American Idol 6 British Invasion 3/20/07

Last night's theme was "British Invasion" with guest artist Peter Noone and Lulu. I actually very much enjoyed their comments on the contestants and overall I thought they did a great job in coaching.

The top 11 rose to the occasion for the most part and really put on a great show. I have to agree with one of Randy's comments, it was almost like attending a concert. This doesn't mean there weren't a few misfires along the way.

I managed to get in 187 votes last night once again voting for everyone but one contestant, yes the same one as last week but I know it won't do any good and I am going to be crying at the results show tonight.

On with my comments:

Haley Scarnato, “Tell Him”

I will give Haley credit in that she was absolutely 100 times better then she has been. Haley was definitely showing a bit more confidence and energy. She dressed to impress or at least show off her best features and going out into the audience was working for her. The problem still is her singing and she had incredible breath issues as well, perhaps it was the prancing around on those very high heel shoes which by the way were also hot. I thought the band was way too loud and actually drowned her out quite a bit. I thought she started off a bit rough, rallied in the middle, and ran out of steam towards the end. Breathe baby breathe.

Randy - Perfect song choice for you, Haley is back, your best performance so far, you had the "yo factor"

Paula - perfect song, you were adorable and flirtatious

Simon - "you naughty little thing, we saw a different side of you ", it was fun and young, it was a bit shrieky in the middle, people will be talking about more than your singing


Chris Richardson, “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”

Chris definitely took Peter's advice to heart and I think it both helped and hurt him. This was one of the best vocal performance he has given because he did just let the melody carry him through. I thought it was an excellent choice to just use the acoustic guitar accompaniment and he started singing sitting down. He had great control over the vocal but the problem for me is that there wasn't any joy in the performance. It was vocally outstanding and I don't hear what Simon hears about the nasal quality of the tone yet because he held back on his tendency to let it fly with the multiple runs, he was almost lifeless, there was no energy or joy. The incredible falsetto at the end was excellent. My other favorite thing was he was enunciating, I heard ever word clearly. I just wanted more energy out of the performance. I like Chris and he has demonstrated he can sing.

Randy - great performance, we saw a different side of Chris, when you just sing and don't push it, beautiful vocal

Paula - smart choice of song and you are playing to win, loved the arrangement, it was sexy and charming (Paula reign it in, he is too young for you)

Simon - I think you gave your best performance ever, you had excellent control and didn't make it sound old-fashioned, a bit nasally and you need to watch that


Stephanie Edwards, “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”

Stephanie definitely looked hot in that sexy blue dress and her accessories were to die for and those boots could walk right over me anytime. I did not like the long intro of the song before Stephanie started it just wasn't necessary. This was definitely not Stephanie's night. I am not sure if it was the song choice, the arrangement, the way too loud band but she was totally off her game. It started a bit rough, she clearly had horrible pitch problems through out, the song seemed too big for her and she had breath problems as well. I just wasn't impressed with tonight's performance. Nothing worked.

Randy - great song choice, it was a little pitchy, not my favorite, you need to do more up-tempo songs

Paula - love what your wearing, some notes fell flat, you are a great singer but you need to have more fun

Simon - you are losing your edge, your soul, it was a little bit Night clubby, a bit cabaret, I miss your passion and rawness, I wasn't crazy about it.

Blake Lewis, “Time of the Season”
I think tonight definitely belonged to Blake, his performance has been the best so far. I wasn't too excited about his outfit (where did he find those horrid pants) but he brought joy and passion to one of my absolute favorite songs. He followed Peter's advice perfectly. He stuck with the melody of the song but brought out it's edge with his beat boxing. Everything worked for me tonight. His performance had energy, he was having fun, was clearly putting on the flirty moves, he definitely brought sexy back. What was really great was we could tell he can actually sing, spot on vocals. He had extreme control. The audience was clearly enjoying this performance. I think we finally have a competition.
Randy - I am a huge Blake fan, it was very edgy, you had the "yo factor", you made the song very current
Paula - you really raised the bar, it was like a concert, you could release that as a record
Simon - a million times better than last week, you picked the right song, the melody was in tact and you found a way to make it contemporary, strongest performance so far

