Canadian Idol Top 9 Guys Show Slight Signs of Improvement

After the terrible week Canadian Idol had last week, this week started out on a slightly better note with the Top 9 male contestants turning in slightly better performances. The producers let the contestants use instruments this week in what was obviously an attempt to bring some energy to the show. The tactic worked, but the show still has a long way to go to be considered a great season of Idol.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the CI5 Top 18: The Guys.

Liam Styles Chang "She's So High"
Destiny: First thought? Liam looks like a woman this week. The outfit and the weird nervous way he was moving around were just bizarre. Farley said he was looking for risks to be taken this week, and this performance was seriously safe and weak. When Sass said it was "amazing" I scratched my head in bogglement.
Score: 6.0
Liza: The opening was a little dull, and unlike the judges, I wasn't as impressed with his falsetto. It seemed like he could barely manage to squeak them out. But overall, it was good.
Score: 7.5

Andrew Austin "Sunday Morning"
Destiny: Thank goodness they decided to let the contestants use their instruments this week. They needed something to breathe life into this thing, especially after last week's disastrous shows. Back to Andrew, he sounded really good on this song. He gives the vibe that he is a real musician/artist. He still has a ways to go to show what he's really capable of methinks, but it was a vast improvement over last week.
Score: 8.0
Liza: Ooh guitar! It's obvious that some of these performers feel much more comfortable in front of the mic with their instruments, and Andrew is the prime example. He sang that really well. Good for him.
Score: 8.25

Dwight D'Eon "Used To Be Alright"
Destiny: Ah, nothing like someone on an Idol show singing about getting high for seven days. Canadian Daughtry was in full rock mode this week. Yeah, it's gonna get old real quick.
Score: 6.0
Liza: Dwight, one piece of advice: That bandana has got to go. Do you think Chris Daughtry would have worn one of those?! How can you continue your Daughtry imitation without the right attire? I did not really like this song or this performance. And did he really call Farley "Flex"?!
Score: 7.0

Clifton Murray "You Give Me Something"
Destiny: This is a fantastic song, but Clifton's weak voice lacked the bluesy, multi-layered vocals of James Morrison. The whole performance was weak all the way around. NEXT!
Score: 5.5
Liza: I love this song, but I don't love it on Clifton. He's so generic, and I don't feel anything when he sings. There is just nothing special about his voice, and he totally croaked on one note.
Score: 5.5

Greg Neufeld "Geek In The Pink"
Destiny: Greg did a pretty good job, but he left me wanting to see/hear Chris Richardson's version of this song. While his voice sounded decent, Greg lacked any connection to the lyrics. And this song is all about the lyrics.
Score: 7.5
Liza: Greg has such a Mraz infatuation. I think he's covered all of his hits in his two seasons on CI. But at least he's showing what he's all about as a singer, and he sounds great doing those types of songs.
Score: 9.0

Brian Melo "Angels"
Destiny: Enrique...I mean Brian...was good on this one. Great stage performance and vocals. I don't love this song (as apparently the judges and all of Britain do), but he undoubtedly did a good job with it.
Score: 8.8
Liza: Whoah, he sounds very pop idol-y. And in a good way. There was one part of the song that blew me away, when he sang the line "So when I'm lying in my bed, thoughts running through my head". He dipped the word "thoughts" really low. I loved that. And I love this song, along with all of Britain.
Score: 9.0

Jaydee Bixby "I Got A Woman"
Destiny: Jaydee is seriously talented at what he does. He sounded great on this song, and his easy confidence mixed with his naivete is charming.
Score: 8.5
Liza: When Ben brought up Kanye, I thought we might get something more modern sounding, but then he introduced Jaydee, and I knew it wouldn't be. Once again, we got more old songs sounding old from Jaydee. Yawn.
Score: 7.0

Matt Rapley "You Raise Me Up"
Destiny: Matt had a very weak beginning of this song. He got better, but not GREAT, on the chorus. His voice is nothing special to me, and, combined with his lackluster personality, I don't quite get how he made it to this level of the competition.
Score: 6.0
Liza: Now this was not one song I expected to hear from Matt, and he probably should have kept this performance in his high school choir class. I'm really surprised that Zack and Sass loved it so much, but then again, Zack thought Brian's song was pitchy, so we're obviously on a different wavelength.
Score: 6.25

Tyler Mullendore "Have A Little Faith In Me"
Destiny: In a totally different league than anyone else. Such natural star quality, stage presence, vocals and timing. This is what Canadian Idol is all about. Awesome.
Score: 9.5
Liza: Oh man, I've been waiting for someone to sing this on Idol ever since the Top 3 sang it on the first season of CI. Unfortunately, it had to be this guy to do it. While he may have the voice to sing this well vocally, he has no idea how to PERFORM this song. It's a sweet, tender song, and he cheesed it up so badly with his over-the-top stage mannerisms (hair shaking, chest thumping, Elvis impersonation, etc.) that I just wanted it to be over, and I even wanted to hear Gary Beals sing it. GARY BEALS!
Score: 7.25

Who Should Be Eliminated
Destiny: Clifton, Matt
Liza: Clifton, Matt

Who Will Be Eliminated
Destiny: Andrew, Liam
Liza: Clifton, Matt

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