American Idol Round of 6: A Horseplayer's Perspective

[brianwspencer]

Chris R.
While the judges were busy fighting each other to decide who got to be the first to fall all over him, I was still unimpressed. I thought the vocal was a little weak in pieces throughout the song and I thought that it really came up short on the "inspirational" side. I will give him one thing here: he tricked me at the beginning of the performance with the sports coat. I thought to myself, "it's about damn time he dressed up." My joy at that went away in short order when I realized he was also wearing his latest Old Navy catch: cargo pants. Why? It's just nitpicking at this point, but he's trashy and always has been and even when he goes to wear a coat and look nice he still manages to ruin it with a pair of $28 cargo pants. The performance was alright, but all in all I found it to be summed up in one word -- boring.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Melinda
Vocally brilliant. She was untouchable with that vocal. I will say that her problem is that she sets the bar so high for herself each week, that she really has to blow me out of the water to impress me now. That said, it wasn't my favorite performance of hers. I have no critique of the vocals at all because (as usual) she was flawless. It just lacked, for me, that same sort of spunky punch that I've seen from her in some weeks. I loved the originality of her version, but it won't go down as one of my favorite performances of hers. However, it surely won't have to in order to keep her around. Still heads above the rest here on sheer vocal ability.

Final Score: 9.5 phone-in votes

Blake
I'm really beginning to get bored listening to Blake. This song is the type of song that is a "free pass" for anyone who can sing at all. It's a classic song, to be sure, but it's not challenging -- and given the nature of this competition, it all came off as a bit safe and a bit guarded. For that reason, I didn't enjoy it a whole lot. It's the kind of song for him that fits very well given his persona, but it didn't do anything to really help him make his mark in this competition. I feel like now that the beat-boxing novelty has sort of worn off (what happened to that, by the way?!), we're just left with a kid with a breathy voice and mouth that moves in scary ways when he sings who's coasting by on his personality more than he is on his singing ability. I could have done without this tonight.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Lakisha
I wish she would stop choosing songs from previous Idol winners. Let alone the fact that that song was the song that was Fantasia's first single. For once I agree with Paula. I couldn't stop hearing Fantasia's version during this performance. Lakisha still has a huge voice but the problem is that I think the past few weeks she's been letting it go unchecked. It's sort of coming unhinged along the lines of louder=better. I think that she's in great danger this week and will very well be crossing her fingers for another Phil clunker. She did an alright job, but for what we've seen from her, this wasn't even close to good enough for her standards.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Phil
Maybe I'm just jaded tonight or not drunk enough, but outside of Melinda (who I wasn't even blown away by), I'm feeling very bored tonight and markedly uninspired. The judges are loving everyone, and I'm thinking that everyone is sort of just average tonight. Again, another performance for him that was a little off on some of the lower notes and then fit his vocal style well once he moved into the upper range. There's still something lacking from him tonight, as there has been every week -- he has no charisma. I still don't like him one bit and this performance did little to change my mind. It was just okay for me, and thus far, the sort of performance that has contributed to what I consider to be the most boring, uninspiring performance -- ironically on the week meant for inspirational songs. I'm going to slam a beer now before Jordin sings because I can't take much more of this.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Jordin
At the bar the other night, someone asked me who I thought was going to win Idol. I told them that after last week, not only did I want it to be Jordin, I actually thought it was going to be her that wins. Tonight was incredible. It's a tough song, because of the way the music runs it plays into strange/less common notes and adds in some difficult runs in the early part of the song. I thought the challenge was big, and I thought she did an incredible job meeting that challenge. Another huge performance by someone who lacks the true seasoning to be delivering those sorts of performances week in and week out. This performance may be the one that actually solidifies her spot as the one to beat. Melinda for once may be playing catch-up...and with damn good reason after that -- one hell of a performance.

Final Score: Yet another 10.0 phone-in votes

[Buffymommy]

I pretty much agree with you tonight Brian, EXCEPT on Chris and Blake.

