Our first live rounds featured Team Blake and Team Christina, but they were not really going up against each other. At least not yet. As we've learned in the episode, four out of the eight that performed will be kicked off the show this week. In each team, one artist will be saved by viewers' votes and another will be saved by the coach. Let me list down who are I think are in danger and who are the ones who should go through the next round.
Team Christina
Danger Zone Lily Elise - Note to Christina, those dancers were a bad idea. Lily just didn't bring it performance-wise. Her vocals were fine but forgettable.
Racquel Castro - Racquel was pretty hot in this performance. Yes, this is the type of artist that this girl should become. Too bad her singing wasn't as hot as the next two artists in Team Christina.
Going Through
Beverly McLellan - Definitely one of the best performances of the night. She had great vocals, she knew how to work that crowdwithout going overboard and she's just a performer.
Frenchie Davis - Perfect song. Great vocal range and control. Awesome stage presence.
Team Blake
Danger Zone
Xenia - I love her tone, but she needs more experience outside of the competition. Those hand gestures were obviously rehearsed and choreographed. They were distracting, to be honest. But at least she smiled!
Jared Blake - Biggest disappointment of the night. I still like his rocker voice, but I couldn't hear it properly in the live show. Blake should have coached him to sing straight into the mic. And something just doesn't feel genuine in his performance style, no?
Going Through
Patrick Thomas - He sounded good in his performance. But I just couldn't take that song seriously anymore, not after Scotty McCreery messed up the words in Hollywood Week (Remember "nuts of wonder"?) People will vote for this guy, and not just because Christina wants to do it with him (creepy).
Dia Frampton - Most memorable performance of the night, but I think the judges forgot about Kris Allen's superior rendition of Heartless. Don't get me wrong, I still loved Dia's performance. I especially adored her tone and how she played the piano.
Do you agree with my predictions? I'm actually much more looking forward to the next episode which will feature the two stronger teams. And American Idol can learn a thing or two from The Voice, right? I like how iTunes downloads are also considered votes for the contestants, because isn't that the real measure of a successful artiist? If people actually buy your music? I also like that they encourage voters to limit 10 votes per voting device per singer. If this is actually enforced, I'm not sure. Lastly, I would like to thank The Voice for timing the coaches' comments. Because we all know what happens in Idol. Those obnoxious judges can go on and on and on and make the show about them.
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If you don't stalk follow the lives of Idol contestants closely, you wouldn't know that Paul McDonald from the recently concluded season was dating Twilight's Nikki Reed. And just at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, Reed was already flashing some serious bling. Yes people, Paul and Nikki are now engaged!
Reed told the press that Paul's "the one" and that the cool singer actually writes songs inspired by her. How sweet is that!
I've never thought this relationship would actually go anywhere, but apparently, I have much more to stalk learn about my Idol alumni. And this sort of breaks my heart because I wanted Paul and Kendra Chantelle (Idol 10 Top 24) to end up together. Just listen to the lovely music that a Paul and Kendra duo can produce:
Paul and Nikki can make lots of babies, but Paul and Kendra NEEDS to make more wonderful music! I hope Nikki is not the jealous type.
Anybody rooting for these two lovebirds?
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This show hasn't even started and it's already getting into my nerves.
After being pulled out from the American version of The X Factor, which premieres in the upcoming fall schedule on Fox, reports are coming in that Simon Cowell and Co. are asking Cheryl Cole to return to the show as a judge.
As I've posted here, Cole was asked to leave the program, but no official reason was given by the showrunners. But allegedly, her ouster was due to her strong British accent which American viewers may find difficult to understand. Nicole Scherzinger, who's originally one of the hosts for the show, was reported to have replaced Cole as the fourth judge.
But who cares? Cheryl Cole still has a judging stint in U.K.'s X Factor, right? Wrong. Cole has been a judge in the British counterpart for a couple of seasons now. But during the announcement of its newest season, Cheryl was shockingly missing in the list of judges, which includes former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland. It was said that U.K. producers gave Cheryl a chance to return to the original show, but she might not have been answering calls from them due to her sudden removal from the American version.
