American Idol Overhaul: Season 9
Another season that I tried to enjoy. The talent came off as lackluster at times. This is where I think that the show lost it's way. The internet was ablaze about one contestant, Crystal Bowersox. She got to the finals and lost???? This was pretty much the season that I completely disagreed with many of the end results. I discovered Blogger and started making blogs about American Idol with this season. Also the season where we had Ellen. I love Ellen but not as an American Idol judge. Season 9 was Simon's last season. I really think that the draw of the show left with him. And don't get me started on Angela Martin!!!! What more did she have to do? She sang her face off and got to that green mile twice. I loved her. I loved her story. I loved her voice. AHHHHHHH......okay.....calm down. Let's get into it.
THE FINALISTS
LACEY BROWN
Quirky vocals but not a lot of substance.
PAIGE MILES
I wanted to like her. I really did but I never got on board. I am still perplexed as to how she made it as far as she did.
DIDI BENAMI
Interesting voice with a sense of confidence.
ANDREW GARCIA
Nice voice. Early favorite but never lived up to his previous performance.
KATIE STEVENS
Young powerhouse vocalist. Tended to have pitch issues but had a very solid voice.
TIM URBAN
Got better but was way out of his league.
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
She was the real deal. Vocals soared. She had some misses with song choice but she was one of the vocalist of the season.
AARON KELLY
Young vocalist with a nice style. Just didn't have enough confidence to really take him over the edge.
MICHAEL LYNCHE
Smooth balladeer. Nice vocals. Great song choices.
CASEY JAMES
I could never get past his vibrato. It was just too much at times.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
Essence. Substance. Killer vocals.
LEE DEWYZE
Had some good moments but nothing to really wow me. His vocals were flat and bland for the most part.
WHO GOT ROBBED.....
JOE MUNOZ
Joe Munoz - You And I
He had a great voice. I got shafted because of the lack of camera time. I liked his styling and his song choice.
TODRICK HALL
Todrick Hall - Somebody To Love
Maybe getting cut was the best thing for him. He went on to be an amazing entertainer doing things for Disney, Beyonce, and MTV. On the show, he had a poor showing in the first semi final round but the next two were where he really shined. He proved that he had the vocals and originality to make it far.
ALEX LAMBERT
Alex Lambert - Everybody Knows
Totally dug his tone. Once he got his nerves under wrap, he was ready to soar. I would have loved to hear him during some of the final rounds.
KATELYN EPPERLY
Katelyn Epperly - The Scientist
She had a certain quality about her that really put her above the rest. Just poised and polished. I don't understand how she didn't make it into the finals.
DIDI BENAMI
Didi Benami - Play With Fire
I really liked her style. 10th place was not the place for her. She was a better singer than that.
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
6th place???? Yea with a voice like that, she should have easily been in the top 2. I think that America just didn't get her performance style and personality.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
Yes, I know that she got 2nd. I will continue to go on record saying that Ryan got the wrong card. There is no way that she should have lost. From the beginning, she was the one to beat. She survives all of those weeks and then loses at the very end. Something didn't add up for me.
TOP 12 PERFORMANCES
12. Andrew Garcia - Sugar We're Going Down - Semi Finals
Andrew Garcia - Sugar We're Going Down
I got so excited because I thought that this was the beginning of such artistry and promise. I was wrong lol. He never fully got back to his mojo after this performance. Some great vocal nuances and sway here.
11. Siobhan Magnus - House Of The Rising Sun - Semi Finals
Siobhan Magnus - House Of The Rising Sun
She took her time with this and allowed her beautiful tone to come through. When she switched to her head voice, it was just as beautiful.
10. Michael Lynche - When A Man Loves A Woman - Top 11
Michael Lynche - When A Man Loves A Woman
He had such an emotional voice. Slowing this down was the best thing that he could have done with this song. It allowed him to really emote through his voice.
9. Crystal Bowersox - Hand In My Pocket - Semi Finals
Crystal Bowersox - Hand In My Pocket
This was fresh and chill. We even got harmonica. I loved everything about her poise and confidence on stage.
8. Michael Lynche - The Way You Look Tonight - Top 5
Michael Lynche - The Way You Look Tonight
This was smooth throughout. Smooth vocal and stage presence. Nailed it!
7. Crystal Bowersox - Saved - Top 9 Pt. 2
Crystal Bowersox - Saved
Raw and real. Loved the grit that she had in this song. Great performance!