I will start with Chris. I liked it. It was sweet, but I do concede that it was not Eric Clapton material. But overall I like the kid.


Blake sang the song the way it is supposed to be sung. Simply and sincerely. I thought it was a great performance. Was it eyepopping? No, but I really liked it.


BUT ALL OF THIS IS CRAZY AS JORDIN IS GOING TO WIN IT ALL!

[DerbyCat]

Brian - I just started watching Idol this season and I really look forward to reading your review before I watch it here on the West Coast - thanks for the opinion - you've been on the mark!


p.s. but don't do this for Survivor, I like to be surprised!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

Brian - I just started watching Idol this season and I really look forward to reading your review before I watch it here on the West Coast - thanks for the opinion - you've been on the mark!


p.s. but don't do this for Survivor, I like to be surprised!

Ha! Good thing that someone likes reading my Idol nonsense

I used to watch Survivor religiously, but got bored of it. I'm more concerned with getting on Jeopardy than I am watching that.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Chris R.
While the judges were busy fighting each other to decide who got to be the first to fall all over him, I was still unimpressed. I thought the vocal was a little weak in pieces throughout the song and I thought that it really came up short on the "inspirational" side. I will give him one thing here: he tricked me at the beginning of the performance with the sports coat. I thought to myself, "it's about damn time he dressed up." My joy at that went away in short order when I realized he was also wearing his latest Old Navy catch: cargo pants. Why? It's just nitpicking at this point, but he's trashy and always has been and even when he goes to wear a coat and look nice he still manages to ruin it with a pair of $28 cargo pants. The performance was alright, but all in all I found it to be summed up in one word -- boring.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Melinda
Vocally brilliant. She was untouchable with that vocal. I will say that her problem is that she sets the bar so high for herself each week, that she really has to blow me out of the water to impress me now. That said, it wasn't my favorite performance of hers. I have no critique of the vocals at all because (as usual) she was flawless. It just lacked, for me, that same sort of spunky punch that I've seen from her in some weeks. I loved the originality of her version, but it won't go down as one of my favorite performances of hers. However, it surely won't have to in order to keep her around. Still heads above the rest here on sheer vocal ability.

Final Score: 9.5 phone-in votes

Blake
I'm really beginning to get bored listening to Blake. This song is the type of song that is a "free pass" for anyone who can sing at all. It's a classic song, to be sure, but it's not challenging -- and given the nature of this competition, it all came off as a bit safe and a bit guarded. For that reason, I didn't enjoy it a whole lot. It's the kind of song for him that fits very well given his persona, but it didn't do anything to really help him make his mark in this competition. I feel like now that the beat-boxing novelty has sort of worn off (what happened to that, by the way?!), we're just left with a kid with a breathy voice and mouth that moves in scary ways when he sings who's coasting by on his personality more than he is on his singing ability. I could have done without this tonight.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Lakisha
I wish she would stop choosing songs from previous Idol winners. Let alone the fact that that song was the song that was Fantasia's first single. For once I agree with Paula. I couldn't stop hearing Fantasia's version during this performance. Lakisha still has a huge voice but the problem is that I think the past few weeks she's been letting it go unchecked. It's sort of coming unhinged along the lines of louder=better. I think that she's in great danger this week and will very well be crossing her fingers for another Phil clunker. She did an alright job, but for what we've seen from her, this wasn't even close to good enough for her standards.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Phil
Maybe I'm just jaded tonight or not drunk enough, but outside of Melinda (who I wasn't even blown away by), I'm feeling very bored tonight and markedly uninspired. The judges are loving everyone, and I'm thinking that everyone is sort of just average tonight. Again, another performance for him that was a little off on some of the lower notes and then fit his vocal style well once he moved into the upper range. There's still something lacking from him tonight, as there has been every week -- he has no charisma. I still don't like him one bit and this performance did little to change my mind. It was just okay for me, and thus far, the sort of performance that has contributed to what I consider to be the most boring, uninspiring performance -- ironically on the week meant for inspirational songs. I'm going to slam a beer now before Jordin sings because I can't take much more of this.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Jordin
At the bar the other night, someone asked me who I thought was going to win Idol. I told them that after last week, not only did I want it to be Jordin, I actually thought it was going to be her that wins. Tonight was incredible. It's a tough song, because of the way the music runs it plays into strange/less common notes and adds in some difficult runs in the early part of the song. I thought the challenge was big, and I thought she did an incredible job meeting that challenge. Another huge performance by someone who lacks the true seasoning to be delivering those sorts of performances week in and week out. This performance may be the one that actually solidifies her spot as the one to beat. Melinda for once may be playing catch-up...and with damn good reason after that -- one hell of a performance.

