Category: Music Page 10 of 18

Connie plays 4 musical instruments and her daughter is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville with a degree in Music Business and once worked for Taylor Swift. She may comment on concerts or reminisce on concerts of old.

Twelve Tenors End Show in Chicago on Sunday, June 3rd

By Connie Wilson

On June 4, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews

Jay McManus of the 12 Tenors and Me

The Twelve Tenors are one of the groups touring the country that were formed by 56-year-old entertainment entrepreneur David King, who was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in July, 2011, for his contributions to the entertainment industry, which consist of approximately 20 touring groups, all of them inspired by King’s 1996 exposure to Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” onstage performance(s). Recognizing that there was a worldwide market for entertainment of this sort, King went on to bet the farm (and all of his wealth) to start Spirit Entertainment and form entertainment juggernauts such as this group of 12 handsome, suited Irish tenors, all of whom introduce themselves as Irish, although some are American-born of Irish stock.

Jay McManus, one of the 12 Tenors, onstage in Chicago (6/3/2012).

The group has a theater in Branson, Missouri, which was struck by a tornado and destroyed in 2012. Dolly Parton has offered the Twelve Tenors a starring role at Dollywood this season. Chatting with me after the show about their involvement were lead dancer and one of the singers, Jay McManus, from Galway Bay, who has been with the troupe for 7 years. McManus definitely worked hard for the money. His dance moves mid-performance were a big crowd-pleaser and made most of the mature audience dizzy just watching, I’m sure.

Rhys Tees, 23, (l), youngest of the 12 Tenors & Tim Oxbrow, 33, the oldest with 7 years with the group.

The troupe also sends its members into the crowd at various points, as they sing opera favorites from “Carmen” and “Turandot,” tributes to Barry Manilow, Frank Sinatra and the Beatles, and traditional Irish favorites like “Oh, Danny Boy” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” In chatting with youngest member of the group Rhys Tees, who is 23 and joined the group in January of 2012, I learned that many of the group have permanent residence(s) in Branson, Missouri, and the age range goes from Rhys, the youngest, who is from London and trained at the Millennia School for the Performing Arts there to oldest-in-the-group 33-year-old Tim Oxbrow, who is single and has been with the group for 7 years.

Riverfront Tent in Chicago, seen from Japonnais Restaurant across the Chicago River.

: The 12 Tenors onstage at RiverFront Tent in Chicago, June 3, Sunday.

And the Winner Is: Phillip Phillips on “American Idol” Season Eleven

By Connie Wilson

On May 24, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

Phillip Philips & Jessica Sanchez.

I didn’t need to stay home to watch “American Idol” live, because I already knew that Phillip Phillips had the fan base to pull out the win. It’s not “fair,” in that his vocal talent was not and is not as great as that of either Jessica Sanchez of third-place finisher Joshua Ledet, but it proves, once again, that the show is primarily a popularity contest. Singing is secondary to likeability. The selection of Scotty McReery last year proves that and it has been proven once again.

The selection of the boy rather than the girl proves the bias towards female singers, also. Yes, there have been some female winners, but they are the exception that proves the rule. It is harder for a girl to win this contest than for a boy; maybe in the Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood years, the men, as competition, weren’t as strong. Whatever the rationale you settle on, there is no doubt that young girls vote (repeatedly, it would seem) for their favorite male singer, and this year, that favorite was Phillip Phillips.

When the Top Three made their visits home, Phillip’s father and his relationship with him were a network’s dream. The pawn shop owner was packing a pistol and Phillip even picked up his favorite stuffed turkey and toted it around the store. In the parade sequence, Phillip seemed genuinely touched, and there could be no doubt that he was overcome with emotion at the finale, as he tried (unsuccessfully) to finish singing his song “Home.” I found it touching and rewound and replayed the finale moment(s) more than once.

I find Phillip charming, too. He reminds me so much of a young Dave Matthews, and we certainly can use a young(er) Dave Matthews on the music scene. He writes songs and plays guitar, and his acknowledgement of his brother-in-law’s contribution to his musical success was another sign of the close-knit family from which he comes.

