AI4: Top 12
March 15, 2005
Top 12 In The House!
The Top 12 hit the stage tonight as they explored the music of the 60's. While they didn't utilize the genre to its fullest, the contestants sure made good use of their new stylists and wardrobe budgets. They looked fresh and shiny. And so did the set with new neon accents, rotating signs, a new stage in the middle of the audience, and a full orchestra.
Here's the It's Destiny! panel with our take on the night's performances.
Jessica Sierra
"Shop Around"
Destiny:She sang very well tonight, but she didn't do her best performance-wise. She seemed out of sorts, perhaps due to nerves. She is capable of much more, and she better bring it next time.
Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Liza: I must say that wasn't exactly what I expected from the first competitor on the first big show. Jessica's voice was good, but the performance was fairly dull and uninspired. I don't think she engaged the audience at all in this bigger stage.
Rank For The Night: 10th Place
Anwar Robinson
"A House Is Not A Home"
Destiny:First off, he looked fabulous. Great outfit and hair. As for the singing, he sounded very nervous throughout the song. While his arrangement of the song was very artistic and sure to be appreciated by musicians, he needs to appeal to the masses at this point. He should heed Simon's warning to start having fun and mixing it up so he isn't overlooked by the voting audience.
Rank For The Night: 7th place
Liza: I know some will find this performance boring, but I thought it was exquisite and beautiful. The emotion was perfect; he kept it soft, subtle and smooth when the emotion called for it, unlike previous performances when he was wailing when he should have been plaintive. I thought he hit it dead on tonight. Having said that, though, I think Anwar needs to show a little bit more of a different side in future performances so that he doesn't get caught in the La Toya trap. He looked terrific tonight, though. Loved the open shirt.
Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Tammy:Anwar's song seemed all over the place. It almost sounded like he decided mid-song how to sing it, and the results weren't that impressive.
Rank For The Night:5th Place
Mikalah Gordon
"Son of A Preacher Man"
Destiny: This is the best she has looked on AI. Bravo to the stylists for her new hair and makeup. The look was fun and fitting to her age and the night's theme. The clothes were not as flattering to her, however. As for her performance, it was the best she's done on the show, but still not the best she could do. She has a unique and powerful voice, but she has no control over it. She needs some serious vocal training.
Rank For The Night: 11th Place
Liza: Appearance-wise, she looks like a mess. The stylists applied the hooker makeup on her tonight, and she should never wear midriffs like that. But she picked the right song for her husky voice, and she's finally back to acting more her age. I don't know why the judges hated that so much. I thought it was pretty good for her.
Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Tammy:She appears to be at home up on the stage, but the voice continues to grate. This performance will not win her any new fans. And that top was a mistake, to say the least.
Rank For The Night: 9th Place
Constantine Maroulis
"You've Made Me So Very Happy"
Destiny: First off, you have to love a guy who chose a song because he has memories of hearing it in the car as a kid with his mom and dad. Secondly, Constantine turned in yet another great performance this week. Unlike most of the other contestants, he has used each week to do completely different styles of songs. That is the way American Idol should be played. He isn't afraid to show his versatility and stray from the "rocker" label with which the producers so desperately want to stereotype him. It will be a treat to see what songs he chooses as the theme weeks continue.
Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Liza: Color me surprised. That was really good! Anyone who had doubts about how he would do on theme nights can be rest assured now. I expected him to do a rock song, but he changed things up and did the opposite. This is the first glimpse of Constantine, the guy who studied at the Boston Conservatory. He picked a great song to showcase his voice, which he hasn't really done in tune till now.
Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Tammy:Constantine's best performance so far, and also his most 'broadway' performance. I prefer Broadway Constantine better than Rocker Constantine. That last note seemed a bit unnecessary, and uh...loud.
Rank For The Night:3rd Place
Lindsey Cardinale
"Knock On Wood"
Destiny: Lindsey did not step up her game tonight. She was the same she has been for the past three weeks. She has a really good voice, but she doesn't do anything exciting with it. On the positive side, she did look really pretty.
Rank For The Night: 12th Place
Liza: She started out of tune and struggled to get it back. She got better towards the end, but it was just not an exciting performance at all, even though that song is a crowd-pleaser. Lindsey's biggest weakness is her lack of stage presence, and this stage completely engulfed her. Like her doppelganger Julia DaMato, she's a good singer but not a good performer.
Rank For The Night: 12th Place
Tammy:Oh, Lindsey. It's been nice knowin' ya. What a lackluster performance, truly reminiscent of the Days of Demato. She just doesn't seem to know what to do with herself up there, and the song choice was nothing less than dreadful.
Rank For The Night:11th Place
Anthony Fedorov
"Breaking Up Is Hard To Do"
Destiny: Is this the first time Anthony has not worn a blazer? I think it is. Way to use that new wardrobe budget, Anthony! As for the song, he started out really strong vocally, but towards the end he got slightly off track and out of tune. It was nowhere near the level of his great performance last week.
Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Liza: And apparently stretching yourself is hard for Anthony to do as well. I started to get encouraged by him after last week's up-tempo performance, but he reverted back to his same old boring self. Yes he can sing, but can he take risks? Apparently not.
Rank For The Night: 11th Place
Tammy:I really, really like the tone of Anthony's voice. That said, I didn't love this song. His performance last week seemed so much better. I don't think a slow song was the best choice this week. But he certainly wasn't the worst of the night, so we'll see more of Anthony.
Rank For The Night:7th Place
Nadia Turner
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me"
Destiny: She is so cool her cool is cool. The way she moved her body to the music like she was commanding it was impressive on its own, then she adds an impressive vocal performance on top of it. She looked sensational, too. The dress tied to the wrist was fabulous. She is outstanding.
Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Liza: Wowee. She looks gorgeous. I love that dress! Nadia has shown she can perform, and now she's showing she can really sing. Once again she surprises me with her song choice, and she did an excellent job.
Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Tammy:Once again Nadia delivers the goods. The look was fantastic (that hair! that makeup! that dress!), and the song really worked well with her range. If by some chance a male doesn't win this year, it will be because of Nadia.
Rank For The Night:1st Place
Bo Bice
"Spinning Wheel"
Destiny: This is the best he ever looked. Nice to see that the hair and makeup stylists polished up his look. His clothes were the best he's worn, too. He had a great command of the stage, eventhough it almost came off as though the producers asked him to give a tour of the new set during his performance. I'm now jumping off the stage and going down the aisle to the audience. Oh, and here's the little stage behind the judges- that's new this year. The song's almost up, I better get back up to the main stage- see this set of stairs? And we're back to the main stage. Last line of the song? Let me get up on this new mini platform at the back of the stage. Whew- I just made it. The end. Ah, crap, I missed the performance area in front of the judges.
That being said, it was his best performance on AI to date.
Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Liza: Awesome song choice! I keep thinking back to week one of the semifinals when Simon said to Constantine that Bo has the better voice but not as much charisma. No knock on Constantine here, but Bo has charisma up the wazoo. Talk about owning that stage! That boy really knows how to work a microphone stand too. He is a total rock star.
Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Tammy:Bo once again takes charge on a song that seemed tailor made for him. He is truly in his comfort zone on that stage, and remains the most consistent contestant on this year's Idol.
Rank For The Night:2nd Place
Vonzell Solomon
"Anyone Who Had A Heart"
Destiny: Bravo to Vonzell for stepping up her game tonight. She was the most improved contestant of the night. She also sported the first gown of the season. I think this is the longest any season has gone without a gown showing up. At least it was a beautiful, well-fitting, flattering gown. She looked beautiful and sounded the best she ever has.
Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Liza: I don't think this song did her too many favors in the beginning. Her voice is really reedy, and she had some pitch problems. When the song really kicked in at the end, she sounded really good, and she was able to showcase more of her power vocals. She looked gorgeous tonight.
Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Tammy:This song didn't work for Vonzell. And what was with the prom dress? Vonzell just seems so bland when compared to Nadia. It just doesn't seem to come as naturally for Vonzell. Kelly Clarkson still has the best performance of this song on an Idol stage.
Rank For The Night:8th Place
Scott Savol
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
Destiny: Right before he went on, the producers gave Scott a last minute note to cover the performance area in front of the judges, because Bo missed it during his grand tour. Scott did not disappoint the producers. He showed off that area like nobody's business. He also showed off his new wardrobe budget with that schnazzy suede ensemble. Work it! All that being said, Scott still lacks some performance skills and ability to connect with the audience. He did, however, turn in a good vocal performance.
Rank For The Night: 9th Place
Liza: Scott keeps borrowing from the Ruben Studdard playbook of American Idol. This is starting to become oh so predictable. This really wasn't one of Scott's best performances vocally, and he doesn't have quite enough showmanship and energy, but it wasn't bad. He's always been able to stay in tune, which is more than I can say for some of the others at times.
Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Tammy:Vocally, Scott did well. Performance-wise, not so much. Can someone explain why he sang to Randy for half the song? And for a high energy song, just watching Scott s-l-o-w-l-y make his way across the stage made me drowsy.
Rank For The Night:10th Place
Carrie Underwood
"When Will I Be Loved"
Destiny: The stylists and hair and makeup departments sure did their job tonight. Carrie looked beautiful, and it was the best outfit we've seen her wear. As for the song, she did what she does. She sings well, but it is very uninspired. How many weeks are the judges going to tell her she wasn't as good as they've seen? What have they seen? She's been this way every single time I've seen her on the show. It's time they admitted that they overrated her.
Rank For The Night: 10th Place
Liza: Carrie is another one who is also getting predictable, and while she did all the right things vocally, including that huge note at the end, the performance just left me cold. She doesn't have the performance skills to match her great voice.
Rank For The Night: 9th Place
Tammy:Carrie sang well, but I don't think she really connected with the audience. Carrie also is in danger of becoming predictable. Country music may be her forte, but she has to show her chops to make it much further in the competition.
Rank For The Night:6th Place
Nikko Smith
"I Want You Back"
Destiny:It was nice to see Nikko in some casual cool clothes and having a good time on the stage. It was his best performance to date. Nikko is smart, and he will ride his second chance all the way to the shore.
Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Liza: It's great that Nikko is back, and he ended the show on a good note with an energetic and fun performance. I do not know what Simon was talking about saying it sounded horrible. Nikko should be safe for this week. His fans are not going to allow him to leave so soon after he got his second chance.
Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Tammy:Nikko brought energy to his performance, and sang quite well, aside from the strange high note towards the end. He was enjoyable to watch, and if there's any justice in this world, he'll be back next week.
Rank For The Night:4th Place
Who Should Be Kicked Out:
Destiny:Lindsey
Liza: Lindsey
Tammy:Lindsey, Mikalah
Who Will Be Kicked Out:
Destiny:Lindsey
Liza:Jessica
Tammy:Scott, Lindsey
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AI4: Top 8 Girls
March 08, 2005
AI4: Girls Gone Bland!
The girls of American Idol 4 had their last chance to make it into the Top 12 this week. While some gave good performances, overall they proved that this season is all about the guys. With safe song choices, lifeless performances, and nerves aplenty, the girls did not put their best foot forward.
Amanda Avila
"River Deep, Mountain High"
Destiny: The last two weeks she has proven herself to be a strong vocalist and performer. She did that again tonight. I do not understand the judges' negative comments at all.
Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Liza: That was the type of performance you'd see at that Legends show in Vegas. Except that Amanda does not have the powerhouse pipes you need for this particular Tina Turner song. It was just okay for me. Negative points for the distracting noise from the hand-tapping on the microphone!
Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Janay Castine
"Dreaming Of You'"
Destiny: Major points for doing a song by the fabulous Selena. Janay showed moments of vocal greatness, but they were surrounded by moments of weakness. Too bad she couldn't pull herself together and give a knockout performance.
Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Liza: She looks really cute tonight, but she should have concentrated more on her vocals than her appearance, because that was really not good. She had a horrible start to the song, and she never recovered. Her pitch is all over the place. Luckily for her, Simon's comments might have guaranteed her a slot in the Top 12. Which is unfortunate because the girl is not ready for this.
Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Carrie Underwood
"Because You Loved Me"
Destiny: She gets the award for ugliest shirt of the night. As for her performance, she was very shaky, "pitchy", and boring. She is really lucky that the judges love her so much, because she sure hasn't done anything in the semi-final rounds to warrant their extreme praise. Luckiest contestant ever.
Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Liza: Let me get the criticism out of the way. The top is hideous and looks like something Wonder Woman would wear. Her intro clip was unbelievable - too saccharine sweet to be true. Now having said that, Carrie has the best female voice in the competition, and she nailed this song. That was great. I liked the vocal nuances and subtleties she put into it. I'm really surprised the judges were so lukewarm to it.
Rank For The Night:3rd Place
Vonzell Solomon
"Respect"
Destiny: Word to the wise: do not attempt a song perfected by the great Kelly Clarkson. Vonzell made that mistake, which only made her average voice sound weaker than it is. She's adorable, but at this point that isn't enough.
Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Liza: I think Vonzell made a big mistake with the whole country motif. There are quite a few country singers in this competition, and as a result, Vonzell stands out because she is different. Joining in with the country thing is not a good thing for her. Especially on a song by the Queen of Soul. The whole thing was just so odd. As for the song, she's no Kelly Clarkson, but she looked like she was really having fun, and she engaged the audience in the performance, which is always good.
Rank For The Night:4th Place
Nadia Turner
"A Little Tenderness"
Destiny: Nadia knows how to craft a performance and take the audience on a journey that leaves them amped up and wanting more. She is the best female performer in the competition.
Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Liza: Great song! Great performance! That was terrific. She really owns the stage. I love the fact that every week she has sung something brand new to Idol. But how in the world did she manage to not know this song? She had to have seen Pretty in Pink and The Committments, right??
Rank For The Night:1st Place
Lindsey Cardinale
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
Destiny: She has the most original voice in the competition. She needs to work on her performance skills.
Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Liza:Oh no. Not this song again. I have heard this song many a times on different versions of Idol, and I have never heard a good version come out of a non-rock performance. Lindsey didn't do much to change my opinion, although it was better than, say, Heinz Winckler's soulless performance of it on World Idol, and it was the best female performance of it I have seen in the Idol series. It's good for her that she brought out the husky voice again because I think that is the only thing that makes her stand out.
Rank For The Night:5th Place
Mikalah Gordon
"Somewhere"
Destiny: Unlike Nadia, she doesn't know how to craft a song into a journey. She kept it too flat and dull for too long, thus making a potential showstoper song boring. Her vocal stylings are strange and overreaching, and tonight they made her voice sound weak and warbly. She needs some serious advice on song choice and arrangement.
Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Liza: My second consecutive "Oh no" reaction to the song choice. But this one is even worse. This is way too ambitious of a song for Mikalah, and she does not have the vocal chops to pull it off. She starts off horribly with a really bad note, she's very much out of tune, and I think she messed up the lyrics a little bit. It's a very boring performance that she almost saves at the end with the big glory note.
Rank For The Night:7th Place
Jessica Sierra
"The Boys Are Back In Town"
Destiny: She is sassy and fun. This is the kind of song she should sing every week- something with a lot of personality. It will be fun to see what she does with the upcoming theme weeks.
Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Liza: She should serve as a reminder to all departed contestants that lack of prior airtime does not have to hold you down. It didn't hold Kelly down, it didn't hold LaToya down, and it shouldn't hold Jessica down. She has brought it her last two performances, and she has earned her spot in the Top 12. This is obviously a song that she is comfortable with, and while I don't like when contestants repeat songs, I'll give Jessica a pass on this because she put a whole different spin on it than she did in the Hollywood round. She gave a really good, fun performance and did an excellent job.
Rank For The Night:2nd
Who Should Go Home:
Destiny: Mikalah and Vonzell
Liza:Janay and Mikalah. Janay is not ready for this competition, and it's painful to watch her struggle week after week. Mikalah's song choices throughout the competition suggest a comfortability with musical theater. I think she should pursue that avenue and leave the pop world behind. Her hammish tendencies will suit her well in musical theater anyway.
Who Will Go Home:
Destiny:Vonzell and Janay
Liza:Amanda and Lindsey. If I've learned anything from watching hundreds of episodes of Idol shows, it's that to go far in the competition, you gotta have a gimmick and you have to be either really good or really bad to get noticed. Unfortunately for these two, they fall into the average category. Amanda's pretty, yes, but so are the other girls. Lindsey is not the only country singer in the competition, and the other ones have way more personality than she has. They were not the best in the competition, nor were they the worst. They won't benefit from fans trying vigilantly to save them. They shouldn't be the ones to go, but past voting patterns indicate the strong possibility of it.
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AI4: Top 8 Guys
March 08, 2005
Baby, What's Your Sign: The AI4 Guys Are Hot!
The heat was on as the male contestants vied for a spot in the Top 12 this week on American Idol 4. They stepped up to the plate with great song choices and performances. Come elimination time, two talented guys will be heading home.
Here's the It's Destiny! panel with our take on this week's performances.
Scott Savol
"I Can't Help Myself"
Destiny: Great voice. Corny movements. I really like Scott, but this was not his best showing in the competition. Unfortunately, several other contestants had their best performances tonight, and Scott could suffer as a result.
Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Liza: I cannot deny that the guy has a great voice, but compared to the rest of the crew, he doesn't have even close to the same amount of stage presence. He also sounds the same on every song and doesn't seem to take many risks. I was disappointed to see him sing a song he has already sung in this competition, which is indicative of his lack of risk-taking.
Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Tammy:Scott just isn't exciting enough for this competition. He only excels at ballads. Uptempo songs don't really work for him. He still doesn't seem natural up on the stage. Scott's habit of acting out the lyrics continues to bug.
Rank For The Night:8th Place
Bo Bice
"I'll Be"
Destiny: He has a good voice, but does very little to convey the song. It is a very bland performance.
Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Liza: I thought he started off really shaky, and I was not thrilled at his song choice, but as the song kicked into gear, he got better, and made me like the song on him. Unfortunately, he suffers here from huge expectations since last week's performance was so incredible. It was going to be difficult for him to top that with any ballad, much less this one.
Rank For The Night:6th Place
Tammy:Not a good night for Bo. This song has been done a thousand times on Idol, and Bo's version was not all that memorable. Bo came off as pitchy in some places. This song just didn't seem like a good fit. There are better ballads he could have sung.
Rank For The Night:7th Place
Anthony Fedorov
"I've Got You"
Destiny: Anthony stepped up his game! This was a GREAT performance. I have not seen much of a performer in Anthony up to this point, but all that changed tonight. It was very exciting.
Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Liza: I was so totally expecting him to crash and burn as soon as I heard the tempo of the song, but he really surprised me and was spot-on. He's still a big cheese-ball, but he did really, really well with this song. The song was perfect for him.
Rank For The Night:5th Place
Tammy:Wow! Where did this performance come from? This was completely unexpected. Bravo, Anthony! He really was spot-on tonight. The Clay comparisons should stop here, because Anthony really showed his versatility and uniqueness tonight.
Rank For The Night:2nd Place
Nikko Smith
"Georgia On My Mind"
Destiny: He was very shaky vocally up until the last two glory notes of the song. He's lucky that those two notes are the only thing most voters will remember. He is consistantly good, but not exciting.
Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Liza: Brilliant song choice! That song is so beloved, especially now, and Nikko did a fantastic job with it. There were a few minor pitch problems, but overall it was a tremendous performance from Nikko, especially at the end. Wow.
Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Tammy:The song started off a little slow, but he ended it with a bang.I'm a fan of Nikko's voice and his look. I don't think its enough for him to make it through to next week, however. I just don't think he has the fan base. I hope I'm wrong.
Rank For The Night:3rd Place
Travis Tucker
"Every Little Step"
Destiny: The good looks. The beat box. The throwing of the hat. Travis put on a great show, but he sounded very nervous throughout the song. Randy was totally wrong that it was off key. He wasn't off key, he was out of breath. It's nice to see someone shake things up and put on a show, though.
Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Liza: It pains me to say this because I have always been a big fan of Travis, but that was not good. The dancing won't save him this time. His vocals were too weak. And the beat-boxing just made it seem as if he was trying to compensate for his lack of vocals. Sigh.
Rank For The Night:8th Place :(
Tammy:Oh Travis. You are so pretty. Unfortunately, your voice isn't all that great. I'm not sure if bringin' the pretty will be enough for him, as there are several other pretty boys in this competition. I will miss him if he goes. He was totally workin the Usher look as seen in the "Caught Up" video. Personally, I wouldn't have minded if he went for the D'Angelo "How Does It Feel" look. Mmmmm Travis. Here's hoping the swoon factor pulls you through.
Rank For The Night:6th Place
Mario Vazquez
"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart"
Destiny: Mario had the first audience signs of the season! How fitting, since the night was dedicated to the guys' astrological signs. Mario has a beautiful tone to his voice. I prefer the softer side of Mario singing this material over the last two weeks. He is really good at both styles, so he will do very well in the upcoming theme weeks.
Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Liza: He's trying to show something different by singing a song he's already sung before? Um ok. Luckily, he's singing a previously sung song that he's really good at. His performance of this song in the Hollywood rounds was easily one of the highlights of those episodes, and he sang it just as well tonight.
Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Tammy:Another terrific performance! Mario was so restrained tonight, and I loved it. And no hat! Hallelujah! Vocally, he was as good as I've ever seen him. Mario totally put his own spin on this song, and delivered a really easy, soft performance. Loved it.
Rank For The Night:4th Place
Constantine Maroulis
"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
Destiny: Constantine is something very special. He lights up the stage and really understands and conveys the words he's singing. He isn't just a vocalist, he's a performer. The voice. The look. The charisma. The passion. The American Idol.
Rank For The Night: Tied for 1st Place
Liza:Yet another brilliant song choice. Constantine picked the perfect song for his voice and delivered his best performance by far on this show.
Rank For The Night:4th Place
Tammy:This is probably Constantine's best performance so far on Idol. However, the other men stepped it up tonight, so he falls somewhere in the middle of the pack. The ridiculous screams of last week thankfully did not make a reappearance. Vocally, Constantine remains weak, but he can still work the stage comfortably.
Rank For The Night:5th Place
Anwar Robinson
"What A Wonderful World"
Destiny: He looked fabulous. Such a class act. There couldn't be a more perfect song for Anwar. Just like the song, he is so positive and sincere. Beautiful voice. Beautiful performance.
Rank For The Night: Tied for 1st Place
Liza: LOVE him. He has been so consistently good, and this performance was a knock-you-off-your-feet amazing. As Paula said, he takes risks with his songs, and he really does have the best pure voice in the competition. I loved this arrangement of the song, and I have no doubts that Anwar arranged it himself. That was spectacular.
Rank For The Night:1st Place
Tammy:A stellar, chill inducing peformance from Anwar. It was slow, and deliberate, but when he finally gives you the goods with the amazing notes at the end, he knocks you out. Anwar has an unrivaled confidence on that stage. And with a voice like that, who wouldn't?
Rank For The Night:1st Place
Who Should Go Home:
Destiny: Nikko, Travis
Liza:Scott, Travis
Tammy:Scott, Travis (sniff)
Who Will Go Home:
Destiny:Scott, Travis
Liza:Scott, Travis
Tammy:Scott, Nikko
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AI4: Top 10 Girls
March 02, 2005
A Night of Country & Contemporary
The 10 girls showed some sass and class this week on American Idol. The night was strangely dominated by country music, and we haven't even hit the theme weeks yet! We've also seen more contemporary songs sung this and last week than in the entire history of American Idol. The performances provided some unexpected surprises, both positive and negative for the girls, and the judges provided a night of seriously questionable judgment.
Now here's the It's Destiny! Panel with our take on the show.
Aloha Mischeaux
"You Don't Know My Name"
Destiny:She was the night's first contestant to be totally misjudged. She was completely underrated. Major props to her for doing two contemporary songs in a row. Shakin' things up on AI! It was fresh and definitely not just an Alicia Keys impersonation. Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Liza:She's a smart girl, especially in light of what we saw later in the show. This is the second week in a row she has sung a contemporary song, and I think the younger audience, in particular, will gravitate towards her for it. And it set her apart from all the country singers. She has good stage presence. Vocals aren't the best, but it is overall a pretty good performance. Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Tammy:I am oddly distracted by her hair tonight. It is entirely too Supremes for me. This song is not at all right for Aloha's range. It is at once too high and too low for her, quite the feat. Her moves seem entirely too calculated onstage. Better luck next time.Rank For The Night: 5th
Lindsey Cardinale
"You're All I Think About These Days"
Destiny: It was nice that she chose a faster song this week. It was good to see her having fun. She is a cute girl with such rich, unique voice. The judges were again hypocritical in their comments. Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Liza: Shocker. Another country song from Lindsey. This is the first time she's shown any kind of personality in her performances, but unfortunately, this one's kind of cheesy. I completely agree with the judges about her song choices being very unmemorable. Rank For The Night: 9th Place
Tammy:Lindsey is doing some horrific dance moves tonight. The shoulder bounce is way too Up With People. Scale it back, dear. The performance comes across as desperate and awkward. Which is too bad, because she's one of the few girls who can sing.Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Jessica Sierra
"Broken Wing"
Destiny: She has such a great spirit about her and such a rich voice. She looked great tonight, too. She will do very well in the themed portions of the competition. Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Liza: OK - is this Country Idol now? Having said that, though, I must say that she really brought it tonight. That was a really great performance vocally. Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Tammy:Jessica sings this song well. The only issue I have with it is how she sings it. This song is about abuse. Sexily breathing some of the lyrics is more than a little inappropriate. Luckily, she knocks that off when she reaches the chorus. Quite a good performance, aside from the disaster that is the last note.Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Mikalah Gordon
"God Bless The Child"
Destiny: Her hair, outfit, demeanor, and song choice were all much improved over last week. She needs to keep some of this composure when she switches back to up-tempo songs. She hasn't quite found her perfect style yet. In the meantime, it's nice that she actually took some criticism and toned down her antics. Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Liza: That was a strange arrangement of that song. I really didn't like the arrangement, but shockingly I almost kind of liked this performance. This is probably the best she's ever sounded on the show. Mikalah's actually tolerable when she's subdued. I hope she keeps that up. But I know she won't. What is Randy talking about being surprised to hear her sing that? She sang it in the final Hollywood round! Rank For The Night: 2nd
Tammy:This is an unusual performance. I like this restrained, less annoying Mikalah. Her voice is too affected for me to really enjoy, however. Despite being plagued by pitch problems, its entertaining, a definite improvement from last week. Rank For The Night: 3rd
Celena Ray
"When The Lights Go Down"
Destiny: Her fashion sense is awesome. The girl knows how to dress. Her singing, however, is just OK. She made a poor song selection again this week- like her voice, it was average.
Rank For The Night: 10th Place
Liza: ANOTHER country song? Yegads. She's very pitchy, and even when her voice is in tune, it's pretty generic. She will likely go home this week. Rank For The Night: 10th
Tammy:When I look at Celena, I see 'actress' more than 'singer'. As for the song, it's average. She's singing a song that really requires chops. Unfortunately, this song highlights her weaknesses more than her strengths.Rank For The Night: 9th
Nadia Turner
"My Love Does It Good"
Destiny: After a rocking showing last week, Nadia turned in a surprisingly weak performance this time around. She totally changed the arrangement of the song, and it wasn't in a good way. Instead of coming off as making it her own, it came off as making a mistake. Fortunately, she is cool enough to kind of make up for it. Strange. Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Liza: She continues to surprise me. I wouldn't have expected her to sing this song. She struggled a little bit with those notes, but it wasn't bad. And certainly not as bad as those hideous shoes! Rank For The Night: 3rd Place
Tammy:What was she thinking when she chose this song? I feel sleepy after having listened to that performance. Her voice sounds kind of raw to me, and is all over the place. Love her outfit though. Except for the boots. Yikes.Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Amanda Avila
"Turn The Beat Around"
Destiny: As soon as the music started, it seemed as though Amanda chose the wrong song, but she quickly "turned it around." It was really nice to see her do an up-tempo song and do it well. She totally changed my mind about her. Totally impressed. She showed that she actually has the voice and personality (and obviously the look) to become a legitimate pop star. Good for her. Rank For The Night: 1st Place
Liza: It seemed like she was struggling to reach those notes and hit a good volume. The band was way too loud. I think I am more appreciative of this performance just because it wasn't a country song, and it was a get-up-and-dance song. She gave an energetic performance, and she'll have no trouble getting the guy vote. She's a really sexy girl. Rank For The Night: 6th Place
Tammy:Why does the word 'vapid' come to mind when I watch Amanda? Poor song selection, but perhaps we should be grateful it wasn't another ballad. She oversings it towards the end. Another meh performance.Rank For The Night: 10th Place
Janay Castine
"Hit 'Em Up Style"
Destiny: She was the most misjudged contestant of the night. Too bad, because she really made quite a comeback after her shaky performance last week. She gave a contemporary, legitimate pop performance this week. It was fun and funky. Particularly great was her shout out to "Miss Paula and Mikalah" during the song. Fun! Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Liza: She still looks petrified, but much better than last week. I never did like this song, but if you just listen to Janay and not watch her perform, it really does sound pretty good. But Paula hit it dead on - she was very disconnected in her performance. Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Tammy:Janay should not be wearing that top. And that's all I'll say about that. I will, however, add that her hair is a bit of a disaster this week. Bangs are in, but not like that, honey. I quite like Janay's voice. She had some rough places, but didn't deserve the harsh criticism that she received from the judges.Rank For The Night: 4th Place
Carrie Underwood
"Take Another Piece of My Heart"
Destiny:This was yet another good but not great performance from Carrie. The difference this week is that the judges didn't cover her with undeserved claims of greatness- a rare fair judgment this week. Hopefully, she can turn it around for herself and do something great in the near future. Rank For The Night: 9th Place
Liza:Oh my goodness no. Why is she countrifying and cheesing up one of the greatest female rockers of all time? This is sacrilegious. Oh NO. She did not just wink during this song. Oh man. Janis Joplin is rolling over in her grave right now. On pure vocals alone, she will get a pass. But it shouldn't. It was a really poor song choice for her. She is far too girl-next-door-ish to do any kind of justice to this song. It's just all kinds of wrong, like when Theresa Sokyrka did the same thing on Canadian Idol this summer. Rank For The Night: 8th Place
Tammy:Carrie seems ill at ease this week. Perhaps being a frontrunner so soon in the competition has started to get to her. Also, breaking news has it that Carrie is a farm girl. Who knew? This countrified version of "Take Another Piece of My Heart" really doesn't work at all. Bad arrangement. But she remains likeable to watch.Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Vonzell Solomon
"If Ain't Got You"
Destiny: Great outfit and accessories. Cute girl. Good energy. Weak vocals. Rank For The Night: 7th Place
Liza: I love this song, and it's definitely one that you can really wail on and showcase your vocals, but Vonzell tried to do too much with it. I agree with Simon that it was too much, and I think that this particular song is better off being sung in a more simplistic manner. She had moments where she really sounded good, but not enough, and she had a problem staying in synch with the band. Rank For The Night: 5th Place
Tammy:Vonzell does quite well for the first half of the song, but she misfires when she attempts to 'make it her own' and add some histrionics. Less is more, Simon says. I agree.Rank For The Night: 2nd Place
Who Should Go Home:
Destiny: Celena and Mikalah
Liza: Celena and Lindsey
Tammy: Celena and Amanda
Who Will Go Home:
Destiny: Celena and Vonzell
Liza: Celena and Lindsey
Tammy: Celena and Amanda
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AI4: Top 10 Guys
February 28, 2005
Not A Bad Apple In The Bunch,
But Some Are Too Polished
Really good, but nothing special. That seemed to be the overall trend of the night for the top 10 guys of American Idol 4. Most were good, but not great. Some were great, but not original. The guys need to step up their games to show what they could and would do as artists. At this point, most are merely showing that they are good singers. A few at the top of the pack are proving that they are good performers, but too much so. They are polished to the point that they lack any originality or excitement. They need to take it to the next level and do something that excites the audience, something original and bold. Last week showed that there is no room for being good. This week showed that there is no room for being great. If they want to stick around, these guys need to throw off the formalities and show us something undeniable.
