American Idol 6 - The Battle Begins 3/13/07

The top 12 started their journey and for most it was a truly ghastly beginning. Fascinating beginning on the road to the next American Idol given the technical problems they started out with, good grief.

Tonight's mentor was Diana Ross and overall I thought her advice was insightful but as always the stars just can't tell someone they suck but I thought her points on what to do to improve their performance was spot on. I also jumped up and down for joy when Diana told Gina she needed to "pronunciate" the words, I know she meant "enunciate" but I was just happy with the advice, the song is a story, the words are important. I did my happy dance. What is really sad is most of the singers ignored her advice or maybe they just didn't understand it. Chris Sligh ticked me off but more on that below.

There was the usual banter between Simon and Ryan, the best coming in at the beginning of Melinda's intro when she indicated she hated the high heels and dresses because she likes sweatpants and tennis shoes. Ryan asks for Simon's advice on high heels - Simon responds with "you should know", Ryan replies with "stay out of my closet" with Simon back with "Come out", and Ryan's ultimate topping line of "this is about the top 12, not your wishes". I actually laughed out loud when normally I find their banter stupid and pointless.

As previously indicated it is Lakisha and Melinda's battle to lose so I just hope the rest of the contestants can pick up their game.

I managed to get in 123 votes last night. I voted for all but one contestant and I am sure you can guess which one so I won't even say but the majority of my votes were shared with Lakisha, Melinda and Jordin.

On with my comments:


Brandon Rogers - "You Can't Hurry Love"

Oh my poor Brandon this was just an utter mess. Brandon did not pay attention to Diana advising him to find his center because he was clearly overwhelmed by the new set up and the big audience. His nerves were showing and his voice was cracking big time. He was stiff and looked uncomfortable and what was with those hip gyrations, oh god they were stupid. Brandon committed the biggest error of all he forgot the lyrics and couldn't even cover for it, that was totally painful to watch. Brandon didn't start in the right key and perhaps the strange arrangement threw him off. It was not a good start to the evening.

Randy - you came out as a backup singer, you forgot the words, you rallied for the last two notes but you need to be much better

Paula - it's not easy, nerves play a big part in this, you don't need to hear what you did wrong, you do many things right, you will grow in to it

Simon - it was a complete letdown, predictable, dancing was terrible, you seemed like a background singer for a background singer, it was unoriginal and nowhere good enough, no star quality (thank you Simon for telling the truth - he sucked)


Melinda Doolittle - "Home"

Melinda was looking hot, great outfit. I absolutely adore this song and I think it was a perfect choice for her. Melinda didn't make me forgot Stephanie Mills (the original Dorothy in The Wiz") or Diana's movie version but she held her own. Melinda has an incredible voice. She brought home the meaning of the song and given the journey she is on it packed an even more important punch. I did get goose bumps listening to her. She has incredible control and what an elegant performer she is, the ability she has to take utter control of the stage. This woman is a star. I also disagree with Simon I don't find this a boring song at all so bite me Simon.

Randy - it wasn't my favorite performance, very strong though, hot - boys 0 girls 1

Paula - as she is crying buckets of tears, just watching you, I feel it, goose bumps, this is it for you

Simon - you made a very boring song exciting, you remind me of a young Gladys Knight


Chris Sligh

Chris when the original artist gives you advice, please follow it. She told you to listen to the melody and find the hook to sell it. Chris ignored her and was the worst for it. First off, the no glasses look was just wrong, it didn't work. I don't mind if an artist makes a song their own and changes up the arrangement but the arrangement Chris came up with just did not work for me at all. It lost the emotional meaning of the song all together. It also appeared what Chris wanted to do and what the band was doing didn't jive, they were totally off. I will give him credit because he was on pitch but that is about all. It was just a bloody mess going all over the place. This was also a duet and taking a duet song and trying it as a solo rarely works for me. There were so many other songs he could have performed and made is own. I think Chris was done in by his arrogance. He basically told Ryan he respects Diana but went with his guts, basically telling the artist you were wrong. His arrogance with the judge's reaction will also be is undoing. I expect more from Chris but he didn't deliver for me tonight.

