American Idol Review – The Final 12 – Week 1

Okay, before I get on with it, I have to say, I seemed to be channeling Simon last night.  Even Brian kept laughing his butt off.  For instance, first I see Ace & Kellie come out and I said, "Good Lord what did those stylists do to them?  She looks like an old lady and his hair and Bucky’s hair looks a mess!"  Then Simon winds up saying the same thing.  It was very amusing, but left me thinking perhaps I’ve watched this too long now…

Okay, on with my armchair quarterbacking!

Ace — Do I Do — For a second there, I thought he’d pull it off, but oh ow, my ears!  It’s a tricky song and he just couldn’t stay with it.  Sharp, flat, everywhere but he just couldn’t find some of those notes.  Paula must be putting drugs in her ears because she sure can’t hear.  And yes, of course.  *insert disgusted sigh and major eye roll* there we have the lingering longing eyed lothario glance I’ve come to know so well and hate so much.  Blech!  I’d give anything to reach through the TV and poke him in the eyes in an effort to get him to JUST SAY NO TO SCHMOOPIE EYES!!!

Kellie — Blame It on the Sun — She is just so damn cute, isn’t she.  But now here’s the mature Kellie and I just don’t like it.  She was dressed kind of plain — I like her looking perkier.  She sang this better than I thought she would.  Her voice sounded pretty nice.  A time or two she seemed slightly off, but I thought she did well.  I don’t know this song.  There’s something to her voice though that is very appealing.  You know, to be honest here — I wouldn’t mind if Kellie won this damn contest.  You go, Kellie.  😉  But this wasn’t her at her best.  And please, for the love of God, don’t let the stylists at her anymore.

Elliott — Knocks Me Off My Feet — His vocal tone suits this song, but I don’t like it.  There’s an awkwardness to his delivery.  Probably his worst performance.  So far, everyone’s worst night.
We now interrupt my AI Review for the following words from me, the sponsor: 

I’m hating this Stevie night in spite of the fact of being a HUGE Stevie Wonder fan.  He’s NOT an easy artist to sing, that’s for sure and I feel bad for the younger contestants who won’t have the benefit of ever having heard these songs before this.

 Mandisa — Don’t You Worry About a Thing — I was looking forward to hearing her, this should have been a song she was good at.  But as soon as I heard the name of the song she chose I was quickly worried.  For good reason it seems.  Some of this is too low for her.  The lower register just isn’t working.  But when she went higher, she did great.  I’m torn about this split good/bad performance, although I do still really like her and her attitude.  I can’t hold this night against any of them though.  Let’s hope they don’t have another Gloria Estefan night.
I interrupt again to let you know that Miko has decided to join the Stevie fest and is going psycho on his squeaky
toy.  And it sounds strangely in tune . . . BTW, yes I really am a huge dork and I really do take notes during the show to later use for this review. 
Bucky — Superstition — Again, as soon as the show opened I worried Bucky wasn’t going to be able to cut it.  But Woohoo, Bucky rules!!  Finally, a good performance.  His voice sounds great.  Randy didn’t like his voice, but I did.  He’s got that gravely thing happening which is natural and I like it.  Way to go BUCK-Meister!!! 

Melissa — Lately —  Uh oh, she’s having trouble finding the notes.  But when she does find it, she sounds ok.  But this is just everywhere — and should be the end of the road for Melissa.  Wow, Simon liked it?  What a surprise.  Sad, but I knew she wouldn’t last long.

Lisa — Signed, Sealed & Delivered — New eyebrows for Lisa, finally!  Okay, here the stylist’s get big props from me because this girl needed those new eyebrows.  This was her best performance in several weeks.  She put a lot into it — Stevie gave her good advice, didn’t he?

Oh dear, here’s Kevin — Didn’t he get the boot last week, or was it just wishful thinking on my part? — Part-Time Lovers — It seemed like he was often behind the note, trying to catch up.  What the hell is Paula talking about when stating he kept good time?  She’s high as a kite again tonight folks.  Okay, so he gave it his best, but I am strangely unmoved.  Ok, so maybe it’s not that strange that I’m unmoved.  Would it be wrong to fast forward through him?  He is reminding me of Mr. Potato Head . . . and besides, this song is WAY TO OLD for him!

