I hated Sway’s performance. I couldn’t believe it when Randy and Paula acted like it was so daring.
I’m evidently in the minority because I liked Sway’s performance. True, the sustaining falsetto started getting to me halfway through, but who was it…Paula? Randy? mentioned that Sway did Philip Bailey proud, I was like, yeah, he did.
I missed Taylor, Elliot, and Ace because the dogs insisted on going out 
My first impression of Ace? The poor man’s Connie. That’s going by looks and attitude alone, though.
Overall? What’s everybody doing, trying to imitate Bo? That Bucky character should be shot. I like the fact he’s humble and he’s got the stage presence, but that’s it. Didn’t like his choice of song.
I got a kick out of “Peter Brady” (I actually think he looks more like Bobby). But then again, I like crooners…to a point. We’ll have to see.
Who was it, Kevin – the young geeky kid? A rough version of A-Fed. He’s loveable, but I don’t think he’s got a chance.
I liked Gedeon. But then again I’ve always been partial to old Motown/Apollo-type performances. However, please, don’t keep grinning. There’s something slightly serial-killerish about it :eek:
I said this last week but I’m going to say it again because I think it’s funny: Ace looks like Shrek when he turns into a human.
Daughtry sounded better than I’ve heard him sound.
That was one of the times I’ve been least excited by Taylor, so I was surprised the judges were drooling all over him.
It’s nice to see Pain-killer Paula back. She was a little too sober in the women’s episode. Get her standing up clapping and slurring her words. That’s the good stuff.
I totally thought Elliot was off key. Plus - well, the tooth. It’s distracting.
I thought Chris and Taylor were, by far, the best and I thought Levon was perfect for Taylor’s voice. I would buy that record.
As an aside, my dogs names are Bobby and Gideon. I kept telling them they were getting voted off. They had no comment.
I only saw him in the 15 second re-cap bit at the end, and just from that, I thought he sounded like shit.
Now, maybe the rest of his song was better, but given what I heard, I certainly don’t see how a previous poster said he had the best voice in the (history of?) American Idol.
Simon is the one who said he had the best (male) voice in the history of AI.
Overall a very good night, I thought. Here are my rankings:
- Chris. I freaking love that song. I’ll freely admit to singing the harmony part while he was singing. Awesome!
- Taylor. Another awesome song. It’s one of my favorite Elton songs, and I thought he did it very well.
- Elliott. Really, really good. Too bad he looks like someone beat him up. Get this boy some under-eye concealer, stat!
- Ace. He wants to be my daddy. snerk
- Gedeon. I like him, and he did a nice job with this song. I agree that he’s kind of a throwback, and I think it’s refreshing. But how dare Simon tell him he doesn’t like his smile? That’s his best feature! He has a beautiful smile, damn it!
- Patrick. He looked really good, but this wasn’t the song for him. It didn’t showcase his talents.
- Bucky. He’s much better looking when he sings. I liked this song for him. I just don’t think he has the natural ability to get much better. I also can’t understand a word he says.
- Kevin. Not a bad performance, just not good enough. I wish he’d waited a few years.
- Will. He’s cute, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I thought it was pretty weak.
- Sway. Just terrible. One kick-ass high note just doesn’t make the rest of a crappy performance okay.
- David. It reminded me of the local high school production of Grease I went to see recently, except the boy who played the lead was a better singer.
- Bobby. Sorry buddy. I like you, and I dig the Copa, but you messed this one up.
Also, does anyone thing Ryan is funnier this year? I loved his comment to Simon Tuesday night, “And I would have worn a T-shirt under that sweater, but that’s just me.” It was also hilarious when he was talking about what a genuine guy Bucky is, and then told him, “Yeah, soon your hair will be spiked.” Good stuff. I also appreciated that he badgered Simon a little about always being negative. He’s right. They do deserve some constructive criticism. Otherwise, how are they supposed to improve?
So, my predictions of who will go tonight: Stevie, Heather, Bobby, and David.
I want Ace. To win! Heh. He is just smokin’ hot to me.
