Showing posts with label top 20. Show all posts
Showing posts with label top 20. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Flashback: Nick Pedro's "Fever"

Season 6 featured a host of forgettable guys, especially in the Top 24. But Nick Pedro managed to actually make some noise with his rendition of the overdone "Fever," which has been covered by everyone and their mother. Watch the performance from Top 20 week below:



While the quick cuts to the drummer got a little annoying, Nick's vocals were for the most part on target. As to whether Simon's critiques of his style and charisma were representative of what led to his subsequent elimination the following night, we probably will never know.

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Flashback: Alaina Whitaker's "More Today Than Yesterday"

Season 7 was the season of talented female contestants that stumbled in the semifinals. One of the most notable cases of this trend was Alaina Whitaker's exit during Top 20 after singing The Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" the previous week. Watch the performance below:



While Alaina was compared by many to a young (read: young) Carrie Underwood, her inexperience is surely what got the best of her. That and the fact that she looked way too much like Carrie, and that's never a good thing when you're gunning for the same title she took only a few seasons prior.

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Poll of the week: Lee, Crystal favorite Top 20 semifinalists among respective sexes

Unlike last week, only one of the semifinalists that received the most votes in the most recent edition of IDOL LIVE's poll of the week was one of the two contestants that performed last on his performance night.

Lee DeWyze's 18 votes (25%) were enough to give him bragging rights as the most voted for contestant among IDOL LIVE readers, topping last week's favorite Andrew Garcia, who took in 16 votes (22%). Casey James was relegated to third place with 14 votes (19%).

Among the girls, Crystal Bowersox crushed her competition with 31 votes (36%), placing above Didi Benami's 15 votes (17%) and Siobhan Magnus's 14 votes (16%). As for who's ahead in the overall season vote, Crystal is now leading with 43 votes to Andrew Garcia's 38 votes.

In the latest edition of the poll of the week series, readers are asked of who their favorite male and female Top 16 contestants are. Voting will be open for exactly one week.

Top 10 guys
Lee DeWyze 18 (25%)
Andrew Garcia 16 (22%)
Casey James 14 (19%)
Todrick Hall 0 (0%)
Aaron Kelly 7 (9%)
Alex Lambert 7 (9%)
Michael Lynche 2 (2%)
John Park 2 (2%)
Jermaine Sellers 2 (2%)
Tim Urban 4 (5%)

Total votes: 72

Top 10 girls
Didi Benami 15 (17%)
Crystal Bowersox 31 (36%)
Lacey Brown 4 (4%)
Michelle Delamor 2 (2%)
Katelyn Epperly 3 (3%)
Siobhan Magnus 14 (16%)
Paige Miles 2 (2%)
Lilly Scott 3 (3%)
Katie Stevens 12 (13%)
Haeley Vaughn 0 (0%)

Total votes: 86

Running total for Season 9:
23rd (tie) - Todrick Hall (0 votes)
23rd (tie) - Haeley Vaughn (0 votes)*
21st (tie) - Paige Miles (2 votes)
21st (tie) - Michael Lynche (2 votes)
20th (tie) - Janell Wheeler (2 votes)*
18th (tie) - Joe Munoz (3 votes)*
18th (tie) - Jermaine Sellers (3 vote)*
16th (tie) - Tyler Grady (4 votes)*
16th (tie) - Michelle Delamor (4 votes)*
14th (tie) - Lacey Brown (5 votes)
14th (tie) - Katelyn Epperly (5 votes)
12th (tie) - John Park (6 votes)*
12th (tie) - Ashley Rodriguez (6 votes)*
10th (tie) - Lilly Scott (7 votes)
10th (tie) - Alex Lambert (7 votes)
09th - Tim Urban (8 votes)
08th - Aaron Kelly (14 votes)
07th - Siobhan Magnus (16 votes)
06th - Lee DeWyze (21 votes)
05th - Didi Benami (26 votes)
04th - Casey James (28 votes)
03rd - Katie Stevens (30 votes)
02nd - Andrew Garcia (38 votes)
01st - Crystal Bowersox (43 votes)

*indicates contestant has been eliminated

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IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 20 Results (3/4/10)

Join us tonight as we blog during the necessary Top 20 results show. Is it bad that I'm excited for four more semifinalists to get the ax? Either way, it will be good to have Danny Gokey return to perform his debut single, "My Best Days Are Ahead of Me," during his album release week.

Please feel free to add your two cents throughout the one-hour blogcast, with coverage starting just prior to 8 p.m. ET.



Tonight's blogcast features the music of Brooke White, Daughtry, David Archuleta, Jason Yeager and Nick Mitchell.

