Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Mr. Thatcher's Neighborhood - A.I. 5
I thought I would revive my comatose blog by posting my musings on American Idol. I actually did not watch any of the audition shows this year (I have them all recorded to watch later though), so I’m coming into the first performance shows knowing very little about the contestants. Since I don’t know who’s been a big jerk and who has the best sob story, I can judge them on their actual performances. What a novel concept!
So here’s my take on Week 1 – Girls:
Mandisa – “Never”:
I heard a bit about Mandisa in the entertainment rags, due to her calling out of Simon on his rude comments, which he apparently apologized for, so she gets a few extra points from the get-go. She’s wearing an obnoxious, unflattering outfit, but at least she’s memorable (which will become more important as the night wears on…and on…and on…). Props for picking a good rockin’ song, with a decent vocal and a peppy performance. She staying in the “keep” column for me.
Kellie Pickler – "How Far":
Apparently, Kellie has some sort of awful background with a father in prison. I’m sure she’s a nice girl and she’s had a hard life and all. But based on tonight, she just seems like a faded, wan copy of Carrie Underwood. Now, I love Carrie to bits, but I don’t really need a Carrie that’s been through the Xerox 100 times. Kellie’s voice sounds thin and “pitchy” to me, and she looks forgettable. I’m sorry, but she goes in my “lose” column. I did like her story about her Grandpa getting hit on by wild, sandwich-making women, though.
Becky O’Donohue – “Because the Night”
Big props for picking the song I was singing to myself the rest of the night. More props for looking like a weird combo of Janice Dickinson and Lisa Marie Presley, and even more props for having a very creepy identical twin hovering around. Those two should be in horror movies, for sure. I like her bombastic performance, but the vocals were just OK. She goes in the “maybe” column.
Ayla Brown – “Reflection”
She loses points for being obsessed with the movie Mulan, but she regains those points by being freakishly tall. Did I miss the memo that gauchos were back in style? Being old enough to remember the 70’s and 80’s really messes with your ability to recognize style, I guess. Or maybe gauchos really are just ugly. Anyway, Ayla did a better job than I expected, she has a pretty voice. She gets to stay, for now.
Paris Bennett – “Midnight Train to Georgia”
I knew the most about Paris going in, since she is originally from the Minneapolis area and her grandmother is in Sounds of Blackness. She’s been profiled in our local papers quite a bit. Based on the photos I saw, she looked annoyingly precocious. Then she sassed at the camera when the girls first walked in, and I thought “uh-huh”. She looks like she’s about 12. Then when she started to talk, I adjusted that to 8. I think she worried too much about “performing” and not enough about singing, but what she did sing sounded a whole lot better than I expected. Plus she seems fun, and I like her shorter hair (but not her gauchos). And strapless tops make me soooo nervous on live tv. Straps are your friend, girls!! Paris gets a spot in the “keeper” column.
Stevie Scott – "To Where You Are"
Oh, wow. Not good. She built herself up with all this opera talk and singing Josh Groban, and I was hoping for some glass-shattering power notes. Instead, she just whimpered through the song, she was off-pitch, and she sounded extremely nervous (maybe Paris’ top made her nervous, too). I’m sorry for Stevie, but she’s a goner.
Brenna Gethers – “Sunshine of my Life”
Again, not knowing the back stories, apparently Brenna is some rough-and-tumble New Yawker with attitude to burn. I wouldn’t know though, because her performance was dull and drab, and her facial expressions distracting. Her sassiness after the fact seemed out of place, and I just have to put her in the “lose” column. She does get props for her coordinated sunshine-yellow tops, though (but again with the damn gauchos!!).
Heather Cox – “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”
ZZZZZzzzzzzz…..Oh, sorry, did I miss something? I couldn’t even remember what she sang, and I heard that song over and over last year. Again, I’m sure she’s a nice girl, she’s cute and I wouldn’t be surprised if her looks keep her in the contest past her time. But for my vote, she’s a “lose”
Melissa McGhee – “When the Lights Go Down”
Uncle Tony really liked this girl. I thought her voice sounded painful. We both agreed that her eye-makeup made her look like a zombie. Her top was super-cute, though. She’s different, so she can stay in the “maybe” column for now, for Uncle Tony’s sake.
Lisa Tucker – “I Am Changing”
Lisa is obviously the judges pick of the girls. I thought she was good, nice clear voice. I didn’t think the song really did her any favors. Her dress was pretty, if non-descript. I guess I thought she was pretty good, but not head-and-shoulders above everyone else like the judges seemed to think. She earned her spot in the “keep” column.
Kinnik Sky – “Get Here”
Ahhh, Justin Guarini’s featured song. Seriously, I liked her denim gown, and she was still enough that her lack of straps didn’t bother me so much. I actually thought she was better than Lisa. I like her low, raspy voice. I thought Simon was out of place to act like she belonged in the Hall of Antiquities. I’d vote to keep her.
Katharine McPhee – “Since I Fell For You”
I noticed this girl when they walked in, because she reminded me of Sara Rue (the old, cute Sara Rue, not the new, “improved”, less-cute Sara Rue). Her outfit was drab, and I think made her look chunkier than she probably really is. But man! This girl can sing!! I love this song, and she sounded fabulous! I also loved how awkward she moved, like her left arm was just dead weight. She seems very normal, cute and fun, and if she keeps singing like that, she should make final four at least. Best of the night, a definite keeper.
Keepers:
Katharine
Mandisa
Paris
Ayla
Kinnik
Lisa
Maybes:
Becky
Melissa
Losers:
Heather
Kellie
Brenna
Stevie
My prediction on who’s leaving: Stevie and Melissa.
