~AI SEASON 5 COMMENTARY~

thursday, may 25, 2006

And another season of American Idol has come to an end. The talent this season was superb. In the past there was maybe a handful of contestants that were 'really good', but this season the top 12 (and then some...) were all superb. It all came down to popularity, pure and simple. Why do I say that? Because nobody can really say that Taylor is a better singer than, say, Mandisa, can we? But... I am getting ahead of myself.

Katherine and Taylor had one final show to sing on, and they had to sing 3 songs each. The first 2 songs for Katherine were songs that she sang before on the show that were met with wild success (although I think she should have sang 'Someone to watch over me' instead of that Cherry Tree song), and the last song, "My destiny" (or whatever the title is). I must admit, I didn't care for the final song, and I was sad for that, since Katherine looked amazing and sang really well. Why couldn't she have a song like 'A moment like this' or 'This is the night?'. This song stunk. Or, maybe I just need to listen to it a few more times to warm up to it. We'll see. Taylor first two songs I am not sure if she performed before, but he did a good job with both, in true Taylor fashion he excited the audience. His last song, called something like 'Do I make you proud' or something of sort, was mildly better than Katherine, but still, you will not see me rushing to the record stores to buy the single like I did for Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and even Bo Bice (still the only 3 idol singles I own). I am sure I am not the only one either. Simon predicted Taylor was going to win and everyone said he was playing 'reverse psychology on the talk shows I watched. Please... do we really give Simon this much credit? I don't. I LOVE Simon and he just says what he thinks without playing mind games with the audience. He's as honest as one can be, which is the reason why people watch the show, isn't it? LOL.

The final show, the show that could literally last 5 minutes since all we need to know is who WON, was padded into a 2 hour IDOL extravaganza. I can't really say I minded. It was entertaining. Not only that... I found it great that singers like Prince or Burt Bacharach, who for sure would not have been caught dead on IDOL on Season 1 (or even 2) appeared, among the likes of Toni Braxton, Meatloaf, Live and many others. The show also had many little skits, including Puck & Pickler, where the famous chef was showing little Kellie the fine art of exotic foods and the Idol Awards. The BrokeNote Mountain boys were funny (and could sing too!!) but the funniest and the award for BEST moment of the entire show must go to a Clay Aiken impersonator, whom, while he was singing on stage was surprised (and it looked like he almost had a coronary!) by the REAL Clay Aiken, who treated us with his wonderful pipes!! Clay sported a new haircut, which did look kind of weird in the beginning, but I will forgive this guy anything as long as he SINGS! When is your next album coming out hon'? I will be in the store the moment it arrives!

Finally it was the moment of truth. I found it rather ironic that these past 3 months I kept trying to predict who was going to be in the finale WITH CHRIS, and the only two people that I kept coming back to were Katherine and Taylor, and then Chris was out and the two people in the finale were... Katherine and Taylor! I may not predict the winner, but I am not too shabby overall in the prediction department I guess.

Everyone knew that Taylor was going to win. There was no suspense whatsoever. Ryan didn't even say 'oh... the vote was close' or anything of sort. Taylor knew he had it in the bag. When Ryan announced it, neither Katherine nor Taylor looked 'surprised' at all, they were just all smiliey. Does it really matter in the end? Both will get record deals, and we know many of the other IDOLS will too. But why did people vote for Taylor? Yes, he's a fun guy on stage, but are people really going to go buy his albums? That's what I am unsure of. I *NEVER* vote for someone if I don't think I would buy their album. Will Taylor's on stage personality transfer to a disc? Are people more apt to buy a record from someone that sounds like Joe Cocker or one that can belt it out like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey? It was the same deal with Ruben and Clay a few years ago. Soul vs. Pop, and while Soul won the show, Pop won when people started voting with their wallets. Who will win the ultimate wallet battle? Katherine or Taylor? Will the Soul Patrol come through for Taylor and actually buy his albums?

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thursday, may 18, 2006

I have to be honest. Without Chris, I was not nearly as excited as usual about the show. Oh, yeah, American Idol is on. I got more into it as I watched, that's true, and that's only for a few performances and the presence of Clive Davis. 

