Anything and Everything

The theme, Most Popular Downloads...is that even a theme? Hmm...didn't look so hot, so here goes:

THE TOP 9

Anoop Desai
"Caught Up" by Usher
I'm afraid that I might have to agree with the judges on this one. Anoop has got such a smooth style, but clearly this was not a good song for him to sing tonight. There are some people who just sound good with a few styles and this style was not it for Anoop. He's been so up and down the last couple of weeks. I don't think he's going to last much longer. Anoop, you're my #2 pick for my Bottom 3.

Megan Corkrey
"Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley
Oh Sanjaya...OOPS! I mean, oh Megan. Seriously, she needs to go home. This show is not right for her. She's jazz-styled and that's it. Why did she pick this song to sing? Why does she pick any song that she sings? I haven't heard one REALLY good performance from her. If she remains on this show, it's purely based on her looks and nothing else. Megan, you're my #1 pick for my Bottom 3.

Danny Gokey
"What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts
I really like the timbre of Danny's voice. Ballads are definitely his cup of tea. He really pulled this one out tonight; such a good performance. I think, though, he needs to be careful about the ballads. I agree with this statement: "Danny is good, but this might be all that he is going to bring." Step it up, Danny!

Allison Iraheta
"Don't Speak" by No Doubt
Um, Allison? What's up with your spikey hair? This song didn't really show off anything spectacular. Why didn't she pick a more contemporary piece? Don't get me wrong, I love No Doubt, but maybe Spiderwebs would have been more fun...Allison is my alternate pick.

Scott MacIntyre
"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
Okay, this week, Scott really sang well. Obviously, he's comfortable behind the piano. I mean, it would look pretty awkward with him just standing there singing. Anyhow, it was surprisingly good and I don't expect him to be voted off just yet.

Matt Giraud
"You Found Me" by the Fray
Gosh, how I love his voice! I really like this song and think he did a great job on it. There was a part at the beginning that sounded a little off, but at the end, when he went into his falsetto, oh yah! This was a good song choice for him; definitely not a style I thought he would choose, but he sang it well.

Lil Rounds
"I Surrender" by Celine Dion
This just wasn't Lil's style. I don't understand why she picked this song at all...I mean, she could have added her flavor, but she seemed, oh I don't know, too hesitant? R&B is clearly her thang...maybe she needs to stick to it. I think Lil is my #3 pick for my Bottom 3.

Adam Lambert
"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
Adam delivers yet another over the top performance, but man, oh man! I like how he slowed down the verse and sped it up for the chorus. He's very original and probably one of the most memorable. Top 2 anyone?

Kris Allen
"Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers
Fantastic! And I didn't know he could play the piano too! I think Kris could be the secret competition. Yes, he's a cutie, but his performances are always so fresh. Hmm, tomorrow should be interesting!

BOTTOM 3
Megan Corkrey
Anoop Desai
Lil Rounds

ALTERNATE
Allison Iraheta

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

So Long Sarver

Once more, we have to say good-bye...and tonight, it's to

Michael Sarver

He's that all-around, nice American boy (man?) that everybody loves, but compared to the competition this year, he's just not the one. It's nothing personal. Hey, at least he's on the tour, right?

But is Megan the next Sanjaya? I think so.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Gimme Mo...Town

This week's theme was Motown, with Smokey Robinson as the mentor. I've always liked Smokey Robinson, so this was good. Motown usually has a good turnout since there are so many good songs to choose from...unless you're not an R&B type of gal/guy (ahem, Scott).

Let's break it down:

The TOP 10

Matt Giraud: "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye
Oh MAN, does Matt have a sweet voice or what? I loved his beginning, starting on the piano all sleek and then jumping up and dancing. He rocked as a first performance (which doesn't happen all that often)! Smooth vocals, very Justin Timberlake-esque. This guy ain't going anywhere.

Kris Allen: "How Sweet it is to Be Loved By You" by Marvin Gaye (James Taylor)
I love Kris's style; this was so laid back. But to be honest, it wasn't one of my favorites. And I didn't dig the last note either; it sounded like he was shouting the word "you". He is one of my alternate picks for the night.

Scott MacIntyre: "You Can't Hurry Love" by the Supremes
Oh yikes. Need I say anything else? Scott, it's not because you're blind, but because your style isn't right for this show. He's my #2 pick for my bottom 3.

Megan Corkrey: "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder
Anyone remember this phrase: Gag me with a wooden spoon? That's exactly how I felt about this performance. As anyone near and dear to my heart knows, I can't stand this chick. Yah, so she's got a unique voice. So what. She sucks. Sorry Mom, I know you hate that word, but I can't think of anything else that describes how I feel about Megan. You're right, I have no Utah pride. This was a HORRIBLE song choice for her and she has got to go or else she's turning into this season's Sanjaya. Go home, Megan; please, go home. She's obviously my #1 pick for my bottom 3, although with my luck, all the guys that thinks she is hot will vote her to stay. Sigh.

