AI 10 3-23-11 The Top 11

This is American Bandstand, wait, this is just a corny introduction with Ryan playing host and the contestants hopping around in 1960’s costumes. I guess this is AMERICAN IDOL!

Welcome to “Motown” week as we cue the educational clip package of what “Motown” means for the umpteenth time in last nine seasons.

“Let us get it on” as we comment on the performances of our top eleven. There is much at stake because only 10 go on tour.

Casey Abrams – “Heard it through the Grapevine”

I really liked this performance. Casey has pure passion when he is singing and it is why he is so compelling to watch. This was awesome and I believed every word he was singing. I loved the beginning and growl and the strut down the steps. I thought Casey made this song his own. This certainly made up for the botched vocals from last week. Well done! Casey cleans up really well too.

Steven – “You are the perfect mix of crazy and out-of-control ego. I think you are the perfect entertainer.”

Jennifer – “You are so specific to who you are. Is there anybody out there life you? I do not think there is! You could really carve a niche out there for yourself!”

Randy – “You are a true original. You can only do you and that ‘you’ is great!”

Thia Megia – “Heatwave”

I will give Thia some credit because she did improve her stage presence barely by semi-strutting around the stage. The vocals were okay but nothing spectacular and rather bland. Thia was mumbling mostly because I think she forgot the words. Overall, I am not wowed by this performance and am tired of her at this point.

Jennifer – “Now I feel like we are scratching the surface with you. It was great to see you let loose like that. Who knew you had that in you? Now that we know, she does have it she has to bring this every week. Part of performing is acting and she needs to connect with her lyrics so she can bring even more.”

Randy – “The reason you are here is we knew you had it in you. It is about taking chances. You just have to believe. I think you can dig deeper.”

Steven – “You have taken a step out and I love it.”

Jacob Lusk – “All You Need to Get By”

Tonight was the first time where I really enjoyed Jacob’s performance. It was not a perfect vocal but the overall performance worked including the way he restrained some of his vocal gymnastics, which is why he often goes off track. Mr. Iovine provides some sage advice, “You need to grab the song, sing it, control it and use the power when it is justified.” Surprisingly Jacob listened and it definitely worked.

Randy – “You know what was wrong with that performance, absolutely nothing! The great Barry Gordy is somewhere going, ‘Oh my god.’ This was your second best performance.

Steven – “You held back, you milked it, and you did it.”

Jennifer – “You made us beg for those notes! Give it to us Jacob. You move me. You me us!”

Lauren Alaina – “Keep Me Hanging On”

I did enjoy Lauren’s performance this evening. I thought she showed great attitude, her voice was excellent, and she looked lovely as well. Lauren showed some restraint although flirting with Randy was just plain creepy. This performance improves her standing after last week.

Steven – “You ripped that song another beauty mark. You do not listen to anyone and I like that.”

Jennifer – “You threw your head and neck into it and that is what the song required. There was so much attitude.”

Randy – “She has got her swagger on high. You are ready.”

Stefano Langone – “Hello”

How can one contestant have the highs and lows this one does? Poor Stefano you must remember this, song choice is everything and this was just wrong. You were flying high from last week’s stunning performance but then you come out on the stage giving us a performance, which flopped big time. I hated the arrangement, the way he vocalized and do not get me started on his enunciation. In addition, that head tilt was driving me crazy and he was nodding up and down, up and down which was making me nauseated. Stefano just was not able to sell me the emotions of this song.

Jennifer – “I do not want the intensity to come from you wanting to do well; I want intensity to come from your heart breaking.”

Randy – “You can definitely sing but there was no real emotion.”

Steven – “You ‘ramped up’ too soon.”

Haley Reinhart – “You Really Got a Hold on Me”

I have mixed feelings about this performance. I think the vocals were good but I hated the arrangement. I hated Haley’s outfit, the performance was strange, and she seems to have an inability to move on stage.

Randy – “This started rough, but by the middle, the Haley we fell in love with came roaring back. This is exactly the kind of singer we always thought you were!”

Steven – “Beautiful, you sang your heart out. You do not look a day over fabulous. I have been looking for this Haley since your first audition.”

Jennifer – “You have effortless control, more than anyone else in the competition. You also might have a more soulful voice than any of the other singers.”

Scotty McCreery – “For Once in My Life”

I hated this performance. I will say it again I hated this performance. I think this could rank as one of the worst ever and that is saying a lot.

Jennifer – “Every time you hit that note at the end, you get me all over again. I like this version, I was not sure what you were going to do but you made the song your own.”

Randy – “That is a lady killer note.”

Steven – “This was like Glenn Campbell and Harry Nilsson. You cannot make a three-point shot from under the net. With those low notes, you tweak everybody.”

Pia Toscanno – “All in Love is Fair”

Pia looks beautiful and she can sing. The ease at which Pia can make her voice soar is remarkable. Listening to her is listening to a master class in singing. The entire song was pitch perfect and she was able to put her unique stamp to it. This is after all a singing competition and there is no question of the talent Pia demonstrates each and every time she steps out on the stage.

Jennifer – “Again you kill us with one of your killer ballads but if I am going to give you constructive criticism, we have seen you sit there three times and do a ballad. You need to show us a little more heart and a little less head. I need you to start including that other part and dynamic. That will take you over the top. We need to see it because we know it is there.”

Randy – “You hit the notes dead on but you cannot live on ballads alone. Give me even a mid-tempo.”

Steven – “You are the closet star in the ‘American Idol’ universe. Step out, put your sneakers on and kick some ass.”

Paul McDonald – “The Tracks of My Tears”

Here is yet another Paul performance, which I hated it. I just do not get what people like about him. I did not like this version of the song. I do not think it used his voice to any meaningful effect. I felt no emotional connection to the song. I found the entire performance odd.

Randy – “You definitely have a distinctive kind of voice. You took it to a cool, Rod Stewart-y place.”

Steven – Makes a comparison to Bob Dylan (a man who cannot sing) and Willie Nelson.

Jennifer – “You are the most season performer that we have. You are the complete package. All you need is the right producer and there you go.”

Naima Adedapi – “Dancing in the Street”

I absolutely adored this performance and I am not sure why. It was fun to watch and everything was working including the instruments and the dancing. It should have been a horrible flop but instead was beautiful listen to and watch. Naima was on key and the vocals were probably the best ever from her. There is no doubt she was having fun.

Steven – “It was an ‘e” to the “z” tweedle-dee-dee!”

Jennifer – “You gave me ‘my first little goose bumps of the night’ and you are an exotic performer. You are my mover, my share, my dancer up there, a little extra something.”

Randy – “All of Naima showed up tonight, the African dancer, the one who loves reggae, it was beautiful.”

James Durbin – “Livin’ for the City”

James definitely brought his “A” game tonight. This was balls to the wall great entertainment. It was a great vocal, some great stage presence, and was just pure pleasure to watch and listen to.

Jennifer – “You are serious business up there. It is just an incredible thing to watch. You leave me speechless.”

Randy – “It started rough but when you finally hit your pocket, it was unbelievable.”

Steven – “I think sometimes it takes a little bit of being crazy to make a difference in this world and that is what you do.”

Motown week definitely had the ups and downs for me but once again some contestants surprised me and others just fell flat.

I voted for James, Jacob, Casey, Naima, and Pia.

I think the bottom three will be Thia, Haley, and Naima.

My prediction is the third time is the charm and Haley will be going home.

Until tomorrow…