Do you know where your towel is?
American Idol
Introducing Idol’s Top 24 – Season 9
Feb 20th
Introducing American Idol’s Top 24:
The original video can be found on the American Idol website.
American Idol Season 8 Tour – Pittsburgh
Aug 24th
Pictured above, American Idol 8 winner Kris Allen leads the Top 10 in a finale performance of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Behind him (L-R) are Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds, Michael Sarver, Danny Gokey, runner-up Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Megan Joy, Anoop Desai, and Matt Giraud.
I guess you could say I’m a pretty big American Idol fan. I have now been to four of the eight seasons’ tours. Season 2, 4, 5, and 8. This group was simply too good to pass up. I can easily see about five of these Idols getting signed and putting out quite a good CD.
And another thing I’d like to point out: These singers sound much better in person. They honestly do. I expected some of the bottom of the pack to be just mediocre, but they were actually quite good. I’ll kind of do a mini-review of each performer here, like I’d do if the show were on:
Michael – I’ve got to say he was really much better in person than I remember him from the show. He had a good command of the stage and was vocally pretty strong. He did a surprisingly good job of opening the show and getting the crowd pumped up.
Megan – You know, the thing about Megan – she’s got one style and she does it well. Beyond that, she’s out of her element. But what she sang on the tour pretty much fit her. She seems more in her element when she sings “Put Your Records On” than with “Tears Dry on Their Own.”
Scott – Scott never ceases to amaze me. He’s best when he’s sitting at the piano belting out a song. He reminds me of a good 80’s pop singer. I actually have always though Scott would make a better songwriter/arranger than a singer, but after hearing him on the tour, I think he could make a compelling CD.
Lil – Got to say right away, my favorite song from Lil was “Single Ladies.” I like the energy she brought to the song and I liked the arrangement and all the video effects going on at the point. Very good performance. Tina really liked her outfits and her shoes.
Anoop – I tend to like Anoop on his upbeat songs more than his ballads. I liked his version of “My Prerogative” best. He’s very talented, he’s got a great voice and showed some personality on tour. He’s one of the ones I could see with a future CD.
Matt – Another one who really surprised me on the tour. I don’t remember liking him nearly as much while watching the show. He really showed some talent busting out the piano. One highlight of the tour is watching Matt and Scott with a little “dueling piano” performance during “Tell Her About It.” He also was able to get the crowd pumped with a little swing of “The Terrible Towel.”
Allison – Finally, we’re getting to the meat and potatoes of the evening. Starting with Allison there is a whole new electricity in the arena. I think “So What” was probably her strongest song (other than “Slow Ride” with Adam. That’s a whole ‘nother level…). She’s definitely got the whole package to be a successful star, possibly up there with Kelly Clarkson.
Danny – Okay, first off I need to say that Danny’s last solo song, “My Wish,” was probably my favorite performance of the whole night. I just thought he delivered that song perfectly. If it was available for purchase right now, I’d get it. Very touching song and it goes right with how I see Danny as a person and as a performer. That’s the road he needs to go down. Almost a pop/country singer. His other songs (“Maria, Maria”, “PYT”) were both strong, but not as good as “My Wish.”
Adam – For me, it seemed like Adam was the star of the show tonight. He had the loudest screams, the best introduction, and was certainly the most entertaining (overall) of the night. The crowd really was as loud as I’d ever heard it at any Idol concert I’ve been to. Sometimes I think the fans of the runner-up are more vocal simply because they feel compelled to show extra support for their contestant. “Mad World” was one of the best songs on the tour. It just fits him right and when he slows it down, he’s just right on. And, as I’ve already mentioned, his duet with Allison on “Slow Ride” is just great.
Kris – And of course the show builds up toward the appearance of the winner, which is made all the more interesting considering that Adam’s introduction is so “in your face” and Kris’ is more laid back. Again, just the difference in their styles. Kris is very good at what he does, and his performance of “Heartless” will not disappoint any of his fans. And when Kris starts into “Hey Jude” the whole audience gets involved by digging out the cell phones and lighters (some with cell phones with lighter apps on them) and the whole arena begins to sway back and forth.
