As we finish up the first week of this year's American Idol 7's Semifinal round, I thought it might be interesting to take a look back at what I see as the Top 10 Semifinal performances through the years.
A couple of notes on this list:
-This year's performances are not included
-Starting in Season 4, the format changed from voting contestants into the Top 12 to eliminating the lowest polling contestants from the competition, so Season 4 and 5 contestants had 3 Semifinal performance, versus just 1 for contestants from Seasons 1-3.
And, the list...
1. Latoya London, "All By Myself" (Season 3)
I can still remember the moment when I literally fell off my bed as Latoya hit the impossibly high note in Eric Carmen's ballad. "Anymooooooooooooooooooooore" -- Jaw. On. Floor. Aside from Kelly Clarkson's first performance in the Top 10, this may be the most surprising performance I have ever seen on the show, made all the more so because we had not seen Latoya onscreen for even one minute leading up to the semifinals. Her personality ultimately ended up disappointing me later in the competition, but her vocal work in her first performance is truly unforgettable.
2. Melinda Doolittle, "My Funny Valentine" (Season 6)
Talk about a class act! Melinda showed what a pro she is, effortlessy giving this classic her own bluesy, soulful spin. Every note in this rendition was letter-perfect, and she couldn't have come off more humble or likable. If she ever gets around to making a CD (come on, where's the Melinda record deal announcement??), this is what the music should sound like.
3. Kelly Clarkson, "Respect" (Season 1)
I know, I know, how could I not put Ms. Kelly at number 1, especially when this was the very first the audience was seeing of the sassy Texan? Her vocal work and irrepressible personality were astoundingly clear as she wailed the Aretha classic, all the while missing which camera she was supposed to be looking into. (If you can get your hands on this performance, it really is a must watch, as Kelly adorably, and consistently, is looking anywhere but where the camera is). Coming into this week, Justin was the one to watch. At the end of the week, it was Kelly people were talking about.
4. Chris Daughtry, "Hemmorage" (Season 5)
If Bo Bice started the rock trend on American Idol, Chris Daughtry hammered it home. After a solid cover of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" in the first week of the semifinals, Daughtry stepped it up about 8 notches on this Fuel song, transporting himself and the viewers to the middle of a slammin' rock concert. Bice may have been credible within the world of AI, but Daughtry took it to another level. It's no wonder he's had such a successful post-show transition into the rock music world.
5. Clay Aiken, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (Season 2)
His initial audition was shocking for the discrepancy between the way he looked and sounded, and his semifinal performance of the Journey classic "Open Arms" was great, but it was his stunning Wildcard rendition of the Elton John tune that really put Clay Aiken on the map. Standing tall in the center of the stage, looking confident but not cocky, he saaaaaaaaang his way into the hearts of millions. This was the moment, I believe, that Clay Nation really began to take shape.
6. Fantasia, "Something to Talk About" (Season 3)
That voice. Those lips. That sassy personality. Ms. 'Tasia announced her presence to the world as the final performer of week 1's semifinals in Season 3, and never looked back. Flawless.
7. LaKisha Jones, "And I Am Telling You" (Season 6)
Taking on the Dreamgirls classic just a month after Jennifer Hudson had been awarded the Oscar for singing the same song, LaKisha fearlessly tore into this tune, making it clear she was a force to be reckoned with. The power of this performance, however, may have been her ultimate downfall -- she may simply have peaked too soon. Still, one of the most passionate performances the semifinal round has ever seen.
8. Kimberley Locke, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (Season 2)
Sure, she sang this song in her initial audition, and by the time she reprised the performance in the second week of semifinals (which also featured Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken) there was already some "Rainbow" fatigue, but her controlled and beautiful rendition of the Judy Garland chestnut made clear Season 2 wasn't just going to be a boy's race to the finish.
9. Bo Bice, "Whipping Post" (Season 4)
Until Bo Bice picked up that mike stand and went to town on the Allman Brothers Band tune, the closest thing AI had to a rocker was Justin Guarini (and that ain't too close). With this performance Bice, who had received very little screen time coming into the semifinals in favor of fellow "rocker" Constantine Maroulis, established himself as a showman, a vocal talent, and the "credible rocker" of Season 4.
10. Katharine McPhee, "Since I Fell For You" (Season 5)
Although she was dressed rather plainly in jeans and a top for her first Semifinal appearance, the effortless way Katharine handled the runs on this Barbra Streisand tune made it clear she was gonna be a contender.
