We hear it's Country and Rock-n-Roll night. (À la The Osmonds?) We think each contestant will sing two songs: one country, and one rock-n-roll. Too bad Dexter has to miss (half of) it.
Jennifer's Dress
Material: yes. Design: no.
Signing Of The Signs
Let's just sing, shall we?
Idol Top 6... GO!
Jena Irene – "Barracuda" by Heart
Is it just me, or is this a lot of blah-blah-blah-ooooooeeeeYYYYYYAAAAA screamy-meaminess? It's entertaining as heck, but I feel like it's showing NO SKILL. And what is she saying? Haha, cut to Keith, dance-seizing in his seat. I'm not calling this performance bad, I'm calling it unfortunate. It felt all wrong to me.
Sam Woolf – "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons
This isn't a Top 6 performance. I don't know what else to say. It wasn't bad. I just wasn't moved. I wanted to be moved. I wasn't. JLo was. I wasn't. She said she believed him. Mom agreed. I didn't. It looked like, "I'm going to act like I'm showing emotion and connecting with the audience." Key phrase: ACT LIKE.
C.J. Harris – "American Woman" by The Guess Who
I was kind of into this performance. It was kind of enjoyable. Reading those statements back, I sound really enthralled, huh? :o) Everyone at Casa Cobb HATED this performance... except for me. I agree that it was the worst so far, but I kind of dug it, mostly because my expectations for "Rock C.J." were frightfully low. Thus, he's the only contestant who has exceeded my expectations tonight.
Alex Preston – "Animal" by Neon Trees
I was hoping for "Everybody Talks." I hadn't realized how much Alex sounds like Tyler Glenn. It's a little disconcerting. I'm so accustomed to Alex's cool turns on old faves, that hearing this Neon Trees rerun is disappointing me. Again, it was NOT BAD. It was just a bit safey and samey.
Negative Nancy
Sorry. I am McKayla Maroney tonight. Unimpressed.
Caleb Johnson – "Sting Me" by the Black Crowes
Jessica Meuse – "Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane
Caleb is my favorite contestant. Caleb is a rocker by nature. I should be loving this. It is most def my favorite of the night, but I am again left wanting. Yes, he rocked. Yes, he was "in the pocket." (Did I just use that phrase on purpose?) Yes, he managed the band and the stage like a professional. I just felt like, "Eh, overly screamy."
Caleb Johnson – "Sting Me" by the Black Crowes
This is not a mistake. We ran back the show in order to see the mic drop. I paid more attention to Caleb's *delivery* of the song this time, and the level of professionalism and band interaction has pushed me into the "love it" category.
Caleb Johnson – "Sting Me" by the Black Crowes
This is not a mistake. We ran back the show in order to see the mic drop. I paid more attention to Caleb's *delivery* of the song this time, and the level of professionalism and band interaction has pushed me into the "love it" category.
What a great song choice for Jessica! Tonight's indifference is officially over. This is the best performance of the night so far. It was classy and clean. She belonged there, and she knew it. Her voice was perfectly suited to this song. I loved her casual eye contact with the camera, and the connection with her voice and her demeanor. "I wanted your body to inform the rhythmic delivery," sayeth Harry. Ah, yes. That.
Jo's Round #1 Ranking
- Jessica
- Caleb
- Alex
- Jena
- Sam
- C.J.
Zzzzzzzzzzz...zzzzzzzzzzzzz...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Oh, wait. There's a performance happening? Seriously, could this presentation be any more boring? This is a number that one would sandwich, as a breather, between two concert moments requiring energy. And again, I don't buy it. "I'll wear this toboggan and touch girls hands and grimace a little and maybe they'll call it connecting." These judges have Sam all jacked. Is HCJ seriously telling Sam he's too perfect? Good heavens.
Caleb Johnson – "Undo It" by Carrie Underwood
Before we knew what song Caleb was singing, Ed declared that if Caleb sang "Jesus Take The Wheel," he would wish he were voted off. Luckily, Caleb went with a winner with "Undo It." It sounded nothing like country; but then again, neither does Carrie's original. Actually, I prefer Caleb's version. His take on the song sounds like it was the way it should've been sung all along. The eenie-weenie extra bit of time he held the final note was a good decision. It gave the ending a good punch.
Before we knew what song Caleb was singing, Ed declared that if Caleb sang "Jesus Take The Wheel," he would wish he were voted off. Luckily, Caleb went with a winner with "Undo It." It sounded nothing like country; but then again, neither does Carrie's original. Actually, I prefer Caleb's version. His take on the song sounds like it was the way it should've been sung all along. The eenie-weenie extra bit of time he held the final note was a good decision. It gave the ending a good punch.
Alex Preston – "Always On My Mind" by Willie Nelson
Mom thought Ryan said, "Poison On My Mind." Ha. That's what Mr. Yuk sings, I guess. What a poignant performance. I was totally involved and entangled in this arrangement. Even the band glitch didn't derail my enjoyment. It was over entirely too soon.
Mom thought Ryan said, "Poison On My Mind." Ha. That's what Mr. Yuk sings, I guess. What a poignant performance. I was totally involved and entangled in this arrangement. Even the band glitch didn't derail my enjoyment. It was over entirely too soon.
Jena Irene – "So Small" by Carrie Underwood
I was hoping for "Cowboy Casanova." Maybe this will set up a nice tender moment, though. I'm missing her behind the piano. I always feel the emotion more when it comes from both her voice and her fingers. The tender moment was indeed felt, though. I just felt it could've been stronger. But, wow, can that girl wail. Jena! Don't EVER say that you messed up! Voice 101, baby.
C.J. Harris – "Whatever It Is" by the Zac Brown Band
I said, "Oh, good! I love this song!" and then I instantly slammed my hands onto my ears. Was one note in tune? ONE? I didn't hear a single one. Bad. BAD. Original audition level bad. Oh, man. Mom is hiding her face. She can't look. Even the mmmmmmm at the end was badly out of tune. I tried to jam my fingers through my temples. You just killed any chance you had of making the T5, dude. (The dedication was ill-placed.)
Jessica Meuse – "Jolene" by Dolly Parton
We finally called a song choice! I thought Jessica's Jefferson Airplane was superior to this performance, though this one was quite good. However, her face communicated indifference until the last third of the song. I would've enjoyed more intensity from her. I liked the yodeling cries at the conclusion. Hey, Keith, IT'S A DARK SONG. Dark arrangements are good matches for dark songs.
Jo's Round #2 Ranking
- Alex
- Caleb
- Jena
- Jessica
- Sam
- C.J.
...was good in places, but I felt unimpressed in many, many places. Sam and C.J. didn't deliver, Alex and Jena didn't meet my expectations, and I've seen better from Caleb. I can't complain too much, though. Jessica, Caleb, and Alex had some strong moments.
Jo's Overall Ranking
- Caleb
- Alex
- Jessica
- Jena
- Sam
- C.J.
Same as mine.
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