The remaining three contestants, Taylor, Katherine and Elliott had to sing three songs this week each (OUCH!), one hand picked for them from Clive Davis, one picked by the judges, and one they could pick themselves. 
Elliott went first and I have to admit, I had a tear in my eye after he sang "Open Arms" by Journey. This is one of my favorite songs of all time and I felt Elliott did it justice. Who knew I could become an Elliott fan? Stranger things have happened. The other songs he sang were a bit boring, but the guy can certainly sing and deliver. I am now convinced I would buy his album not if... when it comes out. 
Katherine went second, and her first two songs, 'I Believe I Can Fly' but especially 'Somewhere over the rainbow', cemented her in my heart. The girl can sing and has much potential, I just wish she'd learn how to dress!! She's slightly bottom heavy, which is something she could easily hide, instead, she wears clothes that accentuate this! Let ME pick her clothes please!!! She looked AMAZING in that yellow number the other week for example!! The last performance was okay, it just sounds like the gal just wants to have a little bit of fun too, and one cannot fault her for that.
Last of course was Taylor. Taylor who's never been in the bottom 2/3 and is a shoe-in to win the competition. I have to admit it. I am not a huge fan. Yes, I enjoy his performances and he has an interesting voice, but when you put in a CD you don't 'see' him jumping around the stage, so I think that will be his downfall in the end and his challenge: translate his energy in a CD. Can he do it? It's a wait and see kinda thing. Of course my pick to be in the final two were Elliott and Katherine, but no way Taylor was going to be voted off with his ever growing fan base, and since Katherine had an amazing night, I knew Elliott's number was up.

The elimination show was an interesting one, we got to see the final three contestant's trip home to see their families and meet their fans, the mayor and even the governor (where was ARNOLD to meet Katherine, I say?), they even sang the song that will be in the album of the top 12 coming out soon. We then were shown the percentages of how close the votes. All three contestants had 33%, only separated by a small margin. The one with the smallest margin, was later revealed, was, of course, Elliott. Which means that Taylor and Katherine are our final 2 this season.             

To predict the winner would be easy, Taylor, but stranger things have happened (Clay-Ruben anyone?). Who will Elliott's voters vote for? Are they more willing to vote for Katherine or Taylor? We cannot forget how close the vote was for the final 3 as well. Anything can happen. Of course, if it was me, I would crown Katherine. Either way, as we all know, the final 2 have been known to encounter much success-Bo Bice & Clay Aiken were runner ups, so I am not worried for Katherine if she doesn't win. Heck, I am not worried for Elliott, Chris... not even Ace or Kellie! It's been a great season, now it's time to watch the last show and wait for the albums and tour! 

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thursday, may 11, 2006

Ahhh. Elvis week. I was tickled pink. While Elvis was a huge hit when I was a child, his music resonates even today. I really enjoyed watching the remaining idols tour Graceland and meet Priscilla and Lisa Marie. What a hoot. Going into this week I heard that this week was going to be bad to Katherine because she was the only gal that wasn't a southerner-the guys left are all from the south so singing Elvis would work out well for them. Will it for her? 

Chris, Taylor, Katherine and Elliott had to sing two songs this week like they did last. Both songs had to be from Elvis' repertoire, which is wide enough and spans 3 decades for the idols to potentially be able to choose a song just perfect for them. Did they? I think they did. While the judges (well, Simon at least) were a bit harsh on Taylor and Katherine (at least on their first song), they praised Elliott to no end. I think all 4 did well and enjoyed all 8 performances, and not a single song stands out as being really bad or even questionable. Who would be voted out? America has a tough choice. Right away I thought that no matter how the performances turned out, Taylor and Chris had enough of a fan base to go far and be in the finale as per Simon's prediction. Elliott and Katherine had been in the bottom 2/3 too many times to count, so it was my bet that it was one of their turn to go. 

The elimination show was an interesting one, I could tell Ryan was trying to drag it out and build suspense until the very last minute. He put the contestants in two groups of two, one with Taylor and Elliott and one with Chris and Katherine. Which one was the bottom two and which one was the top two? We found out after the break. Taylor and Elliott were safe. Chris and Katherine were in the bottom 2. Chris had only been in the bottom 2 once before (with Ace) so I thought, and everyone else thought that it was Katherine who would be going home tonight. That is... until Ryan announced that Chris was the one eliminated. The crowd gasped and yelled NO. Simon was shocked. Paula hid her face in her hands, unsure how to react for sure. We later see her in tears. It's Constantine all over again. No one can believe it, and I am stupefied. I suppose America does not want a rocker as their Idol. But... what, rap boy without any charm Elliott is better (although, yes, he can sing, I even can admit that-it's just his style that turns me off)? Katherine who forgets her lyrics and cannot pick songs suited for her is better? Taylor, the showman from the karaoke bar is better? Chris was consistent. He refused to compromise. He never missed a note. He could sing the phone book and still make it sound awesome. You can tell I am upset. Chris was the reason I watched Idol after Ace and a few of my other favorites got eliminated. Now what?                 

Who I think will be going home next week? Since at this point I am convinced that Taylor will win the whole enchilada since he's never been in the bottom 2/3, it will for sure be between Elliott and Katherine, most likely Katherine. This means that the finale will be Taylor vs. Elliott. Hard to imagine. My excitement is gone now... it's like... whatever.

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thursday, may 4, 2006

First I must say... I missed last week's show. I was on vacation and nowhere near a TV when it aired. My faithful TIVO taped it and the elimination show for me but I've yet found the time to watch it. CRAZY! I know that Kellie Pickler got the boot and, I must say, I was surprised. When I heard that she had another bad week though, it made sense. Now... on to this week's show!! 