Honorable Mentions:
Blake Lewis, "Somewhere Only We Know" (Season 6)
Chris Richardson, "Geek in the Pink" (Season 6)
Melinda Doolittle. "Woman" (Season 6)
EJ Day, "I'll Be" (Season 1)
Jennifer Hudson, "Imagine" (Season 3)
Tamyra Gray, "And I Am Telling You" (Season 1)
Ruben Studdard, "Superstar" (Season 2)
Ace Young, "Father Figure" (Season 5)
Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? Did I miss something? Let me know.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Ten Best American Idol Semifinal Performances of All Time
Monday, February 04, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Monday Report
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Voting for all Sweet Sixteen matches ends Thursday February 7, 11:59PM EST.
No major changes in the voting today, but three of the matches are separated by less than 6%. Kelly Clarkson continues to struggle with Bo Bice, while Anthony Fedorov/Elliott Yamin and Ace Young/Blake Lewis are still separated by just a few votes. While Jasmine Trias and Kellie Pickler barely budged since yesterday, Clay Aiken seems to be making some serious ground in his battle with Melinda Doolittle, and Constantine Maroulis and Josh Gracin don't seem to be having any troubles with Bucky Covington and Latoya London, respectively.
Here are the results for the Sweet Sixteen match-ups as of Mon. Feb 4 at 3:00PM EST.
Click on any match-up to vote!
Feb. 3: Jasmine 54.7%-Kellie 45.3%
Friday, February 01, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Sweet Sixteen Match-Ups (All Brackets)
Voting for all Sweet Sixteen matches ends Thursday February 7, 11:59PM EST.
Here are the Sweet Sixteen match-ups in all divisions. Vote away!
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #5 Bo Bice
#6 Jasmine Trias vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Seacrest Bracket
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #3 Melinda Doolittle
#9 Constantine Maroulis vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Abdul Bracket
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#5 Blake Lewis vs. #9 Ace Young
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#3 Latoya London vs. #7 Josh Gracin
Visit the IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Sunday, January 27, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Sunday Report
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Spread the word to vote for your faves!
Remember, voting for all Round of 32 matches ends Thursday January 31, 11:59PM EST, so there's plenty of time to still vote!
Here are updates (as of 1/27 at 7:00PM EST) of the Round of 32 match-ups in all divisions. Click on any match-up to vote!
Matches to keep an eye on:
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
Chris continues to chip away at Kelly's lead, but the original Idol is still way out front.
Today: Kelly 64%-36%
Yesterday: Kelly 65.5%-34.5%
Jan 25: Kelly 67%-33%.
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
The Velvet Teddybear is trying to rally, and he's making up some ground -- he gained 8% since yesterday.
Today: Kellie 59%-41%
Yesteray: Kellie 67%-33%
Jan 25: Kellie 66%-34%
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
Jasmine's lead continues to diminish -- she's lost 8% since Friday! Could Tamyra be staging a comeback?
Today: Jasmine 67%-33%
Yesterday: Jasmine 72%-27%
Jan 25: Jasmine 75%-25%
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
After a minor setback yesterday, Bo continues to lead the Oscar winner.
Today: Bo 58%-42%
Yesterday: Bo 54%-46%
Jan. 25: Bo 55%-45%
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
The Soul Patrol has come roaring back, boosting Taylor's take by 5% and making this match with Constantine a real horse-race.
Today: Constantine 56%-44%
Yesterday: Constantine 61%-39%
Jan 25: Constantine 75%-25%
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
I saw Spamalot this afternoon (read my review here), but it looks like some of the Claymates were voting for their boy -- they've lifted his lead over RJ to 40%!
Today: Clay 70%-30%
Yesterday: Clay 58%-42%
Jan 25: Clay 52%-48%
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
In this battle of the divas, Melinda stays out on top.
Today: Melinda 66%-34%
Yesterday: Melinda 66%-34%
Jan. 25: Melinda 64%-36%
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
No change here -- Bucky is still on track for his second straight upset and a show-down with Taylor in the next round.
Today: Bucky 71%-29%
Yesterday: Bucky 71%-29%
Jan. 25: Bucky 72%-28%
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
Fantasia gained back a few % points, but it's not going to be enough if she's going to defeat Ace.
Today: Ace 66%-34%
Yesterday: Ace 68-32%
Jan. 25: Ace 69%-31%
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
Last year's champ is still in serious trouble -- she's totally lost her lead to Anthony, and is down almost 7% from yesterday. Not good!
Today: Anthony 56%-44%
Yesterday: Anthony 52%-37%
Jan. 25: Jordin 58%-42%
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
In this battle of the third place finishers, Elliott has lost about 5% points since Friday, but is still way out on top.
Today: Elliott 76%-24%
Yesterday: Elliott 77%-23%
Jan. 25: Elliott 81%-19%
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Blake still has the slight lead, but this remains one of Round 2's closest contests.
Today: Blake 51.7%-48.3%
Yesterday: Blake 51.5%-48.5%
Jan. 25: Kimberley 50.2%-49.8%
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Carrie has lost 8% since Friday, but she still holds a commanding lead.
