Only American Idol could have a Disney Night. Oh, now I think about it, the Philippines could too. This is where the show goes off the tracks a bit and the contestants find themselves either in teenage girl heaven or a kind of hell for those who don't see themselves as out-and-out commercial artists in the genre.
Having said that, everyone knows it's coming when they enter and I am sure we'll find that even the least 'Disney' contestant will find a way to adapt one of many thousand tracks.
Uché
121 from Goofy
This is an obscure song that no-one seems to recognise. Not that it matters hugely as it suits him and he gives us a superb performance once again. I do fear for his chances, though, on this night which is not a natural scene for him. He'll need to have an established fan club ready to vote come what may and it was clear this was not there last week so it is a bit early for that. If he does survive, it will be because the scene suited someone else even less well.
Laci
I See The light from Tangled
Much more her kind of scene, this. A nice, gentle song, beautifully presented. She has a super sultry voice. It should work well for her.
Alejandro
Remember Me from Coco
A nice job with his guitar. Re-written and much improved! Well done. This defines 'talent'.
Alyssa
Colours Of The Wind from Pocohontas
This week should suit her too and keep her in the competition. A bit boring but pleasant first half. She goes off key in the middle but, with only two other girls left, I suspect she'll stay.
Leah Michel sings on her own and it's lovely to see her back again on the stage. The sing-a-long? Not such a good idea but that section is mercifully short. Someone needs to have another word with the producers.
Wade
You've Got A Friend from Toy Story
Good choice. Something I actually recognise too! It's not a good night for this guy but he might well survive with this cheery number. Harmless. Still the least good so far Idol-wise but it's an odd week anyway so who knows?
Demitrius
You'll Be In My Heart from Tarzan
So far I've only known one of these songs. This is nice job too, possibly the best vocal so far. He's getting more likeable and we feel we're getting to know him better each week. Probably had enough of the talk about his mum, now, though, no matter how nice she is. I'm not sure how he'll appeal across the board, though. I feel he may suffer for no real reason at all.
Walker
When She Loved Me from Toy Story
He even looks like a Disney character! A pleasant song and maybe not as easy to sing as it may sound. A nice performance behind the piano, possibly his best so far. He seems popular with the voters so I predict he will reach the Top 8.
Madison
How Far Will I Go from Moana
A clever water effect on the stage. This is the girl who doesn't miss notes. "She could be cast for a musical tomorrow" says the mentor. That was good, very good. Best tonight.
Laine
Oo De Lai from Robin Hood
Laine is easy for fans at home to connect with. Here he brings a touch of Country. Not a bad move as the only competition that gives him is Laci who will be around for a while yet. Simple, but effective and I reckon he may have more support out there as this year's young handsome white guy than I'd appreciated.
Jeremiah
Candle On The water from Peter's Dragon
Only his sister is there to support him but that's better than none of the family. All very telling. A strange song. Not that great but he is flawless if not very inspiring this week.
I would place them:
1 Madison
2 Alejandro
3 Laci
4 Uché
5Walker
6 Jeremiah
7 Alyssa
8 Laine
9 Wade
10 Demtrius
The three at the bottom were, in fact, the same three who were saved last week which shows America's votes are pretty much the same. Alyssa scrapes through in 8th place and it is poor Uché and Demtrius who go. This time there is no save exercised. I think Lionel realises that not a lot is going to change in voting intent. Ryan hints that Laine has done very well indeed. Interesting.
It's all a bit white now.
Saturday, 27 April 2019
Friday, 26 April 2019
Top 14 Pt 2
Before the results are announced I would place the contestants in the following categories:
Certain Top 10 Material!
Jeremiah | Uché | Alejandro | Laci Kay
Pretty Safe and deserve a place
Madison | Riley | Evelyn | Demitrius
Vulnerable
Eddie | Laine | Walker | Ashley
Would be lucky to make it
Wade | Alyssa
Now Ryan announces individually who makes it to the Top 7 and who may have to be chosen by the judges. They can choose three from the remaining 7. Oddly, even those who are through get to sing.
Madison is through and does a great version of You And I.
Evelyn is not. She sings Dust In The Wind, a Kansas song. It suits her well. Nice performance. Looks lovely.
Walker is through. He does a gentle little number which suits him much better. Nice. I can his appeal to voters.
Riley is not through. Wow. That's a shock. She does another super performance. They need a pure Country entry and, without her, Laci Kay has a pretty clear run to close to the Final.
Jeremiah is through. He sings an original number called Almost Heaven. It's really good and he has got to have done himself a lot of god with that.
Alyssah is not through. She sings Katy's number - The One That Got away! An excellent performance too.
Wade is through. He does a perfect song too. Superb and I'm glad to see him make it after an uncertain earlier week. It may be a pity he 'wasted' that track, though. He might have been better advised to play that card later.
Demitrius is not through. I had wondered whether he has enough appeal. With those vocal skills, though, he deserves another chance. He's solid but looks worried every time.
Laci Kay is through. She does a beautiful Fleetwood Mac number As Long As you Follow.. Nice.
Eddie is not through. I thought he might have made it as he seemed to have been very much liked by the judges to date. The Kings of Leon number, Use Somebody is powerful and it's another great performance. It'll be tough for the judges to choose three out of this seven.
It looks like it will be Alejandro and Uché through and Laine and Ashley are at risk with just four to go.
Ashley is not through. Sir Duke is possibly the most 'professional' performance of the night so far although I did wonder about her pitch in places. She did own the stage tonight and seemed very comfortable now.
Laine is next. Oh! He's in!! He does come across well and this CCR-type tune is great. I hope it's coming back in style but I doubt that it will just yet and that Laine may not get that much further. Top 10's cool though.
So, only one - presumably Alejandro - gets through. That shows how Uché just doesn't attract the same proportion of admirers as he does in the venue. I'm sure he'll get saved, though, but that only leaves two spaces for the others.
Alejandro does another original. At the piano showing superb abilities once again. I cannot imagine him not winning at the moment.
So who will be saved? I'd say Uché, Riley and Alyssah.
Uché sings Diamonds, the Rhianna number. He sounds amazing and it's a very powerful performance, the best of all in terms of star quality and entertainment. Wake up America and put this guy through. He deserves Top 5.
Emotions run high as Lionel simply goes on stage and walks him over to the Top 10 group!
Luke saves Demetrius. I was not expecting that. And Katy saves Alyssah. Again, whilst I would have given her an extra chance, I was not expecting Katy to deliver it.
So we have the Top 10. Pretty good group of people.
Certain Top 10 Material!
Jeremiah | Uché | Alejandro | Laci Kay
Pretty Safe and deserve a place
Madison | Riley | Evelyn | Demitrius
Vulnerable
Eddie | Laine | Walker | Ashley
Would be lucky to make it
Wade | Alyssa
Now Ryan announces individually who makes it to the Top 7 and who may have to be chosen by the judges. They can choose three from the remaining 7. Oddly, even those who are through get to sing.
Madison is through and does a great version of You And I.
Evelyn is not. She sings Dust In The Wind, a Kansas song. It suits her well. Nice performance. Looks lovely.
Walker is through. He does a gentle little number which suits him much better. Nice. I can his appeal to voters.
Riley is not through. Wow. That's a shock. She does another super performance. They need a pure Country entry and, without her, Laci Kay has a pretty clear run to close to the Final.
Jeremiah is through. He sings an original number called Almost Heaven. It's really good and he has got to have done himself a lot of god with that.
Alyssah is not through. She sings Katy's number - The One That Got away! An excellent performance too.
Wade is through. He does a perfect song too. Superb and I'm glad to see him make it after an uncertain earlier week. It may be a pity he 'wasted' that track, though. He might have been better advised to play that card later.
Demitrius is not through. I had wondered whether he has enough appeal. With those vocal skills, though, he deserves another chance. He's solid but looks worried every time.
Laci Kay is through. She does a beautiful Fleetwood Mac number As Long As you Follow.. Nice.
Eddie is not through. I thought he might have made it as he seemed to have been very much liked by the judges to date. The Kings of Leon number, Use Somebody is powerful and it's another great performance. It'll be tough for the judges to choose three out of this seven.
It looks like it will be Alejandro and Uché through and Laine and Ashley are at risk with just four to go.
Ashley is not through. Sir Duke is possibly the most 'professional' performance of the night so far although I did wonder about her pitch in places. She did own the stage tonight and seemed very comfortable now.
Laine is next. Oh! He's in!! He does come across well and this CCR-type tune is great. I hope it's coming back in style but I doubt that it will just yet and that Laine may not get that much further. Top 10's cool though.
So, only one - presumably Alejandro - gets through. That shows how Uché just doesn't attract the same proportion of admirers as he does in the venue. I'm sure he'll get saved, though, but that only leaves two spaces for the others.
Alejandro does another original. At the piano showing superb abilities once again. I cannot imagine him not winning at the moment.
So who will be saved? I'd say Uché, Riley and Alyssah.
Uché sings Diamonds, the Rhianna number. He sounds amazing and it's a very powerful performance, the best of all in terms of star quality and entertainment. Wake up America and put this guy through. He deserves Top 5.
Emotions run high as Lionel simply goes on stage and walks him over to the Top 10 group!
