The American Idol contestants failed to inspire love tonight with their Greatest Love Songs theme. Honestly most of them just don't have the passion required to pull off a really great love song.
Ryan Seacrest first started off the night talking about the departure of Ace Young. He told the audience that they still have a couple of heartthrobs on the show - Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Then, as tonight was featuring Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, we had a clip of how totally awesome Andrea and David are. Andrea has released a new album called "Amore" featuring duets with Stevie Wonder and Christina Aquilera. David said that "if you can't cut it in my studio, you're gone" then gives some criticism to several of the contestants.
First up was Katharine McPhee, who chose to sing "I have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. Coincidentally, David Foster wrote the song. David said that Kat has a great future, while Andrea said her voice is powerful and clean. Andrea and Kat sang an opera duet together. I wasn't overly impressed with the performance. It was okay, but she seems to struggle with the low notes. It lacked the goosebump factor that Whitney's version had. Randy called the song too big for Kat, saying she didn't come close to Whitney. Paula told her that last week was her zone, but this week she had pitch problems. Simon told Kat that by picking that song it's like saying you're as good as Whitney, but she's not.
Elliott Yamin decided to perform "A Song for you" by Donny Hathaway, which he performed at his audition. The background singer tonight is Hathaway's daughter. David said it is dangerous to perform a song like this, as it's so stylized. David wanted to make a change, but Elliott wasn't getting the change. Vocally it was good, but it just didn't excite me. Randy didn't like the arrangement, calling it confusing. Paula was moved to tears and thus virtually incoherent. Simon, snickering (probably at Paula), said something about Elliott being one of the best vocalists in the competition.
Ryan asked Kellie Pickler if she would be dedicating her song to anyone. Kellie thanked Ryan for reminding her that she doesn't have a boyfriend. And of course we had to have the standard stupid comments, this one centering around the movie Ghost, as Kellie was performing "Unchained Melody." Andrea said the song is beautiful and sweet, like her voice. David said it's a great song, but if it's sung without passion it can be boring. Boring is exactly what it was, she sang it with all the passion of a doorknob. Randy told her the only good thing was the high note. Paula told her she wasn't raising the bar each week. Simon told her it deserved tears for a different reason. He felt like it was never going to finish, that she was like a robot, and was then cut off by the music playing. It seems that AI is running a bit late.
Paris Bennett sang "Memories." Andrea thinks Paris has volume like he does. Honestly, her performance was good, but she just still doesn't do it for me. I didn't like it. Randy thought it was good, but wasn't over the top about it. Paula told her that she's born to sing, but she oversang it a bit. Simon thought it was old fashioned, but a good vocal.
Andrea called Taylor Hicks a good singer with a beautiful instrument. David was drawn into the way he sang. Taylor was so far better than the rest with his performance of "Just Once" but I missed a bit of something tonight. Randy thought it was the wrong song for him. Paula said it wasn't her favorite. Simon told Taylor that he looked uptight, and the performance was something you could find in a hotel lounge.
Last up, again, was Chris Daughtry who chose to sing "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman." David said that Chris' problem is that he sings from his throat, so he forced Chris to lay on the floor. That made Chris use his stomach finally. His performance was... yeah, don't make me say it, k? Randy called it amazing. Paula repeated over and over again "Love you." Simon quickly said that it was a good choice of song and a great performance.
Random Thoughts:
1. Hello boobs!
2. Is Elliott taping his ears back at night or something?
3. Taylor looks like George Clooney, or at least he did tonight. Not bad.
4. My mother and sister are old, infirm, and deaf. I refuse to speak to them about American Idol again. See, every Tuesday after AI I go over to mom's house to see what she thought. If you've read a report or two, you may remember that my family adores Kellie and has fallen for her "I'm a white trailer trash ho-bag" routine. I, being a feminist of the highest order, detest her cutesy little act, and hate her even more when people fall for it. My mother, who is normally a rational woman, has fallen for this act hook line and sinker. Unchained Melody is the most beautiful and passionate love song (or at least one of them). Anyone who can not see that Kellie sang that song more woodenly than Pinocchio is simply not someone who should be allowed out in public ever again. It's that simple. Yes, I'm taking a hardline stance on this one. Feel free to disagree with me, as it's only an opinion, which can never be right or wrong.