And now, after this whole debacle, Cheryl Cole received another offer to return to The X Factor U.S. together with judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and L.A. Reid. The question now is whether Nicole Scherzinger will return as Steve Jone's co-host when Cole indeed returns as a judge. (But I'm hoping she'll just be entirely removed from the show.)
If I was Cheryl, I won't take the offer purely because of pride. But then again, she has the opportunity to become a part of this surely hit show. (Just look at how J.Lo's career took off once again after being a judge in Idol.) And I bet the offer involves a huge amount of money.
So do you want Cole to return? Do you feel bad for her as much as I do? And do you think Nicole should just be ousted if Cole does come back?
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We've seen 12 finalists move onto the live performance rounds after three episodes of the Battle Rounds. Here, I ranked these 12 from the contestant I am least rooting for to the artist who I want to win it all. This list shall be updated in the next couple of weeks when The Voice finally reveals its top 16.
*** This post is one week too late. Sorry guys! I shall post my ranking of the Top 16 after I've watched this week's episode. Those in bold are the new finalists. Click here for my ranking of the first 8 (with clips of their performances).
12. The Thompson Sisters - Yes they were cute and adorable, but Kelsey did a much better job with Unwritten. She was in pitch and there's something about her voice that I think will do great in records and radios. These sisters better bring the harmonies in the live rounds if they want to win me over.
11. Raquel Castro - She's our youngest contestant this season! Although she was indeed superior in the Rhianna performance, she definitely had pitch problems. I have to be honest and say that I think she doesn't stand a chance in this competition. If she had only waited a couple more years before joining The Voice...
10. Patrick Thomas - I disagree with Blake's decision here. Yes, Patrick does have a good and powerful voice. And maybe Patrick's only moving onto the next round because he's a country singer and he's more in Blake's wheelhouse. But I think Tyler Robins outshined Patrick in the Battle Rounds. Tyler sang beautifully and he certainly had more soul. Also, he listened to Blake's advice of making the runs and riffs count and not oversinging. Just ask the other coaches, they agree with me!
9. Frenchie Davis - Our resident diva had good control in Single Ladies; and she didn't oversing the Beyonce anthem (ahem. Tarralyn Ramsey. ahem.) Plus, she definitely had stage presence (I guess all that Rent experience payed off.) But I'm not rooting for her though. She simply doesn't have that extra edge the other finalists have. I feel like others will outshine her in the competition. She has to be exciting and not just be a generic diva singer to actually go far.
8. Nakia - As much as I liked Nakia better than Tje Austin in the Blind Auditions, I think Tje did a much better job singing Closer. Maybe the song was just a much better fit for Tje? Nakia should have toned down a bit. But don't get me wrong, he sings well. He just needs to pick songs that fit him in the live rounds, because as Cee-Lo mentioned in his first audition, Nakia is one of those "exceptions to the rule."
7. Casey Weston - One, Casey looks gorgeous. Two, she has this unique and pleasant tone about her. She started Leather and Lace a bit wobbly though; maybe it's the nerves. She's 18 anyway. And Blake's right, with all the potential that she has, she can really develop into a wonderful artist.
6. Dia Frampton - I love Dia's soothing tone. It's like drinking hot tea in the middle of a cold stormy weather. (Oh wait, that was just Serabee.) I think her pleasing and unique voice has the potential to make hits. I'm just not sure if she can deliver exciting performances when she's that shy. She has to improve on her stage presence or she'll not last long in the live rounds.
5. Beverly McClellan - Quoting Randy Jackson, "Beverly's IN IT TO WIN IT!" (Ok, that phrase should be illegal now.) But honestly, she had the most confidence among the other semi-finalists. Well, is it cockiness or confidence? No matter what it is, she knows how to work the crowd. And, again with a Randy quote, "SHE CAN SING!" She has one of the most powerful voices in the show and she knows how to work it. Beverly should indeed remain a rock singer in the live rounds, but I'd like to see her slow it down a bit, forget about all the theatrics, and simply focus on her voice.
4. Javier Colon - After his Blind Auditions, Javier is definitely the early favorite right now; and he didn't disappoint in Stand By Me. He has a radio-ready voice that is quite nice. His Time After Time performance also showed he has the artistry that some of the so-called "artists" today lack. I just hope he can top his first 2 performances in the Final Rounds and not become the Andrew Garcia or the Casey Abrams of The Voice.