Anoop Desai: "Ooh, Baby, Baby" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Anoop's got soul, but this was not a stand-out performance for me. He's got pipes, why doesn't he use them? Come on, Anoop! He's my other alternate choice for the night.

Michael Sarver: "Ain't to Proud to Beg" by the Temptations
That was torture. He's not going to make it much farther. He likes the fun songs which is fine; I like the fun songs too. But he's not a soul singer and I think he might have been better off with a slower song. He's my #3 choice for my bottom 3.

Lil Rounds: "Heat Wave" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
Nothing fantastic, but good vocals. No offense to R&B fans, but she sounds just like any other R&B singer. She really doesn't make me think "Wow, she's going to go far." I can't tell the difference between her and any other R&B singer out there. So anyways, yah it was good.

Adam Lambert: "The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
I'm torn; I loved his tender style of this song, I loved that you can see his face and that he looked like a normal guy, he's got a great range...buuuuuut, it just wasn't my favorite of the night. Sure, he pulled a 180 on us and showed us that he can do slow and tender too, but I like my "show-stopper Adam" better than my "wooingly-tender Adam". Still a contender for the Top 3, no doubt. I think he has a really good chance of winning.

Danny Gokey: "Get Ready" by the Temptations
Oh Danny...this was good, but he's starting to remind me of Melinda Doolittle from Season 6: he hits it every time and now it's starting to get a little mundane because he's always so good. Great vocals as usual.

Allison Iraheta: "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations
Okay, this was my favorite performance of the night. Where was this Allison the last two weeks? She kept getting complimented and I'm thinking, "What makes her so special? Nothing she has sung makes me feel otherwise". UNTIL TONIGHT...this was the perfect song for her and she has a range! I didn't think she did, but she does. And she's 16, ladies and gentlemen! Way to bring it home, Alli.

BOTTOM 3
Megan Corkrey
Scott MacIntyre
Michael Sarver

ALTERNATES
Anoop Desai
Kris Allen

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

And does anyone else think this picture of Scott is funny?

And someone please CUT HIS HAIR!!!

Not-So-Amazing Grace

This week we bid adieu to:

Alexis Grace

I think her exit was a little premature; Scott and Lil did worse than she did. But you know, everyone will get voted off at some point.

She's cute and has a big voice for such a little girl...she'll make it somewhere.

Grand Ole Time!

Tonight's theme for the Top 11 was the Grand Ole Opry (a.k.a. country music night). I, for one, was impressed by the talent; there seems to be only one genuine country boy (Michael Sarver) amongst our contenders and almost all of them pulled off their own versions of their songs. Check it out!

THE TOP 11

Michael Sarver
Ain't Going Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up by Garth Brooks
This song was a crowd-pleaser and definitely a good one to start the show off with. I would say that Paula was easily impressed with the amount of words, but heck, even I was impressed! Michael is a country boy for sure and showed it off tonight. I thought he did a pretty good job, but for lack of bad singers tonight, he is one of my alternate picks.

Allison Iraheta
Blame It On Your Heart by Patty Loveless
Allison has got that raspy rock voice, yet pulled off this song. As Randy put it, her performance was DOPE and I agree. She put a rock spin on it just by having that raspy voice. This song was a good choice for her; ain't no way she's leaving tomorrow.

Kris Allen
Make You Feel My Love by Garth Brooks
This was my second favorite of the night. Kris has got such a gorgeous voice; it's so smooth. I also love that he can sing without his guitar (remember Brooke White's odd dance movements without her instruments). It was such a mellow rendition and I loved it!

Lil Rounds
Independance Day by Martina McBride
Oh Lil...she has such tremendous talent and yet she chose this song, which only made me think that Carrie Underwood did it so much better during country week on Season 4. This was just not a good song for her and it might hurt her chances to continue on, considering all of the good performances tonight. She is my 2nd choice for my bottom 3.

Adam Lambert
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
I'll be honest; I hated Chris Daughtry's rendition of this song, so I immediately assumed I'd hate Adam's as well. PSHAH! It was an interesting take, but MAN does Adam have PIPES! It was theatrical, smooth...he could win this competition.

Scott MacIntyre
Wild Angels by Martina McBride
I wasn't sure about this one; it was so blah. Nothing impressed me at all. Unfortunately, I don't think Scott is going to last much longer. He is my #1 choice for my bottom 3. And will somebody please cut his hair?

Alexis Grace
Jolene by Dolly Parton
I thought her bluesy style was great, but out of all the other performances, it just didn't stand out tonight. She has such a beautiful voice and I thought this song was true to her talent. So, she's my 3rd choice for my bottom 3.

Danny Gokey
Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood
Can this guy be any better? I seriously got goosebumps when he went into the chorus and it just went up and up from there. Oh, that voice! This was a good song choice for him (and almost got me crying when I thought of how he's a widow at such a young age). Can't wait to see him in the Top 3!

