IdolPhenomena

Okay IdolPhenomena followers I hate to be critical and all but really Shania Twain as a theme... come on? Are we really that desperate for ideas Fox? I'm still not feeling Shania Twain as a Mentor. I realize she has done a lot for country music but I don't feel she is relevant and or current in this day and age. So first up was Lee with an awkward choice in song but an amazing performance. You're Still the One showcased a different side of his vocal talent and his intro without the guitar was incredible. Having never heard It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing before I will say that Michael transformed it into an amazing R&B/Pop Ballad. It was filled with so much emotion I am personally thankful that he was saved two weeks ago. I would agree with Casey when he said that he hasn't really sung yet. However his performance of Don't blew me away. I wish he had performed like this since day one. He had a powerful yet subtle confidence behind his performance and he was truly feeling the words of the song. I do feel that this outstanding performance was had too late in the competition because I feel Casey has been digging his grave to leave for way more. I anticipate him to leave next week. Since we already have this weeks results. Crystal's performance of No One Needs To Know has got to be her worse. It was bad but I don't think it was a good song choice. However, seeing her on that stage with the band behind her just felt right, and like she has been doing this for years. Aaron was second too last of the night with his rendition of You've Got A Way which he sang for his mom-Awwww. I feel that this performance has made him more of an artist and less of that good voice he has been. There was such power and emotion in his performance he truly made it his own. I totally agree with Simon when he said that it was sincere and believeable. Way to go Aaron!!! Last but not least was Siobhan with Any Man of Mine. First off Siobhan WTF were you wearing??? and OMG the end the yelling is totally not cute any more. You definitely deserved to go. So with that the results was that Idol said goodbye to Siobhan this week. Michael and Casey were also in the bottom three. Dare I say it is a precusor for next week when Casey goes home then Michael will go home even though he deserves to be in the Top 3 instead of Aaron. The rumors of a Crystal vs. Lee finale keep coming more realistic to me. Overall I am not awfully impressed with this season just like many other Idol fans are. However, I still need to watch because I'm hooked ;-)

Better late than never, here are my thoughts on the Top 9. The Lennon/McCartney Song Book always makes an interesting night on Idol. It will either be a night of performances we really lover of really hate. Like always Ryan does his introducing and then we meet the judges. I think Simon keeps agreeing with what Kara says because he’s completely captivated by her sparkly dress. First up to night is Aaron Kelly with the Long and Winding Road. This is a classic song and personally one of my favorites especially the duet version performed by Will Young and Gareth Gates. Check it out right here. When it comes to Aaron’s predictable performances I was thinking he was going to chose this or Let it be. Overall this was a good song choice for Aaron he performed it well. I am going to be bold and say that it was a safe choice from him. I feel like he needs to be taking more risks if he wants to progress farther in the competition. Second performance of the night was Katie Stevens with her rendition of Let it be. This by far has to be one of Katie’s best performances. I love how mature her voice sounds it was truly a flawless vocal. She also added some subtle changes that helped make the song her own. Next was Andrew Garcia with Can’t Buy Me Love. A true Andrew Garcia performance he definitely made the song his own. Michael Lynche was fourth of the night with Eleanor Rigby. Putting his own R&B twist on the song he made it something people were either going to really love or really hate. However, it was phenomenal he definitely did not deserve to be in the bottom three or even have to sing for his life. What is America thinking? The song was definitely contemporary and something I could personally see him putting on his album. At the nights midpoint is Crystal Bowersox with Come Together. In my opinion this was another one of her flawless performances. I’m definitely diggin’ the didgeridoo. Tim Urban with his goofy smile and wavy hair is next. Following that performance he might as well have not taken the stage and let Casey go on. –LOL. I still don’t understand why America