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February 10, 2005
American Idol Season 4 - Analysis, Comments & Predictions
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I am posting all my comments about AI 4 under this one big title. Do bookmark the permanent link and looking forward to a healthy discussion with you guys! You may find the link to this post in My Point Is [Opinions & Websites]. The top ones are the latest postings.
02.03.05 :Girls - 2nd Individual Elimination
None memorable, many horrible, I am simply too stunned at the lack of quality to comment on tonight's show. A pity the producers wanted a gender balanced show, if not all the girls should go and the guys must go in.
I must mention Mikalah Gordon's version of the song the title of which I am not familiar with. I remember this song. It was a good try but frankly I have the version where Lisa Simpson sang her interpretation and that was a million times better.
Results will be tomorrow. Very hard to decide who will be kicked out. But I have a feeling it will be that girl, that Black girl in green in the last show. I hope she goes.
01.03.2005 : Guys - 2nd Individual Elimination
Wow! Everybody, all 10 of them sang very very well, some were better because of stronger vocals, unique personality, better showmanship, nicer packaging, better song selection, some still good but not great because of bad song and bad packaging.
Anthony, the one name I can remember now chose a very very bad song but he gave it his own interpretation and made the song interesting. He sang very very well and he looked good.
Constantine chose a song that is rock and therefore his style, his vocals were strong and he gave a very seductive performance with his constant winking at the camera. However he mumbled quite a bit and again the song wasn't really good for him though he did well.
Anwar sang the same like last week but more up tempo song and he sang it well. He already looks like a star.
Scott, the ugly one has perhaps the most beautiful voice of them all. He sang excellently tonight and the only reason if he ever gets voted out is because he comes across as arrogant and cold. He should be more friendlier, more of an entertainer. But this man can really really sing and he chose his song well. Very versatile.
Bo was excellent. Excellent packaging, excellent song, excellent rendition, excellent showmanship but he can practice a bit more on dancing though. Again the only reason if he ever gets voted out is because he looks angry half the time or aloof. But again this man can really really sing and he chose his song well. Same like Scott.
The others can't remember their names. The one looking like Bobby Brown should improve on his presentation, his showmanship but he has a very soulful voice though he sang well, he could have been better. He would be my 2nd choice to be voted out but reluctantly so.
The one dancing and having the dazzling smile like Usher has the weakest vocals but like Simon said, he is a born entertainer. I enjoyed his dance routine, he's cute, I like him so I hope he doesn't get voted out yet though admitted his vocals wasn't strong. The song, All Night Long I think was such a carnivale fiesta type of song but he didn't sing it that way so it was a bit bland if not for his dancing.
The one with the swollen look looking like one American actor I can't remember his name, Simon said this guy sounds like those Portugese bar singers in the 1970s. Well he looked handsome though he looked like he was crying though he wasn't, he dressed well, he moved well, the song was ok, his voice very seductive. I like him, I do but I wasn't very impressed with him compared to others.
The one looking and dressing a bit like Justin Timberlake, only Latino/black version, nice song, a bit effiminate movements for a guy but he sang very well.
The one that would have my vote to be voted out is the least good amongst all others, the one who has yet to understand it is time to dress to kill, that black guy with shoulder length hair who chose a very very bad song. It was angonisingly slow, it wasn't very well sung but this guy actually has a very good voice.
It is so hard to choose one to kick out. Very very very hard. Whoever gets kicked out, I hope there is a wild card show so that they have a chance of coming back. For once Simon and Randy did not have any mean words to say, they gave very good reviews, only complaints were song selection and performance. Generally they gave thumbs up for the voice. I must agree on this. I was so impressed with this year's AI top 10 for the guys, they were absolutely gifted. Someone has got to go and with a heavy heart that guy I mentioned should go and the rest should stay to battle on. It's either Bobby Brown lookalike or that shoulder length hair black guy should go. The latter would be my first choice.
I can't predict who will win yet. Too difficult, this year almost couldn't predict it!
What a great night. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.
