The true competition finally got underway with the first 12 singers doing songs from Billboard's Top 100 which basically much better than some of the 60's themes in last year's early rounds. The new format is tough with only three singers advancing but let's see how the night played out:
Right at the start of the show, you saw the singers in a line with Gokey at the end with Tatiana right before him. So, you knew the producers were gonna make us wait until the near end to see this Tatiana chick and since the show mostly ends on a high note, Gokey was to perform in the final spot which means he was going to rock it.
Anyway, first up is Jackie Tohn. She reminds me of Alanis Morissette on crack. She has been, and still totally annoys the heck out of me. She sings Elvis' "A Little Less Conversation" which is one of my most hated Elvis songs so right off the bat, I had little expectations for this chick. The version of the song was so bizarre and her voice was all over the place. Sometimes she's screaming and sometimes it sounds OK. The actual body movements on the stage was awkward, almost like her arms were having twitches that she couldn't control. I personally hated it but there is something that the judges still like about her so I could maybe see her getting a chance to come back for the Wildcard Round.
Next up is Ricky Braddy. Who is that you ask? I seriously have no clue. I don't think they really showed him much, if at all, in the entire audition process so this was fresh blood to judge. What could hurt him is that we don't know him yet and many of us already have our favorites. He sang Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" which I've never heard of but maybe that's just me since I don't know much about music anyway. And I thought he did a fantastic job. He looked a bit like Jake Gyllenthal but sounded a lot like Clay Aiken. Huh! I think I like this guy. He could be a dark horse if he can quickly get a fan base to support him with phone calls.
Then, it was Alexis Grace's turn to hit the stage. She looks like a cross between a young Cindy Lauper mixed with Mena Suvari. She chose a difficult song, Aretha Franklin's "Never Loved A Man" and she did a decent job. She definitely didn't blow me away but for her age, she had some true soul and stage presence and I could see her getting a bit better each week if she advances. She was definitely the best female of the night but based on the females of the night, that wasn't saying much. Still...I'm not 100% sold on her yet but she's FAR from my biggest Idol enemy - Fantasia Barrino, whom you all know I loathe.
Brent Keith was up next doing a song that no one has ever heard of called "Hicktown." Not the smartest song choice when you have tons of 16 year old who dial in and you sing this song. The thing is, it wasn't half bad but wasn't great. He was a finalist for some country reality show so he's been through this process before. I just wish he chose another song. Paula compares him to Bucky Covington. What an insult. It's a joke that America is even purchasing Bucky Covington CDs. Unless you live in a trailer park, I would bet you couldn't name a single Bucky Covington song. So, that being said, this could have been the last we've seen of Brent.
Next up is Stevie Wright singing Taylor Swift's "You Belong To Me" and it was really Stevie WRONG. Holy crap...that was a terrible performance. She seems lost on stage from the first note to the last note. First of all, Taylor Swift doesn't have much talent so to take one of her crappy songs was a bad idea unless you were really good to make a bad song sound much better. If I had even heard a performance like this at a mall, I would have covered my daughter's ears. It just proves that there is only one Steven Wright and that's the comedian.
Anoop Desai was next to show off his voice singing Monica's "Angel Of Mine." He looked like Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire and sounded Yaminish. He had a good showing and did a solid job. He could be on the bubble of that third person to advance and if that doesn't happen, he should be a lock for the Wild Card round. But, it's hard not to like Anoop. So, I'll root for this guy. A.I.T.H. - Anoop In The House !
And out comes Casey Carlson who looks a bit like one of the Gossip Girls. Right off the bat, you knew the song choice was interesting choosing the Police's "Ever Little Thing She Does Is Magic" and she could have used some magic to get through this performance. This was a bedroom performance where you sing into your comb or hairdryer and it doesn't matter how bad you sound because the only things hearing you are all the dolls and stuffed animals on your floor. This performance made Stevie Wright's performance look like a Grammy winning song. It was one of the worst I've seen at this stage in 8 years of this show. She's a cute girl though so maybe when her boobs spout, she has a job pole dancing.
Next up was Michael Sarver, one of the two roughneck boys in the competition. He chose Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Wanna Be" and I was disappointed. I thought this guy was going to come out and sound great and it was average at best. I'm not sure if it was just nerves or it's he's not as good as I had thought he was the past few weeks. I actually hope he gets asked back for the wildcard round to see if last night was just a bad night or not.
Ann Marie Boskovich hit the stage next and she also chooses to do an Aretha Franklin song - "Natural Women." Can't people sing something other than Aretha? There are so many songs out there that to do Aretha, you gotta really be on top of your game. I actually thought she did a better job than the judges thought but it was still not that performance to have her advance. I also would love to see her get a chance in the Wildcard round as I know she can do better than what she had showed.
Stephen Fowler was up next to redeem himself for his lyric mishap in Hollywood Week. Right when they announced that he was singing Michael Jackson's "Rock With You," I knew he was doomed. Nobody can sing Michael except Michael. Nuff said. Stephen just looked out of it on stage as if he had stolen Michael Phelp's bong and took a few hits. His voice was all over the place and it was actually worse than a Keroeke performance. I think I may have gotten up with out hitting pause to get some JuJubees from the kitchen. Stephen, it's been a fun ride. Good luck in life.
Then it was time for what we were all waiting for. Yes, it was T.T. - Tatiana Time ! Tatiana del Loco Crazo Toro Cryo Luco Morono Weirdo was about to sing. And, she chose the artist that you NEVER should touch in Whitney Houston. People need to learn from past contestants mistakes singing Whitney. No one can sing better than her or do one of her classic songs better than her so why even attempt a Whitney song? Tatiana was much more mellow than she's been in the past. Maybe she was scared. Maybe she was focused. Maybe she knows that American can't stand her. Her singing was average. There were parts of the song that were nice and parts I just cringed in my chair. Let's face it. This girl ain't winning AI8. I don't think she's even getting past this round. I can see them putting her in the wildcard round to create more drama but I hope I'll never see her again unless on a blooper reel.
Finally, it was Danny Gokey who should be in the finals maybe against Scott MacIntyre (blind guy) or Matt Giraud or maybe even Ricky Braddy so far but this guy is a shoe in to go DEEP and probably win it which was obvious that the producers were thinking the same putting him last to end the show. His song choice was interesting going with Mariah Carey's "Hero." If "he" was a "she", then he should have NEVER gone the Mariah route but with "he" being a "he", it was a risk that if he nailed it, it could pay off huge dividends. It was the performance of the night. It was original. It was smooth. It was sung great in a raspy voice that could hit some great notes. I'm not music critic but I could easily buy a Gokey CD if he could sing like this. And, just watch, his boy Jamar will be part of the wildcard round. Just watch.
So, who advanced. Gokey is a lock for the first guy. You would think that Alexis takes the girls slot. That leaves the next highest vote getter which has gotta be either Anoop or Ricky Braddy. Even Michael Sarver could steal that final spot as he could have some sort of fan base already. I'd like to see Braddy take it with Anoop, Sarver, and Boscovich going to the Wildcard round. Even Jackie Tohn may be asked back to that round despite how much she annoys me similar to the way Paris Bennett and Mikelah Gordon got under my skin.
I guess we'll find out tonight !
Until then, Birdman Out.
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