My rankings:
- Ace
- Chris
- Taylor
- Bucky
5-11. All the rest - Sway. Can’t stand him.
Me too. Here’s some more Taylor Hicks for you all: Taylor Hicks on NPR
Please, please let Will and Bobby go home. I totally thought “Wayne Newton” when Bobby was up there, and the world doesn’t need another one.
I like Taylor Hicks the best for his talent and interest, although he needs to calm down on the jerky dancing to not make people uncomfortable.
And I usually agree with Simon and am glad that he tells it like it is, but I didn’t see how Elliott was as great as he thought. I know that sometimes the judges don’t hear accurately (because of the sound in the live performance) and upon later review adjust their opinion; maybe that’s the case here. I didn’t think he was bad, and I like him, just not as one of the best ever?!?
You can see video clips and download mp3s of all three of them, as well as quite a few others (though not everyone) from here.
Going into tonight’s show I wanted to hate Ace so bad, but dammit, the boy brought it. I think I may have actually ovulated during that song. <sigh> I am such a sucker.
And I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by Gedeon, as well. I had no idea before last night that that song actually has a melody. Though it certainly wasn’t the best of the night, I think he did it well and proved that he’s got vocal chops and stage presence, so I’m looking forward to hearing what he’ll bring in future episodes.
Taylor is my favorite, in spite of thinking he didn’t give the best performance last night, which I think was given by Elliot, who also made me swoon in spite of not having a “pretty” face.
Chris was also great, but like others have said, I thought it was too much of a copycat performance and didn’t really show me that he had any originality. But he does have a fantastic voice, there’s no denying that.
My rankings at this point would be:
Taylor
Elliot
Ace
Chris
Gedeon
And all the rest can go home in any order, so long as they all go home before any of the above.
PATRICK HALL
Michael Bolton called. He wants his voice back. You have probably one more opportunity to learn that there is more to performing than making sounds with your mouth. Your eyes are dead, even when you smile. I said last week that the deer in the headlights thing will be your downfall. If you don’t fix that, you’ll be voted out next week.
DAVID RADFORD
Um. Gosh. I feel like one of those bait and switch victims. I came into your store to buy some mellow tones, and what you gave me instead were notes made of stomach acid. You weren’t even a bad Elvis. You were a bad JD Fortune doing a bad Elvis. I mean, c’mon. You’ll still be around, though. You are second only to Will in the hearts of the little girls with cell phones.
BUCKY COVINGTON
Blond Jesus does rock. You actually left me pleasantly surprised. I liked the straining. Straining is meant for songs like that. Still, though, I want you to gather your wits about you and give me a Merle Haggard or Hank Williams, Sr next week. Showing that you have range is one thing, but pretending you’re something you’re not is something else.
WILL MAKAR
I’ll say one thing for you, you’ve got rhythm. It’s like there’s a Taser probe between your left shoulder and the downbeat. And frankly, you sang that song quite well. I’m left to wonder, however, what will happen when you do a piece that spans more than seven notes. You seem to be enjoying yourself, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
JOSE “SWAY” PENALA
With all that preparation, how could you forget your drag? Buh-bye.
CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Musical instruments could be tuned to your voice. I’ve done enough fawning over you, so this time I’m going to share my criticisms of you.
KEVIN COVAIS
You’ll squeak by one more time, but only because they’re not eliminating the bottom three. You make Patrick Hall seem emotive. Not only that, but you can’t sing. You sound like the Crying Cowboy after a missed voice lesson. Pinchable cheeks will get you only so far.
GEDEDON MCKINNEY
Until last night, I never would have dreamed that someone could make Shout plain and boring. It might as well have been Pat Boone singing. Where was the grimmacing? Where was the stage hopping? Where was the arm winding? Haven’t you ever actually seen this song done before?
ELLIOTT YAMIN
I think that your nervousness actually helped your performance. The vibrato hid the fact that your voice isn’t as pure as Stevie’s. You weren’t as good as Simon said, but you were good. It’s just the Lassie jawbone, though. The director is going to have to stop cutting to cameras that are below your eye level.