Final Score: Yet another 10.0 phone-in votes

well, we have some disagreement this week...I thought this was the best group effort of the competition...take out Sanjaya and everyone seemed to step up...well, everyone but...
6) LaKisha...horrid! This girl is a slow learner, last week we discovered she's no Carrie Underwood so this week she takes on another Idol's trademark song and murders it. Off key in the beginning, shouting at the end, her voice is powerful but we are seeing increasingly how raw a talent she is! The only disappointment of the night.
5) Chris R...Clapton isn't the best vocalist so a good choice. Personality a plus...vocals ok perhaps given the song even good. His best so far but he has nowhere to go!
4) Phil...yes, Elizabeth, he is a country singer! Garth is always good and he did quite well. Agree that he needs to put more "country" in his vocal but otherwise, very good.
3) Blake...to me, his best performance yet. I actually saw sincerity in this performance and I liked him! Imagine may be a safe choice vocally but I wonder how it will play in the "Bible Belt"? "Imagine there's no heaven...no hell below us, above us only sky"...I will watch the voting here...I think he could be at risk!
2) Melinda...There Will Come A Day by Faith Hill...no easy task but she nailed it and again made it her own, a flawless performance worthy of an Idol, certainly nobody could beat her then...
1) Jordin...one of my favorite songs, You'll Never Walk Alone...extremely difficult, a very risky choice and...my god she was great!!! Her voice reaches new heights every week...best performance of the competition!!!

At risk this week....LaKisha, Chris and Blake (if I'm right about the lyrics)

[onebadbeast]

I Think Melinda Wins Hands Down This Year. Thats Why She Is A Heavy Favorite On The Betting Sites. As For All The Rest Of The Singers, They Sure Miss Some Good Lookers This Year. Its Like Watching A Dog Pound Singing. They Got Rid Of All The Babes And Its Boring Now!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

well, we have some disagreement this week...I thought this was the best group effort of the competition...take out Sanjaya and everyone seemed to step up...well, everyone but...
6) LaKisha...horrid! This girl is a slow learner, last week we discovered she's no Carrie Underwood so this week she takes on another Idol's trademark song and murders it. Off key in the beginning, shouting at the end, her voice is powerful but we are seeing increasingly how raw a talent she is! The only disappointment of the night.
5) Chris R...Clapton isn't the best vocalist so a good choice. Personality a plus...vocals ok perhaps given the song even good. His best so far but he has nowhere to go!
4) Phil...yes, Elizabeth, he is a country singer! Garth is always good and he did quite well. Agree that he needs to put more "country" in his vocal but otherwise, very good.
3) Blake...to me, his best performance yet. I actually saw sincerity in this performance and I liked him! Imagine may be a safe choice vocally but I wonder how it will play in the "Bible Belt"? "Imagine there's no heaven...no hell below us, above us only sky"...I will watch the voting here...I think he could be at risk!
2) Melinda...There Will Come A Day by Faith Hill...no easy task but she nailed it and again made it her own, a flawless performance worthy of an Idol, certainly nobody could beat her then...
1) Jordin...one of my favorite songs, You'll Never Walk Alone...extremely difficult, a very risky choice and...my god she was great!!! Her voice reaches new heights every week...best performance of the competition!!!

