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TV Talk Discussion Group
THEME~~The Mariah Carey Songbook
DISCLAIMER~~ I detest Mariah Carey's vocals with her 20 Octave Range!!!! I object to her ''octave claims'' which I assume includes those gawd awful squeals that only animals can hear.
QUESTION~~ Why are we having DIVA NIGHT on AI? I thought the contestants were to avoid Diva songs such as those of Whitney, Celine, Aretha, Mariah, etc. According to the judges, no one should touch them because they are ''owned'' by these artists. What's going on here? Could it be that Mariah's E=MC2 is out today?!
That being said, good luck to all. My feeling is that only Syesha and possibly Carly may benefit from this seemingly ill conceived week. Unless proven otherwise, my feeling is that the guys will be at a huge disadvantage. Syesha should shine!.
CURTAIN UP!
David Archuleta -''When You Believe'' - I agree with the judges. However, it's the same old, same old. He sings ballads and they tend to all blur together after all these weeks. His vocal is solid but there is nothing new. He doesn't stretch himself. His vocals do not 'move' me. They seem like an assembly line......mass produced.
Randy - can sing anything
Paula - feels he made Mariah proud
Simon - very, very good
Carly Smithson - ''Without You'' - She starts out softly and slowly which is lovely. However, she goes into her power mode, as usual, and over sings it to the point of almost losing control. Again, I'm going to say that Carly needs to 'understand' her voice. She has just ruined a perfect song choice. What a shame. How nice to see the tattoo covered, and she looks pretty in her DRESS. (I'm sounding like Paula......eek)
Randy - lower range weak, second half stronger
Paula - liked the vocal restraint in the beginning
Simon - an OK version
Syesha Mercado - ''Vanishing'' - She's chosen another A/B song (soft/loud). It's lovely and difficult to execute but I'm not thrilled with the louder section. She borders on being shrill. I'd like to hear something 'restrained' from her. Like David A, she's beginning to sound the same each week. I've heard her in better voice than tonight.
Randy - did a good job with a difficult song
Paula - smart song choice, used her voice well
Simon - technically good, poor song choice
Brooke White - ''Hero'' - She's behind the piano so she's more comfortable. Ut oh, the interpretation is a mess. I hate to say it, but she sounds pitchy!!! This is an acoustic version so all mistakes can be heard and Brooke has made several. I don't like this at all.
Randy - appreciated the singer /songwriter look
Paula - she's authentic
Simon - vocally she couldn't carry the song
Kristy Lee Cook -''Forever'' - The song suits her, especially the 'power' sections. Her lower register is very weak but in pitch which is so important. This girl is smart. She has picked yet another song that doesn't over power her. I rather like her vocal and interpretation. She's also improving her stage presence. Unlike Carly, she understands HER voice and knows how to use it.
Randy - she stepped it up
Paula - she's proud of her
Simon - smart but not great
David Cook -''Always Be My Baby'' - He is making the song his own. His vocal runs the gamut of emotions. He begins with restraint and then begins to build to a huge crescendo which he pulls off with such ease. Excellent song choice. Excellent vocal. David brings something quite unique to this competition. He takes chances!!! BRAVO
Randy - most brilliant performance yet
Paula - pretty awesome
Simon - breath of fresh air
Jason Castro - ''I Don't Wanna Cry'' - He certainly likes to 'work' rhythms. While some may say that he sounds too much the same each week, I find him entertaining. I'm really enjoying his 'spin' on this song.
Randy - didn't 'get' it
Paula - confident in his zone
Simon - cool version
COMMENT~~ (LOL) Surprise!! The guys won the evening. Who would have thought??!! Mariah did a decent job in her mentoring role. I enjoyed her tonight. Tomorrow will be another story because she will sing! As for the contestants, I believe that David C was the strongest and Brooke W was the weakest tonight which turned out much better than I had expected!!!
RESULTS~~ Wednesday at 9:00 EDT ~~ Mariah will be singing ''Bye Bye'' from E=MC2.
