Hello,
Seeing the decaying carcass of "American Idol" continues getting sadder each week. Are more people watching this show now for the train wreck aspect? They certainly aren't watching it for the talent and the amazing judges and producers. I use to love to watch this show to watch amazing singers grow and develop. There are very few of those this season and even the best singers have stumbled. The judges continue to be irrelevant. Steven Tyler relies on one-liners, still waiting for something constructive to come out of his mouth. JLo, while looking amazing, remains frightened to utter anything that may sound like a negative comment. It seems that everyone is good according to her. And has anyone figured out what the hell Randy Jackson is saying? The "barnacle" continues to perform at his normal level.
This past episode may have been the worst week in the 5 or 6 years I've been watching "AI". Again, I don't understand what the point of the producers and Jimmy Iovine is. I'm still waiting for them to add something meaningful. The producers profile seemed to be lessened on this last week's show. Are TPTB realizing how little they bring to the show. Can we just completely cut them and Jimmy Iovine out and go to a 90 minute show? Previously I've wished that we could hear the singers sing longer versions of the songs. After this last week I no longer think that's a good idea. That's especially on a week when even hottie Pia stumbles.
Making up my Top 11 this week was tough as there were only 1 or 2 bright spots in the midst of mediocrity. Let the carnage begin. Hopefully Motown will recover from this.
11) Scotty McCreery, down 6 spots from last week, was simply horrific this week. He tortured and beat the hell out of Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life". This was the first of many of the night's train wrecks. Oh man he was completely terrible. First of all who was the nitwit who told him to have his shirt buttoned down so low? Was that suppose to be sexy? It wasn't. The judges were very complimentary, what were they watching? I loved how Randy said he was taking chances. What choice did McCreery have? He had to sing a Motown song and they don't have any country songs. Again Randy why are you still around? Grade: F Randy's grade: F
10) Naima Adedepo, down 2 spots, was brutal as well. She attempted to sing "Dancing In The Streets" by Martha and the Vandellas. Let's start off with the good in her performance. I loved the horns and her performance was less than two minutes. On my notes this is what I wrote: "Ugly clothes, ugly dancing, terrible arrangement". Were those nasty looking clothes rejected from "Battlestar Galactica"?. Neither the producers or the stylists did her any favors. She needs to add excitement to her performance and African dance isn't the thing. That's no disrespect to African dance, just to Naima's mangled version of it. She's just awful and needs to go asap. With the judges save, they should add the judges expulsion. The judges can boot a terrible performer whenever they feel like it. I would nominate Naima for that. Grade: F
9) Stefano Langone, down 5 spots, sang Lionel Richie's "Hello". Did Langone really say he had never heard this song before? How is that even possible? Motown seems to be too old of a theme. Jennifer and Randy said he didn't make a connection. Steven told him to go kiss some girls. Again I don't think the 22 year old has enough life experience. The line "haven't got a clue" is in the song and that described Langone's performance perfectly. I really thought Langone had a breakthrough last week, but this week he was very disappointing. Please can we never have Gordon Ramsey on "AI" again? Also no more promos for "Mobbed" please. No matter how many promos there are, I still won't watch it. I know Ramsey's terrible show needs propping up, but "AI" has enough problems as it is. Can we use the judges expulsion on Ramsey? Please. Grade D+. Gordon Ramsay: Z-
8) Paul McDonald, up 3 spots, performance of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" was okay. Can we all just agree that the original is an amazing song? In this video this is Charlie Sheen, pre crazy, in "Platoon":
I liked the arrangement of this song, but McDonald sings like a strangled chicken. What was up with his hair flying all over the place. In both the performance and results show. Randy said that Paul took it to the cool Paul place, that's not a place that I want to go. Steven Tyler said McDonald is vocally similar to Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. Someone should be insulted by that statement, but I'm not sure who. Jennifer said he's a "complete package". I guess that's right if you're looking for a white elephant gift. Grade: D+
7) Jacob Lusk, up 5 spots, sang the wretched "You're All I Need To Get By". I'm wondering when is the controversy going to start about is Jacob Lusk gay? When we find out he is, it will be as surprising as when we found that out about Clay Aiken and Adam Lambert were gay. I could care less if a performer is gay. I think Elton John is amazing and has had many great songs. Lusk comes from South Central really, I bet he had a rough life. He was better this week than he was the last two weeks. However with how effeminate he is, he's just not very believable singing that song. He's better in making a connection with the audience, Stefano needs to take lessons. However he also is very boring. Why do the judges love him so much? Steven went and hugged him and he also received a standing ovation. What the hell? When he's this high on my list, that's a sign of how bad this week was. Grade: C-
6) Haley Reinhart, up 1 spot, sang Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got A Hold On Me". I listened to the original version of this song and it's just a terrible song. Why did Haley, or whoever, pick this song? Jimmy said she "got nothin' to lose". That's one of Jimmy's infrequent insightful comments. I like Haley's voice and appearance. Her performance started out good, but ended terribly. Again these versions are structured with there being just too much chorus and those few words are repeated too much. Also she wore a nasty outfit. Another contestant that had no favors done for them by the producers or stylists. And was anyone else squeamish by Randy asking her "you feel me right"? Grade first half of song: B+, second half of song: D. Overall grade: C.
Just like Jacob Lusk, this is how bad this last week was when Reinhart's performance is so high on my list.
5) Thia Megia, up 4 spots, sang another amazing Motown song. She sang Martha and the Vandella's "Heat Wave". This is the original:
Yes, love is exactly like a heat wave. That's the perfect description of love. This song is so infectious and fun. Like Katrina and the Waves "Walking On Sunshine" a song that makes me happy and want to dance. Don't worry I won't, I dance about as good as Paul McDonald.
