OK Idol fans! We’re ready for Group 2 on our road to the Top 12. Tonight, there are three contestants with ties to Christian music: Mishovanna Henson, Matt Giraud, and Kris Allen. Plus, Norman/Normund Gentle (aka Nick Mitchell) performs. It promises to be a great night!
Here’s the list of performers:
Megan Corkrey
Kris Allen
Mishovanna Henson
Matt Breitzke
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Jasmine Murray
Kai Kalama
Jesse Langseth
Adam Lambert
Jeanine Vailes
Nick Mitchell (aka Norman – or Normund – Gentle)
Remember, comment as often as you want, be snarky, have fun.
7:58 PM – I’m ready. Although David has the remote. I feel a lot better when I am in control of the remote when I’m watching a show like this. Am I a control freak? Hmmm. No time for a mental analysis right now.
Oh brother. Mark’s pizza commercials.
Who is dressing Ryan these days? He’s gone from cool to weekend soccer dad. Yeesh.
Nick Mitchell is dressed like Nick Mitchell, not Norman Gentle. Hmm. What does that mean? Will he change during the commercials? There’s the first three – Danny, Michael and Alexis.
Wait, the judges are reversed in their seats. Is Simon always in that seat? Ah, it’s the lights.
Advice for the contestants? Paula: “I hope you chose the right song.” Simon: “It’s too late for advice now. They’re seconds away from singing.”
Up first, Jasmine Murray, 17 year old high school student. She has a great voice from what we saw in Hollywood. Let’s see how she does live. She’s singing “Love Song”. Hmm. Is it nerves? Bad song choice? Or do we really get to see a singer’s actual talent when we get more than a 3 second clip? She’s OK. Not great. Bummer. Randy says there were good moments but it was pitchy; trying to make too much out of a song with a simple melody. Kara says she’s commercial but it was all over the place and too low. Paula says she wants to disagree but she can’t, she said Jasmine sang all around it. Simon says he’s disappointed and maybe is a couple of years too early. Jasmine says she thought she did really well and had a great time. That’s what they always says. “I had a great time.” What are they going to say. “Gee, I sucked, don’t vote for me”? Yeah, she didn’t deliver tonight at all.
We’re 0 for 2 so far.
Jeanine Vailes is up after the break. We’ve barely seen her so far – have we seen her at all? I don’t even remember her from the auditions or Hollywood week. She’s singing “This Love” from Maroon 5. Geez, are her shorts short enough? Good grief, she’s terrible. What is up with these singers tonight? It sounds like free drink night at a karaoke bar. Paula says she has great legs. Simon said it was terrible and says they’re all choosing the wrong songs. But he agrees, she has very good legs. Randy agrees, leg-wise. But says that the best part of the song was end, because it was over. Kara is trying to think of things that are pretty about her (Simon says her lips), but the song was so overdone. Jeanine says that because no one had seen her yet, she probably overcompansated. Randy says it would have been better if the was in tune. Yeesh. She doesn’t have a prayer. Enough about her legs. Ryan wants to know if she blew it with that one song? If Paula won’t say it, I will. Yes, she blew it.l She’s going home. Oh boy now she’s whining and pleading like Tatiana. Bye bye, nice to see you for that minute and 20 seconds.
Cassie’s here tonight. Simpson’s commercial on FOX. Cassie says the worst day of her life was the day she found out Bart Simpson’s voice was a woman.
Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell!! Who’s it going to be? Please be Norman …yeah!! Norman in his suitcoat, singing “And I’m Telling You.” He’s the best, I’m sorry. He’s entertaining and let’s be honest. He’s the best singer so far of the night. Simon says he prays he doesn’t go through. Sorry, Simon, but he’s going through. Simon calls it atrocious and horrific black comedy. Norman says, “It takes one to know one Sassy-Pants.” Randy says it wasn’t great singing but it was the most entertaining thing he’s seen. Kara says he does his thing, wears the same shirt, like Simon, and for what it’s worth he’s not a terrible singer. Paula says this is American and singers come in different shapes, likening him to both Olivia Newton John and Jerry Lewis. Errr, alrighty. She says maybe Idol’s not the right stage but there are plenty for him. Ryan says he liked him in a different way than Simon did, and Simon says he can believe that. Oh surprise, another gay innuendo. What is Paula drinking tonight? She can’t speak. Whatever happend, I think Norman really needs to be on the show,even if he sticks around to be Ryan’s sidekick.Allison Iraheta, 16 year old high school student. She’s on American Idol talking about school? Yeesh. Or trying to talk about school. She’s singing “Alone” by Heart. The judges called her a dark horse during the judges mansion episode. Let’s see if she can pull this off. All right! She started a little shaky, but powered it out for the chorus. She’s great. Phew. Cassie says she’s a poser but she has a really good voice. She’s a sassy pants. Randy says she blew it out of the box. Kara says she’s serious, and she doesn’t even know how good she is, but she’s great and just needs to get comfortable on stage. Paula says she could sing the telephone book (another trademark phrase), says she’s the best tonight and likens her to Kelly Clarkson. Simon says she’s the best tonight by a clear mile, says she was so boring talking to Ryan and so great on stage. Simon is very very impressed. I am, too.
Up now Kris Allen, worship leader from Conway, Arkansas. He’s singing “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson. Oh brother. What is up with these horrid song choices? Kris! You don’t even have to sing and I know its the wrong song choice. This guys cute, got a good voice, please be enough to pull out a top spot. OK, so it’s not completely sucky. The end is good as he warmed up. Kara said the back half of the performance was better, but not close enough to what they saw in Hollywood week, this was the wrong song. The audience boos. Paula disagrees with Kara and says he showed his personality and nailed it and was charming. Simon agrees with … PAULA? Wow! That’s a surprise! Simon says Danny is a much better singer but Kris did what they asked and he looks good, the chicks are going to love him, and he’s proud of him and may have put himself back in the running. Randy partly agrees with Simon, and says Kris did it without the guitar. Good. I would like to see him go through.
OK, Megan, show us what you got. She’s singing “Put Your Records On” – good choice! She sounds a little nervous? I expected her to knock this one out. It’s a little weak. She’s cute, though, and she really does have a good voice. But what’s with the cutesy dress? All the needs is a bow in her hair. Weird. Paula says it was the right song, she’s beautiful (“the camera is in love with you”, another Paula-ism). Simon says “You’re a funny little thing, aren’t you?” Says she started out well, but got a little shouty in the end – she interrupts and says “I think I rocked it out”; why do contestants want to interrupt and argue? – but Simon says he’s seen her sing better. Randy loves her smoky jazz voice and she’s “drop dead.” Kara calls her a package artist, she’s pretty and with the right song could be a breakout hit.
So clearly, we’re looking not just for a singer but a marketable product. Which, after all, is what the entertainment industry is all about.
Matt Brietzke – hmm, do you see him as an American Idol? He’s singing “If You Could Only See” by Tonic. He’s singing it well, if a little … hmmm, what am I trying to say? He’s not connecting with me, much like Michael Sarver. Boring. Simon likes him but absolutely hated that song. If he knew he was going to sing it, Simon says he would have talked him out of it because he wanted him to do well. Matt says he appreciates but disagrees. Kiss of death! Argue with Simon! Arrogance! Randy says it was boring. Kara says they all like him but it fell flat. Paula says he has a good voice and it was in key but it didn’t celebrate who they fell in love with. When Simon asks if he still disagrees, and Matt says yes. Even if Simon tried to talk him out of singing it, he would have sung it anyway. Well, there you go. You just wanted to stink tonight, didn’t you?
Jess Langseth is a single mom? I didn’t know that. She has an 8 year old daughter. It’s the season of the single mom, eh? She’s singing “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes. Ohh, this might be good. I really, really like this girl. A lot. I think she has a great voice. Love her on stage. Love her look, love her edge, love it all. Randy says it was OK, but says she should have come out and blown them away. She asks what they mean by “more.” He wants her to stretch herself, not just be cool. She gets it. She’s polite. Kara says it’s her best look, slinky, sexy, had a few issues with notes, but took some chances. Paula finds her captivating, from the first time they met her, says she’s cool and has an identifiable sound and phrasing, and while it wasn’t the most perfect sound she’ll remember her. Simon disagrees with Paula. He says she’s forgettable. And he says it was “too cool for school” and doesn’t think people will vote for her. She says she’s thankful for their feedback.
