This is me trying to be smart enough to split the columns into three, one per show. Once again, the guys go first. I’m also writing this as I watch the show, so each performance will be as fresh as possible in my head.
Nothing new this week, same format as last week. Let’s review.
Mario Vazques: Probably the best performer of last week… this week in a stupid hat. There were some definite sound problems all through his performance, not his fault as it sounded like they didn’t have the singer’s microphones turned up loud enough. I thought the song was extremely boring. Fortunately for him, he’s got personality and he’s probably the best looking guy in this crop, cut right from an Abercrombie ad. The judges definitely like Mario, which has proven time and again to be key to this competition. Especially since it apparently lets you win even when you’re not that great *coff*Fantasia*coff* Not to say Mario’s performance wasn’t good… it was… he just picked a boring song.
Anwar Robinson: The microphone problems continued. After four seasons, you’d think they’d be able to mic the singers above the band… crazy talk. Anwar seems like he is really comfortable on the stage. He’s easily the best vocalist. I can see him in the final 12. Technically, he’s perfect. I guess it’s not even too early to talk about marketing. He is a marketable guy. The judges loved him and his song selection and I agree. I think he was the best performance of the guys this week.
Joseph Murena: This guy just doesn’t do anything for me. I don’t think he’s bad, but if you read last week’s column, I said the two guys who got eliminated were just the random college guy you’d see in a bar. Joseph is the same guy if he was fifteen years older. He’s just every other guy. There’s nothing to remember about him. The song was good, and he sang it well, but he’s just… I don’t know… blah.
David Brown: A really slow song. The problem with these slow songs is they remind me of an overblown karaoke competition. Happy, upbeat songs like the ones Anwar and Mario sing are performances. I watch David Brown sing this song and I think of a karaoke bar. This is the second week in a row this guy has given a hopelessly average performance. There is nothing that pops about David. I don’t know the deal for him.
Constantine Maroulis: Coming in with a Black Crows. An interesting song selection to say the least. He’s being marketed in the same vein as Avril Levine… the anti-establishment pop star. His black leather jacket makes another appearance this week. During the song he comes in screeching at certain parts, which probably isn’t a great idea. The judges won’t like it either. Bottom line with Constantine: he’s a performer, but not a great singer. Simon said he could go to any bar in America and see a singer to the calibur of Constantine, and he’s correct. However, he does have the angsty teen thing going for him… even though he’s twenty-fuggin-nine. However, he’s marketable and has gimmick going for him. Probably top six guys.
Scott Savol: “He looks like he’s trailer trash trying to be city,” is what the girl had to say about him. It’s a gimmick to work, I guess. I don’t have the heartburn inducing hate for him she does. The performance this week probably wasn’t as good as last week, but he’s still memorable enough not to be voted out quite yet. Simon and Paula like him, Randy doesn’t seem to care. They seem to be putting a lot of backstage work into him, giving him the sunglasses and beard and such. I think they want to give him a chance, but I still can’t see it.
Travis Tucker: His performance this week was a thousand times better than last week’s. The dance moves added a little bit more to his performance, trying to show off a little Usher in his stuff. If this guy can keep bringing performances like this week, I really think he’s a favorite to make it toward the end. He’s not the best vocalist, as Simon said, but he’s a really good performer. Simon also apologized for ripping him last week as it came across much better on television than it did live. I wondered where the hate came from last week.
Nikko Smith: Changed his gimmick around this week. Looking more the metrosexual, Boyz II Men guy rather than the crazy upbeat Usher guy. He sang Sexual Healing, which is kind of a risk for him. As performances go, this is way better than last week, but he’s fighting Travis for the same gimmick. Travis is better looking… which is the only advantage. Simon pointed out that he looked exactly like Bobby Brown. I didn’t see it until he said it, but it’s true.
Anthony Federov: I’m interested to see how far Clay part Deuce can go, just by being Clay part Deuce. The girl says he was incredibly out of tune, but I didn’t notice it and neither did the judges. I really don’t know how people will react to him as it goes on. He’s not the best singer nor is he the best performer. He obviously won’t win the whole thing, unless something changes drastically.
Bo Bice: In another battle of gimmicks, it’s Bo vs. Constantine. Bo does it way better. He’s not the best singer by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s one of the better all around performers, which is just part and parcel of band experience. I’m interested to see what happens to him, though I can easily see him going through to the top six guys. The judges love him because his look fits his performance, although I don’t know why there was no “you could see this in any bar in America” comment. I guess because Bo fits his gimmick more than Constantine.
Who’s Going Home
In fairness, it wasn’t as incredibly obvious this week who is going home as last week. Of the ten, the bottom four are Anthony Federov, David Brown, Joseph Murena, and Nikko Smith. I have a feeling Joseph Murena will join his fellow “we’re all the same” crew. Of the other three, David Brown was the most blah performance of the night, and I really think he deserves to head home more than the other three.
That’s all for today, tune in tomorrow for a recap of the girls’ performances.