This week the contestants didn't get the help and advice from famous rockers. Why? Because the show is only 1 hour long and they each had to sing two songs!! The first song was a hit from the year they were born and the second had to be a hit from the billboard charts. I was starting to wonder if we were ever going to get a female singing star to advice the contestants, I think the likes of Celine Dion or Mariah Carey (common Randy! She's your pal, isn't she?) would be good choices, but since this season is more male dominated than past seasons, I guess we won't be seeing these ladies on the show anytime soon. 

I cannot say I didn't like any of the performances this week. Chris, as usual, rocked. Loved the first song. Katherine could have done better on the first song, but loved the playfulness of the second song. LOVED Paris' rendition of Kiss by Prince. She rocks! Elliott was soulful and amazing. Taylor a showman true and true. Who to vote for? Who will be voted out? Every contestant left is so good this season and so unique that at this point the winner of this year's show will not be determined by talent alone, as they are all talented... it will all come down to personality. It is a popularity contest after all. 
My pick for the bottom 2 were Elliott and Paris for no other reason than the others left have a really huge fan bases, especially Chris and Taylor. Either Elliott or Paris could go home, couldn't pick one. No one deserves to go, but someone must.

When the elimination show aired and Ryan announced the bottom 2 I wasn't at all surprised. Part of me hoped that Paris would be the one to go, since she has a family behind her in the business that can help her become a star, while Elliott I felt needed to stay in it as long as possible. So... I was relieved when it was Paris that was eliminated. Hubby told me she was going to win and I told him 'no way'. It's nice being right, LOL. For once anyway, ha ha.                       

Who I think will be going home next week? It will be between Elliott and Katherine, but it will depend a lot on their performances. My guess right now is Elliott unless Katherine does really bad.

My guess for the winner it's still and always Chris. It's been two months now that I've called him my winner and it's nice to see America agrees with me. He has a stupendous voice. I know some feel he's shouting, but rock songs aren't exactly easy to sing in a low voice. He can deliver and he's consistent. When he had to sing a slow song he was phenomenal. I remember watching the advertisement for the audition shows and I was so impressed by him, I think it's about time a rocker wins Idol... Kelly will have some competition!! 

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thursday, april 20, 2006

It's Rod Stewart week! Nop, the contestants were not going to choose from 'Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? or 'Maggie May', instead they had to pick songs from one of his 4 albums of American classic songs, called "The Great American Songbook", which include fantastic hits such as 'Someone To Watch Over Me' and 'As Time Goes By'. I wasn't sure how the guys and gals in this year's competition would fare singing such recognizable songs, but I also knew it might be good for them, since these songs have been sang by so many performers over the year that we cannot immediately 'compare' it to any original... since the original is probably lost somewhere in time. 

Going into this week I knew that Ace's days were numbered. Hated that thought. Yes, I know, there is no way he could win Idol, yet the thought of seeing a show without him was painful to me. Probably as painful as seeing Idol last year after Constantine got voted off. BOO! After watching every performance I was impressed. Each and every contestant, aside perhaps Kellie's, was FANTASTIC. It was a show to remember. I would watch it again and again without ever getting bored. Somehow they all managed to pick the perfect song, with the perfect arrangement, it was a show to remember. Simon even had good words for Ace, which might have sealed his fate-ya know, sometimes people vote for the underdog just to prove Simon wrong. 
To pick who was going to be in the bottom 3 this week was impossible. Nobody deserved to be in the bottom 3, let alone be voted off. But 3 people always get the lowest amount of votes, and someone always gets the lowest. Who were they going to be? Since deciding was impossible I basically went with who has been in the bottom 3 before. Ace, Elliott, maybe Paris. If anyone else either than these three was going to be in the bottom 3, it would be a shocker. Voted off? Ace or Elliott for sure, although neither did bad nor deserved to go.

When the elimination show aired and Ryan stated they would divide the contestants into 2 groups, I knew the producers decided to have some fun at the contestant's expense. The first group included Chris, Paris and Ace, and the second group included Elliott, Kellie and Katherine. Left out was Taylor, who Ryan announced was safe, and that he had to go choose who he thought was the safe group to belong to. Poor Taylor had to wait to think about it after the commercial break, and when he finally had to do it he walked over to Chris' group, shook Chris' hand and then walked over to Katherine's group. Ryan announced he was correct! I was blown away. I thought for sure the group that had Chris in it would be safe. Remember I always state that whoever sings first and second is always in jeopardy? My theory has been proven right once again. Chris and Paris sang first and second. Ace sang close to last, but his days were numbered to begin with, so when Ryan sent Paris to the couch, I knew the boy with the golden smile would be leaving us. Unreal that Chris was in the bottom 3 though... what gives?

Who I think will be going home next week? It's tough to say. I know there are people that vote for the same contestant over and over again, and some that only watch a show here and there and vote according to the performance. Some vote for the underdog, assuming the powerhouses will be safe. But.. nobody is safe. If I had to pick, it would probably be Elliott. Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, is just that, charisma wise, he leaves a lot to be desired. If only he had Ace's smile and charm, he could win this thing!!