Luke saves Demetrius. I was not expecting that. And Katy saves Alyssah. Again, whilst I would have given her an extra chance, I was not expecting Katy to deliver it.
So we have the Top 10. Pretty good group of people.
Wednesday, 24 April 2019
Top 14 Pt 1
Now we get the very big stage and the votes are public votes. Ryan's back. The judges will each pick one to save out of the bottom seven to create the Top 10 for this Season.
Laine
That's all Right Mama
Even this guy manages to bring the Church into his intro now. It's such a big thing across the Pond in this section of Entertainment land. Laine looks cool and does the Elvis number pretty straight but without any of the Elvis style. He is very competent, pleasant but a bit bland. There's no X factor, although I like the guy and would put him in the Top 10. Just.Evelyn
The middle by Jimmy Eat World
Wow. This is different! Nice, best best pants in the world! Great number I haven't heard of before but i wish I had. Loved that. She's pretty too and very competent. I am not sure what voters will make of it, though. For that reason she may be at risk.Alyssa
She Used To Be Mine
A classy look, way over 16. Not an easy song, quite an older person song which she delivers accurately but I'm not sure about the emotions and one or two off-key bits appeared to which spoilt her performance. A tough act but not one of her best efforts. She could be vulnerable as everyone's so likeable this year.Eddie
Benny & The Jets
A good choice for this guy. Much better than last week. That could please the crowd too as he's more of an act than Laine was. A smart move and he puts a lot into a real performance. Not a winner, though. I wouldn't have put him in the Top14 but he might stick around.Riley
Suds In The Bucket
Cheer leader, pom poms, this is the real Country American gal. Such a pretty young thing too. This is fabulous classic Country in both her voice and look. The best performance so far. Spot-on vocals and really very entertaining. The song's about an 18-year-old going off with her prince just like that one afternoon. Riley's a bit young but it just about rang true. That was cool. I hope people do vote for her and not just assume she'll do well.Wade
Trouble
He tells us how he used to sing 'Metal' style music and looked the part then too. Quite a difference now. Now he's found a great niche and is quite different to the rest. It is a big, moody number but he's got tough competition now and I am not sure how good this was for catching votes. He may have saved himself. I'm not sure.Dimitrius
Perfect (Ed Sheeran)
I'd forgotten that he sued to sing opera. That may explain why he is so good vocally. A nice track which should appeal. He may not get the Texas vote, I guess, but he is the best male singer so far. He puts an original touch to the well-known Ed Sheeran number. Well done.Madison
Fallin' (Alicia Keyes)
Another 17 year old but what a difference! A really classy performance of this track which is very demanding. A strong presence as she moves from piano to the stage. I'd put her top with that at the moment.Jeremiah
We All Fall In Love Sometimes
This is an Elton John track which I don't know. It suits him really well, though, and he could turn that into a hit tomorrow. A stunning performance. the vest so far. A sure-fire Top 10 place for him.Uché
Finesse (Bruno Mars)
He is the #1 performance artist this year. The track, though, did not work for me at all and I am not at all sure the voters will have figured it out either. However, for sheer talent, he needs to make it. Pretty amazing. The crowd and judges all loved it, whatever it was.Alejandro
One Dance (Drake)
A different scene for Alejandro as the DJ or Electronic Board manager tonight. It's pretty cool and nicely 2020, which will get some useful youth votes. Fascinating to see this breadth of talent.This week he doesn't win but he will most certainly be in the Top 10.Ashley
Fix You (Coldplay)
I feel she has a lot to do to stay in the Top 10. It's a great song to make the attempt, though. I love her voice. I prefer her to Madison on this occasion but I am not sure the public are right behind her in enough numbers. I hope they vote but i am not sure.Laci
I Miss You (Blink 182)
A powerful and quite stunning performance. Very pure talent. I love this interpretation. Will the public? I guess she steals Ashley's spot. I also think she steals Madison's too.Walker
Climb Every Mountain
Wow. that's unexpected. He's popular and even though this didn't quite work production-wise, with annoying drums, he might just squeeze into the Top 10, taking Edie's spot.Saturday, 20 April 2019
Top 20: The Duets Pt 2
It really is very good to see these twenty entrants getting lots of time and opportunities to impress people. In the dreadful last few days of the X Factor everything is rushed through. To get to this stage, the entrants must all be pretty reasonable and be regarded as having some chance of reaching the Live Shows. So an extended period at this time instead of the rapid cuts is entirely appropriate. If anything, cut more later, by which time everyone will have had a good chance to make their mark and, indeed, some may have achieved success outside the competition and go on to star even without the Idol title itself.
This stage is so important and I am so pleased they have given everyone lots of time and aired the full performances too.
With Ryan Seacrest unwell for this edition, Bobby Bones, who has been doing a lot of mentoring with the entrants in the background and who actually does look quite a lot like Ryan, takes over on the big stage.
Alyssa Raghou and Julia Michaels
Issues
Julia's tattoos really do spoil her appearance. It's like someone has been drawing all over her, which I suppose they have been. But that's nothing to do with Alyssa who does not look like one of Julia's natural buddies but they get on a do a professional job of the track. Alyssa slows things down for this. You sense that Julia isn't confident with her, as Alyssa seems to wait for cues and is a bit late each time. For all that, Alyssa is smart and likeable in this more gentle image we are presented with. Her tone is nice and I get the feeling that she'd be fine on her own and most reliable on a Live Show.
Lionel is very impressed. You can see he's in her corner and I think I would be too, especially as she is so young. Only 16 and has clearly been working very hard.
Whether she'll survive is very much down to how a few others come across in this group.
Eddie Island and Lukas Graham
7 Years
I'm a bit tired of this song, good though it is. It was played almost non-stop here in the UK and it just isn't one of those songs you can have on repeat. It should be good for Eddie, though, as it suits his voice well and has quite a good appeal through its lyrics.
Oh dear. Eddie comes on to the stage dancing in an odd way but looking all cheerful and smiley whilst Lukas stands pretty still just tells the story. Eddie is moving around annoyingly throughout. A stupid dance and smiling. Wrong. OK, so he has a good voice and all the notes were there. He can be a cute guy in an odd sort of way but that's it. He needs to go.
Wade Cota with lovelytheband
Broken
A nice performance with a real band. Compare Wade to Eddie. Well, no comparison. One deserves to go forward, the other doesn't. Wade looks the part of a lead singer. That works better than when he's on his own. He's very good, natural. Well done, Wade. I'd like to see him go further.
We learn that his jacket belongs to one of the guys on the doors outside. I thought that idol producers would be throwing money at them all by now and clothing them but it seems not. I was also surprised when he said he didn't have a smartphone so he couldn't share stuff on Instagram with the lovelytheband guy.
Wade has already 'won' in many ways. Good for him. He won't win the show but he will get some offers along the way.
Ryan Hammond and Cynthia Erivo
Hold On I'm Coming
Cynthia is someone else I do not recognise. She's a talented singer, though and gives good advice. This old number with it's typically risqué lyric from the 60s or 70s is a good soul track but nothing special. It's also weird to hear Ryan saying "I just listened to Church music when I was young". What on Earth? It wouldn't have been the 1940s but the 1990s when he was young! I do worry about America sometimes. As for the performance, Cynthia was OK but Ryan just made a good effort but just doesn't look the part or leave us wanting more. I should think this will be the end of his road here.
Evelyn Cormier and Chris Isaak
Wicked Game
Wow. This could be a moment. A nice pairing. It was Evelyn's audition song and she's a major fan of Chris, which is pretty clear from the start. I reckon he really fancies her too but couldn't possibly admit that these days. It does add a lot to the chemistry that comes across though. They are excellent as individuals. Together? I'm not so sure. That was quite sultry and it certainly worked as Chris singing about her in the lyrics but she held back.
Interesting. She's different and I like her and her voice. A class act but whether she'll get much further I am not sure. In this group, I think she will scrape through as there are certainly two or three who should not move on.
Logan Johnson and Julia Michaels
She's looking a lot happier with Logan than with Alyssa. There's a lot going on from her side but Logan looks like a rabbit caught in a car's headlights most of the time. It's a very long intro from the girl and you begin to wonder whether Logan will actually get a chance. Eventually he joins in but she is most definitely in charge and the star here. I would like to have seen them working closer together and not at opposite ends of a big stage for most of the time. It was a difficult song. Logan does look good and would be an attraction in the Live Shows but i wouldn't put him through, looking at the competition.
Raquel Trinidad and lovelytheband
Tiny Dancer
No. That didn't work. Maybe I like the original too much but it wasn't until the very end that either made any real effort and too many runs kept appearing along the way. I have never found this girl much of a contestant and she hasn't brought anything special this week either, so this will be good news for both Alyssa and Evelyn.
Alejandro Aranda and Ben Harper
There Will Be A Light
Ben's family ran a record and music store in the town next to where Alejandro was brought up. It seems he heard A track from Idol with Alejandro playing guitar and was determined to help him get on. I guess he must be some star there too but I have not heard of Ben before. I assume that this is his song. Anyway, that seems to be why he's here doing the duet. He calls Alejandro "a true artist". This is nice. To be honest, Alejandro is the star of these two. It's a fairly 'ordinary' track that is nice rather than being really memorable but it's by far the best we've seen so far tonight and Alejandro is a mist to go forward. No question.