24.02.2005 : 2 From Each Side Kicked
The guys, no surprises. The girls, I was surprised the sultry sounding, foreign looking one was kicked whilst the Asian looking one was not a surprise to me. They all looked shocked.
At this point, I would say the selection this year for the guys are very very strong. The only 3 reasons why any of them will be kicked out are:-
1. not very likeable face;
2. choose wrong song; or
3. singing a song like he doesn't mean it.
Those kicked tonight fulfilled at least one of the above reason. Very sad actually.
23.02.2005 : Kick Out 2 From Each Side
I must say, this year's AI has so many good singers. Each unique but I have my few favourites.
Guys
Constantine
He should stay but he sang a very bad choice of song.
Bo
Another rocker who hit the right note with his wise choice of song
Miracle Baby
I am still not familiar with his name but I like his voice though his choice of a slow ballad was boring. I hope he stays though. He reminds me of John Stevens, as sweet.
That mousey looking guy
Ugly dude, attitude problem but man, he got a golden voice. He could sing.
The guy Simon called a lounge singer
So his song was bad, but if a lounge singer can sound as soulful, I will definitely visit that place. I like this sweet looking black guy with this deep beautiful voice.
The rest I am not familiar with. I still am not sure who to kick out from the guys' group. I can think of 1 actually. Don't know his name but I think he sang a ballad. The problem with the guys are wrong songs. The judges called them safe song. What is so safe about a ballad? It's boring song. Safe is singing popular tunes.
Girls
Mikalah
The girl with the overwhelming personality that sometimes overshadowed her performance. She should just sing and stop showing off. Anyway, she has got a good voice, soulful, interesting and her looks reminds me of some collagen injected lips but I am sure being 17, hers are natural. She looks like a porn star actually! But she can sing and she can work the crowd but she really is annoying sometimes.
Turner
Nadia I think is her name with the hair and all looking like Tina Turner. Interesting fast song and good singing. She looks pretty.
Aloha
I didn't like her because she was singing like Beyonce. This is AI, not impersonation contest BUT she has a very soulful voice.
Many more. I basically liked the all the girls except for 2 or 3, one of them that black girl with short hair or maybe long hair. I think she wore green tonight. There were some with very good voice but just can't sing well due to lack of emotion or feel for the song. But I hope they stay.
I am very happy to note no big voices, no screaming, some sang with good tune and rhythm. Definitely a pool of talent in here. Some may not look like AI, but they can sing.
As for Ryan Seacrest, as wonderful a host as ever. Simon toned down this year and Randy seemed more ready to accept other choices of songs other than just R&B. Interesting also the choices of songs at this stage are often with fast tempo but not R&B kind. Very happy. The rockers must try to sing Queen's songs! Very hard to choose who to kick out.
16.02.2005 : Group elimination
Very interesting, the judges' choice. Those I though should be kicked out were kicked out (the one group in a room elimination) whilst those I thought must stay went through. So it was a good selection. The miracle baby is still there and I quite like him. But my fave thus far is Constantine, that guy whose father said he will never make it and I saw some guys that I complimented for their friendship in the post below are still hanging on. Who are your favourites now?
10.02.2005 : Group Singing
There were some I was very impressed with, some I wasn't but what I was most impressed with was Paula Abdul's very fine acting. I don't think I have seen so much bickering between Paula and Simon in previous seasons and it all looked fake. But Simon seems to give way to Paula when she wanted someone in and he and Randy didn't.
Back to the singing. I can't remember their names but I can remember that this Asian girl, Elizabeth kept forgetting her lyrics. It's not just one two words missing but the whole song! And instead of taking the whole night practising, she just..well she just went to sleep.
I hate the attitude displayed by some of the contestants. Group singing isn't so much about remembering lyrics or having some dance movements or creating harmony but I think rather whether can you make it with 2 others with you showing some sportsmanship?