6. Crystal Bowersox - Me And Bobby McGee - Top 11
Crystal Bowersox - Me And Bobby McGee
There is always one performance that I want to happen all season. This was it. When I saw that she was singing this, I knew that it would be gold. She did not disappoint at all!
5. Crystal Bowersox - People Get Ready - Top 7
Crystal Bowersox - People Get Ready
An a cappella intro and a tearful ending will get me each and every time. She was so connected to the song throughout. Even though her upper register did not quite get there, I loved the emotional attempt. She meant each and every word.
4. Michael Lynche - Ready For Love - Top 10
Michael Lynche - Ready For Love
Beautiful! One of my favorite songs. I loved his guitar playing. It added a lot to his performance. His phrasing was executed very well.
3. Michael Lynche - In The Ghetto - Top 9 Pt. 2
Michael Lynche - In The Ghetto
I love when someone just lays back in a song. They don't rush. They don't take it too slow. They just lose themselves in the song. That is exactly what happened here. Told the story and sang!
2. Siobhan Magnus - Paint It Black - Top 12
Siobhan Magnus - Paint It Black
Everything about this performance just worked. The dramatics, the stairs, the violins, the vocal. Just so surreal. Especially the lead up to "the note". If Alice In Wonderland did a musical with the music of the Rolling Stones, this would be the show stopper! I loved that she took a moment after "the note" to get her composure back. Such a great finish to the song.
1. Crystal Bowersox - Up To The Mountain - Top 2
Crystal Bowersox - Up To The Mountain
With a performance like this, I am still perplexed as to how she did not win. She laid out her entire soul in this performance. Everything was left on the stage. Her vocal was just so real and grounded.
HALL OF FAME
To be considered for the Hall Of Fame, a contestant must have proven to have a voice that I could listen to day in and day out.
Previously inducted from Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
KELLY CLARKSON
TAMYRA GRAY
TRENYCE
RUBEN STUDDARD
CLAY AIKEN
KIMBERLEY LOCKE
FANTASIA BARRINO
JENNIFER HUDSON
LATOYA LONDON
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
BO BICE
VONZELL SOLOMON
PARIS BENNETT
KATHARINE MCPHEE
ELLIOTT YAMIN
CHRIS DAUGHTRY
MANDISA
MELINDA DOOLITTLE
LAKISHA JONES
JORDIN SPARKS
DAVID COOK
BROOKE WHITE
SYESHA MERCADO
DAVID ARCHULETA
CARLY SMITHSON
MICHAEL JOHNS
KRIS ALLEN
ADAM LAMBERT
ALLISON IRAHETA
1st Inductee is.......
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
2nd Inductee is.....
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
and the final inductee is.....
MICHAEL LYNCHE
Until next time......
THE FINALISTS
LACEY BROWN
Quirky vocals but not a lot of substance.
PAIGE MILES
I wanted to like her. I really did but I never got on board. I am still perplexed as to how she made it as far as she did.
DIDI BENAMI
Interesting voice with a sense of confidence.
ANDREW GARCIA
Nice voice. Early favorite but never lived up to his previous performance.
KATIE STEVENS
Young powerhouse vocalist. Tended to have pitch issues but had a very solid voice.
TIM URBAN
Got better but was way out of his league.
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
She was the real deal. Vocals soared. She had some misses with song choice but she was one of the vocalist of the season.
AARON KELLY
Young vocalist with a nice style. Just didn't have enough confidence to really take him over the edge.
MICHAEL LYNCHE
Smooth balladeer. Nice vocals. Great song choices.
CASEY JAMES
I could never get past his vibrato. It was just too much at times.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
Essence. Substance. Killer vocals.
LEE DEWYZE
Had some good moments but nothing to really wow me. His vocals were flat and bland for the most part.
WHO GOT ROBBED.....
JOE MUNOZ
Joe Munoz - You And I
He had a great voice. I got shafted because of the lack of camera time. I liked his styling and his song choice.
TODRICK HALL
Todrick Hall - Somebody To Love
Maybe getting cut was the best thing for him. He went on to be an amazing entertainer doing things for Disney, Beyonce, and MTV. On the show, he had a poor showing in the first semi final round but the next two were where he really shined. He proved that he had the vocals and originality to make it far.
ALEX LAMBERT
Alex Lambert - Everybody Knows
Totally dug his tone. Once he got his nerves under wrap, he was ready to soar. I would have loved to hear him during some of the final rounds.
KATELYN EPPERLY
Katelyn Epperly - The Scientist
She had a certain quality about her that really put her above the rest. Just poised and polished. I don't understand how she didn't make it into the finals.
