Rock Band WeekAlso known as "Caleb Johnson Week."
Fall Out Boy
Neat.
Group Song
American Idol, hear my cry! Ask and ye shall receive! I'm glad for the return of the group song. I was going to write something about the vocals being a little weak, and more about it being OK because the contestants seemed to be having fun. However, then Malaya entered the scene. Good heavens, girl, calm it with the head banging. She could hardly sing because she was so concerned about making her hair flop everywhere. All I remember from that performance is flying bronzed-tipped hair and "UP UP UP!!!!! UP UP UP!!!!!"
Idol Top 9... GO!
Alex Preston – "Don't Speak" by No Doubt
I'm glad that Idol has finally started to put the song and original artist on the screen when a contestant sings. Why has it taken 13 seasons for them to do that? I'm not a giant jazz fan. I respect it, I can groove to it, but I don't dig it the mostest. That said, I completely dug this version of "Don't Speak." Well done, Alex. He was a great front man for the big band. Ed just said, "This guy will get second place." I replied, "I said that last week." He answered, "I said that two weeks ago. Scooped." LIES. Shut up, judges. Alex was awesome, and you know it. The shoe-sock theft stuff was kinda funny, admittedly.
Majesty Rose – "Shake It Out" by Florence + The Machine
Hair: Yes. Outfit: YES, even with shoulder pads. However, the outfit didn't really go with the song. Her fashion seemed more "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" than "Shake It Out." The vocal was weaker than a freshly minted kangaroo crawling in his mommy's pouchie for the first time. WEAK, y'all. I like Majesty a lot, but she just got really spazzy and all over the place.
Theme?
Ed and Mom are telling me I'm wrong on the theme. They say it's "Band Night," not "Rock Band Night," or, as Mom put it, "Singing With Band Night." :o)
Dexter Roberts – "Down In The Boondocks" by Little Big Town
Nice pants, granddad. GREAT song choice for Dexter. As I say every single week, you may hate country, but this is *good stuff* for those who love country. He did a great job, but it was very similar to the original, though not quite as polished. That may hurt him. However, country America was down with that. I was. Yay, Dexter. His shout out to the band at the end was polite, too.
Giant Gummy Bear
How have I never had one of these? How about you guys talk about Dexter?
Keith's Lizard Move
He keeps flicking his tongue around. Mom *says* she's bothered by it.
Malaya Watson – "The Long And Winding Road" by the Beatles
I'm worried about this performance for two reasons, both of them previous actions by Malaya this evening: 1.) OUT OF CONTROL activity in the group song, and 2.) the pantomimed nose-picking before the commercial break before her performance. Such a classy girl. Oh, wait. Her song choice is going to allow her to stay in control. Yay. "Good girl, Malaya." She is looking mature, acting mature, singing mature. I just wish she would stick with this image. It's cool to be spontaneous and fun, but do it with class. Her vocal was so slick. "Lead me to your door," was heart-melting. And THAT ENDING. Keep doing this, Malaya! More good stuff! Beautiful. Amber, has she been taking classes from you on the side? She's sounding more and more like you every week. Keith just noted the exact same lyric I did.
Sam Woolf – "Hey There Delilah" by The Plain White T's
I'm so sorry you all missed the fly harmonies I was adding. The beat was neat, and I enjoyed the vibe. Mom was excited about the light bulbs, for some reason. However, Sam seemed a bit too rigid for the calm vibe and rosy shirt. When JLo asked to whom Sam was singing, Ed said something about "my pet hamster," and Mom cannot stop laughing because she thought he said "Mark the hamster." I asked why that was funny, and she said, "A hamster... named MARK! Who names his hamster... MARK? HAHAHA!" Welcome to my world, Idol Watchers. Anyway, good performance. Yay, Sam. (Mom just said, "Did they like him or not? I don't even know." Too much laughing about Mark the Hamster.)
Jessica Meuse – "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac
Jessica is hellbent on letting us know that she WORKS HARD on those bar gigs. Setting up, singing, tearing down. Très difficile. It's neat that she plays fiddle, though. Oh, no. I just heard Mom scream, "Jessica... has a... HAMSTER!" (I think it was a gerbil, however.) Mom is choking on her own spit through her uncontrollable laughter. This is one of those "you had to be there" moments, and I really wish you all were. This fit is something to behold. ANYWAY, back to Jessica. (I've turned into HCJ talking about a Gummy Bear when I should be focusing on the singer.) I thought this performance was great. Her higher notes sounded less shaky and more controlled than ever. Full, even. I've said all along that Jessica is a Stevie Nicks-ish singer. Mom thinks she did well because she was forced to focus on the performance rather than "phone it in."
Hamsters Everywhere
Oh, no. Hamster in a commercial. Mom has lost it again.
C.J. Harris – "If It Hadn't Been For Love" by SteelDrivers
Before he sang, Mom said, "I think he's going home this week." When he started singing, I thought, "No way!" He was setting a great atmosphere. I was drawn into his performance. Then, the chorus. Oh, the chorus. Everything fell apart instantly. I wanted to pull a Mom and hide under the blanket, but alas, I had no blanket. Buh-bye, C.J.
Caleb Johnson – "Dazed & Confused" by Led Zeppelin
I'm surprised he isn't going last. Jena must have something to bring. Really, is there anyone more professional than Caleb in this competition? He oozes confidence, charisma, and COOL. Everything about him says, "This is what I do." I feel like I'm watching a seasoned performer EVERY TIME I see him. I want more, more, more Caleb. Winner winner, chicken dinner. His voice is übercontrolled, chill in the right places, and wild in the right places. His instincts with motion and even the mic are A+, dead on, right. STAND UP, Harry! C'mon, man.
Jena Irene – "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence
She looks like Lea Michele tonight. The first third of the song just sounded bumbly and shouty. The remainder of her performance was flat-out rocked. I could understand the lyrics, the power and cry in her voice were controlled, and she didn't overdo any bit of it. Best Jena performance I've seen. Happy for her.
Tonight's Show...
...was extra fun, mostly thanks to the hamster fun. I truly hate it that you all missed those moments. Aside from the hamsters, I enjoyed the variety of songs selected and the chances to look at different sides of some of the contestants. I want Malaya to continue with the focused vocals and Caleb to continue being Caleb.
Jo's Ranking
- Caleb
- Jena
- Malaya
- Alex
- Sam
- Jessica
- Dexter
- Majesty
- C.J.
Jo's Prediction of America's Ranking
- Jena
- Caleb
- Malaya
- Alex
- Sam
- Jessica
- Dexter
- Majesty
- C.J.
What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!