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IDOL LIVE predix: Top 20 Results

Things are beginning to become a little more clear now that we're into the second week of live performance episodes for Idol's ninth season. Even though the majority of the latest batch of performances have still been bad, there have been a few surprisingly good showings as well.

This week's picks to leave are a little more clear cut than they were last week. Unless some former fan favorites lose their footings or recent recipients of praise from the judges don't mesh with the voting audience, people won't be left scratching their heads come tomorrow morning. Therefore, I have reasoned that the following four contestants will be departing tonight.

The next two guys to be eliminated are:

>John Park and Todrick Hall

I had John going home last week, but it is finally his time because he just couldn't pick the right song, and because he went in the dreaded (and some would say cursed) second spot, it's pretty a fact that he will be gone. It's not that his performance of John Mayer's "Gravity" was technically bad, but it was just lifeless, so the judges were in fact correct in their assessment of his offering. As for Todrick, he really will suffer from consistently bad critiques and shockingly poor song choices. I mean, c'mon, Tina Turner? Really? No common sense whatever. Todrick's bad attitude is not helping him, and the show's porudcers are probably itching to send him packing due to his growing reputation as a scammer thanks to his Oz the Musical scandal.

The next two girls to be eliminated are:

>Lacey Brown and Paige Miles

Lacey improved over her performance last week, but she's at the point where there aren't really any more expendable contestants. She seems to be skating by, and the fact that she performed third won't help her cause. Paige, on the other hand, will be a semi-shock tonight, as most people will expect Haeley Vaughn to leave. But Haeley has a few things on her side - she's got a great personality and she sang a song that all the little tween voters love. Plus she's young and likeable, so even though she probably delivered the weakest vocal performance, she will kept around for at least one more week. Paige actually did pretty well last night, but she's just not sticking out from her competition. Plus, audiences really don't like it when contestants sing songs originally sung by alums.

Hopefully I'm wrong about Paige. But I hope (and think) I'm right on everyone else this week. After one week of competition, my record is 1-3 in predicting eliminations, so I really need to step it up soon.

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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 10 Girls Perform (3/3/10)

Tonight we blog during the Top 10 female semifinalists' performances, which will have to work hard to be worse than last week's offerings. Considering neither of the girls that went last week were unexpected, tonight should go a little smoother and should feel lighter with less voices needing to be packed in together. Hopefully Crystal will be well enough to perform.

Please feel free to add your input throughout the two-hour blogcast, with coverage starting just prior to 8 p.m. ET.



Tonight's blogcast features the music of Antonella Barba, Carly Smithson, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Kelly Clarkson, LaKisha Jones, Megan Joy and Melinda Doolittle.

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Crystal Bowersox's fate still unknown

After another drama-filled day, it is still not known whether Crystal Bowersox will be healthy enough to perform on tonight's pTop 10 girls performance show. Rumors to both results are running rampant, and Ryan Seacrest literally justd weighed in on the topic:

RyanSeacrest I'm still in a run thru..uncertain. Planning for either way RT @CallofKJ: @RyanSeacrest Any news on Crystal Bowersox? #americanidol 7 minutes ago via UberTwitter
This comes after Ken Warwick sat down with Ryan to talk things over on his radio show this morning, in which he hinted at Crystal most likely not being able to compete and the possible ways to handle the situation:



If Crystal is not well enough to perform, it will be sad, but I don't see any fair outcome but to disqualify her. Hopefully it doesn't come to this.

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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

IDOL LIVE Blog - Top 10 Guys Perform (3/2/10)

Following a surprise switcharoo due to Crystal's complications from diabetes, the Top 10 guys will try to best their collective poor showing one week ago tonight instead of tomorrow night. It will indeed be a challenge, but there are a few signs of talent that could shine through if given the right song choices to demonstrate goo vocals.

Please feel free to add your two cents throughout the two-hour blogcast, with coverage starting just prior to 8 p.m. ET.



Tonight's blogcast features the music of Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson, Danny Gokey, Daughtry, David Cook, Elliott Yamin, Jason Castro, Kris Allen and Taylor Hicks.

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Crystal Bowersox's complications from diabetes force guys to perform tonight

For those of you who were paying attention to all the drama today revolving around the confusion as to whether the guys or girls would be stepping onto the stage tonight due to an illness affecting Crystal Bowersox, it must have been pretty crazy. The illness turned out to be complications from Type I Diabetes, which sent Crystal to the hospital. Below is a snippet from the official press release announcing the swap:

Due to medical issues which would prevent Crystal Bowersox from performing tonight, the 10 male semifinalists will perform this evening, and the 10 female semifinalists will perform tomorrow night.