Today: 72.4%-27.6%
Yesterday: Carrie 76%-24%
Jan. 25: Carrie 80%-20%
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
After leading early, Daughtry has fallen way behind Gracin. If Chris' fans don't start voting harder, we're going to have a huge upset on our hands.
Today: Josh 58%-42%
Yesterday: Josh 50.3%-49.7%
Jan. 25: Chris 55%-45%
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
Latoya still maintains a healthy lead.
Today: Latoya 58.5%-41.5%
Yesterday: Latoya 57%-43%
Jan. 25: Latoya 62%-37%
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Katharine continues to struggle with Gina, in fact losing 3% and falling even deeper in the hole. Where are the folks with McPheever?
Today: 55%-45%
Yesterday: Gina 52%-48%
Jan. 25: Katharine 53%-47%
Saturday, January 26, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Saturday Report
Spread the word to vote for your faves!
Remember, voting for all Round of 32 matches ends Thursday January 31, 11:59PM EST, so there's plenty of time to still vote!
Here are updates (as of 1/26 at 7:00PM EST) of the Round of 32 match-ups in all divisions. Click on any match-up to vote!
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
Kelly is holding onto her lead, but Chris is making up a very little bit of ground.
Yesterday: Kelly 67%-33%.
Today: Kelly 65.5%-34.5%
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Pickler holds onto her lead from yesterday, posting an almost identical score.
Yesterday: Kellie 66%-34%.
Today: Kellie 67%-33%
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
The question remains: where are the fans of Tamyra Gray? Jasmine still has a dominant lead over the Season 1 4th place finisher.
Yesterday: Jasmine 75%-25%
Today: Jasmine 72%-27%
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
The Oscar winner is still struggling with Season Four runner-up Bo.
Yesterday: Bo 55%-45%
Today: Bo 54%-46%
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
Looks like the Soul Patrol woke up, because they've made some serious ground in this battle with Constantine, though the Greek still leads by a fairly wide margin.
Yesterday: Constantine 75%-25%
Today: Constantine 61%-39%
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
The Claymates also seem to have gone into overdrive, bumping up their boy's lead over RJ by 6%.
Yesterday: Clay 52%-48%
Today: Clay 58%-42%
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
In this battle of the divas, Melinda stays on top.
Yesterday: 64%-36%
Today: Melinda 64%-36%
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Bucky pulled off Round 1's biggest upset by sending Diana Degarmo packing; it looks like he's on his way to doing the same thing to LaKisha.
Yesterday: Bucky 72%-28%
Today: Bucky 71%-29%
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
Fantasia fans, where are you? Your girl is still losing to Ace!
Yesterday: Ace 69%-31%
Today: Ace 68-32%
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
Last year's champ is in serious trouble -- she's lost her lead to Anthony, and is down almost 20% from yesterday. Not good!
Yesterday: Jordin 58%-42%
Today: Anthony 52%-37%
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
Yesterday: Elliott 81%-19%
Today: Elliott 77%-23%
In this battle of the third place finishers, Elliott has lost about 4% points, but is still way out on top.
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Blake has taken over the lead, but this is still one of Round 2's closest contests.
Yesterday: Kimberley 50.2%-49.8%
Today: Blake 51.5%-48.5%
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Mandisa has gained a bit of ground, but Carrie continues to roll.
Yesterday: Carrie 80-20%
Today: Carrie 76%-24%
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
There's only a few votes separating these two, with Josh having taken over the lead. Where are the Daughtry fans at?
Yesterday: Chris 55%-45%
Today: Josh 50.3%-49.7%
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
This has turned into much more of a contest, thought Latoya still maintains the lead.
Yesterday: 62%-37%
Today: 57%-43%
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
After finishing yesterday on top, Kat has lost some ground and is currently behind Gina.
Yesterday: Katharine 53%-47%
Today: Gina 52%-48%
Sunday, January 20, 2008
IDOL MADNESS Seacrest Bracket RESULTS!
There is still time to vote in the Abdul Bracket!
Click to see the just-released first round match-ups of the Jackson Bracket!
