The theme this week is Songs From the Year they were born, complete with baby pictures and home videos.
Naima sang "What's Love Got To Do With It?", which is a song that I love so much. I didn't like the way she started, she doesn't sound as good as she did in her first audition and through Hollywood week. I like where she TRIED to go with the song, but I didn't like the way she sounded. She's got the drive and the energy, and I've seen better from her so I know she's got the talent. The fact that Steven liked it shows that HE is this season's Paula, not J-Lo.
Paul chose "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" by Elton John, which is another song I love. He sounds SO MUCH BETTER this week than I think he's sounded since they ended Hollywood week. That weird, raspy voice really sounded good. I always do find myself wishing he would hit some slightly bigger notes or just hold one for more than a second or two. I think it would up his performance level a few notches. He was sick, but I haven't heard big notes when he wasn't sick...
Thia was singing a song from 1995...I was 12. Some of these kids are so young! She picked "Colors of the Wind", AGAIN a song I love. And I love Thia, I think her tone is perfect for this song. Her voice is so soothing and smooth. I am amazed every time Thia is singing, I think she's truly great. I got goosebumps while she was singing. I do agree with Randy that she is singing a lot of soft songs, but I don't think she was "boring."
I was curious as to what James was going to sing, and "I'll Be There For You" by Bon Jovi is a great pick. Not a song I'm overly fond of, but I like what he did with it. Not his best performance, but the guy is good and everyone knows he can rock it.
Haley (GAG!!) took on "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston. I still think that her voice is whiny and nasal-y. I don't like her. Just don't. And she's no Whitney, she did a terrible job.
Stefano did "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red, which is a great song. I thought he sounded a-MAZ-ing!! He did a fantastic job. The only thing I would say is negative is that he didn't really make it current. But after his end note, I didn't really care, haha. I loved how they panned to his mom and she had her hand on her chest and was saying "I love him" to the lady next to her...so cute!
Pia's version of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" was current, with the beat and all of that. I didn't like her big notes in the first part, but she definitely brought it by the middle of the song. I like her a little more every week. And I was touched by her talking about her grandfather (might even influence my Lent post today), it made her more personable. She did a great job.
I thought Scotty's Elvis video footage was really funny!! Totally showed a more likable side (loved that his parents poked fun at his Hollywood song choice, haha). He picked a Travis Tritt song I'd never heard of. He still holds the mic two-handed like a baby who is just learning to hold their own bottle, but the song was okay. Very country. He always sounds the same. But at least I like him a little more after that video.
Karen is someone that I don't think can cut it next to most of the other contestants. Her mom was sweet, though, it was cute to watch. "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne is a song I have loved since I first heard it (I bought a CD a few years ago JUST for that song). I just didn't think Karen had the power that she needed for the song. Her hair looked silly, too. Plus it bugged me that she said she didn't want people to think of her as just a Spanish singer, that she could "do other things" and yet she still had to throw her Spanish line in there. While she seems like a super sweet girl, she's not going to go much farther.
It's easy to see where Casey gets his goofball-ness, his parents were funny. He sang a Nirvana song, and I think I'm the only person ever who doesn't know a single Nirvana song. I've heard MENTION of the one Casey sang, but never heard it. While he was singing, I thought to myself "clearly I'm not missing anything..." Not my kind of music at all. And I don't like Casey singing this kind of music, he's way better than that...screamfest, I think best describes it.
Lauren's sick, apparently, which is unfortunate because she's overdue for redemption. She took on "I'm the Only One" and it's crucial that she nail it...and I think she pretty much did. She had a real country flair to it, and that made it interesting. That is MILES and MILES better than the last few times we have seen her!! I'm glad she's back!
Could that baby picture of Jacob in the red hat have been any cuter?!?! He picked a FABULOUS song, "Alone" by Heart. Celine Dion has done a great version of this song, even Glee killed this song. So I had high hopes that Jacob would be amazing. The man never lets me down. He's just...I don't have words. I want a CD of songs by him now. I don't care what my sister says, I think this man is a genius. I think Jacob, as well as several other contestants, really benefited from the little video before the performance. This is something we usually get a lot of when they go from 24 to 12 contetsants, on the smaller stage. We haven't gotten a chance to see a lot of behind the scenes stuff about them personally, and that is so key to liking a contestant. We need to see more of these videos, it goes hand-in-hand with their singing talent.
I watched the results show immediately after the performances, so let's jump right in.
We got more little interviews from the contestants...love it!
Jacob, Lauren, and Casey are up first...Jacob is safe (naturally), Lauren's safe (she earned it), and Casey is safe, too, although Ryan got him thinking he was in trouble. =)
Haley (GAG!!) and Paul are up next. I personally think it's obvious which one of these two should be in the bottom three, and I just love being right. Paul's safe, Haley (GAG!!) is in danger.
Lee DeWyze is singing, yay! He was so adorable!! I just love his voice, I wish he was more successful. Maybe he will get there, his album's coming out so hopefully it will be a big hit.
Scotty, Pia, and James are called next. I wouldn't be sorry to see Scotty sit next to Haley (GAG!!). But he's safe. All three are, which is good.
Stefano and Naima...sad to say, but I think Naima deserves to be in the bottom three. Stefano does not. America agreed with me, Stefano is safe. One more person left for the bottom three.
Thia and Karen...it better be Karen. And it is. I think America got the bottom three right.
The Black-Eyed Peas are next...but I'm so over them since the Superbowl. I just don't think they're much good anymore. Fergie looked terrible between the dress, the hair, the lack of makeup, the weird random neon colors...fast forward.
Alright, let's get back to the results. The first person safe is...it's Naima! Wow, I thought she was doomed. Hopefully she comes back stronger next week.
Karen and Haley (GAG!!) are left...and it's Karen who's going home. I don't think the judges are going to save her. She's just not a strong singer, and she showed that by picking Mariah Carey as her last song to show the judges what she has, or rather DOESN'T have.
And she's going home, it's clear Jennifer wanted to save her. But it was just her time.
Ready for next week, we need a MENTOR!!! I'm ready for the celebs to come in and work with everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment