American Idol 14: Top 7 Elimination/Top 6 American Classics
There were some wonky song choices tonight. Can't blame the contestants since Idol put it in the hands of the public. What was the criteria for a song to be considered an American Classic? I would love to know. And of course, we get double from each contestant. Why not do that on a night where they get to really pick their songs? I guess that is later down the road. Tonight was just a weird night overall. After I review the performances, I will give you my thoughts on the AWKWARD moment of Idol 14. As always, my ranking goes from least favorite to favorite.
Jax - Piece Of My Heart: There is nothing I hate more than a self indulgent and fake performance. This just oozed it. From start to finish, I didn't feel a single thing that you sang. The funny thing is that some of the vocal was good but then you started being someone that you aren't and it came off as contrived. It just left me going....Eh, So what?
Jax - Beat It: Why??? First note was off and your vocals did not suit this song at all. Again, contrived performance. I had no sense of what type of artist you are. Only reason why this is higher than the other song is because of the song choice. Get back to that singer/songwriter Jax. That is the one that I liked. This Jax is giving me a headache and hoping that you go home.
Joey Cook - My Funny Valentine: Love your vocals but this performance seemed to be disconnected throughout. You never gave it life. It just seemed like a very amateur performance. I totally get that you were pressured by being in the bottom 2. I just wanted more fight from you with this song. Rhythm seemed a little disjointed in spots but you picked it back up by the end. For me, your weakest performance to date.
Quentin Alexander - Are You Gonna Go My Way: Definitely not your best vocal but I still think that you showed us that you can rock out with the best of them. Surely some pitch issues especially towards the end but I think that you captured the essence of the song very well.
Nick Fradiani - American Girl: Hmmmm...I think that you are starting to show true promise but I need you to step outside of your bubble. I promise that it won't pop. You will just extend your musical range. Your performances, played back to back, could probably all sound the same. I think that you had more of a connection with this song so therefore it was pretty solid. Just switch it up a bit.
Quentin Alexander - Sound Of Silence: Great song choice for you. The emotion was there from the jump. I just want you to really be aware of the pitch issues that you have while emoting through a song. Support your vocals more with adequate breathing. The vocals are definitely there. That extra step will send you to the next level.
Nick Fradiani - Only The Good Die Young: Loved the arrangement. Probably your best vocal to date. I really liked the sincerity in your voice in the verses. The choruses were a little rushed and strained but not horrible. I still think that you can work on making your vocals more solid. Think about where you are going before you go there. Keep yourself grounded in the music.
Tyanna Jones - Why Do Fools Fall In Love: I thought that you executed it well. Not an ideal song choice for you. I loved the pure vocals in the first part. Then you added a little flair towards the end. Be careful of the last note. It went very out of tune and that is the last thing that people remember. Overall, I loved the performance.
Clark Beckham - Superstition: Yes that harmonization was cool as a concept. The execution, on first listen, was not all there. I took a second and third listen and it finally settled in my ear. There was just something a little off about it. By all means, go ahead and sing your face off but this was a little too ordinary for me besides the beginning and the end. I wanted a little more angst in your performance.
Rayvon Owen - Long Train Running: I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. Just had a great feel to it and the vocals were spot on. You even added choreo which is impressive. This performance showed me that you are ready to be a performer. I love that you use the full range of your voice. Great job!
Tyanna Jones - Proud Mary: Fun. Energetic. Infectious. Still can't believe that you are 16 and possessing that amount of vocal prowess and stage presence. Great job!!
Clark Beckham - Moon River: I have heard many versions of this song. Never been one of my favorite songs but something about the simplicity and class of this performance really set in my heart. I loved it. You took your time with it. There were was one vocal spot that was a little unpolished but overall this was stellar. Even though it was an older song, it was still refreshing.
Joey Cook - Somebody To Love: THIS IS THE JOEY THAT I LOVE!!! It was authentic. It was filled with heart and power. Your vocals were spot on!! Song choice was great! All of the pieces fit. You were truly performing for your life. I just loved the drive of the performance and not once did you falter. Simply amazing. That is a performance that I would have screamed for afterwards. Just put me in the right spot!
Rayvon Owen - Always On My Mind: This....wow. Just so emotionally connected and you expressed it with every part of your vocal. You have a way of breathing in a song that is impeccable. You take your time without it sounding too slow or boring. Once again, you used the full range of your voice and executed it very well. Ballads belong to you. Not too much. Not too little. Just the right amount of passion, musicality, and emotion.
I don't want the drama to overshadow the performances so I won't give it too much. Just have to say that Quentin knows how the game works. Yes there can only be one American Idol winner so someone has to go home each week. I don't fault him for showing emotion and speaking from his heart. I just wish that it wasn't done on national TV. I do fault Harry for spinning it in a totally different direction. He knew what Quentin was addressing. His job is to judge the performances and not to be the boss of these contestants. That whole situation was awkward and so unnecessary. I hate that the Idol "machine" kept it going just to get a little buzz for their show.
So we ended up with Joey Cook and Rayvon Owen in the bottom 2. Pains me to see these two there. Rayvon just can't catch a break. The Twitter Save has saved the life of Rayvon Owen for the third time. It is just so crazy how he always lands in the bottom 2 but has enough of a fanbase to rescue him from elimination each week. I love what he does vocally and emotionally but for some reason he can't get the votes in. So sad to see Joey leave. I loved her quirkiness and overall vocal presence on the show. I think that next week will secure Quentin's place in the bottom 2. This little drama will eventually send him packing. I would love to see Jax or Nick join him in the bottom. But I do suspect that Quentin will go out 6th.