LaKisha Jones, “Diamonds Are Forever”

I love LaKisha but I just have to say for the first time, her outfit was just hideous. I don't know why she chose it, it wasn't flattering at all. The million dollars worth of diamonds were great though. I thought her vocals were spot on, she had great control and that final note was perfection. Given the great vocals, the performance left me cold. LaKisha was trying to control the vocals so much she wasn't having fun, she didn't seem to have the confidence we have seen. I was blown away by the vocals but the rest was a throw away. I think LaKisha should have followed Lulu's advice and went with the other song. Every week it is a battle between LaKisha and Melinda, last week LaKisha won, it will be interesting to see how Melinda does.

Randy - good choice of song, not my favorite performance, I didn't feel enough LaKisha, just all right

Paula - right choice of song and a very smart girl for picking a song with diamonds in it

Simon - you are a fantastic singer but it was like seeing LaKisha in fifty years, it was too old, too old-fashioned, wasn't my favorite performance

Phil Stacey, “Tobacco Road”

I can't even get started on Phil's performance without commenting on his shirt, what was up with that, it looked like he didn't have time to change after eating, those spots were distracting, it looked stupid. I am sure I was totally turned off my the stained shirt that everything else after that was wrong. I will give Phil credit in that he sounded a lot better then last week and he had an almost perfect opening but then blew it. Everyone already knows how much I hate the rocker singing with the mike stand move so Phil didn't win me with that but luckily it was short lived. My big problem was that he was screaming versus singing. It was better than last week but didn't blow me away.

Randy - that was good, pitchy in spots, the end was good, I like your upper register, pretty good performance

Paula - good choice of song, some parts were pitchy, put you showed the emotion, good performance

Simon - I wasn't crazy about it, it was like a third division bar band performance, no grit in your voice, wasn't believable, you were out sung by a lot of the others, you might have a problem tomorrow night

Jordin Sparks, “I Who Have Nothing”

I just have to say wow, wow, wow! Jordin looked spectacular, the dress, the shoes were to die for and I loved her hair style as well. Jordin's performance was breathtakingly beautiful. For someone so young she exhibited such control. This was one powerful song and Jordin was not intimidated by it at all. She was confident and the emotion that was flowing from her just did me in. Standing on the stage, singing her heart out with absolute perfect pitch. This was absolutely incredible. It was a star making Idol moment. This was a Kelly Clarkson 1st season Idol moment. This was my favorite performance of the evening so far and quite frankly I don't think anything can beat this one tonight. Way too go Jordin. We definitely now have a competition finally.

Randy - very tall order the song, I am very impressed, it was a very controlled vocal, best performance tonight

Paula - great range, you are a great singer, wonderful performer

Simon - you sang the song beautifully but it was so bloody gloomy and depressing, "I just want the sun to shine or something" but again you sang great

Sanjaya Malakar, “You Really Got Me”

The only high point of Sanjaya's appearance was the beginning of the tape interview when he admitted he was not the best singer in the competition at least he understands what is keeping him in the competition. Let me just say that this has got to be the most hokey, ridiculous, performance that has ever been shown on television. It was like watching a kid playing at being a rock star, every moment was forced and stupid. Do not even get me started on that little girl Ashley crying, yes crying, it was like a recreation of the Beatles invasion (being the cynic I am the producers probably paid her to do it since the director seemed to be able to cut to her constantly- I just wanted to throw up). The only good thing about the performance was the band was too loud drowning him out most of the time. Sanjaya sucked, he was totally out of tune and he was screaming not singing and his enunciation also sucked. I was in total pain throughout the performance. The only other plus was at least he was energetic in his child like glee at trying to be a rock star. While the kid is cute his attempt at being sexy was just painful to watch and good heavens his crouching in front of Paula just plain creepy. This performance caused me to have a nightmare when Sanjaya actually won the title of American Idol. I woke up in horror and it was only 2:00 a.m. I couldn't get back to sleep. This was bad, bad, bad and he must go, go, go!