Okay now back to Ms. Megia. Her performance was alright, but she ran out of steam. Again I'm not sure what the point of the producers are again. No help from them for Thia. She's one of the many contestants that have no chance of winning. This show needs to end after this season, actually it needs to end now. That won't happen as with most corporate American decisions greed is in charge. So for season 11, please bring back the mentors. Please dump Jimmy Iovine and the producers right now. Thia Grade: C Iovine and the producers: Grade F.
4) James Durbin, up 2 spots, sang "Living For The City" by Stevie Wonder. He's a contestant that's a complete douche bag. The extended wrestling segment on the results show shows how much once again. So judging him fairly for me is hard. I just wish he was as cool as he thinks he is. However he did pick one of the best songs of the night and did a decent performance of it. I liked the arrangement and how funky it was. The producers actually earned their money on this. It's a lesser known Wonder song, but it's a cool song. (Again I just want to say again, Stevie Wonder is the man!) Now for the bad: Durbin is such a weird looking dude, like Adam Lambert there's too much screeching and what is up with his constant eye twitches? I'm not ridiculing that, I'm just wondering. Is it because he's nervous? Jennifer said he was "serious business". Randy said he "hit your stride" and "unbelievable". He was also given the pimp spot, which means the producers are really pushing him. It seems TPTB realizes he's one of the most commercially viable contestants this season. (Again how shallow is this season's pool?) Grade: C
3) Casey Abrams, down 2 spots, sang Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". Seriously Motown thanks for all the amazing songs over the years.
Again the producers are getting in the way of these amazing songs. They changed the arrangement on this song. Why would they mess with such an amazing arrangement? That's a nearly perfect song. This is his worst performance of the three of his performances I've seen. Why does it feel like Casey peaked already? Grade: C-
2) Pia Toscano, same as last week, sang Stevie Wonder's "All In Love Is Fair". I liked her dress, she sounds good and she's a gorgeous woman. However that's a damn boring song. Overall she was awful, another performance that couldn't end soon enough. Again I realized how important song selection is. Randy actually made an intelligent comment, when he suggested she sing something mid-tempo or uptempo. I completely agree with Randy, Pia it's time to break out of your comfort zone. I still think she's the one most likely to win this competition. She has a great voice and is very attractive. But this performance was just awful. Grade: D.
1) Lauren Alaina, up 2 spots, sang the Supremes "You Keep Me Hanging On". Again on this topsy turvy week, everything is mixed up. Lauren Alaina is only 16, again she's way too young for this competition. She'd be so much better in a couple of years. She just doesn't have the life experience to properly sing this song. Following the performances of Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk she was the best performance of the night to this point. Then after everything was said and done she remained the best performance of the night. Jennifer said she looked "amazing" and had "so much attitude". Imagine how much better the performance would have been if she had some life experience behind her? However this season is so wide open, anyone could win. Grade: B+
This is the "Glee" version:
As much as the performance shows have become train wrecks, the results show is even worse. "AI" was made to be watched on the DVR with all it's filler. This weeks results episode showed why. The filler, let us count them: 1) The group performances- although this one was slightly better than usual. Although it completely isn't needed. 2) The whole wrassling/ Hulk Hogan nonsense. 3) The Ford music video 4) Celebrating Steven Tyler's birthday, what is he now 150 years old? And his band mate Bradley Whitford seems to be 10 years older. (ew.com's Annie Barret was very funny and right on when she wondered how she was surprised that Tyler didn't also celebrate unbirthdays as well.) 5) Mark Anthony's few minutes on the show. Again not as cool as he think he is, I see JLo dumping his lameness soon. 6) The drawn out nonsense of the results, especially the Casey Abrams meltdown. Was that not painful to watch? Of course the producers milked that beyond any sense of good taste.
The results show needs to be cut to a half-hour.
The highlights of the filler, uh I mean the results show: 1) Jennifer Hudson "comes home". Although that made me laugh, as "AI" has almost completely ignored her since her too early dismissal several years ago. I liked her song, "Where You At". She looked amazing and her voice is awesome. 2) Sugarland- one of the best country acts currently going. Jennifer Nettles, wow what an amazing voice. She also is an attractive woman, although it's too bad the "AI" stylists dressed her. 3) The amazing Stevie Wonder taking the stage singing "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". I love Stevie, but that is one of his obvious songs. Next time he appears on "AI" it would be awesome if he could sing any of these songs:
I love the funkiness of "Superstition". Stevie again is genius.
I love the horns and the funkiness of this song. "Sir Duke":
Again Stevie you are the man. "Master Blastin' (Jammin)" (Live):
It's amazing how wide the gulf in talent is between Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Nettles and Jennifer Hudson compared to this season's "AI" Top 11. I know many people will say that isn't a fair comparison, but isn't that what the judges, producers and Jimmy Iovine are suppose to be preparing them for? Whether they can is another question.
I'm glad the judges saved Casey Abrams, although I'm worried for his mental health now. I think he went from one of the favorites to he'll be booted from the show soon. Now there's 11 people going on the tour. How boring is that going to be? Really other than tweeners, who else is going to want to go to that? Next week "AI" will be kicking off 2 people. Can't they just cut to the chase and get rid of 7 or 8 contestants then? We won't hear from many of these contestants once this show ends, other than as trivia questions.
Please, please end this show once this season is over. You won't be going out at the top, but at least you won't be going out at the bottom either. And right now "AI" is much closer to the bottom than the top. I know 20+ million people still watch this show, but I honestly wonder why they are watching it.
themusicaddict
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