Who will win Idol in the end? Even though Chris had a tough week, I am still betting my cards on him. His fans will come out in full force. I know he will need to sing a love song in next week's Andrea Bocelli show (one of my favorites, I will be loving next week's show!!), but I am certain he will put a little rock into it. While at this point I am really torn to predict who will be standing next to him in the finale, the top 4 in my view will be Chris, Kellie, Taylor and Katherine. They will for sure battle it out quite heavily in the next few weeks! 

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thursday, april 13, 2006

Wow! Queen! Boy, that brings back memories. From my older sister buying the single 'Bycicle Race' in the 70s, to being in the bus with my choir after we won at the choir festival singing 'We are the Champions' in the early 80s, and who can forget the Bohemian Rhapsody in Wayne's World? I knew this was going to be an awesome show from the get go!! 

I don't think there was a single contestant that did a BAD job, but a few did shine. The girls were absolutely awesome. Up until now I have not been a real fan of Paris, but her performance turned me around. It was unbelievable. Katherine did quite well too, and Kellie with Bohemian Rhapsody. Holy cow. What a minx!! LOL. No way these three gals were going to be in the bottom 3. When Bucky sang first I knew he was in trouble... when Ace sang second, I also knew he was in danger. Both of them had so-so performances and I knew they were going to be in the bottom three, no doubt. My theory on who sings first better be brilliant or they are goners has never steered me wrong. I must say that I think Ace needs to sing different stuff-he has that smoldering a la Constantine look/stare and his major fault at this moment is that he needs to pick better songs, songs that are better suited to his voice and style. I think he would make a GREAT front man for any pop or pop-rock band, but not sure if he could ever pull off a solo career unless he can get real good material and sings adult contemporary love songs. Women would dig that.... I know I would. Chris blew me away as usual, I also wished he had sang a more recognizable song, but he did well. Last but not least, Elliott is so talented, but I think he just fades in the background a bit, so my pick to be in the bottom 3 this week were Bucky, Ace and Elliott. I could not see anyone else there. Going home tomorrow night? Bucky.

The elimination show was an hour this week. There weren't guest stars that sang and Queen did not make an appearance, the show was basically filled with videos from family members of the contestants with cute or warm thoughts. The winner of this crypalooza? Elliott. No contest. The whole story on how sick he was a child surely tug at few heartstrings. The funny moment of the night belonged to Kellie and her community cry rag, which she tossed to Ryan when she was done with it. It was funny. When the bottom 3 was announced I was not surprised at all, and I was actually amused that I got all three right. Even though I felt that it was Bucky's time to go, I thought that Ryan would say Ace since Simon stated that Ace was his pick to go. Now, Simon is usually wrong, but he's right on occasion, so I didn't know what to think. When he announced it was indeed Bucky I thought it was weird. How did I get it all right? Did I have a crystal ball?

As per my prediction to win Idol this year, I am still behind Chris. The main topic of discussion and much thought will be who will be with him in the finale. Taylor has a lot of fans, him and Kellie have never been in the bottom 3. The only other one that has a chance is Katherine in my view... we'll see!! 

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thursday, april 6, 2006

I was really looking forward to this week to see how everyone did. I knew that it was Kellie and Bucky's week for sure with the theme being country, but for some of the other contestants it was probably going to be a little rough... All in all, I think they all did a pretty good job, and Kenny Rogers was a nice addition, I love the man! He did look a little different though... can't put my finger on it, hmmmm...

Right away I knew that Kellie and Bucky would most likely bring the house down. Kellie picked the perfect song, and Bucky did okay, but I can never understand what he's saying. I also thought Ace did really great this week, while Taylor and Chris left a lot to be desired in my view-didn't matter anyway because neither was going to go home anytime soon. Paris, Elliott, Katherine and Mandisa did okay, probably better than usual, but not memorable enough for me to remember what they sang. When trying to pick who was probably going to be in the bottom 3 I knew that most likely Elliott and Paris were going to be there, but the third person surely would be a shocker, no matter WHO it was going to be.