3. Jared Blake - Jared has a strong and forceful voice; but I loved how he didn't power through Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Other singers with his type of voice might have already belted and screamed midway through the song; but he didn't. He showed control over his voice; and even without the high notes, his voice remained powerful the entire time. His performance in the Battle Rounds also gave focus to the awesome quality and tone of his voice.
2. Devon Barley - If only because he beat my early fave Rebecca Loebe... but they both did awesome in the Battle Rounds! "Creep" literally gave me chills. And the quality of Devon's voice is pretty solid, no? He was indeed the stand out in last week's episode. If he continues with performances like this, paired with his pleasing and unassuming personality, he may just win it all!
1. Vicci Martinez - Vicci has a really good quality about her voice. It has a raspy tone that's perfect for pop rock songs like F*cking Perfect. If she continues with these type of song choices in the live rounds, she has an absolute chance of winning the entire thing. But what's more impressive about her is that she emotionally connects with the songs she sings. From her performance of Pink's song, I can feel all the frustration and at the same time the inspiration that she wants to portray through the song. To be fair, her opponent, Niki Dawson, also did an incredible job. Too bad Cee-Lo had to pair them up together.
How about you guys? Who are you rooting for? Which eliminated singers did you like to see in the final round? And who among the remaining semi-finalists do you wanna see go through?
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American Idol has just wrapped up its season and Dance fanatics know what this means: So You Think You Can Dance is back! And look who's returning? It's Mary Murphy! Joining our Hot Tamale is executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and the always lovely Cat Deeley.
The season premiere brought us to Hot-lanta and San Francisco for the first rounds of auditions. And in true SYTYCD fashion, we were introduced to some hot dancers. Let me list down those that had gotten me excited for season 8.
Melanie Moore
I hate having early favorites because they always crush my spirits when they do not crack the top 20. But seriously, how can anyone not love Melanie? One, she looks like a star. Two, she seems to have an extremely pleasing personality. And three, she dances really beautifully. Lil C was right, she can dance for Zeus in Olympus. She just moves like a goddess. (Plus, her paintings are to die for!) Melanie's gonna break my heart if she doesn't get through Vegas round.
Marko Germar
Here's one athletic dancer. But as Dance followers know, athleticism and technical know-how are not enough to be America's Favorite Dancer. The main reason I'm including Marko in my list is that aside from being a strong contemporary dancer, his pre-audition package seems to show that he also knows how to b-boy. That flexibility will definitely work for him in this show.
Amber Williams
Now this is hot dancing. Did Amber light up that stage or what? As Tyce said it, Amber can command attention, and she certainly caught mine. She had pretty wonderful moves in her audition piece too! My only problem with her is that she can be a bit too crazy for comfort. She does have a quirky personality, which is awesome, but I hope she can also tone it down just a little.
Jeffery McCann
I thoroughly enjoyed Jeffery's b-boy audition. The only problem with break dancers in SYTYCD is that most of the time, they have difficulties in learning the other styles of dance thrown at them like contemporary or ballroom. But Jeffery certainly has smooth moves that I think can translate well into choreography and into the other areas of dance.
Ryan Ramirez
Ryan almost made it to the final rounds last season so there is no surprise that she can really deliver a good performance. And I agree with Toni Redpath, she does have a controlled abandonment that's lovely to watch. Lily Nguyen
We only saw a glimpse of her auditions but Lily instantly grabbed my attention. I don't think we ever had a b-girl crack the top 20. (So this is me crossing my fingers, hoping she'll do well in Vegas.) From the clip though, I think she has the ability to adapt in other areas of dance too.
So who are your favorites so far? (Please also say Melanie Moore!) Are you glad Mary Murphy is back? And are you also dying of anticipation for Vegas Round?
Stay tuned for more SYTYCD updates!
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The latest season of American Idol may be over, but the drama isn't! This time, it's between executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and Season 9 winner Lee Dewyze.
