deserved the win (since it couldn’t be Mike or Carly.)
And Haley should’ve won (well, Pia maybe should’ve won, but since she got booted…) but if Haley couldn’t win, Lauren should’ve. Both were far, far, FAR better than Alfred E. Neumann with his cheesy winks.
Seriously, I didn’t *hate* Scotty, but he got really old (plus he started just phoning it in, too.) Third place would’ve been about right for him,
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:41 pm
Seriously though, I don’t see much of a problem. The only one of this group who definitely should not have won is off-key Lee….and that’s just an opinion, too. There are lots of people who would argue in his favor.
Truth be told, whoever wins, wins. Doesn’t seem to make much difference in the whole fame thing at all.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:42 pm
Hahahaha D! Well, since girl and guy both start with G, I guess so! But in her case, that *style* wouldn’t have been getting an undeserved win over *talent* (because there wasn’t any.
)
Sam-A
March 29th, 2012
3:42 pm
I’d just like to see the best singer from the getgo win for a change. For me, Season 1 was the only time that ever happened. Not talking about the best of the leftovers, but the very best one all along.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:47 pm
D, I guess where I’m seeing the problem is not just the WGWG style, but (sorry Sam) the fact that as Nutmeg mentioned earlier, a Y chromosome seems to be required to win Idol. So yeah, in spite of my above posts, maybe I *am* fussing about the gender bias.
For example, last year when there was a mass exodus of girls while much-less-talented cute boys stayed. And this year, when the first show landed 3 very good girls in the bottom 3 while the likes of Deandresanjaya stayed.
I don’t know. For me, something’s just off lately. Talent, voice, and singing/performance ability should rule the show… and it doesn’t.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:48 pm
Yes, Sam… was typing & just saw your 3:42 post… but YES. That’s what all my rambling is getting at. The best singer from the get-go should win. The last time that happened (IMO) was Carrie.
G
March 29th, 2012
3:49 pm
The Voice vs American Idol singers:
Kim Yarbrough (power soul singer) vs Jessica
Jermaine Paul (gospel/r&b) vs Joshua
Erin Willette (country/blues) vs Skylar
Mathai vs Elise
Tony Vincent (rock) vs Colton
Chessa (pop) vs Hollie
Jesse Campbell/Jamar Rogers (r&b/neo-soul) vs Deandre
Pip vs Phil
The Voice singers I listed above are all better than Idol contestants (even Jessica). Kim Yarbrough has the experience over Jessica, and she devoirs younger singers. Jessica and Sera Hill would be a closer call.
This is why I like The Voice better than Idol. WGWGs don’t dominate and there is more variety. The mainstream for the Voice is a bit different than Idol.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:49 pm
I never said someone who is mainstream had to win…they are just more likely to win because more people will like their particular style. Crystal’s style was laid back guitar strummer but she was also very folksy which was mainstream back when I was in HS (sometime in the dark ages)
Last year it really didn’t matter who else was good. Scotty’s unique voice and country charm won over the voters. And I don’t believe he was JUST popular with the tweens.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:52 pm
BUT GUYS…..the “best singer” is a matter of taste. What you like, what I like and what G likes and anyone else on this blog are different. So whoever is the “best singer” to you ISN’T the “best singer” to someone else.
So no matter WHO wins, there’s going to be a big bunch of people unhappy with the outcome.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:53 pm
D, that’s how my husband saw it with Scotty… he said America’s going to love their country boy, and he’s going to be hard to beat. *I* didn’t love their country boy… but that’s just me.
And as for Lee and Crystal… they both were WGWG’s, haha! But Lee, the lesser talent, won that duel because he was male. And THAT’s where I have the problem.
Deirdre
March 29th, 2012
3:54 pm
Just sayin’ Maybe we can’t always blame the results on tweens or females with crushes. Maybe there are just a lot more people who like someone ELSE more.
G
March 29th, 2012
3:57 pm
To me, WGWG in Idol terms refers to race, gender, and genre’/style. It is what it is. Idol rewards this category. Dave Mathews is one of my favorite WGWG. He’s actually really good. Phils’ problem is that HE CAN NOT SING, but Idol mainstream is giving him a pass; giving him credit for doing his own thing. LOL! Okay. Joshua and the other seven are doing their own thing too, but are criticized for it.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
3:58 pm
D @3:52… yep! and therein lies the issue. I can’t understand why someone could possibly think Phil is a better singer than Jessica… while others can’t understand why I think Hollie is a better singer than Colton. None of us will ever agree exactly (yet we sure do have fun debating it!
)
BUT I still say Idol overall has a problem. Until they fix the broken voting system, the cute boy will ALWAYS win, no matter who anyone thinks is the best singer.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
4:00 pm
D @3:54… I don’t think so. See my comment directly above about the broken voting system. It’s due to the crushes. And the willingness of kids to vote for hours on end.
I would bet a million dollars that if we’d had fair voting, similar to DWTS, we would’ve had different winners for at least two of the past four years.
Jenny
March 29th, 2012
4:09 pm
Oh, and speaking of… I saw that Howdy Doody sings on tonight’s results show. Yippee.