And Then There Were 9 (or Who Cares?)

I watched the show last night for the first time ever without any fear or trepidation only because after Tuesday night's show I really didn't care who stayed and who went home.

My feeling was that any of them could have left last night and it wouldn't have made a big difference to the competition at all. And, I think if you had polled the ten of them (and they had been honest) each one of them would have had some doubt whether they would be continuing on the show. It was obvious, with the reactions of the bottom three that none of them were surprised at being there. I think (and desperately hope) that each of them knows next Tuesday's show has to be something much different than last Tuesday's.

I mean, let's face it. . . if the competition continues to sound like it did this past week it might turn out to be Idol's last year.

So, next week is country --- which was never in my listening library until just a few years ago. (It helps to see Tim McGraw live, especially when he's prancing, oh, 20 feet away from you on the stage.) I've already faced the fact that Bucky will survive another week. He should be thanking a higher power for cutting him a break --- or perhaps it was simply a brilliant programming plan. You know, like when they pick the cast of Real World and always choose some really unstable, volatile personality to throw in the mix? The Idol staff knows that people like me will continue to watch, no matter how weak the singing might be, to feel vindicated when their least favorite (Bucky) is finally told that he's finished.

Week 10

Was this Week 10 or WEAK 10??? I was SO underwhelmed by tonight's show!!

When Lisa didn't even hit the high note in the beginning of her song, it didn't surprise me that she stayed pitchy and shaky all the way through her performance.

Kellie Mae Clampett's vocals left me wondering "WHAT WAS THAT???" Out of all the songs in the 21st century, that was the best she could come up with??

And, I love Ace and adore Train (I pride myself on discovering Train one night on late-night radio and introducing their music to my family), but his rendition tonight was just mediocre. If he had made it a little edgier, it wouldn't have seemed like such a safe performance.

Taylor's vocals were the cleanest and clearest at that point of the show, and I really liked the fact that he was dressed a little more appropriately to his real age!! Now maybe America will really believe that he's NOT a 50-year old man!!

The song Mandisa chose really showcased her vocal abilities, but, why did she feel she had to draw attention to her back pocket by hanging a scarf there?? She needs to draw the line between being proud of who she is and just plain foolishness.

Unfortunately, the song Chris chose, although it was the kind of music he wants to sing, just didn't show his voice. After all, there were only about 4-5 notes and no lyrics to speak of. He has a great voice, but this song didn't show it.

Katherine's performance was not her best, in my opinion, but still one of the better ones. However, will someone please tell me what she was wearing? It looked like she went to the "Only Clothes That Will Emphasize the Fact That you Have Rather Large Hips" store.

Bucky's Tim McGraw song sounded like. . . Tim McGraw. So, bravo for the great impersonation, but that's all it was.

Little Miss P can now change her name to the Divine Miss P --- all I can say is "wow!!" (P.S. Simon, she's 17, not 12. How old do you think Beyonce was when she did that song?) She finally broke out of her "polite" mode showed more of her range.

And, except for the bobbing and weaving that Elliott started with, which he mercifully stopped, he made the song his own. He came really, really close to getting lost in the syncopation, but he held on and did a great job.

My choice for bottom three: Lisa, Kellie and Bucky. And, even though I really, really want Bucky to go home, I think Kellie deserves to be booted tomorrow night. What is the world coming to when I'd vote someone else off before Bucky??

Mandisa and the Elusive Image

I want to thank everyone who's left comments on my blogs so far. . . proof that SOMEONE other than my family is reading this!!

I have to respond to the comments left by "Anonymous". My earlier comments about Mandisa not fitting an image were her not fitting the AI voting public's image, not my personal image. I'll stand up any day for a strong, proud, large woman's right to do anything she wants, but we all know the world isn't perfect. Our country has proven that large guys can be singers, actors and TV personalities, large women. . . not so much. Is it a double standard? Yes.

Mandisa is amazing, but so was Jennifer Hudson -- both large, extremely talented women. And it's great that we're (finally) hearing about Jennifer Hudson's success, albeit in a show about. . . large women. My guess is that she hasn't had the success she deserves because of the public's opinion that, in general, they like their female celebrities to be thin.

So, I'm with you, Anonymous! We need some role models that aren't about their size or shape, but about their talent and contributions to society. But I think you meant "meat" on her bones. . . when you use "meet" and bones in the same sentence, it begins to take on a whole other meaning.