keeps putting him through each week. He’s absolutely annoying and doesn’t even deserve to be there. He needs to go like yesterday. Casey James is next performing Jealous Guy; I personally don’t have anything exciting to say about his performance. He’s great at what he does. One of my favorites of the night is Siobhan’s version of Across the Universe. It definitely showcases another side of her voice. One that is truly more subtle and powerful all at the same time. It was almost angelic with the lighting. I don’t know if I’m all about that big note near the end. And last but not least was Lee with Hey Jude. Definitely the right way to close the night. Each week Lee gets more comfortable on the Idol stage I can’t wait to see what he has planned for next week. His song choice suited him just fine. Now on to the results show... Who’s excited for a group song? I know I was-LOL. We all know this evenings results –Obvi. Jason Derulo’s performance was a complete train wreck. I didn’t know if he was Rihanna,, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga or Prince all slapped into one person. Not my favorite live performance but I can’t help but like the song anyways. David Archuleta also graced the Idol stage with his version of Imagine, which I personally don’t understand what all the hype was about – but it was good none the less. Rihanna was the last of the celeb performances. Personally I didn’t know if that was Jason Derulo or Lady Gaga. What was she thinking? And the biggest thing I guess after Michael Lynche’s save is that two are going home next week. Dare I say we have a bottom three next week comprised of Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Tim Urban. You all know who I want to leave but I fear some of our personal favorites may instead. After the Top 9 performances I am still foreseeing an all female Top 3. Are there any IdolPhenomena followers that share my view??? My Top 5 of the night are Lee, Crystal, Siobhan, and Katie (In No Specific Order).

I can't help but still be disappointed with Idol this year but I guess it's a common thing going around. For those of u new IdolPhenomena I welcome you to the site. You all rock!!! Last week we said to Lacey Brown who graced the Idol stage with incredible presence and style. So under the tutelage of Miley Cyrus this week the Idols would tackle more Bill Board Hot No.1 Hits. Tonight we saw Miley give the Top 11 some obvious advice ;-). Couple with the Hi I’m Miley- Like they didn’t know who you are. Up first tonight was Lee DeWyze singing The Letter. Personally I’m not sure if it was the best way to start the show however I am still a Lee fan. The arrangement however definitely threw me off it made Lee seem old-fashioned after each week the Judges continue to tell contestants to be contemporary. Randy thought Lee’s bluesy and soulful performance was cool and that he knocked it out of the box. Ellen compared him to her favorite pen and some things about lighting a match and licking it –awkward much? Kara believes he has raised the bar for himself as a performer. Simon of course felt the performance did not define him as a contemporary recording artist. Tackling the Mariah Carey version of Against All Odds, Paige Miles was an absolute train wreck. The performance began with her attempting to be dramatic like Lacey or Siobhan followed by the most horrific vocal to hit the Idol stage in years. Goodbye Paige you’ve just sealed your fate. Totally bottom 3 material. However, current trends may not send her home this week unfortunately. Randy was honest and told her that her performance and vocal were terrible. Ellen made a positive comment and said at least you didn’t fall in those heels. Kara feels that somewhere Paige stopped competing. It was by far the worst vocal from Paige and possibly the worst of the season. –Ouch!. Simon expressed that she is in serious trouble. He too feels that she has stopped competing and lost confidence in herself. Okay Miley Tim Urban is not all that. I can tell you have the VFTW pictures of him all over your room-LOL. His version of Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love was very karaoke. It wasn’t horrible nor was it outstanding. Dare I say that all the screaming girls in the audience were his own sisters? Randy compared his performance to bad karaoke. Ellen felt it was almost an audition for High School Musical. She said, “There are people that will like this performance, and then there’s ME.” Simon felt Tim’s performance was pointless and silly. –Way to say it like it is. Aaron was up next with Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing. Song choice is definitely something he would choose. Overall his performance was very karaoke and you could tell he was sick. Yet he will be back next week. Randy felt he was definitely better than those two that performed before him. Ellen see’s his career and feels he is really good. Kara felt that it was the best song choice of the night. Simon expresses that the song made him seem old-fashioned however there is a 0% chance that he is going home this week. Crystal Bowersox is really truly in a league all her own. Performing the Janis Joplin track Bobby McGee Crystal again shows how easy performing comes to her. I can’t help remember Bobby McGee Girl from when I auditioned in Philadelphia.