This week the kids were inflicted with Motown. Yeah, I know, Idol said they weren't going to strap the kids into themes and then what do they do? Strap them into themes anyhow. Idjuts. My biggest worry for the week's been Scotty because there is just no way you can strong arm a deep and very distinctly country voice into this kind of genre. ~~sighs~~
Seems the kids think that the only Motown artists out there were Marvin, Smokey, Stevie and Martha. At least that's what this week's selections indicate. Guess what kids, there are a WHOLE LOT MORE and look, even some you'll be more familiar with!
As of this posting, only Pia and Thia are on the Losers' Map with 1 state each lost.
The odds were grabbed on March 19th. They usually don't change up too much before show time, unless the odds makers get wind of any spoilers. Usually the page is removed the morning of the performances.
Casey (Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye): OK. This was better than last week, IMHO. However, he's lost his shine with me. You know who he's reminding me of more and more? Taylor Hicks. Ok, yeah, I should be using that example later in James's review, but this particular performance showcases exactly what I'm talking about. Is America ready for another winner like Taylor? Yes, he's entertaining, but is he a winner? Working against him this week is the fact he's in the death spot this time around. There are a few of them this year that can actually survive singing there, and he's one of them. His odds held steady from the previous week at a +550, so Vegas isn't seeing him go any too soon. The Chart and the Maps aren't agreeing with Vegas this week. The Chart has him dead last with a 5-11/B3 rating and the Maps give him a goose egg. He may not go home this week, but you can expect a possible shocker with him sitting in the B3 chairs.
Thia (Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas): Meh. Not bad. I'm glad to see her doing something other than another predictable ballad, like some people we know. This performance did nothing for me because it was mostly chorus and she botched the wording a bit. Why didn't the judges catch that? And judges? PLEASE for God's sake, quit beating us over the head about her age. You don't do it with Lauren or Scotty, don't do it with Thia. Thanks. She does connect a bit better with the audience and the song than some do. *coughs*Pia*coughs*Stefano*coughs* Her odds dropped from last week to a +1400. The Chart has her at 5-11/B3/8th and on the Maps her wins and losses balance to a ZERO. The second singing position did her no favors this week and if she's in the B3, it'll be because she was pretty much forgettable.
Jacob (You're All I Need to Get By by Marvin Gaye): I've seen many complaints online about how Scotty sounds the same all the time but no one seems to call this one out at all. As my good buddy said to me in MSN tonight, "I'm about gospelled out". Seriously, dude needs to just quit and go front a choir for a televangelist already. I'm so sick of this one. Almost as tired of him as I am of Haley, and that's saying alot. Can we please get rid of him? Oh wait, every year there's an AA diva on tour.... I think we're stuck with him for another week. His odds held at a +1200, he had a 1 state win and the Chart put him at 2-5/GREEN/3rd. Now the Charts have been wrong before and the Maps have been closer to accurate. He could be in the B3 anyhow, even though the Charts don't put him there.
Lauren (You Keep Me Hanging On by the Supremes): I loved this performance. The sass, the attitude, playin up to Randy, the little girlish giggle on the end. All of it perfect. Only change I would have suggested was a hip bump on Randy's chair on the way past him. Now THAT would have been some sass. I can't wait to hear the studio version of this one. Her odds held at a +500 this week and I won't be surprised to see them go up a bit more after this performance. The Chart rates her with a 5-11/B3/10th (WTF??) and the Maps only gave her a 1 this week. Oh noes!! This performance was much better than that folks! The only thing I can think is that maybe she got forgotten when we got to the voting stage OR she's splitting the country votes with Scotty. I'm just as guilty on that front as I voted for both of them and James this week. I so need to pick a favorite but I can't seem to this year.
Stefano (Hello by Lionel Richie): Oh no he DID NOT just go there. Styxie hasn't liked you so far and is extremely displeased. Here, lemme show you how to DO this song . Yeah, he slayed it and you didn't make any friends with the Cookie crowd because of this performance. Nope nope. Notice how his eyes stay open and he connects with the fans as well as the song. If you make it through, you can thank Rickey for saving your ass (he really Really REALLY likes you). His odds jumped up to a +2000 after last week's performance (they were a +4000 the week before). The Chart has him at 3-11/GREEN/B3/5th (hedgin their bets again, if they guy has a B3 listing then put him in yellow folks!) and he won 3 states on the Maps.
Haley (You Really Got a Hold on Me by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles): Wow. Um. Hm. It really is kind of a tie as to which one I want gone the most. Unfortunately, not only do we usually have a AA Diva on the tour, but there's usually the leggy blonde performer. Do either deserve to be there? Nope. Her odds in Vegas dropped even farther to a +6600. If I had any money to just burn, I'd put some on her and some on one of the others because I'd clean up if either won. Yeah. The odds are THAT bad. She Charted 5-11/B3/6th and had a 4 state win. Um. Either we were all listening to different programs or I really don't like this girl. Hm. I'd rather listen to her growl one more week than Jacob, though.
Scotty (For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder): Ok. This one made me chuckle, alot, with a *minor squwee*. No it wasn't his strongest, but we couldn't expect a great one this week from him because it was so very far out of his wheel house. It was definitely a very Glen Campbellesque performance for sure (had to check with my old country lovin' hubby for that one). Just goes to show ya, you don't always have to bend the voice to the song, sometimes you need to bend the song to the voice. It's going to be interesting to hear the studio version of it and see if they insisted that the kids stay true to the song like they did in one of the years (I'm thinking it was a song Adam sang.... awesome on stage, horrid recording). His odds went up even farther from last week to a +260. I suspect there will be a slight drop this coming week, but not much of one. He's rated number 1 on the Chart again this week. Solid GREEN all the way. Coupled with a 7 state win, I think we can expect him to be a shoo-in for the tour. Maybe I should insist on tickets to this year's show.
