American Idol - Week Two - 3/20/07

Before I begin this week’s review, let me just say thanks to you all for reading my review. I didn’t realize until recently that some of you guys forward this review to other people I don’t know, and that’s really appreciated. If you guys want, forward me their emails, and I’ll just add them to the distribution.

So anyway, in general, last night all of the contestants upped their game, and I have to say I’m impressed. However, that being said, I found myself both agreeing with the judges on some performances, and absolutely thinking they had earplugs in their ears for others. (I’m looking at YOU, Sanjaya)
Peter Noone and Lulu were the guest “advisor/mentors” this week, and I found myself actually loving their little suggestions to the contestants. I honestly think that if some of the contestants would have listened to them last night, they would have done far better then they did. So there’s my two cents overall, so let’s move onto the contestants’ performances:

1. HALEY SCARNATO – sung “Tell Him” – Okay, this was a good start to the whole “British Invasion” theme to the show. She started out strong, and kept it up throughout her performance. I agree when the judges said she picked a good song, and she did look good as well. (I’m not sure I agree with Simon when he said fans would be talking about more then just her singing the next day). Don’t get me wrong, she looked pretty, but not trashy. (Unless I misunderstood what he meant?) Regardless though, I think for all the flack Haley got for beating out Sabrina getting into the Top 12, I think she proved last night she deserves to be there. I think she’ll be around another week.

2. CHRIS RICHARDSON – sung “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying” - It’s about time this cutie showed he has actual singing talent and not just looks and “runs in the song”. (As a side note, I can’t believe how much this show educates the viewer on different singing terms. I mean I had NO idea what a “run” was 6 months ago! But I digress…) Chris admitted he was holding back doing more runs in the song, and thankfully he took his own advice on that note. Hopefully he noticed he doesn’t have to do that with every single performance, and because he held back, I think (as Simon said) it was one of his best performances to date. It was sexy, and intimate, and definitely sung well. Chris is staying around a bit longer.

3. STEPHANIE EDWARDS – sung “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” - She lost her edge. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was about Stephanie’s performances last week and this week that I found bad, until Simon pointed it out. He said told Stephanie she lost her edge and she’s just fading into the background, and I have to agree. When I first heard her sing, I thought that she could be a serious contender for the finals. But she lost something along the way, and it showed last night. It was boring, and definitely not an improvement from last week. (and for crying out loud, where the heck did she get that top? It looked like she won it on eBay from a former Solid Gold dancer. ) She is one of my picks for the bottom three, though I do like her, she has not performed up to her potential.

4. BLAKE LEWIS – sung “Time of the Season” - Okay, Blake is starting to grow on me, but dammit, does he HAVE to beat box to every friggin’ song!? I think he has a GREAT voice and a unique style, but he constantly needs to change it up? EVERYtime?
This is where I disagreed with the judges a little. Did I think Blake updated the song for a more contemporary vibe? Yes. Do I think this “modernizing” of every song is gonna get tired out? YES. Blake has a great voice, and he needs to showcase it. Again, I’m really starting to like him, but he needs to cut down the song beat-boxing. It’s a singing competition! (though I find myself agreeing with Peter Noone when he says it’s a “Voting competition”!) Anyway, Blake is definitely safe.

5. LaKISHA JONES – sung “Diamonds Are Forever” - Ah, my Kiki made an error this week. Hopefully, I don’t think it will affect her too much, she should be safe. When Lulu said to her she should sing the other song, “You Are My World” I wasn’t sure which song was right for her, until Lulu sung a few bars of it for her. I was agreeing with Lulu when she predicted that Kiki would OWN that song. But unfortunately, Kiki decided to go with “Diamonds Are Forever”, which, while sung as amazing as ever, was not her best performance to date. I think it was one of her weakest. I don’t think I agree with Simon on this one when he said it was “old fashioned”. (Of course it’s old fashioned Simon, they are singing 60’s songs!) This was definitely one of Lakisha’s weakest performances, but it didn’t affect her over-all appeal. She’s definitely back next week.