Unbelievable!!!

The only way I can get my head around Bucky still being on the show is to remember that I live in California. . . where the people voted the Terminator into the governor's mansion. I mean COME ON America!!! I like country music, I saw several country music shows last year --- Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw to name a couple. It's not the country part of Bucky that I don't like. It's simply the fact that HE CAN'T SING!!

Don't get me wrong -- I think Lisa needs to go home, too, Kelly Mae, too and I've always said that Kevin wasn't even going to come close to winning, nor should he, but BUCKY'S GOT TO GO!!

Fortunately, it will be 5 days until the next show. I'll be spending every minute steeling myself to listen to him. . . again. If you asked me tonight, I'd say there's NO WAY I can sit through another 2 1/2 minute rendition of ANY song, in ANY genre by that good ol' boy, Bucky.

Okay, I'll try, but America better not let me down again next week. Whatever happens, Bucky must go!!

Barry Manilow / 50's Week

First of all, how are you gonna get on national TV and say out loud that you don't really know who Barry Manilow is??? Hello!!! Straight up, here's who I feel were the bottom three: Bucky, Kelly and Lisa.

Mandisa chose a great song and did a good job, but I just don't think she's got the "idol" image going on. Is it that she's a little old for it, or just her appearance in general.

Bucky's performance was off-key and simply a (not great) karaoke act. Tonight's performance did nothing for me (could anything he did ever do anything for me??) --- he just needs to go home.

Paris made Peggy Lee's song her own, changing the phrasing and all. It was really an incredible performance, especially for a 17-year old. Peggy Lee would have been proud.

And Chris --- wow!! Now, Johnny Cash is a legend, but Johnny himself would have told Chris tonight "Walk the Line is no longer my song. . . it's all your's!" Chris not only made the song new, he made it better.

Katherine has a great, strong voice and is still one of my favorites. I loved her rendition tonight; she really took over the stage.

Through the magic of technology (or too much technology), I missed most of Taylor's song, but what I saw I loved! He was made to sing the music of the 50's. He's great!

Lisa, Lisa, Lisa --- tonight she sounded like she was in a high school production of "Grease". She's technically good and has a strong voice, but she just doesn't make me think she's feeling the music. She steps out on stage, belts out a song but never makes me feel it.

Little Kevin chose the perfect song for himself, but tonight is the first time I've heard him falter. It wasn't the best I've heard from him. And, we all know he's not going to win, but he still isn't in my bottom three.

Despite the messed up grill, Elliott is one of my favorites but tonight's performance was disappointing to me. I liked the song, but there was way too much vibrato and it just didn't do anything for me. I'm hoping tonight was a fluke and not a trend for him.

What was Kelly Mae Clampett wearing?? I would have thought it impossible to make her tiny butt look huge, but she managed to with that wardrobe choice!! And, why does she sound like Inspector Clouseau when she sings "searching"?? It's a little like Celine Dion and her "power of lerve". Sexy??? Well, if young and blonde equals sexy (which I guess it does for Simon), then she was. . . but she wasn't.

And tonight they allowed Ace to prove he's nowhere near the bottom three by letting him close the show with an absolutely awesome performance. Wow, wow, wow!!

So, for my sister I'll name my top five, in order: Chris, Ace, Katherine, Paris and Taylor. And if America doesn't send Bucky home this week. . . well, I don't even want to think about that.

You're makin' me nervous. . .

I couldn't even think of commenting on last night's show last night. . . it would have needed to be censored.

Last night's show illustrates exactly why I get nervous when they turn the voting over to the American public --- Ace in the bottom three??? Okay, so his performance on Tuesday night wasn't his best, but, COME ON!!! You're supposed to be voting on his overall abilities, not just that night's song. Then again, who's the governor of California? 'Nuff said. . .

Thankfully, my wish for Melissa to go home came true. And I do agree with voting Lisa in the bottom three ---- I know, I know, nobody likes Kevin Covais but he did sing every note on key AND he had fun with his performance!! Lisa's got a good voice, but she's a musical theatre performer -- her heart just wasn't in her performance on Tuesday night. Unless she starts believing in what she's singing she'll be going home.

Week 9

The best part of tonight's show for me was FINALLY they've been given some wardrobe help, although in some cases it wasn't that evident. Whoever was "helping" Paris should be fired, as should Bucky's stylist. Hot rollers for his hair?? What were they thinking??