I can’t wait to see the guys perform. That’s the motliest bunch of misfits ever. Is Taylor Hicks actually Kevin Covais’ grandfather?
So here’s my take on Week 1 – Girls:
Mandisa – “Never”:
I heard a bit about Mandisa in the entertainment rags, due to her calling out of Simon on his rude comments, which he apparently apologized for, so she gets a few extra points from the get-go. She’s wearing an obnoxious, unflattering outfit, but at least she’s memorable (which will become more important as the night wears on…and on…and on…). Props for picking a good rockin’ song, with a decent vocal and a peppy performance. She staying in the “keep” column for me.
Kellie Pickler – "How Far":
Apparently, Kellie has some sort of awful background with a father in prison. I’m sure she’s a nice girl and she’s had a hard life and all. But based on tonight, she just seems like a faded, wan copy of Carrie Underwood. Now, I love Carrie to bits, but I don’t really need a Carrie that’s been through the Xerox 100 times. Kellie’s voice sounds thin and “pitchy” to me, and she looks forgettable. I’m sorry, but she goes in my “lose” column. I did like her story about her Grandpa getting hit on by wild, sandwich-making women, though.
Becky O’Donohue – “Because the Night”
Big props for picking the song I was singing to myself the rest of the night. More props for looking like a weird combo of Janice Dickinson and Lisa Marie Presley, and even more props for having a very creepy identical twin hovering around. Those two should be in horror movies, for sure. I like her bombastic performance, but the vocals were just OK. She goes in the “maybe” column.
Ayla Brown – “Reflection”
She loses points for being obsessed with the movie Mulan, but she regains those points by being freakishly tall. Did I miss the memo that gauchos were back in style? Being old enough to remember the 70’s and 80’s really messes with your ability to recognize style, I guess. Or maybe gauchos really are just ugly. Anyway, Ayla did a better job than I expected, she has a pretty voice. She gets to stay, for now.
Paris Bennett – “Midnight Train to Georgia”
I knew the most about Paris going in, since she is originally from the Minneapolis area and her grandmother is in Sounds of Blackness. She’s been profiled in our local papers quite a bit. Based on the photos I saw, she looked annoyingly precocious. Then she sassed at the camera when the girls first walked in, and I thought “uh-huh”. She looks like she’s about 12. Then when she started to talk, I adjusted that to 8. I think she worried too much about “performing” and not enough about singing, but what she did sing sounded a whole lot better than I expected. Plus she seems fun, and I like her shorter hair (but not her gauchos). And strapless tops make me soooo nervous on live tv. Straps are your friend, girls!! Paris gets a spot in the “keeper” column.
Stevie Scott – "To Where You Are"
Oh, wow. Not good. She built herself up with all this opera talk and singing Josh Groban, and I was hoping for some glass-shattering power notes. Instead, she just whimpered through the song, she was off-pitch, and she sounded extremely nervous (maybe Paris’ top made her nervous, too). I’m sorry for Stevie, but she’s a goner.
Brenna Gethers – “Sunshine of my Life”
Again, not knowing the back stories, apparently Brenna is some rough-and-tumble New Yawker with attitude to burn. I wouldn’t know though, because her performance was dull and drab, and her facial expressions distracting. Her sassiness after the fact seemed out of place, and I just have to put her in the “lose” column. She does get props for her coordinated sunshine-yellow tops, though (but again with the damn gauchos!!).
Heather Cox – “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”
ZZZZZzzzzzzz…..Oh, sorry, did I miss something? I couldn’t even remember what she sang, and I heard that song over and over last year. Again, I’m sure she’s a nice girl, she’s cute and I wouldn’t be surprised if her looks keep her in the contest past her time. But for my vote, she’s a “lose”
Melissa McGhee – “When the Lights Go Down”
Uncle Tony really liked this girl. I thought her voice sounded painful. We both agreed that her eye-makeup made her look like a zombie. Her top was super-cute, though. She’s different, so she can stay in the “maybe” column for now, for Uncle Tony’s sake.
Lisa Tucker – “I Am Changing”
Lisa is obviously the judges pick of the girls. I thought she was good, nice clear voice. I didn’t think the song really did her any favors. Her dress was pretty, if non-descript. I guess I thought she was pretty good, but not head-and-shoulders above everyone else like the judges seemed to think. She earned her spot in the “keep” column.
Kinnik Sky – “Get Here”
Ahhh, Justin Guarini’s featured song. Seriously, I liked her denim gown, and she was still enough that her lack of straps didn’t bother me so much. I actually thought she was better than Lisa. I like her low, raspy voice. I thought Simon was out of place to act like she belonged in the Hall of Antiquities. I’d vote to keep her.
Katharine McPhee – “Since I Fell For You”
I noticed this girl when they walked in, because she reminded me of Sara Rue (the old, cute Sara Rue, not the new, “improved”, less-cute Sara Rue). Her outfit was drab, and I think made her look chunkier than she probably really is. But man! This girl can sing!! I love this song, and she sounded fabulous! I also loved how awkward she moved, like her left arm was just dead weight. She seems very normal, cute and fun, and if she keeps singing like that, she should make final four at least. Best of the night, a definite keeper.
Keepers:
Katharine
Mandisa
Paris
Ayla
Kinnik
Lisa
Maybes:
Becky
Melissa
Losers:
Heather
Kellie
Brenna
Stevie
My prediction on who’s leaving: Stevie and Melissa.
I can’t wait to see the guys perform. That’s the motliest bunch of misfits ever. Is Taylor Hicks actually Kevin Covais’ grandfather?
# posted by Thatchermom @ 7:27 PM 