And the whole evening is brought to a close by a little bit of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Very good close to the show. I actually could have used more group numbers. In the past I thought there were too many, this year not enough.
I thoroughly enjoyed the concert this year. The Idols did not disappoint.
American Idol 8 – Season Finale
May 20th
Kris Allen and Adam Lambert discuss their final performances (and a bit more) courtesy of CNN.com
So, the Season 8 winner will be announced tonight. The finale episode begins tonight at 8pm ET on FOX. Here’s my recap from last night’s final performances:
Okay, well, it’s finale night. It’s been a rather long (but interesting) season. Oh, cool opening. I think they just re-did that, though. I don’t think that was really from the first auditions. Was that Fred? In the audience? That looked like Fred! Hey Randy, nice suit, dawg! I see Paula chose the brightest of the three possible dresses… And Simon’s got his shirt open down to his…
You know, Kris choosing to go second – that’s always a smart move. I like that Ryan’s actually admitting “Hey, we don’t stand a chance of ending on time tomorrow night. I’m just tellin’ ya… So, set your DVR’s accordingly…” And he also says the lines will be open for at least 4 hours tonight. He might as well come out and say it: “We’re leaving the lines open until we get 100 million votes. Period.”
Adam’s up first… What will he choose as his favorite of the season? He’s had quite a few memorable performances. How can he settle on one?
Adam – Oh, “Mad World.” Good choice, since Simon gave him the standing “O” and half of America didn’t get to see it the first time anyway… Man, he’s channeling his inner Edward tonight… Very good performance. That’s right up his alley. The only thing it really lacked was the “surprise” factor that Adam usually brings, but that should be expected (duh) ‘cause he’s done that song before. Yes, Randy, “Twilight.” That’s it. I liked the fog effect. I like the added drama.
Kris – I like the “1 Music Coupon” touch. Kris, going off the board a bit with his song choice tonight. I didn’t expect this one. I was fully expecting “Heartless.” I like this performance though. I like that he was very emotional singing that song. Simon’s clap just looks so patronizing, doesn’t it? “I have to clap for him.” The only thing that slightly bugs me about him is his transition into his falsetto. A little too rocky for me. “Allenizing?” Nice word Paula. What about “Lambertizing?”
Sometimes I think maybe Simon is antagonizing the Adam fans tonight in order to get their butts voting. Simon is one of the most manipulating TV personalities on… (ahem) TV. He knows exactly what he’s doing…
Adam – Song two. I remember Taylor Hicks singing this during his audition. Pause. What the… hold on… Wow, man. First off, that has got to be the absolute weirdest song choice. Ever. But, it didn’t really matter. He still “sang his face off.” But what’s funny about that performance is this: I don’t think he’ll gain any new fans because of it. The anti-Adam contingency will still say “he’s screaming too much” but his die-hard fans will love it.
Kris – Kris, round 2… See, I like how he scales it back. He just is the opposite of what Adam is, man. And I mean that in the best way possible. That is where Kris shines, when he “acoustics it up a little bit.” Oh, Simon, I think he did. I think he definitely made the song his own. But I will still agree that Round 2 goes to Adam.
Now comes the performance that will basically kick-start their careers. This is the song they will be singing repeatedly, night, after night, after night during this summer tour. It’s time for the “Winner’s single.” No boundaries.
Adam – That was good. I like the song, and it’s nicely enough written (kudos Kara) that both Adam and Kris can make that song their own. I don’t totally agree with Randy, but I did see a few cracks appear in his voice for the first time this season. I like those kind of “positive uplifting mountain and hurricane” songs Simon. I think it’s the obligatory “Coronation Song” that is befitting a newly crowned Idol. Did Adam seal it up with his version? Well, it’s too soon to tell.