Seacrest Bracket First Round RESULTS:
#1 Taylor Hicks def. #16 Matt Rogers
#2 Clay Aiken def. #15 Jessica Sierra
#3 Melinda Doolittle def #14 Amy Adams
#13 Bucky Covington def. #4 Diana Degarmo
#5 LaKisha Jones def. #12 Ryan Starr
#6 Vonzell Solomon def. #11 Kimberly Caldwell
#7 RJ Helton def. #10 Sanjaya Malakar
#9 Constantine Maroulis def. #8 Trenyce
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
IDOL MADNESS: Seacrest Bracket Seeding and First Round Match-Ups
View The Results of the Cowell Bracket First-Round Match-Ups
Vote in the Just-Released Abdul Bracket
Voting for the Seacrest Bracket Ends Saturday January 19 at 11:59PM EST
SEACREST BRACKET 1st Round Match-Ups
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #16 Matthew Rogers
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #15 Jessica Sierra
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #14 Amy Adams
#4 Diana Degarmo vs. #13 Bucky Covington
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #12 Ryan Starr
#6 Vonzell Solomon vs. #11 Kimberly Caldwell
#7 RJ Helton vs. #10 Sanjaya Malakar
#8 Trenyce vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
The #1 seed in the Seacrest bracket is Season 5 winner and Soul Patrol captain Taylor Hicks. With a bracket that includes Clay Aiken (#2 seed), Melinda Doolittle (#3), Diana DeGarmo (#4) and Lakisha Jones (#5), this bracket could be anyone’s game. A potential 4 vs. 5 match-up would have possibly two of the biggest female voices on the show head-to-head for a place in the Sweet Sixteen.
In the other half of the brackets, Season 6’s favorite head of hair makes his appearance at the #10 seed. Sanjaya faces off #7 seed RJ Helton for the chance to face #2 seed Clay Aiken. Clay should easily handle the legally-challenged #15 seed Jessica Sierra (though crazy things could happen in a single-elimination tournament).
Remember, voting starts now!
IDOL MADNESS: THE GAME Main Page
Seed / Name
1 Taylor Hicks
2 Clay Aiken
3 Melinda Doolittle
4 Diana Degarmo
5 LaKisha Jones
6 Vonzell Solomon
7 RJ Helton
8 Trenyce
9 Constantine Maroulis
10 Sanjaya Malakar
11 Kimberly Caldwell
12 Ryan Starr
13 Bucky Covington
14 Amy Adams
15 Jessica Sierra
16 Matthew Rogers
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Ten Best Initial American Idol Auditions of All Time
As my post 'Am I Wrong For Dreading the American Idol Auditions?' illustrates, I'm not the biggest fan of the initial audition round of American Idol. Having said that, there have been some truly fantastic initial auditions, and I thought I'd pay tribute to those now.
Please note, this list only includes auditions that were televised during the original season. Thus, auditions like Kelly Clarkson's, which were not originally shown, are not included.
Here we go...
1. Frenchie Davis
What a force of nature! There was no full-figured divas in Season 1 of American Idol, so when Frenchie walked in during Season 2, no one knew what to expect -- or how Simon and co. would respond. They had no choice after her tour de force delivery of "And I Am Telling You...", which simply blew the roof off the place. If Frenchie hadn't been disqualified from the competition, we very well might be referring to her as American Idol Winner Frenchie Davis.
2. Justin Guarini
The sad truth is, Justin was never as good as this first audition. Smooth, sexy and confident, he sounded fantastic, wooing both Paula and the audience.
3. Clay Aiken
Paula was "away" during Clay's Idol debut, and what she missed is the stuff of legends -- a ridiculously strong voice coming from a dweeby white kid. It threw the judges for a loop --Randy didn't know what to make of it, and even Simon had to acknowledge the power of this kid's voice. Amazing.
4. Jennifer Hudson
Apparently the producers didn't think highly enough of the future Oscar winner to include her with the rest of the auditions -- she was shepherded off to the "Best of the Rest" special. No matter -- she stood and sang, and I was instantly in love.
5. Melinda Doolittle
The first time timid back-up singer Melinda opened her mouth to croon "For Once In My Life" it was clear she had something special. It was also the first time we saw her modest "Who me?" expression, catapulting her to instant frontrunner status.
6. Katharine McPhee
She looked a little rough (and insecure), but Season 5's second place finisher sounded spot-on and showed enormous control singing "God Bless the Child." Fantastic.
7. Kimberley Locke
She would go on to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" several more times throughout the season, but it was this first rendition that was the most impressive. Simon called it a "master-class in singing." I'd agree.
8. Jordin Sparks
She was a bit too sweet for Simon's liking, but the growl she whipped out in the middle of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" gave a hint of the vocal prowess she would later display.
9. Tamyra Gray
Coming in like a spitfire on Red Bull, Tamyra was the first girl on Idol to really show some pipes. The judges took notice -- and so did the audience.
10. Ruben Studdard
Like Frenchie, the judges didn't quite know what to make of the big guy, who showed effortless charm crooning "Ribbon in the Sky." His style (and smile) didn't change much over the course of the season, but who cares -- he's the Velvet Teddybear!
Honorable Mentions:
Josh Gracin
Fantasia
Diana Degarmo
Carrie Underwood
Chris Daughtry
LaKisha Jones
Taylor Hicks
Constantine Maroulis
More American Idol Best-Of Lists
Friday, January 04, 2008
Where is American Idol Season 6' Breakout Star?
About seven months after the end of the last season of American Idol, and with under two weeks to go until Season 7 gets going, the question remains...
Where is Season 6' breakout star?
Granted, Jordin Sparks has had radio success with her single "Tattoo" (still in the Top 10 on the pop chart), and both she and Blake Lewis had respectable debut sales weeks for their respective albums. And, yes, LaKisha Jones is now on Broadway in The Color Purple, Chris Richardson and Phil Stacey are both supposedly working on albums, and Sanjaya Malakar remains a household name. While there is still plenty of time for any of these contestants to really enter into the next level of superstardom, none of them has (yet) come close to rivaling the success of the show's most famous alumni.
So...where's the Clarkson? The Underwood? The Daughtry?
You don't have to be a superstar to be successful -- Elliott Yamin, Kellie Pickler, Kimberley Locke and Bucky Covington have made very nice careers for themselves, without selling millions of albums. And, not every season's winner was an instant mega-star -- Fantasia, for example, was well-received out-of-the-gate, but it wasn't until her tour de force performance in The Color Purple that people started really taking her seriously.
Additionally, it doesn't have to be the show's winner who breaks out -- while both Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee still have a presence on the music (and movie) scene, Daughtry made it clear right from the get-go that he was a force to be reckoned with, while Jennifer Hudson took two years after her elimination from the show before she became a household name. However, none of this past season's contestants can claim they have done the same -- or that they even have the real potential to do so.
Will Melinda Doolittle release an album and become the next Norah Jones? Will Jordin's follow-up singles significantly boost her album sales? Will Chris Richardson become the next Justin Timberalke? I'm just not sure.
With Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson under their belt, there's no doubt the show has already produced huge stars, but the bigger question for the show is: is it still capable of doing so?
I believe it is, and if you buy into the hype for the upcoming season, we may find our "biggest star yet!" While that remains to be seen, I'm hoping some of this year's performers tap into whatever that intangible thing is that makes someone not just successful, but special. It's happened before -- I believe it can happen again.
Click to visit Idol Thought's AMERICAN IDOL CENTRAL for show recaps and rankings, news on former contestants, best-of lists and much more
Saturday, December 01, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Seacrest) Sweet 16: #2 Clay Aiken vs. #3 Melinda Doolittle
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #5 Bo Bice
#6 Jasmine Trias vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
Seacrest Bracket
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #3 Melinda Doolittle
#9 Constantine Maroulis vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Abdul Bracket
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#5 Blake Lewis vs. #9 Ace Young
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#3 Latoya London vs. #7 Josh Gracin
Visit the IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Thursday, November 15, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Seacrest Bracket) Rnd of 64: #3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #14 Amy Adams
SEACREST BRACKET
1st round match-ups:
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #16 Matthew Rogers
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #15 Jessica Sierra
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #14 Amy Adams
#4 Diana Degarmo vs. #13 Bucky Covington
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #12 Ryan Starr
#6 Vonzell Solomon vs. #11 Kimberly Caldwell
#7 RJ Helton vs. #10 Sanjaya Malakar
#8 Trenyce vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
IDOL MADNESS: THE GAME Main Page
Friday, November 02, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Seacrest) Rnd of 32: #3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
Division: Seacrest Bracket
The Match-Up: #3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
Idol Thoughts Prediction: In this battle of the third place finishers, I'm guessing Melinda will prevail handily -- perhaps as much as 70%-30%?
Round of 32 Match-Ups:
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Visit the IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Thursday, November 01, 2007
IDOL MADNESS Consolation Round -- Determine the 9th and 10th Place Finishers
The Elite 8 are all set, but we've still got to figure out who will finish in 9th and 10th place in IDOL MADNESS.
Choose your favorites from among those individuals who were eliminated in the Sweet 16. You may vote for up to TWO contestants.
Voting ends Sunday February 17 at 11:59PM EST.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Spoiler: American Idol Tour Set List
I've been to every American Idol tour since Kelly, Justin and Tamyra were traipsing around the country back in 2002. Each year, it seems, the show has gotten more and more stale, with last year's concert easily the worst of the five I have attended.
Well, the organizers of the tour seem to have noticed fans weren't having as good a time, and they've spiced things up for this year's show. Instead of simply re-treading all of the songs performed on the show, this year's contestants are performing a whole set of new songs, with just a few favorites from the series. And apparently there is dancing as well!