Remember that man whose father said he was useless? Oh boy, he can sing but he went missing on his 2 partners until about more than 1am, thus no time for practise. He made it of course, because he sang well alone. The harmony was wonderful but it was very surprising that big man with the teddy bear didn't make it. I just can't get it.
Then there was this rocker dude who quit his band. He is good, he can really really sing with his own style though the song and the dancing weren't really his forte.
The same problem of meddlesome fathers again caused some rift and the one complaining about the father of one partner to please go got kicked out though I thought she was good. The one black guy who wasn't singing but shouting and prancing around like an idiot got through, and I was shocked!
But the group that I was most impressed with didn't sing the best, but they chose the most difficult song, they forgot some of the lyrics but their togetherness, their helping each other and scared of disappointing one another was the most impressive. I think of the guys is called JP, there was this cute fat guy and two other really cute guys. They all can sing but they were so worried because they didn't sing it right. But they were given a second chance and I guess due to their choice of song and their previous nights I guess. And thereafter the fat guy was crying because he was afraid because he did badly he might have affected the other two and the other two didn't even blame him but they hugged each other. I love this kind of sportsmanship and true friendship. Enough with the bickerings. Women tend to bicker more than men though men do bicker.
Thus far I do not have a firm favourite though I hope for success for that rocker who quit his band. He had his own style though he didn't fit into the American Idol image. But AI is not about image but about talent. I hate it when Simon said to a fat girl you do not fit into the AI image. Why not? AI is about talent, ability to entertain. It's not about catwalk models who can sing, but rather a person who can sing who might look like a catwalk model.
And I am sick of Paula-Simon feud. All too fake.
But I wonder...anyone watching previous episodes please do post whether the kid with the miracle voice and the guy from New Orleans singing like Ella Fitzgerald made it or not? I didn't see them tonight though I thought I saw the miracle boy in next week's preview.
20.01.2005 : 1st Episode
Saw the first episode on ASTRO. I think 8TV will show it sometime next week. First audition, Washington DC. After 3 years of horror auditions, there are still those who think they are great but really not good. One girl was particularly scary; she confessed she can hear voices in her head! Somehow I think these people were planted in you know, like fake.
Ryan Seacrest is still amazing, Paula Abdul still not qualified to judge, Simon toned down a bit, Randy still Randy who dislikes olden days songs whils we have a celebrity guest judge, what was that lead singer's name in Sugar Ray? Very handsome, can sing but not a very good judge.
I was very impressed with one guy who gave up on his rock band to chase the American Idol dream. Was he good? I would say so but not impressive. His bandmate the drummer was very angry though.
Onbe janitor who sang olden days song ala John Stevens didn't get in although I though he should have. One guy who sang out of tune got in whilst one girl who was ok was told she was too young, being 17 and all. She was a boxer and I thought she was wonderful. If I remembered correctly, that Jasmine Trias and all were 16 and 17 right?
I still do not understand who can cut it and who won't. That boxer girl was very soft spoken but maybe not pretty enough. That janitor maybe too old. One woman, 28 years old married with a child pawned her wedding rings to audition and she got in, she was ok and very determined. Simon told her to ask her husband to come in and I thought that was too much because it was obvious the husband wasn't too pleased with her choice.
All in all interesting stuff but no William Hung yet. Scary people yes, pretty model types yes, but really really bad singer not quite yet.
Do catch it if you have a chance. Tomorrow there will be another episode.
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13 COMMENTS
Be forewarn. This author is very sarcastic and she is not kind to your fave Ryan Seacrest (and many other people) and she likes to put homosexual subtext in her reviews especially on Ryan and Simon (I usually skip those stuff because it gets tiresome after the first two times). But her review is very funny, just like your negative serial review (ur negative review is where your are in your most sarcastic mode :D), but cruder.
I especially like her comment on Anthony Federov ('Miracle Baby' in your review and 'Trachea Boi' in hers). Very funny.
