IdolPhenomena

Set Fire to the Rain by Adele


Hometown Glory by Adele


Me Ty by Elvana Gjata


Que Creias by Selena

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Also take a listen to the title track #Burn It Down below...
  Burn It Down by Alex Nester

Y6 Guys - Rich Girl

  Rich Girl by wegmusic
Y6 Girls - Fame
  Fame by wegmusic

  Tear It Down feat. DJ Shaw-T (Explicit) by Sylvie Rocks


 

Fallin' by Alicia Keys

You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette

Rolling in the Deep by Adele

Click on the IMAGE of Katrina to go the link for her track All Eyes on Me on CDBaby.com !!!

Fresh


Meet in the Middle


Animal by Neon Trees

Jacob Lusk

Song Choice: Oh No Not my Baby

My Thoughts: This song definitely had a catchy beat. I was just not impressed I apparently expect more out of Jacob.

Rating: 2.5/3- Stars

Lauren Alaina

Song Choice: Where you Lead

My Thoughts: Lauren’s performance was just okay tonight.

Rating: 2/3- Stars

Duet #1

Haley & Casey

Song Choice: I Feel the Earth Move

My Thoughts: This was absolutely ear-wrenching. The solos were good but the harmonies were truly something to be desired.

Scotty McCreery

Song Choice: You’ve got a Friend

My Thoughts: This performance was incredibly good. You just get on stage and do your thing; you make it look so

effort

less. He definitely made the song his own. I just don’t know if a country singer should win.

Rating: 2.5/3- Stars

James Durbin

Song Choice: Will you Still Love me Tomorrow

My Thoughts: This performance was phenomenal. In my mind it was flawless… great job. Definitely American Idol material.

Rating: 3/3- Stars

Duet #2

Soctty & Lauren

Song Choice: Up on the Roof

My Thoughts: Their solos were okay and the harmony was just ehhhh.

Casey Abrams

Song Choice: Hi-De-Ho

My Thoughts: This performance was absolutely amazing like the judges said Casey is such an amazing musician and he truly puts himself into each of his performances. His vocal style is so you unique however I’m not entirely sure it’s American Idol material.

Rating: 3/3- Stars

Haley Reinhart

Song Choice: Beautiful

My Thoughts: At the half way point in this entire competition Haley has finally started becoming an artist. It’s definitely the type of performance I’ve been waiting to see from her I especially liked how it exuded personality. However, wtf kind of head band thingy was in her hair… really?

Rating: 3/3- Stars

Duet #3

Jacob & James

Song Choice: I’m into Something Good

My Thoughts: This has got to be the most awkward pairing but these two definitely aced the duets tonight.

Results….

They opened the show with another god awful medley. Crystal Bowersox performed … what I don’t even remember and Bruno Mars sang The Lazy song. This was all followed by Casey Abrams elimination it’s about time this happened. But he definitely closed the show with a high energy performance of I Put A Spell on You. Great Job.

Top 5: Songs From Then & Now

James Durbin

1^st Song Choice: Closer to the Edge by 30 Seconds to Mars

James owned this performance. He is such a natural performer.

Rating: 3/3- Stars

2^nd Song Choice: Without You by Badfinger

My Thoughts: I loved the real emotion in your performance. I totally felt every word you sang, amazing.

Rating: 3/3- Stars

Jacob Lusk

1^st Song Choice: No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown

My Thoughts: This is such an awkward choice do something like this. Plus you’re not anywhere near Chris Brown vocally and you make an awful Jordin Sparks. You butchered this song… this was a little too different.

Rating: Epic Fail!!!

2^nd Song Choice: Love Hurts by The Everly Brothers

My Thoughts: Better than the first performance.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

Lauren Alaina

1^st Song Choice: Flat on the Floor by Carrie Underwood
My Thoughts: You’re definitely no Carrie but you make a great Lauren. Like the increased level of confidence, Lauren has great potential as a performer.