Not that Jessica Sanchez had a family any less close-knit, but, in writing for www.Wikinut.com, I found the half-Filipino/half-Mexican singer being trashed on that international site. Why was she not being praised? The answer is that she was being criticized by a resident of the Philippines for not being “Filipino” enough! I had previously thought that Jessica’s ethnic background might be a plus for her, initially, but, as it turns out, that vote did not materialize.

Those who say, “Well, it isn’t fair. Jessica is a better singer” have a completely valid point. To them, I say, “Is life always fair?” It certainly hasn’t been to me, of late! Talent in any field is not an entree to success if you have to curry favor and win approval of massive numbers of people to cash in on that talent. In the case of “American Idol,” which I have been following since 2007, it has not escaped my attention that someone the audience “likes” (Scotty, last year), rather than someone who really has the pipes will win every time. Remember Adam Lambert’s year? Does anyone really believe that Chris Allen was a “better” singer than Adam Lambert, who had already been in Broadway productions?

I enjoyed the finale, although I found some of it to be sub-par. The Neil Diamond medley and the Bee Gees medley did not “gel” and someone should tell Chaka Khan not to wear a skin-tight catsuit when backed by young women easily 30 years younger and 30 pounds thinner than she is at this point in her career. Also, the “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” number seemed to consist primarily of screaming and weird faces on the part of Jennifer Holliday, so the less said about that, the better.
As for Aerosmith’s outing as a band: liked it. Can’t help myself, I enjoy watching Steven Tyler dance around. I enjoy watching Mick Jagger dance around. I’m sure I will enjoy watching Phillip Phillips dance around, in years to come.

I predict bright futures for both Jessica Sanchez and, even more so, for Joshua Ledet. I think these fantastic voices will “live well and prosper.” I think that Phillip Phillips will also be one of the Idol winners who will go on to success. He has that “Q” factor that makes you want to root for him, and he seems to know what he wants to sing and who he wants to be as an artist.

One thought I had about 3 programs back is this: Whatever happened to the announcement that Tommy Hilfiger would be dressing the contestants and “advising” them regarding their fashion faux pas, this season? It seems he sank without a trace. Whover put Sklar Laine in her horrible outfit tonight, when she shared the stage with Reba McIntyre, should have their head examined. My God! What a horrific outfit for the poor thing to wear, given her particular figure flaws. Whose Big Bright idea was THAT?

I did think that Tommy Hilfiger’s “advice” seemed to consist primarily of showing the eager contestants a closet full of potential downfalls and letting them select whatever they wanted. That, to me, is not advice. It’s like taking your child to the candy store to instruct them on eating the right foods. None of the contestants seemed to look “better” after Hilfiger’s appearance on the scene. And then, like the Mad Hatter, he simply disappeared. It was weird. He didn’t ever help Jimmy Iovine to dress and look like an adult, nor did he save Randy from the embarassment of wearing a jacket that made him look like he owned a string of ice cream parlors.

The “group” numbers were weak, in general, and Fantasia, Chaka, Jordin, et. al. added little. On the other hand, it was fun watching Phillip sing with an icon and Joshua and Skylar seemed thrilled to be onstage with their idols (Fantasia and Reba, respectively). I also enjoyed the “live” onscreen proposal of Ace (from some long-forgotten season) to former contestant Diana DeGarmo. The comment he made about “taking Broadway” lends some support to the concept that these singers will go on to have careers in music. I know that I, personally, have seen Syesha Mercado and Constantine Maroulis onstage in Chicago in traveling Broadway productions:”Dream Girls” for Syesha and the upcoming Tom Cruise casting as Stacey Jax in the film version of the play is something to ponder.

I noticed Phillip Phillips, during his moments onstage when he was overcome by emotion and stopped singing, trying to spit out confetti that was raining down on the crowd. This confetti looked pretty substantial! It’s no wonder that Phillip gave up on singing the lyrics, given the emotion of the moment and the paper packing his mouth. It didn’t stop the drum major people in the background who kept marching back and forth as Phillip sang about “Home.” I think it was Phillip’s far superior song on the final night of competition that helped him win. Jessica’s song was shrieky and nonmelodic. She had done well up to that point, but song selection was never Jessica’s strong suit during her weeks on the show. She would go from superb, as with her Whitney Houston selections, to really stupid, as with the number she sang in sky-high heels that was her attempt at an “upbeat” number (“Set the night on fire…etc.). That little ditty really didn’t enhance her reputation on the show, and she has Gloria Estefan to thank for that particular miscue.

Phillip, on the other hand, seemed to select just the right song, even if it wasn’t a song any of us had ever heard. He was always interesting to watch and I enjoyed his awkward dance moves. I also thought that Joshua Ledet was the most “compleat” (British spelling) performer of the entire competition. And, for sheer spunky “Let’s get this show on the road” you had Skylar Laine.

Holly Cavanagh got some good moments during the finale, as well she should have. I enjoyed hearing her sing the perennial graduation favorite “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” I did not enjoy revisiting Colton Dixona and DeAndre Brackensick seemed unusually prominent during the men’s group numbers. I actually have forgotten the name of the chubby male singer that made it through primarily because Jennifer Lopez liked him. My spouse did not like Han whatever-his-name-was, the Asian singer, but it was nice to see Elise (Testone) again. This is one of the few “American Idol'” groups that I would potentially pay money to see, as a group. They were that good, in general. I’m still trying to remember the name of the 2 blondes (one with a new short hair-do, I think), because, like all of America, we forget our idols much too quickly.

Jessica Sanchez finishes 2nd on "American Idol."

Hollie Cavanagh Eliminated from “American Idol” on Thursday, May 10th

By Connie Wilson

On May 10, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

Jessica Sanchez

The inevitable occurred tonight on the elimination night of “American Idol.” Hollie Cavanagh, who had been in the bottom three so many times previously, was finally kicked off. Just before the announcement was made, you could see in her eyes that she knew she was being cut from the competition.

The remaining three contestants are Phillip Phillips, Jason Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. The Big Question of this year’s competition is whether it is going to be an All-Male Final Two, as one steady watcher thinks it will be, or if it will be the two strongest voices, Jessica Sanchez and Jason Ledet.

Phillip Phillips has all the teeny boppers on his side, and he is, indeed, charming. His vocals are not as strong as either Joshua’s or Jessica’s, but he is certainly an original, interesting, unique performer, and he seems to resonate with the voting public, much as Scotty did last year with his bass country-and-western vocals.

I don’t honestly have a horse in this race. I could live with any of the three winning, for a variety of reasons. The raw emotion registering on the faces of fellow contestants (especially Joshua) and judges, alike, (Jennifer Lopez) was touching as Hollie sang her final song. She did a great job with the lyric and melody that talked about how there are always other mountains to climb.

Carry on, contestants!

“American Idol” Performance Night of April 18, 2012, with Predictions for April 19, 2012

By Connie Wilson

On April 19, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

'American Idol" on April 18, 2012.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012, Fox, 8 p.m. (ET) Performance night on “American Idol” with just 7 contestants still standing. The four girls and three boys still remaining in the competition sang 2 songs each: one current song from 2010-2012 and one soul song.

Who did well?

The biggest winners, from the standpoint of judges’ reactions, were probably Hollie Cavanagh, Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips.

Who was off their game?

The three that seemed lackluster this night, or simply failed to find favor with the judges or the audience were Colton Dixon, Elise Testone and Jessica Sanchez. Perhaps that Judges’ Save, used to prevent Jessica from getting the axe last week, won’t make any difference.