You can read all her AI4 reviews here: http://www.mrsgiggles.com/tv/ai_index.html
Here's my ranking
1. Bo Bice (the other rocker) - a class above everyone else. Great performance. Can't find any flaw in it. Perfect.
2. Anthony Fedorov (mirable baby) - the hand movement a bit dramatic, but he sings well. I think he has the most beautiful voice among all the contestant. Beautiful and clear. I rate him this high mostly because of that beautiful voice. But I like the way he sings too.
3. Anwar Robinson (long haired guy) - unique and original. I like how he sings the song his own way and he sings it well.
4. Joseph Murena (guy who sing while sitting on a chair)- very emotive. Like he really feels the song. Nothing to complain about his singing. No pitch problem or anything.
5. Nikko Smith (1st performer) - good performance. Not as captivating as Bo Bice, but I can't really find any technical flaw in his singing either.
6. Mario Vazquez (last performer) - I don't like his voice at all. But I will admit that he is a good performer. Very smooth performance.
7. Judd Harris (guy who sings a fast song - voted out) - voice not really that good, but his performance was really fun to watch.
8. David Brown (black guy with slight long hair)- start out bad, but become increasingly good. Overall not a bad performance.
9. Scott Savol (fat guy) - he can definitely sing, but his stage performance was very poor. His movement seems very awkward. I was actually bored by his performance.
10. Travis Tucker (the guy that Paula want to strangle for singing a boring song) - another boring performance.
11. Jared Yates (the other guy who was voted out)- starts out pretty good, but become quite bad in the chorus part and never pick up again.
12. Constantine Maroulis (everyone know who he is) - worse performance of the night. His singing is bad, and his stage performance is nothing to shout about either.
Based on tonight's performance alone, I think Constantine should be out, not Judd. I really want to see more of Judd and see want he can do.
Well, I hope Constantine prove me wrong. He didn't impress me during the audition time, but I quite like him during the theater round (but still not that impressed). I am not bias against him. Many people (a lot more than Anthony's detractors) in the Survivorsucks board said he was real bad. Only 1 or 2 said he was not bad and actually sings in-tune and I believe those 1 or 2 until I actually watch the show myself, and he dissapoint me with his performance.
As for Judd. That is an upbeat song, how serious do u want him to be? He seem to enjoy the song and have fun with it. His performance is very enjoyable.
I'm going to watch the girl's performance tonight and will sure give my comment later. ;)
And I read that review you recommended. That person is beyond rude, calling people names. Why can't he or she just review it as it is? I'd rather read the ones on Season 3, I think there were 3 or 4 reviewers giving really good opinions. I forgot the URL to that.
Yeah, I know this reviewer is very crude in her language. If u r not used to it, u will be very offended. But that is her style. Some people find her sarcasm very amusing. I don't like every one of her review. But some I find it quite funny (like the time she describe Federov's performance). Being a frequenter of the Suvivorsucks board, I'm use to this kind of language. Some of the nicknames they used for the contestants are even nastier that this reviewer's. U should not take them seriously.
There are many reviewers out there who give very good and proper reviews for AI4 too. Mrs.Giggles is the exception to the rules (she is as nasty is season 3 as she is in season 4). I can give u the urls nice reviews if u want.
Sorry Funn, I was talking on the phone while the black girl in green perform. So, miss out her performance, but from the recap at the end, she seems quite ok.
Overall most of the girls did quite well.
Imho, the worst singer in another girl in green. She has dark brown hair. I think her name is Sarah Mather (she was voted out this week). Her singing is pretty bad although her voice is not.
The best singer of the night is Nadia Turner. She is the female equivalent of Bo Bice in that they both gave perfect performance. Her voice sounds a little like she got phelm in her throat, but her peformance is flawless.
But is not Nadia but Ahola Mischeaux. Her performance is fun and captivating. My favourite performance of the night.
I also miss Carrie Underwood's performance. But from the theater round, I felt that she would be good tonight. She sound great during recap.
The judges say Vonzell is great and she is also my favorite before tonight's show because of her beautiful rendition of 'Chain and Fools'. But I dunno why, I don't like the way she sound tonight. Too loud or something.
