American Idol Overhaul: Season 1
THIS! This is where it all started. Over 10 years ago, one of the biggest talent competitions changed the entire game on the music industry and reality competition television. Since this is the last and final season, I decided to blog about the entire show and also give you my top 12 of each season. I will also include my thoughts on the vocals of each contestant in the Top 10/12/13 and contestants who got robbed or contestants who should have gone further than they did. I am making the Full Monty Hall of Fame, where I will induct at least 2 from each season in. These are going to be contestants that I could listen to ALL DAY EVERY DAY! Let's kick things off with Season 1!
THE FINALIST
EJAY DAY
EJay definitely had talent but I felt like he was trying way too hard at times. Vocal tone was a little too nasally at times but overall a good voice. He had all of the bells and whistles. However, he did not use them wisely. He mostly used them in excess unfortunately.
JIM VERRAROS
Ugh....Yea...I got nothing. He never did anything for me vocally and definitely thought that he was a waste of a spot. Yea......
AJ GIL
His sound was very reminiscent of the boy band era. A little immature but pleasant.
RYAN STARR
She had an amazing huskiness to her tone. I just felt like she didn't pick songs that complimented that. She was in a world of divas and she needed to stand out. She did that vocally but didn't commit to it.
CHRISTINA CHRISTIAN
This young lady had so much potential. She had a nice solid tone with a little vibrato. A lot of people hate vibrato but I enjoy it from time to time. I sing with it myself lol. Unfortunately, she was in a season with 2 powerhouses.
RJ HELTON
His voice was so smooth. Just fluid with his runs and committed to all of the notes. He had a difficult time with song choice but he had a fantastic tone.
TAMYRA GRAY
Tamyra's voice was AMAZING!! She definitely seemed to know what to do with it. Higher notes seemed strained at times but her vocal tone was butter!! She didn't hold anything back. She left everything on the stage for each performance. Even when she was sick!
NIKKI MCKIBBIN
Hmmmm.....I just didn't get her vocal appeal. She had the rock edge but was so plain with it. Most of the time she didn't have the breath control or the overall vocal prowess to really compete. Yea......I don't get this one.
JUSTIN GUARINI
He had all of the right components but somehow they just never fit together. His voice was beautiful especially in his falsetto. Gosh. I was jealous lol. I think that he came across as not really trying vocally. He seemed to play it safe all of the time.
KELLY CLARKSON
Yep! SHE SANG each and every time. There were moments where she was flat, sharp, or out of breath but there was not denying her AMAZING vocals. She sang all the way from her PINKY TOE!!!
WHO GOT ROBBED......
KELLI GLOVER
Kelli Glover - I Will Always Love You
She had clean vocals. Yes, maybe a little throaty at times but overall awesome. I would have loved to have seen her in the Top 10. The judges already had their favorites unfortunately.
ALEXIS LOPEZ
Alexis Lopez - I Will Survive
She had great tone to her voice. Her song choice did her in. Such a mature voice with great nuances and character.
EJAY DAY
Ejay Day - I'll Be
He should have made it further. He probably did too much at times and it came off as conceited but he was vocally better than 10th place
TAMYRA GRAY
The first big surprise ever in AI history! I was expecting to see her and Kelly in the finals FOR SURE. Especially to be ousted instead of.....well you all know who came in 3rd. Anyway, who knows what could have happened if her and Kelly were the final two. The world will never know....sigh.
THE TOP 12 PERFORMANCES
12. Christina Christian - Ain't No Sunshine - Top 7
Ain't No Sunshine
This was definitely her best performance. I felt like she really embodied the meaning behind the song. It wasn't a forceful performance but it was very well stated. It had soul and emotion. She was missing that in her other performances.
11. Justin Guarini - Let's Stay Together - Top 3
Let's Stay Together
Such a solid performance all around. He told the story and that falsetto!!!! Just so smooth and fit him perfectly.
10. Tamyra Gray - Touch Me In The Morning - Top 10
Touch Me In The Morning
Classy. Elegant. I felt like I was watching a pro from the 70's sing one of her greatest hits. So good.