6. PHIL STACY - sung “Tobacco Road” - Maybe I’m being too critical here, but I would think that by this point, Phil would have showed me some type of “eye-popping” performance. But I’m yet to be wowed, and I just don’t see the “wow factor” everyone talks about. I like his voice, but his personality is just not happening. At this point I don’t even see him standing out, so most of the other contestants are over-taking him. This song was unknown to me, and instead of “wowing” me, and selling the song to me, I was bored, and found myself fishing around for some chips in my cabinet instead of watching his performance. What does that tell me? It tells me he’s in the bottom three tonight. (again!)

7. JORDIN SPARKS – sung “I Who Have Nothing” - This kid is impressing me every week, and I’m seeing shades of Kelly Clarkson here. I remember Kelly slowly getting better every week, and by the end of the competition, not only did she overtake the other contestants, but she put up a show-stopping number each time. I’m starting to see this with Jordin. Another song I was unfamiliar with, but unlike Mr.Stacy, she SOLD it to me. What a great controlled performance, and a great range. I really really am starting to like this girl and is slowly gaining on Melinda and Lakisha. She is definitely staying around, so she is safe.

8. SANJAYA MALAKAR – sung “You Really Got Me” - I really have to wonder what the judges were hearing last night during Sanjaya’s performance. I heard off-key screaming, no melody and it looked like a high school performance gone wrong. His moves were spastic, and his singing completely out of tune. Sigh. I don’t hate Sanjaya, on the contrary I actually feel like he’s been given a raw deal in the media. It’s not his fault he’s surrounded by better, more talented singers, but the kid tries. (and the little crying girl did not help. I swear, she cried during so many performances last night I thought she had some sort of disorder). Sanjaya friggin’ SCREAMED, not sung some parts of this song, and it was awful. So why the praise from the judges this week? (I think they want to try to keep him in for the Top 10 so he can tour with the rest of the idols. Why? The teeny-boppers equal ticket sales) Hate me for this prediction if you must, but Sanjaya is unfortunately around for at least one more week.

9. GINA GLOCKSON – sung “Paint It Black” - Disappointed. This is the only way I could describe my reaction to her performance of this Rolling Stone classic. When I heard she was choosing this song for her performance, I was excited. Gina is starting to grow on me too, and I love her whole “rocker girl” vibe. I thought this song was a perfect choice, but I suppose I was wrong. She definitely messed up vocally tonight, especially in the low key parts of the song. For one of the few Rolling Stones songs I know, and one of my favorites (yes, I know, sue me for not being a Stones’ fan), I don’t think she did that well, and as much as I like her, Simon was right. Vocally, it just was not good enough. Sorry Gina, but you’re in the bottom three tonight.

10. CHRIS SLIGH – sung “She’s Not There” - Finally, Chris is back the way I like him. No more contacts, and the voice is back. I loved his performance, and thought his coming out of the crowd singing was a perfect way to stand out from the other performances last night. Think about it, even if you don’t remember what Chris sang, you can at least remember he was the one who started his performance walking out of the audience. I thought he really made up for the horrible performance last week, and it gave him a pass to be here another week.

11. MELINDA DOOLITTLE – sung “As Long As He Needs Me” - You would think that singing a 60s tune would make Melinda feel right at home. And you couldn’t be more right. What another great performance, and again, I was sold a song that I didn’t know. Every week, I’m more and more impressed with Melinda’s control, and do I really think she’s that nice in person? I really think so, and both her naïve charm, personality and most of all, voice will get her close to the finals, if not the final four. However, will she win? Debatable. Unless she changes her song choices, and finds a way to connect to a younger audience, she won’t be able to win the competition.

My Bottom Three Picks: Phil Stacy, Gina Glockson and Stephanie Edwards.

My Pick to be Eliminated Tonight: Tough call, but I would say it’s between Stephanie or Phil. I think Gina is safe.

So what do you guys think? Agree? Disagree? Comments?