ImTHEIdolNerd's Blog

American Idol – Season 8 – Top 13! 03-10-09
By:  ImTHEIdolNerd
http://community.myfoxyumaelcentro.com/

So here we are…FINALLY! Now THIS really IS…American Idol!

We have a new start to the show…The judges come out on stage for introductions before taking their seats…Ryan teases Simon that he finally got his way, and that the producers were listening to Randy’s notes…Yawn…We have a new stage set that is bigger and better than ever and 500 fans in the audience tonight (really?  Only 500?  I thought there would be more-they’ve never told us before how big the audience was).  We get a warning to be careful and listen to the phone number for contestant #13, lest you get connected with a phone sex number…really…Ryan called the number on his radio show this morning and found that 5713 was a porn number.  Seems Idol only bought numbers 01 through 12, so there will be a special number for lucky #13, and that number will be 5736.  We are also told that tomorrow night would be a double elimination, which shouldn’t shock anybody since there are 13 this year and scheduling is tight.

Tonight we hear the music of Michael Jackson…seriously?  I wish they would go back to themes that had to do with the year or genre versus a specific artist…That doesn’t give us a good idea of what type of music they would sing if they cut an album…oh well…MJ it is…Let’s get this thing started.

Starting off tonight is Lil Rounds who is singing “The Way You Make Me Feel” – Of course she is pitch perfect and a pro up on the stage.  Her experience shows in her performance.  She has nice stage presence and sings the song well.  I’m not blown away though; although I think that the MJ song has to factor into this non-wow performance.  She’s a natural that’s for sure, and an audience favorite.  I’m sure we’ll be seeing her again next week.

Next is Scott Macintyre who is seated at the piano for his performance of “Keep the Faith” – I don’t think I’ve heard this song before…not sure that I’m loving this all that much…Kind of a BLEEP hum performance.  It’s ok, not great, & a little pitchy in spots…but he’s a likeable guy and the judges are gushing…a little too much me thinks…I think he was good, but not great…forgettable performance, to coin a phrase from Simon.  Could be in danger.

Next is MY favorite, Danny Gokey who will be singing “PYT” – I hate this song, but I love the way he sings it.  NOW the competition has started.  He’s actually making me  like this song.  He starts off with a slow beat and then pops it to an upbeat tempo.  He is really bustin’ some moves on stage and working the audience.  He just pulls them right in.  He is really feeling this song.  Now we are talking competition.  Loved it!

Next, Michael Sarver, our resident Oil Rigger…He will be singing “You’re Not Alone” – Got some goosebumps in his opening.  He’s showing us his nice powerful vocals tonight.  Didn’t know he had them.  I love his performance.  He is really showing some soul and passion…I think he really sold this song.  Great song choice.  I love him and the judges do too…Should be seeing him around next week.

Now we have our young Jasmine Murray – She sure looks like a cutie pie in her pink 70’s inspired outfit…shows her youth.  Jasmine will be singing “I’ll Be There” – Um…I don’t like this song choice for her at all.  She has a powerful voice, but needs to really watch it on those power notes…she tends to get a little “screamy”  - needs to pull the vibrato in a little sooner to pull it back some.  She has some pitch problems throughout too.  She does end with a nice soft ending, but I think she lacked some emotion throughout…that will come with experience though…that’s a pretty big stage to be standing on for one so young…she sure is a cutie, but I think that performance may find her in the danger zone.

Kris Allen is next with his guitar and he is going to sing “Remember the Time” – Kris has some nice vocals, but I don’t think the guitar really suits this song…some parts are a little awkward…His voice cracks at times and his voice is showing some strain.  He’s a cutie too, but I don’t know if it will be enough.  Overall, it was a good performance, but with so many talented people in this top 13, you almost have to be outstanding.  I’m not sure about where he’ll be next week.

Next is Allison Iraheta.  Allison is going to sing “Give In To Me” – I like her take on this song.  She makes it current.  I love her unique tone too.  She looks very comfortable on stage, as opposed to her counterpart, fellow 16 year old Jasmine.  Allison is giving a 150% performance tonight.  What a powerful voice for one so young!  I think she’s a lock to stick around…Great performance tonight.