In the elimination show Ryan teased us. He split the remaining 9 contestants into three groups, ala season 3. Without saying WHO was the 'top' group, it was evident to me that Taylor, Kellie and Chris were the top vote getters without a doubt. We were then left with two groups of three. In one group there was Ace, Katherine and Bucky, and the other group of three had Mandisa, Elliott and Paris. I knew right off the bat that there was no way that the fans would let Ace, Katherine and Bucky down again by not voting for them and allowing them to be in the bottom 3. I am not sure about Katherine or Bucky per se, but I know that Ace has a HUGE fan base. I knew they would be safe. This left, of course, Elliott, Paris and Mandisa. I was really shocked, as I knew I would be, to see Mandisa in the bottom 3. As a matter of fact, as Ryan pointed out, these three contestants in the bottom 3 this week had never been there before, and for one of them it would be their first and last appearance. Immediately Ryan sent Paris back to the couch, leaving Elliott and Mandisa. Simon, who is usually wrong, stated that Mandisa would be going home. This time, however he was right, and it was a SHOCKER! Every major magazine I've read, from TV Guide to Entertainment Weekly, picked Mandisa as a top 5-6 contestant, and so did I. What went wrong? I read several commentaries this morning, from those that blame the American public for not voting a plus-size Idol, to those that once again (ugh!) claim racism. Need I remind these people that 2 black contestants won AI in the past? I don't think it's one thing per se. It's a combination of things. If IDOL was a talent competition alone, it would be a different story, but this is a popularity contest, and people want to vote for the next IDOL who they will want to buy the records of when all is said and done. Mandisa was prepping herself to become the next 'Gospel' Idol, and while surely many liked that idea, many did not want another IDOL a la Ruben. I am certain I am not wrong in thinking that people see what has happened in the past and want an IDOL they can stay behind for the long run. They want the next Kelly Clarkson, the next Clay Aiken, the next Bo Bice and Carrie Underwood. That's why the likes of Chris, Kellie and Bucky are doing so well in this competition this year, while they may have not fared so well in season 1, 2, or even 3 when there were no country or rock contestants (yes, I do remember Josh Gracin, from season 2, but he was the only one out of 3 seasons to be country-and notice, how well he's doing post-idol!). Ace, much like Anthony last year, sorta reminds us of Clay, singing the same type of songs (adult contemporary) and that's why they did/do well. Taylor is unique, different. People like something different, that's why he will be there 'til the end. Katherine also reminds many of of Kelly Clarkson, so that's why my pick for the top 6 do not include Elliott or Paris.

My favorite contestant to win right now is still Chris, and by a long shot. Initially I thought Katherine would do very well and maybe even make it to the finale, but now I am leaning toward either Taylor, or even Kellie, especially if she keeps belting them out like she did this week. 

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thursday, march 30, 2006

It was a disappointing week on IDOL without a doubt. Even the judges thought so. The best performers failed to deliver and the rest did worse than usual. Was it something in the water? Then again these poor souls had to pick songs from this century. Aside some gems, for the most part, contemporary music is not that great, that's probably why I enjoy watching those shows where the contestants have to pick songs from other decades... hmmm... maybe I am just getting old, who knows!! I am a 70s and 80s gal.

Going into this week I knew that Lisa or Bucky's numbers were up. Who was going to be sent home depended on who sang what and who sang first. When Lisa went first I knew things weren't looking good for her, and when I heard her sing, a Kelly Clarkson hit nonetheless, one she could not match, it was disappointing. Katherine did the same, really. I've said it before and I will say it again, to sing any song from the best singers in the music industry (ya know... Mariah, Celine, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera and others) it's SUICIDE. It always is, it never fails. Both of those that tried it ended up in the bottom 3 this week, so I hope they take note. The other contestants did so-so. Simon was right about Chris, he went just a bit too hard rock. I enjoyed his performance, but it was just too much. Kellie did not do well at all, that song was silly and did not show off her pipes. I thought Ace did good but I must have been the only one, and, yes Ace, you may open your shirt at anytime hon'!! Paris did all right, but I am simply not interested, I don't know why. It's almost as if she's Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia all rolled up into one and I have been there, done that, NEXT! I was a bit bored with Bucky and Elliott to be honest, and while I did enjoy Taylor and Mandisa, I was also snoozing a bit. My guess for the bottom three at this point were Lisa, Bucky and Elliott, with Lisa going home. I simply could see any on the others being eliminated at this stage into the competition. 

It was not a surprise to see Lisa in the bottom 3, but Ace and Katherine? Huh? You mean to tell me there is someone out there voting their fingers off for Bucky or Elliott rather than Ace and Katherine? What is this world coming to? It takes all kinds I guess. Elliott is talented, but he does not play the part in my view. I think Bucky was safe this week because he was in the bottom 3 last week and his fans wanted him to stay so they voted their fingers off. It's really hard to say now who is in jeopardy to go next week. It will be interesting to see. Lisa going was not a surprise by any stretch of the imagination. I think she's just so young now and hasn't found her niche yet. Give her a few years and maybe we'll see a different side of her. She's only 16 after all!

My fave to win right now? Chris is still the man. He's consistent and delivers each and every time. Since Katherine appeared in the bottom 3 so early in the competition, now I am beginning to wonder if she will even make the top 6, but I know Taylor will! My prediction for the finale right now belongs to Chris and Taylor. 

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thursday, march 23, 2006

This week's episode of Idol was my most favorite yet. For one, I love music from he 50s, that's when music started being what it is today, but also, one of my favorite singers of all time, Barry Manilow, was featured, and I couldn't have been more excited! 

I do think that every contestant did a fairly good job this week picking songs. The best in my view were Chris, Katherine, Kellie, Mandisa & Taylor. The others did so-so, although I did enjoy Ace's performance as usual. I knew Ace would be safe when I found out he would sing last. Seeing that Bucky was one of the first singers to perform and he didn't do a stellar job, I thought for sure he would be in jeopardy of being in the bottom 3. Lisa's performance didn't impress the judges, and since she was in the bottom 3 last week, I felt she was probably in danger of being in the bottom 3 again. Paris sang very well so I knew she was safe. The one other performer I was hoping would be in the bottom 3 is Kevin, as he is the one I've wanted gone for several weeks now. He just must go, period. He's cute, yes, endearing, yes, as Simon states, he's got the granny vote, but American Idol? I shiver at the thought. 

I was really quite taken aback when the result show revealed that my pick to be in the bottom 3 were correct! Bucky, Lisa and Kevin! I had read on the dialidol website that Elliott was most likely going to be eliminated, but I didn't think that would happen. Kevin, instead, finally, got the proverbial boot.

I've never been good at predicting stuff, but for some reason for this show, I somehow have the crystal ball. While I think Bucky's fans will most likely vote for him in full force next week, as Ace's fans did for him this week, my prediction for next week will be for Lisa to go. This was her second time on the bottom 3 and it looks like her fans are not big in number enough to vote for her in full force and keep her out of the bottom 3. Who will join her in the bottom 3 is yet to be seen-it will depend on who sings what and how well and if they sang first or last.

My fave to win right now is still Chris. The big question is who will make it to the finale with him? Katherine probably will, but I know how big a fan base Taylor Hicks has, so it could come down to two boys once again like season 2. Can't wait to see!

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friday, march 17, 2006

I must admit it, I wasn't all that excited about 'Stevie Wonder' week. Nothing against this fabulous artist, but no-one should force amateurs to try to sing a song by a veteran artist that is so unique himself. It was a mistake. But... what can you do? The top 12 sang their hearts out and tried their hardest to make the songs unique. 

The only contestant that actually succeeded in making the song his own was Chris, but, as he stated, he had heard another version of that particular song by the Chili Peppers (is that the name of the group? Whatever) and so he made a version that was in between the version of Stevie and the Peppers. He was great. Another performance that I really enjoyed was the ones of Katherine, and I completely agreed with Simon when he stated that he'd started noticing her now, and how good she was, and she reminded him of Kelly Clarkson. I felt the same way! The only other two performances that stood out in my view were the ones of Mandisa and Taylor, but I really did like Melissa as well. Everyone else was okay, not bad, not great, okay. I was disappointed with Kellie's performance and Ace should have sung a slow song and give the camera that smoldering look again... Wowzer.

I was really torn wondering who would be eliminated this week. For sure, my thinking was Kevin Covais... he's just gotta go. As per the others, it would be just a matter of who scored low in previous weeks. If I remember correctly, Bucky and Melissa had the lowest votes next to the ones that got voted out last week, so my guess for the bottom three was Kevin, Bucky and Melissa, although I was a little afraid for Ace, who sang first. As many of you know who read my commentary, I've noticed that who sings first, better sing AMAZING or they are going to be in the bottom 3. But Ace in the bottom 3? I don't think so.

The result show unfortunately proved me partly right. Ace was indeed in the bottom 3, while Kevin was safe (What's up America? Do you REALLY want to see more of Kevin than Ace? What is this world coming to???), and Melissa was also in the bottom 3. Lisa was the one I did not predict, at least this week, but I had stated before in previous commentaries that Lisa and Paris had the same audience voting for them and pretty soon one of them was going to go. Hence... the bottom 3 for me was not really the huge amazing surprise Nigel stated it was going to be on Entertainment Tonight. After seeing who the bottom 3 were, I was sure it was going to be Melissa to go, simply because she was the only one of the three that nearly escaped elimination the week before... ya know, simple math. While I was correct in the end, I was also quite saddened. I really liked Melissa, I loved her voice and I am sad that I won't be hearing her sultry voice anymore on the show. 

Now... I need to get busy and make sure Ace is not on the bottom 3 again, at least for a while!!! Chicken Little MUST go next week!! Please America? 

My fave to win at this moment is still Chris, but Katherine is growing on me.... hmmm...

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friday, march 10, 2006

I was very excited about this week because I knew that in the end we would finally have our TOP 12 and we are really weeding out the weak and the bad, and the shows are so good now... but, I am getting ahead of myself. 

Tuesday it was the girls turn. I really enjoyed Katherine McPhee's performance and Mandisa was good too. I was a little surprised that the judges didn't care too much for Melissa's performance... she dressed to the T and I loved the song she sang, so, maybe it was just me. Kellie was fun as usual. The other gals sang okay, but most were pretty forgettable unfortunately, and as I sit here a few days later I cannot remember what Paris, Lisa, Kinnik or Ayla sang. This was a harder week to predict who was going to be eliminated. I still thought it was probably going to be Kinnik for sure since she has always been in the bottom 2/3. I wonder if that is because she does not come across as unique as some of the other contestants? Not sure. As per who else, I still thought Paris and Lisa were most likely going to get each other's votes so sooner or later one of them would suffer the consequences, other than that, maybe Ayla or Melissa, since the judges were not particularly excited about their performances. 

