July 18, 2006
Top 10 Go Canadian
On Canadian Idol 4
Canadian Idol got a live band! What a nice way to welcome the Top 10 to their first week in the finals. They also were gifted with getting to work with Nelly Furtado one on one. Monday night the contestants hit the big stage singing Canadian hits, while charming video montages of them at home with family and friends and in the studio with Furtado gave us some insight into who these people are. A wide variety of styles is surely represented in this year's finalists.
Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the CI4 Top 10: Canadian Music.
Sarah Loverock "Life Is A Highway"
Destiny: She started the song off way too low, making her voice almost inaudible. She did improve soon thereafter vocally. It was nice to see Sarah take Nelly Furtado's advice to amp up her personality onstage. It wasn't greatness, and still mostly forgettable, but it was Sarah's best "performance" thus far.
Score: 7.9
Tammy: I think I prefer the understated Sarah of last week as opposed to the incarnation we saw today. The song did start really rough, and her movements on stage still don't seem especially natural. One of her better performances, aside from those quibbles.
Score: 7.6
Liza: Yes, the beginning was quite unmelodic due to the low key. She went higher on the second verse; she should have started there to begin with. I thought that from the chorus on, her voice sounded great. She seemed much more comfortable on the bigger stage with the band.
Score: 7.5
Rob James "Hurts To Love You"
Destiny: James was extremely shaky, sounding and looking SERIOUSLY nervous throughout most of this performance. Yikes. While he had several vocal problems, there were a few moments during which he sounded really good. I am stunned at the high praise the judges gave him. It was mostly a train wreck.
Score: 5.5
Tammy: Mostly a train wreck? I disagree. Rob's cover sounded spookily like the original (which can be a good thing or a bad thing, I suppose). He did sound shaky at times, and had a minor lyric flubbing, but I don't think you could find a song more suited to Rob's vocals than this.
Score: 8.4
Liza: I thought he sounded nervous just in the beginning, and like he said during his rehearsal clip, he didn't really get into it till the chorus. Vocally, I felt like he was really straining to hit some of those notes, but, like Sarah before him, he was much more comfortable onstage, and his stage presence was far superior to anything he has done thus far.
Score: 7.0
Steffi DiDomenicantonio "Alone In The Universe"
Destiny: This song choice was a nice departure for Steffi. It allowed her to show a more mature side of herself than we've seen before. Not my favorite thing she's done, but it was good.
Score: 8.5
Tammy: I can't say I cared for this version. She remains endearing to watch onstage, but this song really never came together, and seemed too theatrical and ill-deserving of the praise heaped upon her by the judges. The song choice seemed all wrong to me.
Score: 7.0
Liza: I like that Steffi listened to Nelly Furtado's advice about the bow but instead stayed true to her thing and just made it more subtle rather than taking it off. Because it really IS her thing. As far as the performance goes, I love her theatrics because she's also able to keep it pop-ish and relevant. Her voice sounded terrific.
Score: 8.0
Tyler Lewis "Too Bad"
Destiny: Tyler sounded really strong on this song, and his stage presence, while still in need of some work, was an improvement over what he's shown us thus far. That deep voice combined with his pretty looks is sure to be a vote-grabbing combination for some time to come.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: If Tyler had never stepped away from the mic stand, this would have been a much more enjoyable performance. The awkward deep knee bends just do not scream 'rock star!' to me. But the voice was spot on for the most part, and the song was a good fit for Tyler. He's got some things to work on (untamed curls being another), but the boy is a contender.
Score: 8.8
Liza: Anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand Nickelback and I scream bloody murder everytime I hear their songs on the radio (which is like every 20 minutes). So the fact that Tyler made this song enjoyable for me speaks volumes. He can really sing. I agree that his stage presence was much improved. I really loved the tossing of the mic stand, but he did it too early, rendering Nelly's advice a bit useless.
Score: 7.9
Kati Durst "It Makes No Difference"
Destiny: Kati definitely benefited from have a full band and back-up singers onstage with her. While she gave a lifeless delivery, the band at least added life and energy to the stage. On top of that, she had some vocal problems. Just average.
Score: 6.0
Tammy: This was just dreadful. Nothing redeeming about this performance. The outfit, the bizarre faces Kati would make as she sang, and the aforementioned 'lifeless delivery' combined for something altogether cringeworthy.