The 10 remaining guys (Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia, Todrick Hall, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Alex Lambert, Michael Lynche, John Park, Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban) will sing live for America’s vote tonight Tuesday, March 2 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Then, the 10 remaining girls (Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Michelle Delamor, Katelyn Epperly, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Lilly Scott, Katie Stevens and Haeley Vaughn) will perform live tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 3 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).
Hopefully Crystal's complications are nothing too serious so she can return to the stage tomorrow night and compete for a spot in the Top 16.

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Monday, March 1, 2010

Flashback: Alaina Alexander's "Not Ready to Make Nice"

Alaina Alexander was one of the promising female vocalists in the early rounds of Idol's sixth season, but something happened to her during the semifinals that caused her to falter in a big way. After a less than exceptional showing during Top 24 week, Alaina struggled through the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice" in Top 20 week. Re-watch the performance below:



This pitchy performance is ultimately what lost Alaina her shot at making it far in the competition, but she probably never had a great shot out outlasting some of the more powerful vocalists in her season like Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle.

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Flashback: Sundance Head's "Ride Sally"

There were high hopes for Jason "Sundance" Head during Idol's sixth season, as his father was Roy Head, a singer who had a hit in 1965 with "Treat Her Right." During Top 20 week, Sundance took on Wilson Pickett's "Ride Sally." Watch the performance below:



The overwhelmingly positive comments he garnered from the judges were enough to let him coast through to Top 16 week, where he was sent packing. Still, Sundance will be able to tell his son of the experience of a lifetime he had while on the show.

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Monday, December 21, 2009

Flashback: Kady Malloy's "Magic Man"

Kady Malloy was considered by many to be a shoe-in for the Top 12 in Season 7 based on her audition, but unfortunately she fell just shy of her goal. Although she had one of the strongest voices in a technical sense, Simon criticized her for "choosing the wrong songs," including her performance of Heart's "Magic Man" during Top 20 week, which can be viewed below:



Although Kady was able to show off more personality thanks to her sultry rendition of this song, it didn't do her any favors in showcasing her voice. This combined with her choice of "Who Wants to Live Forever" the following week just wasn't enough to catapult her into the finals. Still, Kady should be admired for taking risks with her song selection.

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Monday, August 17, 2009

Flashback: Janay Castine's "Hit 'Em Up Style"

Anyone remember Janay Castine? The 17-year-old made it all the way to Top 16 in Idol's fourth season, but after delivering this performance of Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style" in Top 20 week, it is amazing to think she made it as far as she did. Relive the scariness of the performance below:



Simon was right on the money talking about her facial expressions looking like she was watching a horror movie, as this performance earned her the nickname "bug eyes." Janay's dance moves and awkward facial expressions earned the performance the no. 3 spot on AOL Television's "Top 20 Worst 'American Idol' Performances Ever" countdown in 2008.

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Song choice! Song choice! Song Choice!

Coming off of a fairly predictable week of eliminations, the Top 20 saw itself dwindle by four last night. Two boots were obvious and warranted, one was just warranted, the other was none of the above. If there is a quote to wrap up '70s week it is "Song choice! Song choice! Song choice!"

Jason "Single Dad" Yeager and Alexandrea "Say My Name!" Lushington were the first two go, and it came as no surprise to viewers. Yeager bought himself an extra week only because there were two weaker guys last week, but his forgettable rendition of "Long Train Runnin'" was enough to do him in. Lushington picked a song about leaving, Chicago's "If You Leave me Now," which was probably enough to earn her a ticket back to the dirty south on its own, but coupled with her overall limited camera time and boring delivery Wednesday night, it was all but a guarantee.

Things got more interesting as the night progressed. When Ryan had Kady "Opera Singer" Malloy and Alaina "Carrie Clone" Whitaker join him center stage, 80% of America thought they knew what was coming. In fact, Kady's reaction upon hearing the news of her safety suggested she was among that 80%. But Alaina was shocked. Shocked! Although looking back it is easy to see that "Hopelessly Devoted to You" is not a good Idol song, and Alaina's shaky vocals did not help matters. At 16, she still has a long way to go with her career, whereas Kady has a long way to go in proving she should still be in this competition.

And then there's Robbie "Faux Rawk" Carrico. Although the "Hot Blooded" wannabe rocker was above average last week, the '70s were not as kind to him, and he lost out to Luke "Dawson's Creek" Menard, who miracuously gets a shot at taking on the '80s ("Safety Dance," anyone?).

USAToday.com
's Ken Barnes got it right when he brought up the mind-boggling song choices this week:


I think both Alexandrea and Alaina had potential, but I guess I'm not the only one who passes judgment at least partially based on song choice, because together they went a dismal 0-for-4 in that department.
Apparently the viewing public deserves more credit than it gets. But putting Amanda "Rock 'n Roll Nurse" Overmyer through pretty much negates that.

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