Anoop Desai
You're Always On My Mind by Brenda Lee/Willie Nelson
I'm so glad that Anoop picked a song that showcased his talent. This song was perfect for him and he did such a good job singing it. He definitely has a range and put it to use. But unless he steps it up a notch, he may not last too much longer.

Megan Corkrey
I Go Walking After Midnight by Patsy Cline
Sigh. She's got the look, I loved her dress, the judges loved her...but I just don't DIG her voice. She's too awkward sounding for me. Something about the way she enunciates and squeaks. She'll stick around because she's good-looking, but no matter what, she is on my alternate list.

Matt Giraud
So Small by Carrie Underwood
Wowee! I love Matt's voice! I felt like I was at a Matt Giraud concert it was that good. He was a good song to end with. I think we'll be seeing Matt for a while.

Just a comment on my part: Can Paula complete a sentence without pausing in the middle of it? Hmm. Tough one.

BOTTOM 3
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
Alexis Grace

ALTERNATES
Michael Sarver
Megan Corkrey

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Good-Bye Sweetheart!

Time to say good-bye to:

Jasmine Murray

and

Jorge Nunez

Let's keep weeding them out!

A few comments:

1. Did anyone think that Paula was on drugs?

2. What's up with Ryan asking the judges

if they want to save the singers each and every time?

Come on, spare the shame Ryan!

3. And I think the save rule is stupid, but whatever.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?

13? Maybe a Good 4 or 5...

Okay, so I was travelling last week and didn't get a chance to blog. Let's talk about last night:

I was disappointed that they chose a Michael Jackson theme. He's too hard to sing to and really, I don't think there are many good songs to choose from. MJ is a class of his own...

THE TOP 13

Lil Rounds: "The Way You Make Me Feel"
Simon said this was a lazy choice for a song and I have to agree. She has a fantastic voice and did a good job, but definitely an easy song choice. She'll definitely be around for next week.

Scott MacIntyre: "Keep the Faith"
Thank you for playing the piano, Scott. I think it helped him to make the song his own. He doesn't have a fantastic voice, but he's definitely an original. Good song choice.

Danny Gokey: "PYT"
I love Danny! He's one of my favorites for sure! I think he did a really good job last night. We'll be seeing a lot more from him.

Michael Sarver: "You Are Not Alone"
As Bryce says, starting out sitting on the steps is a sure way to get voted off. Michael has a really good R & B voice, but this song wasn't fantastic. Very mellow, smooth, but he'd better be careful. Bryce gives him the boot, but I think he's safe for this week.

Jasmine Murray: "I'll Be There"
Jasmine needs to be careful with her song choices or she'll find herself off of the show. She has a pretty voice and sang well last night, but it sounded like a high school talent show in my opinion. She's one of my alternate choices for tonight.

Kris Allen: "Remember the Time"
Very original take with the guitar to be sure. He has a wonderful voice and great personality, but this song was just weird for me. I think it fell apart towards the end. He's my second alternate choice for the night.

Allison Iraheta: "Give it To Me"
She has such a good voice, so raspy, but this song was retarded for me. It didn't show off her range or power and I felt a little awkward watching a 16 year-old sing this song. But she's too good to leave just yet.

Anoop Desai: "Beat It"
Oh no! Why this song? It didn't show off his voice, it was so plain...unfortunately for Anoop-Dog, he's my 2nd choice for my bottom 3. Poor Anoop. Maybe fate will be kind, but then he'd better step it up a notch.

Jorge Nunez: "Never Can Say Good-Bye"
Why is he on this show? He has an okay voice, but this song sounded like it belonged on a Latin radio station (no offense to any Latin music lovers, but it was too weird). It seemed to "showy" for me. He's my 3rd choice for my bottom 3.

Megan Corkrey: "Rockin' Robin"
This song was so wrong in so many ways. It was the most awkward performance I have ever seen. She seemed so weird singing this song. I'm sure she has a great voice, but this did not showcase anything for me. She's my 1st choice for my bottom 3.

Adam Lambert: "Black and White"

Why Adam has not been signed to any label is beyond me. He has such a unique voice. I'm so glad to see him in the Top 13 and I can see him making it to the Top 3 for sure. I think he stole the show at that point.

Matt Giraud: "Natural"

Oh, so smooth and mellow! I loved this performance. He had a fantastic falsetto. Bryce immediately compared him to Justin Timberlake and I agreed. Keep it up Matt and you'll make it in this competition.

Alexis Grace: "Dirty Diana"

This girl can sing! This was a great song choice for her; her style for sure. This was one of the few good performances tonight. Seeing that voice come out of her little body is a shock, but still wonderful!

BOTTOM 3:

Megan Corkrey

Anoop Desai

Jorge Nunez

ALTERNATES:

Jasmine Murray

Kris Allen

Tune in tonight to see which two get voted off and brings us to our Top 11.

Comments? Agree? Disagree?