Mario Vazquez
"I Love Music"
Destiny: The first over-polished apple of the night. He is so good at what he does that the voting audience may become complacent. He needs to do something different every week- he is capable of it. The theme weeks in the next level of the competition will serve him well. Hopefully, he will take full advantage of the themes to show some diversity. Also of note is that he is the first contestant ever to essentially say, "If you want to know if I have hair, VOTE FOR ME!" As you can see by the picture to the left, he does.
Rank For The Night: 4th
Liza: What is this song? What is that ridiculous hat? Didn't we hear this last week? Why does he keep telling us to "come on"? Is he the male Diana DeGarmo? Does he sing the chorus or is he relying on the background vocalists? Why do the judges love him so much on this performance?
Rank For The Night: 8th
Tammy:First impressions: What is this song? I Love Music? His voice doesn't sound very impressive on this song. Very average. He still can move, same as last week. Also? Enough with the hats. Seriously. You can hide under your hats when people actually know what your face looks like.
Rank For The Night: 5th
Anwar Robinson
"What's Going On"
Destiny: It's nice to see Anwar's constant joy. Tonight he loosened up and had fun during his performance. Not my favorite song, but he has such a cool sense of style he makes it OK.Rank For The Night: 2nd
Liza: Perfect song choice for him. This is his kind of style. He has good movement, hits a really nice power note. He's just COOL. He looks like he had a great time on stage and is much more comfortable at looking into the camera this week. The Stepford look is gone. haha. Rank For The Night: 2nd
Tammy:The backup music is way too loud. "What's Going On?" Kind of blah at the beginning, but reels me in with his 'heeeeeeeeeey!'s. After last weeks outfit, and tonights army-inspired number, I wonder what Anwar did to the show's stylist to deserve this punishment.Rank For The Night: 2nd
Joseph Murena
"Let's Stay Together"
Destiny: He was looking good. Loved the jacket. This song was already done to perfection during the first season of American Idol by a certain top two finalist, so it is a major risk to take it on. Joseph did a nice job vocally and worked the stage, but overall it was a forgetable performance.
Rank For The Night: 8th
Liza: So I hear Joe used to work for a DJ company doing weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate parties. Um yeah. You can tell. The whole performance screamed wedding singer, right down to the open shirt with chains. His voice isn't bad, but it doesn't stand out either. Rank For The Night: 7th
Tammy:Those are some tight pants. This is a little too Wedding Singer for me. And its been done much better on Idol in the past. Average at best. Portuguese Nightclub? Simon needs to stay out of Paula's medicine cabinet.Rank For The Night: 6th
David Brown
"All In Love Is Fair"
Destiny: He started out weak and about halfway through he built up some excitement, but it wasn't enough, considering his steep competition. I am curious to know just what it is that the judges saw in him that they so desperately want him to bring back. Rank For The Night: 10th
Liza: Oh dear. Another bad choice for David. The song does him no favors in the beginning, and he sounds very mush-mouthed. It takes too long to build to a point where he can showcase his vocals, but when he reaches that point, he sounds great. It is easily an improvement from last week, but still not as good as he was early in the audition process. Rank For The Night: 9th
Tammy:Another Stevie song. How unexpected. Starts off very shaky. David sounds very nervous. He sounds tight (and not in the good way). The judges seem rather dumbfounded at David's poor showing thus far.Rank For The Night: 7th
Constantine Maroulis
"Hard To Handle"
Destiny: Although I don't like to associate with Paula's comments, she was right- Constantine does own the stage. He is the only contestant of the night to totally own the room, not to mention the camera, and makes you look forward to and wonder what he will do next week (instead of worrying about what they'll be doing next week). It was nice to see him having fun again, too. This show is looking for stars, not mere singers. Constantine is a star. Rank For The Night: 1st
Liza: Poser. And pitchy. If he makes it any further than Bo, there is something wrong with this world. Rank For The Night: 6th
Tammy: "Hard to Handle" is dangerous? If you say so, Constantine. Oh my. These screams. And not from the crowd. Very pitchy. If anything screams 'poser', it's this performance. Still, its better than the dreck that is "Kiss From A Rose" (but that's not saying much).Rank For The Night: 8th
Scott Savol
"Never Too Much"
Destiny: He is actually working on his looks- and they haven't even hit the stylists yet! Good for him. Not the best song choice- it was a little dull- but it does take skill to pull it off. He sounded smooth. Rank For The Night: 6th
Liza: More Luther. I think I see a pattern. Scott's becoming more and more Ruben-like as the show progresses. But this is a great song for Scott's voice, and I applaud him for trying to look hipper. But he should never try to sing in his upper register again. Ever. Rank For The Night: 5th
Tammy:The Rubenesque arm movements are still there. Looks like Scott's image is being tinkered with this week. An improvement no doubt. Though I still wouldn't want to come across him in a darkened alley. Oh, the performance? Good. He sings some Luther song I'm not familiar with.Rank For The Night: 9th
Travis Tucker
"All Night Long"
Destiny: If ever a performance on AI deserved to be called karaoke, this was it. And wouldn't you know, the judges loved it! Ever the hypocrites, they are. It was like he went to a karaoke party and the only song they had was this one. Totally out of place. At least he had fun. Rank For The Night: 9th
Liza: Baby, you fine. Ahem. This guy can really dance. I love the move where he pulled himself up by his shirt. That was tight. Overall a really fun performance. This is the kind of thing he should do. It's what makes him stand out from the others. We haven't seen a contestant not look ridiculous while dancing on AI since Justin sang "Love Machine" on the American Idol Las Vegas concert special. I think Travis' voice is underrated, and I was really glad to see Simon apologize to him for last week. Rank For The Night: 3rd
Tammy:If he's going to be doing some Usher moves this week, why do you choose Lionel Richie to do it to? Are there no contemporary songs to choose from? Good grief. Wow, his voice is really unspectacular. The ladies in the audience don't seem to mind, however.Rank For The Night: 4th
Nikko Smith
"Let's Get It On"
Destiny: Loved the outfit, and loved him without the hat. He is a great singer, but like Mario, he is too polished. He needs to do something original and unexpected.Rank For The Night: 5th
Liza: I swear I really did write down that Nikko looked like Bobby Brown before Simon said it. That freaked me out that he said that. Nikko may look like Bobby Brown, but he doesn't have enough Bobby Brown bad-boy in him to quite pull that song off, nor is his voice husky enough, but I give him mad props for the effort. His performance skills are fantastic. Overall a really good job. Rank For The Night: 4th
Tammy:Where is the hat? He looks pretty good without it. The song doesn't really do much for him vocally. But he still is better than most of his competitors this week.Rank For The Night: 3rd
Anthony Fedorov
"I Want To Know What Love Is"
Destiny: Nice singing, but he needs to show more personality. There is just not much there beyond a nice voice. Rank For The Night: 7th
Liza: Eww. That was one of the most wretched beginnings EVER. I was barely able to stop cringing long enough to notice that he reigned it in a little bit and got it more on track, but one glory note does not a song make. What's really sad is that this was probably what Anthony considers to be "edgy". And if this was edgy, now I know why Anthony sticks to drecky ballads. I really shudder to think what he would do with an up-tempo song. I suggest listening to Australian Idol 2 runner-up Anthony Callea's version of this song to get this one out of your head. You can download Callea's version at TheIdolZone.com
Rank For The Night: 10th
Tammy:Oh look! He's wearing ripped jeans! He's a rocker too now! Lots of belting. He's been studying the Book of Aiken. I am so ready for Anthony to go home. Rank For The Night: 10th
Bo Bice
"Whipping Post"
Destiny: His outfit was perfect for him. There's no doubt he has a good voice. However, it is nothing original. If Simon is handing out bar singer credentials, this is the guy he should have given one to. Glad the judges loved the performance, but it didn't really earn a place in the Idol Hall Of Fame. Rank For The Night: 3rd
Liza:Excuse me. I think my TIVO must have changed the channel here. I thought I was watching American Idol, not a rock concert. Wait. What? That was American Idol? Really? Wow. That was awesome. Bo knows Rock & Roll and he just reinvented American Idol. Rank For The Night: 1st
Tammy: Another song I've never heard before. Wow, Bo is really working this song! Holy Moses! He is a pro at working the stage. The rest of the performers pale in comparison tonight. And might he just be...sexy? Ye gads! When did this happen?Rank For The Night: 1st
Who Should Go Home:
Destiny:David, Anthony
Liza: David, Anthony
Tammy:David, Anthony
Who Will Go Home:
Destiny: David, Joseph
Liza: David, Joseph
Tammy:Scott, David
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AI4: First Results Show
February 25, 2005
American Idol 4: Cruel and Unusual With A Side of Improvement
With the first Wednesday night results show of the season, American Idol 4 proved that it still can’t decide whether it wants to be good or bad. While the new guys vs. girls semi-final format has given the show a much needed rejuvenation, there still are many issues, both old and new, that need to be addressed.
