American Idol Review – Top 11
Posted on 20. Mar, 2008 by Per Bristow in American Idol, Performance, Singing
We’re down to 11 in American idol. Overall I found last week’s performances went better than this week. However, we still had plenty of enjoyable performances and plenty of observations that I think we can learn from – which of course is the perspective of this blog. Anyway, lets get to it. First up was Amanda Overmyer….
Amanda Overmyer. Back In The
Okay, we know her style, we know her thing. She’s good at what she does. Then how many like that style is another question. I would love her to lighten up. I think she unnecessarily tends to go for the aggressiveness and toughness in her approach. To be honest, we don’t really care about the lyrics in this song (maybe we should), we want to dance, jump and cheer. She said herself that she wants us to have fun, but I don’t think it’s as fun as it could be.
Kristy Lee Cook – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
It started out great but it never built and it completely threw me off that she sang a different melody in the chorus. Her cute and alive personality doesn’t come out on stage… yet. This was definitely a great improvement from last week and I hope she stays another week.
David Archuleta - The Long And Winding Road
Now that’s how you sing a song. I wish he had more dynamics to his voice, but that’s how it is at this stage in his development. The thing with David is that he is so clear on the intention of the song – not only the writer’s intention, but his intention as the singer. It’s not enough to understand the song and to “feel” the song but to make the “objective” of the song clear. What do you want? Knowing what he wants is what creates this drive and intensity in him and which makes the song build. Very good.
Michael Johns -
First of all I felt Michael’s voice sounded fatigued. Second of all, well… it was good… and that’s just it. It’s good but I’m not totally feeling it. He feels it more than we do. I would like him to perform less and talk to us more. Work less on trying to “feel” the song and sing to us- no, sing with us, and you’ll feel even more
The judges didn’t like her dancing and felt it was awkward and commented on her going “whoooo”. She apologized and regretted having done it. I’m saying she should absolutely have done the “whooo”. Why? Because it was spontaneous! She had me in that moment. The problem was that she regretted it on stage. She was about to let loose and have a ball, but then stifled it and got stuck behind the mic. From then on it did indeed become somewhat awkward. Again, she sat on her emotions. It wasn’t the spontaneous “whoo” that was the problem, but that she pulled back and stopped the flow. She did this last week too which I wrote about. It wasn’t noticeable then and it didn’t hurt her performance, but this week that tendency became noticeable and did hurt her. The other thing is that since the song is so monotone, it was really not much she could do with it vocally, and the movements took over. In a sense she exposed her limitations as a singer (hey, we all have limitations). She is very likeable though and should keep going for a while if she stays in her niche.
David Cook – Day Tripper
I’m digging David more and more. Three weeks in a row. I encourage you all again to notice how he scans the audience – how he is with them. He has no need to close his eyes and scrunch his face just because it happens to be a high note – just because of physical effort. Having said that I think he could lighten up a bit. Play less on the cool and tough and more on his charm. I would also love to him to get away from the mic stand. Go have a party. Go out in the audience – not in a corny way, but with the honest objective of creating fun for them. Then he’ll become even more likeable.
Carly Smithson – Blackbird
Paula said she loves her tone and inflictions. Simon said it was self-indulgent. I agree with them both. Carly has a lovely quality in her voice, great musicality, but as much as she talked after he performance about what the song meant to her, I didn’t feel it. Her tendency is to “act” rather than “be”. You see that her hand moves along with the notes in the beginning. What do the notes have to do with the meaning of the song? She scrunches her face and closes her eyes every time she sings a little louder or when the note is a little higher. That has nothing to do with the lyrics, or what she truly feels in the movement. It’s becomes about notes and inflictions rather than truly communicating. Yes, she has a great voice, but I wonder if those habits are going to pull people in.
Jason Castro – Michelle
Why do so many hide behind the mic stand? Because without the mic stand it is easy to feel more exposed. And see what happens when Jason walks away from it. Suddenly his charm comes out. Yes, he’s being somewhat goofy with the song and the French stuff, and why not? Clearly he wasn’t quite connected to the real essence of the song, but at least he was connected with the audience and us. He was having fun. As a singer I think he is somewhat limited, but I can see him have a good career and have the ability to put on a good show based on his personality alone.
