Wow...I don't know what to say about Group 2's performance but to sum it up, it was weak and boring with little talent. So, that being said, here's how it played out:
Just like last week, when you saw them lined up on the stairs, you saw that Adam Lambert was going last so that was obvious that he was going to be the one they made you wait an hour and 50 minutes to see (Note: that's in NON-DVR time).
Kicking off the show was Jasmine Murray who has been solid in the earlier auditions however, my outlook on her instantly changed about a sentence into her version of Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" when I uttered the words, "you suck" to the television. Her voice was all over the place. Maybe she was nervous but it was a horrible performance. She basically seemed lost on the stage and I know she can do better than what she showed us. She was really bad but maybe the judges give her another chance in the Wild Card round.
Next up was one of my early favorites, Matt Giraud, who did a fantastic job doing Ray Charles in front of the piano a few weeks ago but take away the piano, and you get a butchered version of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." Matt really disappointed me last night. First of all, he got away from his blues voice and should have never done a song by a group as opposed to a solo artist. His voice was just off and the song was the totally wrong choice. He had a huge opportunity to blow away the judges and keep fans voting for him and he may have blown it. He went from Matt Giraud, the dueling piano player, to door Matt. I hope he gets a chance to sing in the wildcard and redeem himself.
Then we get to meet Jeanine Vailes who got zero play time in this process until now. She looks a bit like Leona Lewis with her long legs which Paula mentioned but they are by no means as nice as Haley Scarnato's legs from last season, or maybe that was the season before. Either way, legs don't make a singer unless you can sing...aka Tina Turner. However, Jeanine can't sing. Her song was Maroon 5's "This Love" and man, Adam Levine would have barfed up his dinner if he had heard this version. I'm sure this WON'T be a huge I-Tunes hit. I guess it showed why she received zero play time up until now.
And now it's time for Nick Mitchell or Normal Gentle. I'm shocked that this guy is in the Top 36 but he's entertainingly bad which is exactly who Normal Gentle is. He's an entertainer, a comedian, a lounge or comedy club act but he's not our next American Idol. But, he makes people laugh and smile but there are only 12 people that will get a chance to compete for this year's prize and he surely won't be one of them. His choice for the evening is "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" and sorry dude, you are totally going. But, it's been a fun ride and you can tell your kids one day that you performed in front of a television audience of over 20 million people. Hope he gets used to crowed of 100 and lower for his next live performance wherever that may be.
Following the comedy routine was Allison Iraheta. I'm not a big fan of her look mainly because of her pig nose. How many musical artists or actresses can you name with a "pig nose" besides Kristen Johnson (or 3rd Rock From The Sun) that has made it big? Exactly! Her lower teeth that make her look like she's got a wad of tobacco wedged in there is not helping (even though I think it could be braces). She, to me, is just this year's trailer trash girl. We seem to have one of these each year dating back to Nikki McKibbin and then Vanessa Oliverez and then Camille Velasco and then Jessica Sierra all the way up to last year's Amanda Overmyer. So, I'm not a fan of Allison for the time being. She chooses Heart's "Alone" which Carrie Underwood once rocked and I believe Gina Glockson once did a sold job with. So, for starters, the song's been done before. She did a decent job but I really don't love her voice and I just don't see it. I think the judges knew they had a weak crop of girls for the night and she was the best of the crop. It's almost like a farmer who has a cold winter and his oranges aren't the best but he has to tell the buyers that the oranges are great so he can sell them. That's basically what I think happened here. She was the best of the worst and I think the judges gushed way too much over her.
Kris Allen was next who we saw briefly early on in the auditions process but I didn't remember much about him. He has a good look that teenage girls will like so he had that in his favor until we found out he was going to sing Michael Jackson's "Man In the Mirror." So, taking on Michael is not the smartest thing, nor the easiest task but based on the song he did a decent job. It was a bit rusty in the beginning but he really stepped it up towards the second part of the song and showed that he has a good voice. I think this guy may not get the votes he needs as people really didn't remember him but I hope that if he doesn't make it that he'll get a second chance in the wild card round.