The guys sang on Wednesday. I really look forward to the guys, to me they are much stronger and unique than the girls this year without a doubt. My favorite performances once again belonged to Taylor, Chris and Ace. Ace does not have the greatest voice, but, much like Taylor, he's so unique and so darn likable and cute, I always look forward to hearing him sing. Chris to me is the best of the guys. He really gives it 1000% and sings like a seasoned performer. At this point in the competition it's easy for me to see he'll go far... maybe even to the finale. What to say about Bucky? I was one of those that did not get the appeal in the beginning, but, much like the taste of beer, Bucky is an acquired taste. While I don't see him winning Idol this year, he should easily outlast Kevin at the very least!! I also enjoyed Gedeon this week, what a voice! My pick to be eliminated? While Kevin is a cute kid and can surely sing, I do not think he really belongs in the top 12, so he's my first pick to go. Will is the other-not to say he can't sing, but the competition is very tough this year!!

I was pleased and excited to see Bo Bice performance of The Real Thing on the elimination show! I love Bo to death, so it was a real treat for me. It was nice to see I was at least partially right on who did not make the top 12. Kinnik and Will were the ones with the lowest votes. No surprise there. The surprise was on who the other two contestants were sent packing. I honestly did not think it was Ayla's turn to go-but I also did not think it was Melissa's, who stood next to her with the next-to-the lowest votes. Maybe Simon was right, it was the song. I did not know the song she sang, nor did I think she was memorable enough for singing it. I did not even remember what she sang to be honest. I was also quite surprised that Kevin made it through when Gedeon did not. Gedeon was so much more talented! Maybe my recurrent thought that singing first is never a good thing plays a big part in what happened here. Anyone that sings first better really be memorable or the chances of being booted off are very high. 

So... now we have the TOP 12! The BIG SHOW starts next week! WHOO-HOO! Who will be leaving us next week? My bet is on Kevin Covais at this point. I better hope so anyway! In line for elimination in the next few weeks are probably Lisa and Paris, but the pool of talent is so darn good this year, anything can happen!!

GO CHRIS!! My fave to win right now (it could change-stay tuned!)

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friday, march 3, 2006

Oh boy, what an interesting week this was. I find myself looking forward to the guy's performances more than the girl's... this year I think the guys will most definitely survive the girls more once they are weeded down to the top 12... mark my words!

Tuesday the ladies sang. I must say, it was a boring show. So boring in fact that I set my TIVO to tape the last half an hour of the show (unheard of!) so that I could watch the premiere of the Amazing Race. As fate would have it, the last three performances that I taped were actually the best ones of the whole show!! It figures. Hence... my favorite performances of the night were those of Ayla, Kellie and Mandisa. All the others were 'okay', but I failed to understand why someone who cannot even remotely compare to Mariah Carey... or Bette Midler, would try to sing one of their songs. If you ask me, it's suicide!! Heather Cox did better this week, but I still didn't think she was up to par to some of the other gals. I still hate Breanna. My pick two to be eliminated this week were indeed Heather and Breanna.

The boys sang on Wednesday. AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!! The show starts in great form with Taylor Hicks and ends with an absolutely brilliant performance by Chris Daughtry. WOW! I tried to vote for him over and over after the show and I only got through once. As per everyone else... let's see... Tonight it seemed to me that Will Mikar and David Redford were one and the same. The same type of voice, they look alike a little bit... and, wait.. they are both 17!! I do think they are both good, but maybe they should have done the show in like... 5-10 years. They seem so immature... There is so much MORE I expect from them, and I *know* they can do it, maybe a little immaturity comes into play, I am not sure. As I stated before, Kevin is cute and can sing, but no way I would expect him to win this competition. I think he also needs some years into his belt to mature in a stronger performer. I thought Sway did okay this week, and so did Bucky. Hearing Bucky talk about food was hilarious, he's totally a country boy. Of course I cannot forget my Ace. He did good again this week, I really love watching him perform! My pick to be eliminated this week? This is a toughy. Maybe Sway and Kevin? Hmmm...

I really enjoyed Carrie Underwood's performance on the elimination show, it reminded me on why she won!! I was also shocked to see that my predictions were pretty much on target this week as well! I hit the nail right on the head with the girls! WOW! Both Heather and Breanna are gone. I was happy to finally see 'Sway' gone, although I did like the guy-I just cannot imagine keeping him and boot off Ace, Taylor or Chris instead... it was just a matter of time. I was a little shocked that David was eliminated, but maybe my original thoughts that he needs to mature a bit were on target. I think this guy CAN go far in the future and I am sure he will. He's got the voice for it!! 