Kris – Okay, the last performance of the season. I like Kris’ arrangement. Talk about pitchy though. At first I was thinking this song was too low, now I’m thinking it’s too high. Same cracks in Kris’ voice. What I really like about the same song being sung by both finalists: I like hearing the different arrangements. Kara is right. Don’t hold that song against Kris. It was a little weird for him. Seemed too low, seemed too high.
To be honest, in analyzing the last song, I think Kris’ recording would be better than Adam’s… But I think Adam sang it better. To me, Kris’ second song was his best of the night.
It’s been an amazing season of Idol. With all the drama and all the controversy of this season, it’s come down to this, tonight. Kris has certainly proven himself worthy of being in the final two, but I’ve still got to go with Adam to win the whole thing. That’s my personal preference. But, to be honest, I think the American public will vote Kris the winner of American Idol 8. And I don’t really have a problem with that. I can completely understand why someone would choose Kris over Adam. Like I said, to me, Adam is the better entertainer, has been more consistent all season, and has the best chance for all-around commercial success after the show ends tomorrow night.
But I just have a feeling that America will vote Kris the winner.
So, to wrap it up… My personal pick:
Adam
Kris
But I don’t necessarily think it will end up that way… I am totally looking forward to tomorrow night’s finale… I’ve been reading the tweets of @dannygokey, @michaelsarver1, @MGiraudOfficial, @IdolScott, @agcruc, and Anoop’s which (for some reason) this site won’t let me type (but it’s @Anoop (Dog with two g’s) Desai) – and it’s been really interesting to read their thoughts over the past few days. This has been a very talented group of singers, and I can’t wait to hear the music that this group generates on the charts.
American Idol Season 8 halftime thoughts
Apr 13th
Hey, you can catch my (semi) weekly thoughts on American Idol right here:
http://myidol.americanidol.com/jasontm13/blog
So, we’re just about half way through this Top 13. What do you think so far? Personally, I think Adam Lambert is, by far, the most talented of the group. But, I’ll say this: It’s not over ’til it’s over. I think Danny Gokey absolutely has a chance of winning this thing too. If I were to rank the Top 7, overall, at this point in the competition, I would do so like this:
Adam
Danny
Allison
Matt
Kris
Anoop
Lil
I’ve really enjoyed this season so far. I think this is one of the most talented groups they’ve had since the beginning of the show, rivaling that of season two.
Who will win? We’ll just have to keep watching…
Idol Gives Back
Apr 25th
A very compelling show I’m watching right now. They’ve done a very good thing here, and hopefully those of us who watch week after week will take some action.
Visit www.americanidol.com to donate and support Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF). For more information about “Where the Money Goes” click here.
If you get a chance…
Mar 24th
…and are so inclined, check out This Week in Tech (or TWiT, as they call it). It is a podcast put on by Leo Laporte and others in the tech field. I’ve listened to a couple of times recently and they’ve turned me on to a few things I had never heard about before. Very interesting conversation.
And one of the things they’ve got me interested in is the movie Idiocracy directed by Mike Judge. If you remember, he is the one responsible for Office Space and Beavis & Butthead. I haven’t watched Idiocracy yet, but I would like to rent it this weekend from MovieLink.
I think I might add a page to this site titled “My Favorite Media” that lists the things I’m watching and listening to…
American Idol holds some promise this season. Early on I was afraid for this group. I felt like the judges picked the wrong Top 24. Well, to an extent I still feel it could have been a better group, but there are at least a few singers who hold promise. To read my comments on this season in more detail, click here.
I’ve been looking at laptops at circuitcity.com. My favorite so far is the HP dv9230us. It looks pretty beefy.
The American Idol tour comes to Pittsburgh
Aug 2nd
Hey everyone! The American Idol Season 5 tour came to Pittsburgh on July 27 at the Mellon Arena. The concert was excellent. I’ve been following Idol since season one and have been to most of the tour concerts, so I’m getting pretty good at judging the concerts.
