Diem to see Wicked at the Pantages. Great production, I'll write about it tomorrow (hopefully).Last week Simon made some comment about expecting everyone to blow him away, and being disappointed. Well, that was me this week. Maybe the judges are hearing something different than I'm hearing, or maybe they realize that it doesn't matter what they do or say. But I wasn't bowled over by any of the performances (although I did come close a few times). Here's the specifics:
Jordin Sparks~ I was the most disappointed by her tonight. I hope she doesn't make it into the finals, but I think she will just because of her popularity (she's got some of the young vote, and some of the old as well...she's got a diverse audience going for her, I can say that much). For starters with this girl, she is just as fake as Paris Bennett (remember Princess P from last season? Debut album on sale at TARGET...ha!)! When the mayor of Glendale, AZ (her hometown) read Simon's choice of song for her, she got excited and flattered and clapped along with the crowd. Then, while talking with Ryan, she let out that she had never heard the song before. Oops. Your hair may be better curly, Jordin, but you're more believable when you can keep your story straight!
Her opening of the song seemed kind of weak, due to her under-developed falsetto. She was definitely off to a rough start. Once again, her vibrato bugs me, and until she improves it, it will continue to bug me. All that said, though, she is definitely the most improved contestant of the entire season (hence why she's still in the competition!). Randy said that she sounded like Beyonce. Don't know who he was listening to, but that was no Beyonce.
Her second song, the Producers choice, was better suited for her voice ("She Works Hard For The Money"). But I picture people jumping up and down and going crazy and dancing to this song like mad. Jordin didn't do that. She seemed kind of stiff and restricted. She walked around to the beat a little bit, and that's it. He had a nice little riff at the end of the song, but her vibrato on her last note sounded like she was on a rollercoaster or like someone was violently flicking her jugular! All in all, her energy is too low on the upbeat songs...her father is an ex-NFLer. You'd think she'd be able to muster up some energy and adrenaline somewhere!
Her third song was a song she has already sung before. It was her choice, so she can sing whatever she wants, and it was the best choice out of all of her previous performances, but why not rock a song you've never sung before, girl (maybe like a current Top 40 track or something). We've seen it before (granted, it was the song that put her into the top running). She had stupid pouty, shrinking expressions and body language, I wanted to reach into the screen and push her over! The greatest part of this performance was the video preview: They showed her autographing a star at the bottom of an escalator at a mall in her hometown. What a back-handed compliment ('Sure, we'll give you a star of fame...in front of the escalator!')...it's like having your star in front of a crack den or stripper joint on Hollywood Blvd.!Blake Lewis~ I am afraid for Blake today. I think he has a good chance of going home. But I think if it were based on last night's performances, he would be safe! He sounded AWESOME. The best he's sounded in a while. I think he got so comfortable pushing the envelope with his VP and beat boxing that we forgot what a great vocalist he is...definitely marketable.
However, his first performance of the night ("Roxanne" by The Police) was a little bit disappointing for me. He's a great performer, but he just stood there and sang it from behind the mic stand. I would have liked him to do something more exciting. Guess I am entertained enough just by looking at him though, so I can't complain.
His second song, "This Love" by Maroon 5 (by the way, how HOT is their new song? I love it) was the PERFECT song choice for him (sorry, Paula, your Producers are better at selecting songs than you). When he sang the line about broken wings, he did this amazingly sexy dance move...I can't get over it. He did kind of end on a low note...he should have taken it up an octave and really ended strong. The AI Producers picked the best song for Blake to funk up. He had a really great vibe with the song, and you could tell that the judges and audience were really feeling it as well.
His personal song choice was great, too, with solid vocals, high energy, and a great performance. But my favorite part was his outfit! He had these hot brown plaid pants that were on the tighter side (better than the baggy things he was wearing earlier in the season) and a hot button up shirt and track jacket...nice! I forgot how much I hated his hair for just a second...then it came back to me when I stopped looking at his crotch. I'm really rooting for this guy tonight. But I think it's safe to say that no matter what happens with the results tonight, he will get a record deal...and I'll shell out the $15 for it! I wonder if he was so on his game tonight because Chris Richardson was in the house cheering him on. My fantasies about their love affair almost make me want to go to the tour!
Melinda Dolittle~ This girl is a shoe in for the finale, just like I've been saying all along. And I think she knows it, too. The judges certainly do. She's just so genuine, so talented, so consistent, so perfect for the American Idol.
First performance was Randy's choice, and he chose a Whitney song. As in Whitney Houston. As in one of the three performers (along with Chaka Khan and Mariah Carey) they never suggest singing because you can never be as good as the original. And Melinda tore it down! The judges praised her for it, with good reason. They would never trust Jordin with a song like that, that's for sure. She didn't change the song very much, at least that I could tell. If she did, she did it flawlessly in Whitney's style that it seemed like it was her own song (except for one scary moment with her falsetto where it almost sounded too forced, but you could hardly tell)! The judges agreed with me and named Melinda the winner of round 1.
For her second performance, she sang a Tina Turner song, and she brought down the house again. She had sassy hip shaking and even turned the mic stand upside down and blasted out some notes into the mic on her knees. Hot! But before that, she made a weird comment. Ryan announced what song she was going to sing, and she was like, "oh, ok. sure." Like she didn't know what song they chose, and then she just jumped up and started wailing this song out! I was kind of turned off by it. You're a great performer, Melinda, but stick to the singing, not acting.
She brilliantly sang "I'm A Woman" for her personal choice, and brought out the backup singers and they all tore it up! Perfect homage to backup singers from a past backup singer herself! I just hope there is a market for her...her sound is so old fashioned, and would really be best with a bluesy, oldies feel. She has more of the older audience vote. I just hope she doesn't sell out like Katharine McPhee did (let's just say my McPheever has been cured).In conclusion, my friends, Melinda Dolittle will win the competition, and I think Jordin will join her in the finale. I think Blake may be more deserving of it, especially based on last night's performances, but I am happy to say that all three of these performers are deserving and capable of turning out an amazing record. I'd better start saving my pennies now...
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