Dimitrius Graham and Lukas Graham
Love Someone
Here's a nice pairing. I can see that they have bonded so much better than with Eddie. Real emotions from Dimitrius. He's not in the lead but I'd like to see him make the Live Shows. Brilliant duet. Not a natural star but that was excellent.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harman and Cynthia Erivo
Time After Time
A great Cyndi Lauper number. He's been excellent so far. I just hope this is not to 'floaty' for him. He gets to start which is a good sign. Great. He does a good job and they make a very good pair, playing it dead straight too. Yes, he'll be through.
After all these performances my prediction was that Ryan and Raquel would have to go. I also had doubts about Eddie and Logan and, unless there was an imbalance between girls and boys that had to be addressed for diversity reasons (ugh!), Alyssa and Evelyn would both get through.
It is Logan who goes and, quite surprisingly to me, Eddie Island makes the Live Shows along with Wade, Jeremiah, Dimitrius, Alyssa and Evelyn. Oh, and, of curse, the last announced, Alejandro!
I though I had heard that there would be a shock twist to this show with four acts being cut. So I was always expecting a fourth name to go but it didn't happen. I must have misheard Ryan the previous night and maybe he's referring to next week. I would hope that 14 isn't to be cut to 10 in one hit, unless they do a two-parter with more than one song.
However, making the Live Shows is a pretty good thing for all of them and I am pretty impressed this year with the standards, the production and, apart from the panel and some contestants being a bit heavy on the old church stuff, the entertainment.
This stage is so important and I am so pleased they have given everyone lots of time and aired the full performances too.
With Ryan Seacrest unwell for this edition, Bobby Bones, who has been doing a lot of mentoring with the entrants in the background and who actually does look quite a lot like Ryan, takes over on the big stage.
Alyssa Raghou and Julia Michaels
Issues
Julia's tattoos really do spoil her appearance. It's like someone has been drawing all over her, which I suppose they have been. But that's nothing to do with Alyssa who does not look like one of Julia's natural buddies but they get on a do a professional job of the track. Alyssa slows things down for this. You sense that Julia isn't confident with her, as Alyssa seems to wait for cues and is a bit late each time. For all that, Alyssa is smart and likeable in this more gentle image we are presented with. Her tone is nice and I get the feeling that she'd be fine on her own and most reliable on a Live Show.
Lionel is very impressed. You can see he's in her corner and I think I would be too, especially as she is so young. Only 16 and has clearly been working very hard.
Whether she'll survive is very much down to how a few others come across in this group.
Eddie Island and Lukas Graham
7 Years
I'm a bit tired of this song, good though it is. It was played almost non-stop here in the UK and it just isn't one of those songs you can have on repeat. It should be good for Eddie, though, as it suits his voice well and has quite a good appeal through its lyrics.
Oh dear. Eddie comes on to the stage dancing in an odd way but looking all cheerful and smiley whilst Lukas stands pretty still just tells the story. Eddie is moving around annoyingly throughout. A stupid dance and smiling. Wrong. OK, so he has a good voice and all the notes were there. He can be a cute guy in an odd sort of way but that's it. He needs to go.
Wade Cota with lovelytheband
Broken
A nice performance with a real band. Compare Wade to Eddie. Well, no comparison. One deserves to go forward, the other doesn't. Wade looks the part of a lead singer. That works better than when he's on his own. He's very good, natural. Well done, Wade. I'd like to see him go further.
We learn that his jacket belongs to one of the guys on the doors outside. I thought that idol producers would be throwing money at them all by now and clothing them but it seems not. I was also surprised when he said he didn't have a smartphone so he couldn't share stuff on Instagram with the lovelytheband guy.
Wade has already 'won' in many ways. Good for him. He won't win the show but he will get some offers along the way.
Ryan Hammond and Cynthia Erivo
Hold On I'm Coming
Cynthia is someone else I do not recognise. She's a talented singer, though and gives good advice. This old number with it's typically risqué lyric from the 60s or 70s is a good soul track but nothing special. It's also weird to hear Ryan saying "I just listened to Church music when I was young". What on Earth? It wouldn't have been the 1940s but the 1990s when he was young! I do worry about America sometimes. As for the performance, Cynthia was OK but Ryan just made a good effort but just doesn't look the part or leave us wanting more. I should think this will be the end of his road here.
Evelyn Cormier and Chris Isaak
Wicked Game
Wow. This could be a moment. A nice pairing. It was Evelyn's audition song and she's a major fan of Chris, which is pretty clear from the start. I reckon he really fancies her too but couldn't possibly admit that these days. It does add a lot to the chemistry that comes across though. They are excellent as individuals. Together? I'm not so sure. That was quite sultry and it certainly worked as Chris singing about her in the lyrics but she held back.
Interesting. She's different and I like her and her voice. A class act but whether she'll get much further I am not sure. In this group, I think she will scrape through as there are certainly two or three who should not move on.
Logan Johnson and Julia Michaels
She's looking a lot happier with Logan than with Alyssa. There's a lot going on from her side but Logan looks like a rabbit caught in a car's headlights most of the time. It's a very long intro from the girl and you begin to wonder whether Logan will actually get a chance. Eventually he joins in but she is most definitely in charge and the star here. I would like to have seen them working closer together and not at opposite ends of a big stage for most of the time. It was a difficult song. Logan does look good and would be an attraction in the Live Shows but i wouldn't put him through, looking at the competition.
Raquel Trinidad and lovelytheband
Tiny Dancer
No. That didn't work. Maybe I like the original too much but it wasn't until the very end that either made any real effort and too many runs kept appearing along the way. I have never found this girl much of a contestant and she hasn't brought anything special this week either, so this will be good news for both Alyssa and Evelyn.
Alejandro Aranda and Ben Harper
There Will Be A Light
Ben's family ran a record and music store in the town next to where Alejandro was brought up. It seems he heard A track from Idol with Alejandro playing guitar and was determined to help him get on. I guess he must be some star there too but I have not heard of Ben before. I assume that this is his song. Anyway, that seems to be why he's here doing the duet. He calls Alejandro "a true artist". This is nice. To be honest, Alejandro is the star of these two. It's a fairly 'ordinary' track that is nice rather than being really memorable but it's by far the best we've seen so far tonight and Alejandro is a mist to go forward. No question.
Dimitrius Graham and Lukas Graham
Love Someone
Here's a nice pairing. I can see that they have bonded so much better than with Eddie. Real emotions from Dimitrius. He's not in the lead but I'd like to see him make the Live Shows. Brilliant duet. Not a natural star but that was excellent.
Jeremiah Lloyd Harman and Cynthia Erivo
Time After Time
A great Cyndi Lauper number. He's been excellent so far. I just hope this is not to 'floaty' for him. He gets to start which is a good sign. Great. He does a good job and they make a very good pair, playing it dead straight too. Yes, he'll be through.
After all these performances my prediction was that Ryan and Raquel would have to go. I also had doubts about Eddie and Logan and, unless there was an imbalance between girls and boys that had to be addressed for diversity reasons (ugh!), Alyssa and Evelyn would both get through.
It is Logan who goes and, quite surprisingly to me, Eddie Island makes the Live Shows along with Wade, Jeremiah, Dimitrius, Alyssa and Evelyn. Oh, and, of curse, the last announced, Alejandro!
I though I had heard that there would be a shock twist to this show with four acts being cut. So I was always expecting a fourth name to go but it didn't happen. I must have misheard Ryan the previous night and maybe he's referring to next week. I would hope that 14 isn't to be cut to 10 in one hit, unless they do a two-parter with more than one song.
However, making the Live Shows is a pretty good thing for all of them and I am pretty impressed this year with the standards, the production and, apart from the panel and some contestants being a bit heavy on the old church stuff, the entertainment.
Wednesday, 17 April 2019
Top 20: The Duets Pt 1
This is becoming quite an impressive show, mainly due to the remaining talent and some smart production which produces lost of emotions without taking years of viewing time with back stories. The emotions are all current and mostly due to exceptionally good performances.
The three judges I have sort of got used to. I respect them all and they talk sense - indeed, a lot more sense than I remember Britney, Mariah and Nicki providing in total on the X Factor USA and judges on earlier Idol shows. The heavy religion does grate a bit but it's meant well.
This week each contestant gets to perform with either Jason Mraz, Elle King, Shaggy, Brett Young or Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
Walter Burroughs
He gets Jason Mraz and gets out a bit in the shade. Walker's cool but just a bit average in my view. He has a cheerful face and you can't help liking the guy and wishing him well but you do have to remember who else is in this competition. He's not going to win so now might be a good time to let him go. Having said that, going first means he may benefit and survive as people tend to vote to keep and then seldom take it away.
Kate Barnette sings with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. I know her and didn't realise she was still performing and certainly didn't know what she looked like. A big star in her day and she still sounds good now.
"Growing up, I wasn't allowed to listen to certain types of music" has to be one of the classic quotes of the whole series from Kate. She lacks the edge of Pat Benatar and seemed to be thinking about what she was doing just a bit much. She just held back for too long. A nice job but she's not a winner either.