Jax - Piece Of My Heart: There is nothing I hate more than a self indulgent and fake performance. This just oozed it. From start to finish, I didn't feel a single thing that you sang. The funny thing is that some of the vocal was good but then you started being someone that you aren't and it came off as contrived. It just left me going....Eh, So what?
Jax - Beat It: Why??? First note was off and your vocals did not suit this song at all. Again, contrived performance. I had no sense of what type of artist you are. Only reason why this is higher than the other song is because of the song choice. Get back to that singer/songwriter Jax. That is the one that I liked. This Jax is giving me a headache and hoping that you go home.
Joey Cook - My Funny Valentine: Love your vocals but this performance seemed to be disconnected throughout. You never gave it life. It just seemed like a very amateur performance. I totally get that you were pressured by being in the bottom 2. I just wanted more fight from you with this song. Rhythm seemed a little disjointed in spots but you picked it back up by the end. For me, your weakest performance to date.
Quentin Alexander - Are You Gonna Go My Way: Definitely not your best vocal but I still think that you showed us that you can rock out with the best of them. Surely some pitch issues especially towards the end but I think that you captured the essence of the song very well.
Nick Fradiani - American Girl: Hmmmm...I think that you are starting to show true promise but I need you to step outside of your bubble. I promise that it won't pop. You will just extend your musical range. Your performances, played back to back, could probably all sound the same. I think that you had more of a connection with this song so therefore it was pretty solid. Just switch it up a bit.
Quentin Alexander - Sound Of Silence: Great song choice for you. The emotion was there from the jump. I just want you to really be aware of the pitch issues that you have while emoting through a song. Support your vocals more with adequate breathing. The vocals are definitely there. That extra step will send you to the next level.
Nick Fradiani - Only The Good Die Young: Loved the arrangement. Probably your best vocal to date. I really liked the sincerity in your voice in the verses. The choruses were a little rushed and strained but not horrible. I still think that you can work on making your vocals more solid. Think about where you are going before you go there. Keep yourself grounded in the music.
Tyanna Jones - Why Do Fools Fall In Love: I thought that you executed it well. Not an ideal song choice for you. I loved the pure vocals in the first part. Then you added a little flair towards the end. Be careful of the last note. It went very out of tune and that is the last thing that people remember. Overall, I loved the performance.
Clark Beckham - Superstition: Yes that harmonization was cool as a concept. The execution, on first listen, was not all there. I took a second and third listen and it finally settled in my ear. There was just something a little off about it. By all means, go ahead and sing your face off but this was a little too ordinary for me besides the beginning and the end. I wanted a little more angst in your performance.
Rayvon Owen - Long Train Running: I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. Just had a great feel to it and the vocals were spot on. You even added choreo which is impressive. This performance showed me that you are ready to be a performer. I love that you use the full range of your voice. Great job!
Tyanna Jones - Proud Mary: Fun. Energetic. Infectious. Still can't believe that you are 16 and possessing that amount of vocal prowess and stage presence. Great job!!
Clark Beckham - Moon River: I have heard many versions of this song. Never been one of my favorite songs but something about the simplicity and class of this performance really set in my heart. I loved it. You took your time with it. There were was one vocal spot that was a little unpolished but overall this was stellar. Even though it was an older song, it was still refreshing.
Joey Cook - Somebody To Love: THIS IS THE JOEY THAT I LOVE!!! It was authentic. It was filled with heart and power. Your vocals were spot on!! Song choice was great! All of the pieces fit. You were truly performing for your life. I just loved the drive of the performance and not once did you falter. Simply amazing. That is a performance that I would have screamed for afterwards. Just put me in the right spot!
Rayvon Owen - Always On My Mind: This....wow. Just so emotionally connected and you expressed it with every part of your vocal. You have a way of breathing in a song that is impeccable. You take your time without it sounding too slow or boring. Once again, you used the full range of your voice and executed it very well. Ballads belong to you. Not too much. Not too little. Just the right amount of passion, musicality, and emotion.
I don't want the drama to overshadow the performances so I won't give it too much. Just have to say that Quentin knows how the game works. Yes there can only be one American Idol winner so someone has to go home each week. I don't fault him for showing emotion and speaking from his heart. I just wish that it wasn't done on national TV. I do fault Harry for spinning it in a totally different direction. He knew what Quentin was addressing. His job is to judge the performances and not to be the boss of these contestants. That whole situation was awkward and so unnecessary. I hate that the Idol "machine" kept it going just to get a little buzz for their show.
So we ended up with Joey Cook and Rayvon Owen in the bottom 2. Pains me to see these two there. Rayvon just can't catch a break. The Twitter Save has saved the life of Rayvon Owen for the third time. It is just so crazy how he always lands in the bottom 2 but has enough of a fanbase to rescue him from elimination each week. I love what he does vocally and emotionally but for some reason he can't get the votes in. So sad to see Joey leave. I loved her quirkiness and overall vocal presence on the show. I think that next week will secure Quentin's place in the bottom 2. This little drama will eventually send him packing. I would love to see Jax or Nick join him in the bottom. But I do suspect that Quentin will go out 6th.
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