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Liveblogging AI - Top 36, Week 2

Well, I was correct in my predictions last week, so let's see if I can keep a perfect record.  Vote for the Worst is still pulling for Tatiana, since she will apparently be in the wild card show *blech*

Keep refreshing when the show starts in about 5 minutes :)

Simon's advice for tonight: it's too late for advice. Who are some of these people? *scratching head* The theme is still Billboard Top 100.

Jasmine Murray, "Love Song" (Sara Barailles)

Her lower register is awfully quiet, and the song doesn't really suit her.  I think she has one of the better voices on the women's side, but it was a weak start for her and the show. The judges agree it was iffy, too. Simon just got his first boo for agreeing with the other judges.

(Did anyone hear about Paula's interview when she said the 4th judge thing isn't working? She said it takes too long to get the extra feedback and interrupts the flow of the show.)

(Oh, an iPhone app commercial.  I just bought a 2nd gen iPod Touch, and the apps are awesome!)

Matt Giraud, "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay)

This is one of the guys I don't remember seeing before. Is this the first Coldplay song on AI?  His voice is pretty shaky, and the falsetto isn't good.  Why do people insist on doing something new when it never works out?  Not good, not good at all.  Simon is agreeing again and getting booed again.  Based on the compliments he's gotten about his auditions, he may be a wild card.

(If you're not seeing the Krystal omlette sandwich commercial, you don't know what you're missing *yum*)

Jeanine Vailes, "This Love" (Maroon 5)

Another one I don't remember. She's very pretty, though, so I'm surprised they didn't spend more time on her.  Second most common mistake made by contestants: singing their favorite songs. I love Maroon 5 and sing this in the car, but I wouldn't sing it in public!  She started out very off key, and now she's screaming. WTH?! I'm starting to miss Tatiana.  Simon called it painful, an effort, and a struggle.  All the judges can at least seem to agree she has great legs.  Kara called it overdone, and she's so right.

Hmmm, let's see. I'm not sure who to say is singing next.  I'll just list his name from the official AI site.

(I don't like the new Eliza Dushku Hulu commercial any better than Baldwin's. If I didn't already watch Hulu, I don't think this would encourage me.)

Nick Mitchell, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (Dreamgirls)

Oh, no, not the goofy guy schtick again. I think he probably has a good voice in there somewhere, though.  He's changing the lyrics to beg to stay on the show.  And is he getting more time than the others, or is it my imagination?  I guess this is "Last Comic Standing" now. Simon is praying he doesn't go through to the next round. Why he's not the Vote for the Worst choice is beyond me.

He is funny, though :)  But wouldn't you be pissed if you were a contestant taking this seriously and got kicked off while he stayed?

(Jack Bauer is my hero *swoon*)

Allison Iraheta, "Alone" (Heart)

Worst pre-song interview since Jason Castro, but hopefully she will sing better.  Hey, a girl with a decent low register - who da thunk?  This girl can rock!  Very good performance, best of the night so far. Randy said she "blew it out da box," whatever that means. Simon likes her and says the competition started just now. He called her out on the bad interview, though :)

(Notice how there's less to say when they're good?)

Kris Allen, "Man in the Mirror" (Michael Jackson)

John Mayer Lite is singing MJ.  Didn't he watch last week's show when they blasted the guy for singing MJ? He's got a really good voice, and a touchy-feely song is always a safe choice.  Maybe he can get away with the MJ thing after all. Well, maybe not. Kara says it was a bad song choice.

STOP THE PRESSES!! Paula disagreed with Kara!! And Simon agrees!! Kris may survive to sing another day.

(I don't know who's singing next - had to move to the other TV so the hubby can watch "Lost" in HD.)

Megan Corkrey, "Put Your Records On" (Corinne Bailey Rae)

Oh, I liked her a lot from the auditions. She seems very genuine.  This song is the perfect style for her. She isn't singing it with much soul, but I think she is doing well.  Ended very strongly.  Paula said she did everything right.  Simon called her a funny little thing but thought she oversang the end. Oh, goodness, Randy compared her to Amy Winehouse.  Hopefully she won't be too much like her.

(I (heart) Target commercials.)

Matt Breitzke, "If You Could Only See" (Tonic)

Like a roughneck, you have to respect a welder. That's some hard work. I LOVE this song!! Sing it Matt! (Just don't dance *grin*) I think he's a little too subdued, but he's on key and getting the words right.  Simon hates the song, but what does he know?  It's not the song, it was Matt's delivery.  Randy agrees with me, as well he should.

Jesse Langseth, "Bette Davis Eyes" (Kim Carnes)

She's another one I liked from the auditions, but I'm not crazy about this song choice at all. She's singing it okay, I guess. Maybe everyone else is too young to remember the original and they won't criticize her for it.  The song is just too subdued for a first round performance.  Randy says the song doesn't show who she is.  Paula is right, she does have a unique voice, but she won't get votes, I'm afraid.

BTW, the original was released in 1981, about 6 years earlier than I thought.  I was 12.

(Nannerpuss is CREEPY!!)

Kai Kalama, "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" (Jimmy Ruffin)

I like Kai's voice a lot, and this song shows it off a little.  He ended well, even if he had a few shaky notes (likely due to nerves).  Afraid they'll knock him for singing an old song.  As if on cue, Kara knocks him for singing an old song.  Simon called him corny and compared it to a wedding singer.  They do have a point, though.  Will teenagers vote for someone who sings songs released before their parents were likely born?

(Did the Secretary of Taste work for the Clinton administration, too?)