Riley Thomson and Brett Young
This young girl comes on on her own at the start and looks fabulous. She sounds excellent too. That worked well and for her first ever duet that was impressive. I don't know this Brett fellow. He's a pretty run-of-the-mill Country-style singer, of which there's a lot across the Pond. This should keep her in the running, though, and she is a clear challenge to some of the favourites.
Uché and Shaggy
Uché comes straight out and gets on with the job and is the first of the contestants who clearly takes a lead in these performances. It's like he's as big an act as Shaggy. I could imagine that he may well be so in the not too distant future. He's this year's Adam Lambert. Shaggy sort of follows on with him. I am not sure the forgettable song makes that much impact but the crowd love them and he should easily fly through to the Top 14.
Madison VanDenBerg sings with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. She is a confident singer. It's a great song and that worked pretty well for her. It was the better of the two duets we've seen with Pat. She has the judges' support too but I am yet to be convinced. I expect she'll make it through but after that?
Shawn Robinson sings with Elle King. Now I know the song xs and os but I didn't remember the girl Elle at all. She does not seem a good match for Shawn and she's chosen Proud Mary for him which he doesn't seem too happy about either. All in all you feel he's got the short straw here and, whilst she may actually have had some sense chosing the track as it did suit his voice, it wasn't very impressive at all. He recovers from a mis-timed line well which is to his credit but I feel this is definitely the end of his time on American Idol.
Ashley Hess is with Jason Mraz. I am warming to this girl. She's been a little in the background and hasn't got the obvious 'star quality' but she is still a bit special. She has actually re-worked this song herself and that is cool. Especially as she's to do it with the guy! It works really well and puts this girl on very much the ladder. It's like she took the lead in that performance and she ought to get another chance.
Bumbly sings with Shaggy. They do look cool together. Her Latin voice is needed in this competition. It's a really good performance and they're well-matched. Nice to watch. I'm just not really sure that she was strong enough to go further. It'll be a close call. I would give her the chance.
Lacy Kaye Booth and Brett Young.
Wow. These two really are good together. You can feel the emotion and Lacy is very, very good at putting the lyrics across. One advantage that she has over Riley is that may know what she's singing about. Another is her voice. Riley is straight Country, delightful but just that. Lacy has a special quality and she's showing what she can do more each week. I'd prefer that she didn't wear so much make-up but that doesn't affect what we hear coming from her mouth.
Lionel says " this will be big for you."
Katy says " I don't want to play favourites but . . ."
Yup. Lacy's through.
Laine Hardy and Elle King
I just wish I didn't hear "Take a load of fanny" as the Band's lyric for The Weight as the weight of Elle sits with legs apart and a skin tight leopard-print all-over thing covering some parts of her ample frame. These two people do not match. Nevertheless Laine does a pretty reasonable job of the track and I'd like to think he did enough. I also feel that this song desperately needs the ...aaaannd.... bits to make it work.
OK. I thought the decisions were down to public votes but, no, it seems that the judges still control who goes and who stays. Three of the 10 go.
It's farewell to Bumbly, Kate and Shawn.
The three judges I have sort of got used to. I respect them all and they talk sense - indeed, a lot more sense than I remember Britney, Mariah and Nicki providing in total on the X Factor USA and judges on earlier Idol shows. The heavy religion does grate a bit but it's meant well.
This week each contestant gets to perform with either Jason Mraz, Elle King, Shaggy, Brett Young or Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
Walter Burroughs
He gets Jason Mraz and gets out a bit in the shade. Walker's cool but just a bit average in my view. He has a cheerful face and you can't help liking the guy and wishing him well but you do have to remember who else is in this competition. He's not going to win so now might be a good time to let him go. Having said that, going first means he may benefit and survive as people tend to vote to keep and then seldom take it away.
Kate Barnette sings with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. I know her and didn't realise she was still performing and certainly didn't know what she looked like. A big star in her day and she still sounds good now.
"Growing up, I wasn't allowed to listen to certain types of music" has to be one of the classic quotes of the whole series from Kate. She lacks the edge of Pat Benatar and seemed to be thinking about what she was doing just a bit much. She just held back for too long. A nice job but she's not a winner either.
Riley Thomson and Brett Young
This young girl comes on on her own at the start and looks fabulous. She sounds excellent too. That worked well and for her first ever duet that was impressive. I don't know this Brett fellow. He's a pretty run-of-the-mill Country-style singer, of which there's a lot across the Pond. This should keep her in the running, though, and she is a clear challenge to some of the favourites.
Uché and Shaggy
Uché comes straight out and gets on with the job and is the first of the contestants who clearly takes a lead in these performances. It's like he's as big an act as Shaggy. I could imagine that he may well be so in the not too distant future. He's this year's Adam Lambert. Shaggy sort of follows on with him. I am not sure the forgettable song makes that much impact but the crowd love them and he should easily fly through to the Top 14.
Madison VanDenBerg sings with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. She is a confident singer. It's a great song and that worked pretty well for her. It was the better of the two duets we've seen with Pat. She has the judges' support too but I am yet to be convinced. I expect she'll make it through but after that?
Shawn Robinson sings with Elle King. Now I know the song xs and os but I didn't remember the girl Elle at all. She does not seem a good match for Shawn and she's chosen Proud Mary for him which he doesn't seem too happy about either. All in all you feel he's got the short straw here and, whilst she may actually have had some sense chosing the track as it did suit his voice, it wasn't very impressive at all. He recovers from a mis-timed line well which is to his credit but I feel this is definitely the end of his time on American Idol.
Ashley Hess is with Jason Mraz. I am warming to this girl. She's been a little in the background and hasn't got the obvious 'star quality' but she is still a bit special. She has actually re-worked this song herself and that is cool. Especially as she's to do it with the guy! It works really well and puts this girl on very much the ladder. It's like she took the lead in that performance and she ought to get another chance.
Bumbly sings with Shaggy. They do look cool together. Her Latin voice is needed in this competition. It's a really good performance and they're well-matched. Nice to watch. I'm just not really sure that she was strong enough to go further. It'll be a close call. I would give her the chance.
Lacy Kaye Booth and Brett Young.
Wow. These two really are good together. You can feel the emotion and Lacy is very, very good at putting the lyrics across. One advantage that she has over Riley is that may know what she's singing about. Another is her voice. Riley is straight Country, delightful but just that. Lacy has a special quality and she's showing what she can do more each week. I'd prefer that she didn't wear so much make-up but that doesn't affect what we hear coming from her mouth.
Lionel says " this will be big for you."
Katy says " I don't want to play favourites but . . ."
Yup. Lacy's through.
Laine Hardy and Elle King
I just wish I didn't hear "Take a load of fanny" as the Band's lyric for The Weight as the weight of Elle sits with legs apart and a skin tight leopard-print all-over thing covering some parts of her ample frame. These two people do not match. Nevertheless Laine does a pretty reasonable job of the track and I'd like to think he did enough. I also feel that this song desperately needs the ...aaaannd.... bits to make it work.
OK. I thought the decisions were down to public votes but, no, it seems that the judges still control who goes and who stays. Three of the 10 go.
It's farewell to Bumbly, Kate and Shawn.
Wednesday, 10 April 2019
The Top 20 Perform
Ryan Seacrest is doing his proper job as host on the big stage now. It's nice to see two substantial rounds now for those who have made it this far - with tonight's full-length solo performances and then duets with some stars next. Such an important feature which I cried out for with X Factor who made the mistake of cutting way to quickly at these stages. This is when those who may be new to all this get a chance to learn and they need more opportunity to get themselves across to the voting audience.
I have ranked these performances, purely in my own judgement as to how they might fare in the overall competition. I have yet to see the duet rounds and so that may well affect the final order. I understand that 14 will make it through out of this group after the duet round and, I think, that will be the people who finally have made it to the all-important Live Shows.
Madison VanDenberg
Domino
I am still not sure about this girl. Is she that much different or just good at doing this type of number? She does have great singing ability although, performing here n the big stage, she did seem a little breathless and the notes were not all as spot-on as they had seemed before. As usual, though, she gets huge compliments from the judges.
Shawn Robinson
Jealous
Great vocals and a pretty good performance but he is a bit stiff and robotic to watch. He's talented but I still don't see this guy moving on much further in the competition.
Laine Hardy
Bring It On Home To Me
I'd forgotten that this guy hadn't actually planned to audition! He is very good and seems totally in control and aware of what he needs to do. Whilst he is a bit retro, he can get away with it and it does make him stand out from the crowd. He looks the part. He also steps up the show half-way through. A good move. That worked well.
Uché
Figures
Not a track I know at all. Whatever! It works for him! Marvellous performance and if he keeps this standard up then he could well be The One. I can see him in the Final for sure. Fabulous guy and he'll have to go seriously wrong somewhere not to make it.
Eddie Island
I Belong With You
He's almost the complete opposite to the previous guy in terms of stage presence! He does a nice job and has a great voice and gets a good response from the audience too. He's a popular guy. I just don't see him winning.
Evelyn Cormier
Leaving On A Jet Plane
It's a lovely number but I felt she treated it a bit more heavily than I would have wanted. More her phrasing was hard work and she ought to be more gentle. A nice girl, unusual and very talented but this may have been her at her peak. She'll need to find something special to bring in the votes to advance further.
