You can purchase by clicking the the banner here ‘>. You help support the site too if you click, so thanks in advance! My take on this week’s recordings:
1. David Cook ‘ …Always Be My Baby
2. David Archuleta ‘ …When You Believe
3. Jason Castro ‘ …I Dont Wanna Cry
4. Brooke White ‘ …Hero
5. Carly Smithson ‘ …Without You
6. Kristy Lee Cook ‘ …Forever
7. Syesha Mercado ‘ …Vanishing
ETA: TPTB have take away the popularity bars for AI recordings, but the iMix thingy still works. You can check out the charts at Rickey’s . David Cook’s “Always Be My Baby” is #1 on the iTunes Top 100 right now… As of this morning:
- David Archuleta – “When You Believe” – I didn’t like this song live. The recorded version of the song is even duller. Please, no more puppies and rainbows. Save it for the coronation song, Mkay?
- Carly Smithson – “Without You” – I’m not loving the cabaret, Celine Dion version of this song. Not digging the background vocals, either. Carly would be right at home performing this in Vegas. Is this really Carly? Performing in Vegas? Just who is Carly Smithson? Will we ever find out?
- Syesha Mercado – “Vanishing” – I love the recorded version of this song. Once her vocals on the high end are tidied up, she sounds fabulous. So pretty. Syesha chose her song well this week.
- Brooke White – “Hero” – Eh. Not a great song to begin with. I hate the syrupy guitars and strings. I would have preferred the piano front and center. Brooke sounds fine, but the entire effect is rather dull.
- Kristy Lee Cook – “Forever” – Kristy Lee has a good recording voice. Fewer strings and more pedal steel would have been nice, but overall I like the arrangement. With a little tweaking, I can hear this song on country radio. I think this is Kristy’s best performance.
- David Cook – “Always Be My Baby” – The original version of this song does absolutely nothing for me, but I love love LOVE David’s arrangement of this song. Nothing can match the passion of his live performance, but this recorded version is very, very good.
- Jason Castro – “I Don’t Wanna Cry” – I’d prefer Jason recorded without strings and background vocals, but it’s OK. His quirky vocals and exquisite phrasing still manage to draw the listener in. Just lovely.