Sayesha Mercado – Yesterday
Best performance from her that I have seen and heard. This was wonderful. As much as I talk about connecting with the audience, here is an example where her objective of the song was not about the audience – and appropriately so. This was a private moment that we were allowed to watch. We connected with her because she allowed herself to be vulnerable and honest and truly experience whatever it was she was experiencing. I was moved. Great job, Sayesha.
Chikezie – I’ve Just Seen A Face
Arghhhh. Country? Hmmm. This was a little strange. Chikezie has shown to be a little uneven. At least he’s going for it, which of course is far better than playing it safe. The number one rule for an actor is that if you do a great scene, you can never try to recreate it. It was great because it was fresh. Next time you do the same scene or play you have do start from a blank page. I felt as if Chikezie was trying to recreate last weeks amazing performance. It just didn’t happen. Oh well. Next time
Ramiele Malubay – I Should Have Known Better
Ramiela did a good job. Much better than last week. I think in a year or so she could be really outstanding but I don’t feel she’s ready to be American Idol. I felt she sang and performed at the top of her capacity – her capacity of today (which could rapidly develop of course) – so good job. She wins on her openness and charm.
Surprise of the evening: Sayesha
What did you think?
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13 Responses to “American Idol Review – Top 11”
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Jean
20. Mar, 2008
Hello Per. I’m in France and don’t see American idol, but I get your blog via RSS feed. Very interesting that you post the videos. I have been following now and learning. What you say makes me think of my habits when I sing. It is very helpful. Thanks you. I like Jason Castro very much. He has fun(his French was okay:))
Will
20. Mar, 2008
Did you all see Kelly Pickler in yesterday’s show. Wasn’t she wondeful? I was never a fan when she was a contestant 2 yeasr ago, but she really commanded the stage. To me she was very attractive because of that (not only her looks). I alos find Carly kind annoying. I think you hit the nail on the head there Per. I loved Sayesha.
lady21
20. Mar, 2008
nice blog
mimi
20. Mar, 2008
Great comments, Per. Thank you. You make us (me!) think, observe, watch and listen better.
I have a less-than-perfect mastery of the English language (I’m French too), so I apologize if my writing is unclear at times…
I have to be honest, this week I voted for Shikezie not so much because of his last night’s performance, which, I agree with Per, seemed to be an attempt to reproduce last week’s brillance, but because I am interested to see how he will handle the different styles to come. Also, I wanted to see him go on tour. Best opportunity for him to grow. He will find that confidence that is starting to show on AI. I love his attitude. Humble, enthusiastic. Respectful. He is a good student. And he has proven (last week) that he can also get to the next level. They have a say in France “Culture is what’s left when you’ve forgotten everything”. We can apply that to singing as well as any kind of craft. We have to, at some point, forget what we learned,forget about the technique… and just sing! And you’re darn right, Per, never try to recreate yesterday’s recipe.
Speaking about the tour, it’s suddenly become obvious to me that Amanda could not have made it to the top 10. She just doesn’t blend with the group. I actually noticed at the start of last night results show, that, as the camera panned on her, she looked like she was not singing, or her mike was turned off…
In the long run, being out now may give her a better chance to have a career. And she may have avoided the embarrassment of not being up to the task with what’s to come on AI.
Nowadays,independent artists are somewhat doing better than the ones signed with major labels. But can she step out of the Janis Joplin’s shadow? Also her voice gets tired easily and she loses her pitch. On the positive side, she is likeable, edgy, a fighter, and she can command her audience. How big an audience is the question. She may have had an insight when she said to Simon, “even if I need to sell out in a local bar in Lafayette.” Just be careful what you wish for, Amanda.
It’s funny, before Tuesday, I thought Christie would be the one to go. Then on Tuesday, I was pleasantly surprised by the newfound strength of her voice. She worked on her technique and she’s “getting it” pretty fast. She’s still a little forgettable, like Simon put it. But she gets the Country votes, obviously. She could surprise us.
David Archuleta is taking “the long and winding road” back to where he started. His charm and assurance have faded a little in the last 2 weeks. He’s a sure thing in the long run, but as far as winning first place, his young age may end up playing against him.
Michael Johns, to me, has been playing safe all along and still is. “A day in the life” was ok, but yes, only another day in his life.
