I don't rate him at all. To me he's a bit like this year's Taylor Hicks. An average bar room singer, with a certain charisma of particular appeal to women, and a hair factor (in this case a beard).

He looks like a Monaco playboy, taking time out away from his yacht, and has a bleached smile to make even Simon Cowell envious, and he sings like a Rod Stewart tribute act.

Sorreeee.

I like his voice, it's one of the few in this year's batch that's genuinely distinctive, and that you can tell is him straight away. I bet it would record like a dream, too.

He has to be reined in on stage though, that wandering around in a daze schtick is going to get old really fast... no way he gets higher than top 5, but I hope he gets a decent run.

He's got a lot of ground to make up, he has a fan base, but it was way too early in the series to have a performance like that - if he pulls it back this week then he's in with a shot, but another performance and song choice like that I think he's going to be toast earlier then anyone expected. Especially with James gaining momentum at the moment.

I'm really undecided on him, there are aspects of his voice I do really like, and he was an initial favourite, but after last week he's got to win me, and from what I've read on other sites, a fair amount of people back.

I'm the opposite, before the live shows I thought he was mind-numbingly dull so it was nice to see a more quirky side to him being brought out, he just needs to refine it I suppose.

lol this was on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMyDoHRgfP8&

I've read a lot of comments on other boards saying that it's Casey, rather than Paul, who is like Taylor Hicks.

I'm really hoping he can up his game, because I do like him, but he hasn't been all that great since the finals started.

I have been listening to his pre-idol album with the Grand magnolias recently, and I have to say, it's quite good.
http://thegrandmagnolias.com/music-and-lyrics/

I don't understand what's happening to him on idol...but I can think of few possible explanations:

- He is not interested in advancing in the competition, he just wanted the exposure.
or
- He is bussed big time by TPTB because he came throughas a potential WGWG winner after the semi-finals. For example, they won't let him do his own arrangement, or they feed him and off sound through the ear pieces and they encourage him to carry on with the silly dancing.
or
- He can't get used to learning covers quickly enough.

I think Michael Slezak has it pretty nailed down, with regards Paul and all the contestants - third video down on this link (and not just posted for the cameo from a certain WGWG )

http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/americ...-jimmy-iovine/

Hello..Is that ma you're looking for?

Going back to season 10, I agree that Iovine and his team of super producers seem to stifle creativity, but it doesn't explain why Paul in particularly is doing so badly out of it.
Why is he so out of tune, why do they let him do the bird dancing?

Well, the bird dancing defies all reasonable explanation if he's not either (1) drunk or (2) drunk, a dad and dancing at a wedding

The tuning issues are worrying, I've sort of given him a free pass to this week due to his cold, but if he's out again this week... well he's not the first to completely blow up once they reach the lives, but its not normally someone with his amount of experience, which is puzzling

I bought the Grand Magnolias and Hghtide Blues albums & EP from iTunes. Paul's recorded voice is superb.

Under their HB name, they sang quite a lot of covers, though I've yet to seek out if any of them are on Youtube.

Also, GM were asking fans on Twitter to guess which Motown cover they did, as a possible teaser to what Paul may do on this week's show. Though, they've yet to reply and tell which one it was.

The difference being Casey isn't half the singer Taylor is.


But that WGWG is in a different zone to the other WGWGs we have had to endure on AI.

I think the comments being made were more about the showmanship of them both. I never watched S5, though I did see Taylor's guest performance on S8, but can't remember much about it if I'm honest., so I can't really comment on his vocals or showmanship.

Okay, I'm a forum thicko - what does WGWG stand for?!?

White guy with guitar

Aaaah! I get it now, thanks!

Ooh, and i reckon he was slightly better this week as the guitar seems to keep his left arm in check! Still missing the subtlety of his Blackbird performance though!!!

The problem with 'Sting' is his voice is so thin, it has no depth or power.

Loved him - miss him - wish him well

aww i miss him as well hoping good things come for him x

Oh but what a poor performance by him with the other rejected contestants - he could not hold his harmonies at all and often copped out of singing entirely! Not a natural musician I'm afraid.

I really, really didn't like the tone of his voice. Then again I never really liked Rod Stewarts tone (eventhough I liked a few of his songs). So I was never going to like a soundalike.

need to add a few things here

1. He is a natural musician moreso than most of them on there, all the stuff his band did pre x factor was written and sung by him. Look at ihs american dreams performance pre live shows and his grand magnolias stuff

2. He only arrived in LA a few hours before the live show on the weds night, so he hadnt rehearsed.

3. Do we genuinely think that this song would suit his voice anyway!!!! thats ridiculous to sing

4. He had had laser treatment on his vocal chords earlier in the day therefore his voice was shot to pieces anyway(he has nodes on his vocal chords)

And i love his voice, the tone of his voice, his original stuff and look forward to seeing more of him!

I think Paul was the marmite contestant. I can understand people not liking him ( or rather not liking his voice) but I loved him.

I also grew to love that strange staggering around the stage he did, similar to when you try and walk when you are rendered helpless with laughter. I found it endearing

I suppose the fact that he hadn't rehearsed would explain his poor performance, but none of your other points really explain his inability to hit the right notes. I'm not anti-Paul, but if you'd switched off the girls mics and listened to him alone, it would have been hilariously bad to listen to.

I think the fact that his voice was shot to pieces would explain it really. He nearly had to pull out the competition due to the nodes on his vocal chords, and his voice was getting worse and worse as the competition went on. if you have a problem with your vocal chords its going to affect your range and ability to sing, i know i sing myself. here was a point to say that he stopped singing at times this can be explained by the fact he was stuggling with his voice and also the fact he didnt know the song and actually didnt know all the words. It smacked of something thrown together at the last minute.

My boyfriend, who doesn't watch the show, often thought some random bloke had run on stage