-I Miss Her.-LOL Randy exclaims that what is called being a star. Ellen wants her to connect with the audience more. Kara wants to know if she was thinking tonight. She wants to see her let go more maybe loose the guitar. Simon wouldn’t change anything about Crystal. This is the first time I noticed the carpet. –Hippy much? I think it was nice how she had Miley sign her guitar and expressed how she has beautiful powerful women sign it. Michael Lynche again displays his amazing R&B voice with Percy Sledge’s When A Man Loves A Woman. Amazing vocal as usual, Mike is absolutely fantastic. Yet he still makes awkward movements on stage. Ellen felt that it was a safe choice. Kara felt his performance was boring and loungey. Simon feels that he expresses tons of charisma. As we pass the halfway point of tonight’s show Andrew Garcia takes the stage with Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It through the Grape Vine. Again taking time to lose the guitar to try something new I feel like he didn’t do it justice at all. It was your typical karaoke performance that you could hear anywhere. I am still waiting for Andrew to have that Wow moment. Randy felt that it wasn’t the right vocal. Ellen feels that his performance wasn’t fantastic Kara said that this didn’t feel like Andrew –Whatever that means-LOL. Simon expressed that the arrangement was horrific, and that it sucked the soul out of the song. So the next song Big Girls Don’t Cry as performed by Fergie was chosen by Katie Stevens. Did you know that Big Girls Don’t Cry was originally written to be performed by Jordan McCoy- Interesting Fact! Overall the performance compared to Crystal was very Karaoke. However, after it the general consensus is that Katie has the voice for Pop music with R&B leanings sort of like Jojo who is absolutely awesome. Randy liked that she is listening to their criticism. Ellen said that his was her best thus far. Simon still thinks Katie has a country voice. Tonight Casey James definitely chose a song that expressed who he is as an artist. Choosing Huey Lewis and the News’ Power of Love he took the stage this evening with great presence. You could tell that he was having fun and that he was in his element. Randy felt that he did well. Ellen expressed that it was the best vocal of the night. Kara feels that he should produce records like this and Simon still has to be negative. Comparing Casey’s performance to that of an 80s cover band. Almost finished there are two contestants left. Didi Benami takes the stage singing You’re No Good. I can’t help but agree with Miley in saying that I like the vibrato in Didi’s voice. However her performance was out of tune and sharp. Randy felt her performance was pitchy. Ellen didn’t get it and felt it was a poor song choice. Kara said it felt very dramatic and that it wasn’t Didi. Closing the night is the incredible Siobhan Magnus with Stevie Wonder’s Superstition. Ellen wants more because she is so good and Kara loves the way she expresses herself in her performances. Siobhan can totally scream at me in tune anytime-LOL. I don’t know how much I like her signature big note at the end of each performance. So after all these performances I feel like the bottom three will include Paige Miles and Tim Urban again with Andrew Garcia. This week I feel like we will be saying goodbye to Andrew Garcia which would be horrible but its just my gut feeling. Knowing vocally Paige should definitely leave I think she will be safe to see another week and be on the Idol Summer Tour. Some of the outstanding performances of the night were definitely that of Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, Siobhan Magnus and Lee DeWyze. I wait patiently for the results show. Hopefully there is nothing surprising. Miley will be performing as well as Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato. I can’t help but think they are going to sing their new friends for change single Make a Wave. Check back here tomorrow for my results recap.

