American Idol Week 3: A Horseplayer's Perspective

[brianwspencer]

An outwardly mediocre night on Idol, as far as I was concerned. Only one standout performance among the bunch. The bottom dwellers evened the score a bit, and some of the favorites really came up on the short end of the night. If the scores I gave were any indication of my discontent with the night, it should be clear. All were fairly equal, making elimination guesses a crapshoot at best, but none were memorable, save the finale. All of my scoring, outside of my favorite of the night, fell within a single point between 7-5-6.5.

Very uninspiring. I really just don’t feel like our Idol, or even our Idol top 3 should be in this bunch.

Blake
I like him a little bit less after the stupid “dress-up” intro to his song. Singing 311’s All Mixed Up -- the vocal was not as great as what we’ve seen from this one in the last two weeks. Not challenging in any way at all for him. It was a fun performance, but nothing special as far as originality went here.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Sanjaya
Call me bi-polar but after hating him for his “hula dancing” intro, I found that his performance this week was good. Not good in the sense of it actually being any good, but after setting the bar SO low the last two weeks, there was nowhere to go but up. He’s not a mind-blower in any sense. With that said, while it gives me acid reflux to even contemplate, his vocal landed him in the top half of performers tonight (wouldn’t it be ironic if THIS week, the one decent one, sent him home?!)

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Sundance
The vocal was extremely on and off throughout the entire song. I once again, was more focused on the backup singer on the right than I was on Sundance. The vocal pleased me more than the past two weeks when I ragged this one to pieces, but still not inspiring. Will he make it to the top 12? Of course. Will he deserve it? Nope.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Chris R.
I liked the chance to see him sing something different, the sort of song where he couldn’t bounce while singing. His voice certainly failed him a few times throughout, but like Sundance I like him better this week. He's my big question mark. He's capable of being one of the ones, but he hasn't shown it with any consistency, like the rest of the guys. I think he’s moving on as well, for better or worse.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Jared
“Eyebrows” came back again without “the move.” I like the move, because it covers his ugly face, if for a fleeting moment. The song choice confused the heck out of me, but the vocal was above average, if not spectacular.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Brandon
Lots of fun. Not much substance. Right on par for a very average night

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Phil
Reaction written in real-time: Awful. Still awful. Stiiiiiiiill awful. Ok, slightly better. Back to awful. On to slightly better. Thank God. Phil’s problem is that he has no lower register (and I hate that Randy used that word because I mentioned it to my friends watching with me, then felt dejected when Randy said it….because then it just looks like I’m copying. When I move to Chicago, I’ll host an Idol Night and AJ can at least vouch for my prowess! ). He starts every song the same way: terribly because they start in his lower range….which he doesn’t even have. He’ll get through because he’s a nice, decent-looking (according to everyone but me) guy, but he’s going to have to start delivering entire songs, instead of “second-halfs” in order to have a shot at taking this thing.

Final Score: 6.5 phone-in votes

Chris S.
Personality-wise, he is your Idol. Luckily for him he delivered a slightly below-average performance on a night of very average performances. He was the only vocal standout of the night among the eight male finalists. His performance tonight is the only one who could hold a candle to any of the top five females last week. Still needs more, but the best of the bunch on a very disappointing night.

Final Score: 8.5 phone-in votes

[GPK]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

An outwardly mediocre night on Idol, as far as I was concerned. Only one standout performance among the bunch. The bottom dwellers evened the score a bit, and some of the favorites really came up on the short end of the night. If the scores I gave were any indication of my discontent with the night, it should be clear. All were fairly equal, making elimination guesses a crapshoot at best, but none were memorable, save the finale. All of my scoring, outside of my favorite of the night, fell within a single point between 7-5-6.5.

Very uninspiring. I really just don’t feel like our Idol, or even our Idol top 3 should be in this bunch.

Blake
I like him a little bit less after the stupid “dress-up” intro to his song. Singing 311’s All Mixed Up -- the vocal was not as great as what we’ve seen from this one in the last two weeks. Not challenging in any way at all for him. It was a fun performance, but nothing special as far as originality went here.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Sanjaya
Call me bi-polar but after hating him for his “hula dancing” intro, I found that his performance this week was good. Not good in the sense of it actually being any good, but after setting the bar SO low the last two weeks, there was nowhere to go but up. He’s not a mind-blower in any sense. With that said, while it gives me acid reflux to even contemplate, his vocal landed him in the top half of performers tonight (wouldn’t it be ironic if THIS week, the one decent one, sent him home?!)

