The TOP 12 ladies and gentlemen... The premiere of Idol season 9 had the contestants tackling the Rolling Stones songbook. Now, I have to admit, I don't know that much by the Rolling Stones beyond the obvious... Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Start Me Up, and um... since I grew up in the 80's, The Harlem Shuffle (not their best). However, overall I was pretty entertained overall by the song choices. There were no catastrophes and I was actually pleasantly surprised. Once we cut through all the crap so-so singers and put together this Top 12, I can now see some fantastic talent. Not the strongest top 12 there has been in (I mean, it's no season 7), but I like the variety of singers (still missing Katelyn Epperlythough). So here are my thoughts on the premiere:
Michael Lynche (Song Choice: Miss You) Michael did pretty well. He turned a song I didn't really know that well into an R&B song. He's got a cute wife, a nice backstory. He's a good guy.. the Mr. Congeniality of the group. I just don't know if he's going to be a star. He went first and for the premiere, that's never a good thing. It's sort of a curse. You think that person does well, but then you watch the re-cap at the end, and you've already forgotten about that performance. And that's what happened here. It was pretty forgettable. But America likes Michael. He'll stick around based on that.
Didi Benami (Song Choice: Playing With Fire) This was a perfect song for her. She was dope and she looked good too. Since her performance of Rhiannon, she's been on fire. Last night she continued to show what kind of artist she is... the kind of artist I like to listen to. I would download that performance. I loved that she made it sound like a really cool young (and current) song. I love the darkness of it. I love the slow entry down the stairs, around the corner. Compare her to Michael's performance, and it was way better. Way more artistic. Didi should absolutley stay. Sidenote: I can't get passed that she looks like Avril Lavigne's older sister.
Casey James (Song Choice: Alright For Now) It's not a good sign when I'm checking facebook throughout the whole performance and didn't look up once. Not once. It wasgood, not great, not bad. Here nor there. This guy needs to sing a dark ballad. It's the music he would make, but maybe just my cup of tea. I just felt pretty lukewarm about it. And not a fan of the Dep-like gel in his hair. Too styled for me. Could be in trouble.
Lacey Brown (Song Choice: Ruby Tuesday) This girl is a bit of a loose cannon. I don't like how nervous she makes me. Will she be amazing? ("The Story" which by the way I suggested from my couch that she - or someone else sing) Will she totally bomb? ("Kiss Me") Will she remember her words? She might need to leave early based on this. She's not very good for my blood pressure. But I have to say, she was pretty good. It wasn't perfect and pretty pitchy, but it was totally the right song for her. Great arrangement (I'm all about the string quartet), and she showed what kind of artist she is. I closed my eyes and felt her performance. She was performing the way she wanted, the way she would if she got her shot. And that's what I like about her. But I don't think America will love it - could be in trouble.
Andrew Garcia (Song Choice: Gimme Shelter) So far he's become the worst song picker. He pretty much just peaked too early and hasn't been able to get back to the success he had with "Straight Up". He's become a bit of a one-trick pony. The acoustic guitar, taking a girl's song or a popular Fall Out Boy song and putting the acoustic spin on it. So here he goes singing "Gimme Shelter" - Nice, he put down the guitar. Nice, he's showing range. He's holding the mic stand (good move, sometimes awkward if not done right). Vocally, he's showed more range than he has in the last few weeks. I thought he was pretty good. Randy said he was pitchy all over - I really think they are hearing something that we are hearing.
Sidenote: Kara needs to cool it with it the connection to the song crap.... she needs to stop it with that shit. I mean, I get it, but I totally agree with Simon, she's being just a little too literal. Here they have a limited songbook to choose from and you are stuck between picking a song that's great for your vocals and one that has this personal connection to you. Well, you can't always have both. So you have to choose. Go for the vocals. Andrew's song was about war, maybe he didn't have a completely personal connection to - so F'ing what.
Katie Stevens (Song Choice: Wild Horses) My little Connecticut girl, putting our state onthe map. (Hon, we're not in that bad of shape... thanks to college basketball, our casinos and I don't know, being the Constitution state and all) I think this performance was Katie's best so far. A little pitchy, I think it was absolutley her best package performance. The lights, the dress, the stool, the slow-build (love a slow build on Idol), with the power ending. However, I think her voice is stronger than she showed. Overall, Katie's back.