Okay, first my thoughts, which I wanted to make short but just had to express some things today.
David A.--Very good. He did very well tonight. Did fine on the falsetto too. Note to Songbird: One thing that I noticed was his right hand as he was singing. He had it palm up and out. I was told by a vocal coach once that that was a bad way to hold your hands while singing because it looks like you are asking for money. Was this just my coach or do you teach certain hand positions too?
Carly--Okay, I have two different opinions here. She finally started to sell me. I think she did a wonderful job on the song. She was finally drawing me in as to the way she puts it out there. The facial expressions were nice and as she built up on the song, they were still just right. I thought that she had finally gotten the right look and feel of the song. Then she lost me when she started coming to the end and adding more power. The more power she turned on, the screwier her face got and that was it for me. So I guess I can say that I liked her and I didn't. It didn't surprise me that Simon didn't like it even though he picked it for her. I liked her dress too. Especially the arms.
Syesha--I thought it was very good. I was surprised the judges did. I am not familiar with Mariah's songs but am familiar with the way she sings and it sounded like Syesha was singing the song like Mariah, which I know the judges hate. I would have to hear the original. So if I'm wrong on the way Syesha, sang the song, then I think she did a great job. Even if she did sing it like Mariah, it was done well. Could have been a little smoother on those high power notes, though.
Brooke--She did a good job but seemed strained at times.
Kristy Lee--She sung well tonight but I don't know why it didn't do anything for me. Just like Brooke. Actually most of them.
David C.--That was really good. It was nice to hear a Mariah Carey song that didn't sound like Mariah Carey with all her runs. He really made it his own. Excellent job! I really don't know if David A. was the one to beat tonight.
Jason--It was nice, one of his better performances, but I always get the feeling that he is running out of air. I'm still waiting for something more from him. I don't know what.
COMMENT: Is it just me or is everyone still pretty much the same? A little improvement here or there but other than David C. who seems to take chances, everyone still plays it safe. One thing, sb, you and I felt the exact same way with Carly. I had mine already written up when I read yours. It's those power notes that mess up everyone.
I liked the way Mariah handled the kids and gave them suggestions. The only thing was that her suggestions were the same way she would sing it with runs. Some turned out very good, but some didn't. Anyway, isn't that singing like her then? Still, the judges loved it. I hope this doesn't mean that we are in for a Christina Aquilera week next season! She sings great too but goes all over the place. One bit of information that I had that was wrong was the fact that Mariah was also going to be a judge. That bit of info. came from Paula, herself.
I'm thinking Syesha, Carly and Brooke in the Bottom 3.
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Lil' Davey: I was so hoping he would have sang "Touch My Body", just for pure laughs on my part. Well, he bored me, with yet again, another Up With People ballad. If he ever picks a non-inspirational song my head will explode. I hate that they are so stuck on him that he could basically stand up there and make sheep noises and they would proclaim him the best sheep noise maker ever.
Syesha: Stop making my ears bleed. Please get your b*tchface fakeness off my t.v. NOW. Thank you. That's all.
Carly: I actually prefer her when she's not belting. I just cannot get over how desperate she seems.
Kristy: Ywan....was she even there? I hate Mariah, but I hate countrified Mariah even more. Too twangy for me. She cannot leave fast enough.
Brooke: If Brooke doesn't stop that pouting I'm going to have to drive to California to kick her as*. She was visibly shaking in some parts. That with the tears makes me think she would be much happier in a coffee house than in the music industry.
David C: Thank goodness for the break in power ballad night. I really appreciate that whether he sucks like last week or gives an awesome performance like this week he gives it a lot of thought. Even when he sucks it really is not that bad. Unlike Brooke, his crying actually made me go "Awwwwwwww...", especially with his brother there.
Jason: I think he's as vocally limited as Brooke but I think he picked a better song for his voice and made the arrangement interesting enough to pull it off. I still love him.
David Cook and Jason Castro are the only contestants that keep me interested.
