Top 11 iTunes Performance Review – It’s Country Y’all
Reviews of this week’s iTunes recordings, just for y’all.
My favorites: Allison Iraheta–For the mother ‘effing win baby. Love her country-fried take on Patty Loveless. Kris Allen’s gorgeous “To Make You Feel My Love” and Adam Lambert’s vocally stunning “Ring of Fire.”
- Michael Sarver -à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ Ainà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t Goinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Down Til the Sun Comes Upà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Garth Brooks – I’m not drinking the Michael Sarver haterade along with most folks. He’s not the best singer, but I think he’s a good singer, and his voice records beautifully. The arrangement of this song could use a little more punch, but I think Michael sounds great. – iTunes
- Allison Iraheta – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Blame it on Your Heartà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Patty Loveless – Allison reminds me of Roseanne Cash here–a huge compliment. I was pissed when Simon tried to throw her under the bus this week–her performance was one of the best of the night. This recording is even better. Loves it. I gotta start voting for this girl. I don’t want to lose her too. – iTunes
- Kris Allen – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“To Make You Feel My Loveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Garth Brooks – Gorgeous. Kris brings a couple more twists and turns to his phrasing here making it even better than his fine live performance. - iTunes
- Lil Rounds – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Independence Dayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Martina McBride – Last week, I thought Lil’s live performance was better than the recording, this week it’s the opposite. Lil was pitchy and boring live. On the recording she brings it on the verses, and pulls off the chorus without belting it out, making the entire performance more consistent, and heartfelt. – iTunes
- Adam Lambert – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Ring of Fireà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Johnny Cash – While Adam’s performance of “Ring of Fire” was over-the-top, his vocals were not. This week, he pulled back the heavy metal screaming to give a skilled and subtle vocal performance. Ditto the recorded version. Adam slithers around the notes, using his dazzling falsetto to great effect. I’m totally hearing the Jeff Buckley comparisons. Me likes. - Tunes
- Scott MacIntyre – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Wild Angelsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Martina McBride – I don’t have much more to say about Scott that I haven’t said before. Scott’s vocals are pleasant, but he sounds exactly the same, no matter the genre. His recordings sound better than his pitchy live performances. But you know…Zz. – iTunes
- Alexis Grace – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Joleneà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Dolly Parton – It was the awkward arrangement of “Jolene” that killed Alexis’ Idol run, not the song choice. It’s such a shame too. I feel robbed of seeing a talented singer grow throughout this competition. While I’m still hating on the arrangement, she’s got some fine vocal moments in this recording. Damn. – iTunes
- Danny Gokey – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Jesus Take the Wheelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Carrie Underwood – The recording is a big improvement on the live version, where Danny alternated between sounding like ass on the verses, and Screamy McScreamerton on the choruses. The recording is nice, if a little dull. I can totally hear Danny doing country flavored Christian Contemporary. In fact, I think Danny will end up a Christian recording artist once all is said and done. – iTunes
- Anoop Desai – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“You Were Always on My Mindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Willie Nelson – After Anoop finally brought the vocals this week, I was so excited. He can sing y’all! I can root for him after all. But now, sitting at my computer listening to the recording, I’m not quite as thrilled. He’s still got it going on vocally–nice riffing in the last verse. A little flat, the recording fails to capture Anoop’s charisma. – iTunes
- Megan Joy Corkrey - à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Walking After Midnightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Patsy Cline – A ha! I just figured out what bugs me about Megan’s singing. While she’s got an unusual and interesting vocal tone, she has no clue how to interpret a song. She brings the the exact same vocal affectation to every one of her performances, no matter what it is. Megan records well, but the result is a little empty. – iTunes
- Matt Giraud – à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“So Smallà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ by Carrie Underwood – The recording sounds more countrified than the live recording, which had more of a soul vibe going. While Matt’s vocal’s became a little unweildy toward the end of his live performance, they’re just perfect here. Matt still gets my vote as most commercially viable performer of the whole bunch. – iTunes
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86 Responses to “Top 11 iTunes Performance Review – It’s Country Y’all”
I still think the contest is anyone’s to win and not Danny’s and Adam to lose.