BOBBY BENNETT
Painful. Just frigging painful. What were they thinking in putting you through?
ACE YOUNG
I swear I don’t get it. What’s so handsome about your matty hair, your greasy face, and your shepherd’s hook posture? And your voice is no better than David’s. You’re just one of those inexplicable aesthetical enigmas — like ceramic yard art, or shredded coconut in a cake’s icing. Dammit, why didn’t you just stay home on audition day?
TAYLOR HICKS
Randy is an idiot. It was a brilliant song choice. If there is an artist in existence who can better tax your vocal range than Elton John, I’d like to know who it is. You performed the song beautifully, and captured its essence despite a tiny mistake in the lyric. (It’s “in tradition with the family plan”, and you reversed those.) I do wish people would stop comparing you to Joe Cocker, though. You really are unique. I hope you make it far.
BEST
Chris Daughtry – Wow! So far the only guy that I would actually pick up the phone for. The only boy who could challenge Paris and the girls at her level.
BIG GAP
Taylor Hicks – Great, but still needs to be on Nashville Star rather than Amertican Idol. I want him to go far, though. But “Levon” shows family values? Have you heard the song?
Elliott “Meth-teeth trophy-head” Yamin – He can sing, but what teenage girl is going to buy a poster of him to put on her bedroom wall. Lookism is a bitch.
Ace Young – Good performance for someone who creeped me out. I also don’t get the appeal of the Bohemian cave-man look. He is, though, who Constantine wanted to be.
SMALLER GAP TO SEPARATE THE GOOD FROM THE NON-OFFENSIVE BUT FORGETTABLE
David Radford – Glad to see you broke out of the crooner genre, but it doesn’t really help if you still croon.
Bucky Covington – Great T-Rex impression, but can you sing something next time? I’d like to hear it.
Patrick Hall – who?
BAD
Will Makar – will probably make it through anyway. Lookism is a bitch.
Gedeon McKinney – I already watched the Steve-Harvey show, and how could you suck the life out of “Shout”?
Kevin Covais – If yu can’t sing, emote. If you can’t emote, sing. You can’t seem to do either.
Jose ‘Sway’ Penala – I’m still trying to get my cat off of the ceiling.
Bobby Bennett – Aaagh – If your grandma wanted you to sing Copacabana during your big break, then she hated you. But you may have a future singing “Mambo No. 5” on a lower end cruise ship.
Overall I would say that the average girl was slightly better than the average guy, but less original. However, my top 5 are 4 girls and 1 guy, so, IMHO, the cream of the crop are mostly female.
Ah I love this thread. (Thanks Lib in particular - I thought of you as soon as I heard Taylor’s song choice 
)
As bad as Sway and Bobby were, I really can’t handle that Kevin kid. I literally had to leave the room until he was finished. I think Simon was dead on, and Simon and Paula are just nuts.
And they would be …? C’mon, I want to hear it! Please?
Great analysis as always, BTW.
Has anyone seen this yet? Becky O’ and her twin did some Maxim spread 2 years ago. Looks like they are no stranger to the spotlight:
Just having watched, here’s my personal list of the guys’ performances, from best to worst:
Elliott
Chris
Taylor
Bucky
David Radford
Will Makar
Patrick Hall
Ace
Kevin Covais
Gedeon
Jose ‘Sway’
Bobby Bennett
I predict Bobby and Gedeon, not Sway, will be leaving.
So I’m seeing Stevie, Heather, Bobby, and Gedeon leaving tonight.
P.S. On re-watching the girls, I concede that Mandisa was better than I remembered and O’Donohue worse. I maintain that Ayla was really good, though.
Uh, also, I’m embarassed to say that until today I always thought the Elton John song was called “Leave On”.
(Always did have trouble parsing that chorus…)
Two comments about Taylor’s “family values” remark:
(1) Damn Bush and company for making expressions like “freedom” and “family values” into dirty words. I think Taylor meant family values in the classic liberal sense.
(2) He doesn’t really understand the Levon lyric.
It’s a play on words:
He shall be Levon --> He shall believe on