Brooke White needs to put her foot down. “Here comes the sun” was the wrong choice all the way. Wrong song, wrong outfit, wrong moves. And she knows it. Who did she listen to???
David Cook is, to me, the most obvious overall work-in-progress. He looks better, sings better each week. Needs to watch his air of arrogance, even on camera. Simon is often rude in his expression, but I am amazed by how on point he always is. He actually mentioned the “arrogance” thing last night, without naming anyone…
Unfortunately, David Cook doesn’t touch my heart. Maybe if I kept my eyes close…?
Getting into touching the heart, Jason is a great example. Whatever this kid does, he has a way to melt your heart. That’s why we forgive him the missed notes and all the little imperfections. But I am certainly not the objective one, here. Not only I am French but my name is Michèle. He got me “just like that”. I would not be surprised to find out that each and every Michelle (or Michèle) on the planet who watched him sing that song felt like he was just singing for them. Simon has a point, though. Only listening to him (without watching), he loses some of his power of seduction.
Sayesha did a decent job with Yesterday. And I agree with Per’s observation. Showing some vulnerability served her well.
It’s funny how everything is so subtle when you give it a closer look. Take Carly Smithson. In her case, I don’t think that showing her vulnerability is helping her. That’s maybe what happens for you, Will, when you say you find her annoying. Choosing “Black Bird” to convey a message about how the industry “breaks us”? nononono! Not the right time and place. Same mistake as telling that she was previously signed and dropped, whatever the reason… There was already enough of a hint of a “victim” pattern.
Whoever decide what they reveal (or what not)on the show, know very well the impact it has on the votes. The impact of what the judges say is also big, of course. It is obvious that all the contestants are anxiously looking forward to Simon’s critique more than Randy’s and Paula. Because he never sugarcoats it.
But, as for the “gossip” on the show and elsewhere in the media, here’s the subtlety. For Fantasia, for ex., we felt her vulnerability when she sang, prior to and regardless of the details of her personal life. I believe that if we had only heard Fantasia on the radio and knew nothing of her personal struggles, Even if she looked like the ugly duckling (which she certainly doesn’t) she would still have won. Because all she needed to win our hearts was contained in her voice.
Once again, I find this blog very instructing and enlightening.
Danny
20. Mar, 2008
Being a rookie at singing, I gotta say the reviews by Per are awesome. The subtleties of style are what makes the difference. To “think ahead” of where one is at any moment applies to both the courageous folks on American Idol, and any individual…
Jenny
20. Mar, 2008
Okay, I’ll jump in and give my five cents. I’ve been a fan of this blog for some time. I agree with Will that it was nice to see how Kelly Pickler has grown as an artist. None of the contestants has that command of the audience yet. I’ve alwasys rooted for Michael Johns, I just love his voice I hope he can find a song that doe him justice. It has to be tough to have to follow the themes and make abbreviated versions of the songs rather than sing whatever songs they want to sing
Jimmy
20. Mar, 2008
I’ve read your stuff about scrunching up the face when hitting high notes and I realized that’s exactly what I’ve been doing. So at my last gig I made sure to look out on the high note. Guess what? It felt good. Damn good. I felt much more alive. Cool
Rich
20. Mar, 2008
Hey Jimmy, So you looked out on the high note. What did it look like?
Michelle
20. Mar, 2008
That was meeeee Jason was singing too! I”m not sure I would buy his CD but I would go to is show. He’s got a great personality. Doesn’t take himself so seriously.
Jimmy
20. Mar, 2008
He he… funny, Rich.
Rich
21. Mar, 2008
I was just messing with you, Jimmy. I know what you mean. Got a website we can listen to your stuff?
Nini
24. Mar, 2008
I just read that Josiah Leming got at fat Warner Bros contract and also that they are reinstating the Wild Card for the tour…people can vote for additional singers on the tour (not the competition) that is not in Top Tem.
Who will it be? Asiah? Danny N? Luke ? Amanda? Garrett? Jason Yager?
Can we vote for Josiah or anybody that we’ve seen so far that didn’t make it to Top 10?
Dean
24. Mar, 2008
Josiah certainly stood out so I’m not surprised about the Warner Bros deal. I don’t think Jason Castro will win, but I agree with Per and Mimi that I think he’ll have a career for being unique.