Ace: still gorgeous, but his singing was very pitchy in more than a couple of places. Probably his worst performance so far --- hopefully this is the only really bad night we'll see, but even so, his looks will carry him through.

Kelly: still cute, but not cute enough to overcome the bad choice of songs and those really weird word pronunciations she has at times.

Elliott: tiny rough spot at first, a couple of places where he sounded a little unsure, not his best night, but I still like his voice. I'm not sure if he's that good or if I'm just surprised every time that voice comes out of him.

Mandisa: also had a rough start --- was this song in too low a key for her?? Her finish was strong, but her best performance yet? I don't think so.

Bucky: No one was more amazed than I that I didn't hate it, but that hair has gotta go.

Melissa: rough start, and she continued to have problems and miss notes (and lyrics), and was really off-key in places. The middle was stronger, but then she slid downhill at the end again. Seems she can only sing the loud parts.

Lisa: just didn't seem comfortable singing tonight. Not only did I not feel it, it seemed like she wasn't feeling it, either.

Kevin: He knows he's not anyone's picture of a part-time lover, so, good for him for making that song choice. He knows he's not going to be this year's American Idol, but he at least hit every note, high and low. He was the first person tonight not to sing off-key at some point during their song.

Katharine: one word --- fabulous!

Taylor: Loved his performance tonight! He's got a great voice and he knows how to use it!

Paris: great song, wonderful performance, but she looked like a 12-year old the day after Christmas! She looked like she was wearing every item of clothing she had unwrapped Christmas morning.

Chris: four words --- took over the stage!

Intro

Wow! I’m the author of a blog!

I’ve tried not to stick my neck out too far and throw my opinions out there in writing ever since the summer before 9th grade, when I wrote a self-righteous diatribe to all my friends extolling the wonders of true love and informing them all that despite what they might have thought, they hadn’t, and wouldn’t ever, experience life even in the minutest degree until they were in a “committed relationship” (he dumped me at the end of summer, a week before school started up again). Needless to say, I never heard from those friends again. . . hmmm. . . .

Ever since then, I’ve heeded my grandmother’s advice to remember that the written word is lasting and has a way of popping up again when you least expect, or want, it. I write all my emails very carefully, scrutinizing them for the smallest iota of sarcasm, spite or patronization. I’ve made a habit of writing responses, saving them for a few days, then going back a few days later (after I’ve hopefully cooled off a little) to revise and rewrite, until all the venom has been removed.

Then again, those emails mostly involve work and people I have to be around every day and occasionally need stuff from. This is for fun, I was asked to write my honest opinions (something most people except the very brave don't ask for more than once)!!

So, here's a little about how I feel about Idol this year so far. . . several of the female performers are very good but have some issues: little Miss Paris -- great voice, but I'm not sure emotionally she'll be able to make it to the end, Mandisa, fabulous voice but unfortunately not the pop star image, Ms. McPhee also a beautiful voice but there's something unpredictable about her. Guys: love Elliott's voice, but again, not the pop star image (but close your eyes next time he sings --- it's a better experience that way), Ace --- hey, he's gorgeous and because it's all the American public voting from here on out, he'll definitely make it to the top three, unless he does something horrendous sometime during the next couple of weeks, Chris has a fabulous voice and is a great performer, but again, not the idol image. He'll end up with a contract, but he won't win.

A couple of things that are bothering me. . . it seems that, at this point last season, the good singers were getting great. This year, it doesn't seem as if anyone has gotten any better. Are they not being voice-coached? And, is the show not offering wardrobe help? They all look like they're wearing their own clothes still!!

Well, we're at the point in the season that is the most exhilerating and nerve-wracking for me, only because I SO don't trust the American public, or at least the part of the public that votes each week. I'm convinced that, just like in political elections, a lot of people leave it to others to vote, thinking their vote won't mean anything. I'm also convinced that some people vote for the goof (i.e., Paula and Randy sending the space-case guy to Hollywood)!

And, let's face it! There's got to be at least as many people voting as there were horrible singers in the tryouts. You know, the people who kept us riveted to the screen night after night, who sang their hearts out, convinced that they were the next American Idol. Well, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE VOTING!!! If they can't hear how horrible THEY sound, how can they judge how good someone else sounds???

I have to say, leaving it to the public each year really, really worries me.