American Idol Update: Hollywood Week

If you ask me... the American Idol auditions were pretty uneventful this year. It seemed like they were focusing more on the really bad singers and the "just plain goofy" people than they have in the past. I mean... they have always had fun featuring the weirdos... but this year I found myself waiting (and waiting) each night for SOMEBODY (please, somebody!) to come along who actually qualified for the show. You know... the VOCAL competition. It wasn't until about 15 minutes before the end of the show each week that they would show any any "real" singers. At this point... I am really hoping that there were other strong vocalists who made it to Hollywood... and we just haven't seen them yet.

I really like the new judge, Kara DioGuardi. I think that she will actually be able to bring some resemblance of knowledgable, constructive feedback to the competitors. They already have Simon with is abrasive no-nonsense approach... Randy with his vague inconsistent evaluations... and Paula with her... well... what exactly does Paula do? I guess Paula is there to make everybody feel like they are loved and appreciated... right? Kara seems to know her stuff though. It will be interesting to see how that chemistry plays out this season.


So... for tonight's show... I am going to BLOG while I'm watching. So what I write... is my impression of tonight's show... as I am watching it LIVE. You don't have to agree with me... these are just my thoughts

My favorite after the auditions: David Osmond (son of the big brother of the singing group, The Osmonds - Allen) They gave him a rough time during the audition... but I am sure that the expectations are high for this guy. He can deliver though.


So... here we go:

First up....
Lil Rounds - OK... she is yelling. She has a very strong voice... she can style... but she's screaming at us. Now Paula and Kara are giving her a standing Ovation? She must have sounded a lot better in the Kodak theatre.
Dennis Brigham - WOW... deer in the headlights! Very strange performance. (How did he make it to Hollywood?)

Only 2 winners featured this segment? I want to hear the other winners!! what's up with that?

- commercial

Nathaniel Marshall - Ray Boltz - "The Anchor Holds"? Are you kidding me??? WOW! It was a very boring performance. When they asked him what the song meant to him... he said "music has always been his anchor". He said that when his friends deserted him... "He has always had his music.". So did he like totally miss the meaning of the song... or what? Then he said that music just "bursts out of his skin"??? OK... NEXT!
Anoop Desai - Yeah! WOW! Smooth! I like his voice.

Jasmine Murray - Yeah! I liked her a lot! I can't wait to hear her with the band.




Rose Flack - Average. Cool vibe... but very average vocal.

- commercial

Stephen Fowler- Great voice! WOW! One of my favs so far! And he's from NE Ohio!




Jorge Mendez - Strong vocal
Von Smith - He is over-singing. Trying to hard to "sell it". Very strange performance. (That's what Simon said too)
Nick Mitchell (Norman Gentle) - What was he thinking??? He's got one shot at this... and he is doing the whole Norman gag! The boy can sing! What is he doing??? (OK... I can't believe they put him through. We are being set-up. He is probably going to just blow us away when he gets serious and sings.)

- commercial

(Michael Buble sounded great on the intro to this segment...)

Jackie Tohn - Unique. She has a very interesting voice.
Jamar Rogers - He has a nice voice. Not really a stand-out though.

Danny Gokey - WOW! I love the quality of his voice. It's very soulful. Yeah! He can "bring it". I'm a big fan!



I WANT TO HEAR THE OTHER WINNERS!!!

- commercial

Katrina Darrell- Very average singer.
Jeremy Sarver - Nice voice. I was impressed with his first audition.
Jesus Valenzuela - Very "karaoke" sounding.
- commercial

David Ozborne - Nice voice
Erica Wesley - Average singer
Emily Hughes - Why did she change songs??? The coaches loved her with the other song. She can sing though. She'll make it through.

DAVID OSMOND is through to the next round!!! WOOOHOOO!!! I wanted to hear him sing though! From the little I heard him the other night... the kid can sing anything!

So... 104 vocalists go to the next round. Tomorrow... is group day.

Ohhhh... the drama begins.