5. I hate Chris Daughtry.
Top Two (in order, unfortunately)
Chris *bleeping* Daughtry (darnit anyhow)
Taylor Hicks
Middle Two (in no particular order):
Elliott and Paris
Bottom Two (most definitely in order):
Kat
Kellie (who is far far far below Kat. Very far. Kellie would need a massive ladder to reach Kat.)
So, who goes home tomorrow? Well I can hold out hopes that Kellie will finally leave us and I can stop being angry every Wednesday night. But ultimately the bottom will be Elliott and Paris as they don't connect as well. I'd bet on Elliott leaving.
Curlio you have such great insight with your reviews (as does Dusty). And it is with humble respect that I say thank you. OMG was Chris not awesome! I know that was hard for you to admit, but he was in a class by himself. You must understand that I am probably the biggest Bryan Adams fan ever and to sing Bryan Adams is like sacrilige. But he was incredible. I for one appreciate you giving him credit even if you don't like him. (I've had to do that with Paris a few times as well)
I agree with you on most all points. I thought Kat was ok. It is hard to sing Whitney.
I enjoyed Elliot. He has become a Bucky substitute to me. He seems so real. I thought he looked cute in the overgrown suit.
Kellie...oooo...after "he-who-shall-not-be-named's" version several years ago, she just committed song suicide.
Paris was okay. I hate that song so if Chris had sung it I would have had a hard time liking it.
Taylor should have blown "Just Once" out of the water. It was good, but during the whole song I kept wondering if he didn't feel good, or had a sore throat or something.
Then Chris came on. It was a perfect song for him. I will stop oogling there.
One last point; notice the order in which people sang. Could they have sung in the order that they will be eliminated?
Once again the Bean is thinking too much and looking for that elusive conspiricy theory. (Can't spell either...that's why I quit teaching!)
edit: shellybean - 2006-04-25 22:10:06 GMT - like I said; can't spell
If you can't be a good example, then be a horrible warning!
I was amazed at Chris when he was singing while laying down, if he'd be able to do that while standing up he'd be the winner hands-down. even *I* thought he had a good performance, the only part I disliked of it was when he started to go all 'screamy' at the end again. I think David and Andrea exactly highlighted what I disliked about Chris upto now. Nice to see him not singing yet another rock song though.
In one of the first weeks when we were down to the final 20 I told curlio that I thought Taylor looked like George Clooney in a strange way, curlio of course declared me for crazy... I triumph :P
Ah forgot to add something: When I saw Paris' hair I suddenly had to think about one of the daughters from the Cosby Show.
I missed the show tonight but from what I have read I did not miss much. I hope Paris goes home tomorrow. I am over her. She seems to be a tad bit spoiled.
Paris always seems to be in outfits that someone more than double her age could easily wear....(a 60 year old could wear the outfit she had on tonight).. Boring. I'd prefer to see her come out in something more in keeping with her 16 years.
Paris Bennett may not be chosen to be the next American Idol, I hope she does but even if she doesn't she will be the next thing to look out for, she's going to blow up and become a great star, she's got the goods!!!!!!
6 best to worst
1. Elliot
Maybe my favorite performance of the season. I've been waiting for this.
2. Paris
The other performance of the night that stood out for me. Really good, twice in a row. Hmmm....
3. (4 way tie)
K***ie - Not that I've ever been right before, but she looked and sounded like someone really talented, but with very little experience. I officially think she has a great sound to her voice.
Katherine - Very wierd, somewhat good. My friend also just informed me that she may have flashed the audience. We are trying to determine if underwear was involved.
link: rickey.org/blog/images/2006/04/katharine-mcphee-04-2006-4-25.jpg
Taylor - Voice sound really good. Same comment though as last week.