Rating: 2.5/3- Stars

2^nd Song Choice: Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers

My Thoughts: This was a great vocal I’m not sure I liked the arrangement.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

Scotty McCreery

1^st Song Choice: Gone by Montgomery Gentry

My Thoughts: Great job. Great personality. Scotty just keeps growing as an artist each week. Loved the energy.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

2^nd Song Choice: Always on My Mind by Elvis

My Thoughts: Good vocal lacking a level of emotion that I felt in the other performances throughout but found near end.

Rating: 2.5/3- Stars

Haley Reinhart

1^st Song Choice: You and I by Lady Gaga

My Thoughts: I loved how you harnessed your inner artist tonight. You did phenomenal.
Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

2^nd Song Choice: House of the Rising Sun by the Animals

My Thoughts: Absolutely amazing way to close the show, you truly slayed it. I loved the ominous feel of the vocal.

Rating 3/3- Stars

Results….

All I have to say is that thank you America for eliminating Sister Mary Jacob.

Top 4: Inspirational & Leiber and Stoller Song Book

James Durbin

Inspirational Song Choice: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

My Thoughts: Wasn’t my favorite James performance but he’s going to be a star. He puts on a great show each time he’s on stage. However, he needs to shave that goat beard chin thing.- LOL

Rating: 2/3- Stars

L/S Song Book Choice: Love Potion No. 9

My Thoughts: This was an amazing way to close the show. James you’re such a pro at putting on a show.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

Haley Reinhart

Inspirational Song Choice: The Earth Song by Michael Jackson

My Thoughts: I thought that this performance was a lot of dramatic screaming. On the verge of screaming with style-LOL. But great song choice.

Rating: WTF??? No Stars for You!!!

L/S Song Book Choice: I Who Have Nothing

My Thoughts: I can’t help but agree with judges that Haley had a moment tonight. She definitely deserves to move into the Top 3.

Rating: 3/3- Stars

Scotty McCreery

Inspirational Song Choice: Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning?) by Alan Jackson

My Thoughts: Very relevant with the news of the past few weeks. Great choice I could tell that it meant something to you.

Rating: 2.75/3

L/S Song Book Choice: Young Blood

My Thoughts: Great show good vocal.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

Lauren Alaina

Inspirational Song Choice: Anyway by Martina McBride

My Thoughts: This performance was just so honest and real. I agree with Steven that Lauren truly has the whole package.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

L/S Song Book Choice: Trouble by Elvis

My Thoughts: Lauren great job tonight. You had confidence in yourself and performed with such drive and determination. Keep it up.

Rating: 2.75/3- Stars

Before the results I find it necessary for someone to find Steven Tyler a Thesaurus because if I hear him say beautiful one more time I just might throw something at the television. Plus my dad thinks its cool to use Tylerisms, what is this world coming too????

Results….

Apparently everyone is shocked, but I’m not. But first that was an absolutely amazing performance by Jordin Sparks, wow. So obviously we said good bye to James Durbin at this elimination…. Dare I say it right now we could possibly be looking at an all female finale. What do you all think? Leave some comments if you like :-)