Randy - you came out of your shell, you are usually mild and meek, your best performance to date

Paula - you went for it, it was fun

Simon - I think the little girl's face says it all, he cringes

Gina Glocksen, “Paint It Black”

I really do like Gina but tonight was not her night. Gina looked great, it was the perfect look for this song (a song I truly adore). What was great about the performance is she did follow Lulu's advice in that she told her to get as much drama out of the song as she could and just devour it. Gina was truly energetic and the emotion was clearly there but unfortunately her vocals fell short. Gina's enunciation sucked as well. I am not sure she was in sync with the band and she was shouting quite a bit versus singing. On the plus side it was fun and she sold the emotion of the song. Gina really needs to focus on her singing and if she does she could go far.

Randy - our resident rocker, I like your edge but not my favorite, just all right

Paula - you were miles better than last week, just let loose and have fun

Simon - there were moments of complete torture in that vocal, it was so off melody, it was style over content, vocally not good enough

Chris Sligh, “She’s Not There”

Before we get to the performance did you see the signs in the audience, "Bringing Chubby Back" and "Fro Patro", if I have to hear "Fro Patrol" for the next 9 weeks I may scream. I am not sure this was a good song choice for Chris. I did not like the coming out of the audience, I have to agree with Randy it threw him off, the first part of the song was pretty rough. Chris managed to hit the chorus but his enunciation sucked as well tonight. This was just an okay performance for me. I think Chris can do better and has. He did improve from last week which is a definite plus.

Randy - a little bit rough at the beginning and you were a head of the beat but you ended strong

Paula - you are dressing nicer, you should interact with the audience more

Simon - you did your thing, it was fun, you showed personality, not the best vocal though, much better than last week.

Melinda Doolittle, “As Long as He Needs Me”

Melinda is an incredible singer but I am not sure the performance worked. I also did not like her look tonight (her friend the stylist must not have been available) the outfit wasn't the right choice, boring without much color and what was up with the haircut and makeup, it was just wrong. Vocally Melinda nailed the song but her performance lacked emotion and this is a song all about emotion if you have ever seen "Oliver". Melinda saved the day with that last big power note but I wasn't moved. I noticed we had the damn crying little girl again although what she was crying about might be interesting because there is no way she could understand what this song is truly about it. I found it all lackluster at best. My LaKasha and Melinda battle ended in a draw for me.

Randy - best vocal for last, stunning, great relative pitch, you are a pro up there

Paula - you are in a league of your own, you tell a story with the song, beginning, middle and end (sounds like a toastmaster mantra for table topics)

Simon - "Are you really as nice as you seem?", the beginning was boring but the 2nd part was sensational, an impeccable vocal.

Overall this was a much better week than last with just about everyone doing better. Jordin wins the prize for me with the absolute most perfect vocal of the evening, if this was the finals she would win the contest on that vocal. Blake was second.

Predicting who will go home tonight is going to be hard. AS MUCH AS SANJAYA should be going home based on performance, the reaction of the crying Ashley just about guarantees he will make it to the top 10, those young bubble gum girls are going to be texting still their fingers are bleeding. My hope, my prayer is that America will JUST SAY NO to Sanjaya but I am not getting my hopes up. If he makes it to the Top 10 he will be in the concert, the good thing is the contestants normally sing in the order of their appearance so #10 starts first, I guess I will just arrive late for the show and miss poor Sanjaya.

My prediction for the bottom 3 are Stephanie, Haley and Phil. Outside of Sanjaya I think Haley should go home but I think her little short short outfit will keep her around so I am predicting that Stephanie will be going home tonight.

Until tomorrow.....