Alyssa Ragou
Ain't It Fun
One of the best 'pop stars' and if they gave her some Latin stuff to do then I reckon she'd stand a better chance still. She was cut last year at this stage and is liable to fall again. It was an average track and she didn't show as much presence as I'd expected.
Ryan Hammond
You Say
A lovely ballad, well sung and he's mature enough to mean the words too. But this could be as far as I would expect him to go. A nice chap but unlikely to win.
Raquel Trinidad
Lovefool
A nice Cardigans' number which suits her voice and style. But she just comes, performs and goes and doesn't leave me with any real desire to vote for her. I'd be surprised if she gets further.
Logan Johnson
Love Don't Live Here Any More
This chap could be a very popular young star. He's a nice singer, super youthful look. But this was not a great performance. It was a bit of a cruise but I'd still give him another chance.
Demetrius Graham
Hello
A weird start to the Adele number! He is a superb singer but when he opens up it doesn't quite work for him. I'd love to see him progress, although he'd never match Uché with whom he'd get compared. He may get dropped at this point.
Riley Thomson
Jolene
Wow. Here's someone who really should get dropped yet. She's taken on the classic number and is the youngest in the competition too.She has a brilliant voice and seems totally natural, even at 16, on the big stage. I don't know how she can produce any meaning from the track's lyrics at just that age, though, which is hardly criticism as she can do little about that. She is a star, for sure, and has little direct competition in this genre. She ought to make Top 5 and is the #1 girl.
Walker Burroughs
How Deep Is Your Love?
Virtually a capella at the start. Very good. He's a likeable guy, great voice and tone but i just don't see him breaking through into the Big Time. It's a bit of a tedious performance for me. All good, but that's about it, really.
Bumbly
Vision Of Love
Lionel says that she "brings a bit of professionalism to the competition". She's got a great voice but seems to have worn a dress that does not allow much movement on the big stage, as she stays more or less attached to the microphone stand. With the right track, she could go far and sell well. However, she gets some of the poorest reviews of all from the judges. Luckily I think it's the public who choose who moves on. I think she deserves to get to the Top 10.
Ashley Hess
Dreaming With A Broken Heart
She's at the piano and comes across as very cool and different. It's not an easy song to do or put across at all but I felt she did a good job apart from missing some high notes. That spoilt things a bit and may well have lost her votes. She needs rescuing in the next round.
Alejandro Aranda
I Fall Apart
I love this guy. He brings so much emotion to every performance. He just stands there with his guitar - which he plays magnificently and totally naturally as if he had been born holding it. It's a gentle number but that's how it should be with this fellow. As the judges say - he's special. He is still the potential winner of this show.
Kate Barnette
Sunday Morning
I don't really know what to make of her. She's good but I don't know where she fits in. There's a nice jazzy feel to this number and not an easy task to perform this either but she does do a first class job. I just wonder how commercial she would be and whether that will attract support from the public.
Jeremiah Harman
Make You Feel My Love
He's at the piano too. A super voice and nice personality. You can tell he means all the lyrics so really has to beat the likes of Walter and Eddie, for instance. This is a super performance with little else other than his own voice and his piano accompaniment. He'll come close in this competition.
Laci Kaye Booth
I Want You To Want Me
This girl stands with her guitar, looking a star from head to toe. She is totally natural and Country, but not in a dated way. She gives a lot of character in this performance - spot-on notes and just sounds great. She pulls us in for sure. An excellent performance and she is a real contender - she could push Riley out of the ~1 girl spot. Brilliant but - will she appeal to the voters? She is still just a little 'manufactured' in some respects.
Wade Cota
All I Want
Someone who most definitely is not manufactured is Wade. He has a very husky start and is the complete opposite in just about all respects to Laci! He breaks his voice open then and is like all the Mumfords in one. A really good choice of track - a perfect song for this guy. I can see him making it big time with this style. A super audition!
My Ranking so far:
I have ranked these performances, purely in my own judgement as to how they might fare in the overall competition. I have yet to see the duet rounds and so that may well affect the final order. I understand that 14 will make it through out of this group after the duet round and, I think, that will be the people who finally have made it to the all-important Live Shows.
Madison VanDenberg
Domino
I am still not sure about this girl. Is she that much different or just good at doing this type of number? She does have great singing ability although, performing here n the big stage, she did seem a little breathless and the notes were not all as spot-on as they had seemed before. As usual, though, she gets huge compliments from the judges.
Shawn Robinson
Jealous
Great vocals and a pretty good performance but he is a bit stiff and robotic to watch. He's talented but I still don't see this guy moving on much further in the competition.
Laine Hardy
Bring It On Home To Me
I'd forgotten that this guy hadn't actually planned to audition! He is very good and seems totally in control and aware of what he needs to do. Whilst he is a bit retro, he can get away with it and it does make him stand out from the crowd. He looks the part. He also steps up the show half-way through. A good move. That worked well.
Uché
Figures
Not a track I know at all. Whatever! It works for him! Marvellous performance and if he keeps this standard up then he could well be The One. I can see him in the Final for sure. Fabulous guy and he'll have to go seriously wrong somewhere not to make it.
Eddie Island
I Belong With You
He's almost the complete opposite to the previous guy in terms of stage presence! He does a nice job and has a great voice and gets a good response from the audience too. He's a popular guy. I just don't see him winning.
Evelyn Cormier
Leaving On A Jet Plane
It's a lovely number but I felt she treated it a bit more heavily than I would have wanted. More her phrasing was hard work and she ought to be more gentle. A nice girl, unusual and very talented but this may have been her at her peak. She'll need to find something special to bring in the votes to advance further.
Alyssa Ragou
Ain't It Fun
One of the best 'pop stars' and if they gave her some Latin stuff to do then I reckon she'd stand a better chance still. She was cut last year at this stage and is liable to fall again. It was an average track and she didn't show as much presence as I'd expected.
Ryan Hammond
You Say
A lovely ballad, well sung and he's mature enough to mean the words too. But this could be as far as I would expect him to go. A nice chap but unlikely to win.
Raquel Trinidad
Lovefool
A nice Cardigans' number which suits her voice and style. But she just comes, performs and goes and doesn't leave me with any real desire to vote for her. I'd be surprised if she gets further.
Logan Johnson
Love Don't Live Here Any More
This chap could be a very popular young star. He's a nice singer, super youthful look. But this was not a great performance. It was a bit of a cruise but I'd still give him another chance.
Demetrius Graham
Hello
A weird start to the Adele number! He is a superb singer but when he opens up it doesn't quite work for him. I'd love to see him progress, although he'd never match Uché with whom he'd get compared. He may get dropped at this point.
Riley Thomson
Jolene
Wow. Here's someone who really should get dropped yet. She's taken on the classic number and is the youngest in the competition too.She has a brilliant voice and seems totally natural, even at 16, on the big stage. I don't know how she can produce any meaning from the track's lyrics at just that age, though, which is hardly criticism as she can do little about that. She is a star, for sure, and has little direct competition in this genre. She ought to make Top 5 and is the #1 girl.
Walker Burroughs
How Deep Is Your Love?
Virtually a capella at the start. Very good. He's a likeable guy, great voice and tone but i just don't see him breaking through into the Big Time. It's a bit of a tedious performance for me. All good, but that's about it, really.
Bumbly
Vision Of Love
Lionel says that she "brings a bit of professionalism to the competition". She's got a great voice but seems to have worn a dress that does not allow much movement on the big stage, as she stays more or less attached to the microphone stand. With the right track, she could go far and sell well. However, she gets some of the poorest reviews of all from the judges. Luckily I think it's the public who choose who moves on. I think she deserves to get to the Top 10.
Ashley Hess
Dreaming With A Broken Heart
She's at the piano and comes across as very cool and different. It's not an easy song to do or put across at all but I felt she did a good job apart from missing some high notes. That spoilt things a bit and may well have lost her votes. She needs rescuing in the next round.
Alejandro Aranda
I Fall Apart
I love this guy. He brings so much emotion to every performance. He just stands there with his guitar - which he plays magnificently and totally naturally as if he had been born holding it. It's a gentle number but that's how it should be with this fellow. As the judges say - he's special. He is still the potential winner of this show.
Kate Barnette
Sunday Morning
I don't really know what to make of her. She's good but I don't know where she fits in. There's a nice jazzy feel to this number and not an easy task to perform this either but she does do a first class job. I just wonder how commercial she would be and whether that will attract support from the public.
Jeremiah Harman
Make You Feel My Love
He's at the piano too. A super voice and nice personality. You can tell he means all the lyrics so really has to beat the likes of Walter and Eddie, for instance. This is a super performance with little else other than his own voice and his piano accompaniment. He'll come close in this competition.
Laci Kaye Booth
I Want You To Want Me
This girl stands with her guitar, looking a star from head to toe. She is totally natural and Country, but not in a dated way. She gives a lot of character in this performance - spot-on notes and just sounds great. She pulls us in for sure. An excellent performance and she is a real contender - she could push Riley out of the ~1 girl spot. Brilliant but - will she appeal to the voters? She is still just a little 'manufactured' in some respects.
Wade Cota
All I Want
Someone who most definitely is not manufactured is Wade. He has a very husky start and is the complete opposite in just about all respects to Laci! He breaks his voice open then and is like all the Mumfords in one. A really good choice of track - a perfect song for this guy. I can see him making it big time with this style. A super audition!