So my X-Factor audition experience was a long couple days, I traveled by car, train and even subway but although my about a minute of singing at about 11:00PM got me cut first round it was worth all the time I put into it. My favorite part of the audition process is meeting new people and getting to be around people that have the same love for music that I have and some are even more passionate about it. It is always incredible to see so many talented people. So my Journey started on 4/13 leaving my home in Central CT and taking a train to NYC. It was there in NY that I got to have a couple hours to myself before meeting up with a friend from HS who was having his Masters Recital for the degree he’s been working on at Julliard after an incredible performance and some catching up I hoped NJ Transit to Park Ridge to meet up with my friend who I would be attending X-Factor auditions with. We traveled back down south to Newark to register and get our red wrist bands. We went back to the house where we were staying and got what sleep we could get before leaving to be at the Prudential center for a bright and early 7AM. There were X-Factor and Pepsi Logos everywhere. We waited several hours outside before getting in and taking our seats in the stadium. In the meantime the production team shot a bunch of promos and there were all sorts of reporters interviewing people in line etc… So first I don’t mean to knock one of my favorite music shows on TV but I felt the X-Factor Auditions are definitely a place for past American Idol Contestants that did not make it to the Top 24 Semi-Finalist rounds. There were America’s Got Talent and American Juniors alumnae there as well. I didn’t physically talk to all the people that were there I wish I had but those people I did meet that day were enough. Some of the people I saw there were; Kelli Glover (American Idol Season 1, America’s Got Talent Season 4) Chauncey Matthews (American Juniors), AJ Melendez (American Juniors, American Idol Season 10), Travis Orlando (American Idol Season 10), Ty Glascoe (American Juniors), Jesse Stearns w/Odysy (American Idol Season 10), Aaron Sanders (American Idol Season 7 Top 50, American Idol Season 10 Top 40), Nate Marshall (American Idol Season 8 Top 32), Antwan Michael (American Idol Season 8), Danielle Pease (American Idol Season 10), Wayne Smith (American Idol Season 10) and Erica Colon (American Idol Season 10 Top 168). Many of these contestants at least made it to the second round but I am unaware of any of them making it any farther into the competition. We will just have to wait until the show airs to see just how far these Newark auditioners made it. So as for the structure of the auditions they were very similar to American Idol auditions you sing in a cubicle for a producer or Sony exec and then they judge you. However, they asked you questions to get to know you and your “story” a little before saying no or moving you on. I unfortunately got a no but my friend got a golden ticket to the second round where she was cut. X-Factor Auditions were definitely a positive experience for me. It helped me develop more confidence in my singing and has helped alleviate more of the nervousness I get when singing in front of people. My past experiences auditioning for Idol for both Season 7 and Season 10 were so much more a blur than this one. Yet, this time I had my eye on the prize sort of speak and it has only made me stronger as a performer. However I definitely met some incredibly talented people including Erica and Alexa Colon, Carl(os)? And friend, Danielle Pease, Guy with Glasses, Blonde Haired Guy with Blazer singing Adele, Wayne Smith & Friend, etc… Yea, now the names get kind of fuzzy so I am going to stop hear.-LOL. I do have some videos of people singing at the Prudential Center during the Audition process but I won’t post them until it gets closer to the X-Factor premiere. And as usual thank you for choosing IdolPhenomena ;-).

Sometimes


Price Tag by Jessie J


Wanted by Jessie James


Reality Show by T.A.T.U.

So I’ve been a little disgruntled with Idol since the public voted Pia Toscano off however, she clearly will be successful even if she is not this year’s winner. I also feel that Paul’s departure was the right decision I just hate the fact that he was one of a couple unique performers in the competition and now he’s gone. I do recognize that everyone’s talented but have a new take on the music scene. Since just recently going to X-Factor auditions in Newark I have developed an affinity for singers who aren’t your run of the mill cookie-cutter pop stars for example Adele and Lykke LI. I really don’t know where that came from and it’s definitely not because my audition song was Someone Like You by Adele. But X-Factor is for another entry on the Blog…

This week’s episode of Idol started off with a fairly decent group number done by the members of the Top 13 who have been voted off already. However there were some things about it that definitely did not fit and that was Paul McDonald singing So What along with the rest of the ladies… wrong song choice for mixed voices…. Idol FAIL. Oh yeah and Naima you didn’t need to throw your jacket at the camera or jump around the stage we already know who you are. In terms of groups numbers this was just blah…

Before each contestants performance this evening their fellow contestants took some time to say a few words about each other. For Scotty they all showed us how to hold a microphone the Scotty McCreery way. I know it’s almost like a signature for him I guess but it’s still awkward to look at. I do agree with Lauren Alaina he holds it like a flute. This week out of all the choices within the last decade Scotty chose Swingin by LeAnn Rimes. What would poses anyone to sing this is beyond me and yet Scotty definitely delivers an adequate performance. However, I do agree with Randy that was definitely a safe choice. This is definitely a time to take bigger risks like the judges will continuously express through the rest of the evening. For a great performance this week Scotty you get 2.75- Stars from me.