9. Tamyra Gray - If I Were Your Woman - Top 7
If I Were Your Woman
First of all, one of my favorite songs. She gave it her own flair in terms of vocal styling and character. She committed to delivering a soul stirring performance from front to back. She used this song to show off her range. Great performance.
8. Kelly Clarkson - Without You - Top 3
Without You
Just wonderful. This is where I felt like she actually had it in the bag. This song is not easy at all. It requires lots of vocal prowess and KELLY delivered!
7. Kelly Clarkson - Natural Woman - Top 8
Natural Woman
There is really when I first started to be interested in the show. She woke up my musical spirit. Now this wasn't perfect but definitely connected. She slid up to the whistle note but got there eventually lol. I loved the giggle at the end. I think her showing so much of her human side allowed her to connect with the audience.
6. Kelly Clarkson - Stuff Like That There - Top 6
Stuff Like That There
She showed her versatility as an artist. So full of class! Vocal inflections were so of the big band era. Vocals, attitude, and dress! All flawless!
5. Kelly Clarkson - Walk On By - Top 5
Walk On By
Sass. Sliding notes. Little runs. Man, I loved it from top to bottom!!!
4. Kelly Clarkson - A Moment Like This - Top 2
A Moment Like This
Her first single and it really defined her as a great of our time. There has not been a coronation song that has matched this ever. Really allowed her to really explore herself vocally and we are so happy that we got to witness this!
3. Kelly Clarkson - Don't Play That Song - Top 7
Don't Play That Song
When she sang that first "O Lord", I threw my hand up! SANG YOUR FACE KELLY! All of that voice came right on out and slayed!!!
2. Kelly Clarkson - Respect - Semi Finals
Respect
All of that power and sass!! Vocally came out of the gate swingin'! Her "No" portion is the epitome of AWESOME!!! She sat the bar so high!
1. Tamyra Gray - A House Is Not A Home - Top 5
A House Is Not Home
I literally fell in love with her and her voice with this performance. Full of emotion and her own vocal additions. Just one of the classic songs and she took it for a great ride. So fantastically executed!! The held note was out of this world. So good!
HALL OF FAME
Alright so I am going to make this short and sweet. You can probably already guess who I am inducting in my Hall of Fame if you have gotten this far into my blog. Here we go.....
1st Inductee.......
duh......
KELLY CLARKSON
and my 2nd Inductee........
TAMYRA GRAY
Check back soon for more entries and more season overhauls!!!
Until next time.....
THE FINALIST
EJAY DAY
EJay definitely had talent but I felt like he was trying way too hard at times. Vocal tone was a little too nasally at times but overall a good voice. He had all of the bells and whistles. However, he did not use them wisely. He mostly used them in excess unfortunately.
JIM VERRAROS
Ugh....Yea...I got nothing. He never did anything for me vocally and definitely thought that he was a waste of a spot. Yea......
AJ GIL
His sound was very reminiscent of the boy band era. A little immature but pleasant.
RYAN STARR
She had an amazing huskiness to her tone. I just felt like she didn't pick songs that complimented that. She was in a world of divas and she needed to stand out. She did that vocally but didn't commit to it.
CHRISTINA CHRISTIAN
This young lady had so much potential. She had a nice solid tone with a little vibrato. A lot of people hate vibrato but I enjoy it from time to time. I sing with it myself lol. Unfortunately, she was in a season with 2 powerhouses.
RJ HELTON
His voice was so smooth. Just fluid with his runs and committed to all of the notes. He had a difficult time with song choice but he had a fantastic tone.
TAMYRA GRAY
Tamyra's voice was AMAZING!! She definitely seemed to know what to do with it. Higher notes seemed strained at times but her vocal tone was butter!! She didn't hold anything back. She left everything on the stage for each performance. Even when she was sick!
NIKKI MCKIBBIN
Hmmmm.....I just didn't get her vocal appeal. She had the rock edge but was so plain with it. Most of the time she didn't have the breath control or the overall vocal prowess to really compete. Yea......I don't get this one.
JUSTIN GUARINI
He had all of the right components but somehow they just never fit together. His voice was beautiful especially in his falsetto. Gosh. I was jealous lol. I think that he came across as not really trying vocally. He seemed to play it safe all of the time.