Thanks to JustJared, here’s the set list for American Idols Live 2007 tour:
* Let’s Get It Started - Entire Group
* Baby Love, Stop In The Name Of Love - Girls
* Heard It Through The Grapevine - Chris Richardson & Ladies
* Proud Mary - Sanjaya Malakar & Melinda Doolittle
* Blaze of Glory - Phil Stacey
* Thanks For The Memories - Chris Sligh & Gina Glocksen
* When God Fearing Women Get the Blues - Haley Scarnato
* Thriller, The Way You Make Me Feel - Sanjaya Malakar
* Typical - Chris Sligh
* Lady Marmalade - Haley Scarnato, Gina Glocksen, & LaKisha Jones
* What Hurts The Most - Chris Richardson & Jordin Sparks
* This Will Be - Jordin Sparks & Melinda Doolittle (fighting over Chris Richardson)
* Time Of The Season - Blake Lewis
* She Will Be Loved - Blake Lewis
* You Give Love A Bad Name - Blake Lewis
* INTERMISSION
* Crazy - Guys (with instruments)
* Who Knew - Gina Glockson
* Virtual Insanity, Ain’t No Sunshine, Geek In The Pink - CAKE (Blake and Chris)
* I Will Always Love You - LaKisha Jones
* Killing Me Softly - Melinda Doolittle (Blake beat boxes and Chris sings towards the end)
* This Love - Chris Richardson
* Another One Bites the Dust - Phil Stacey & Gina Glocksen
* It’s Your Love - Chris Sligh
* Life Is A Highway - Chris Richardson, Sanjaya Malakar and Haley Scarnato
* Natural Woman - Melinda Doolittle
* Ain’t No Other Man - Haley Scarnato, Gina Glocksen, LaKisha Jones, & Melinda Doolittle
* I Who Have Nothing - Jordin Sparks
* Heartbreaker - Jordin Sparks
* You Were Meant For Me - Jordin Sparks
* Broken Wing - Jordin Sparks
* Living On A Prayer - Jordin Sparks
* This Is My Now - Jordin Sparks
I may have to attend this show after all!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Jordin and Melinda Stop In To See Fantasia
Over on Paul Wontorek's "Stage Notes Blog," there are photos of American Idol Season 6's first and third place finishers, Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle, stopping in to say hi to Season 3 champ Fantasia at The Broadway Theater, where she is currently earning rave reviews in The Color Purple.
Melinda and Jordin took time out of their busy post-show schedules to see 'Tasia's tour de force performance, which she will give at-home viewers a taste of on this weekend's Tony Awards. (See Fantasia to Perform at Tony Awards)
Always good to see Idol folks stoppin' by The Great White Way!
*The photo above was taken by Bruce Glickas for Broadway.com
Click to read more Theater News/Commentary
Click to read more News on Former American Idol Contestants
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Jordin, Blake and Melinda Will Perform Together on July 4th
This year's American Idol Top 3, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis, and Melinda Doolittle, will reunite to perform a song together on NBC's "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular."The special will air on Wednesday July 4th from 9-10PM. It has not yet been announced what song the trio will perform.
Martina McBride will also perform at the event, which is being hosted by Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber.
Stay tuned for more info.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Ten Best (And Five Worst) Moments from the American Idol Finale
You can read my recap of the American Idol finale here, but here are my Ten Best and Five Worst moments from last night's show.
Best Moments
1. Blake Lewis jamming with Doug E. Fresh
This was like nothing that has ever been seen on the American Idol stage. Blake finally got to really show off his skills, and the excitement on his face was adorable. Definitely the highlight of the show.
2. Jordin being named the winner and singing "This is My Now"
Sure, there wasn't much suspense, and I didn't cry like I did when Kelly and Fantasia were named winners, but it was moving, nonetheless, to see Jordin's beaming face and the familiar confetti burst at the key change. Another Idol has been crowned.
3. Kelly Clarkson singing "Never Again"
Proving once and for all who the real American Idol is, Kelly growled her way through her fantastic new single. She sounded amazing! And to all those who claimed she was "fat" after "Idol Give Back" -- how 'bout that outfit? Smokin'!
4. Melinda Doolittle singing with Bebe and Cece Wynans
You gotta love Melinda, and you gotta love seeing her jam with the pair who she used to sing back-up for. This girl's gonna do big things.
5. Beatles medley
It was a little drawn out, and neither Taylor or Carrie got the chance to really shine, but Kelly's "Sgt. Pepper" rock-out with Joe Perry was fierce. It would have been cool to see some of the former Idol winners sing together, but this was a nice reminder of the kind of talent the show has produced.
6. Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis dueting on "I Saw Her Standing There"
Totally playful and charming -- you gotta love these kids.
7. Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard dueting on "You're All I Need"
Yes, I wish Jordin had gotten the opportunity to sing with a bigger or more exciting star (Jennifer Hudson was in the audience -- she couldn't be convinced to join in on the festivities?), but they sounded absolutely fantastic together on this song.
8. Green Day singing the John Lennon song
I love Green Day. No more need be said.
9. Top 6 boys singing with Smokey Robinson/Top 6 girls singing with Gladys Knight
I could do without seeing Smokey and Gladys on the Idol stage again, but it was great to see Stephanie, Chris Sligh, and Gina Glocksen, all voted out before they should have been. On the other hand, it was not so great to see Haley or Sanjaya, who stuck around much longer than they should have. It was especially cool to see Gladys Knight flanked by Melinda on one side and LaKisha on the other -- I wish they had gotten the opportunity to do some even more wailing with Gladys.
10. Carrie Underwood singing "I'll Stand By You" -- Not the most exciting performance Carrie has ever given, but very solid, nonetheless. And 6 million albums sold? Wow.
Worst Moments
1. Golden Idol awards -- I hated every single second of these, and they didn't even result in a trainwreck-esque so-horrible-it's-amazing moment like last year's Michael Sandecki/Clay Aiken debacle. Painful.
2. Bette Midler -- Oh Bette, what happened? I've seen the Divine Ms. M in concert, and she is amazing, but this performance sounded terrible and was even more awkwardly interpreted. Bette, Bette, Bette.
3. 10 minute over-run
Luckily I was watching the show live, but if I had Tivo'ed it and discovered I had missed out on the announcement of the winner I would have been pissed. I mean, people spent four months of their time investing in the show and then missed out on the chance to see it all come to a close --not a very respectful way to treat the show's loyal viewers.
4. Sanjaya and Joe Perry -- I never need to see Sanjaya perform again, and I certainly never need to hear him sing "You Really Got Me." I was embarrassed to be watching it, and even more embarrassed for Joe Perry. Luckily he got play for a real musician (Kelly Clarkson) later on in the show.
5. Gwen Stefani -- Totally pointless, and totally uninspired. And not even live? Gimme a break!
Click here for more American Idol News/Commentary
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Person of the Day: Melinda Doolittle
Idol Thoughts Person of the Day is a new daily feature that identifies one person I am currently diggin'. This could be anyone -- it could be a singer, actor, politician or none of the above, but it will be someone who has done something noteworthy, someone I have fond memories of, or simply someone that I like and want to write about.
When I see the promos for tonight's finale of American Idol something seems a little bit off. Watching images of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis flash across the screen, it seems like the kids have been left alone at home, and I'm left with the question -- where's mama?
Of course by "mama" I mean Melinda Doolittle, whose absence will be deeply felt this evening, and for that reason she is today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about the Jordin/Blake sing-out this evening, but it just won't seem like the finale without Melinda there. From the moment she stepped foot in her first audition it seemed like a given that Melinda would be a finalist -- in fact, until she was eliminated last week, I never really conceptualized a finale without her in it. She was the class and the substance of this competition, giving it some heft when it seemed like Sanjaya's hair or Haley's legs would force it to lose credibility for good.
I'm not sure if a Jordin/Melinda finale would be any more competitive or entertaining than a Jordin/Blake finale, but I would be lying if I said it didn't feel a little empty without Ms. Mindy Doo there.
So, in honor of "Since You Been Gone," "My Funny Valentine," "I'm a Woman," "Home," "As Long As He Needs Me," "I've Got Rhythym," "Have a Nice Day," "Nutbush City Limits" and more, Melinda Doolittle is the Idol Thoughts Person of the Day. I'll miss you tonight, Melinda, but I look forward to seeing you on tomorrow's show, and for years and years to come.
Click here for more Idol Thoughts People of the Day
Monday, May 21, 2007
Idol Thoughts Inaugural Person of the Day: Simon Cowell
Idol Thoughts Person of the Day is a new daily feature that identifies one person I am currently diggin'. This could be anyone -- it could be a singer, actor, politician or none of the above, but it will be someone who has done something noteworthy, someone I have fond memories of, or simply someone that I like and want to write about.
The inaugural Person of the Day is...Simon Cowell!
There are a number of reasons Simon could qualify as Idol Thoughts Person of the Day (the fact that American Idol would be far less entertaining without him is obviously at the top of that list), but he grabs the title today for not being afraid to speak his mind. No, I'm not talking about his brutally honest critiques of the American Idol contestants, I am talking about his inability to censor himself when he is talking about the show in the media. Most entertainers who have millions and millions of dollars riding on them hedge their bets when speaking candidly about their projects -- not Simon! He says what he wants, when he wants to, and you gotta love him for that.
Thanks to USA Today, here are a few examples of thoughts he has expressed in the past week:
On Melinda Doolittle's elimination last week:
"When you allow the public to choose, you've got to live and die by the vote. I didn't agree with the vote. More people should have dialed for Melinda -- it's as simple as that. It just didn't seem fair to me, so I felt for her. There's nothing much you can say... 'You sang better than anybody else, you gave it 100% every week, you're not in the final.' It didn't seem right."
On host Ryan Seacrest and apparently on-camera tension:
"It's rather like having a silly little dog who likes to jump up on your lap, and you just swat the dog off. And occasionally in a very stern voice you have to say 'No.' That's how I deal with Ryan."