I personally to think Danny has been over pimped for the performances he’s given and not sure he will carry his momentum through to the finale. Adam seems to be a very polarising contestant and I think this will be what costs him his chance. I’m not loving Allison, I think her vocals are ok, but she doesn’t connect with the audience and that is why she seems to be consistantly near the bottom on DI. Can’t see that changing.
In a year where personality seems to be almost as important as vocal talent, I think consistently good performances from Anoop & Kris could catapult them to real contenders. Will be interesting to see if they can do it and make this contest really interesting.
couldn’t agree more with MJ
Kris’ version of that song is simply gorgeous. What pure/nice vocal he has. Allison’s is cool too.
I really really like Adam. He has a voice like no other I have ever heard and he sure knows how to perform.
I have not bought the songs of Itunes, last year during Idol we tried, but since we live in Germany, we couldn’t as this is only possible for people living in the U.S
Don’t quite get why, but oh well.
Anyways, I like Allison but for me she is sorta a not quite so good copy of Carly from season 7. Their voices are quite similar in my opinion.
Matt really surprised me, I enjoyed his performance very much.
Lil, well she has a great voice but sounds so much alike so many other recording artists, nothing special there.
Megan well, she is cute, her singing is kinda boring. Yes she sounds similar to Duffy, but the original is so much better.
I do hope Adam wins..
As for Denny, he sure struggled.. and he gets pimped way too much.
I bought and have been enjoying Allison and Kris’s. I love Allison’s edge and Kris’s recording voice is surprisingly good. I may have to pick up the phone and start voting for Allison. For some reason she is not getting much love from the judges.
I appreciate how different Adam is and the fact he is willing to take risks, but there is something about the tone of his voice that I just don’t like.
Only bought Adam’s. Love.
I wish we had Itunes sales data this year. I’m dieing to know how everyone’s selling. Any secret squirrels out there?
Only Idol 8 iTunes I have bought so far:
Adam “Black and White”
Adam “Ring of Fire”
I have been playing both on repeat – they are addictive!!!!!!!!!!
Allison’s and Carly’s voices don’t sound alike to me. Allison’s voice is low and husky, while Carly’s was a bit shrill imo.
I just bought Allison’s 3 songs on itunes. I want to support her as long as she’s on the show. I don’t think I’ll vote though or even watch the show, just her parts and visiting artists and a few performances here and there. Okay out of curiosity I might have to see what Adam is doing too.
I hope the producers and judges wake up after so many reviewers and critics have been saying how talented Allison is. I hope they wake up and start showcasing her, and giving her her due.
Some idols have been in the bottom 3 a lot and yet make it to the top, like Syesha and Kim Locke. So I hope she’s one of those who will stick around. She should at least be in the top 3 or even 2.
Actually a finale with Allison and Adam would probably be amazing. Most of the others aren’t as talented or as accomplished singers/performers unless someone really improves over the weeks.
Adam’s performance makes me laugh every time I hear that high “ooh” note. But unfortunately, it’s laugh like how I enjoyed Nick Mitchell’s performance. The Soup and VH1’s Best Week Ever both made fun of it this weekend in an anti-Adam kind of way, which I’m sure the Idol folks like for the publicity and controversy. But at the end of the day they don’t want a joke contestant winning, which is what he is in real danger of becoming.
I think if Adam didn’t have such an incredible voice, he would get dinged more for his stage performance. But it seems to me people who are exceptionally talented are usually just a bit eccentric. I mean look at Mick Jagger. He’s got such soul in his voice and connects so well with his music, so the funny dances moves and outfits seem to fit. Same with Steven Tyler and Freddie Mercury. I think Adam can pull it off because he is just so talented. The Soup and VH1 need to come up with material every week, so everyone is a target.
Kris’s recording is beautiful! I have it on repeat right now.
I can’t stop listening to Matt’s “So Small”. His voice is incredible.
Great recording voice. I hope Matt lasts a very long time in this show. He is the real deal.