The Bad: What Needs To Be Eliminated
Guerilla Elimination Tactics: The show reached a new low this week with the way Ryan Seacrest handled the naming of eliminated contestants. He awkwardly dragged out the process by making the contestants stand up, sit down, and form lines across the stage. Then, in a sudden change of pace, he pounced out the eliminated contestant’s name. The delivery was alarming and uncalled for. That kind of trickery may be fun at a surprise party, but not when the matter at hand is the end of someone’s dream on national television. When it comes time to name the eliminated, the best way to do it is to simply state, “The contestant with the lowest amount of votes is ___.” There’s no need to insult the contestants with mind games, shock value delivery, or by parading them around like show dogs.
Post-Elimination Singing: Just as bad as the guerilla elimination tactics is the post-elimination singing. A contestant has just been given really bad news in front of millions of people, the judges have just stated that he/she was out due to horrible song choice and/or bad performance, so naturally the best thing to do is shove a mic in his/her hand and force him/her to sing the very song that supposedly just ruined his/her dream. It is cruel. It is corny. It is uncomfortable to watch. It needs to stop. There really is no need for a swan song at this point, but if the producers just have to have one, a video clip of the contestant’s previous performance would be much more flattering to both the show and the contestant. When it gets further along in the season, the evicted singers should sing a song of their choosing from some point in the competition other than the song that led to their demise on the show. That way that they can at least go out in a blaze of glory.
The Good: What Needs To Be Safe
Less Result Show Recapping: The one good thing to come out of this week’s results show was the noticeable lack of recapping. We didn’t have to sit through an hour of Seacrest quoting what the judges said about each contestant after their performances. If the producers are smart, they will keep this streamlined format throughout the duration of the season. Unfortunately, the producers have proven their intelligence (or lack there of) since the inception of American Idol, so we should expect the new format to be dropped in the very near future.
Seacrest’s New Attitude: Despite his poor results show delivery, Ryan Seacrest is sporting a new image this season on American Idol. He is no longer the village idiot, but rather is more the snarky ringmaster. He seems to be controlling the show, rather than letting the show control him. It is refreshing to see Ryan be strong, smart and witty, rather than merely Simon’s whipping post. Here’s hoping he maintains his new self-imposed authority. Seacrest In!
For Future Consideration
Better Semi-Finalist Coverage: A longtime problem for American Idol has been their lack of coverage of all semi-finalists in the pre-semi-final episodes. The judges decide who will be semi-finalists at least a month before the first episode of the season airs, so the producers have plenty of time to edit all the 24 semi-finalists into the show. Each of the 24 should have been shown in their initial auditions and at least once in the Hollywood round. While there have been contestants who have had success on the show without being shown before they perform for the public vote (Kelly Clarkson in Season 1, LaToya London in Season 3), there is no question that several have been the victim of the lack of publicity. One such victim was Melinda Lira, the first female semi-finalist to be eliminated this season. She deserves recognition for publicly addressing this unfair situation during the results show. While it is true that the contestants are responsible for convincing the public to vote for them, there is no good reason as to why the producers didn’t show all 24 semi-finalists perform at least once in the earlier episodes. Perhaps Melinda’s public addressing of the situation will bring some changes to the coverage of contestants in future seasons of Idol.
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AI4: Top 12 Girls
February 23, 2005
The Girls: The Good, The Great, and The OK
Tuesday's American Idol provided perhaps what may be the funniest moment of the season when Randy referred to the 12 male contestants sitting in an audience section as "The Dawg Pound." They immediately responded to their new name with whoots and raised fists. The moment was so great because it contained two things that are rarities in the world of American Idol: 1. spontaneity and 2. Randy saying something truly funny. The moment continued to be funny throughout the episode, as "The Dawg Pound" continued to whoop it up in support of their female counterparts.
Speaking of the female counterparts, the twelve girls hit the stage with something to prove. The night before, we saw that the guys all have great voices and fell victim only to poor song choices rather than nerves or lack of talent. The girls didn't fare quite as well. There were several moments of weakness. Luckily, there were also moments of greatness.
The guys have the upper hand this season on American Idol, but at least there are some legitimate girls to give them a run for their money.
Now here's the It's Destiny! Panel with our take on the show.
Vonzell Solomon- "Heatwave"
Destiny:She gave a good, professional performance of the song. There was nothing sensational about it, but it was very good. Score: 7
Liza: Oh no - shades of Kimberley Locke. It took Kimberley weeks to overcome that Heatwave performance in Season 2. I don't think Vonzell will be hurt as much by this, since she did a better job than K Lo did in the first live show in season 2, but that's definitely not a song I would have chosen if I were Vonzell. That being said, she did give good energy, and she got the crowd into it, although I think it's more a case of the guy contestants being more supportive than anything else. The guys are a great audience! Score: 6.5
Amanda Avila- "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You"
Destiny:She is pretty and has a nice voice, but she has no spark. There is nothing about her or her performance that makes her stand out. And why would she choose that song? Come on! This is your one chance to be noticed! Score: 5
Liza: Did Amanda not go to the guy's show the day before? Because really, after that, if I were her, I would have changed my song choice immediately. Joseph was criticized for singing that yesterday. What makes her think she wouldn't? I thought she delivered the right emotion for the song, but the whininess was too much for me. Score: 4
Janay Castine- "I Wanna Love You Forever"
Destiny: She looked adorable. Her dress and hair style were perfect for her. Too bad her nerves made her vocals much weaker than she's probably capable of. Score: 5
Liza: Can you say "train-wreck"? That poor girl delivered the most agonizing performance I have ever seen on Idol. She looked so scared that she made Julia DeMato seem confident and self-assured in comparison. And not only that, but that song was all kinds of wrong for her. It's a belting song, and she didn't even come close to belting. And I think Amanda kicked her butt on this song in the first audition. Score: 2
Carrie Underwood- "Could've Been"
Destiny: She is the most overrated contestant of the season. She is cute and competent vocally, but I don't see the superstar that the judges do. She also had some "pitch problems" that they didn't even address. Her song choice was OK and provided a step back into the rarely tapped vault of the late 80s. Good, but not great. Score: 7
Liza: Excuse me while I stop laughing because she was singing a song by TIFFANY. Ahem. Actually, I thought Carrie did a great job. She picked the perfect song for her, and she sang it really well, save for that one big note that was out of tune in the middle. Score: 8.5
Sarah Mather- "Get Ready"
Destiny:The judges were too harsh on her. While the song may not have been the best choice, she did infuse it with soul and style. Not the disaster they made it out to be. Score: 6.5
Liza: Her posture is horrific when she sings, the ending of the song was hideous, and it was a bad song choice for her. Paula was spot-on (gasp!) - it's a group song, not a solo song. Score: 3.5
Melinda Lira- "The Power Of Love"
Destiny: She was yet another victim of nerves and poor song choice. She also lacks natural stage presence. She is very lucky that the judges like her and gave her the biggest compliment they ever could by saying she is like Kelly Clarkson. Uhhh... I DON'T THINK SO! She's good, but she's not great. To even be considered to be compared to Miss Clarkson, one must be spectacular from the start, not in need of any work or experience. Score: 6
Liza: Randy busted out the Kelly Clarkson comparison, but I am really not seeing it, other than personality-wise and a little bit facially. Melinda actually reminds me more of Camile Velasco than Kelly, but with a much better voice. When you sing Celine, you better bring it. That song is meant to be absolutely belted - you have to have a huge voice to do it any kind of justice, and other than maybe the ending, I didn't think Melinda was able to pull it off. Her stage mannerisms bothered me a little as well. Score: 5
Nadia Turner- "Power of Love"
(song by Ashley Cleveland, not Celine Dion)
Destiny:The girl showcased her specialty of soulful Christian rock- a first on American Idol. Major props to her for bringing that genre to the show and doing it well. She has a great sense of style. I particularly love the rhinestone fish she sported on her belt. Rock on, girl! Score: 9
Liza: Thank you, Nadia, for resuscitating the whole Idol franchise and breathing new life into it. That was quite possibly the most rockin' performance I have ever seen on American Idol. Amazing performance - it completely blew me away!! If you're going to sing an unknown song, sing it like that and no one will care if they're familiar with it or not. That was, to quote Randy, "Da bomb!" Score: 10
Celena Rae- "I Will Love Again"
Destiny: Unfortunately, she was the episode's next victim of nerves, and it made her sound very weak and shaky. Hopefully, she will get to come back and show us what talent she really has. On the up side, she looked really great! Score: 5
Liza: She totally paled in comparison to Nadia, but I think she showed some flashes of potential greatness. I would like to see her stick around at least another week to see what she's got. Score: 5
Mikalah Gordon- "Young Hearts Run Free"
Destiny:She regressed back to the tacky and annoying Mikalah that we saw in her original Las Vegas Audition. What happened to the cute vocal and physical style she adopted in the Hollywood and Pasadena rounds of the auditions? Her newly dyed black hair was really unflattering, as were her dress and her brash and nasaly vocals. Wrong outfit. Wrong song choice. She really showed her young age, too, with her overreaching performance and comments. She needs to stick to old school jazzy songs that highlight her big voice without being too out of control. Hopefully, she can pull herself together and choose better hair, clothes, and songs. Score: 3