Those who have watched the (pretty spectacular) finale results show may have noticed the producers' snub of Lee Dewyze. Unlike past Idol winners like Carrie Underwood and David Cook, our most recent champion before Scotty McCreery didn't make an appearance on stage. (He did, however, make an appearance behind Ryan Seacrest's head when our host was by the audience area doing his spill. Anyone else caught that?)
So maybe the producers just didn't want to relive the disaster that was season 9? Apparently not. Just after all that confetti in the Nokia Theater settled down, Nigel sent all his followers an interesting tweet:
Allegedly, Nigel and Co. did want Lee to be on the show to present the award to Scotty. But then Lee instantly refuted this with his (longer) tweet:
And when everyone thought that this was just some misunderstanding on both parties, Nigel (basically) called Lee a liar:
So who's telling the truth? Which side are you on? Or are you just glad American Idol went out with a bang (Damn Beyonce! Gaga! Haley! Steven Tyler!) even without the season 9 champ? Personally, I think it was simply a case of miscommunication.
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The American version is not premiering until next fall, but we may have our first twist already!
It has been reported that Cheryl Cole will be one of the judges for the X Factor U.S. She was supposed to be joining L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell in that judging table when the reality singing competition begins. But there are new reports coming in that Cole may actually not be flown across the pond to join the Cowell-produced show! What I've been reading is that one of the concerns with Cole is her heavy British accent that American viewers may find difficult to understand. Also, it was said that she may not have the best chemistry with fellow judge Paula Abdul.
But here's the real shocker. Nicole Sherzinger, who was originally brought to the show to co-host with Brit Steve Jones, is reported to be the one to replace Cole as a judge. If this does happen, then Steven Jones will be the sole host for the X Factor.
Replacing cast members is normal for a new show before it premieres. This is usually the time when producers and network executives look into its new series and see how else it can be improved. The question now is if this a good move for the X Factor and its network, Fox. Well, we'll just have to find out come fall. I feel bad for Cheryl Cole though. (Accent? Really?)
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Tell me honestly, are you tired of singing competition shows filling up your daily TV routine? American Idol just finished its 10th season a few hours ago. The Voice is giving us a pretty satisfying first season run. And the American version of The X Factor is coming to our TV screens this fall.
If, like me, you still can't resist undiscovered talent wowing us with spectacular performances or struggling artists making fools of themselves in front of millions of viewers, then here's another series for you: Platinum Hit.
Platinum Hit is a singing reality competition show... but with a twist. The contestants in this new Bravo series are all singer-songwriter types and they will be judged on both their singing and writing abilities. Sounds interesting, right? I think true artists should definitely know how to make their own stuff and I'm glad Platinum Hit is giving us the platform to discover the real deal. I'm just excited to hear what these superstar wannabes come up with.
Plus, we get to see all the contestants live under one roof, and we all know what happens when you put a group of artists together: a whole bunch of drama. And unlike Idol, we actually get to know the singers better with this format.
And did you miss Kara Dioguardi? I have to admit, she annoyed the hell out of me during Kris Allen's season. But she also had some good critiquing points in her second season in Idol (which, unfortunately, none of the current judges have). Kara has also penned quite a lot of nice songs like Terrified (I just love Katharine McPhee and Zachary Levi's cover. Check it out on YouTube!) that she may actually be a good judge for this show. (Let's just forget about that Kris-Adam finale song, shall we?)
Am I the only one looking forward to this show? Do you think Kara's a good fit for this? How about Jewel?Will we discover the next singing (and songwriting!) sensation here? And will this be our new obsession every week? Platinum Hits premieres next week, May 30/31!
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No, it's not Haley. (But she'll always be a winner in my heart.) It's Scotty McCreery people! Scotty's the new American Idol! I'm pretty OK with the results. Between the 2 finalists, I prefer our resident country boy to win it all.
But wait, is I Love You This Big really his winning song?!? (Again. Worst. Song. Title. Ever.)
So what do you guys think? Did Scotty deserve to win? Or were you rooting for Lauren? and Haley needs to release an album soon, no?
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You could've fooled me if you told me this was the performance finale of American Idol 10 because nothing spectacular came out of that episode. This is what you get for voting out Haley Reinhart, America! But we can't change what had already happened. All we can do now is await the results due in less than 24 hours. Who do you think will win season 10? Let's look at the final 2's (lackluster) performances, shall we?