At risk this week....LaKisha, Chris and Blake (if I'm right about the lyrics)

It was one of those nights where I couldn't blame anyone for liking any of the performers -- they were all so bland and predictable less Jordin and Melinda that I could see making a case for any of the other four to deserve to stay.

So, so, so bored.

[Buffymommy]

I think it was boring because of all the intros in between the songs. Not that they aren't about important topics, etc... But they could have saved it for tonights show.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

I think it was boring because of all the intros in between the songs. Not that they aren't about important topics, etc... But they could have saved it for tonights show.

Don't think they had a choice, they needed 50 million votes so they needed to highlight the issues!

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Don't think they had a choice, they needed 50 million votes so they needed to highlight the issues!

I understand that, just stating what made it boring.

We will have to critique the professionals singing tonight. FACE OFF: Kelly v. Carrie!

I think Brian and I may get into an argument about that faceoff tomorrow.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

I understand that, just stating what made it boring.

We will have to critique the professionals singing tonight. FACE OFF: Kelly v. Carrie!

I think Brian and I may get into an argument about that faceoff tomorrow.

They are both great but I'm a big fan of Carrie!

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

They are both great but I'm a big fan of Carrie!

OHHH... I will get to fight with you too!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

OHHH... I will get to fight with you too!

Well there's not much to fight about - Carrie is a better pure singer and Kelly is the better overall package. That's my opinion on the ever fluctuating topic of who is better.

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Well there's not much to fight about - Carrie is a better pure singer and Kelly is the better overall package. That's my opinion on the ever fluctuating topic of who is better.

I was just teasing. We all are entitled to our opinions.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Well there's not much to fight about - Carrie is a better pure singer and Kelly is the better overall package. That's my opinion on the ever fluctuating topic of who is better.

Brian, Buffy...who leaves tonight? This seems like a tough choice...I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the four go...Lakisha has been disappointing for several weeks, Blake was suprisingly in the bottom 3 last week and again...that song choice could give him a problem, Phil and Chris seem to be actually gaining some support...a real crap shoot imo!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Brian, Buffy...who leaves tonight? This seems like a tough choice...I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the four go...Lakisha has been disappointing for several weeks, Blake was suprisingly in the bottom 3 last week and again...that song choice could give him a problem, Phil and Chris seem to be actually gaining some support...a real crap shoot imo!

I think that the most likely result tonight is Lakisha's ouster.

Though my phone-in votes system created a four way tie for Mediocraty Champion last night, so any of those four could go -- though Chris or Lakisha seem the most at risk, with only Jordin and Melinda looking truly safe.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I think that the most likely result tonight is Lakisha's ouster.

Though my phone-in votes system created a four way tie for Mediocraty Champion last night, so any of those four could go -- though Chris or Lakisha seem the most at risk, with only Jordin and Melinda looking truly safe.

I kinda agree...LaKisha is certainly at risk as she suffers from comparison to Melinda and Jordin, any of the guys could go but Chris since he sang first may be forgotten, Phil seemed doomed just a couple weeks ago but seems to be gaining support...country songs have saved him for now.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I kinda agree...LaKisha is certainly at risk as she suffers from comparison to Melinda and Jordin, any of the guys could go but Chris since he sang first may be forgotten, Phil seemed doomed just a couple weeks ago but seems to be gaining support...country songs have saved him for now.

But he's still creepy and not very good when placed side-by-side with a Jordin or a Melinda. Jordan told me last night, "He could win." He said it mostly to get me angry and get a response out of me -- but let's just put to rest any notion that he's somehow injected himself into this competition (not saying you think that...).

[Buffymommy]

Bottom three SHOULD be: Phil; Chris; Lakisha. With Phil or Chris going home. IMO.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

But he's still creepy and not very good when placed side-by-side with a Jordin or a Melinda. Jordan told me last night, "He could win." He said it mostly to get me angry and get a response out of me -- but let's just put to rest any notion that he's somehow injected himself into this competition (not saying you think that...).

Oh I agree, he's no danger to the top 2...I suspect the final three will contain one of the three guys but I'm not sure which one!