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Sundance
The vocal was extremely on and off throughout the entire song. I once again, was more focused on the backup singer on the right than I was on Sundance. The vocal pleased me more than the past two weeks when I ragged this one to pieces, but still not inspiring. Will he make it to the top 12? Of course. Will he deserve it? Nope.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Chris R.
I liked the chance to see him sing something different, the sort of song where he couldn’t bounce while singing. His voice certainly failed him a few times throughout, but like Sundance I like him better this week. He's my big question mark. He's capable of being one of the ones, but he hasn't shown it with any consistency, like the rest of the guys. I think he’s moving on as well, for better or worse.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Jared
“Eyebrows” came back again without “the move.” I like the move, because it covers his ugly face, if for a fleeting moment. The song choice confused the heck out of me, but the vocal was above average, if not spectacular.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Brandon
Lots of fun. Not much substance. Right on par for a very average night

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Phil
Reaction written in real-time: Awful. Still awful. Stiiiiiiiill awful. Ok, slightly better. Back to awful. On to slightly better. Thank God. Phil’s problem is that he has no lower register (and I hate that Randy used that word because I mentioned it to my friends watching with me, then felt dejected when Randy said it….because then it just looks like I’m copying. When I move to Chicago, I’ll host an Idol Night and AJ can at least vouch for my prowess! ). He starts every song the same way: terribly because they start in his lower range….which he doesn’t even have. He’ll get through because he’s a nice, decent-looking (according to everyone but me) guy, but he’s going to have to start delivering entire songs, instead of “second-halfs” in order to have a shot at taking this thing.

Final Score: 6.5 phone-in votes

Chris S.
Personality-wise, he is your Idol. Luckily for him he delivered a slightly below-average performance on a night of very average performances. He was the only vocal standout of the night among the eight male finalists. His performance tonight is the only one who could hold a candle to any of the top five females last week. Still needs more, but the best of the bunch on a very disappointing night.

Final Score: 8.5 phone-in votes

*note to self....find Brian a life*

Props to Blake for covering 311
Props to Sligh for being a fat nerd with sideshow bob hair.

The rest...suck

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by GPK

*note to self....find Brian a life*

Your alter ego must have missed last week.

It's not much work really Maybe 30 minutes a night.

ps, IDOL IS MY LYFE!

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Props to Blake for covering 311
Props to Sligh for being a fat nerd with sideshow bob hair.

The rest...suck

you watch that crap PP???


hugely dissapointed

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

An outwardly mediocre night on Idol, as far as I was concerned. Only one standout performance among the bunch. The bottom dwellers evened the score a bit, and some of the favorites really came up on the short end of the night. If the scores I gave were any indication of my discontent with the night, it should be clear. All were fairly equal, making elimination guesses a crapshoot at best, but none were memorable, save the finale. All of my scoring, outside of my favorite of the night, fell within a single point between 7-5-6.5.

Very uninspiring. I really just don’t feel like our Idol, or even our Idol top 3 should be in this bunch.

Blake
I like him a little bit less after the stupid “dress-up” intro to his song. Singing 311’s All Mixed Up -- the vocal was not as great as what we’ve seen from this one in the last two weeks. Not challenging in any way at all for him. It was a fun performance, but nothing special as far as originality went here.

Final Score: 7.5 phone-in votes

Sanjaya
Call me bi-polar but after hating him for his “hula dancing” intro, I found that his performance this week was good. Not good in the sense of it actually being any good, but after setting the bar SO low the last two weeks, there was nowhere to go but up. He’s not a mind-blower in any sense. With that said, while it gives me acid reflux to even contemplate, his vocal landed him in the top half of performers tonight (wouldn’t it be ironic if THIS week, the one decent one, sent him home?!)

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Sundance
The vocal was extremely on and off throughout the entire song. I once again, was more focused on the backup singer on the right than I was on Sundance. The vocal pleased me more than the past two weeks when I ragged this one to pieces, but still not inspiring. Will he make it to the top 12? Of course. Will he deserve it? Nope.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Chris R.
I liked the chance to see him sing something different, the sort of song where he couldn’t bounce while singing. His voice certainly failed him a few times throughout, but like Sundance I like him better this week. He's my big question mark. He's capable of being one of the ones, but he hasn't shown it with any consistency, like the rest of the guys. I think he’s moving on as well, for better or worse.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Jared
“Eyebrows” came back again without “the move.” I like the move, because it covers his ugly face, if for a fleeting moment. The song choice confused the heck out of me, but the vocal was above average, if not spectacular.