Randy - it sounded like Cold Play's "Speed of Sound", that was a mess

Paula - the song is so recognizable and is a beautiful love song, I worry sometimes you try too hard to be hip/cool, just let the melody play

Simon - you murdered the arrangement, it was unemotional and uninspiring, you should keep the glasses because thy are you - "even the boos are light"


Gina Clocksen - "Love Child"

Gina looked hot tonight, great outfit, style. I really don't know why I like Gina, she is just so much fun. It wasn't her best vocal and she was sharp and pitchy quite a bit but she knows how to sell the emotion of the song. I don't believe she exactly "enunciated" every word but she came pretty close. It was the right song choice for sure. Overall her performing skills are top notch, she just needs to focus harder on the vocals. Gina still rocks my world.

Randy - it wasn't my favorite performance, it was pitchy and didn't feel exciting, boring

Paula - song is exciting and makes you want to dance, you are better than how you did tonight, your enunciation and pitch was off and it was a little shouty

Simon - it wasn't fantastic or terrible, you chose the right song, it was forgettable and a middle of the road performance


Sanjaya Malakar - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

This kid needs to leave, it was just horrible, horrible, horrible, utterly disgusting, bad with a capital B, there are not enough awful disgusting words I can come up with. This was a totally wrong song choice and excuse me what was up with his hair, did his finger get stuck in a light socket. I could barely hear him at the beginning, he doesn't have the vocal power to sell this song and he had no breath control he ran out of steam and basically spoke versus singing. I don't want to kick someone when there down but since we are talking about Sanjaya I will, he looked like and performed like a bad female impersonator trying to do Diana Ross. The truth hurts and will probably earn me a ticket to hell but this kid is just bad, please America put me out of my misery. Maybe I am in purgatory and this is my punishment having to listen to Sanjaya for eternity, now I want to throw up. Sanjaya back talking to the judges is not a good move and of course he feels he should be back next week.

Randy - I don't even know what to say - it wasn't very good, thank god for the background singers, it was unlistenable

Paula - you are pure love, your smile, you need to grab the audience right from the beginning

Simon - when you hear wailing from Beverly Hills it will be Diana Ross, to be positive you are very brave


Haley Scarnato - "Missing You"

It is interesting that Diana stated Haley has a recording voice not a projecting voice. I have to say her stage presence was pretty good compared to previously and she does have a nice rich tone to her voice when it is on but it was mostly off. She started off sitting and started way too low, you could hardly hear her. She managed the first chorus and then she stood up and everything went, her pitch and another sinful forgetting of the words. I am not sure this was the best song choice for her. Haley took the spot Sabrina should have had and this performance just proved it. She does get extra points for the dress, it spoke to the audience she was trying to reach. I just don't like Haley and she isn't doing anything to make me say "wow" or should I say "the yo factor".

Randy - you gave a valiant effort, you were pitchy, usually your pitch is better

Paula - you look lovely

Simon - I didn't think it was that bad, you had real presence, you look like a star, there were moments of the vocal I liked, nerves got you half way through, if you can hold it together you could do better than I expected


Phil Stacey - "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"

I have to admit Phil did much better then last week. I thought he was much more comfortable on stage and he actually sounded pretty good. His upper register is pretty good but his lower register is troubling as it seems to be with a lot of the contestants. Phil had a lot of energy and I think he sold the message of the song. So far it has been the best male performance but that isn't really saying much. For me this was his best performance and was heads above the disaster of last week.

Randy - the performance was boring but the vocals were hot

Paula - strong vocal, the song wasn't up-tempo enough

Simon - I think the tempo was fine and the performance was okay, you have a tendency to shout when you go for the big notes and you need to control that, good choice of song, better than last week


Lakisha Jones - "God Bless the Child"

Can we just say that Lakisha was the da bomb. She was one hot mama and that outfit was so right for this song. This performance was the "wow" moment of the evening. It was truly the perfect song choice. I love this song,and my all time favorite version was done by Lisa Minnelli but no more, Lakisha made this song her own. Lakisha commanded the stage, she had complete control of every bit of her performance including the vocals. She not only sang the song, she performed and acted it to, you just felt the emotion flowing from her. This was so far the most phenomenal performance of the evening and I doubt it will be topped. It was Lakisha's night. I am just glad I have this on tape and I am keeping it so I can listen to it over and over.

