Has anyone noticed the usage of weird musical words and catchphrases this year, not just on Idol, but also on The Voice? Words like "intonation" are getting waaaaaaay overused. My least favorite phrase is "in the pocket." Why is everything suddenly in the pocket or not in the pocket? Just say "with the beat," or "in time." It makes me want to create my own lame phrases for musical descriptors. Maybe that's something we should do. Watch for them in tonight's notes.
Competitor's Pick
So, are they going to ruin each other, or pick songs to make a great show? Randy just said, "That does not mean sabotage." Randy is also laughing at every suggestion Jessica makes. So, did each contestant suggest a song for each other contestant, and then each contestant chooses what he or she wants to sing from that list? Ah, yes. That appears to be it. So there's some performing contestant choice involved. That's good.
Idol Top 7... GO!
Caleb Johnson – "Family Tree" by Kings of Leon (picked by Alex Preston)
Let's make up a catchphrase for the professionalism that Caleb exudes. We'll call it "rocking the chair," because he rocks and rolls, but does so with the wisdom of an old man in a rocker. Caleb was really rocking the chair tonight. It took him about five seconds to warm up into some hotness, and when he did, WOW. He fits in well on the stage with the other musicians and incorporates them well. Watching Rickey Minor was fun. Good to see him downstage. I also liked the way the lights matched the beat of the song. You could say the lights were in the pocket. Way to go, Caleb. Rock that chair.
Idol went to a lot of trouble to act out the attributes the contestants are mentioning about themselves. I'm cracked up at how the audience is gasping at Jessica and Sam saying a$$. *GASP* Bad words! (The existence of forbidden words is funny to me, but that's another story.) I didn't think Jessica's voice was the best I've heard it, but her performing was on the spot. She really hammered the nail. Split the feather, you know? I saw her almost acting, telling the story. We LOVED the wind machine. Made her look like a star. A beautiful star. Jennifer is right about the voice, but not about her performance. HCJ's suggestions were not bad.
Demi Lovato
Here for a visit? Not performing? That's odd. I'm glad her hair isn't purple anymore. Jennifer didn't look happy to see her. HILARIOUS that she had a bodyguard. That whole business was awkward.
Sam Woolf & Alex Preston – "Let Her Go" by Passenger
Oh. Duets. I guess that's one way to fill two hours, though I thought HCJ was trying to do that with his comments. Neat that these two are sitting on a couch. It sets the chill vibe. The arrangement was a lot of fun... one I like better than the original, in fact. Good duet. It just occurred to me that one of the performances is going to have to be a trio (unless someone goes twice), since there are an odd number of contestants. The set was elaborate. Ed says it was a computer projection... and it was. It just disappeared. HCJ needs to shut up. It was a fun performance. Shut up. Oh, now Demi. She can shut up, too. IT WAS A DUET.
Terry Bradshaw
And here's Terry Bradshaw. What an excellent reader of the teleprompter.
C.J. Harris – "Gravity" by John Mayer (picked by Caleb Johnson)
What? What is that sound? I love that vocal sound! It suits him! C.J. has found his true calling. Hitched a ride to the beach, he did. This performance is C.J.'s best yet. He needs to lean more toward a Mayer/Ray LaMontagne style and away from country. He was so comfortable, he was even in tune, and we all know that's saying something. Jennifer's "stank face" looked like anything but a compliment, and did you see her bust into a smile the second she saw "stank face" on the monitor? I cracked up.
Martin Garrix
Who the heck? The appearance of random "celebrities" is baffling me. Idol, we like music, not appearances by random celebrities. Now, here's another. I missed her name. Shorten your shows, dudes. If William Hung shows up, I quit. (That one was for you, Mark Starr.)
Dexter Roberts – "Muckalee Creek Water" by Luke Bryan (picked by C.J. Harris)
Mom notes that Dexter's beard is different. I can't tell. Mom is also annoyed that Dexter's nose regularly touches the mic. This performance wasn't bad, but it was... eh. Not boring. Not badly performed. Just... eh. It's the kind of presentation that would be a really cool closer at the regional jamborees. I guess at this point, I'm expecting more, more, MORE. Top 7, dude. Get it going. The cry in his voice at the conclusion was cool. He really knows how to deal with the apple core, you know? Jennifer and I are simpatico regarding the bigness (or lack of bigness), with this performance. Time to bring it, Dex. Ryan says, "One of you is going to be the next American Idol!" Astute, Seacrest.
Time Killing Filler
The time killing is killing me instead of time.
Jena Irene & Caleb Johnson – "Gimmie Shelter" by The Rolling Stones
They seem to have a cool relationship. Neat. Jena's and Caleb's vocals were buff, but the arrangement shook me up a bit. I couldn't really get into it. That doesn't mean it was bad; au contraire, it was quite good. It just wasn't my bag, baby.
Alex Preston – "A Team" by Ed Sheeran (picked by Dexter Roberts)
Alex is the master of the rearrangement. He can really flip the rug, I'd say. He has yet to do a performance that I find unenjoyable. He makes me believe in him, and believe in what he's selling. Even though Caleb is still my pick to win, Alex is the contestant whose album I will buy first. I'm intrigued by his perspective. I wonder if I will enjoy Alex as much when he's offering his own music as opposed to creatively covering other's tunes.
See Dexter's comments. Same thing. Top 7. Time to kill it, Boy Who Was Saved Two Weeks Ago. Sam is improving on emoting/connecting with the audience. He's emerging, starting to vacuum consciousness, if you know what I mean. Too little, too late, though? Bridging that gap with the audience was essential to his survival, but the lack of dynamics in this performance may make him vulnerable tonight.
Jessica Meuse, Dexter Roberts, & C.J. Harris – "Compass" by Lady Antebellum
I liked the harmonies, but the performing was a little weak. Casa Cobb proposes that Jessica carried the group. Judges and Demi are saying that the harmonies were crap, but I thought they did a nice job. Honestly though, I wasn't giving this performance my 100% undivided attention. The duets and trios get tertiary attention from me.
Jena Irene – "Creep" by Radiohead (picked by Caleb Johnson)
Ed is in heaven with the song choice. Perfect start, Jena. Nailed vocal. Here comes the rock and roll. I hope she stays at the piano. I feel like her best performing is done on that bench. She really feels a song at all times, but I think the piano grounds her in a way that makes her performances more poignant and rooted. She can really pot the fern, I think. Classy performance. Shocked that they ran out of time after all the nonsensical stuff that went down tonight. Ed is rewinding to watch this one again.
Tonight's Show...
...didn't have enough music. I would love there to be less talk and more tunes. I liked the theme, though. This season's wide open themes benefit the contestants, and thus the audience. Additionally, I gave you eight new stupid catchphrases. I directed you to the first one, but the rest are spattered throughout the notes. Hint: each contestant got one, but Jessica got two.
Jo's Ranking
- Caleb
- Jena
- Alex
- C.J.
- Jessica
- Sam
- Dexter
- Jena
- Caleb
- Alex
- Dexter
- C.J.
- Sam
- Jessica
What do you think? Comment on the Facebook link!
