The Bristow Voice Method Blog

American Idol – Top 10 review

Posted on 28. Mar, 2009 by Per Bristow in American Idol, Singing, Speaking

American Idol is down to the top 10 performers.  Let’s watch the performances and see what we can learn from them.  I found it exceptionally interesting this week with Smokey Robinson as guest and the phenomenal Motown songbook to work with.  Here is my take on what happened…

Matt Giraud  – Let’s Get in On

Matt is improving every week.  He starts off great by the piano and I feel he’s honest when he says: “been trying to hold back this feeling for so long”.  He gets up and, again, I believe he really honestly does want to “get it on”.  Great performance.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/matt_giraud_lets_get_it_on

Kris Allen – How Sweet It Is

Kris had a wonderful performance last week.  This time he does a great job again.  Great groove. Great musicality.  He’s having fun and allows his personality to shine. Sometimes playing an instrument can lock up the artist.  Here I felt his guitar playing enhanced his performance because he was so loose.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/kris_allen_how_sweet_it_is

Scott MacIntyre – Can’t Hurry Love

I wished he went wild on the piano.  We heard a couple of riffs that gave a flavor of what he can do on the instrument.  I feel he sings this song unnecessarily nice and polished. He’s holding back a tad and it doesn’t quite come alive. Part of this was the song choice. I hope he finds a song where he feels comfortable to really let loose and surprise himself.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/scott_macintyre_you_cant_hurry_love

Megan – For Once In My Life  

The main issue here for me is that she sings the song without any dynamics.  It’s a very one-level-calling-out approach – borderline yelling – all the way through. I do like her personality though and the cool depth in here voice. I also like the fact that she approaches the audience and becomes quite engaging.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/megan_joy_for_once_in_my_life

Anoop Desai – Ooo Baby Baby

Anoop can surely sing.  He’s got a great effortless way of using his voice and sings the song with great dynamics.  When he really makes a song his own, he’s going to become phenomenal.  However, so far he’s acting the songs rather than living them (although acting them very well). This is why he becomes more serious this time than what is really called for.  This is also why he becomes a little self-conscious about the camera.  His eyes wander throughout the song, which is just because he’s not hundred percent involved in the song. I would love to hear him sing a song where his fun, charming personality can really blossom.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/anoop_desai_oo_baby_baby

Michael Sarver – Ain’t Too Proud To Beg

Hmmm.  This gets a little strange.  The reason is because he becomes a dual personality.  The song is about begging this girl for a last chance, but at the same time he is smiling, flirting with the audience and trying to be charismatic.  It’s not working because he doesn’t believe in what he is singing about. If he wants us all to dance along, a different song would have been better.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/michael_sarver_aint_too_proud_to_beg

Lil Rounds – Heat Wave

Lil has a remarkable voice. The thing with Lil is that she is too busy paying tribute rather than making a song her own.  She mentions that she wants to sing it to make Martha and Diana Ross proud.  Last week she talked in the same way – she said she wanted to honor country music.  This comes across in her performance. She sings great, but it is hard to completely identify with her. I agree with the judges that a slow song would have been better for her. The bottom line is that she sings great but there is no real “heat wave that is burning inside” her (as the lyrics say). If she allows herself to be spontaneous and become surprised throughout a song, she could be sensational.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/lil_rounds_heat_wave

Adam Lambert – Tracks Of My Tears

Adam is doing the very thing that I mentioned was lacking in the last couple of singers.  Adam is about the absolute truth (which is why he is also a good actor).  Last week, he was not into trying to sound country, but chose to do something completely his own. This week he certainly wants to honor Smokey Robinson and his creation.  So what does he do?  He asks the songwriter: “What inspired you to write it?” Adam wants to get into the skin of a song. Adam completely feels a song and allows himself to experience spontaneous emotions – i.e. real emotions within a rehearsed song.  Notice that he never looks into the camera even once.  There is no need to, because that’s not what the song is about.  He is completely absorbed in the song. When he sings “I need you”, he really means it.  As a result, we are moved and he gets a standing ovation from the songwriter.  That is how you honor the writer.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_the_tracks_of_my_tears

Danny Gokey – Get Ready

Very good again.  Great energy.  Great fun watching him. His first line is “I’ve never met a girl that makes me feel like you do”.  I feel he could have done even more with that line and the rest of the song.  He could have used the “here I come” sections to get the crowd on it’s feet and have the house rocking.  Then he would have been the memorable performance of this week.

http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/danny_gokey_get_ready

Allison Iraheta – Papa Was A Rolling Stone

I love Allison.  That was some powerful ending. Talk about putting an exclamation point on your performance. She owns the stage, moves great and has a very unique voice. I hope her voice holds up.

www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/allison_iraheta_papa_was_a_rolling_stone

What do you think?

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