Liza: And people thought Fantasia was polarizing? Not only does Mikalah have the most annoying personality of anyone who has ever been on the Idol show (and that includes any of the judges!), but she also has the most annoying voice. The way she sang the beginning of her song made me want to stick stakes into my ears so that I wouldn't ever have to hear her off-pitch, Fran-Drescher-ish voice again. She mugged for the camera more than she actually sang (she even missed a line because she was changing up the words for Randy). Words cannot begin to describe how much I cannot stand the thought of having this girl in the competition another week. Score: 1
Lindsey Cardinale- "Standing Right Next To You"
Destiny:She has a beautiful, smooth voice. It will be really nice to hear her do different styles and show some range and emotion. While the song may not have been the best song she could have chosen, it was really irritating to hear the judges tell her that it was a really bad song choice. Hello!? That is the song they sent her to Hollywood with. I really wanted her to say that to them (or at least someone to say it to them). Hypocrites Central, can we help you? Score: 7.5
Liza: One of my Idol pet peeves is when contestants repeat songs that have already been sung on the show (Amanda Avila, I'm talking to you). But what I hate worse than that is when contestants repeat songs that THEY have already sung on the show. Lindsey auditioned with this song in New Orleans, so to hear her sing it again was disappointing. But I will say that she has a unique voice and that she sang it well, it was just, as the judges said, "safe". Score: 5
Jessica Sierra- "Against All Odds"
Destiny:This girl is a gem! We saw glimpses of the greatness she could bring with the tiny clip they showed of her in the Hollywood round, and she didn't disappoint tonight. She sang this serious song well and controlled, but it will be great when she unleashes the fun side of herself. That will be her strongsuit on this show. Score: 8
Liza: I'm starting to think that all of the girls, with a few exceptions, pretty much sound the same. Jessica has a nice voice, but it's not very distinguishable from everyone else's. It's fairly generic. She is going to need to do more to stand out or she's going to BE out. Score: 5
Aloha Mischeaux- "Work It Out"
Destiny: Sassy! No one has ever sung anything so contemporary on this show. It was fun to see something so bold and funky grace the Idol stage. This girl has great stage presence and style. Personality, boldness and a great voice will take her a long way in this competition. Score: 9
Liza: Whoah. Are my ears deceiving me? Are pigs flying right now?? Is this really a song from this decade being sung on American Idol?? For that alone, I give Aloha props. As for her performance, she really IS working it out! She needed to stand out since no one has heard her sing before, and she accomplished that feat! Good for her! Score: 8
Who Should Be Eliminated:
Destiny:Amanda and Janay
Liza: Mikalah and Janay
Who Will Be Eliminated:
Destiny:Amanda and Janay
Liza: Janay and Amanda
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AI4: Top 12 Guys
February 22, 2005
Twelve Guys. Twelve Good Voices. What A Concept!
At the dawn of every season, the producers and judges of American Idol claim that they have the best contestants ever. That claim has never had any merit, but judging from the debut of this season’s 12 male semi-finalists, they may finally be right! This batch of guys is the best of any season. Unfortunately, while the guys are better than ever, the judges are annoying as ever. Do they have to be there every week?
Being the strongest group of guys the show has seen, they provided several noteworthy performances. Here's the It's Destiny! Panel with our take on the show.
Nikko Smith- “Part-Time Lover”
Destiny: The ability to do justice to an up-tempo Stevie Wonder song is extremely rare. Anyone who has watched American Idol from its inception knows this all too well. Fortunately, Nikko has this ability. His version was fresh and stable. While it wasn’t the best of the night, it certainly was good.
Liza: Wow he totally sounds like Stevie Wonder.
He kicked off the competition quite nicely with, as Paula says, an up-tempo
song. I agree with Randy and Paula - he made Stevie proud. And he made me like a song I really don't like. I love his style. He's a cool cat.
Tammy: My favorite of the night. Love the song, and if you close your eyes you'd swear that was Stevie singing on that stage. I'm not sure who his fanbase will consist of, however. He needs to Usher it up a bit if he wants to win this competition. I'd lose the hat. Makes him look like an old man. His performance was the most effortless of the night.
Scott Savol – “You Are My Lady”
Destiny: He is one of the most strangely endearing contestants ever on AI. He also has one of the richest voices of the season. While it wasn’t the best song choice for him, he sounded good singing it. Hopefully, in the future he will choose material that better allows him to show off his personality.
Liza: I LOVE this song, and I have always wanted
someone on Idol to sing it, but not Scott. He is not suave enough for this song. This isn't Scott's best performance, and he does have some pitch issues, but he has a great voice overall, and I do give him credit for picking one of my favorite songs and one that hadn't been sung before on Idol.
Tammy: Scott has a good voice, but awkward stage presence. He doesn't seem quite sure what to do with his body, or how to play to the audience. A rather bland song choice, too. It will take more than a good voice for Scott to get much further, as the men’s group seems stacked with talented voices, but poor song selections.
Anthony Fedorov – “Hold On To The Nights”
Destiny: There’s no denying that he has a great voice, but he lacks personality. He is in major need of some stage presence. His version of the song was tepid. He’s capable of better, but he doesn’t have much time to prove it. Time to step it up, Anthony.
Liza: zzzzzzzz. Ok, I'll admit he did a nice job vocally, but that arms outstretched, looking to the high heavens pose?! And the arm motions at the end of the song?! Ugh. How pretentious. And can he please step out of his box for a change? I love the judges for calling him out on his boring one-dimensional self.
Tammy: Wow, he really sounds like Richard Marx. Methinks he is quite good at mimicry, but has little personality of his own. And this song gives little personality. Ah well. My grandma probably liked it.
Bo Bice – “Drift Away”
Destiny: His “Drift Away” was certainly the best version ever performed on American Idol (although not better than Canadian Idol’s Ryan Malcolm). He has a strong, original voice. He seems nice enough, too. There just isn’t anything spectacular about the performance, and with this group of guys there is no room for the really-good-but-not-spectacular.
Liza: I hate how the song skipped around from the end to the
beginning, and that outfit was hideous. Ahem. And now that I got my inner Cowell out of the way, I must say that he totally rocked that song. Bo has a great rock voice with a country-twinge, and he picked the perfect song. Loved it!
Tammy: Ah, if only we could have a contestant with Bo's voice and Constantine's face. It was a good performance, but I kept wishing the What Not To Wear team would leap from the shadows and tame those eyebrows. His performance was good, but not great.
Travis Tucker – “My Cherie Amour”
Destiny: He has a nice voice, a nice face, and nice moves. Too bad he didn’t showcase any of those qualities in his rendition of “My Cherie Amour.” It was the epitomy of wrong song choice.
Liza: Oh dear. Why THAT song? I hate this song. Travis, you're the cool one in the competition. You're the next Usher. This isn't your type of song. Once again, I agree with the judges, except for Simon. I thought Travis sounded good, but that was horrible song choice for him. I think he might have enough fans to save him this week, but he needs to step it up next week or he'll be out.
Tammy: Eyes glazing over...so...boring...Okay, the song is bad enough, but the outfit isn't any better. Talk about bland. This will not inspire the masses, boy. Tsk tsk.
Constantine Maroulis – “Kiss From A Rose”
Destiny: This guy is just too much fun to watch. While “Kiss From A Rose” isn’t the best song in the world, Constantine proved that he is the best performer of the group. He commands the stage and the audience, both in the studio and through the camera. He just knows how to perform. Oh, and he’s not bad to look at. Those long legs, that scarf, the grabbing of the mic stand. Bring it on! He is vintage American Idol. He has it all. The voice. The look. The charisma.
Also of note is that he was the victim of poor editing on tonight’s show. With the camera angles used, it appeared as though Constantine dissed Randy with the comment, “Stick to the rapping, Randy.” In fact, that comment came from the mouth of Ryan Seacrest. Hopefully, this misrepresentation won’t have any negative effect on Mr. Maroulis.
Liza: Oh dear. Another bad song choice. I think that he has the best stage presence of all of the guys, and that microphone stand thing was pretty hot, but he was out of tune and, honestly, the least rock of the three rockers. I laughed when he got a little Broadway towards the end with the shouty point-to-the-sky thing.
Tammy: The song isn't a favorite of mine, but I suppose he did as well with it as he could. The come hither looks will help him make top three, at least.
David Brown – “Never Can Say Goodbye”
Destiny: While this could have been a good song choice for him, it didn’t turn out that way. He sounded whiny and unattached. From the little we’ve seen of him previously on the show, it’s obvious that he is capable of much better, both vocally and performance-wise. Too bad he didn’t bring the top of his game tonight.
Liza: I like his voice, but the performance wasn't particularly memorable, save for the ugly shirt and repetitive lyrics. Having sung in the middle of the pack and having a lack of airtime recently, I think he might be in serious trouble.
Tammy: Yet another case of good singer, bad song. Take a chance! Stand out from the pack! Ugh. Totally and completely forgettable performance.
Jared Yates– “How Could I”
Destiny: He is the most underrated contestant of the night. The judges totally missed the mark when they panned his performance and song choice of “How Could I.” Besides possessing a rich voice, he knows how to move on the stage, and he knows how to interpret a song. He gave a mature performance, and he deserves to come back next week. Hopefully the voting public agrees.
Liza: Bow-legged stance, unrecognizable song choice, some pitch problems. I think he really just helped David out here. Jared's had the least airtime of any of the guys. And he'll probably end up having the least airtime because I think he'll be out after one week. He hasn't had any time to build up a fanbase to save him.
Tammy: I couldn't enjoy this performance less if Jennfier Lopez walked onstage. Oh wait, I could. Again, a good voice, but these songs choices...agh! Not really selling the song either. This night is turning into Battle of the Bland.
