Since I think I’m relieved of my Daily Pulse Duties, I’m going to try and write a weekly recap of American Idol. I figure, hell, I watch the show, and I’m generally even home when it’s on, so I figure I can write it pretty close to live. It’s also a short column, and doesn’t involve the hours of the Daily Pulse. I admit, I suck with deadlines… but maybe if I’m watching the show, I’ll be good.
Idol adopted a new-ish format this year. 4 people per week will be eliminated until they’re down to the final 12. I think this is to prevent the super-obvious eliminations from the first couple of weeks, since America has proven it can’t pick 12 finalists. Usually, someone is so god-awful the first couple of weeks, that the first few shows are a waste of time. This new format is likely designed to weed those people out quickly to leave us with 12 contestants that actually have a chance.
So, this week, we have our first live show. I consider this really the first show, since the rest of them are just really a selection process.
Any way, let’s roll.
The Guys, Monday 2.21.2005
I intended to write about the guys yesterday, but I started questioning whether or not I wanted to get into this. However, I’ve decided to go with it, but a day late. As such, some of my memories of these performances may be a little shaky. I’m going to give it a shot though. I think when it comes to the guys, it almost comes down more to a look rather than a talent, because that’s what the teenage girls watching this show are going to vote on, and vote over and over and over and over.
And over.
Anthony Federov, 19: Clay Aiken, part deuce. I think he’s an early favorite. He was the first in a long list of guys who chose safe, slow, crappy songs for the night. However, to his credit, he actually sounded like Richard Marx when he sang it. Not leaving.
Anwar Robinson, 25: The music teacher from New Jersey. The only guy with obvious trained talent. I think he’s probably the best pure singer they have and likely among the most talented. Great first week.
Bo Bice, 29: Very quirky and it will be interesting to see how America reacts to him. He’s definitely way different than most of the guys in this competition, whether that’s good remains to be seen. Really needs to get over trying to sound like Eddie Vedder. I like Pearl Jam and all, but it’s not the right forum.
Constantine Maroulis, 29: Another guy who I’m really curious to see America’s reaction. The guy has been in a touring version of Rent and went to the Boston Conservatory for singing. Yet, for some reason, tries to channel like Scott Stapp on stage. He should stop this. Quirky enough to get through this week, definitely
David Brown, 20: It was a good performance and the judges liked him, personally I think he was really good, but has to bring out a better performances if he wants to beat out the other people in this competition.
Jared Yates, 18: Forgettable boy band fodder. Nothing positive, nothing negative… just nothing.
Judd Harris, 27: I would chalk him up as forgettable, but he sang a different song. Travellin Band. His performance stood out from the rest of the bad karaoke songs that went through the night. Toss up on weather or not he gets through.
Joseph Murena, 26: Tried to pull off Michael Bolton and did… but it was a very boring performance overall and nothing that I think will make anyone fall in love with him. I expect him to be done.
Mario Vazquez, 27: Probably an early favorite to win everything, I think. He was in From Justin to Kelly, God help him. I didn’t recognize the song, but he knows how to run a stage. Easily into the top six, I think.
Nikko Smith, 22: He went first. And that’s about all I remember about him. That’s probably not a good thing. If he doesn’t pull out something more memorable, I expect him to go before the top six.
Scott Savol, 28: I don’t know how to take this guy, and I’m guessing a lot of America won’t know either. He’s a good singer, but he just doesn’t look like a star. Maybe America will disagree, but I doubt it.
Travis Tucker, 21: The last guy to get through to this round. He’s got a good look and he had a really good performance… I thought anyway. The judges laid into him for it, but I still expect him to get through.
The Girls, Tuesday 2.22.2005
The girls went on Tuesday. As a whole, the girls put on much better and more professional performances than the guys. Not everyone sounded like they were trying to impress some chick at a karaoke bar.
Vonzell Soloman, 20: Started the show up with a hoppin, great performance. Hopefully, the girls will follow this trend and not have numbingly boring performances tonight. Vonzell definitely has a stage presence and, according to her profile, she has already released a debut cd in April 2004. Great way to start the show. And the judges agreed with me.