Chris - This performance had problems. But I admit there was some good to it. Oh well.
Who picks the songs for these kids? Kat has the most talent, yet she picks a song that only the world's best singing pothead can sing. Elliot is several knotches below bland. Paris picks a Barbra weeper. Taylor works on his lounge act. Chris, the worst singer, shines compared to the others. And....Gomer Pickler. Well, Shazam! Trying a Martina or Faith love song certainly would have made more sense fur a country girl. Still, I watched another hour I'll never get back.
... K***ie - Not that I've ever been right before, but she looked and sounded like someone really talented, but with very little experience. I officially think she has a great sound to her voice.
Sure she has a great sound -- for calling hogs, maybe.
A wierd night indeed. Noone really hit it out of the ballpark. My rating
1. Chris
2. Elliott
3. Taylor
4. Katharine
5. Paris
6. Kellie.
I am a big Taylor fan, and tonight I think something was terribly wrong with him. He looked so uptight and out of sorts. I wonder if he wasn't feeling well, because he sounded much better during the clips with David and Andrea. Plus they said he had the most charisma. Think my boy must have been sick.
Contestants should learn you never, never sing a song performed by talents such as Whitney or Barbra. People will always compare.
Just for the record, Paris did not do "Memories."
The Streisand song she did was "The Way We Were" from 1974.
I thought she over sang it.
Elliott did ok but it didn't do anything for me.
Chris again was the best. As someone earlier said, I could hear him on the radio.
Can say that about most of his songs.
Can't say that about too many of the others, except maybe Taylor and Katherine.
Top 2, Chris, Katherine.
Middle, Taylor and Elliott
Bottom 2 Paris and Kellie.
Unfortunately because of the way the judges all skewered Katherine, the mindess robots out there will probably think she was awful and put her in the bottom 3.
Paris to go.
You folks are not real. There is one contestant and only one who has sung their heart out, and all in all has had the best comments from the judges, and after tonights show (4-25) with a superb performance it should be a no brainer, Elliott Yamin is the best vocalist ever on the show. But it is strange no one wants to believe it because maybe he does not look the part? This is a singing competition not who can dance or move the best or who can show the most leg or upper story or who just may be the most flashy (being worthless). Why is it when Elliott is one of the top vote getters no one has much to say? Most of the contestants when having to change style blew it but Elliott my man has stayed right on track throughout this competition. Grow up people, on any given night Elliott Yamin can blow the socks off the other contestants, HANDS DOWN!
Katherine is beautiful & have a good vocal, but i wasn't impressed coz' she give the same kind of performance each week. I mute the tv during kellie performance ... My predict for bottom two :
1. Kellie (pls go home)
2. Katherine (over confidence, gd voice, pretty but no surprises)
How unfair what you said. How you can hate Chriss, when he is the only reason many..many people, including myself for watching American Idol. I f you can not recognize talent, class, and great stage presence, you should NOT write on the papers, because it is bias opinion.
Thanks God, not everyone is so full of that kind of harmful feelings.
I am not from North Carolina and I just would said" I can't wait to buy Chris Daughtry music. He is awesomely GREAT.
Kellie is the best and will win this competition. Just watch. This is a popularity contest, not a music contest. Kellie is the most likeable and will win.
Paris was nothing short of amazing tonight! As always she delivered with talent, gift, and confidence. Not a sour note. I love watching singers with talent and confidence in themselves. That's a star. She took on a song sung by one of the greats and she made it her own. Like Bocielli said tonight, she has the same range as he. That's the ultimate compliement. Go Paris! The best female vocal of the night. Since this is a singing competition, you should easily be among the top three group tomorrow night. However, you never know with people picking the worst singers to go through (i.e. Kelli Pickler, Taylor Hicks, and Katherine McPhee).
Elliott was also great tonight. The best male vocal of the night.
