My Girl and Two Others Pulling Away

It's official. I am in love with Siobahn. Yes, Anonymous, your challenge question (March 2, 2010) is answered. Irrational affection and lack of objectivity have now taken control of my previously objective criteria.

Now, on to the night's performances which were way better than I expected. Well, that wouldn't include Tim Urban. White guys from Texas doing a reggae version of a Stones song - where was a Jim Bunning filibuster when you really needed one? Otherwise, the song choices for everybody were spot on and really allowed us to see who each Idolist is and how good they are.

And what we can see is this - it's a three horse race between Crystal, My Girl Siobahn and Big Mike. They have clearly separated themselves from the others and only Casey's good looks and hot guitar (or is it hot looks and good guitar, ladies?) or substantial improvement from others can change that. These three are the most complete artists right now. However, after tonight I think it's fair to say this is the best top-to-bottom Idolist group ever even with Katelyn and Lilly wrongfully voted off.

Big Mike got things rolling by turning the latter-day disco Miss You into a pleading Teddy Pendergrass style R&B burner. Nice - not "desperate", Simon. It's called soul. Put on an Otis Redding album and get a clue. My Girl Siobahn went - in Diandra's words - Adam Lambert meets Gwen Stefani. She is becoming a star in front of us week by week. And when Janis Joplin died, she passed her spirit to Crystal Bowersox. But I think Simon is right, Siobahn - like Adam last year - is becoming the one who commands your attention and Crystal's consistent competency may not be enough to win.

Just below them I had Casey and Aaron and - surprise! - Lee. Casey is just not the singer that Mike, Siobahn and Crystal are. But I really wish he could break off a really serious guitar solo! I thought Randy's comparing him to Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Sheperd was putting him in the right musical zip code. Angie was the perfect song choice for Aaron and Lee also picked a perfect song with Beast of Burden. And, yes, he sang in tune. I agree with Simon that Lee's lack of confidence may hold him back from his potential.

The rest were OK to uninspiring. Didi, Katie and Paige have great voices and did OK, especially Paige essentially singing for the first time all week due to laryngitis. Big ups to her but I am still waiting for her, Didi and Katie to bring a wow moment. Maybe they don't have one in them. Andrew and Lacey filled out the bottom of the pack.

Tonight unexpectedly grabbed my attention. Instead of seeing Idolists fall to the wayside, I saw a lot of them step it up. Rather than a David vs. David or Adam vs. Kris battle, we could see three to six serious contenders. But for now, can the national nightmare that is Tim Urban be over? Please?

Why I like who I like

Each voting week on Idol is typically a painful reminder of my lack of success to get people to think like I do. Perhaps someday I'll give up on this pointless narcissistic pursuit but since I'm still breathing I will carry on. It occurs to me that while I regularly rail against the choices of others, I've never really ever plainly laid out how it is I come about my Idolist favorites. So I thought such a manifesto would be fun for me and (self-indulgently) interesting to others. The five criteria are are quite objective. However, whether someone meets the criteria is quite subjective. With art, sometimes you just know it because you feel it. When I give examples, they are not definitive as in the only ones or best ones. They are hopefully familiar examples that are indicative of lots of people besides those I mentioned.
I don't claim to be an expert in any of these categories, it's just the way I think.

Unique vocal quality - good singers are a dime a dozen starting with your local junior high choir. What I'm looking for is someone who immediately stands out sounds in a "wow, I haven't heard anybody quite like that before". It can be pure vocal ability (Adam, Melinda, David A.). It can be tonal quality like Crystal and Lilly this year and Allison last year. It can be power like Kelly or Carrie.

Vocal artistry - Start with singing on key. That's bigger for me than Simon's forgetting the words. So I don't care much about Lee's decidedly nice vocal quality if he's only going to be on key every other note, especially the important ones in the song.
Then, can you interpret a song in a way that does justice to the lyrics? Adam's Mad World or Big Mike's This Woman's Work are good examples. Can you put your vocal own stamp on it without obliterating the original? Katelyn did a nice job with her Coldplay take as did Siobahn with Wicked Game and House of the Rising Sun. Or if you are going to obliterate it, do you have the talent (and guts) to pull it off in a way that the song sounds like it was yours in the first place - whether people like it or not? Andrew's Straight Up; Adam's Ring of Fire; and David Cook's Hello are good examples.
Jermaine was a clear example of a great voice that over-sings and obliterates to no good effect; Katie has a great voice but she hasn't done much other than sing the notes as written.

Performance artistry - Do you command - and even DEMAND (Adam) attention on the stage? Do you look at ease? Do you actually look like you know you are taking advantage of the opportunity to wow the audience? With their performance backgrounds, Syesha and Adam were the queen and king of this. Their dress, the lighting, the mood they created all matched. They weren't just singing - they were giving a complete performance in one song. Katelyn did a nice job of this, too, when she sang The Scientist. Crystal, Katie and Big Mike all look very at ease on stage. So did Lilly and Todrick.