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In the meantime, for those that want a more detailed recap, go to - The Top Seven Perform at http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TV-Show-Blog/American-Idol/American-Idol-Facts/800037643
If you have missed it too, and didn't tape it like I did, or you just want to see a performance over, you can go to see the videos of each contestant with Mariah, their performance and the judges comments - Season 7 Top 7 Performance - Recap at http://mjsbigblog.com/season-7-top-7-performance-recap.htm
If you need any other links, just ask.
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I, too, thought this week would be difficult for the guys. No great fan of mariah but she doesn't make me run away from the radio like Celine.
David A-I dislike him more as each week goes on. Now when he sings, he sounds like he does when he talks, which is breathy and nerdy and oh so annoying.
Carly-hmm. Couldn't figure out which song everyone was talking about preshow, as I thought it was called "can't live" and I far prefer the original Harry Neilson version to Mariah's. Thought it was good that Carly was trying a more understated approach but something was not quite right (confidence?) but didn't like it when she became unrestrained, either. It wasn't terrible, just not what it could be. I do think she is quite talented, but weaving.
Syesha-I liked it. Funny thing is that so did the judeges and to me she sounded more like the Mariah version than anyone else and the judges always say not to sing like the original. Except when they say not to try something new... Even though I liked it, I am still not impressed with her. Good voice, but she is not original.
Brooke-she is just not finding her stride, but I think it is there. I think her comfort/confidence screws her up.
Kristie-Oh, nice job. Except for the few country yodel like notesshe hit. Still not impressed with her either. Not original either, but she has been smart the last three weeks.
David c-oh, look away, the horror. I really really really really do not get the fascination with him. Is he really so on pitch? To me he sounds like gravel with just a few of the edges smoothed. And not in a good way. I have only liked 1 1/2 of his performances. Not counting auditions and Hollywood, cause I can't remember what he sang then. To me, he sounds like the epitome of a stalker when he sings.
Jason-liked it, though there were a couple of weird bits. Not the best singer by a stretch, but he is interesting.
I miss Michael. So wish Brooke and Carly would break out and really hit it just right. Wish even more that David A. would go bye-bye. I can dream, can't I? Y'know if he wins, he'll probably duet with Jordan "she's only seventeen".
Guess I thought Sy was the strongest, but didn't really care. Jason was my fav this week. Zzzzzzzzz.
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Lucky you, Songbird!!
You don't have to deal with me this week as I didn't bother to watch the show. I can't deal with Mariah Carey (can't stand her, her voice, her songs, her face) and her never-ending desire to live The Diva Life. She must not be very bright - if she was, you'd think she's want to screech something other than torch songs and trash from the Hip Hip Gutter of Tired Skank.
I guess there remain millions of fans who match her style! (What's the saying again...oh, I remember....you can take the girl out of the trailer but you can't take the trailer out of the girl...)
Songbird, if you're opinions hold true (and let's hope they do), then maybe I won't have to look at Brooke White next week!
Thanks again as always for your report.
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Hi Songbird! I just fast forwarded through the show as I had to go out this evening, so I avoided the judges this week. I thought Carly sounded great, then I agree she lost control. But I think she looked fantastic. I keep hoping she will have her breakthrough week, but this week was not it.
Kristy Lee - Darn, but this girl keeps surprising me. I thought she was very good and you are right, she does know how to work with her instrument. I think she will be safe this week.
Sayesha - It was good but did not move me as some of her other song choices have done. Just okay for me.
Jason - It was alright. I still am not a fan, but he wasn't offensive to listen to.
Brooke - sounded terrified. My least favorite of any of her performances. It is time for her to go.
David Cook - loved him. But I am a fan, so he can do very little wrong in my book.
David A - My favorite of his in weeks. And he dressed like a kid tonight, which was refreshing.
I voted for Carly - because each week I hear her in the group performances and she sounds great. I know there is a terrific voice in there and, except for a few occasions, she fails to deliver. She is running out of chances, though - I hope she makes it through to next week. I figure my other two favorites, David A and David C are safe, so I cast my votes for Carly.
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