Chris was excellent tonight too.
That should be the top three. But all too often America doesn't vote for the best.
THe bottom three should be:
Katherine-like Randy and Simon said, she didn't even come close to nailing it. That's a Whitney song and to sing a Whitney song, you're saying you are as good as her an Kat didn't even come close. She was flat in places, and off pitch in others.
Kelli-a mess just like last week. If this girl advances tomorrow night and either Elliott, Paris, or Chris goes home then there's no need to watch anymore.
Taylor-was the worst I've ever seen and heard from him.
The American Idol contestants failed to inspire love tonight with their Greatest Love Songs theme. Honestly most of them just don't have the passion required to pull off a really great love song.
Ryan Seacrest first started off the night talking about the departure of Ace Young. He told the audience that they still have a couple of heartthrobs on the show - Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Then, as tonight was featuring Andrea Bocelli and David Foster, we had a clip of how totally awesome Andrea and David are. Andrea has released a new album called "Amore" featuring duets with Stevie Wonder and Christina Aquilera. David said that "if you can't cut it in my studio, you're gone" then gives some criticism to several of the contestants.
First up was Katharine McPhee, who chose to sing "I have Nothing" by Whitney Houston. Coincidentally, David Foster wrote the song. David said that Kat has a great future, while Andrea said her voice is powerful and clean. Andrea and Kat sang an opera duet together. I wasn't overly impressed with the performance. It was okay, but she seems to struggle with the low notes. It lacked the goosebump factor that Whitney's version had. Randy called the song too big for Kat, saying she didn't come close to Whitney. Paula told her that last week was her zone, but this week she had pitch problems. Simon told Kat that by picking that song it's like saying you're as good as Whitney, but she's not.
Elliott Yamin decided to perform "A Song for you" by Donny Hathaway, which he performed at his audition. The background singer tonight is Hathaway's daughter. David said it is dangerous to perform a song like this, as it's so stylized. David wanted to make a change, but Elliott wasn't getting the change. Vocally it was good, but it just didn't excite me. Randy didn't like the arrangement, calling it confusing. Paula was moved to tears and thus virtually incoherent. Simon, snickering (probably at Paula), said something about Elliott being one of the best vocalists in the competition.
Ryan asked Kellie Pickler if she would be dedicating her song to anyone. Kellie thanked Ryan for reminding her that she doesn't have a boyfriend. And of course we had to have the standard stupid comments, this one centering around the movie Ghost, as Kellie was performing "Unchained Melody." Andrea said the song is beautiful and sweet, like her voice. David said it's a great song, but if it's sung without passion it can be boring. Boring is exactly what it was, she sang it with all the passion of a doorknob. Randy told her the only good thing was the high note. Paula told her she wasn't raising the bar each week. Simon told her it deserved tears for a different reason. He felt like it was never going to finish, that she was like a robot, and was then cut off by the music playing. It seems that AI is running a bit late.
Paris Bennett sang "Memories." Andrea thinks Paris has volume like he does. Honestly, her performance was good, but she just still doesn't do it for me. I didn't like it. Randy thought it was good, but wasn't over the top about it. Paula told her that she's born to sing, but she oversang it a bit. Simon thought it was old fashioned, but a good vocal.
Andrea called Taylor Hicks a good singer with a beautiful instrument. David was drawn into the way he sang. Taylor was so far better than the rest with his performance of "Just Once" but I missed a bit of something tonight. Randy thought it was the wrong song for him. Paula said it wasn't her favorite. Simon told Taylor that he looked uptight, and the performance was something you could find in a hotel lounge.
Last up, again, was Chris Daughtry who chose to sing "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman." David said that Chris' problem is that he sings from his throat, so he forced Chris to lay on the floor. That made Chris use his stomach finally. His performance was... yeah, don't make me say it, k? Randy called it amazing. Paula repeated over and over again "Love you." Simon quickly said that it was a good choice of song and a great performance.
1. Hello boobs!