This season’s group has a lot of variety. You want country? They got country. You want rock? They got rock. A little bit of everything.
Mandisa started things off for the Idols. I was a little surprised she headed out first, as usually the Idols come out in the order they were voted off, from tenth to first. But Mandisa brought good energy and was definitely a good choice to open up. I liked how she dedicated “If I Was Your Woman” to season two winner Ruben Studdard. Cute.
So, toward the end of Mandisa’s set, who comes popping out other than Ace himself! So, Ace sings a song with Mandisa, and then dives right into his George Michael impression with “Father Figure.” This is probably the type of music he should be singing, as he does a decent job with it. I’m not saying I totally like it, but it’s good Ace music, if that makes any sense.
Lisa comes out when Ace is done with his set and sings “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).” I must admit I didn’t care much for Lisa during the season. I think Melissa McGhee would have made a better fit in the top 10. But Lisa did surprise me by sitting down at the piano and singing a couple of songs with no other accompaniment. Nice job.
Paris struts out on stage looking like a cross between a 1980s Janet Jackson (anybody remember “Control?”) and Beyoncé. I always liked it on Idol when Paris could sing songs that were in her element. Her audition was really really good, and I liked her duet with Al Jarreau during the finale, but this butt-shakin’ crap ain’t for her. She looks like she’s trying too hard. It just doesn’t come natural.
Bucky rocks out a bit with “Superstition” and does a decent job. He got a little confused early in the song and got off-beat with the band (good thing that didn’t happen during the show!) but recovered nicely and ably sang the tune. That song is one of the best on the American Idol Season 5 CD. Then, of course as is mandatory with every Idol concert, “Drift Away” was sung. At this point I should say that thankfully, Bucky was the one singing it, and not that dreadful Corey Clark guy.
Kellie joined Bucky in an awkward, if cute chorus of “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease. I say awkward because, try as he might, Bucky is not a vocal gymnast. All the “Whoo, whoo, whoo’s” were on the down beat. Oh well. I think I’m getting picky. Pickler has a very strong voice, and sounded good on her Idol CD song “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “I’m the Only One.”
I have to say at this point that this is where “The Show Really Begins” because next to perform is Chris who brought the house down with his songs. I can’t immediately recall what his first song was, but then again I didn’t hear much of it due to the insane screaming coming from all directions. This man is adored just as much as Taylor, if not more so. The flash bulbs were poppin’ from that point on. I really liked Chris’ “Wanted Dead or Alive” which I think is better than the original. The crowd (predictably) went crazy as Chris replaced “drive all night/just to get back home” with “drive all night/just to get to Pittsburgh!“
As has been the pattern throughout, as Chris winds down his mini-set, Elliott saunters out to join him and they sing “Savin’ Me” which was pretty good. Interesting combination of those two voices. Elliott is such a soulful singer, and Chris is so set for rock. But the two sound good together. My favorite Elliott song is “Moody’s Mood for Love” which he sang that night. Elliott has complete control of his voice and sounds so good LIVE. Awesome! Best vocal performance of the tour.
The boys come back out to sing “Patience” and the girls come back out to sing “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” which was nice and all, but by this time the crowd was ready for “The Man” to come out and blow us away with his funky-white-boy dance moves and searing harmonica. It was time.
Taylor came out through the crowd from behind us. He marched up the side aisles jammin’ to “Jailhouse Rock” and the crowd went nuts. You can just tell by watching him that he loves what he is doing. Taylor deserved to win this, hands down. Yes, Chris has quite a following, but the right person won, no doubt. When Taylor sang “Living for the CIty” we got a full dose of crazy dance moves. Awesome! I also quite like this year’s “Coronation song” “Do I Make You Proud.” Yes, it’s corny. But we wouldn’t want it any other way. The song tells the story of the journey of the singer. Taylor has always stood out from the crowd, and he is living the American dream, so the song is perfect for him. Corny? Absolutely. But perfect.
