American Idol Top 13 Wrap up and Predictions
Hey, pool players! Don’t forget to make your overall pick today before the results show begins at 9 PM ET.
I’m picking Jorge Nunez in the pool. I think he’s the safest bet to make an exit tonight. Next safest bet is Jasmine Murray. Or, (hopefully not!) Allison Iraheta.
I can’t wait to see Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West perform tonight. And the big twist? We’ve been speculating all about that HERE.
Better than I anticipated, I was pleasantly surprised by last night’s show. While some kids shrink once they hit the big stage, this crew seemed to step it up for the most part.
That voice-over introduction of the judges and Ryan Seacrest freaked me out a little. What a cheese-ball intro–I was expected to hear, “come on down!”any minute. On the plus side, the reconfiguration of the stage, have the swaybots pushed back aways. That’s a good thing.
Simon Cowell telling Scott MacIntyre, “Ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s fine being artistic, just not on this show” had me LMAO. How fitting. Contestants, take heed!
The wrap up:
Danny Gokey, wisely set aside the dead wife backstory. He also chose to entertain rather than preach–a very smart move. As a result, I actually enjoyed “Pretty Young Thing.” I’m not sold on him as a great vocalist, but he knows how to use what he has. He literally took the audience to church last night. Not a bad thing.
Michael Sarver stepped it up a lot. He sang like he meant it–I felt a real connection to the audience. The soulful ballad may be his thing. He’ll be around for awhile.
Although, I wasn’t wild about Adam Lambert’s cabaret take on “Black and White” there’s no denying he can command a crowed. I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.
Lil Rounds is another great performer with a lot of potential. Not merely a copycat, she added her own flair to “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and is growing on me.
Even though Randy Jackson says Allison Iraheta can sing anything, I hope she sticks to rock. If she goes for Mariah or Whitney, I swear she’ll be dead to me. As it is, I really like her sound. I wasn’t taken aback by her cutting remark. She’s basically a teenager without a filter, I hope it doesn’t hurt her. I so much prefer her candor to Miss Pretty Perfect Princess, Jasmine Murray.
Speaking of Jasmine, not only is she robotic, but she’s also a terrible singer. Send her home, please.
As long as we’re talking about disappointments: Now I understand why we didn’t hear much from Anoop Desai in Hollywood. He probably sucked. I love his personality…his singing not so much. If he doesn’t shape up, he’ll be out by mid-pack.
Short shrifted by the judges:Â Jorge Nunez sang a boring song, but I thought he sang it well. He’s probably going home tonight.
Alexis Grace sang the crap out of “Dirty Diana”. That Alexis totally abandoned herself to her performance was a good thing–100% commitment. She’s a favorite right now.
So funny, in this year of the guy, my top favs (Allison, Alexis and Lil) are mostly girls!
Megan Joy Corkrey’s performance of “Rockin Robin” was riveting, but not necessarily in a good way. She’s got something going on that gets her noticed. She’s kind of annoying and talent-free, but I think her uniquness will keep her in the competition for awhile.
Matt Giraud is a funny one. If it wasn’t for his penchant for oversinging, he’d be a favorite. In fact, with a little work on the vocals and some good song choices Matt could be the dark horse that takes it all. He must stay behind the piano, and stick to soul music, however.
I’m left with Kris Allen (lolz at his wife giving Simon the stink eye) who wasn’t perfect last night but pretty good. He has potential. And Scott MacIntyre, whose song stylings bore the crap out of me, but I think he’s playing very well to an audience of folks who love Adult Contemporary.
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86 Responses to “American Idol Top 13 Wrap up and Predictions”
Ya know, I’m not seeing the “cabaret” in Adam’s performance? Then again, it’s entirely possible I don’t know what that term really means in this context. LOL MJ, What makes a performance “cabaret?”
Wrong thread
This.
But is that really a criticism, per se, given the source material? MJ I had exactly the opposite reaction as you did last night. I don’t think cabaret is a bad thing when you’re covering Michael Jackson. (Taking me to church, however, is a bad thing when you pick the song with the lyrical content that Danny picked. I just think it’s ooky to be singing “pretty young things, repeat after me….” as if you are at a church revival doing a call and answer. It’s like Eddie Murphy’s character from Dream Girls accidentally swapped musical numbers with Aresenio Hall’s preacher from Coming to America..just wrong.) Anyway, what I think cabaret is all about, in essence, rather than a vague broadway reference…cabaret is about the entertainer, the song and dance man (or woman.) THe modern evolutiuon of that, to me, is the pop star a la Madonna, Britney, Michael, Janet….Lady Gaga. THeir concerts are choreographed and all about putting on a show. Or….
