this belongs here, not in the "haley's songs on idol" thread.



Loved the show tonight. I really did. The drama was humorous.

The difficulties and stresses were shown but showin in a way that didn't make them overbearing. The inclusion of the the humor made it clear that while it was the contestants dreams which is big for them, it is a TV show . The kids trying to get a break are not a bunch of refugees in a camp or shelter who've just run for their lives and who serious coverage should be reserved for.

So many graceful exits with eliminated girls putting the best face to their tears and sounding honestly thankful for the opportunity and hopeful for those to come even when we could see the hurt inside.

I think there were about 8 to 12 girls that I'd be happy to see on 12 shows in a row without eliminations and call it a season.

But,

My two favorites by far were two country girls

I'm not a country music fan ...well not by today's watered down soft-rock Garth Brooks stuff (i know people adore him.. just not my cup of tea compared to battling fiddles, slide steel string guitars, and good old yodeling)

Give me Hank Williams Sr and I love country music .

and I really really love a down home spiritual with the tones and traditions that speak of hope from within a soul crushing legacy of slavery.

Pulling on the best distillation of those two roots, and yet making them believably fit their own personality and voice in interviews ... wow... and .. oh so incredible vocal control on top of the stellar interpretation.

Here was Slezak on those two.

Quote:Best in show prize (sorry, Westminster still on the brain) went to Janelle Arthur, whose rendition of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (one of the best songs ever, for me for you) showed tremendous depth and power, and yet also included moments (like the phrase “too blue to cry”) that were so tender you could’ve cut ‘em with a spoon. Uncle Nigel & Co. set up a silly faux rivalry with fellow “country” singer Rachel Hale (who gives off more of a soulful folk vibe, but is from Arkansas, and therefore has only one genre into which the producers can stuff her),

Like I said, there were a lot of other very good and entertaining singers... at the very least 6 or 8 others that I'd be happy to hear cover all sorts of songs ...but those two are far and away my favorites ... as good as I've every heard on Hollywood week... right up just a step or two below haley (who sounded amazing even when singing a ditzy song that she had forgot the words to .lol no one but Haley could pull that off)

Michael Slezak...American Idol Recap...

http://tvline.com/2013/02/13/american-id...ls-groups/

Quote:American Idol wants a female winner worse than Simon Cowell wants you to believe in the steroid-induced relevance of The X Factor: USA. It wants a female winner more desperately than Randy Jackson needs to repeat his fifth-grade vocabulary lessons. It wants a Kelly Clarkson-Fantasia Barrino-Carrie Underwood-Jordin Sparks “I Believe This Is My Moment in Heaven” moment with the burning intensity of Jennifer Lopez’s jealousy listening to the dulcet tones of Haley Reinhart. (File that last memory under: #YouAndI #NeverForget.)

You gotta love Michael's for Haley!

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Wow, someone cut me off...way too much rocket fuel this am

This time last year, I had a few entrants that piqued my interest, but nothing really registering this year. None of the audition acts that interested me have made it this far.

On the other hand, in Hollywood, Charlie Askew has a quirky "David Bowie" thing about him that seems interesting. He has high interesting 'out of the box' potential. Of course sustaining it without becoming a novelty act is not an easy task.

Of the girls, there were a good number of talented voices, but aside from the obvious Candice Glover, Angie Miller and Janelle Arthur Triumverate, the girls 'as a group' was fairly underwhelming, certainly not as good as they were pimped to be. At least from what they showed us.

The girls that piqued my interest the most, in Hollywood so far, are Jannell Arthur and Kree Harrison

So far this season seems pretty disappointing.There were a couple of people who I liked during auditions but they're gone now and the mere fact that Zoanette Johnson is still in(seriously?) says alot about the quality of not only the contestants but the judging as well.
Keith Urban is a nice guy and he's funny and all but its still too much fawning over people who aren't all that special.I honestly thought that Angie Miller's original was pretty ordinary.Nicki is entertaining and hasn't been afraid to be honest but her main criteria seems to be that you just be different-irregardless of any genuine musical talent you might possess.And Mariah,being the ultimate diva just sits there and poses.

WOW, I'm having the opposite outlook. I think, at least for the girls performances, this is going to be a great season! Wish they could dump almost all the guys and have a top 24 of almost all girls. You know that the reason Zoanette is there is for entertainment value, not for high quality vocals or lyrical excellence. They have to do that to keep a large audience that spreads the water cooler chatter. I'm surprised they didn't keep Kez Ban for the same reason but that thing she (I think she's a she) did, really sucked!

(02-15-2013, 09:10 AM)Himm2 Wrote: You know that the reason Zoanette is there is for entertainment value, not for high quality vocals or lyrical excellence. They have to do that to keep a large audience that spreads the water cooler chatter.

I know-that's what's so disappointing.The show has been on for 12 years-and its sad that they think that they have to resort to that to get people to watch the show.All it does is cheapen the brand.And there are others who are way more deserving of being there than Zoanette.

(02-15-2013, 09:10 AM)Himm2 Wrote: You know that the reason Zoanette is there is for entertainment value, not for high quality vocals or lyrical excellence. They have to do that to keep a large audience that spreads the water cooler chatter.

(02-15-2013, 05:27 PM)kaypea Wrote: I know-that's what's so disappointing.The show has been on for 12 years-and its sad that they think that they have to resort to that to get people to watch the show.All it does is cheapen the brand.And there are others who are way more deserving of being there than Zoanette.

Well said Kaypea...

I picked my top 5 out of 10 girls tonight and I was right. Undoubtedly I knew that Angela (no question), Kree (no question) Adriana (some question but she's a charmer) and Tenna (She's not my type but I know she'll appeal to others) grabbed the stools. I would have liked to see Isabelle make it but I kinda figured that Amber would be a better ethnically correct choice and she's certainly worthy. Interesting diversity...something for everybody in the 5 choices: a nor'easter WASP (Angie) a Country Nashville/Texan (Kree) an alaskan filipino (Adriana) an older hispanic (Tenna) & an R&B black gal (Amber)

As far as Jenny-Lynn, Kamara & Shuba goes there was nothing worthy of continuing and I would have much preferred seeing Stephanie sing tonight than those three. Nikki's assessment of Brandy was spot-on..."Pagent performance"

Whenever I hear a song performed that was made famous by another Idol my mind won't allow it to be better so I didn't care for Amber Holcomb's "Valentine" over Melinda Doolittles or Isabelle's "God Bless The Child" over Haley's (especially Haley's NOLA & Carnegie Hall performances of it). Shuba Badula's "Born This Way" was a frantic disjointed mess of Lady Gaga's song. I got chills when Angela sang, and Nikki Minaj was observant with her "You make love to the song" critique of Kree Harrison.

Judges: Keith had some pleasant insightful remarks, Very impressed with Nikki's judging abilities, Randy is still spittin' out the same old crap, and Mariah (maybe because she was last to speak) had little to offer.

I would've switched Tenna for Isabelle and Adriana for Shubha (yeah Shubha was a mess but at least she's interesting and creative, Adriana is just another boring belter who'll probably won't even get voted into the Top 10).

Something for everyone? Almost everyone, there's nothing for those of us who like rock n roll.

I'm more excited for next weeks group of girls, especially Melinda Ademi & Jett Hermano.

I'm already saying who the winner will be.....ANGELA!!! I know it's still very early in the competition but I think she has great potential