KELLY CLARKSON
Yep! SHE SANG each and every time. There were moments where she was flat, sharp, or out of breath but there was not denying her AMAZING vocals. She sang all the way from her PINKY TOE!!!
WHO GOT ROBBED......
KELLI GLOVER
Kelli Glover - I Will Always Love You
She had clean vocals. Yes, maybe a little throaty at times but overall awesome. I would have loved to have seen her in the Top 10. The judges already had their favorites unfortunately.
ALEXIS LOPEZ
Alexis Lopez - I Will Survive
She had great tone to her voice. Her song choice did her in. Such a mature voice with great nuances and character.
EJAY DAY
Ejay Day - I'll Be
He should have made it further. He probably did too much at times and it came off as conceited but he was vocally better than 10th place
TAMYRA GRAY
The first big surprise ever in AI history! I was expecting to see her and Kelly in the finals FOR SURE. Especially to be ousted instead of.....well you all know who came in 3rd. Anyway, who knows what could have happened if her and Kelly were the final two. The world will never know....sigh.
THE TOP 12 PERFORMANCES
12. Christina Christian - Ain't No Sunshine - Top 7
Ain't No Sunshine
This was definitely her best performance. I felt like she really embodied the meaning behind the song. It wasn't a forceful performance but it was very well stated. It had soul and emotion. She was missing that in her other performances.
11. Justin Guarini - Let's Stay Together - Top 3
Let's Stay Together
Such a solid performance all around. He told the story and that falsetto!!!! Just so smooth and fit him perfectly.
10. Tamyra Gray - Touch Me In The Morning - Top 10
Touch Me In The Morning
Classy. Elegant. I felt like I was watching a pro from the 70's sing one of her greatest hits. So good.
9. Tamyra Gray - If I Were Your Woman - Top 7
If I Were Your Woman
First of all, one of my favorite songs. She gave it her own flair in terms of vocal styling and character. She committed to delivering a soul stirring performance from front to back. She used this song to show off her range. Great performance.
8. Kelly Clarkson - Without You - Top 3
Without You
Just wonderful. This is where I felt like she actually had it in the bag. This song is not easy at all. It requires lots of vocal prowess and KELLY delivered!
7. Kelly Clarkson - Natural Woman - Top 8
Natural Woman
There is really when I first started to be interested in the show. She woke up my musical spirit. Now this wasn't perfect but definitely connected. She slid up to the whistle note but got there eventually lol. I loved the giggle at the end. I think her showing so much of her human side allowed her to connect with the audience.
6. Kelly Clarkson - Stuff Like That There - Top 6
Stuff Like That There
She showed her versatility as an artist. So full of class! Vocal inflections were so of the big band era. Vocals, attitude, and dress! All flawless!
5. Kelly Clarkson - Walk On By - Top 5
Walk On By
Sass. Sliding notes. Little runs. Man, I loved it from top to bottom!!!
4. Kelly Clarkson - A Moment Like This - Top 2
A Moment Like This
Her first single and it really defined her as a great of our time. There has not been a coronation song that has matched this ever. Really allowed her to really explore herself vocally and we are so happy that we got to witness this!
3. Kelly Clarkson - Don't Play That Song - Top 7
Don't Play That Song
When she sang that first "O Lord", I threw my hand up! SANG YOUR FACE KELLY! All of that voice came right on out and slayed!!!
2. Kelly Clarkson - Respect - Semi Finals
Respect
All of that power and sass!! Vocally came out of the gate swingin'! Her "No" portion is the epitome of AWESOME!!! She sat the bar so high!
1. Tamyra Gray - A House Is Not A Home - Top 5
A House Is Not Home
I literally fell in love with her and her voice with this performance. Full of emotion and her own vocal additions. Just one of the classic songs and she took it for a great ride. So fantastically executed!! The held note was out of this world. So good!
HALL OF FAME
Alright so I am going to make this short and sweet. You can probably already guess who I am inducting in my Hall of Fame if you have gotten this far into my blog. Here we go.....
1st Inductee.......
duh......
KELLY CLARKSON
and my 2nd Inductee........
TAMYRA GRAY
Check back soon for more entries and more season overhauls!!!
Until next time.....
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