Welcome back to another installment of Murtz Jaffer… LIVE at Canadian Idol
This week’s shows paid tribute to Queen and just like at the band’s tribute musical ‘We Will Rock You’ show that I went to last week, glowsticks were handed out to all the audience members before the show began.
When I initially received the songlist for the evening, I was definitely surprised by Matt, Greg and Jaydee’s choices. I could not picture Matt rocking out to “Under Pressure” and presumed that Greg would choose a harder (both figuratively and literally) song. I also thought that “We Are The Champions” would be a better fit for the country-inspired Bixby. In any event, that only added to my anticipation for the show to begin.
I also wondered why nobody chose to sing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but it might just be saved for the group performance on Tuesday. Actually, while I am at it… I was also surprised at the fact that “We Will Rock You” wasn’t chosen.
The warm-up began at 6:47 PM. Same schtick as usual, except Ben Mulroney used the opportunity to give the crowd an update on his injured thumb. He said that the gauze was off and displayed a new black band-aid that he was sporting. He also said that he was going to get eight stitches removed the next day (which would technically mean that he would be seeing the doctor before the results show on Tuesday).
The show began and Ben quoted a recent BBC poll that named Queen as the “greatest British band of all-time. He also said that as fans can attest to, “once we reach the month of August… no one is safe.”
Ben then asked the judges for their thoughts.
Jake said that Freddie Mercury was possibly the greatest rock and roll singer of all time. Farley told the contestants not to worry about their falsetto and just to entertain the viewers. Sass said that she didn’t believe that three girls consecutively leaving the Top 10 was a gender issue (huh?) and Zack denied hugging anybody last week.
Ben threw to the obligatory Queen video package and then it was time to get started with the hope of Hamilton on deck first.
Brian Melo
Age: 24
Hamilton, ON
– Sang “Too Much Love Will Kill You.”
– In his opening video, Brian May and Roger Taylor told Melo that he was the real thing and said that they liked his “husky” tone.
– Sounded okay.
– I think that it is forgettable.
– He sang a forgettable song first and that is a bad combo.
– I didn’t think he chose enough of a rocking Queen song, but that was obviously his intentional choice.
– I do not believe this will translate well with the voters, but I do think that he deserves to stay another week.
– Jake: Completely moved by it.
– Farley: Absolutely credible performance.
– Sass: Liked juxtaposition between your rough tone and your singing tone.
– Zack: Pitch-wise, it was sketchy all the way though.
Commercial.
Greg Neufeld
Age: 23
Vancouver, BC
– Sang “We Are The Champions” by Bryan Adams.
– In his opening video, Greg said that he couldn’t believe he would be meeting and working with Roger May and Brian Taylor.
– Probably his best.
– I liked it.
– Easily picked the most recognizable song of the evening, even for non-Queen fans.
– Farley: Sense of athleticism when you perform .
– Sass: What you just did is the definition of what a real singer does. You are the champion.
– Zack: I thought you were just short intensity-wise.
– Jake: Fantastic job!
Pantene Pro-V vignette.
Commercial.
Carly Rae Jepsen
Age: 21
Mission, BC
– Sang “Killer Queen.”
– In her opening video, Jepsen admitted that the song was sort of up and down and everywhere in-between.
– May and Adams said that she was “irresistible.”
– Puts a different spin on the song.
– She is an amazing performer as she works the stage like the champion that Greg was singing about.
– While her dress and performance showed some signs of cabaret, I did not feel like this adversely affected how she did.
– Not her strongest, but good enough to move her into next week.
– She’s always memorable and my feeling is that she is only competing against herself.
– Sass: I was so impressed by that! That kicked! That was wicked!.
– Zack: You are completely distinct, every single week.
– Jake: I love how you look tonight. You took the Cabaret side of Queen.
– Farley: Best use of the stage that we have seen in a long time.
Matt Rapley
Age: 18
Regina, SK
– Sang “Under Pressure.”
– In his opening video, Queen told him that he had a wonderful voice.
– Brian May said that he didn’t realize his own power.
– Great song choice, but wasn’t sure why Rapley picked it aside from it being a favorite song of his to listen to?
– Loved the singing.
– Hated his lack of performing.
– This performance shouldn’t send him own, but his past performances should have.
– It’s him or Melo that will be leaving.
– Zack: Hit some really good notes.
– Jake: I thought there were parts where you were drowned out by the background singers.
– Farley: Liked the fact that you took that approach.
– Sass: It’s an extremely challenging song.
Commercial.
Dwight d’Eon
Age: 28
West Pubnico, NS
– Sang “Tie Your Mother Down.”
– In his opening video, Queen asked him where his guitar was and d’Eon said that he wasn’t playing the guitar this week.
– GREAT start to the song by standing on speakers to the right of the stage.
– Amazing and electric performance.
– Unquestionably his best performance thus far.
– Rocking the entire place.
– Loved when he grabbed the camera and shook it during the song.
– Jake: You lit it up!.
– Farley: You put your heart into everything you do.
– Sass: That was the perfect song for your voice.
– Zack: You’re back to being a contender brother. Good job.
Commercial.
Tara Oram
Age: 23
Hare Bay, NL
– Sang “Headlong.”
– In her opening video, the Queen members advised her to take big breaths during the song and that they liked the country edge in her rock voice.
– Looks great on stage.
– She is the most comfortable with rock songs with a pinch of country.
– Makes sense because that’s kind of what she sings with her band.
– Decent.
Farley: You look so ready.
Sass: I think you are a born star.
Zack: While you ran out of pipes, you sang your heart out.
Jake: Really physical performance.
Commercial.
Jaydee Bixby
Age: 16
Drumheller, AB
– Sang “I Want To Break Free.”
– In his opening video, Queen said that he was a “wonderful, emerging talent.”
– As the video was being played, Jaydee walked out from a side door and stood in the middle of the crowd.
– Another good performance from the male favorite to win the competition.
– He makes every song his own and while some might be tired of his country routine every week, I am not because I believe in sticking with what is working
– I loved when he dropped a ‘baby’ in the middle of one of the lines.
– Great performance.
– Sass: Elvis is still in the building.
– Zack: Look like Pat Boone in leather. I found that oddly appealing.
– Jake: I like the messy hair. I felt like you didn’t really get the message across.
– Farley: Jaydee is what Jaydee does.
Recap.
End show.
My predictions? Easy this week. Brian and Matt in the bottom 2. I think Matt will go, but wouldn’t be surprised if it is Brian.
Talk to you tomorrow.