My Ranking so far:
- Alejandro
- Uché
- Laine
- Laci
- Riley
- Jeremiah
- Wade
- Eddie
- Bumbly
- Shawn
- Madison
- Logan
- Evelyn
- Alyssa
- Demitrius
- Walker
- Kate
- Ryan
- Ashley
- Raquel
Tuesday, 9 April 2019
Hawaii. The Top 40
Over a few days in sunny Hawaii, the 40 contestants who have made it this far will be cut to just 20. Expect some shocks along the way!
Alyssa Ragou
Excellent performance. She looks like an instantly marketable product. She's not entirely credible, though, and seems to be acting, although she does act incredibly well!
Madison Vandenberg sings Who's Lovin' You Now and has an excellent vocal. She's familiar and comfortable on stage with a strong, if slightly dour, personality. She's pretty professional and sails through with Alyssa.
Myra is the Vietnamese girl who has found a place in many of our hearts. She seems younger and more modern now and much more likely to have success as an artist in the States than I would have expected from earlier auditions. I would say she'd sell much better than the previous two but the judges drop her.
Logan Johnson sings Sorry in Spanish and this goes down really well with the audience! A smart move and this works very well.He looks like a potential winner. Nice job. Sailed through. He just needs to stay off those chemicals.
Nate Walker does Still right in front of the man himself! A good job if a bit over-run as he has been all the way through. I thought he'd make it but he didn't. First major surprise.
Dimitrius Graham is someone who's been pretty under the radar so far. I barely remember him. He seems a totally natural performer, current and confident. A nice voice. You can see how he would have beaten Nate in a future round. However, first we get shown the guy going off in tears after what looked like a 'No. decision. Wrong, he's actually through after all. Odd editing but a deserved Top 20 place.
Ashley Hess does not have one of the best songs and it's all a bit laborious. She has been good but not a star. Maybe she'll be better doing quite things in her own way rather than trying to wow a crowd with dancing or whatever. The judges keep her in. Good.
Drake McCain is one we'll always remember because of the crazy hair brand. Great phrasing in his performance. He's confident and could have been 2019's Mick Hucknell, proving that ugly guys do very well sometimes. But he's rejected, being just a bit below the high standards we've got this year and, although unspoken, I fear he just isn't that easy to package.
Kai The Singer has had a tremendous run so far. She has developed so much in each week. This time she is really quite animated but seems to be natural with it. They remark that she has come right 'out of her shell'. She's a bit breathless and this all does seem quite new to her. Dancing for the first time ever too, I think. If she carries on like this she'll be difficult to beat. Unfortunately, the judges didn't get her technical ability and maybe they're right in that she needs time to get used to all this. I would have taken her into the Top 20 but this was a surprising rejection.
Lacy Kay Booth sings Georgia On My Mind fantastically well. She has an outstanding voice and is different to most of the other girls which makes her memorable. It's a nice personal version of this track, near perfect. She is still just a bit too 'American' for me with her wide open eyes and helicopter mum. But that's not necessarily bad in this show.
I remember thinking that we haven't had any 'Country' yet. The stage is pretty much open to anyone in this genre as things stand at the moment.
Nick Townsend sings Hold Back The River. I am not sure he's that great. It's all very sound, no complaints and you do want to wish him well but I don't see him going much further. He gets rejected.
We then see Clay Page, Kason Lester and Johanna Jones dropped too.
Ryan Hammond comes on and is looking good. He's a strong singer and can entertain the crowd pretty well too. But I'm not sure he fits anywhere and doesn't really stand out. However, he makes it, although I suspect that he was one that might just as easily have not made it had the judges looked at these auditions another day.
Kate Barnette sounds a bit nervous, although she has experience and really ought to know what she's doing.
Evelyn Barmier has been impressive throughout the show so far, an unusual artist but she is definitely an artist with great talent. I am not convinced that either will appeal to a big audience wit votes in the Live Shows but they both make it.
Emma Kleinberg, who I don't remember, looks great but is nothing special. I would have ranked her above Kate, though, but the judges reject her.
Uché is up next. I have major expectations for this guy. He has bags and bags of personality and the crowd love him. His has been the best performance of all and it's something of an Adam Lambert moment. A definite, dead cert Top 20.
Alejandro Aranda gets blessed by some weird woman called Auntie Nettie who gives everyone some chant but gives this guy something more. Having got that out of the way Alejandro gives a beautiful rendition of Yellow. Expect to see him in the final v Uché. Another definite, dead cert Top 20.
Jeremiah Harman is next and he is some emotional singer. He does Landslide which is a superb choice for him at this time. I'm most impressed and there's yet another potential finalist. We now need some girls to compete for the Top 3.
Shayy might have been most people's idea of the perfect candidate. There has been something special about this girl, coping with not being able to see and reaching all our hearts with some superb auditions so far. You really want her to succeed but this is not her best performance at all and I'm not sure how much further she would go if she did reach the Top 20. She'd make good TV for the Live Shows, though,m surely and people adore her. She gets rejected and that is an obvious shock to the other contestants too.
Mica, Patyon and Idalis follow with another three rejections.
Riley Thomson is now on and she is truly excellent and one of what has to be very, very few Country girls making it through this year. She looks amazing at 16. I cannot imagine what she'll be like at 20 or 30. A fabulous performer too. She is the complete package and, so far, the only contender for the female No.1 spot. A genuine American Idol in the making, but, at 16, who knows what life will bring that she may or may not cope with? She has to be though
Raquel Trinidad is not the most likeable person to watch. But she's through so the judges must have seen or heard something I didn't. Shawn Robinson is a good singer and he gets through too from a very brief glimpse of the two auditions. So too does the remarkable Bumbly who is a smart performer who brings a much-needed Latin edge to the show. She deserves to be Top 20.
Wade Cota has never been more than an hour away from home, he tells us. He didn't have a passport but they've got him there somehow. He's quite dumb in a pleasant way and worries that he has no theory of performing or music or anything for that matter. His coach reassures him that sometimes natural atlent will rise above all that stuff. Sure enough, he comes across a likeable lump on stage and stands out because of his size and very natural talent, gravelly old voice and the Hozier song is a good move too! They put him in the Top 20 and he says That's crazy, why?!
Margie Mays and Edie island are both good fun and quite entertaining. It's only Eddie who gets through through. He has a good voice but odd looks. His notes are spot-on. Margie was fun but always a bit average.
Laine Hardy failed at this point last year. He's up with Tyler Mitchell, a remarkably good-looking Country guy. Laine does Come Together pretty damn well and is some performer, standing out as quite unique and making a big effort too. In contrast Tyler strolls easily through his number, reliable, solid and good-looking. But maybe just a bit forgettable. Laine makes it and that is the Top 20 complete.
Alyssa Ragou
Excellent performance. She looks like an instantly marketable product. She's not entirely credible, though, and seems to be acting, although she does act incredibly well!
Madison Vandenberg sings Who's Lovin' You Now and has an excellent vocal. She's familiar and comfortable on stage with a strong, if slightly dour, personality. She's pretty professional and sails through with Alyssa.
Myra is the Vietnamese girl who has found a place in many of our hearts. She seems younger and more modern now and much more likely to have success as an artist in the States than I would have expected from earlier auditions. I would say she'd sell much better than the previous two but the judges drop her.
Logan Johnson sings Sorry in Spanish and this goes down really well with the audience! A smart move and this works very well.He looks like a potential winner. Nice job. Sailed through. He just needs to stay off those chemicals.
Nate Walker does Still right in front of the man himself! A good job if a bit over-run as he has been all the way through. I thought he'd make it but he didn't. First major surprise.
Dimitrius Graham is someone who's been pretty under the radar so far. I barely remember him. He seems a totally natural performer, current and confident. A nice voice. You can see how he would have beaten Nate in a future round. However, first we get shown the guy going off in tears after what looked like a 'No. decision. Wrong, he's actually through after all. Odd editing but a deserved Top 20 place.
Ashley Hess does not have one of the best songs and it's all a bit laborious. She has been good but not a star. Maybe she'll be better doing quite things in her own way rather than trying to wow a crowd with dancing or whatever. The judges keep her in. Good.
Drake McCain is one we'll always remember because of the crazy hair brand. Great phrasing in his performance. He's confident and could have been 2019's Mick Hucknell, proving that ugly guys do very well sometimes. But he's rejected, being just a bit below the high standards we've got this year and, although unspoken, I fear he just isn't that easy to package.
Kai The Singer has had a tremendous run so far. She has developed so much in each week. This time she is really quite animated but seems to be natural with it. They remark that she has come right 'out of her shell'. She's a bit breathless and this all does seem quite new to her. Dancing for the first time ever too, I think. If she carries on like this she'll be difficult to beat. Unfortunately, the judges didn't get her technical ability and maybe they're right in that she needs time to get used to all this. I would have taken her into the Top 20 but this was a surprising rejection.
Lacy Kay Booth sings Georgia On My Mind fantastically well. She has an outstanding voice and is different to most of the other girls which makes her memorable. It's a nice personal version of this track, near perfect. She is still just a bit too 'American' for me with her wide open eyes and helicopter mum. But that's not necessarily bad in this show.
