This week was a complete turn-around in some respects.
As I expected,(and predicted in predictions) David A sang the sort of song the producers know works for him, Carly finally got a song that was right for her, and David C adressed his song choice criticism, andalthough I wouldn't call changing the key and doing a typical acoustic-rock adaptation you'd see at any open mic night 'original' as far as an arangement, he sang well.
Brooke-Jolene...This was reasonably good, but not as good as some of her other performances. The song just didn't seem to work for some reason. I think this was her week to have a 'just-okay' performance while there are others all but guarenteed to be voted off instead.Next week, she will shine.
David C--Little Sparow I think it was a basic open-mic style acoustic performance and predictable.I did laugh that the segment where he explained his choices was given so much time. The producers must reeeally want him for the final four. I also noticed the start of the 'Daughtry Treatment' , as expected, as far as help from the soundman in the mix. Having said that, he sang it very well and performed it well, too. With Chikezie gone, there is no one left with a better tone and range , which will make it smooth sailing for David C. He didn't blow me away, but he was definitely one of the best of the remaining contestants this week...Vocally, he made smart choices, and I liked the sound of his voice this week.
Ramiel --Do I Ever Cross Your Mind....umm....no, you don't. Pitchy, weak, and forgettable.Not terrible, but not anywhere near as good as some of the others.
Carly--Here You Come Again...Bravo, Carly! She didn't force her voice, she stayed within her more-than-respectable range, and she sounded beautiful. This song was right for her...not yet the best she can do, but very, very good. One of the best vocals this week. I expected this this week, as she was starting to be in danger if she didn't give a good performance. She really does have a gorgeous and interesting tone, and I enjoyed finally being able to hear it.
Jason C-Better than last week. He put some effort into his performance. Okay vocally, but he just hasn't got enough stage-presence or voice to really compete with some of the others left in this competition.
Kristy...Coat of Many Colors---vocally okay, and okay performance-wise. She tried to showcase her vocal at the end, wich was a mistake. All it showed was that she has to put effort into even the most non-challenging of notes/vocal melodies. I was not impressed, but America will probably vote for the song...this was the smartest non-flag-waving tune she could have picked this week.
David A--Smokey Mountain Memories....as I predicted in the predictions thread, he was given a song that makes the most of what he can do....he was also given the kindest mix of the night...but what he can do is not as much as the others can, and it shows if you know what to listen for. All the same, he is safe, as was the plan.On pitch mostly, good tone, reasonable range and performance, but not outstanding compared to the others .
Syesha-I will Always Love You....I thought she did an excellent job. She is no Whitney, and she is smart enough to know it. She got the balance between the Dolly and Whitney versions just right, and that made the song right for her . Vocally, it was beautiful, consistent, and I liked how she chose to stick to the melody even when powering through the glory notes instead of going melismatic. The performance was very good too. I hope that will be enough to keep her in for at least one more performance. She may go home, but she does not deserve to.
Michael--It's All Wrong, But it's Alright.....Decent performance, about the same as last week, but less vocally demanding. Nothing great, but nothing bad either. He just isn't as good vocally as the songs he tries to sing, and that will keep him out of the finals.
My favorites tonight of the remaining 9 were
1/2--David C/Carly...Both made smart choices vocally this week. Both performed well. Both impressed me more than the others this week, and I thought they were equally good vocally and otherwise for different reasons. Carly has the most potential vocally, David C has the most as a performer.
3 Syesha-- she sang and performed beautifully and made the most of a tired and overdone song . I am glad she didn't go for the Whitney copycat vocal, which is actually not difficult to copy.She made it her own as much as it is possible to without going too far from the well-established original to do well in this kind of competition.
4 David A---I actually wish some of the others had done better, because the help he gets in the mix and everything pushing him to be in the final four annoys me, but he was the fourth best of those remaining this week. Given a song that really is challenging he would fall apart like he did last week, but credit where it is due-he sang well compared to some others.
5 Brooke...I was hoping she would sing something that suited her better, and was a little disapointed this week, but she still did well and 'Brooke' shone through enough to keep me listening. I think she and Carly might have done better had they gotten each other's songs....maybe that is why they didnt
6/7 Michael and Jason....equally good for different reasons this week.
8 Ramiel---forgettable
9 Kristy--forgetable performance of a memorable song
Once again, Kristy and Ramiel deserve to go home. Chances are it will be Syesha instead, especially as she is the biggest threat to the final four the producers seem to be trying for based on edits/mix/help/etc.
I hope she gets at least one more week, though she may , as Babeth said, be better off not winning. She has many other options and I will not be surprised to see her succeed regardless of Idol.
I am guessing Syesha or Ramiel leave this week.
I like his new haircut too!