Round 1:
Scotty's Gone vs. Lauren's Flat on the Floor
Winner: Scotty. Gone was definitely the most enjoyable performance of the night. Was it just me (or the camera angles), or did we have less of Scotty's cheesy facial expressions? He definitely did not miss a single note in this song (and he has been pretty consistent about this the entire season), which is so much more than I can say about Lauren's Flat on the Floor, or her previous performances for that matter.
Round 2:
Scotty's Check Yes or No vs. Lauren's Maybe It Was Memphis
Winner: Lauren. Scotty was pretty decent in Check Yes or No, but it was a bit sleepy for me. My problem with Scotty is that he's the most predictable contestant this season. Predictable in Idol, of course, means boring. Lauren, on the other hand, is not the best technical singer. You'll almost always find vocal flaws in her performances. But no doubt, the 16 year old has a good tone, and this showed in Maybe It Was Memphis. To be the next Carrie Underwood (as what the judges and the producers seem to be pushing for her), she will need a lot more vocal training.
Round 3:
Scotty's I Love You This Big vs. Lauren's Like My Mother Does
Winner: Lauren (only by the skin of her teeth). I cannot believe Scotty would agree to sing a song entitled I Love You This Big. It's just... wrong. Again, nothing really spectacular with the last 2 songs. Maybe it's Scotty's unfortunate title, but I liked Lauren's song a wee bit better. What turned me off was her hugging Mama Alaina in the middle of the song (that just felt staged), and the overall favoritism of the producers toward her. (She was sick! She loves her mother! She's the next Carrie Underwood!)
So who do you think will win? Personally (and after much thought), I'd like Scotty to be the next American Idol. He was the most consistent this season. Lauren has a lovely tone but she's not there yet vocally. (And the judges, of course, are not giving enough constructive critique to help her, or even Scotty.) And I just don't like how the producers of Idol are pushing Lauren down our throats.
It doesn't really matter who wins in the end, right? Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry have great careers even though they weren't crowned the Idols of their respective seasons. Lauren has the bigger chance of winning right now (only because of the favoritism she gets), but Scotty will have a big career no matter what. And Haley too! I'm hoping Haley gets signed into a record deal and she produces lots and lots of wonderful albums! HaleyFTW!
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Scotty McCreery may not be my American Idol, but at least he's a gentleman.
After the announcement of the final 2 last week, a coin, with the finalists' faces pasted on each side, was tossed on stage. The winner of the coin toss can decide the order of the performances in the finale. According to backstage reports from TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly, the coin revealed Scotty's face after the toss. So when he was asked what he wanted to do, he immediately turned to Lauren and asked her what she wanted to do. Lauren said she wanted to go second and McCreery instantly agreed that he'll go first.
I know this is not American Gentleman but this is making me root for Scotty a little bit more. Also, there were reports that right after Haley got eliminated and when the judges were on stage to talk to the top 3 (now top 2), Lauren was so excited that she started jumping up and down with J.Lo and Steven Tyler. I love that Haley (my American Idol!) and Lauren are BFFs in real life, but maybe Lauren shouldn't be jumping in joy in front of her eliminated companion? Or am I just being overly protective of Haley?
No matter what, I think Lauren did a wise thing to sing last in the finale performance show. It's always good if you're the last one to leave an impression to the voting viewers. But I don't think this will help Lauren's chances enough to make her win the entire thing. Scotty has been more consistent the entire season, he has a really large fan base and one can't underestimate teenage girls' voting prowess. Lauren can only win the entire thing if she'll have a mind-blowingly good performance in this season's final week.
So who are you guys rooting for? Is Scotty a sure bet to be under that confetti shower in the finale? Are you still mourning about Haley's elimination? I still sure am! And did Scotty's gentlemanly ways impress you?
A new trailer has been released online for the much anticipated singing reality show, X Factor. Viewers will finally get reunited with the man we've all loved to hate, the one and only Simon Cowell!