Appearance - This is by far the most subjective criteria. It involves who I find attractive (Alexis); who others find attractive (Casey, Kris Allen); and who others don't find attractive which is the most bothersome. I know appearance affects marketability and I am OK with that. But when no-talents get votes just because they are deemed attractive, i.e. The Horrifyingly Bad Kristy Lee Cook, Let's Leave NOTHING to the Imagination Haley Scarnato and I'm Going to Show More Skin Each Week Katherine McPhee, and talented singers get the boot because they are not deemed to be attractive - that makes me nuts. Mandisa is an award winning singer whose talents deserved way better than a 9th place finish, worse than any of the aforementioned ladies. And 7th place for Jennifer Hudson? Really?
In any case, my thoughts about appearance are a factor in how I see an Idolist.

Personality- Do you have a fun, out-sized personality (Kelly Pickler, Big Mike)? Do you dress in a stand out yet appealing way (Siobahn)? Basically, it's a live singing competition so do you give people a reason to look at you or be interested in you - this can anything from Taylor's Joe Cocker-esque dance moves to Carly Smithson's tattoos to Adam's make-up.

Straight Cash, Homey - This is my biggest criteria of all and where I often end up in the biggest disagreements with people, e.g. the Kris vs. Adam debate last year. I know ultimately Idol is a popularity contest and a distorted one at that, i.e. it's encouraged to stuff the ballot box by casting multiple votes. But I don't think of the winner as who gets the most text votes. I, like Simon, am looking for a star, someone who is going to move product in the stores, get people to turn on the TV after Idol, sell magazines with cover stories, and sell concert tickets.
Every week somebody sings I am thinking - "Does this person have star power?" I am looking for someone who, at some point, no longer needs to win to make it big - Daughty was that way, David A. and Adam, too; and I think I see Crystal as being there. Melinda Doolittle was maybe the best pure singer Idol has ever had but I never saw her as a star. On the other hand, Kellie Pickler isn't much of a singer but you could tell she was going to be a star in a way the other pretty blondes (Kristy Lee Cook) weren't going to be.
But what that also means is that I won't know if my favorites have "won" (using my straight cash, homey criteria) until 5-6 months after a season ends. By this criteria, three Idol "losers" have come up sure fire winners: Jennifer Hudson, Daughtry and Adam.

So there they are - all the reasons for who I like and why I like them. Each week and across the weeks, I am jumbling each of these factors together to form my opinion. And the fact that people agree with me AND disagree with me each week is delicious fun!

When Will I Learn?

When will I learn? How many seasons will I have to watch - endure - before I learn that Idol is specifically and pointedly - with ingeniously malicious and unrighteous intent - completely and utterly designed to make me go insane? And so early this year! I am STILL feeling the pain of Alexis being gone from last year! The whole Adam vs. Kris thing is STILL making me nuts. And now this?

I am seriously sitting here staring at the screen trying to figure out exactly how Katelyn and Lilly are not Idolists. Even Paige wore a "what I am doing here" face all night and Katie looked no less shocked. Poor Crystal looked stunned and she made it through!
As far as the guys, I was upset about Todrick and became even more enraged because he sang even better tonight than last night. He is so much a better performer than most of the guys remaining. Unfortunately, I was more hoping for him than sure he was going to survive because of his earlier weak efforts.

What does this mean? Are Crystal and Mike still the clear voting favorites? If cute matters more than singing ability, why is Katelyn gone? I just don't get what happened tonight.
Arrrghhhhhh! My arms are tired from swimming upstream against the current of popular opinion.

(and of course I will be back for more next week and the week after that and the week after that and . . . . . .)

Never mind, apparently they are all chasing Big Mike

At 10:05 I got the following e-mail review of the night from my classically trained, professional singing mom: "MICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAEL".

I would tell you what she said when I called her (like I usually do after each Idol when the show gets really serious) but she, like Kara, was crying.

So, moving on from Michael . . . . Casey was nice. I thought he sounded like Bob Seger at times and while I agree that there was no "wow" moment it was a solid, professional, authentic performance.

The night had two HUGE surprises. The guys I thought were gone came up big - Tim and Todrick. Not only were their performances surprisingly good given their track records but shockingly good given the songs they chose. Hallelujah and Somebody to Love had Titannic written all over them but may turn out to be their life rafts. So does that totally hose up the voting? You have to love the irony that Vote for the Worst got behind Tim this week and he was one of the best!

The rest: Lee (Fireflies) and Alex (Trouble) should have switched songs. Look it's not just me regarding Lee. My youngest daughter Cassandra said, "If he wasn't so flat, it would sound OK." And the judges finally got on him about pitch problems. Alex's lack of performance confidence is killing his natural ability. Andrew's Genie was clever but vocally uninspired and off the beat. Aaron took on too big a song and was pitchy, too.