Who will be leaving us next week? My bet is on Kevin Covais for the boys, and maybe Will Mikar. For the girls though... that's a hard one. No-one really stands out right now as being bad or not worthy of being in the top 12. If I had to take a guess it will probably be Kinnik Sky... only because she was on the bottom 3 this week, and one of the young teen gals... Lisa Tucker or Paris Bennett... not because I think they are bad, but because they are similar in being young and for the songs they sing, they probably have the same people voting for them. I cannot see Mandisa, Kellie, Ayla or Melissa being voted out any time soon.

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saturday, february 25, 2006

YES!!! I've been waiting for this first week of actually hearing the top 24 sing... and it was very interesting!! Here is what came down..

Tuesday the ladies sang first. We started off with a bang with Mandisa! Say what you want about her weight, the girl can sing and she has a personality that's hard to beat. I loved her. Other really good performances that I personally enjoyed were the ones of Kellie Pickler, Ayla Brown, Lisa Tucker & Katharine McPhee. Unfortunately there was some bad ones too in this bunch. Stevie, who took on a song by Josh Groban, had nowhere near the pipes to pull it off. As a matter of fact, she was out of tune and sang this song horribly. AACK! The other real bad performance belonged to Heather Cox... yes, very cute girl, but I am not sure what happened there. I thought she was rather good in the auditions and I was sorely disappointed. Stevie and Heather topped my list to be eliminated this week.

The boys sang on Wednesday. There were really no 'bad' performances per se, a la Stevie or Heather, however, some did leave something to be desired. Bobby taking on Manilow? What was he thinking? Yes, he did it for grandma and I did enjoy his performance, he is definitely a showman, but he needed to sing something he could handle, and this one was not it. The other performance that I did not think was up to par was the one of 'Sway'. I am not sure what Paula and Randy heard they liked so much about, but the whole song in falsetto sounded just fake. He could move and be entertaining, but I simply did not enjoy the song. I am also at a loss on what the judges see in 'Bucky'. His voice is just horrible... or is it just me? I don't get it. There were some really good ones in the bunch too... Ace Young totally nailed it with the George Michael song. He may not have fantastic pipes, but he knows what he can sing and how he can deliver it, and he was just brilliant. He is totally eye candy too, which surely doesn't hurt. Chris Doughtry taking on Bon Jovi? Awesome! Bon Jovi is one of my favorite groups of all time and Chris totally did their song justice. I know there is some controversy about the cute crooner kid, David Radford, but I do think that next week we'll hear him put his crooner pipes to good  use and sing the kind of music we want to hear him sing. He's way better than John Stevens, and John made the top 12, so I cannot imagine him being eliminated anytime soon. Taylor Hicks is another one that did just awesome in my view. My two that topped my list to be eliminated this week were Bobby and 'Sway'.

I wasn't sure what to expect during the elimination show... I was happy to see I was at least 50% right.. yes, Bobby and Stevie were eliminated, but the other two contestants that got the boot were surprises to me. While I didn't think Becky's performance was great, I've seen worse in the TOP 12, and I figured with her looks, surely she could last a little longer. It seems as if there are no free rides anymore, but I do believe this girl can go far, if only not in the music industry. Patrick Hall's elimination, however, was a shocker to me. He did sing his song well, but maybe Simon was right in stating that he perhaps was not unique enough to stand out in a crowd. I've noticed over the years of watching the show that sometimes singing first is detrimental-people tend to forget you.

Who will be leaving us next week? My bet is on Heather Cox (unless she brings out the pipes she's hiding somewhere) and Sway (unless he sings normally instead of that falsetto thing). Other than that, this is really hard to predict, as most of the contestants are so good! I cannot see Bucky or Brenna going too far. I really don't care for Brenna's attitude... but she does make good TV. Kevin Covais is a cute kid, but 'American Idol'? Hmmm... I have to hear him sing again to make up my mind!

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thursday, february 16, 2006

YES!!! Finally the top 24 have been announced and we can start truly enjoying the show! Yes, I admit it, what hooked me on to the show, from season 1, was the auditions, but I really only got truly excited about American Idol when the actual singing and voting started to happen, and it's finally that time folks!!

My top 3 contenders at this point are: 

1. Ace Young: yes, a hotty, but a hotty that can sing too!! Whoo-hoo!
2. Kellie Pickler: I might have gotten sad hearing about her story, but the girl can sing!! Is she the next Carrie Underwood?
3. Chris Doughtry: I find his rock persona very appealing, and the guy can sing to boot! My prediction is, he'll go far!

I am not exactly sure about the other contestants, I do like both Taylor Hicks and Becky O'Donohue, but I am afraid they got picked not so much for their vocal ability but for their likeability factor. The others seem to have a lot of potential. I guess the name of the game will be hearing them sing and see if they can wow an audience!! I am fervently awaiting next week!!! Let the competition begin!!!

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