Tim Urban (Song Choice: Under My Thumb) Very Jason Castro season 7. This guy.... keeps surprising me. I kind of liked this version of this song. I don't love the song anyway, but I liked the very Jason Mraz feel to it. I thought it was a pretty brave choice. I liked that he said he wasn't going to come out and think he was Mick Jagger, try to be the Rolling Stones, but just give his own trendy interpretation of the song. And here goes Kara again with talking about the Stones and that people might hate it. Guess what!? The Rolling Stones are old. Their fans are mostly old. The only people that would hate that is very o ld people who don't even pick up the phone to vote. So who cares. Do the young girls who want to see this Zac Efron do well like it? That's what matters. It wasn't a bomb, but it wasn't the greatest. I didn't have a problem with this peformance, HOWEVER... Can we talk about his long fingernails? Sorry... that's nasty. Yeah, yeah.. he needs long fingernails to play the guitar. Is that his excuse? Sorry, cut them. So gross. I miss Alex Lambert.
Unfortunately, Tim said what I hate the most on this show... That he was "having fun". UGH. I hate it when they say they are "having fun". Especially when they bomb. It's not a question of having fun. It's if you performed well. Everyone has fun out there. Tim, you know who is having the "most fun"? Carrie Underwood. Carrie is "having fun". Kelly Clarkson is "having fun". Sparks. Daughtry. They are all having the most fun. You can have fun, but please be good.
Siobhan Magnus (Song Choice: Paint It Black) I feel high when I listen to this girl. My little stoned Demi Lovato. I just love her originality. She's a star. She sang her first note...I love it. I love it already. Again, the slow build into the rock song. The dress, the boots, the tat, the glasses.. it all works. She owns her quirkiness. And Man, she can hit those high notes. Move over Adam Lambert. I am Team Siobhan!! She should be the winner just based on that she could shake up the music industry. It needs someone like Siobhan.
Lee Dewyse (Song Choice: Beasts of Burden) Think Lee was mad he didn't get to sing "Paint It Black"? He was probably thinking "Um, I worked in a paint store. I could connect to that song. Kara would love me". But then he started singing "Beasts of Burden"....I love this song. Two lyrics and I already wanted to download it. He's so recordable, marketable. This song could be on the radio. He could be an iTunes success. I want to own it....99 cents? Fine. You got it. I am a huge Lee fan. I have a little crush on him... I just wish my friend would stop saying he has sad eyes. That he looks depressed. She's ruining it for me. I think he just wants to puke when he gets critiques from the judges. Not when he's performing. He'll be safe.
Paige Miles (Song Choice: Honky Tonk Woman) My first impression? Man, this girl is pretty. Stuning eyes. Absolutely gorgeous girl. She looked really good and sang a song that completely embodied what kind of artist she could be... pop/country. This is how it's done Haeley Vaughn. I think this was actually a pretty choice for her. It's a little bit of an obvious choice, but at least she's finally showing her range. Problem is, she's just a little boring. I want her to smile more. Smiling gets you votes, honey.
Aaron Kelly (Song Choice: Angie) Ah, Aaron Kelly singing the Stones. I could just see him saying, "Now how would the Rascal Flatts sing this song?" Started off a little pitchy and nerve-wracking. I always think this kid is going to forget his words. But I think he worked it out. He embraced that he is a country singer. He's got the leather jacket, the boots....Perfect song choice for him. He knows who he is. And I think I'm digging the new do on him. What a little cutie patootie. He may not win the whole thing, but I like when good things happen to good people. He's no Archuleta, but love Aaron.
Crystal Bowersox (Song Choice: You Can't Always Get What You Want) From the first note, she was amazing. Perfect song for her. This girl is a true artist and she makes it look easy. For sure, the one to beat. And I love how humble she is. I didn't love Simon making her seem cocky. She's poised and likeable. Get her in the studio already. This is one album I'd like to buy. Sort of a Etheridge/Indigo Girls sound the music industry is missing this days. She just never sounds copycat. She doesn't totally sound like, but she reminds me of last year's Alison Iraheta. No matter what song she sings, even if I hate that song, she puts this folksy rock spin on it and it always sounds better than the original. She looked good too, make-up looked good... she has this cool not so obvious beauty about her.
The Verdict
The Best: Bowersox, Siohban, Lee, Didi
In Trouble: Casey James, Lacey Brown, Tim Urban, Andrew Garcia
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