The Idols definitely knew how to play to the Pittsburgh crowd, and that was most evident during the encore when Chris started belting out “We Are the Champions.” I’ve been to Pittsburgh a few times in the past couple of months, and the sheer number of Steelers jerseys and T-shirts show just how proud this town is that the Steelers are Super Bowl champions. Ace joined in the singing of “We Are the Champions” sporting a Super Bowl T-shirt and waving a “Terrible Towel.” The Mellon Arena went nuts!
Overall, this group of Idols is impressive. There are a few misses here and there, but they are all vocally solid. I know that at least four of the top ten have recording contracts. Elliott will certainly be snatched up by somebody, surely. They have all been given their launching pad. Now it’s up to them to try to turn this 15 minutes of fame into a long-lasting career.
I will be posting concert pictures shortly. I’m thinking about switching all my pictures to flickr and organizing them that way. After I get organized, I’ll post my pics.
Idol’s on…
Apr 4th
To read my full AI Blog post, visit my American Idol Blog on the Official AmericanIdol.com site.
This is just a mini-blog.
So, country this week, huh? Some will be strong, others may be week. What will Chris sing? Can I single-handedly keep Katharine out of the bottom three? These questions and others will soon be answered…
Hey! Whoopi’s in the audience! Cool.
I actually saw Kenny Rogers in concert when I was little. My mom and dad drug me to the concert when I was about seven years old. The good thing was that Gallagher opened up for him, and he was hilarious!
Alright! Taylor – singing Country Roads! This could be good. Hey, I’m a West Virginian, so I might be a little partial! Simon will hate this. I like Taylor’s voice, man, he is good. Simon will not like this. Randy’s right about the personality. “safe, boring, lazy” about what I expected from Simon.
Yes, I’ve been to the website Ryan. Thanks. You are just goofy.
Mandisa – Puttin’ her own flavor on this song. Something Taylor really couldn’t do. Not bad for the genre. This is not her strong suit, and she’s doing quite well. Different enough from the original, but still recognizable.
What’s up with Ryan and the judges tonight?
Elliott – Interesting song choice from him. He’s got good vocals, and I think he’ll be able to put his own spin on it. I like Kenny’s advice to him. Make ‘em cry. That’s what I say. Not bad. A little safe to me. A little like Taylor, he needs to bust out a little bit.
Paris – Ewww. Bad opening. I don’t particularly like this song choice from her. She’s got a real big voice. It was a decent ending. I think she stuck a little to close to the original and didn’t own the song. What is Simon on? Hmmm… interesting.
Ace – Hmm… Kenny, interesting comments. Not bad, not bad. Ace did pretty well tonight. That was good vocally. He knows his audience and he sang straight to them. I don’t know, however, whether it’s good enough to keep him hanging on this week. I, personally, liked it, but will it motivate enough people to vote for him?
Kellie – This could be good. Her voice fits this song perfectly. You knew she would do good this week. She sounded as good as the original. That was well done. Not much else to say, really. I expected her to do good, and she did. Best of the night so far.
Chris – Actually he is doing quite well. He’s not struggling. He was a little shakey in spots, but the vocal was quite good. A little too low in spots, but I am glad he did well. I somewhat agree with Simon in the “boring songs” category, but not so much as far as Chris as concerned.
Katharine – That’s the kind of music she should be singing. I am so glad to see her having fun tonight after seeing the serious side of her for the past of couple of weeks. Vote vote vote. Keep her out of bottom three, people. That was very good.
Bucky – He shouldn’t still be here. On country week, he picks this? He is not a country ballad singer. He could’ve picked a little bit of anything. I didn’t like that song choice at all. Something just didn’t sound right. He needed something more down-home. Up-tempo. I really like Bucky (the person). He’ll be fun to watch on the tour. But I haven’t liked his voice since week one.
Okay, now to clean this up, slap it in some kind of order, and put it on AmericanIdol.com
–Jason
