I have been trying to figure out what this year’s Idol coronation song, “No Boundaries,” sounds like.
I think I have it: a bad Shania Twain song without melodic sequences in the chorus (with maybe some vague Bon Jovisms).
Ah, such fine gebrauchsmusik. (To her credit as a performer, I think Shania would know to sing this song a notch or two slower and less “pushed” than Kris et Adam.)
Judging harshly on a ten-point scale per song (6=good, 8=excellent, 10=WOW), with insta-deductions of 1 pt. for over-the-top screaming, I cipher:
Adam “Spock/Neil Diamond” Lambert: 7 + 8 + 7 = 22
Kris “Archie/Michael Johns” Allen: 8 + 9 + 6 = 23
BUT!!
WHEREAS the panel has spun the thing to Spock/Diamond, the caller vote will follow suit. So, all-in-all, ADAM WINS.
_________________
I think Kris has lost the competition on Kara’s (bleeeh) song.
Adam got a scream deduction on the second song. I thought most of his screaming DID have musical value, however.
Wonder what Ricky Braddy has been doing?
UPDATE, Part Deux: Not since “Dewey Defeats Truman” . . .
Now, some would say last year was similar–BUT, most people did think Cook had it won on the top three show, the week before the final. I don’t think Kris ever “had it won” this season. So, what a surprise!
Ok, my vote solely goes to Kris to advance to the AI final because, when he plays the piano, his fourth fingers don’t cave in (and he appears to have a hand position that Elbert Lingo would have approved of–inside joke).
For anyone who knows not, the fourth (ring) finger doesn’t work well for pianists, and it takes years to acquire any facility. It’s unusual for a singer to have good fourth fingers.
On top of that, I would agree with Randy that Kris does “Heartless” better than Kanye West.
Funny, funny: the tubes going to Adam’s ear monitors gave him Spock-like pointy ears. Too funny. Wish someone would beam him up!
. . . this week is “stab Kris in the back” week!
And, oh, Danny, Danny. I hardly know where to begin!
I like this guy on the theremin (an early electronic instrument) better than AI’s Matt!
Allison has worn thin, too. Gokey’s improved, still a little pitchy. Simon’s crazy: Kris wasn’t all wet.
Adam–vocally over the top, again. Rather predictable. Good entrance on the staircase, but can he do this . . .
1) I’m tired of the ads for the upcoming series Glee.
2) SU (me alma mater) should not call seeking money during Idol.
3) Simon needed a spaghetti sauce stain on his T-shirt to complete the look.
4) Visually, was that Adam or Wayne Newton?
5) I would rank “everybody else” thusly:
Kris (good, slightly dull), Allison (where’s “the long, melodic line”?), Danny (OK, too much “Phil Collins” vocal quality), Matt (needed more vocal agility), Lil (more melody, less scream, please), Anoop (pitchy).
6) Adam will win if he can avoid becoming a characterature of himself.
7) Susan Boyle: nice voice, vibrato is a bit wobbly.
In honor of the upcoming “Disco Week” on Idol, here is a classic they mustn’t even dare to hope to top!
(I just had a horrible thought: Danny dancing in the group number for the results show!)
Six way tie + Adam on another planet as usual. Perhaps Kris narrowly wins the night among les six?
I’m not sure who should go. Matt and Lil may be narrowly in danger with the public (based more on the judges’ reviews than the actual performances). Personally, I thought Danny and Allison were horrible tonight. Anoop only slightly better. But, nobody was Megan bad.
They got to Danny about the spectacles, eh? (Just how many sets of glasses does he own?) Allison looked like a young Tammy Faye Baker + a pistachio.
If Adam gets electronic reverb, everyone else should, too!
I wasn’t going to mention it, but Allison and Anoop (and Danny indirectly) are gonna get slammed for doing last-season Cook material–it’s already started HERE.
Kris, Adam, Matt, and Allison? Were they the top four (in that order) of the eight? I wouldn’t rank Adam first because his performance was “too indulgent.” I thought Kris was quite a bit better than the judges did.
Allison has been a little musically uninteresting. I want to like Danny–still rather “pitchy.” Matt, oh Matt, hats are OK for a stage performer only if one is losing one’s hair!
As for the other end, I think Scott’s in danger.
MSNBC has a good article on American Idol code words and phrases–what Randy, Paula, Simon, and What’s-Her-Name really mean (click HERE).
We get those in classical music circles, too.
That’s one way of doing it! (Are you nuts?)
I don’t care whether you play it my way. (I don’t have a clue.)
Good recovery. (You don’t expect to win, do you?)
Sit tall. (Quit slouching, you @#$%^!)
They don’t sound like they used to. (My hearing is shot.)
The phrasing’s all wrong. (Doesn’t match my 1975 Bernstein LP.)
Always so well prepared. (No talent.)
Conduct not with locked knees. (Don’t expect my best gesticular advice.)
More feeling! (Softer with more body language.)
What heroic grandeur! (Too loud.)
That piano has a complex tone. (It’s out-of-tune.)
Don’t rush. (Don’t rush EVERY @#$% TIME.)
Rethinking Idol so far this year, I wonder if they have a new sound person twiddling knobs, since the back-up singers have been too loud on a number of performances, and the group numbers are being pre-recorded?