Amanda Avila, 23: I believe she was the last person pushed through into the final round, and she probably did it simply because she’s 23 and not 16. Her performance tonight was very forgettable and not particularly good. If tonight is any indication, she’s the reason they added in these extra couple of weeks. Her voice isn’t particularly memorable and neither is she. Bad song choice as well.
Janay Castine, 17: Awful. The judges were surprisingly easy on her. She was obviously terrified and couldn’t hit the notes to save her life. She is definitely the reason these extra couple of weeks were added. I expect her not to survive this week, much less the whole competition.
Carrie Underwood, 21: Possibly the only slow performance the judges liked in these first two days. This girl is very obviously inspired by the current crop of hot country artists. She’s also not afraid to show it. I think this girl is a nice fit in the Faith Hill genre of music, and I think the judges realize it, which is why I think they didn’t hate the slow song from her. She IS a slow song singer, and it looks good on her. I question if America can get behind this genre, though.
Sarah Mather, 22: The judges and I didn’t agree on this performance. It wasn’t very challenging, granted, but it was fun and it got the crowd into it. At the very least, it was memorable, which is far more than I can say for a good portion of these first week people. The judges were not impressed, but I think she’ll get through to the final twelve.
Nadia Turner, 28: Easily the best female performance of the night. According to her profile, she’s in a Christian Rock Band, and it shows on stage. She commanded the stage and got the crowd into her song. Probably the best performance of the week.
Mikalah Gordon, 17: Simon said it best. Half of the viewing audience will love this girl and the other half will find her extremely annoying. She’s also the poster girl for why people younger than 20 should not have plastic surgery. She has obvious collagen injections and botox on her face, and probably a brow lift, too. She looks like Cher. The problem is, Cher’s in her fifties and has more plastic in her than a Tupperware factory. This girl is 17 and it makes her look creepy. She even tries to sound like Cher in her performances. I’m in the half that finds her annoying. She does have personality, though, and I think that will connect her with some of the audience.
Lindsay Cardinale, 20: My girlfriend’s favorite going into tonight. Unfortunately she had a horrible night. Bad song, not particularly memorable look, and all around bad performance. Unfortunately for my girlfriend, this girl put herself on the fringe this week.
Melinda Lira, 19: Worse than the above. Nothing really good about this performance. So bad, in fact, I can’t tell you anything about it. That’s how forgettable it was. I don’t expect her to get through this week.
Celina Rae, 29: Another decent performance, but very safe with nothing to cause her to stick out in anyone’s mind. Luckily for her she’s good looking, which will probably keep her in this week. Unlucky for her: she’s almost 30.
Aloha Mischeaux, 19: This girl really knows how to command a stage, I will give her that. She is a performer. Randy was correct in pointing out that she toes the line of sounding exactly like Beyoncee, and it’s true. I half expected him to say: “Good performance, but we’ve bought this album before.” Regardless, great personality, great singer, and great presence. She will easily be around for a while, and is an early favorite if she can stop the Beyoncee schtick.
Jessica Sierra, 19: A good performance but very plain. Slow song overload, I think.
Of the girls, I think 4 of them were reasonably good, 4 of them were REALLY good, and 4 of them are lucky only two can be eliminated in the first week. My prediction: I’d expect to see Janay Castine, Amanda Avila, Melinda Lira, and Lindsay Cardinale in the bottom 4, and Janay Castine and Melinda Lira going home.
On the guy end, I expect Jared Yates, Joseph Murena, Judd Harris, and Nikko Smith in the bottom four. Scott Savol could replace any one of these. I’m less sure about the guys, but I would guess Nikko Smith and Jared Yates go home.
Next week, I am going to attempt to recap these shows as I watch so I can write down what I think of the performances as they happen, rather than trying to remember them a day later.
Check back in tomorrow to see who gets eliminated and whether or not I was right.