Megan Corkrey now took the stage. She's the one with the Carly Smithson tattooed arm, the face that looks like a cross between Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon, with Darryll Hannah hair. Yeah, she's a good-looking girl and I think a makeover would really help her but I hate when people tattoo an entire body part where you see no skin. It actually would look better on those gothy people who wear black and have nasal piercings. Anyway, Megan annoyed me back in her original audition and her personality could get a bit under my skin but I'll put that aside for now and just judge her on her singing. She choices Corinne Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On" and it's a bit off key. And that was the best part of her performance. If you actually watched, the dancing or whatever the heck she was doing with her hands was quite disturbing. It was almost like she was having an mild epileptic fit or something. I thought she was going to better but I'm almost glad she didn't. I know the judges are in her corner as you could tell from their comments so she could be a lock to make it back for a second chance in the wild card round. Randy said she is like a cross between Adele, Duffy, and Amy Winehouse. All three of those people I can't stand.
Next up was Matt Breitzke, the welder, who performed Tonic's "If You Could Only See" and I wish I couldn't' see or hear. Ouch. It was painful. I hope he's a good welder as he'll be back in the goggles and yellow hard hat very soon after his performance. We already have the blue collar Michael Sarver in the Top 12 so this guy is the worse of the two. And his performance solidified that notion. He doesn't have a terrible voice but it's average at best. Plus, he has zero stage presence. Do you remember Matt Rogers of an earlier season? If I remember correctly, he just missed making the Top 12 for the same reasons; he's just out of his comfort zone.
Jesse Langseth was next. She's like the 8th single mom in American Idol this season? Is that what you need to be to make the Top 36? Just get knocked up that's the key. I actually loved Jesse's song choice, Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes" and it was just average. Close your eyes. Can you even remember what this girl looked like? She was very forgettable. So, for voice I give a B. For that sweater thing she was wearing I give a D+. No real reason to talk about her as she's not advancing and next year, you'll be like Jesse who? I really wish she was just like Jesse's Girl.
Then came Kai Kalama who was good early on but was extremely disappointing in the Hollywood round. He has an interesting look to him and I think he could have a good voice if he focuses and doesn't get too corney in his performance. This time out, he sings Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes Of The Broken-Hearted" which a good song choice. I think he did a good job and could get better each week as he grows in confidence. Yeah, there were some part of the song that were a bit pitchy but I think he did enough to advance or at least make it to the wild card round to get another chance.
The final girl of the night was Mishavonna Henson. Yup...you heard me right...her first name is Mishavonna. Wow...now that's a rough name to have. I guess it's better than Pilot Inspektor or Apple, but it's still a lot to swallow. Anyway, Mishavonna is the second girl of the night with P.N.F. - Pig Nose Feature. She chose Train's "Drop Of Jupiter" which was the wrong song choice as she should have sung something from a solo female artist but it wouldn't matter. She's average talent on a weak night of competition but not as good as some of the others so her chance to advance is about the same chance I have of opening a can of diet coke and finding a person's finger inside. I'd rather read one of the Twilight books than see her ever perform again. She was my snack break for the night as I walked out 1/3rd of the way into the song.
Finally, it's Adam Lambert, who they made us wait for and it was worth the wait. He's a bit creepy looking and the left side of his cheek is a bit rough to look at but from further away, has this different look that is marketable. Plus, his voice is original and he has more stage presence than the other 11 contestants of the night have combined. He sings the Rolling Stone's "Satisfaction" and just tore up the stage making a classic song all his own. He's definitely a bit over the top and Broadwayish but he's what this competition needs and will definitely go extremely deep.
So, who advances? The top guy is easily Adam Lambert and the top girl should be Allison Iraheta. But, who gets the third most votes? I think it should be Kris Allen with Kai Kalama or Matt Breitzke going to the wild card.
That leaves next week's final group so it looks like blind guy - Scott McEntyre - will be the final performer of that night if the pattern of best goes last continues.
Then, I look forward to maybe seeing Jamal Rogers (Gokey's best friend) and David Osmond get asked back to the wild card despite not being in the Top 36. One can only hope.
Until next week...Birdman Out.
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