On the break, Cassie brings up the December 12, 2012 prophecy and the theory that we’re going to be hit by a comet and all of the calendars end. I’m more worried about how I’m going to kill myself after hearing ANOTHER MARK’S PIZZERIA COMMERCIAL. In fact, if you had to identify the typical American Idol viewer just from commercials, you’d think all the did was eat pizza. Local pizza places, Pizza Hut, Dominos. Yeesh.
Kai Kalama. Wait, didn’t Sideshow Bob already compete in season 1? He’s singing “What Becomes Of A Broken Heart”. We haven’t heard him much yet so I don’t know what to expect. Hmm. He hits the notes but I can’t watch him. He’s weirding me out a bit, the way Justin Guarini used to do. Kara really likes him, says it had some pitch issues and the song was a little old fashioned for her. Paula says … honestly, she just strings words together without saying much of anything. Simon says it was old fashioned and corny and something you’d hear at a wedding or hotel and forgettable, and that he’d be a good back up singer. Randy agrees with Simon. I agree with them both.
Mishovanna Henson is an 18 year old student. She made it to Hollywood last year. She’s singing “Drops of by Jupiter” by Train. I like her. She’s missing a couple of the higher notes but the rest is good. But I’m not blown away. Paula says that song wouldn’t have been her choice. Simon says it sums up her, serious and technically good but something left him cold. I understand what he means. Randy says the song is cool, and she can sing anything as long as it’s amazing. This one didn’t show off her voice like he wanted. Kara says she’s put together and needs to loosen up. She’s a good singer but trying to figure where she fits in the music industry. Mishovanna says she can understand where they’re coming from. I like her but not sure if that was enough. She’s the last girl to sing – no one blew me away tonight. Although no one really blew me away, guy or girl. Well, Allison is my pick to go through. I think she was better than Mishovanna.
Let’s see what Adam Lambert does and then predict the three going through! OK, I think he’s adorable, but he has a total musical theater thing going on, and that Cher song he did in Hollywood was almost drag-ish. He’s singing “Satisfaction.” Oh boy. This could be good or bad. I hate when they look at the camera. Good grief, he looks like an Elvis impersonator impersonating Mick Jagger for a musical about rock music. And here’s the thing, I love him,l but I don’t know what to do with him. He sings well, and he’s cute as all get out. But it’s all acty- stagey. Maybe he and Norman Gentle can put together a show! Paula is on her feet, she might faint. Paula – doesn’t have words. Says she’s watching an Adam Lambert concert, and he’s in a league of his own. Err … alrighty. Simon is finding this one difficult. He says parts were brilliant and excruciatingly bad. Yes, I totally agree with Simon. He calls it a love it or hate it performance but he thinks he’ll get through. Randy loved it, says he’s Steven Tyler meets My Chemical Romance meets … Edward Cullen? The vampire? Randy adds that it was manic but the bomb. Kara says his vocal technique and ability is outrageous. I agree, he has great vocals. For me, it’s the stage show that’s just weird.
So after all that, my predictions?
Allison Iraheta, Norman Gentle and Adam Lambert.
Who would I like to see? I’d like Jesse Langseth to go through. And I do think Mishovanna has a great voice. But I think on the girls’ side, Allison outsang them.
For the guys, Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell has to go through. Seriously, it’s the most I’ve been entertained this season. And despite the fact that it’s sometimes delightful and sometimes painful, Adam Lambert can really sing and he outsang the other guys. Although I do wish Kris Allen would be around a bit. I think Matt Breitzke might have gotten through on the Mr. Nice Family Guy story but he’s overshadowed by Lambert and Norman.
So what do you think? Don’t forget to join me tomorrow night for the results show!
MORE AMERICAN IDOL POSTS
American Idol Contestants With Ties to Christian Music – Round 2 & Updates
More on American Idol contestant Danny Gokey and wife Sophia
More American Idol Posts
And if you want more American Idol show recap, visit my Idol blog at NewChristianVoices.com.
Get the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. Just sign up for the RSS feed by going to the “Subscribe” box on the right hand side of this blog and entering your email address. Follow me on Twitter!
Read Previous Post