Score: 4.0
Liza: Ooh, you noticed the facial expressions too. They were heavily distracting for me, and she did not do much to sell the song outside of her vocals, which sounded pretty nice. What I don't get is how her lifelessness on stage spurs people to vote!
Score: 6.5
Brandon Jones "California"
Destiny: This was a nice, fresh song choice, and Brandon sounded good on it, except for some breathing problems (which he needs to work on in his vocal lessons). He maintained his teen pop idol authority with his bold stage performance, too.
Score: 8.8
Tammy: Blech. The sooner this one is off my tv the better. The boy is devoid of any charisma and I don't want to live on a planet where he is considered a 'pop idol authority'. Though the song choice was wise, Brandon obviously didn't listen to Nelly's advice, as he was red faced by the end of his song.
Score: 7.0
Liza: Brandon's "bold stage performance" never makes any sense with the songs he sings. It was a good song choice, but, once again, his white boy hip-hop moves do not correlate, and he looks foolish. His vocals were not bad, but he's not nearly up to par with the others in the competition.
Score: 6.0
Craig Sharpe "Losing Grip"
Destiny: Craig took advantage of the Top 10 stylist team, sporting a new, improved hair style. I didn't like this song, but he definitely maintained his signature sound and tone.
Score: 8.9
Tammy: Though lauded by the judges for his vocals and his comfort working the stage, both areas seemed to be lacking for me. The appeal of this one leaves me perplexed. What does he offer that is so astounding?? Craig has not an ounce of originality about him.
Score: 6.0
Liza: I'm not sure if the song is supposed to sound like that, but his "I'm crying out aloud"s sounded a bit out of tune. But since I am not familiar with the song all that much, it might just be like that. Craig can really sing, but the whole package with the femme vocals and the hair and the jacket ... it's just awkward for me.
Score: 7.0
Ashley Coulter "American Woman"
Destiny: I don't think this song choice did Ashley any favors. She sounded weak throughout, although she did turn in a good stage performance. The best thing about this was that she looked really good, and in a singing competition that's not really a compliment.
Score: 6.5
Tammy: I agree, Destiny. This song choice was a disaster. What was it supposed to show the audience? And whatever it was, it never happened. So many contemporary choices were sung this week, why did Ashley go digging through the archives for this one? I see a trip to the bottom 3 in her future.
Score: 6.5
Liza: Some of her moves looked so poseury and unnatural to me, and her voice was a bit too kitteny to really make this a believable performance. Dana Andrews has been getting so much flak for the same kind of thing on Rock Star: Supernova, but if she did the same song, Dana would own her.
Score: 6.8
Chad Doucette "The Other Man"
Destiny: Chad is the best voice in the competition. He is also the best performer. He is just natural at what he does, which sets him apart from most of the other contestants. He doesn't have to be taught what to do- he just does it. Great.
Score: 9.0
Tammy: Though I enjoyed Chad's voice on this one, he seemed rather restrained and dare I say a bit boring as he performed. Though he is so skilled at emoting, he needs to learn to have greater physicality when he performs, which was an attribute that his doppleganger Jacob Hoggard had down pat.
Score: 8.5
Liza: I agree with Tammy here. He was a bit lacking in performance quality, but his vocals were really fantastic. Chad brings a cool modern vibe that transcends the usual karaoke schlop of Idol. Love it.
Score: 8.5
Eva Avila "Powerless"
Destiny: Eva really stepped up her game with this performance, commanding the new bigger stage and band, instead of letting it swallow her up. Her spirit and stage presence were beaming. She sounded fantastic and looked equally beautiful. A star performance.
Score: 9.6
Tammy: Despite being plagued by some sound issues, Eva soared with this Nelly Furtado tune. Eva has set the bar, and it is doubtful at this point whether the rest of this crew can give her a run for her money.
Score: 9.5
Liza: She sounds fantastic and looks great, as usual. I loved when she went into her head voice. She is a very engaging performer and has all the makings of the next Idol winner.
Score: 9.0
Who Should Be The Bottom Two
Destiny: Kati, Rob
Tammy: Kati, Brandon
Liza: Brandon, Kati
Who Will Be The Bottom Two
Destiny: Kati, Sarah
Tammy: Kati, Ashley
Liza: Kati, Rob
Who Should Be Eliminated
Destiny: Kati
Tammy: Kati
Liza: Kati
Who Will Be Eliminated
Destiny: Sarah
Tammy: Kati
Liza: Kati
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