Amanda Avila has a good voice. She sounded a bit off tune in the beginning, but I like her performance because she put good emotion in it.
Another girl I really like is Celena Rae. She has a sensual/sexy voice and she gave the impression that she gave it all in the performance,that she put her whole self into the performance.
Mikalah Gordon has a very unique style and she oozes confidence. She gave a good performance but her voice is not my cup of tea and she is downright annoying. She should just shut up instead of trying to talk back to the judges all the time.
Lindsey Cardinale and Jessica Sierra both gave boring performances. Lindsey has the edge over Jess because she has a better voice.
Lastly, I'm sorry to see Melinda Lira goes. I like her voice. I found is special. I little bit pitchy here and there, but overall I like her rendition of the song. Her worse part is her stage performance. Her action look ungraceful and unsmooth. But I really like the way she sings.
Sarah Mather deserves to go but Melinda certainly does not.
Should see this thread in survivorsuck.
http://p085.ezboard.com/fsurvivorsucksfrm28.showMessage?topicID=8011.topic
The thread title is 'Seperated at Birth'. Forumers post pictures of other celebrities/objects/cartoon charaters/dolls that they feel resemble the AI4 ontestants. Some of the resemblance are uncanny.
Warning : Beware of the possibility of some crude language appearing. (currently, still 'G' rated) :).
Here it is : http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=287436
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Somebody named Mykonos3 saying he knows Constantine from Church posted this morning in a thread called: "Constantine and September 11":
310979.1
I belonged to the same Church as Constantine Maroulis in Wyckoff, NJ and there's something kind of interesting about him that most viewers don't know about. His cousin, whose name was also Constantine (nicknamed Gus), was killed in the World Trade Center bombing. He worked at an investment bank whose offices were located in the WTC.
Our Constantine was devastated by Gus's death and ever since then, he has spent much of his free time as a sort of Big Brother to small children of 9/11 victims, including the families of the Manhattan firefighters near where he lives. (He's amazing with children.) He even organized the members of his old Church youth association to help out and his goal is to start a foundation to help the children of tragedies, though not necessarily of 9/11 because he says they are already being well taken care of with all the money raised after September 11.
His old roomate told me that the producers of Idol wanted to film him at Ground Zero and talk about his cousin, but Constantine refused, saying he didn't want to exploit 9/11 to help his own career.
If you read his AI bio you will see he makes reference to Gus who dies 9/11-----------------------------------
Although I'm not a fan of his singing, he does seem like a nice person. I especially respect him for not exploiting is cousin's death for his on gain.
As for his singing. Haha, u wouldn't like what I say. But u do want me to be honest, right?
Well, I listen back to the mp3 of his 1st performance (Kiss Of A Rose) and it's not as bad as I first felt. He can sing, but he is still an average singer to me. He has not wowed me yet with any of his performances so far.
Joseph's last performance might be lest exciting compared to Constantine's, but Joseph is a way more competant singer than Const, skill wise and voice quality wise.
I like Constatine's personality, so, I really hope he will give a performance that will make him worthy of staying in the competition. Mario did that last week for me. Eventhough I do not like Mario's voice, I can't find fault with both his singing and his performance at all.
http://www.portlandphoenix.com/archive/theater/01/08/17/hedwig.html
I've become a Constantine fan too. He really grows on me. I found myself looking forward to his performance in every AI episode. He always chose interesting songs and his voice become more likable the more I listen to it. But my #1 favourite AI4 contestant is still Bo Bice (John Steven is still the all time favourite). Other than Bo and Constantine, another contestant whose performances I always look forward to is Jessica Sierra.
I still like Anthony, but my liking of him has lessen compared to when I first saw him at audition. He has a great voice, but his performance has become mostly middle of the road. His performance is certainly 1 of the weakest last week (Billboard #1 week).
Lastly I still miss Joe Murena. Kinda sad to see Mikalah go too. She is a lousy singer and deserve the boot. But she is such a lively personality and she lost so gracefully.