Katherine — Until You Come Back to Me — This might be my favorite Katherine performance.  I think she did really well.  Although I don’t like her attack on a few of the high notes.  All in all, I thought it was an interesting, good performance.  I see where Simon says she’s starting to remind us of Kelly.
*shivers with excitement* Okay, Taylor’s is next.  I KNOW he’s going to sing a good Stevie!!! 
Taylor — Living for the City — Not my favorite Taylor performance, but I liked the last part a lot.  He cracks me up.  I am just consistently swept up in his performances.  Each week I wait and wait to see him sing because I know I am going to be swept up in his passion.  He’s just a total JOY to watch.  It’s good that his bangs are growing out.  DO NOT LET THE STYLISTS AT HIM!!!  Leave him alone and let him keep his individuality.

Paris — All I Do — I think she probably sang it well.  But why do they pitch some of these songs so low that they can’t hit the bottom notes.  I find that so annoying.  You know, I think I want Paris to leave.  I just don’t enjoy her.  Not sure why because I sure did during auditions.  Now something about her bugs the crap out of me.  Go home, Paris — you annoy me.  It’s not a talent thing — it’s personal.  ;(

Chris — Higher Ground — Why do they make us wait so long for Chris?  Thank goodness he found his niche!  I love that he consistently puts in a good performance.  LOVED the mix of Stevie with the Chili Pepper rendition.  I was worried going into tonight, I worry Chris isn’t going to be able to cut these last 12 weeks and still be able to maintain his persona.  But he did it tonight.  Gives me great hope!  I agree 100% with Simon, Chris is the ONLY one this year I can actually hear his songs already on the radio as they are, as performed.  I truly think he’s already that good and that polished.  Way to go Chris!  
Interesting little tidbit about Chris.  The group FUEL heard his performance of their song a few weeks ago and apparently they called him and offered him a lead singing role in their band.  He turned it down because of his AI obligations.  Sooooo even if Chris doesn’t win, he’s walking right off AI into possibly becoming the lead singer for the band Fuel?  Niiice.  I knew Chris would make it no matter if he wins this show or not.  He’s just that talented.

So who goes?  For me, it’s Kevin’s time to leave.  Kevin or Melissa.
In other news.  Yesterday I had finally had ENOUGH of all the negativity and attacks and ugliness of the ODB boards and I posted my last message there.  TIRED of the militant mommy’s fighting their "my way is the ONLY way to raise children and because you don’t agree you are stupid and you suck" mentality.  TIRED of the vultures feeding on the skin and bones of their unlucky victims.  TIRED.  So I said goodbye and had every intention of sitting on my hands if necessary to avoid that place from today on. 

I had received a PN before I left work yesterday that I had intended to answer this morning as my final log in over there.  However, MUCH to my delight I tred to go there to do just that and I learn that the boards are NO MORE.  An error page comes up saying:

"ODBoards has run its course and become too hot to handle.

Thanks for participating."

Too hot to handle?  Indeed, why not call it what it was.  Chock Full of VULTURES feeding.  Yeah…that’s more like it.  In any case, HIP HIP HORRAY!!!  Thanks be to GOD.  Now I don’t have to worry about relapse.  My addiction is DONE.

I’ll miss Timmy, LaLopez, Overachiever, Nikki, Pink, Morgangaia, The Kid, LoveHatred, Kyandi, and *Donna* because we really did have a lot of fun over on the Girl’s Gone Wild and Sims threads.  (I didn’t intentionally leave anyone out…)I’ll miss you all keeping me company during my very boring work days and evenings at home with our general silliness and tomfoolery.  It was so nice to get to know you guys over there.  I really wasn’t logging on much from home anymore.  The comraderie between me and the above named people, that is the ONLY thing I will miss.  But we have the chat room we can chat in if you want, and we always have dear OD. 

Now maybe OD will go back to being the place it was before that board opened.  Maybe people won’t be afraid again to open themselves up in here.  Fear not my friends, the vultures can’t circle — they have no place to leave their victims anymore.