Anwar Robinson – “Moon River”
Destiny: There is nothing bad about him. He has a gentle and cool demeanor, a fierce sense of style to complement his long legs and long locks, and a solid vocal instrument. He provided an artful, jazz-infused rendition of “Moon River” that is pleasing to both the masses and music aficionados alike. He deserves to be around this competition for a long time. He is the class of the class.
Liza: Whoah. I didn't know he had all THAT! I never would
have expected that from him. He hadn't really shown that power before. I was a little concerned at first with his song choice, and he started off slightly shaky, but he really put his own spin on the song and sang the crap out of it. As the resident music teacher, his music expertise is going to get him really far. Anwar also provided the funniest moment of the night when Seacrest was giving out his phone number. Anwar had this creepy Stepford smile and stare into the camera. I could not stop laughing at that.
Tammy: I love this song. Just not this rendition. It seems awkward, and many parts near the end is very shout-y. I hate, hate, hated the BIG! BLOWN OUT! ENDING! to the song. It was too 'Jazz Hands!' for me. Don't do that to Moon River, please.
Judd Harris - Travelin' Band
Destiny: He deserves props for choosing a song never before done on Idol and for doing it with no holds barred. That being said, “Travelin’ Band” doesn’t lend itself to superstar status. Judd is talented and spirited, but he needs to choose songs that show the artist in him more than merely the entertainer.
Liza: Big props for doing something different. He is the much improved and very much-upgraded JPL v2.0. He really is a fun performer with a great voice but his stage persona is borderline cheesy. I just don't know if he has the versatility to get very far in this competition. He can't sing these types of songs the entire season. And I think he got down on his knees to beg for votes so that people wouldn't see that he's much shorter than Ryan Seacrest.
Tammy: Lots of energy, very fun. He'll stay for a few weeks, a la JPL. Good voice, too. But those pants! Waaay. Too. Tight. Makes his legs look teeny tiny.
Joseph Murena – “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You”
Destiny: He sang the song very, very well, but he needs to choose songs with a more modern sensibility if he wants to get the votes. He has an incredibly rich voice. Here’s hoping that his song choice didn’t jeopardize his chances of sharing that voice with us again.
Liza: Boring song choice, and he sounds like he has a cold. He definitely has the pipes, but, as the judges said, it was a safe choice. And he needed to do something spectactular to stand out since he was one of the unknowns. He failed in that regard.
Tammy: Good grief. What on earth possessed him to sing this song? Michael Bolton will give you the edge in this competition? Yes, lets see how well this theory pans out.
Mario Vazquez – “Do I Do”
Destiny: Visions of Mario in the Final Two at the end of the season with Constantine immediately come to mind after his stellar performance of “Do I Do.” He has one of the strongest male voices ever in the competition, and he knows how to work the stage. Topped with his edgy sense of style, Mario is guaranteed to groove us for the duration of the season. Bravo!
Liza: Had some pitch problems, but overall it was a good performance, especially after all of those cheesy ballads. Snort. Why was I not surprised that Paula loved that performance from Marioguarini. Touchdown?? Oh please. Not quite. Maybe a field goal.
Tammy: And now, for the most overrated performance of the night. I did not care for the way he was begging the crowd to get into it. If he's any good, that kind of begging isn't necessary. The singing was kind of all over the place, but he had good energy, and it wasn't a ballad (thank god!), plus he's easy on the eyes, so he'll be around for a while.
Who Should Be Eliminated:
Destiny: David, Anthony
Liza: Jared, Anthony
Tammy: David, Joseph
Who Will Be Eliminated:
Destiny: David, Joseph
Liza: Jared and David. Jared has no fan base, and David will be the first victim of the year in the annual Ironic Song of Death.
Tammy: David, Joseph
Check out all of our coverage of American Idol by visiting our Television section.
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American Idol Is Back!
January 25, 2005
American Idol Is Back!
Season Four Can't Decide If It Wants To Be Good or Drab
Click Here For Our Take on Episode One
Click Here For Our Take on Episode Two
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We went inside the American Idol 4 auditions in Las Vegas.
We Invite You To Go Inside Idol With Us!
Click here (or right click Save Target As to download file) to see a recap of our coverage inside the American Idol Las Vegas audtions.
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AI4: Episode 2, St. Louis
January 19, 2005
Meet Me In St. Louis! Uhh, No Thanks...
After moments of promise glimmered in the season opener of AI4, the second episode didn’t have much to offer. As the show rolled into St. Louis, the Idol theme music played and the sparkly new opening graphics rolled, but Mark McGrath was painfully absent. This episode also highlighted a frustrating trend emerging this fourth season. The judges are passing several sub-par people onto the Hollywood round, and then turning around and rejecting much better contestants.
One such victim of poor judgment was Jeremy Wakefield who came to the auditions with his voice teacher, Angel Higgs (who did get passed onto the Hollywood round). Wakefield walked in the room, stylish and fun, with talent and stage presence to boot. The judges then made the mind boggling decision to cut him. Ridiculous.
This episode was probably the worst in Idol history, devoid of humor, excitement, and good judgement. Next week, the show heads to New Orleans. Here’s hoping that they kick it up a few notches.
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AI4: Episode One, Washington, DC
January 19, 2005
Mr. Idol Heads To Washington!
The fourth season of American Idol started off with some annoying old tricks and a few new treats. The first bit of annoyance was the omission of Justin Guarini from the opening montage of “Idol successes.” Granted, Guarini hasn’t seen the mainstream success of Kelly Clarkson or Clay Aiken, but he did outsell fourth place finisher Tamyra Gray, who managed to get two of her cd covers displayed in the clip. The politics involved in this stunt left a bad taste in my mouth. Luckily, a bit of freshness came along soon.
That freshness was embodied in one Mr. Mark McGrath, the guest judge for the Washington, DC auditions. Mark’s presence at the table provided so much more than eye candy. He took control of the increasingly stale panel of judges, and he became the ultimate voice of reason. Can he stay forever, please?
Unfortunately, the freshness of McGrath was soon counterbalanced by the overabundance of stunned and silent responses by the panel to off-key contestants. Being awestruck at someone’s awfulness only works once, not the majority of the time, as was the case in this episode. While the judges certainly could come up with some more interesting reactions, this overdone trick is mostly the fault of the producers for letting too many bad people through to see Simon and company. These contestants had to go through at least two very competitive rounds of auditions in front of the producers before they are passed on to see Simon, Paula, and Randy, and then many of those hit the cutting room floor. With over 100,000 auditioning through this strict system and plenty of editing time, there is no need for this repetitive baseness to happen in the final audition room, much less air on television. The producers also fail to recognize when someone’s situation is funny and when someone is sad. They aired too many people who were the latter tonight, and it came across in very poor taste.
Fortunately, the show bounced back with one standout “reject”: Mary Roach. She could have been the next Mary Guilbeaux. Heck, she is the next Georgina with comments like, “I’m going to walk in like I’m confident. You know, head up high, strutting my stuff. Not too much strut, though, because that looks tacky.” Hilarious! Sadly, her poor outfit choice and dance moves caused her vocals to be underrated. If someone cooler looking produced the sound she made in the audition room, she’d be headed to Hollywood as the folksy free spirited singer of the season. As is, Mary simply provided some lighthearted comedic moments worthy of a Saturday Night Live character. Too bad she lost all credibility by both going off on a vulgar rant against the judges and singing an over-the-top song during a heavily producer-influenced and edited post-audition interview.
In addition to the excess of orchestrated bad talent, the judges also passed too many average contestants onto Hollywood. Rising from the mediocrity, however, were two contestants of note. Fitting for the female/male balance prescribed for this season’s finals, one is a girl, and one is a guy. Marlea Stroman displayed physical and vocal beauty worthy of a trip to the semifinals. It will be interesting to see what she brings at the next level. Her male counterpart, Constantine Maroulis, is just what the doctor ordered. American Idol needs some flavor like this rock band frontman. Here’s hoping that he makes it all the way to the finals. He brings some substance and versatility to the show the likes of which we’ve seen on the superiorly produced Canadian Idol. This season of AI has also borrowed the Canadian Idol practice of showing home video montages of preliminary round contestants. Let’s hope that borrowing production values from CI continues throughout the season, eh?
Luckily, the show ended on a high note. As Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” played in the background, we were reminded of just what magic this show can create. Here’s hoping that someone this season will bring the talent, style, and fun that the original American Idol herself brought to the show. Bring it on!
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Inside American Idol 4- Las Vegas Auditions
January 03, 2005
INSIDE THE AMERICAN IDOL 4 AUDITIONS
It’s 2 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday in mid-September, and the long weekend of American Idol 4 auditions in Las Vegas, Nevada is getting underway as people begin lining up outside The Orleans Arena. The sight is what we’ve come to expect at an American Idolaudition: people huddled en masse with their sleeping bags and/or folding chairs in tow in a line that wraps around and around. The thing no one expected, however, is that this outdoor community will be only very temporary. Once contestants get their wristbands early Saturday morning, they also receive a ticket with an assigned seat number for the auditions. This new system allows contestants to leave the premises and come back Sunday morning. AI also offers the option to go inside the arena to escape the heat and sleep on the floor if desired. Several choose to take Idol up on this offer, partially because it is free shelter, and partially because they want to take in as much of the experience as they can. Idol hopeful Nijon Fagin and his girlfriend, Danielle Howerton, choose to sleep inside the arena, despite the fact that they have other accommodations waiting for them. “We have a room,” Nijon says, “but we’re gonna stay close to the excitement.”
No matter what they chose to do with their time, those auditioning have no reason to blame their poor performance on the traditional complaints of bad weather conditions and cramped quarters. Something tells me, however, that we will be hearing a whole new line of excuses when the show airs in January...
