AI Recaps-March 13th
The Top 12 Perform
Now things are getting interesting. After endless auditions, the cruelty known as Hollywood Week, and getting rid of some cannon fodder (okay, we still have cannon fodder), we are down to the top 12 singing talent in America. Okay, we have some talent, a dollop of so-so, and a few train wrecks.
Tonight the original diva Miss Diana Ross is here to guide our contestants through her catalog both her solo songs and her songs with the Supremes. I wonder if one of the contestants will accidentally call her Deena Jones?
Brandon (Can’t Hurry Love)-As a backup singer Brandon has been exposed to a lot of celebrities but no one like Miss Ross. Brandon sings this Motown classic and proves why he’s been a backup singer for so long. I’ve liked Brandon in the past but he was so tepid and anemic during his performance. His voice sounded like it was going out and he forgot the words. Sadly, I don’t think his hip wiggling will make up for such a charisma-free performance.
Melinda (Home)-Melinda tells us that she feels more comfortable in sweats and sneakers and the most uncomfortable thing about AI are the dresses and high heels she wears during her performances. This leads to some hoyay snark between Simon and Ryan. Oh geez guys. Must you divert attention from one of the most talented AI contestants ever with your love/hate relationship? Melinda sings this song form “The Wiz” so brilliantly I get goosebumps. Now we have a competition. Melinda’s phrasing and vocals are so beautifully wrought. She’s born to sing. Some people have called her a diva, but I like to call her a song stylist. Melinda can sing anything and is go to bring it every week no matter what the theme is.
Chris S (Endless Love)-Chris and Miss Ross compare curls, and Chris tries to change this song a bit, but still cheeses it up thinking adding a Coldplay sound will help. I think Chris has one of the best male voices, but he really seemed to be out of his comfort zone. The ending was better than the beginning. Something about Chris bugs me. It’s like he thinks he’s above this show and way too hip for a song like “Endless Love.” Chris needs to realize that even though he’s not a fan of a certain song or musical genres, he has to respect these songs and prove he can sing all kinds of music. I don’t want people to think he’s an insincere twit and vote him off before less talented contestants. Plus, he looks better in glasses.
Gina (Love Child)-Gina may be a rocker chick but she still shows her respect to Miss Ross. Though screechy in parts Gina brings a rocker grit to this classic song. I thought she sang this song with a lot of passion and I hope she survives. I like that she stands apart from the other female contestants. I’ve heard some people mention that she comes across as too entitled but I’ve never gotten that vibe. I like her. I hope she isn’t too forgettable.
Sanjaya (Ain’t No Mountain High Enough)-Miss Ross probably has wigs older than Sanjaya, and I think he’s wearing one of them. Are the powers that be trying to throw him under the bus by having him sing this “raise the roof” song? Not surprisingly, Sanjaya is completely out of his element both vocally and with his stage presence. Bringing back Chris DAUGHTRY! to Nickelback the heck out of this song might be welcome relief.
Haley (Missing You)-Haley admits that AI is the craziest place she’s ever sung. Haley’s performance is sadly lacking. She doesn’t have the right stuff to sing a song dedicated to the late Marvin Gaye. She needs to project (I could barely hear her), and she forgot some of the words. Plus, I could feel her nerves. The poor girl is a wreck! However, criticizing Haley is like kicking a puppy. She seems like the sweetest person around, yet I can’t see her staying. And despite what loopy Paula says, the audience is going to notice if you forget the words. We’re not stupid.
Phil (I’m Going to Make You Love Me)-Well, he didn’t make me love him, but I liked him more than in past weeks. He sounded better in the belty parts, but was irksome in the softer parts. But still I found him rather bland. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sticks around a bit longer. Maybe different themes will suit him better.
LaKisha (God Bless the Child)-Well, God bless Kiki. I was hoping LaKisha would sing this gospel-tinged song. It was the perfect song choice for LaKisha. She has excellent phrasing and her control is amazing. She was so at one with this song and looked gorgeous in her long silky gown. This was another star-making performance. I hope she goes very far.
Blake (You Keep Me Hangin’ On)-Blake brings a modern vibe to this 1960s’ classic. He shows strong showmanship skills with the dancing. He has a lot of joy for performing and his sense of fun in contagious. And he didn’t beat box, thank goodness. This song didn’t quite show off his strong vocals like in past weeks, and some people might be put off by him “Blake-izing” such a notable song, but I think he’ll “hang on” for a while.
Stephanie (Love Hangover)-Stephanie brought a sultry, sexy vibe to this song but really doesn’t stand out that much. I was put off by the arrangement. The uptempo didn’t quite get going. Plus she forgot the words. I wonder if another song like “Reflections” would have suited her more.
Chris R (The Boss)-Chris sings from the back of his nasal cavity. I thought it was God awful. K-Fed singing Diana Ross. Shudder. I think he’s a weak singer and he sounded like he was out of breath. Randy and Paula praise him to the high heavens and comment on his charm and personality. Um, what charm and personality? Only Simon seemed to make any sense in his critique.
Jordin (If We Hold On Together)-I think Jordin has a beautiful voice and she’s naturally gifted, but I prefer her past performances. I was bored with this song choice. Just because she’s 17 doesn’t mean she has to sing something so Disney-esque. Maybe she should have changed songs with our resident Disney princess Haley.
Tonight separated the woman from the boys. The ladies, for the most part, reigned supreme, and the guys were all over the place. If I had to vote for a guy under duress I guess I’d vote for Chris S or Blake. But I’m all about the ladies this year. Results night should be interesting, and Miss Ross will show our contestants how it’s done by a true diva.