American Idol Overhaul: Season 11

Season 11 was probably one of my favorite seasons. New stage. Fresh voices. One of my favorite YouTube singers was on this season. Just a great season of singing.


THE FINALIST


JEREMY ROSADO
Seems like a nice kid with a decent voice. Just not a star. 

JERMAINE JONES
Huge voice with a bass/baritone quality to it. The drama surrounding his exit was not necessary. I felt bad for him. 

SHANNON MAGRANE
Sweet girl but didn't have the vocal control to make it all the way. 

ERIKA VAN PELT
One of my favorite vocal tones to ever grace the stage. I don't know why America didn't get her but I sure did. Beautiful husky voice that had power to deliver any song.

HEEJUN HAN
Started out with potential but ended up being a joke. 

DEANDRE BRACKENSICK
Boy knew how to use his falsetto. Sometimes a little too much. There were songs where it really worked. 

COLTON DIXON
Nice solid voice. Had moments of good and then moments of what are you doing....

ELISE TESTONE
Interesting tone. Jazzy bluesy vocals. She had a few missteps in song choice but she always delivered. 

SKYLAR LAINE
Nice country tone. Very twangy and very different than the other country girls that they have had on the show. 

HOLLIE CAVANAGH
Powerful vocals came out of that little lady. She lacked confidence in some performances but when she was on, she slayed it. 

JOSHUA LEDET
When he sang, I felt it in each cell of my body. Just good. There were times when he lost his way on song choice but I think that he did enough to really legitimize his spot on the Idol stage. 

JESSICA SANCHEZ
She always SANG her face. Even if the song didn't suit her, she made it work. I followed her on YouTube and was so happy to see her on the show. 

PHILLIP PHILLIPS
Alt rock voice that got a little too grunty for me. All of his songs started to sound the same but then he figured something out that made him into an artist.


WHO GOT ROBBED.......


AARON MARCELLUS
Aaron Marcellus - Never Can Say Goodbye
He was just on at the wrong time. With Joshua in the running, he was being overshadowed. Very easy to listen to. Nice control of his voice.

ERIKA VAN PELT
Erika Van Pelt - I Believe In You And Me
I can't with this one. She should have at least been in the top 5. Her vocals were so mature and just nurtured me to life. I was so upset but glad that she at least made the tour.

JOSHUA LEDET
The whole season was leading up to a Jessica/Joshua final. It would have been a throwdown. Shots fired. Big shebang! Well that didn't happen. He had an amazing body of work on the show and deserved to be in the finale. Don't know where it went wrong.

JESSICA SANCHEZ
Since it wasn't a Jessica/Joshua final, I was so sure that Jessica was going to take the crown. Surprise surprise.....she didn't. There is no denying how amazingly talented and gifted she is. It was Crystal Bowersox all over again. What a shame.


TOP 12 PERFORMANCES


SPECIAL MENTION: 
Jessica Sanchez/Candice Glover/Deandre Brackensick - It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Las Vegas
Jessica Sanchez/Candice Glover/Deandre Brackensick - It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Look here....these three heffas sang their dang gone faces. I was so mad when Candice didn't make it to the Top 24 but it worked out in her favor. Best group of any American Idol season.

12. Jessica Sanchez - Everybody Has A Dream - Top 10
Jessica Sanchez - Everybody Has A Dream
Her confidence in her voice was impeccable. I loved the gospel feel that this arrangement had. She really let loose especially around the key change.

11. Jessica Sanchez - Steal Away - Top 4
Jessica Sanchez - Steal Away
Gritty and dirty from the start. She just got nasty with it. Her runs and her low notes were terrific.

10. Phillip Phillips - We've Got Tonight - Top 3
Phillip Phillips - We've Got Tonight
He was absolutely at his best when he giving subdued performances. I hated the other side of him that delivered painful and rough vocals. This is the lane that I love him in.

9. Jessica Sanchez - Sweet Dreams - Top 9
Jessica Sanchez - Sweet Dreams
Your vocal resemblance to Beyonce was so evident here. I loved this arrangement. So easy and theatrical.

8. Jessica Sanchez - Try A Little Tenderness - Top 7 Pt. 2
Jessica Sanchez - Try A Little Tenderness
She dug deep right in the beginning. I knew that she was going to give us something special. I was not a fan of the arrangement once the beat kicked it. It took away from the soulful vocals. Jessica still stomped all over it.

7. Joshua Ledet - When A Man Loves A Woman - Top 11
Joshua Ledet - When A Man Loves A Woman
Serious vocals. Every performance was an experience. He played with his range and energy so much. When you take off your jacket, you know that it is about to get real.

6. Jessica Sanchez - I Will Always Love You - Top 13
Jessica Sanchez - I Will Always Love You
This was a tall order. Jessica delivered a beautiful and sincere vocal. She added her own flair to it.

5. Jessica Sanchez - You Are So Beautiful - Top 5
Jessica Sanchez - You Are So Beautiful
The arrangement was killer. Jessica just floated right on top of it. Her phrasing was beautiful in every aspect.

4. Jessica Sanchez - Stuttering - Top 7
Jessica Sanchez - Stuttering
Crazy to think that she could have been sent home for this performance. It was clean. It was committed. One of my favorite songs and never thought that I would hear it on the Idol stage. Jessica delivered a very compelling and superb vocal.

3. Phillip Phillips - Volcano - Top 4
Phillip Phillips - Volcano
This was sexy! Everything about the sound of his voice. The atmosphere of the stage. The simplicity of the arrangement. He came out with this at the right time.

2. Joshua Ledet - You Pulled Me Through - Semi Finals
Joshua Ledet - You Pulled Me Through
I felt each and every word. He took this to new heights. This song is already a very emotional song with a great build. He just laid it all out there.

1. Joshua Ledet - A Man's Man's Man's World - Top 4
Joshua Ledet - It's A Man's Man's Man's World
This whole performance was epic. He came down the stairs with confidence. The cascading string players. Having a band made up of mostly females really enhanced the message of the song. His vocal delivery took us through many journeys. He was soft and sincere. He was pained and hurt. He was gritty and dirty. Yep he set the record straight with this one.


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, 8, 9, and 10


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

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
SIOBHAN MAGNUS
MICHAEL LYNCHE

PIA TOSCANO
HALEY REINHART


1st Inductee is.......


JESSICA SANCHEZ


2nd Inductee is......


JOSHUA LEDET


Final Inductee is.......


ERIKA VAN PELT

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