Given the cuteness factor that seems to work on Idol more in favor for the guys than girls, it is way too hard for me to predict who stays or gos now given how well Tim and Todrick did tonight. Todrick, in particular, has a great voice which the judges have pointed out each week. And he is an engaging stage performer. His potential is great and tonight we finally got a glimpse of it. Obviously, Mike and Casey are safe. I am invested in Todrick's raw talent and potential. Beyond that, I am feeling I can live with any of the other guys being gone. Despite each one having a unique style, they all seem to blend in together as "a-ight". Nothing special.

What I am excited about though - assuming no unforeseen shocks - is that we have ourselves a real show now! Big Mike and Crystal each with very different styles. Lilly, Siobahn and Casey right there in the mix. And frankly, whoever is left after them isn't so bad, either - well, sorry, I do have issues with Lee. We have much to look forward too.

Yes, they are all chasing Crystal

I am not sure what has my attention more: Crystal's giftedness or Simon's idiocy. I guess let's give credit first. Simon was right that Crystal has established herself as the one to beat. And even if she doesn't win, so what? She will get better and better each week by virtue of working with top-shelf professional musicians, rehearsals for televised audiences and judges' critiques. Then she will go on the Idolist tour and wow the crowds. Finally, she'll go into a recording studio and make a hit album. Case closed.

So now to Simon's idiocy re my girl Siobahn. That's right - my girl. Hey, somebody has to get called that and while this is not an Alexis situation, well, somebody has to get called that and I've picked her. But I digress.
I got chills. I actually had tears. That was as haunting and captivating version of House of the Rising Sun as you are likely to hear. For Simon to be dismissive and say - and this was what REALLY made me nuts - that she did nothing with the song was just so *&%$(_(&^^$@#@#@$%*^! He clearly does NOT know the song if he thought that sounded any way like the original or any other version for that matter. She - rather my girl - was fabulous. I don't care how quirky she is, she can flat out sing.

Nobody else was really close to Crystal and Siobahn. I had Didi 3rd and Lilly 4th but with no real conviction about either tonight. I guess I was happy Didi stepped it back up from last week - I do love her voice - and was a little disappointed with Lilly for a competent but sizzle-less performance. She can do better than that.

Paige - she's gone. Bad song, badly sung. So the question is who's going with her: Katie or Lacey? Katie has a wonderful voice but is clueless about what to do with it. She has brought absolutely zero to her songs each week. Lacey just sang slow and dull. Cute Katelyn was the karaoke queen tonight but she's, well, cute, so I think she's safe.

Now on to the guys. Can Big Mike be big again? Will Aaron still be adorable? Can Tim Urban get any worse? Will Alex Lambert melt hearts? Is Todrick gone? Will Lee sing a note on key? Can Andrew make a comeback? Is Casey a one-trick pony? Yes, ladies, I know, it's a pretty good trick but still . . . anyway, these answers and even more, i.e. more of my ramblings, tomorrow!

Who's Gots To Go?

So, Diandra and I were up way longer than both of us needed to be talking about music. (Please - try to act like you're shocked just for a moment.) Eventually the conversation got around to who probably will go to get down to the Final 12 Idolists. Here's who we came up with.

Guys - Tim and Todrick. Andrew, who is falling fast and falling hard may be on the bubble. The problem with him is that he is up against some guys who probably aren't as talented but have the cannot-be-overstated cuteness factor: Alex Lambert who apparently has become an internet sensation; Aaron who also gets the country votes; Lee; and of course, Casey. Big Mike appears to be safe: good performances, out-sized and likable personality, and the new dad back story.

Gals - there really are lots of top-notch girls this year so if you're merely good, you won't be good enough. Which is why Paige and Lacey are in danger and most likely to go. But "I'd Be a Lot Prettier if I Didn't Cry So Much" Didi better do way better than last week's woeful Lean on Me - for me, one of the most dreadful Idol performances ever which was made worse because of that fact that you know she can sing. Crystal seems to have put herself ahead of the entire field with Lilly, Siobahn, Katelyn close behind. Katie is probably a safe bet for Idolist status. Diandra and I think she is the best pure singer in the whole bunch, has stage presence and cuteness factor. But while she surely knows she is a good singer, she hasn't figured out who she is as a distinctive artist and her toughest competition has.

She Will Be Missed

Michelle is gone. And so are the occasional shots of her sister in the crowd. A shame but somehow I will muster up the interest to tune in again next week. And so are Haeley, John and Jermaine. Vaya con Dios. Hopefully Tim Urban will have his day soon.

This brings me to far more interesting questions. K.E. from Scottsbluff, Nebraska wonders: "So, Ray, since I know how you detest the Black-Eyed Peas and the Weekly Idol Cheesy Sing-and-Dance-along, you must have needed resuscitation tonight." Actually, K.E., since "I Gotta Feeling" is so cheesy a song, it ironically fit the Weekly Idol Cheesy Sing-and-Dance-along in a rather enjoyable way.

And a question to the Used to Be Kris Lovin' and Danny Hating but Now Casey Lovin' Ladies: is there some love for Danny now that he's singing country at Randy Travis' suggestion? While this is a horrifying turn of events for me, is there FINALLY some admission that this guy can really sing?