I absolutely loved Fantasia from the first audition on. I wanted her to win so bad and I was sure she was not going to because her voice was so love it/hate it.
Then, I was shocked, shocked when that country girl won over Bo. He was just soooo much better than her in so many ways.
This year I’d love for Mandisa to win but I’d be happy if Chris or Taylor won. Or Elliot. Would not be surprised if McPheever won. She reminds me of Linda Rondstandt except without all the wild druggin’ with the Governor of California part. She sings very well and is pretty, just not a favorite of mine.
This week it was probably due to all the make-up she had spackled on.
I look at these “themes” as being a challenge for them:
It’s music they’re not familiar with.
If you’re a bona fide singer, you take that piece of music and study it. You listen to the original recording, but you don’t entirely depend upon it. You play around with it – what’s going on in the song? How do you make it yours? (Gah, I’m sounding like Paula, sorry, but she has a point). Chris’s rendition of “I Walk The Line” and most of Anwar’s performances last season are perfect examples. The original artist might’ve sung it one way, but it’s up to you to interpret what YOU think it is. In the case of AI, it ultimately means pulling off a seamless, show-stopping performance that does the original justice.
It’s not easy to do. Not by a long shot. My two best friends in college were both voice majors, and they had to do it all the time in preparation for upcoming concerts. They both crossed into genres other than their “own” countless times.
You could take it a step further to say that such a challenge separates the ordinary singers from the SINGERS. The rank amateurs from the would-be professionals. It’s another way to test their mettle – sure, one might have the raw material, but what can you DO with it?