Mishavonna Henson, "Drops of Jupiter" (Train)

Mishavonna was cut during Hollywood week last season. I love me some Train, so she better not mess it up.  I like it, so she gets to live ;)  Her "ay ay ay" is a bit annoying, however her "nah nah nah" is much better.  Please ax the gaze into the camera!  Paula doesn't like the song, but Simon says it's too serious and left him cold.  I think they're being way too hard on her.  And the infamous "sing younger" comment is crap.  They'll tell a singer to sing younger, and, when the singer does, they'll say it was too young. ARGH!

Only one more to go!

(I never understood the attraction to watching NASCAR. Now, watching Kasey Kahne I get *wink*)

Adam Lambert, "Satisfaction" (Rolling Stones)

You've got to be kidding me. Adam strikes me as the David Cook wannabe of the season.  $10 bucks Simon says it's karaoke. Sounds screechy to me. Paula loves him, which proves she's deaf.  Simon says parts were excruciatingly bad and parts brilliant.  Randy compares him to Steven Tyler, which proves he's deaf.  Blech :-P

Okay, here are my predictions:

Top girl: Allison Iraheta
Top guy: Adam Lambert - although I wouldn't vote for him
Highest vote getter of the rest: Kris Allen - although I fear it will be Nick/Norman

Liveblogging AI - Top 36, Week 1

I used to liveblog American Idol a few years back, and I've decided to try my hand at it again.  Tonight, we're watching the first 12 of the top 36.  The top male, top female, and top other vote getter will move on to the final 12. The last three will be picked during a wild card show.

So, here we go! The theme tonight is songs that ever made the Billboard top 100.  Keep refreshing that page!

Jackie Tohn, "A Little Less Conversation" (Elvis Presley)
WTH?! And WTH is she wearing?! Bad 80s flashbacks here, and I hate her for making me agree with Simon.  Bad song choice, and she made the only Elvis song I like a joke.

Ricky Braddy, "A Song for You" (Leon Russell)
Didn't Elliot sing this a few seasons back? Wow, that last note was bad - what are the judges thinking? He's not horrible, but he's kinda bland. Oh, Lord, I agree with Simon again *slap to forehead*

(According to Wikipedia, Elliot Yamin did sing "A Song for You"  during Season 5.)

Alexis Grace, "Never Loved a Man" (Aretha Franklin)
She's not bad at all and has a lot of voice for a little body.  And she managed to look edgy without wearing hotpants *cough*Jackie*cough* The judges seem to like her so far, and even Simon managed a compliment, saying she reminds him of Kelly Clarkson.

Ryan says they're about to go country, so get ready for a snarky putdown from Simon.

(I HATE the Baldwin Hulu commercial!!)

Brent Keith, "Hicktown" (Jason Aldean)
I hope the tape screw-up doesn't throw him off.  After starting off a little rough, he's starting to get into it a little. He definitely started strong, but it still sounds a little like a bar singer. I wonder if any of the judges have even heard of Jason Aldean. Simon hates country, so I'm not surprised he hated it.

(Want. iPod. Touch. Now.)

Stevie Wright, "You Belong With Me" (Taylor Swift)
Oh, no, not good. Her lower register is bad, and her voice is so shaky. A Taylor Swift song was such a good choice, too. She knows she's not doing well, poor thing. And the first example of the season of the judges criticizing a singer for doing what they told them to do. Oh, and her mom called them out on it. Good for you, Mom!!

Anoop Desai, "Angel of Mine" (Monica)
I love this guy, but I wish he'd chosen an upbeat song. This song is so, um, sedate. He did not come out swinging on this one. Maybe he'll be a wild card pick. The judges are saying he was a little off key, and they're right. His parents are so adorable!

Did Ryan say the next girl is singing the Police?!

Casey Carlson, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (The Police)
Kill me now. She was not even alive when I first heard this song in high school! Sting would turn in his grave if he were dead. Okay, not that bad, maybe. Definitely no ska/reggae feel to it at all. Hey, the judges agree with me. Killed by song choice yet again.

(Am I the only one that doesn't watch "Project Runway?)

Michael Sarver, "I Don't Wanna Be" (Gavin DeGraw)
You got to respect anyone that's a roughneck. He's not bad, but I can't help but think of Bo Bice's awesome rendition of this song in Season 4.  He ended a little rough, too. I still want to hear him sing John Michael Montgomery or Toby Keith. Hey, Simon was nice to him - I'm shocked!

Ann Marie Boskovich, "Natural Woman" (Aretha Franklin)
Not really feelin' it, dog. She certainly isn't as good as Alexis, and her voice wasn't up to the song. But I disagree that she should sing, "young and girly," though. Maybe she will do better on the wild card show.

Wow, these parent interviews are trending to the awkward. Bet they don't do those next season.

(WOLVERINE!!!)

Stephen Fowler, "Rock With You" (Michael Jackson)
Is it my imagination, or are the backup singers off key? Better than most of the guys, but that's not saying a whole lot. Not a good song choice, either. The fact that he's singing on a bad night for the guys might save him. Thanks to Simon for pointing out that the keyboard was AWFUL!

Oh, Lord, Tatiana's next. Is Vote for the Worst pulling for her yet? Why, yes they are!

Tatiana Del Toro, "Saving All My Love For You" (Whitney Houston)
No, not a Whitney song. Has she ever watched this show? Seems like she's trying to tone it down, maybe a little too much. The musical arrangement makes the song sound older than it already is, and that's not doing her any favors. Tatiana has a good voice, but her personality so gets in her way.

They need to hurry up or they're going to run out of time.

Danny Gokey, "Hero" (Mariah Carey)
I like this guy's voice a lot. He's doing well with a song that I didn't think was a good choice. He definitely ended the show on a high note. Bringing up the wife on every show bothers me a bit; I can't help it. I suspect that is the producers' doing, though.

My choices for the night:

Top girl: Alexis
Top guy: Danny
Highest vote getter of the rest: Tie between Anoop and Michael