It’s now 5:00 am on Sunday, and despite the early hour, everyone looks their finest as they arrive for their big moment to shine. The arena is buzzing with excitement as the contestants warm up their voices, work out their jitters, and make their way to their assigned seats. The air is teeming with possibility. The next American Idol could be sitting in this room. Every type of singer is present to answer the call- good, bad, crooners, rockers, soul singers, pop divas. The demographic is slightly different this year than in the past due to a recent change raising the age limit from 24 to 28. With that comes a slew of singers seriously grateful just to be able to try out.
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Christmas Time!
November 08, 2004
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!
The weather has shifted to the cold and breezy, and Christmas is just around the corner. Coming up this month are several tv programs sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
A new two-hour musical version of A Christmas Carol will air November 28 on NBC. Kelsey Grammer stars as Scrooge, alongside Jason Alexander, Jesse L. Martin, Jane Krakowski, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. The production, based on the Madison Square Garden stage version, features songs by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens. Shot in Budapest, Hungary, the movie magically captures the time and place of Charles Dickens’ classic. God bless us, everyone!
Kelly, Ruben, and Fantasia ring in the holidays November 24 on Fox in the second American Idol Christmas special, Home For Christmas. Singing their favorite Christmas songs, the three American Idols share fond holiday memories and spread holiday cheer. They also display their wares, hoping you’ll add them to your wish list, as they each sing tracks from their new CDs. Unlike last year’s Christmas special, this one won’t have the antics of the American Juniors, the charisma of Ryan Malcolm, the short skirt of Christina Christian, or the joy of Clay Aiken. Nevertheless, with their personality, talent, and style, the three title holders are sure to make this a Christmas to remember.
And speaking of Idols…
Two of them will also be appearing this season on NBC’s American Dreams. In the show’s next episode, Fantasia will appear as Aretha Franklin, singing her classic, “Respect” (which, oddly enough, was Kelly Clarkson’s signature song on American Idol). Clarkson continues to bring the holiday tidings when she reprises her role of Brenda Lee on the American Dreams Christmas episode, singing “Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.”
Can’t get enough of American Idol alumni spreading tidings of comfort and joy? Well, you’re in luck! Clay Aiken’s Christmas special will air December 8 on NBC. He will be singing songs from his new release, Merry Christmas With Love. If you want to experience his holiday cheer in person, you can catch him throughout November and December on The Joyful Noise Tour.
Let the holidays begin!
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Election Day
November 02, 2004
Election Day!
What do Simon and his co-judges
think of the voting process?
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Women Rock
October 29, 2004
Women Rock on Lifetime, Clarkson Shines The Future of Entertainment.
Last night, Lifetime aired its fifth annual Women Rock event in support of the fight against breast cancer and in celebration of the network's twenty years on air. The event was full of touching moments as Lifetime personalities recounted what the network has done over the years to help women and as they brought breast cancer survivors to the stage for a tribute to their strength.
Tributes aside, the evening was mainly a concert featuring performances by EnVogue (with new member and former Mouseketeer, Rhona Bennett), Angie Stone, Blondie, Shirley Manson, and Kelly Clarkson, who was the standout of the night, singing five songs, including her current hit "Breakaway" and a stellar collaboration with EnVogue on their powerhouse "Free Your Mind."
Click here to donate funds to Lifetime's campaign against breast cancer by purchasing a Hard Rock 2004 Stop Breast Cancer pin.
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AI4
October 19, 2004
David Gonzales, Jr.
Our American Idol 4 Hopeful of The Day
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AI4 Las Vegas Auditions
October 18, 2004
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Today's American Idol Hopefuls: Rene` & Estelita Check back for something new everyday! The Future of Entertainment.
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AI4: Kisa and Tiara
October 15, 2004
American Idol 4 Auditions:
Kisa and Tiara
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AI4: Liz and Angelo
October 14, 2004
Meet Today's Idol 4 Hopefuls: Liz and Angelo!
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The Judges!
October 13, 2004
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What do the judges think of the Season 4 hopefuls?
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AI 4 Auditions
October 12, 2004
Inside the American Idol 4 Auditions: The Future of Entertainment.
Rhenotha "Queen Diva" Whitaker & Jenniefer Crystal
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AI4 Auditions
October 11, 2004
Our Inaugural Week Was A Success!
We even got flowers! Thanks to everyone who lent their support. 
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AI4 Auditions
October 07, 2004
<--AI4 Hopeful, Justin Newport
Click on photos to see videos. Inside The American Idol 4 Auditions --> Check back next week for new coverage from the American Idol 4 auditions! The Future of Entertainment.
Click here to see our previous American Idol pieces.
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More AI4 Hopefuls
October 07, 2004
MEET TODAY'S IDOL HOPEFULS: AMBER, RAYJHON, & DANIELLE
Click on the individual pictures to watch video of each contestant!
(or right click Save Target As to download file)
Check back everyday for new coverage from the American Idol 4 auditions! Click here to see our previous American Idol pieces.
The Future of Entertainment.
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Meet The Idol Hopefuls!
October 06, 2004
MEET THE IDOL HOPEFULS: Candace, Jenny, and Amanda
Click on the group picture to see video of the girls at the Las Vegas auditions.
Click on the individual pictures to see and hear each girl sing!
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This week, I’m showing you some of the American Idol 4 hopefuls and giving you a rare inside view of the auditions.
Check back everyday for new video footage, photos, and more!
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The Best of American Idol
October 04, 2004
American Idol is perhaps my favorite show of all time. So here, in the inaugural television post, I will share with you some of the best moments from American Idol.
Memorable Performances:
Tamyra Gray’s Top 30 performance of “You’re Gonna Love Me” (Season One)
She was the first contestant to perform for a voting public. When she belted out “and you, and you, and you- you’re gonna love me,” she was right. The competition couldn’t have been started in a more exciting way.
Kelly Clarkson’s “Respect” performance in the Top 30 (Season One)
Kelly had received no airtime whatsoever prior to the Top 30. America voted for her based solely on this performance, and they never looked back. Kelly went the entire competition without ever being in the bottom two or three of the weekly votes. She and Clay Aiken are the only ones to do so in the history of American Idol. “Respect” was the first in a string of memorable performances from Kelly. Every single one of her performances could easily make this list, because they are ALL so memorable and rank amongst the best of any season. Her style and personality combined with her outrageous vocal ability blew us out of the water. It was so fun to see what she would sing each week and what she would be wearing while she did. With each performance she made it blatantly obvious that she is the American Idol.
Justin Guarini’s “For Once In My Life” on the first Top Ten show (Season One)
It was magical. Everything was right about that moment. Justin had already shown his remarkable talent in his first appearances on the show in the initial New York and Pasadena auditions and in the semi-finals, but this performance on this night is what confirmed 100% that he was something so special. It can best be summed up by Paula Abdul’s speechless reaction that included her being turned into a puddle. LET THE MAGIC BEGIN! Justin went on to give a non-stop run of exciting performances, displaying his outrageous stage presence, impeccable wardrobe, beautiful voice, and that rare and charming ability he has to draw the audience in and make you think he’s singing just to you.
“It Takes Two” finale night performance by Kelly and Justin (Season One)
This duet summed up why these two were the perfect final duo on the show. It really displayed the fun, style, and personality that is missing from most contestants since then.
Clay Aiken’s “This Is The Night” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Season Two)
These performances summed up the greatness that is Clay Aiken. His remarkable voice and ability to interpret a song, coupled with his unassuming demeanor made him connect in an explosive way to anyone watching. Clay dominated the second season of American Idol and should have won the title. These two performances confirmed that fact.
Jennifer Hudson’s “Weekend In New England” (Season Three)
This performance was breathtaking. She brought new life and passion to this Manilow classic. Her vocal talent, personality, and style made her a standout of the season. Unfortunately, the audience rewarded this standout performance by kicking Jennifer off the show the next night.
Fantasia Barrino’s “All My Life” (Season Three)
All of Fantasia’s performances were outstanding, but this one (despite some critics’ apathetic comments to the contrary) really displayed her versatility and ability to convey the emotions of a song to an audience. She is an absolutely brilliant artist. She definitely does the title of American Idol proud.
Best “Rejects”:
While Keith from Season Two and William Hung from Season Three get all the press for being the ultimate American Idol rejects, they don’t top my list. Here are my best of the worst:
Derek (Season One) With his pseudo-hip hop outfit and performance of an original song, Derek tops my list. He gave America its first glimpse into the delusions of grandeur that are a staple of the American Idol reject when he started off by saying to the judges, “I believe I’m the best in America, I believe I can do a lot for this country. I love selling music, and I love performing.” He follows this up with a memorable snort midway through his song, after which he pauses and says, “Do you want to hear the chorus?” Simon promptly replies, “No. I couldn’t hear anymore.” Classic. Click here to see it him action.
Rose (Season One) She gave American Idol its first and perhaps best example of the sassy reject with her signature response to Randy Jackson’s observation that she didn’t hit any of the right notes in her song: “I wasn’t trying to sing the right notes.” She also secures her spot on my list with her post-audition exchange with Ryan Seacrest.
Rose: “They think they can judge me.”
Seacrest: “Well, they are the judges.”
Tamika (Season One) She was the first one to really bark back at the judges' negative comments, and the results were hilarious. After much arguing between the two parties, Tamika finally walks out of the audition room, gives a talk-to-the-hand gesture, and says, “y’all got problems, y’all got major issues.” You can see the whole exchange here.
Georgina (Season Three) She provided the funniest moments of the entire third season with her performance of “Spanish Eyes”with her troupe of puppets at the Los Angeles auditions. The best part is her self-description prior to her audition in which she comments on her outfit with such catchphrases as “the necklace is just a showpiece; it’s not even real gold” and “the hat just adds a little bit of class.” HYS-TE-RI-CAL!
Best Simon Comment: To Season One auditioner, Levi Blue, after he begs the judges to pass him on so they can mold him into a star: “This is a pen, not a magic wand.”
Best Season: Season One. While there have been talented people and discovered gems in all three seasons, the first season of the show is unmatched in its overall charm, excitement, and originality. Even the “rejects” of the first season are the most entertaining. I'm excited at the prospect that Season One may be making a comeback on the Fox Reality channel in 2005. This is a must-see for those of you who missed it the first time around. We’ll keep you posted on any more details.
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