DIDI BENAMI
Didi Benami - Play With Fire
I really liked her style. 10th place was not the place for her. She was a better singer than that.
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
6th place???? Yea with a voice like that, she should have easily been in the top 2. I think that America just didn't get her performance style and personality.
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
Yes, I know that she got 2nd. I will continue to go on record saying that Ryan got the wrong card. There is no way that she should have lost. From the beginning, she was the one to beat. She survives all of those weeks and then loses at the very end. Something didn't add up for me.
TOP 12 PERFORMANCES
12. Andrew Garcia - Sugar We're Going Down - Semi Finals
Andrew Garcia - Sugar We're Going Down
I got so excited because I thought that this was the beginning of such artistry and promise. I was wrong lol. He never fully got back to his mojo after this performance. Some great vocal nuances and sway here.
11. Siobhan Magnus - House Of The Rising Sun - Semi Finals
Siobhan Magnus - House Of The Rising Sun
She took her time with this and allowed her beautiful tone to come through. When she switched to her head voice, it was just as beautiful.
10. Michael Lynche - When A Man Loves A Woman - Top 11
Michael Lynche - When A Man Loves A Woman
He had such an emotional voice. Slowing this down was the best thing that he could have done with this song. It allowed him to really emote through his voice.
9. Crystal Bowersox - Hand In My Pocket - Semi Finals
Crystal Bowersox - Hand In My Pocket
This was fresh and chill. We even got harmonica. I loved everything about her poise and confidence on stage.
8. Michael Lynche - The Way You Look Tonight - Top 5
Michael Lynche - The Way You Look Tonight
This was smooth throughout. Smooth vocal and stage presence. Nailed it!
7. Crystal Bowersox - Saved - Top 9 Pt. 2
Crystal Bowersox - Saved
Raw and real. Loved the grit that she had in this song. Great performance!
6. Crystal Bowersox - Me And Bobby McGee - Top 11
Crystal Bowersox - Me And Bobby McGee
There is always one performance that I want to happen all season. This was it. When I saw that she was singing this, I knew that it would be gold. She did not disappoint at all!
5. Crystal Bowersox - People Get Ready - Top 7
Crystal Bowersox - People Get Ready
An a cappella intro and a tearful ending will get me each and every time. She was so connected to the song throughout. Even though her upper register did not quite get there, I loved the emotional attempt. She meant each and every word.
4. Michael Lynche - Ready For Love - Top 10
Michael Lynche - Ready For Love
Beautiful! One of my favorite songs. I loved his guitar playing. It added a lot to his performance. His phrasing was executed very well.
3. Michael Lynche - In The Ghetto - Top 9 Pt. 2
Michael Lynche - In The Ghetto
I love when someone just lays back in a song. They don't rush. They don't take it too slow. They just lose themselves in the song. That is exactly what happened here. Told the story and sang!
2. Siobhan Magnus - Paint It Black - Top 12
Siobhan Magnus - Paint It Black
Everything about this performance just worked. The dramatics, the stairs, the violins, the vocal. Just so surreal. Especially the lead up to "the note". If Alice In Wonderland did a musical with the music of the Rolling Stones, this would be the show stopper! I loved that she took a moment after "the note" to get her composure back. Such a great finish to the song.
1. Crystal Bowersox - Up To The Mountain - Top 2
Crystal Bowersox - Up To The Mountain
With a performance like this, I am still perplexed as to how she did not win. She laid out her entire soul in this performance. Everything was left on the stage. Her vocal was just so real and grounded.
HALL OF FAME
To be considered for the Hall Of Fame, a contestant must have proven to have a voice that I could listen to day in and day out.
Previously inducted from Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
KELLY CLARKSON
TAMYRA GRAY
TRENYCE
RUBEN STUDDARD
CLAY AIKEN
KIMBERLEY LOCKE
FANTASIA BARRINO
JENNIFER HUDSON
LATOYA LONDON
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
BO BICE
VONZELL SOLOMON
PARIS BENNETT
KATHARINE MCPHEE
ELLIOTT YAMIN
CHRIS DAUGHTRY
MANDISA
MELINDA DOOLITTLE
LAKISHA JONES
JORDIN SPARKS
DAVID COOK
BROOKE WHITE
SYESHA MERCADO
DAVID ARCHULETA
CARLY SMITHSON
MICHAEL JOHNS
KRIS ALLEN
ADAM LAMBERT
ALLISON IRAHETA
1st Inductee is.......
CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
2nd Inductee is.....
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
and the final inductee is.....
MICHAEL LYNCHE
Until next time......
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