After the disappointing performance of the new Idol judges (and, of course, Randy too) this season, I am so ready to have Simon to once again berate wannabe superstars in front of millions of viewers. Yes, Simon can be cruel, and I won't lie, he can also be infuriating at times, but at least he almost always gives honest feedback that may actually help the contestants in their future careers. (If Simon have had critiqued Lauren Alaina's lack of self confidence and Scotty McCreery's cheesy facial expressions, we would have a much better final 2 in Idol this year. But of course, Randy and J.Lo would rather follow their scripts and Steven's just asleep for more than half of the season... But here I am again ranting about Idol.)
Another thing that's exciting about X Factor is Simon and Paula Abdul's reunion! Whether you loved or loathed her on Idol, you can't deny that Simon and Paula had good chemistry on screen. We also have L.A. Reid and Cheryl Cole on the panel and I bet they'll do a much better job than Randy and Co.
And what about our hosts? Did you know that Corbin Bleu (of High School Musical fame) was the first choice to co-host with Scherzinger? That would have been all kinds of awkward, no? Good thing, Scherzinger also felt uncomfortable being on stage with a very much younger-looking man; so Simon brought Steve Jones from across the pond to be the 2nd host. If Cat Deeley, from So You Think You Can Dance, is any indication of the likeability and just overall awesomeness of a British host, then we're definitely in for a good ride with Jones. I'm not yet sold on the lead Pussycat Doll to be hosting such a big reality show though. I guess I'll just have to wait 'til fall to figure this one out. And in case any one of these hosts do not have what it takes, X Factor can always replace Jones, Scherzinger, or even the both of them come season 2. They've done this on American Idol and SYTYCD and look how far these reality competition shows have come.
So do you think X Factor will be the next singing competition hit? Or are you just sick and tired of these type of shows? Are you excited for Simon's comeback? And Paula's too? Do you think Corbin Bleu would have been a better co-host in the show? Sound off below!
Here's a season finale that I WON'T be watching next week. After receiving almost no love from the judges all season, after being a cannon-fodder finalist to someone who fought her way to the top 3, and after a whole lot of explosive and sensational performances, Haley Reinhart leaves the Idol stage.
This leaves us with Scotty and Lauren to sing their swan songs in the Nokia Theater next week. Tell me honestly, is this the most boring Idol finale or what? We all already know what Scotty will do next week- a couple of safe ol' country songs, some upbeat country ditty, and a whole lot of eyebrow-raising and cheesy facial expressions. (Why haven't the judges commented on this? Oh right, 'coz their a bunch of overly-paid celebrities who have absolutely no idea of what they're doing.) Scotty should take some chances. I'm not saying he should stop being country. But why not take rock or pop songs and give them some country spin?
Lauren, on the other hand, should have joined American Idol after a couple of years. She obviously lacks the confidence that a couple years worth of experience can bring. This is why she always sings the same safe stuff- one or two ballads, then a set list of midtempo songs that don't really show her range. In the course of one week, she should find that self-confidence to actually take risks in the finale. If she doesn't fight, Scotty will surely be under that confetti shower.
I blame the judges for this. Everyone has been so disappointing this season. I've expected Randy to be talking some non-sense, but I've never thought Jennifer Lopez to always be contradicting herself and Steven Tyler to be asleep the entire season. I love Haley for knowing that the judges' critique (or non-critique) are a bunch of BS. (C'mon J.Lo and Randy, comment on her singing! not on whether her song is POPULAR or not.) And of course, only Haley gets the harsh comments. Scotty is always "in it to win it" and Lauren is "the One."
This is so disappointing because although Scotty had a shining moment in "You've Got a Friend in Me" and Lauren in "Anyway", Haley had the most spectacular performances! Bennie and the Jets. Rolling in the Deep. You and I. House of the Rising Sun. I (Who Have Nothing). What Is and What Should Never Be. Rhiannon. Yes Randy, Haley is in it to win it too! She definitely deserved to win. Sadly, it will never happen. I am now just hoping that Haley gets signed and have a successful music career after Idol. 'Coz we all know it's not about winning the entire thing. (Chris Daughtry, anyone?) And I'll buy her album for sure!
But as of the moment, we're stuck with Lauren and Scotty. Personally, I'd like to see Lauren win. But I bet Scotty will be the one to grab the entire thing in the end.
Are you as disappointed as I am? Who do you want to win next week? And does Haley have a chance in the music industry?