Randy - wow, perfect song choice, unbelievable vocal, sensational

Paula - beautiful performer, your heart comes through when you sing

Simon - You've either got it or you don't and you've got it. The difference between you and Melinda and the other contestants, you are just in a different league, it was a very controlled performance, like a star, outstanding


Blake Lewis - "You Keep Me Hangin' On"

I can't tell you exactly why but I really liked this arrangement of the song, it just strangely worked for me. Blake is a great performer and I liked the vocals and the way he made the song more hip. He looked awesome and had great confidence. There is just something about him that intrigues me, he is definitely a breath of fresh air. I have to disagree with the majority of the judges, I truly enjoyed this performance and Blake is being true to himself as an artist. I hope he makes it through to when Martina McBride is the mentor, I can just imagine the beat boxing he could do to one of her songs!

Randy - I am a huge Blake fan, there were some good things but you don't have to "Blake-ize" every song, sometimes you just need to let your vocals do their thing and let the classics be the classics

Paula - I agree to a certain extent but what is different from what Chris did, Blake is letting the audience see how he works things out

Simon - I didn't get it all all, if you heard the song out of context I don't think you would like it, it wasn't his best performance.


Stephanie Edwards - "Love Hangover"

Stephanie was not on her game tonight. I didn't like the dress it was way too busy but the shoes were perfect. I didn't like the performance overall and she didn't deliver the power of the song. The arrangement didn't help her and she was just trying to do too much and it caused her to lose her place and then pause while she was trying to remember where she was suppose to be. We also had yet another person forget the words. Stephanie has a hard time with breath control as well. This was just a boring, unforgettable performance. There was no "wow".

Randy - good vocal, not your best, you forgot the words, song choice was good, waiting for the up-tempo parts

Paula - why didn't you pick up the tempo, Stephanie says it was too long, your vocals are good but you need to keep striving to do better

Simon - you teased with good part and then didn't close, it wasn't your best performance, you were out sung by Melinda and Lakisha, it was the wrong choice of songs


Chris Richardson - "The Boss"

Well Chris truly took Diana's advice to heart when she told him to work the audience to sell them on the song. He did and he sold me. Chris is one of my favorite of the male performers along with Blake and the other Chris. He was well put together tonight and was having fun. He has an infectious smile as well. The vocals weren't as strong as they could be though, there were quite a few very rough notes and his voice cracked as well. The difference between Chris and Brandon though was that Chris was selling it. Both Diana and Paula have stated it tonight you have to grab the audience, Chris definitely did and because of his energetic performance he was able to overcome some vocal hookups, the audience was with in through the whole number.

Randy - not his favorite performance, you overdid it a little, interesting, it was half good and half bad

Paula - out of all the guys you nailed the blend between old and new, it gave her an "Instant Replay" vibe, great job

Simon - without your personality and charm, this was dreadful


Jordin Sparks - "If We Hold On Together"

Wow, Jordin gets the last spot and she deserved it. Jordin chose the perfect song. I just love her and the camera loves her as well, she definitely has star quality. The good thing is she has the vocal power to back it up. She has such a wonderful tone to her voice and pretty good power. Jordin followed Ms. Ross's advice as well and truly connected with the audience which allowed her to sell it. She looked beautiful and gave a truly spectacular performance. At 17 she is rockin the house. Way to go Jordin!

Randy - I have been a fan since day one, very impressed with her, you just made this a three girl race

Paula - you have a natural gift, breath of fresh air, you sing your heart out

Simon - a little bit gooey, very, very good vocals and you have given yourself a shot at being in the finals



Well now it is guessing who will be in the bottom 3, actually after tonight it is more like the bottom 8 but I am sure we will stick with tradition and there will be a bottom 3. At least we are back to a half hour results show.


Based on just performances the bottom 3 should be Brandon, Sanjaya and Haley. Will the voting go that way I doubt it.

My prediction for the bottom 3 are Brandon, Stephanie and Haley. I believe Haley will be going home.

Now if there is any justice in the world, Sanjaya will go home (please, pretty please America I hope you voted based on performance not based on cuteness - maybe the horrible hairdo will prove to be his undoing).

Until tomorrow....