On Sanjaya Malakar:
"I like crazy. I would never want to be in a situation where we cast the 12 (finalists) as just normal people, because I think it would be boring. The (judging) panel is wacky enough, and therefore I think the contestants should be as strange as well. I quite like that, and I thought the whole Sanjaya thing was hysterical. I'm happy now because he's out. I don't think I'd be happy if he was in the finals... Looking back, I thought it was quite amusing."
On Taylor Hicks:
"I was talking to someone about this the other day and I was saying, 'Don't confuse talent with popularity because actually this is a talent show.' No one listened to me at the time, and they all laughed at me last year. I remember saying that he's not the best person we've had enter. He's just the most popular."
On Kelly Clarkson and her upcoming album:
"Kelly is not a puppet; she does not like to be told what to do. She... made it absolutely clear that she wanted to steer the musical direction on this record. You (the record company) just gotta say, 'You know what? This girl has given us millions and millions of sales.' You've got to give her that opportunity... Because Kelly will be here for 30 years. She has one of the best pop voices in the world right now."
How can you not love honesty like that? Congrats, Simon, on being the first Idol Thoughts Person of the Day!
Five Reasons Jordin Should Win American Idol -- And Five Reasons She Shouldn't
With this year's two-part American Idol finale set to begin in about 33 hours, it's time to take a serious look at who deserves this year's crown. Many of you have probably already made up your minds as to who deserves your vote on Tuesday evening, but for those of you who haven't (I include myself in this category), I thought I would take a look at five reasons why each of the remaining contestants deserves to win this year's top prize, and five reasons why they don't (in a sort of point/counterpoint form). I have tried to be as objective as possible on both sides -- not an easy task!
First up, Ms. Jordin Sparks...
Reason #1 Jordin Should Win: She has the most thrilling voice in the competition. Melinda may have had the most technically accomplished voice, and LaKisha's soul-filled growl had it's moments of excitement, but nobody in Season 6 has been able to nail a high note like Jordin can. For better of for worse, over the seasons the best way for a contestant to show what they are vocally capable of is to wail a high note, and Jordin has done that time and time again, to absolutely thrilling affect (my favorite high-belting moment from Jordin is easily the "window paaaa-aaa-aaa-ne" line from "I Who Have Nothing." On vocal merit alone, Jordin should win American Idol.
Reason #1 Jordin Should Not Win: No matter how fantastic her higher register is, her low lotes tend to be a little wonky. Even in otherwise stellar performances ("You'll Never Walk Alone," "To Love Somebody") her lower register doesn't sound particularly solid. Shouldn't the winner have an all-around dynamic voice, a la Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood?
Reason #2 Jordin Should Win: She's the most likeable of this year's contestants. Her youth and unending cheeriness make her very easy to root for, and she has been a judges and producers' favorite since the Top 12.
Reason #2 Jordin Should Not Win: She seems to have gotten a bit cocky in the past few weeks, and it's possible she has started to believe in her own hype. She's also had a few moments where the camera has caught her "manufacturing" an emotion. Is the cheeriness authentic, or is it just an act?
Reason #3 Jordin Should Win: In case you haven't heard Randy mention it one of the 8,000 times he has brought it up, she is only 17. With apologies to Diana Degarmo, she is easily the best teenage contestant the show has ever had.
Reason #3 Jordin Should Not Win: As a teenager, does she have the maturity to handle the demands of being the American Idol? Considering all that is demanded of the winner (tour, endless media visits, churning out an album within six months), would it not be wiser to award the title to a more seasoned performer?
Reason #4 Jordin Should Win: It is easy to see the kind of music that she will produce, and because she is young and fresh, she is likely to be very marketable.
Reason #4 Jordin Should Not Win: With very few exceptions, her highlights of the season have been singing old-school ballads, which likely won't work in the current marketplace, and her attempt at more modern hits ("Livin' on a Prayer," "Hey Baby") have not always been very successful. Katharine McPhee, who also specialized in ballads on the show, has had a bit of difficulty transitioning into more modern music -- Jordin might face the same challenge.
Reason #5 Jordin Should Win: She would be proud to wear the title, unlike Blake, who might feel burdened and restricted back by it.
Reason #5 Jordin Should Not Win: Is she too much like the kind person we expect to win this show? Might it not be more exciting to mix things up a little bit and award the win to someone who might breathe new life into the title "winner of American Idol"?
Read Five Reasons Blake Should Win American Idol...And Five Reasons He Shouldn't
Read more American Idol News/Recaps
Remember, even after American Idol comes to an end for the season, there will continue to be updates on former Idol contestants (including this year's crew), along with recaps and commentary on summer shows "So You Think You Can Dance," "On the Lot," "Top Chef," "Big Brother," "Pirate Master" and more (see Summer TV) So bookmark Idol Thoughts now!
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