I’m thinking of sending Randy a thesaurus, so he won’t have to say “pitchy” more than twelve times a week.
I’ll totally grant that Randy’s probably just as repetitive, he bestows “best performance of the night!” at least 3 times each week.
The fun of Randy, for me at least, is figuring out which code he’s using.
“You did your thang” You are consistent vocally and a good performer.
“YDYT” I personally can’t stand your style, but the voters disagree obviously. Good job doing that icky thing I don’t like.
“YDYT” Last week I hated you and you made me look bad for all the previous times I’d commented favorably, thanks for returning to form.
I’ll agree that Randy actually gives good criticism once in a while, although he seems the moodiest of the three. I think he gets ‘christmas morning syndrome’ too often, where his expectations are unrealistic and he bashes everyone, then the following week he’s adjusted his expectations downward sufficiently and everyone rocks.
It’s interesting that everyone thinks Paula looks drunk b/c I often respond the same way to music (or just life, sometimes) even though I’m completely sober. But as a teenager my friends’ parents often assumed I was drunk! Little did they know that their own children were into far worse shenanigans than I ever was!
Simon is so on the money, 98% of the time. And his criticisms don’t usually sound personal - he’s just giving them a clue. I think he’s right about Carrie.
These singers need to learn how to create a moment with the music. Instead they’re just showcasing their voices with the music as a vehicle. And Simon calls them on it.
Randy’s been getting on my nerves. That man could use a vocabulary.
My concern about Bo is, if he’s been doing this for so long, why isn’t he already a “hit”? Last night was a dud for me & I’m wondering if his bag of tricks is running empty. Hope not.
That was … me! W00t! (What does that mean, anyway, that “W00t!” thing? Is it Leetspeak or something? I think I am too old to “get” it, but it sure sounds cool.) Thanks for noticing.
Anyway … back on topic. I found last night’s episode painful to watch. The good ones were very very good, and the bad ones were just awful. And then there was Nikko: I can’t figure him out. I think he’s good, but I don’t recognize any of the songs he sings enough to make a valid comparison. “You made it your own” doesn’t really work for me – I want to be able to say, “Oh, the original was much better” or “Dear God, this is the best. cover. ever!” or at the very least “I don’t like this song enough to know whether I like this version or not.”
Constantine continues to impress me, but the SECOND he cracks into Andrew Lloyd Weber, I am jumping off the Love Train. Hopefully if they do a “Show Tunes Night” he will have the sense to pick a Sondheim.
And seriously, what the HELL is up with Paula? I’ve (accidentally) taken Valium and spiked punch together, and I was never that mellow. Christ on a bike, woman! Control yourself!
Yeah, a little better than Paula, as unimpressive a feat as that may be. And if you dig through the dawgs and the thangs, you’ll find a kernel or two of wisdom. You might get annoyed with the term “pitchy”, but when he says it, it’s because it needs saying. In fact I think he doesn’t say it often enough.
Simon is brutally honest. Sometimes he’s more brutal than honest, but it’s rare when I disagree with him.
I sometimes wonder if Simon’s brutality is staged. In season one it may have been just the way he was, but I can’t help but think he’s hamming it up a bit. Certainly his abrasiveness has not hurt the show’s ratings any.
In fact, I couldn’t come up with a better show if I tried. A few amazing singers, thousands of really crappy singers, a Sober Yo Dawg, a Drunken Ho Dawg, and a sarcastic John Cleese wannabe. This show is going to be on forever. 
Really? I’ve always been a “Judge it on its on merits” kind of guy. I consider the fact that I’m not well versed in modern Pop to be somewhat of a blessing while watching this show.
Yeah, but I’m a little weird, I think. It’s kind of the way my mind works: I need to have a reference sample in order to judge “good” or “bad.” At least in situations like this. Good singing is pretty much good singing, but since these singers can’t do originals, my brain puts on blinders or something. Like I said, I’m weird.
I had to agree with Simon about Connie–he is a true pop star type in that he will whore himself out to whatever will get him play. Right now it’s tween girls and they will swoon at the sensitive man performance. I actually did like his voice on this (ditto it being a great song, and he didn’t mess it up).
“Independence Day” does have a whole story to tell so it was hard to listen to it be shortened just to showcase the notes. Save it for later when you can include the whole thing!!
This article says Paula self-identifies as “Syrian-Brazilian-Canadian-American” (move over Tiger Woods 
), but considers her “consciousness” when coming up as with the black community.
You’re not weird. If you are, then I’m weird, too. Which I suppose isn’t entirely out of the question. I also feel that I need to know the song in order to judge whether the singers are doing a good job or not. I also need to know the original to know if the singer just did a good impression of the original or if he/she made it his/her own. Otherwise, I might think it sounds good, but how am I supposed to know if the singer misses a note? I also find that I get a little bored with the performance when I don’t know the song.
Agreed. I think most people are like that. I think I’m the odd one out here, and that’s probably because I’m a trained musician. I tend to hear things in different ways.
I have been wondering the same thing about Paula this season. Is she drunk, on pain killers, or tranquilizers?
All three.
What turned the competition around. In the early boys seperated from girls section, I thought the boys were gonna murderize the girls. No stamina, I guess.
Well said. My scorecard has three guys on the bottom three: Nikko, Scott, and Anthony. I’m calling Scott to go home.
That “well said” was very kind of you. Unless you were being sarcastic, then you’re spot on. Considering I forgot a question mark and a very pivotal word is missing, I mean.
I don’t think she isthat messed up. She and Simon are perfect together. Kind of like a George Burns and Gracie Allen for a new century. I like her more each week.
Ten left. Bottom three based on last night.
Scott – should be gone tonight
Jessica – maybe tonight
Anthony – I like him, but his time is limited too.
Vonzell is on the rise. She has ruled the past two weeks. And she looked great last night.
Constantine gets better each week. I will be very suprised if he’s not in the top four. Maybe the top three or two. And as they said last night. He is not a rocker. Long hair doesn’t make you a rocker. He’s an aging pop star who is hot.
Carrie – I like her a little less than in the begining. Way too much country for me.
Bo – I graduated from High School in 1972. He looks like every lead singer at every dance and prom I attended. Ten years on the road as a “rocker.” Now a contestant on AI. It’s like a musical “Tootsie.”
I said this before, but besides a million bucks, how is being an American Idol going to help this guy. An opening act for Creed? Good voice. But I just do not like anything else about him.
My Revised top 10.
- Anwar
- Nikko
- Nadia
- Constantine
- Vonzell
- Anthony
- Jessica
- Carrie
- Bo
- Scott
Finally watched the tape from last week.
Bo did exactly the same dumb “classic rock” song he does every week. It’s the same as Whipping Wheel and Spinning Post and everything else he’s done. Yawn.
Most of the songs bored me. I like Connie and Nadia. I think I was right when I said Connie would get better and Bo wouldn’t.
Scott or Anthony will go home tonight. Me and Ms. Cricetus will be happy either way.
I should add that my support for Nikko and Anwar is flagging somethin’ considerable. Anwar has been consistently blah. Maybe even good vocally, but lame. Nikko has been just short of dreadful – nasal and wobbly.
Bo’s a good contestant and he’s fun to watch, but I can’t see him as an honest to God, stand in line for concert tickets, go out and buy the CD rock star, either, unless he has some great songs of his own that we don’t know about. This is my first season watching this thing. Have any of the contestants ever sang any original material?
Top for me:
Anwar
Vonzell
Bottom:
Carrie
Scott
Nikko
Anthony