…what she said. Apparently I am not the only one who watched some of Adam’s more outrageous youtubes and thought Lady Gaga.
My knollish guess is that it’s no coincidence that we have pimpage of someone like Adam and Jacko theme night in the same season. Artistry was sooo Season 7, apparently, and they already have their serious artist musician type winner. Wasn’t there also talk of a Britney week this year? I think they might be hoping to try and fit Adam into that kind of pop star slash uber-entertainer mold, and that’s storyline A this season. (Storyline B would obvs be attack of the blue eyed soul patrol worship leaders with sob stories. Pass the offering plate.) The stage presence, the penchant for outrageous costumes…it kind of fits. I don’t believe, if Adam won, that the suits are thinking his album would be a throwback to 70s glam rock, really, or very rock at all, much as I would enjoy it. I think maybe he’d get signed to Jive and the record would be more rhythmic and poppy, club music-ish, maaaaybe a little raunchy here and there, with a big ballad or two. I think the vocals can be toned down and tweaked for radio while allowing for OTT stylings in concert. That’s my working theory. For now.
Have you ever seen George Michael perform (other than his not so great performance on AI)?
Same thing happens with George Michael.
To a lot of girls, it doesn’t matter that Adam is gay. He’s still hot and charming and all the things that some girls like. The non-delusional ones know they wouldn’t have a chance with him even if he were straight, so it’s still just as fun to spazz over him. And from what I’ve seen, there are quite a few girls who find him even hotter *because* he’s gay.
I wasn’t saying it was hilarious because he’s gay. I was saying the OMG HES SOO HOTTTTTT AND UR JUST JELLIS CUZ HES NOT GAYY type thing annoys me. Not the fact that they like him, but the fact that they can’t spell and are ignorant enough to still believe he’s not gay. I have no problem with them screaming for him.
I thought that too. Lady GaGa is amazing, haha. I think Adam might have the same problem she had at first, though. She was so theatrical, she had to release in the UK and Australia before America because people didn’t think Americans would like her. Just Dance was an international hit about a year before it hit America. By the time radio stations here were playing it, other countries had moved on to Poker Face. I’ve seen a lot of theatrical singers catch on oversees, but crash and burn when they try to break America. Adam could have the same problem. They would love him inAustralia, but I’m not sure he will be considered “radio-friendy” here.
To me, Adam sounds like ‘Rockstar: the musical’. He’s Ted Neeley with better hair. I’m just not a fan of his style of singing.
Nice insight and analysis, sunchick. I agree. In fact, hearing Adam’s studio recordings, of “Black and White” in particular, I’d say you’re spot on!
What does “cabaret” mean if intended a criticism though? Choreographed, practiced, polished? If it’s “broadway” or “theatre” I’m back to, boy, I didn’t see that in the performance at all. Oh well, I’m doomed to be dazed and confused, I guess. LOL
ok first of all we know adam is gay no secret and um sorry but hes not gonna win america is primarily christian and sex sells he cant sell it if hes gay true we have elton john but in eltons day which was da 70’s being flamboyant was tolerable and now not so much if he does win I will be shocked but I know hes gonna be n da finals or on tv doin some shyt gokey keeps bringin up da wife which is pathetic we all no megan should have went home becuz she reminds us of a three yer. old at a wedding and we all know kanye sucked …..next subject plzzz
LOL shy215, welcome!
You lost me about halfway through your eight line long sentence, but that’s ok.
But, as for your broad-minded views about Adam and Elton John, I’ll just say, “these times, they are-ah changin’…” We did just elect our first African American President, after all, so there is Hope for anything, imo. But, you could be right — that is, if by “doin some shyt” you mean performing like there’s no tomorrow. 
But I do welcome you, and I hope you stick around! I find your views refreshing, at least with regard to Megan. I have to admit I sort of enjoyed Kanye a little, which yeah, surprised me alot!
I’m sure no one will see this post since it’s on an older thread. But I need to respond anyway.
I totally agree that America isn’t as accepting of theatrics. We’ve seen some great examples recently in American music. But, for example, I heard The Killers on UK radio before I heard them in America. Maybe I’m off on the timing there and they actually did come out here first….but I heard them much more often on UK radio than I did here for quite a while. The Scissor Sisters also seem to be significantly more popular in the UK than they are here.