Next we have Anoop “dog” Desai in the house…Anoop is going to sing “Beat It” – sigh…before I even hear it I’m not hopeful…I think this is the wrong song choice…Hmmm…He sings the song well and moves around on stage working the audience, but he is very ordinary…this performance doesn’t make him shine at all.  This is just ok for me…Darn it…I was really hoping for more from him because I just love him….I’d put him in the bottom 6, but I don’t think he’ll be leaving…

Next up is Jorge Nunez…so cute…He is going to sing “Never Can Say Goodbye” – Another bad song choice…He starts with a few rough notes, but quickly picks it up as he shows us his nice clear vocal ability and his powerful upper range, but the song is lacking the emotion that Jorge has shown in his past auditions…I don’t think this was his best performance…but it’s not his worst either.  The judges, Simon, rips him one though…when Simon asks why he chose that song, Jorge had a little trouble explaining it, and ends up saying, “Well, I didn’t want to sing “Bad” by Michael Jackson,” to which Simon replies, “Actually, you just did.”  No love from the judges for Jorge tonight.  I think he has the fan base though to persevere.

Now we have Megan Corkrey who will be singing “Rockin’ Robin” - Also not the best song choice, but I don’t really care…she looks like she is having a blast up on stage…Towards the end of the song we get to hear the unique sound that got her to the top 13…and I just love that unique sound…with the right song, she will be a really strong contender.  Part of the fun of this performance is watching her “Elaine-esk” style of dancing…you know…Elaine, from Seinfeld?  Her dancing is a mess but I don’t care…I like this girl…I hope she sticks around…

Now we have Adam Lambert…Adam is going to sing “Black & White” – Oh YES!  Now this is what I’m talking about!  A blow me away performance!  He’s rockin’ it out on stage.  Watch out Danny…”Knock, Knock…Who’s there?  It’s Adam!”  He owns the stage, and I love how current he made this song.  I think he could easily record this song right now…Winner tonight?  No question…Adam Lambert!  It pains me to say this, but I’m sorry Danny, you just got out sang!

Now we have poor Matt…poor Matt because he has to follow Adam…and he follows him with a mellow song no less…Matt is singing “Human Nature” seated behind the piano.  He puts a nice bluesy turn on this song, but after Adam, he’s a little bit boring…I’m not lovin’ the falsetto and the 5-year old next to me just said she doesn’t like him because of the falsetto…sorry dude…can’t argue with a 5 year old…well, you can, but you wouldn’t win…He might be in danger, mainly because of his placement in the lineup tonight…tough to follow Adam’s performance.

Last, but certainly not least, is our little Alexis Grace – Alexis is going to sing “Dirty Diana” – She looks great and she sings great…she too, like Adam, just took over that stage and the audience…Looks like she is going to give Adam and Danny a run for their money… She’s got some great vocals tonight, great personality, great stage presence, and an overall WOW performance.  You can just see the song run through her whole being!  And I say…Welcome to the Adam and Alexis show!

This is going to be a tough one to call tonight…it always is at the beginning with so many contestants, but usually there are at least a few that are clearly not cut out to be here…with this group there is no real stinker…so for tonight I am going to rank who I think either did the best, or that I like the best based on past performances…Since I have to rank someone at the bottom it doesn’t necessarily mean they were the worst, there was no worst…it just means I have to pick who I could live without.  So here goes…

Adam Lambert (duh)
Alexis Grace (double-duh)
Danny Gokey (I just love him)
Allison Iraheta (the girl can sang!)
Michael Sarver (Mr. Oil Rigger man…sing to me baby!)
Lil Rounds (Love her, love her professional performances…but no wow factor tonight)
Megan Corkrey (didn’t think I’d put my girl last did you?)
Anoop “dog” Desai (alas, the dog let me down…sigh)
Matt Giraud (dude…you followed Adam…sorry)
Jorge Nunez (I’d like to hear more Latin flavor…)
Kris Allen (loved the guitar, love you, just didn’t love the song & the guitar tonight)
Scott Macintyre (Nice guy, but I don’t see a lot of record sales)
Jasmine Murray (Really sweet girl, but I don’t see a lot of record sales here either)

And there you have it…good or bad, right or wrong…that’s the way I sees it…Opinion subject to change with next weeks performances.

So we close the night with a little mystery…Seems we will find out the news tomorrow night.  Simon says there will be a change that has to do with the judges and he’ll tell us then…Here’s my guess…The judges get to save or pick who goes out of the bottom group, thus avoiding another Taylor Hicks debacle…not saying I didn’t love Taylor…I just knew his audience would be limited and that would result in minimal sales…Anywho…that’s my guess…what’s yours?

Until next week…Nerd out!