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Brandon
Lots of fun. Not much substance. Right on par for a very average night

Final Score: 7.0 phone-in votes

Phil
Reaction written in real-time: Awful. Still awful. Stiiiiiiiill awful. Ok, slightly better. Back to awful. On to slightly better. Thank God. Phil’s problem is that he has no lower register (and I hate that Randy used that word because I mentioned it to my friends watching with me, then felt dejected when Randy said it….because then it just looks like I’m copying. When I move to Chicago, I’ll host an Idol Night and AJ can at least vouch for my prowess! ). He starts every song the same way: terribly because they start in his lower range….which he doesn’t even have. He’ll get through because he’s a nice, decent-looking (according to everyone but me) guy, but he’s going to have to start delivering entire songs, instead of “second-halfs” in order to have a shot at taking this thing.

Final Score: 6.5 phone-in votes

Chris S.
Personality-wise, he is your Idol. Luckily for him he delivered a slightly below-average performance on a night of very average performances. He was the only vocal standout of the night among the eight male finalists. His performance tonight is the only one who could hold a candle to any of the top five females last week. Still needs more, but the best of the bunch on a very disappointing night.

Final Score: 8.5 phone-in votes

I thought Chris S was the only one who deserves to move on...the rest were simply below any of the women! Phil doing that song!!! Terribly arrogant in my opinion! Chris R was OK.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Your alter ego must have missed last week.

It's not much work really Maybe 30 minutes a night.

ps, IDOL IS MY LYFE!

how many season has this crap been on???


I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen one entire episode....bores me to tears.

Originally Posted by GPK

you watch that crap PP???


hugely dissapointed

Yeah I voted for Taylor Hicks 583,119 times last year.

[ArlJim78]

I think you're pretty spot on this week Brian. Yeah it was a little more ho-hum. Glad to see that you're feeling it a little for Chris S. I think he is underrated but real solid and might be one of those that you really see growing during the course of the season. I think with more confidence he might really shine.

Otherwise yeah, not a big separation top to bottom, no home runs I guess.

Not being musically inclined myself, but I do know what you mean about the lower register issue with Phil.

So thats my future, Idol night in Chicago hosted by Bri? You know, if you market this correctly with say an Idol/ponies theme, you might bring in some crossover types like Dell, scavs, mera? perhaps.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Yeah I voted for Taylor Hicks 583,119 times last year.

I ....um...doh....cant......ahh...f*ck it...

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Props to Blake for covering 311
Props to Sligh for being a fat nerd with sideshow bob hair.

The rest...suck

that sums up my review rather concisely.

As Randy would say "Blake keeps it real, dog"

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by GPK

how many season has this crap been on???


I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen one entire episode....bores me to tears.

kev, you've got to get on the bandwagon. this is important stuff here.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

that sums up my review rather concisely.

As Randy would say "Blake keeps it real, dog"

It's interesting, I found nothing to like in Blake's performance, maybe it's just the song choice or maybe it's just me but I thought he was very average.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Yeah I voted for Taylor Hicks 583,119 times last year.

Well that explains the third worst night of my life perfectly.

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

So thats my future, Idol night in Chicago hosted by Bri? You know, if you market this correctly with say an Idol/ponies theme, you might bring in some crossover types like Dell, scavs, mera? perhaps.

Sadly there is no racing on Tuesdays at AP or we'd have post-racing Idol nights. I'm still convinced that there is some way to draw people. Beer is how I get through the bad ones, there's gotta be something there.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

kev, you've got to get on the bandwagon. this is important stuff here.

not in this lifetime...too many other good "proven" artists out there I can listen to...

I so do not belong on this thread....

Originally Posted by somerfrost

It's interesting, I found nothing to like in Blake's performance, maybe it's just the song choice or maybe it's just me but I thought he was very average.

It wasn't a great performance...not even close. BUT he gets props for singing a song he actually listens to. I find it hard to believe a few of those guys listen to some of the songs they sing. For example, Sanjaya should be singing Wham!, Army of Lovers, Elton John, George Michael, Culture Club, or Queen.

Blake is keeping it real...Isn't that right dawg pound? Yeeeeuh!! Yeeeeuh!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

For example, Sanjaya should be singing Wham!, Army of Lovers, Elton John, George Michael, Culture Club, or Queen.

Or Britney Spears.

A hot mess is a hot mess any way you cut it.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

It's interesting, I found nothing to like in Blake's performance, maybe it's just the song choice or maybe it's just me but I thought he was very average.

the performance and vocals, perhaps they were only somewhat ordinary tonight. I just gave extra points for not going with the same tired song/artist choices. He keeps it a little fresher I think with choices like 311 and Jamiroquai

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Or Britney Spears.

A hot mess is a hot mess any way you cut it.

OH man, my nomination for good true line of the night!

[Samarta]

They were all brutal last night....all of them....I think they should make an executive decision and do away with that 6 and 6 crap...in fact, I found it interesting that the judges last night were basically saying that....they felt that only 4 should go on....I just hope that Sanjaya kid goes home.....hell I bet there are some better voices than that on this site....