Tonight was a very interesting theme, the Rolling Stones. I am not sure how these top 12 contestants are going to do with something like this rock band so as I start watching my fingers are crossed. Michael Lynche is the first to take the stage tonight singing Miss You. Again having a neo soul vibe it was definitely the right way to kick off the night. Randy felt he slayed it. Ellen said he was amazing Kara expressed it’s about being hot on stage. And Simon felt he sang well but the dancing was corny. Up second was Didi Benami. I personally have nothing to say about this performance. I just don’t know what to think. I did find it humorous when @thepopmatrix tweeted that Didi Benami sounds like something you’d order at a sushi place. I totally ReTweeted that-LOL. Randy felt she was on fire. Kara said she was taking steps in the right direction and Simon felt it was a cool song choice. Next Casey James chose to perform It’s All over Now. His performance tonight seemed so natural. Randy loved it and Ellen said it was fantastic. Kara exclaimed that he was a rock star best performance yet. And typical of Simon he was unimpressed. Lacey Brown best dressed of the night took on Ruby Tuesday. I liked how the strings introduced her song. She is definitely growing vocally. I can’t help but feel like she is holding back. She needs to let it all out. She has an incredible presence on stage and unique voice. Randy said she was the most interesting of the night. Ellen felt her performance was sleepy. Kara rated it 50/50 and Simon said she needs to let go and to stop over thinking. Almost at the halfway point next was Andrew Garcia with Gimme Shelter. As we move from a small stage to something large I felt like he was uncomfortable performing, or possibly completely out of his element. I still like his vocal talent but I am curious to see how far he makes it. Randy said his performance was pitchy unlike Ellen who felt it was his best yet. Kara wants to see more intensity and connection in his performances while Simon felt that Andrew may have done a lot better in rehearsal. CT represent with Katie Stevens. I still think that it’s exciting to have another contestant from CT on this stage; the first being Julia DeMato. Tonight Katie decided to go with Wild Horses. I can’t get over the fact about how mature her voice sounds for such a young age. Randy said it was a strong performance and Kara felt it was better than last weeks. Simon agreed and said she gave it 100% with a well done added to the end of it. Next we are invited to meet Tim Urban’s family- I can’t help but be slightly scared. Lots of siblings but Siobhan has way more. Tim chose Under my Thumb. I am going to be bold and say that this is his best performance yet. He made the song his own and changed it up with a reggae vibe. It surely makes me not want to hate him as much. Randy on the other hand said his performance was bizarre and weird. Ellen felt like she was at a resort sip’n pina coladas. Kara felt he made the song his own and Simon said it didn’t work. Dare I say we will see him a few more weeks? Up next was the amazing Siobhan Magnus with Paint it Black. The best performance of the night; she made it seem like she was doing this for years. She made tonight dramatic and definitely stood out. It was absolutely incredible and I loved the ending how it was eerie and the high note wow. Randy said it was hot. Ellen said she stands out. Kara felt it was the best interpretation of the night. Simon agreed saying it was the stand out performance of the night. Up next is one of my favorites Lee DeWyze singing Beast of Burden. I like the laid back vibe he gives off. His performance sort of draws you in like DMB or Jack Johnson. It has melancholyness to it but for me it works. Randy felt it was a singer songwriter performance. Ellen expected more. Kara acknowledges his tremendous growth and Simon feels that it was a safe choice. Paige Miles takes the stage with Honky Tonk Woman. I feel she is still confused as to who she is as an artist however she has definitely stepped up her game. She may not be the first to go home like I was anticipating. Randy felt she did alright. Ellen likes her stage presence and Kara feels that the Paige they fell in love with in Hollywood is back. Simon felt she did great but she is in fact better than the song. Aaron Kelly takes the stage singing Angie and surprises us all. Each week he has been growing and I am personally impressed he is definitely in this contest to win it. Randy said he was born to sing. Ellen felt it was a great song choice another stand out performance second to Siobhan’s. Kara felt he was really great and Simon agrees by saying it was one of his strongest performances. Aaron may be the guy to watch in this competition. I am definitely curious to see how the public votes. Last performance is the Crystal Bowersox with You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Every time she gets on stage she makes it seem effortless. She is such a natural I feel like she doesn’t even realize how good she is. She just gets on stage and does her thing. Randy said it wasn’t his favorite but he still loves her. Ellen felt we got a glimpse of her personality. Kara felt that she is easy to watch. So now with the recap my top 6 of the night are in no special order Siobhan, Lee, Aaron, Crystal, Mike and Katie. I feel this week Lacey and Andrew are in danger of going home but America always has a way of surprising us.