Monthly Archives: May 2010

Say Goodbye to the Small Stage

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Laura | 1 Comment

Next week we are at the Nokia. The finale on the big stage. And dialidol is the most confident with their ouster prediction as they have been all season. So I don’t think there will be a shocker tonight.

[What? I am blogging a results show?!? That is the only big shocker of the night, I know.]

The first ten minutes are intros and a little talk back session with the top 3 and the judges. [filler filler filler....]

After the break we get the Ford commercial to I’m A Wild One. Then we get to go home to Texas with Casey. They had a great turnout (as I would expect–everything is bigger in Texas) and all the girls seemed very enthusiastic about Casey! I liked that he went to visit the hospital, as well.

Travis Garland (??) discovered by Perez Hilton (????) performs next. Perez is discovering new vocal talent now? What is this world coming to? I do like that this guy is kind of unknown, but the whole stagey dancey production was a bit over the top. Also, how does he get more vocal screen time than the contestants? There are so many questions that I have about this.

I am encouraged by the reports I read about next season on Idol the results show will only be a half hour, and the performance show will be 90 minutes. A LONG OVERDUE improvement.

After the break, we visit Toledo with Crystal. Aww, she is so emotional, and she got to see her son. That was quickly followed by Lee in Chicago, which was equally as adorable. Midwest FTW!

Well, we have 15 minutes left. No talks of eliminations yet. So what better thing to do than bring out Justin Bieber for a completely irrelevant performance! Clearly the logical choice.

With seven minutes left, we finally get around to the purpose of the show. (We did tune in for a purpose, right?) Lee gets his summary first, followed by Crystal and then Casey. Lee finds out he is safe, followed quickly by Crystal, with Casey making his exit tonight.

ELIMINATED TONIGHT: CASEY JAMES

He sings his exit song of Daughters, and seems like he is enjoying himself. This leaves the obvious pairing of Crystal and Lee in the finale, where it is really Lee’s game to lose. We will see how things go next week, it should be fun!

Also, I owe a heads-on-maps graphic (for Dave) but since my latest computer crash, all of my files are on my old hard drive. Once I rescue that file, I will post the photgraphic. Additionally, I scored some swag for a fun giveaway, which I will post information on shortly. So, all sorts of fun things are coming up for finale week!

→ 1 Comment

Posted in American Idol, Idol 9, Results Shows

CompShop: Hallelujah

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Laura | 1 Comment

This is the second time we have seen this song in season 9, (one was clearly inferior) but we shall compare those two with Mr. Castro from season 7. So, will it be Dreds? The long lost JoBro? or the Paint Salesman?

Jason Castro:

Tim Urban:

Lee DeWyze:

→ 1 Comment

Posted in CompShop, Idol 9

Three Contestants, Two Songs

Posted on May 18, 2010 by Laura | 1 Comment

In previous seasons, there used to be three contestants and three songs. Ahhhh, the good old days. Now there is too much chatter and att store pimpage that they can’t quite squeeze out 18 minutes of music in a one-hour show. But I digress.

I am still hoping for that awesome breakout performance. Let’s go, kids!

01. Casey James	+1/2	“Ok It’s Alright With Me” by Eric Hutchenson – I liked this song! It wasn’t amazing, but it is a nice laid-back style that is reflective of him as an artist. In that regard, it was pretty good. However, he is still going home tomorrow.
02. Crystal Bowersox	+1/2	“Come To My Window” by Melissa Etheridge – I Love this song! But I have to agree with Randy that I didn’t love this arrangement. Her vocal was ok, but I was distracted by the harmonica on it, and thought it was counter-productive to the vocal – it was weird and in the way, and seemed like an afterthought. Meh. I liked Kim Caldwell’s version way back in Season 2 better.
03. Lee DeWyze		“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd – Good work, Lee! He has been slowly gaining momentum, and he really came out and showed how it should be done.
04. Casey James		“Daughters” by John Mayer – Meh – I don’t like this song, but I thought his vocal was ok. His guitar playing is superb, as always. And I do like Casey singing John Mayer, but there are so many better John Mayer songs! This was a song choice fail, judges.
05. Crystal Bowersox	+1/2	“Baby I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney – This was a pretty good song choice for her, and it was pushing her vocal range. However, I think it showed off that she is not a very strong vocalist. I know that isn’t always what things are about, especially this season, but all season I have been waiting for an amazing vocal, and I don’t think I have gotten a single amazing vocal yet. So pretty good, but in the final 3, I am still waiting for more.
06. Lee DeWyze	+1/2	“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen – Ok, so I think I take back my previous statement — This vocal was amazing! It was unfortunately ruined by the backup singers, the smoke, the lighting, etc. I just wanted to hear him sing! Despite this, this was the moment he needed, and as my husband noted, “He just Carrie Underwooded that song!”

Lee may have wrapped up his win tonight – He came out fighting on both songs, and even my beloved Bowersox didn’t step up tonight the way she needed to.

Casey combined two lackluster performances with the unfortunate placement in the dead-man’s spot, and is a sure ouster tomorrow. Bowersox and Lee will battle it out at the Nokia. Though I have a feeling with an incredible performance next week, Bowersox still has a slight chance to pull it off, after tonight, it is Lee’s competition to lose.

I am excited to see their hometown visit footage tomorrow. It will be nice to see some good midwestern (x2) and Texas love!

→ 1 Comment

Posted in American Idol, Idol 9, Performance Shows

Annual Duet Night

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Laura | 1 Comment

As much as I loathe the fact that there is less and less singing, last year’s duet night brought about the awesome Slow Ride performance that I love to watch, even still. Let’s hope another awesome duet will happen tonight.

01. Lee DeWyze	+1/2	“Kiss From A Rose” by Seal – This song was my freshman year of high school homecoming song. Ahh, the memories. Lee’s performance was a little lackluster. There were parts where it was really nice, but other parts that were pitchy. He should have picked a better song, because it is such a hard song to perfect.
02. Michael Lynche	+1/2	“The Free Willy song” by Michael Jackson – I loved the song choice for him, but I never felt like he reached his potential. He needed to rip this song, and it never happened–I think the song just started way too low for him.
DUET: Crystal & Lee	+1/2	“Falling Slowly” – Has this song been “claimed” by Kris Allen? Maybe, but this was an excellent rendition, as well. I love their voices together – a very coffee house vibe. I enjoyed it.
03. Casey James		“Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel – I actually loved this rendition from him. I thought he switched it up enough to make it interesting, I thought his pitch was spot on, and I think he might make it through tonight. Go Casey!
04. Crystal Bowersox		“I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins – Go Bowersox! This is such a fun song anyway, and I loved the liberties she took with it.
DUET: Mike & Casey	+1/2	“Have You Really Ever Loved A Woman” by Bryan Adams – Nice work boys, and Casey’s guitar playing was so fantastic! Their voices really blended well together.

Man, this is a tough night! I know many people think Casey is out, but I think he was better than Mike, and deserves to stay. Regardless, I think Casey and Mike will go 3/4 and Crystal and Lee will go 1/2 – the order of those is yet to be determined.

That said, tonight was an opportunity for someone to step up and be awesome, and that didn’t happen from anyone.

As a side note, I know I have been MIA. Again. Twice in one season is not good. This no-DVR situation needs to be solved. In the meantime, however, school is over and I am here for the duration!