Tonight's team was 50's songs, guided by the maestro and a very generous teacher, Barry Manilow. Many years many have laughed at Barry Manilow and his jingles but tonight he proved he is such a gifted composer, musician and probably the best music teacher one can have. He gave useful suggestions, changed the score a bit and as a results all 11 gave competent to excellent performances. You can actually hear the difference compared to Stevie Wonder night.
I won't say who is the best though I have my favourite.
For example, Taylor Hicks who gave a much better performance last week (you must download that Living In The City song sung by him, forget abt the video, just listen to his voice and wow!) but that doesn't mean he was bad tonight. No sir! He was amazing, vocally NOT the best but he gave a very energetic and unique performance that on Taylor Hicks can give and no other. Simon dissed his performance but I bet Simon will eat his words when he listens to the song again later tonight. Randy was right about one thing; this song by Buddy Holly only had a few chords to it so Randy thought it was a limited song choice. But Taylor successfully gave the song such an energetic and soulful interpretation and considering it is only a few chords for a song, I would rate his performance as first class. I can't wait for him to do a Beatles song. What a performance.
Mandisa was great, gave a sexy performance, Paris was cute, great and on pitch with the song Fever but for whatever I said about Kellie Pickler, she gave an amazing performance tonight. Barry was so on point when he said the song was about a very sad desperate woman and she was singing like she was so happy! She took his advice and gave a stellar performance.
Elliott Yamin gave a great performance tonight. You're all right; he has the best voice but he can really buck up on the performance aspect. Again Barry said Elliott should concentrate less on singing the song but more on telling the story of the song. And guess what? He did!
Bucky did me proud with his Buddy Holly song, Oh Boy. Very rock, very Bucky-ish but somehow Simon dissed him. Well guess what? He compared Bucky to now the resident rocker of this show, Chris Daughtry and I hated that comparison. Well if Bucky had the lights and the special effects given to Chris, probably Oh Boy would have been a greater performance than it was.
Chris sang Johnny Cash's song, I Walk The Line rock style. Surprise? Only you're surprised. Can he sing any other than rock? Barry met him once and said he was original but dear Barry, give him 30's music he will still sing it in rock. And I doubt Barry heard any other latest versions. The judges said they're proud of the fact that he never strayed from rock, he was true to himself, he stuck by his rock roots. If I remember correctly, they dissed John Steven for sticking by his big band roots! Is this double standard or what? Poor Bucky. He's the true rock original whilst Daughtry of course had to stick to his roots because he knew no other. My sister who knew the song well said Chris sang out of tune in the beginning and yes I agree. I am just so fed up by everybody is kissing Chris' a**. They really want to compensate for the fact that Bo Bice, the original rock star of American Idol didn't win last year when he should have won? I felt it was so unfair to Bucky. And the worst is saying he dared to take a classic and change it! Scroll down below and you will find a link to an updated version of this song and guess what? Awfully familiar if you ask me!
Katharine was great too but I feel so disconnected to her. Didn't feel her in the song. I find her boring.
One guy surprised me. Kevin Covais actually gave a very good performance tonight with When I Fall In Love. Barry told him to not belt the song but caress it and Kevin took his advice and gave his best performance tonight and I must admit, I loved it! An amazing vocal performance, I'd only wish he had better costume on. Stop making him look like a geek please!!
Ace Young wasn't the worse but I feel he has reached his vocal limits. He can't improve but he won't get kicked out because even 7 year olds love him so he will stay but definitely not based on merits. Whilst I can argue Chris was unoriginal and very limited, at least Chris can sing but Ace is getting worse and worse. Last week was his worst but this week he paled in comparison to many others.
But the worst tonight was Lisa. Poor girl. She's cute, and she reminds me of Jasmine Trias who was amongst the audience tonight, pretty as ever.
BUT she could not transport that cuteness into a very energetic song tonight. I thought she was truly horrendous but last week was worse.
So my guess who will be kicked out?
First choice is
Lisa
Second choice not because I wanted him to go but because America tends to listen to Simon, Bucky BUT I hope not because he deserves to stay and grow
Secret wish is for Ace Young to go but he will stay.
Final wish is for Chris Daughtry to leave but he wasn't so bad so he will stay. Kevin can stay because he did well.
Now let me go download Taylor Hick's performance tonight. Take away the silly dancing and the visuals before you, just listen to his voice, you must agree with me; Taylor Hicks is the TRUE original of AI.
GOODIES & ERMM BAD NEWSThanks to
Gray Charles, I downloaded the version that Chris Daughtry sang and my god! Can this man be anymore less original?? What a shame!! By the way the band was Live, not that I know them.
So Kevin Covais, BYE BYE.
YEAH! BUCKY SURVIVES!!
Anyway Barry Manilow made an appearance and was very gracious in giving his support to his fellow students. Apparently he took an entire week to make sure the arrangements he gave the songs for his treasured students were played right, etc. Not like one show and kaput! Gone! What a great man. By the way Bobby Bennett, the huge Manilow fan was there and well it was sweet to see him meeting his idol.
And yeah, Kevin was very gracious. His speech was ala John Stevens, less sense but just as touching. The reaction was as if they all wanted Bucky to go! Especially Paris who was crying. Anyway Kevin said "Please America be smart and choose one of these good people" or something like that. Ok maybe that wasn't so smart because if not those people who else??
a. he has a great singing voice
b. AI didn't say he can't do covers
c. he sounds unique and different and has his own style.
Please, if someone comes and sing like Elvis Presley he would have been kicked out!
So my answer is...
1. he can sing, and has a good voice so surely he can depend on what he's got rather than rehashing what others did before him
2. everybody on AI is doing covers but to sing exactly like the cover version and pass it as your own ingenious update of the song is downright plagarism
3. Unique? Then you must thank the covers versions because he sounded exactly like them. Own style? I doubt it. Ace Young may be a horribly inadequate singer, Kevin may be a bad singer, at least they sing their own style. Bo Bice had his own style. The true original ain't him!
2 COMMENTS
..anyway, can u do me a favor and put up a *.zip version of the Live version of Walk The Line. Or maybe Chris version. Since I'm using the office computer, they blocked out everything that is possible including LIMEWIRE! I cannot d'load any file that has an *.mp3 extension.
Well, it will be great if u could help. Anyway, great job!
I was first attracted to Bucky's singing style in the prelimenary round, but later also attracted to his shiny happy smile. He is really cute when he smiles because he looks qenuinely happy. He give off a bit of 'aw shucks' (endearing) feeling. The only thing I don't like about him is he always stand semi-squating whenever he performed, every single time.
My favourite girl is still Mandisa. She never disappoints. Gave great performance every time.
About the special effects, I think they will give if Bucky actually asked for it. From what I know, even the stage performance was choreographed by the contestants themselves, with some advice from the professionals.