I remember thinking that we haven't had any 'Country' yet. The stage is pretty much open to anyone in this genre as things stand at the moment.
Nick Townsend sings Hold Back The River. I am not sure he's that great. It's all very sound, no complaints and you do want to wish him well but I don't see him going much further. He gets rejected.
We then see Clay Page, Kason Lester and Johanna Jones dropped too.
Ryan Hammond comes on and is looking good. He's a strong singer and can entertain the crowd pretty well too. But I'm not sure he fits anywhere and doesn't really stand out. However, he makes it, although I suspect that he was one that might just as easily have not made it had the judges looked at these auditions another day.
Kate Barnette sounds a bit nervous, although she has experience and really ought to know what she's doing.
Evelyn Barmier has been impressive throughout the show so far, an unusual artist but she is definitely an artist with great talent. I am not convinced that either will appeal to a big audience wit votes in the Live Shows but they both make it.
Emma Kleinberg, who I don't remember, looks great but is nothing special. I would have ranked her above Kate, though, but the judges reject her.
Uché is up next. I have major expectations for this guy. He has bags and bags of personality and the crowd love him. His has been the best performance of all and it's something of an Adam Lambert moment. A definite, dead cert Top 20.
Alejandro Aranda gets blessed by some weird woman called Auntie Nettie who gives everyone some chant but gives this guy something more. Having got that out of the way Alejandro gives a beautiful rendition of Yellow. Expect to see him in the final v Uché. Another definite, dead cert Top 20.
Jeremiah Harman is next and he is some emotional singer. He does Landslide which is a superb choice for him at this time. I'm most impressed and there's yet another potential finalist. We now need some girls to compete for the Top 3.
Shayy might have been most people's idea of the perfect candidate. There has been something special about this girl, coping with not being able to see and reaching all our hearts with some superb auditions so far. You really want her to succeed but this is not her best performance at all and I'm not sure how much further she would go if she did reach the Top 20. She'd make good TV for the Live Shows, though,m surely and people adore her. She gets rejected and that is an obvious shock to the other contestants too.
Mica, Patyon and Idalis follow with another three rejections.
Riley Thomson is now on and she is truly excellent and one of what has to be very, very few Country girls making it through this year. She looks amazing at 16. I cannot imagine what she'll be like at 20 or 30. A fabulous performer too. She is the complete package and, so far, the only contender for the female No.1 spot. A genuine American Idol in the making, but, at 16, who knows what life will bring that she may or may not cope with? She has to be though
Raquel Trinidad is not the most likeable person to watch. But she's through so the judges must have seen or heard something I didn't. Shawn Robinson is a good singer and he gets through too from a very brief glimpse of the two auditions. So too does the remarkable Bumbly who is a smart performer who brings a much-needed Latin edge to the show. She deserves to be Top 20.
Wade Cota has never been more than an hour away from home, he tells us. He didn't have a passport but they've got him there somehow. He's quite dumb in a pleasant way and worries that he has no theory of performing or music or anything for that matter. His coach reassures him that sometimes natural atlent will rise above all that stuff. Sure enough, he comes across a likeable lump on stage and stands out because of his size and very natural talent, gravelly old voice and the Hozier song is a good move too! They put him in the Top 20 and he says That's crazy, why?!
Margie Mays and Edie island are both good fun and quite entertaining. It's only Eddie who gets through through. He has a good voice but odd looks. His notes are spot-on. Margie was fun but always a bit average.
Laine Hardy failed at this point last year. He's up with Tyler Mitchell, a remarkably good-looking Country guy. Laine does Come Together pretty damn well and is some performer, standing out as quite unique and making a big effort too. In contrast Tyler strolls easily through his number, reliable, solid and good-looking. But maybe just a bit forgettable. Laine makes it and that is the Top 20 complete.
Monday, 1 April 2019
Hollywood Week
Over the next few days 175 entries will be whittled down to just 40. The TV programme shows us only glimpses of some of those who will be successful. I think we see everyone who makes it to the last 40 but I haven't counted. It is difficult to review performances as we see so little and, especially in the group round, I have never been that sure we see the best of everyone anyway.
So all I can do is list my own notes as the individual sessions proceeded.
Laci Kay Booth
Great voice, very white teeth. Seems odd doing Natural Woman but she does do it well.
Alejandro Aranda
One of the predicted winners does Sorry from justin Bieber. Nice guitar work, all very good. Katy throws her jacket at him and then the other two as well. Seems like he's the one to watch!
Courtney Penry
Shouting and almost rapping. Forgot the words. All OTT and she's gone.
Madison Vandenburg
The 'next Kelly Clarkson' as the panel had called her. A bit tinny but this girl knows what she's doing. Pretty good talent but rather a flat personality.
Margie Mays
A pretty crazy girl. Quite fun, nice personality, OK but nothing special.
Tyler Mitchell
Sounds good. Confident
Logan Johnson
Recovering alcoholic. Not great but different to most and a good voice
Eddie Island
he's the odd-looking one with the Harry potter glasses. Good audition - like Coldplay meets someone.
Colby Swift
Good ol' boy but only 19 and can do Spanish. Totally genuine. Luke spots he has holes in his boots and gives him his. No-one had mentioned to Luke that the guy probably had decent boots at home but wears the ones with holes as a lucky charm!
Shawn Robinson
A change is going to come. Lots of runs which are a drag but quite good.
Gill Ashton seemed another [pretty good one but gets a no after we see Dalton Elliott and Katie Belle sail through.
Laine Haron is gravelly and confident. Looks comfortable.
Jade Flores
Excellent! Unchained Melody is, for me, one of the best auditions we've seen.
Myra Tran
This is the Vietnamese girl and she attempts Chandelier Also pretty good audition again but she does struggle with the top notes.
Jeremiah Lloyd Palmer is the church guy whose parents and church won't accept him now he's declared as gay. Sings You're beautiful and does it well. He's a talented guy and should make the Top 24 with a nice bit of controversy and embarrassment for the churches and the panel who all are very churchy too but will have to put down one of the branches.
Walker Burroughs
He's Top 10 material, says Luke. Jazzy, different, seems to be on just the black keys. A very good performance.
Nate Walker
A very good performer on stage and he can sing with a cool range. Deserves to do well but gets ill.
Nick Townsend
lost his brothers. Another excellent and heartfelt audition - quite modern sounding unlike many this year.
Lauren Engle
She does the Jesus Take The Wheel number but is dreadfully off key. Pity as she looks great and could otherwise have been good.
Wade Coda
The big gravelly bloke whose dad used to beat him up. Good solid chap and he can sing well.
Dimiteus Graham
The Wind Beneath My Wings is always a good audition track and he does it a capella which is pretty impressive. The mother on FaceTime in hospital is a bit weird, to be honest.
A few spin out next and then we see a few more through, like Juan Pablo, Evelyn Cormier, Clay page and Shayy.
Next is Group Night which is not easy to watch and even more difficult to report on as I can never be sure who is who in all the groups! I also find this round a disaster area that is unnecessarily stressful where seasoned performers will not be affected but new talent may well suffer unfairly. There is also the problem of choosing who you work with. Some people are easy-going, others are a pain in the backside. Juan Pablo showed his true colours, for example and may well have been kicked out because of that, despite being all good and making Katy gooey earlier in the auditions.
Finally we get to the more useful guides to stardom - the Solo Round.
Walter Burroughs
Your Song goes down very well. He's a nice singer. 'Harry Potter can sing' says Katy. Now I am confused about who is the Harry Potter look-a-like as I'd thought it was Eddie Island.
Juan Pablo
A Million Reasons is a passionate but OTT performance as if he was trying far to hard. He's pretty talented but i am not sure that worked and I think his behaviour in the Group Round has let him down.
Ryan Hammond
A strong singer - he could be quite appealing and ought to make it through but there are several similar who are as good.
Kai The Singer
Here's a reminder of the differences between the contestants. Kai says this was her first time ever on a plane, even on an escalator! She had never expected to be able to have seen the 'Hollywood' sign on the hills either. This was a nice audition. Very controlled but she is talented and her performance drew us in. This is a contender for the prize.
Riley Thompson
Ring Of Fire A typical Country Girl performance. None the worse for that, though!
Raquel Trinidad
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Lovely
Evelyn Cormier
Wonderwall Splendid, another contender.
Eddie Island
Did his own track called 1974 which was risky as it was not a good song but his voice is interesting and he may still get through.
Alejandro Aranda
So far he's been the leader and tries an original song too. 10 Years succeeded where Eddie Island didn't.
Margie Mays
Appealing and sweet girl. She works hard and the panel remark that she simply 'doesn't know how good she is'.
Wade Cota tries his own song too. Quite different with his big gravel voice. He's not so good this time, though, with a poor song.
Nate Walker
Still suffering from a poor voice. He tries always On My Mind but he's all over the place.
Tyler Mitchell
Here's a country lad who is well used to working hard but not the stress that this place produces. He has been one of the best Country boys - he looks good and sounds strong with some passion. He forgets some words but may still make it.
Courtney
We see her fly through very briefly
Drake McCain
He's the one with the weird orange vertical Afro. He has a nice tone but I don't know that he's that different really. He gets lots of applause. Not sure why. A memorable appearance, for sure.