Pia (All in Love is Fair by Stevie Wonder): Last week, I'll give her credit, she tried to pick up the tempo a bit. It wasn't a great selection but she did TRY. This week, she slid right back into the damned ballads again. I suspect this is Celine 2.0, folks, and most of you know how I feel about Celine's songs. The problem with her is that there is a disconnect there. She gets into the song and completely forgets there's an audience there. It's almost like a wall goes up around her. I just can't get into her performances. I'd rather have her forgettable ballads over Gospel-boy and leggy blonde snarling woman any day though. Her odds held at a +500 and she Charted at 2-5/GREEN/4th. On the Maps she had a 2 win/1 loss.
Paul (Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles): No no no! What was that rule again, y'all should know it by now. Say it together with me
"Don't do a song that another Idol has DONE"
Now let me show you how this song was absolutely DONE. You don't compare, so just stop. I had a "Gimme a barf-bag" moment when Jennifer (you've been demoted ma'am) said "Most seasoned performer. You’re the complete package. All you need is a good producer, and there you go." Um. EXCUSE ME?? Do you NOT do your research on these kids? This one's a plant pure and simple. Look up Grand Magnolias. Quite evidentially they HAD a producer at one point and obviously it didn't work out. Duh. I think this year's a conspiracy to have me throw my sneakers at the tv set. His odds dropped to a +1400 and he won only 1 state this week. The Chart lists him at a 5-11/B3/9th. The question now is, did VFTW do enough to keep their poster child in the running with the other 3 they have their eye on?
Naima (Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas): This was actually a good pick for her. Very smart choice. Not sure I'm loving the SYTYCD mash up she did with it because this is supposed to be a singing competition and not a dance contest. Although, they always hit that they're looking for a well-rounded performer, "the whole package". I can't wait to hear what the studio version sounds like. Did they keep the drum interlude? Did they go straight up with it? She was a tad pitchy in a couple places but it wasn't nearly as bad as prior weeks. She won 3 states on the Maps this week and Charted at a 5-11/B3/7th. Her odds you ask? She's bottomed out and Vegas seems to think there isn't a shot in hell for her. If I had $100 to just throw away, I'd toss it on her. Why? Because if I bet on her NOW and she by some form of a miracle actually WINS this thing, I'd make a cool $10,000. Yeah. Her odds are THAT bad.
James (Living for the City by Stevie Wonder): I so didn't want to like this kid. Nope. I said early in the season that this is NOT what I'm looking for this year. That and the Tourret's twitching really puts me on edge. However, something happens when this young man takes the stage. He has to concentrate so much on what he's doing that his body doesn't have a chance to betray his condition as much if at all. Oh. And THIS is how to show up a prior Idol's performance of the same song. Is he squwee-worthy? Not really, but I do have a wonderful time listening to him and would be quite happy if he managed to win this. Ok, yeah, it would be the 4th CM winner in a row, but Adam 2.0's got flavor. Not the unsweetened oatmeal we've had the last couple years. I'll definitely be buying his track yet AGAIN this week. His odds slipped a bit to +600. The Chart rates him a 2-4/GREEN/2nd and he had a 5 state win this week. Scotty's got some competition and I think I found my second pick for the year.
So. Who is in danger this week?
Casey: Sang first on a 2 hour show. Taylor 2.0 is only going to get you so far. Especially when you're up against Adam 2.0.
Thia: She's got a beautiful voice but sang second on a 2 hour show. Beautiful voice but rather unremarkable performance. After some that came after her, one has to ask "Thia who?"
Jacob: His shine is fading. Not everyone wants to be brought to church every week. Seriously, go audition for T.D. Jakes already. kthxbai.
Lauren: Was this too little too late? She was sick last week but sang her face off anyhow and it was just a bit better than this week. Last week was a first spot sing and she won 4 states. This week was a 4th spot sing and only 1 state? Now that I really look at the figures, I have to question if she really has it to win this.
Pia: This one can sing but she's dull as dishwater. I think people are already starting forget her. Ballad after ballad after ballad. UGH. Puh-leez!
Paul: It's rare that plants win this. Will I buy his cd? Yeah. He's got a Rod Stewart sound to his voice that I do appreciate now and again. Do I think he'll win? Not really. I haven't been wowed with him yet and because that he has a cd out already, I expect ALOT from him.
Also to watch for a B3 (although the Maps don't support it, but it could happen)
Stefano: Boring, nasally and no connect. The lights are on, but everyone's out for their Siestas.
Naima: The odds just scream an elimination tonight, even with the decent performance and the 3 state win.
Haley: The odds have her as a second favorite to go this week. She won't deserve it this week because there were others less deserving of the spot on the Tour.
Shocker vote will be if Casey goes home. I suspect that if that happens the save will get used because he'd be a great one to have on tour. If that happens, they may take all 11 on Tour too.
Lauren would be a minor shock.
Weakest links were Pia, Thia and Jacob.
Additional notes:
There's always been a AA Diva and a leggy blonde on tour. Usually a fairly strange performer that people scratch their heads and say "How the hell?" as well as a big voiced balladeer and at least one country artist on tour as well.
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