As a tribute to Haley Reinhart, let me leave you with probably her best performance this season. Enjoy!
We've seen 8 finalists move onto the live performance rounds after two episodes of the Battle Rounds. Here, I ranked these 8 from the contestant I am least rooting for to the artist who I want to win it all. This list shall be updated in the next couple of weeks when The Voice finally reveals its top 16.
8. Patrick Thomas - I disagree with Blake's decision here. Yes, Patrick does have a good and powerful voice. And maybe Patrick's only moving onto the next round because he's a country singer and he's more in Blake's wheelhouse. But I think Tyler Robins outshined Patrick in the Battle Rounds. Tyler sang beautifully and he certainly had more soul. Also, he listened to Blake's advice of making the runs and riffs count and not oversinging. Just ask the other coaches, they agree with me!
7. Frenchie Davis - Our resident diva had good control in Single Ladies; and she didn't oversing the Beyonce anthem (ahem. Tarralyn Ramsey. ahem.) Plus, she definitely had stage presence (I guess all that Rent experience payed off.) But I'm not rooting for her though. She simply doesn't have that extra edge the other finalists have. I feel like others will outshine her in the competition. She has to be exciting and not just be a generic diva singer to actually go far.
6. Nakia - As much as I liked Nakia better than Tje Austin in the Blind Auditions, I think Tje did a much better job singing Closer. Maybe the song was just a much better fit for Tje? Nakia should have toned down a bit. But don't get me wrong, he sings well. He just needs to pick songs that fit him in the live rounds, because as Cee-Lo mentioned in his first audition, Nakia is one of those "exceptions to the rule."
5. Casey Weston - One, Casey looks gorgeous. Two, she has this unique and pleasant tone about her. She started Leather and Lace a bit wobbly though; maybe it's the nerves. She's 18 anyway. And Blake's right, with all the potential that she has, she can really develop into a wonderful artist.
4. Beverly McClellan - Quoting Randy Jackson, "Beverly's IN IT TO WIN IT!" (Ok, that phrase should be illegal now.) But honestly, she had the most confidence among the other semi-finalists. Well, is it cockiness or confidence? No matter what it is, she knows how to work the crowd. And, again with a Randy quote, "SHE CAN SING!" She has one of the most powerful voices in the show and she knows how to work it. Beverly should indeed remain a rock singer in the live rounds, but I'd like to see her slow it down a bit, forget about all the theatrics, and simply focus on her voice.
3. Javier Colon - After his Blind Auditions, Javier is definitely the early favorite right now; and he didn't disappoint in Stand By Me. He has a radio-ready voice that is quite nice. His Time After Time performance also showed he has the artistry that some of the so-called "artists" today lack. I just hope he can top his first 2 performances in the Final Rounds and not become the Andrew Garcia or the Casey Abrams of The Voice.
2. Jared Blake - Jared has a strong and forceful voice; but I loved how he didn't power through Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Other singers with his type of voice might have already belted and screamed midway through the song; but he didn't. He showed control over his voice; and even without the high notes, his voice remained powerful the entire time. His performance in the Battle Rounds also gave focus to the awesome quality and tone of his voice.
1. Vicci Martinez - Vicci has a really good quality about her voice. It has a raspy tone that's perfect for pop rock songs like F*cking Perfect. If she continues with these type of song choices in the live rounds, she has an absolute chance of winning the entire thing. But what's more impressive about her is that she emotionally connects with the songs she sings. From her performance of Pink's song, I can feel all the frustration and at the same time the inspiration that she wants to portray through the song. To be fair, her opponent, Niki Dawson, also did an incredible job. Too bad Cee-Lo had to pair them up together.
How about you guys? Who are you rooting for? Which eliminated singers did you like to see in the final round? And who among the remaining semi-finalists do you wanna see go through?
Check out this preview of the upcoming series Smash.
It's NBC's Glee! And they're not in high school. Smash is from executive producer Steven Spielberg and follows Debra Messing (Grace!), Katharine McPhee (American Idol!) and others as they try to create a musical about Marilyn Monroe. Plus, they are doing original songs. Ok, I'm a sucker for musicals so I'm definitely watching this.