Bumbly
I must have missed her before. She's a subway singer so well used to having to survive in difficult circumstances. I like her - she's very different and original. She deserves a place.
Nick Townsend
In My Blood is an interesting song and performance. I like this guy and he's got unexpected talent.
Gaba
An excellent singer but how current is she really?
Jeremiah
The gay guy that the church have turned their back on at home. I still can't see how the panel can keep banging on about how cool God and Jesus are and also have this guy's story coming out each week. He does The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and reminds me of our 2004 Pop Idol winner. Nice job. One of the best male singers. A bit dated but still one of the best auditions.
Kate Barnette
She could appeal to the kids.
Myra Tran
Sexy little girl look this time. Put A Spell On You is a good song but she seems to try too hard with her performance. That skirt stays in the memory, though.
Shayy
A very nice production from this popular girl.
Laci Kay Booth
She's so much an American Idol girl. Although I am not sure that she could be over-manufacturing herself and image, I am quite impressed. Nice. You have to smile at the two men's comments 'she looks great!'
Uché
He sings Stars So Beautiful and looks like a star already. He is one of the best performers and has a great character on screen, at least. Plenty of talent there and a real contender.
Madison Vandenberg
She changed from doing an original number at the very last moment. Instead she starts an Adele number and the backing is more or less non-existent at the beginning. Nevertheless she gets on with it and eventually everyone catches up with her. One of the best singers in this competition.
Austin Michael Robinson
He's the pretty 15 year old Country lad that Lionel reckons could sell just on his looks. Literally minutes before his audition he changes too and there is no rehearsal time. No-one accompanies him at the start but he keeps going. I'm impressed with him but the panel's not sure.
Shawn Robinson
Nice guy and another relaxed and star-like audition
Alyssa Raghu
What About Us? A natural pop star but she is trying a bit to hard here.
Johanna Jones
Wicked Game This girl is in love. Talent for sure. I love her too at first but there's an edge to her voice which isn't always that great. Katy cries a lot as the boyfriend proposes.
I now have the details of who made the Top 40 and you can find these on the tab on the menu bar.
So all I can do is list my own notes as the individual sessions proceeded.
Laci Kay Booth
Great voice, very white teeth. Seems odd doing Natural Woman but she does do it well.
Alejandro Aranda
One of the predicted winners does Sorry from justin Bieber. Nice guitar work, all very good. Katy throws her jacket at him and then the other two as well. Seems like he's the one to watch!
Courtney Penry
Shouting and almost rapping. Forgot the words. All OTT and she's gone.
Madison Vandenburg
The 'next Kelly Clarkson' as the panel had called her. A bit tinny but this girl knows what she's doing. Pretty good talent but rather a flat personality.
Margie Mays
A pretty crazy girl. Quite fun, nice personality, OK but nothing special.
Tyler Mitchell
Sounds good. Confident
Logan Johnson
Recovering alcoholic. Not great but different to most and a good voice
Eddie Island
he's the odd-looking one with the Harry potter glasses. Good audition - like Coldplay meets someone.
Colby Swift
Good ol' boy but only 19 and can do Spanish. Totally genuine. Luke spots he has holes in his boots and gives him his. No-one had mentioned to Luke that the guy probably had decent boots at home but wears the ones with holes as a lucky charm!
Shawn Robinson
A change is going to come. Lots of runs which are a drag but quite good.
Gill Ashton seemed another [pretty good one but gets a no after we see Dalton Elliott and Katie Belle sail through.
Laine Haron is gravelly and confident. Looks comfortable.
Jade Flores
Excellent! Unchained Melody is, for me, one of the best auditions we've seen.
Myra Tran
This is the Vietnamese girl and she attempts Chandelier Also pretty good audition again but she does struggle with the top notes.
Jeremiah Lloyd Palmer is the church guy whose parents and church won't accept him now he's declared as gay. Sings You're beautiful and does it well. He's a talented guy and should make the Top 24 with a nice bit of controversy and embarrassment for the churches and the panel who all are very churchy too but will have to put down one of the branches.
Walker Burroughs
He's Top 10 material, says Luke. Jazzy, different, seems to be on just the black keys. A very good performance.
Nate Walker
A very good performer on stage and he can sing with a cool range. Deserves to do well but gets ill.
Nick Townsend
lost his brothers. Another excellent and heartfelt audition - quite modern sounding unlike many this year.
Lauren Engle
She does the Jesus Take The Wheel number but is dreadfully off key. Pity as she looks great and could otherwise have been good.
Wade Coda
The big gravelly bloke whose dad used to beat him up. Good solid chap and he can sing well.
Dimiteus Graham
The Wind Beneath My Wings is always a good audition track and he does it a capella which is pretty impressive. The mother on FaceTime in hospital is a bit weird, to be honest.
A few spin out next and then we see a few more through, like Juan Pablo, Evelyn Cormier, Clay page and Shayy.
Next is Group Night which is not easy to watch and even more difficult to report on as I can never be sure who is who in all the groups! I also find this round a disaster area that is unnecessarily stressful where seasoned performers will not be affected but new talent may well suffer unfairly. There is also the problem of choosing who you work with. Some people are easy-going, others are a pain in the backside. Juan Pablo showed his true colours, for example and may well have been kicked out because of that, despite being all good and making Katy gooey earlier in the auditions.
Finally we get to the more useful guides to stardom - the Solo Round.
Walter Burroughs
Your Song goes down very well. He's a nice singer. 'Harry Potter can sing' says Katy. Now I am confused about who is the Harry Potter look-a-like as I'd thought it was Eddie Island.
Juan Pablo
A Million Reasons is a passionate but OTT performance as if he was trying far to hard. He's pretty talented but i am not sure that worked and I think his behaviour in the Group Round has let him down.
Ryan Hammond
A strong singer - he could be quite appealing and ought to make it through but there are several similar who are as good.
Kai The Singer
Here's a reminder of the differences between the contestants. Kai says this was her first time ever on a plane, even on an escalator! She had never expected to be able to have seen the 'Hollywood' sign on the hills either. This was a nice audition. Very controlled but she is talented and her performance drew us in. This is a contender for the prize.
Riley Thompson
Ring Of Fire A typical Country Girl performance. None the worse for that, though!
Raquel Trinidad
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Lovely
Evelyn Cormier
Wonderwall Splendid, another contender.
Eddie Island
Did his own track called 1974 which was risky as it was not a good song but his voice is interesting and he may still get through.
Alejandro Aranda
So far he's been the leader and tries an original song too. 10 Years succeeded where Eddie Island didn't.
Margie Mays
Appealing and sweet girl. She works hard and the panel remark that she simply 'doesn't know how good she is'.
Wade Cota tries his own song too. Quite different with his big gravel voice. He's not so good this time, though, with a poor song.
Nate Walker
Still suffering from a poor voice. He tries always On My Mind but he's all over the place.
Tyler Mitchell
Here's a country lad who is well used to working hard but not the stress that this place produces. He has been one of the best Country boys - he looks good and sounds strong with some passion. He forgets some words but may still make it.
Courtney
We see her fly through very briefly
Drake McCain
He's the one with the weird orange vertical Afro. He has a nice tone but I don't know that he's that different really. He gets lots of applause. Not sure why. A memorable appearance, for sure.
Bumbly
I must have missed her before. She's a subway singer so well used to having to survive in difficult circumstances. I like her - she's very different and original. She deserves a place.
Nick Townsend
In My Blood is an interesting song and performance. I like this guy and he's got unexpected talent.
Gaba
An excellent singer but how current is she really?
Jeremiah
The gay guy that the church have turned their back on at home. I still can't see how the panel can keep banging on about how cool God and Jesus are and also have this guy's story coming out each week. He does The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and reminds me of our 2004 Pop Idol winner. Nice job. One of the best male singers. A bit dated but still one of the best auditions.
Kate Barnette
She could appeal to the kids.
Myra Tran
Sexy little girl look this time. Put A Spell On You is a good song but she seems to try too hard with her performance. That skirt stays in the memory, though.
Shayy
A very nice production from this popular girl.
Laci Kay Booth
She's so much an American Idol girl. Although I am not sure that she could be over-manufacturing herself and image, I am quite impressed. Nice. You have to smile at the two men's comments 'she looks great!'
Uché
He sings Stars So Beautiful and looks like a star already. He is one of the best performers and has a great character on screen, at least. Plenty of talent there and a real contender.
Madison Vandenberg
She changed from doing an original number at the very last moment. Instead she starts an Adele number and the backing is more or less non-existent at the beginning. Nevertheless she gets on with it and eventually everyone catches up with her. One of the best singers in this competition.
Austin Michael Robinson
He's the pretty 15 year old Country lad that Lionel reckons could sell just on his looks. Literally minutes before his audition he changes too and there is no rehearsal time. No-one accompanies him at the start but he keeps going. I'm impressed with him but the panel's not sure.
Shawn Robinson
Nice guy and another relaxed and star-like audition
Alyssa Raghu
What About Us? A natural pop star but she is trying a bit to hard here.
Johanna Jones
Wicked Game This girl is in love. Talent for sure. I love her too at first but there's an edge to her voice which isn't always that great. Katy cries a lot as the boyfriend proposes.
I now have the details of who made the Top 40 and you can find these on the tab on the menu bar.
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