Following Scotty is James Durbin performing Uprising by Muse. His fellow remaining contestants discuss the scarves and the high notes. I agree with Casey who said it best, what’s up with the scarves James Durbin Stop it.-LOL. James’ performance was definitely theatrically like Jennifer praised for being however I did like it all that much. It was all show and very little substance but it definitely was a great song choice for him. So James that’s 3- Stars for your performance even though it wasn’t quite my favorite. Another contestant who picked a great song this week is Haley Reinhart who chose to take on Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. Obviously her fellow contestants discuss her attitude, her growl and low and behold that weird hand thing she does to accentuate what she’s singing. The song started off great and like Jennifer said there were moments where she brought Haley to the song however they were few and far between. I personally did not like her phrasing and the deviations from the melody she did to insert her signature growl. Rand Jackson is definitely right in saying that this is the perfect direction for Haley to go as an artist. For almost making me a Haley fan you get 2.5- Stars from me this week.
Next up was the DIVA Jacob Lusk performing Luther Vandross’ Dance with My Father. I feel bad for him for the technical glitch at the beginning of his song someone definitely lost their job for that-LOL. But Jacob I know this song hits you in a very emotional place but I felt like there was almost no real melody. You were always above or below the actual notes and I know you’re better than that. I agree with Randy do not hold back anymore, just go for it. Make a statement and prove you’re in it to win because right now for me you’re just a great voice. For being amazingly talented I give you 2- Stars this week.
Since Pia’s departure my remaining favorite is none other than Casey Abrams. Casey came out on to the Idol stage and made a statement. He made Steven swear and he even kissed Jennifer on the cheek. He was a true performer tonight. We got to see genuine artist/musician Casey on that stage. I want to see more performances like this. Maroon 5’s Harder to Breathe was definitely a great song for him to choose. 3- Stars for your performance this week Casey. I do also like how it almost looked like Casey was hitting the audience each time they reached out their hands.- PRICELESS. And I know Case had a beard joke about Ryan but was it appropriate we may never know-LOL.

The sixth performer of the night was Stefano Langone the self acclaimed ladies man as he is known by his fellow contestants. It was too funny how Casey said he had a hot quality. And I can’t believe Jacob said he would flirt with a piece of paper if it may have estrogen in it… AWKWARD. This was an awful song choice this week, Closer by Ne-Yo. However, Stefano definitely did the best he could and he definitely did not disappoint the females this week. I also like how his facial expressions have improved however this performance was all fluff and sexy faces with no real substance. Stefano will definitely need to have more depth if he wants to remain in the competition. I give him 2.5- Stars for fluff and no essence. Last but not least is Lauren Alaina who I agree with Jimmy when he said she has the potential to win it all if she just had the confidence to back her amazing talent. Performing Born to Fly by Sara Evans Laruen delivered a phenomenal performance compared to some of her earlier ones in the competition. Still not a big wow moment for me but she is definitely a contender for the Idol crown. For the potential wow moment I give her 2.75- Stars this week.

So with seven contestants remaining someone obviously has to go home so my bottom three based on this week’s performances would be…

Haley Reinhart……

Stefano Langone…….

Jacob Lusk………

So with that said I so want to say goodbye to Sister Mary Jacob a nick name coined by the amazing Michael Buckley however, I see elimination in either Haley or Stefano’s future….. My thoughts on this week’s results show, X-Factor auditions and CMT’s Next Superstar will all be up like I promised so keep a look out for them.