American Idol Round of 3: A Horseplayer's Perspective

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Jordin
1.) Sang "Wishing On A Star." I wasn't familiar with the song, but I really enjoyed what she did with it. I don't have anything to compare the arrangement to, but I thought she added a little funkiness into her performance and that is something we don't normally see from her -- that sort of just grooving with the music. As with almost all of her performances, she was vocally impeccable and the song really lent itself to going in many different vocal directions. A great way to kick off the night, with yet another score to reflect it. Score: 9.5

2.) Sang "Works Hard For The Money." I thought going into the performance that this was going to be a great song choice for her. I think that her youth and her lack of stage experience showed a little bit in that she was a little awkward onstage with an upbeat song like that...it seems like at times she doesn't really know what to do with herself while she's singing. The vocal, on the other hand, was once again great and was a great fit for her and she certainly nailed this song. Score: 9.0

3.) Sang "I Who Have Nothing." This was an incredible performance the first time she sang it, and if it were even possible for it to be better this time around, she pulled it off. This might be her best song from this season and she nailed this one just like she did the first time around. She somehow emotes real feeling in a song like that despite her inexperience. This was the song that really really made me fall in love with her officially, and she was incredible again. Score: 10.0

Final Score: 28.5 phone-in votes

Blake
1.) Sang "Roxanne." There was something about him tonight that really bothered me from the beginning to the end -- the intonation and phrasing was all a little bit strange throughout. I didn't find it to be a very solid performance for this stage of the competition and not the kind of performance that he really needs, being sort of on the outside looking in at this point. I thought the song choice was terrible (like because Paula was "not drinking") and it really came off poorly from start to finish. Score: 8.0

2.) Sang "This Love." I guess it's time to come clean and say that while there are weeks when I really still love his performances (read: Bon Jovi week), I'm just pretty much over him at this point. This song was a great fit for him because it doesn't have too many of those quiet, softer spots for him to get creepy but it also has some changes into that upper range which is his forte. A great choice by the producers, and I thought it was much better than his first performance tonight, but still a cut below the better efforts by the other two finalists. Plus, I'm just sick of his smarmy dancing and mugging for the camera and swiping his jacket aside. Score: 8.5

3.) Sang some stupid Robin Thicke song. I didn't enjoy this one very much either, on a personal note, but it wasn't bad per se. I am nervous because I think that his being the only guy left and his sort of inherent "coolness" advantage might keep him around into the finale when his performances don't merit being there when he's up against Jordin and Melinda. This one was another in a long line of performances by him that, I guess, just sound remarkably similar. His freshness and creativity is awesome in a competition like this, but that freshness has gone stagnant because it's the same thing in every performance and in every week. Another passable performance but not one that blew me out of the water by a longshot. Score: 8.0

Final Score: 24.5 phone-in votes

Melinda
1.) Sang "I Believe In You And Me." I thought the song was a little boring and breathy at the beginning and the middle, but the song let her redeem herself in the second half of it. While the judges loved her, I wouldn't even put it in my top five performances by Melinda this season. Of course, goes without saying, that the vocal was incredible even when singing Whitney -- but all in all, I found it to be a bit lacking what I normally love about Melinda. Score: 9.0

2.) Sang "Nutbush City Limits." All there is to say about this performance? It's about time. We've been hearing about the young Tina Turner from the get-go, and we've all seen it ourselves and have just been waiting for her to sing one for us. Positively amazing. That style suits her perfectly and it allows her to have that absolute star quality that she sometimes lacks. Flawless and entertaining all at once. Score: 10.0

3.) Sang "I'm A Woman." I liked this performance the best of hers up until this point. It seemed like she messed up a little bit at the beginning on the second line. She nailed the song again and I enjoyed another round of the sassiness in having the backup singers join her on the stage. It seemed to lack a little bit of the snarl she had the first time around with this performance (which might have been because of the early flub?), but she still came through and delivered a powerhouse performance...though far from her best one. Score: 9.0

Final Score: 28.0 phone-in votes

Interesting...this week we disagree, I think Melinda was head and shoulders above Jordin and Blake tonight. When they asked the judges who should be in the finals, Randy said the two women, Paula didn't commit (duh!), and Simon said Melinda with no preference for the other two. My take:
9) Blake...Roxanne...it wasn't bad but his voice just reminded me that he's not Sting. Sometimes, a performer can take a well-known song and make it their's...he didn't here!
8) Jordin...Wishing on a Star...I like this song but the arrangement did her no favors, nothing wrong with her vocal but the song was...forgettable!
7) Blake...This Love...He seemed more comfortable with this selection but again, nothing that stood out.
6) Blake...When I Get You Alone...this is his genre, he did it well but he simply isn't as good as Jordin and Melinda.
5) Jordin...She Works Hard For The Money...not Donna Summer but vocal was very good, Jordin at times seems a bit unsure during upbeat songs, that was the case here.
4) Melinda...I'm A Woman...sassy and lots of personality, perfect vocal, my only comment would be that her other two were even better.
3) Jordin...I Who Have Nothing...I love this song and Jordin was wonderful with it, I understand what Simon was saying, odd choice for a 17yo but a great performance.
2) Melinda...I Believe In You and Me...Randy always says, don't do the "big voices" like Whitney so he selects this for Melinda, said he wanted to challenge her! Well, he did, and she knocked it out of the park, a performance worthy of being on her first album!
1) Melinda...Nutbush City Limits...I love Tina Turner, one of my very favorite artists...again, a real challenge for anyone...well, anyone except the next American Idol...the performance of the night as Melinda has responded in a big way!
Finals...Melinda and Jordin!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Finals...Melinda and Jordin!

I hope you're right, though as I expounded on in one of my Blake analyses, I think his sort of coolness factor might carry him into the finals.....at the expense of Jordin.

That terrifies me, I want it to be down to the two ladies.

[ArlJim78]

I don't think Blake has a chance. His reign of coolness took him a long way, but this is where he exits.

Melinda was the best tonight by far.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I hope you're right, though as I expounded on in one of my Blake analyses, I think his sort of coolness factor might carry him into the finals.....at the expense of Jordin.

That terrifies me, I want it to be down to the two ladies.

Randy said it tonight and Simon in the past...if it comes down to singing then they will be...you are right of course, Blake has a following but he's a one-trick pony...take away the beat box stuff and he's rather average!

[onebadbeast]

Its A Slam Dunk. Melinda Wins Hands Down. She Is The Favorite And Isnt Favored For Nothing.

[SentToStud]

I guarantee Blake makes the finals.

Every girl in America is going to vote for him.

The two women will split votes to some extent.

I guarantee it.

[Buffymommy]

They are saying on the radio down here that Jordin is going to go home.


Blake should go. But I understand that the women may split the votes.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

They are saying on the radio down here that Jordin is going to go home.


Blake should go. But I understand that the women may split the votes.

I just think that the dynamic of the remaining three dictates that one of the ladies has to go home tonight, and as much as it pains me to say it, it will probably be Jordin.

I think it's clear to anyone without any sort of "OMG BLAKE IS SOOOOOOO CUTEZ!" investment in the competition that he is the weakest of the three remaining. But that sort of angle is very very important to little girls. I'll be crossing my fingers, but hey, if Taylor Hicks can win the whole damn thing, we obviously know that being the best means nothing on that show.