Most Improved

It should be pointed out that Hollie Cavanagh, who has consistently been in the bottom three, did a good job on Wednesday night with her rendition of Adele’s “Rollin’ in the Deep.” It was a good song choice, and, while her performance was not perfect, it was “very well done,” as Randy admitted. (Steven Tyler declared it “perfect.”) Later, Hollie sang “Son of a Preacher Man” while wearing a short pink dress and Randy said, “Dude, you worked it out,” while Jennifer Lopez said that Hollie “showed a new composure.”

Skylar Laine also did herself proud, singing Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” in a country arrangement, which Jennifer Lopez declared she had never heard before, while adding, “A more perfect song for you does not exist.” Steven Tyler pointed out the voting bloc that loves country, saying, “A lot of people with a drawl will vote.” Randy said: “Dude, you’re so ready.” There are 2 things that one can say consistently about Skylar: 1) she will always give a peppy, spirited rendition where she emotionally connects to the material and (2) she almost always will have on a horrible outfit. Only once has she looked really lovely in a long, flowing gown. The bared arm dress she had on this night was horrid. For her second song, Skylar sang Marin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” causing Steven Tyler to declare her to be “somethin’ else” and “a wild horse that cannot be tamed.”

Floundering:

Colton Dixon sang Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” The judges gave him acceptable comments for his first song and Jimmy Iovine pointed out the teeny-boppers will vote for him (unless they, too, are put off by his apparent narcissism). His second song of the night was an “Earth, Wind & Fire” song, and that is where things started to go downhill for Colton. Steven Tyler dubbed it “a bad song choice” and Randy said, “You sounded good, but it’s not as exciting as we would have liked.” Jimmy Iovine pointed out weeks ago that Colton does not have the pipes of a Joshua or a Jessica; he was right.

Elise Testone also had a rough night. First, she sang “No One” by Alicia Keys wearing an attractive orange dress and with a breeze blowing through her long, blonde extensions. Steven Tyler criticized the song choice, while Jennifer Lopez chose to encourage her to smile more (“When you smile when you sing, your eyes come alive.”) Elise’s second song of the night was Al Green’s “Let’s Get It On” and Steven Tyler commented, “You need to take it up a notch.”

Jessica Sanchez.

The third rockiest performer, in terms of her ability to electrify the audience, was Jessica Sanchez. She opened with “Fallen” by Alicia Keys. While her singing earned raves from the judges, they all noted her apparent remoteness and distance from the material. Later, when she chose to sing “Try A Little Tenderness,” she had on one of the worst outfits of the night. The Jodhpur pants and the overpowering necklace obscured one of the best girls’ bodies in the competition. I fear the Judges’ Save will not matter on Thursday night.

Hanging In There

Phillip Phillips, wearing his trademark gray, sang “You Got It Bad” by Usher and earned a standing ovation from the judges. Steven Tyler said, “With you, we never know what we’re gonna’ get. It was great tonight, great. “ Jennifer Lopez pronounced Phillip’s performance “Sexy” and said, “It shows your versatility.” Randy said, “I smile every week. This year, we have a true artist on the stage.” It does seem that Phillip knows he does best and to his own self is true. His song choices are good; he doesn’t let the constructive criticism throw him or deter him from delivering on his music. He always seems connected with what he sings and is engaging to watch. Phillip’s second song of the night was “In the Midnight Hour.” He came out from behind his guitar and actually danced a dance which Steven Tyler declared “brilliantly awkward.” Phillip is very likeable. He is the one remaining boy in the competition who is handsome, humble, hetero (for the teeny-bopper girls) and sings well. He is also very original. A dark horse (gray, of course).

Joshua Ledet sang “I Believe” by Fantasia and received a standing ovation. Randy declared Joshua, “Truly one of the most gifted singers we have ever had on this show. Love you. Love your voice.” Jennifer Lopez praised Joshua’s commitment to the material he sings, saying, “You leave it all on the floor every time.” Steven Tyler declared, “You could sing the phone book.” For his second number, Joshua did a rousing rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna’ Come.” He displayed more dynamic touches than the other competitors, starting softly, and was praised for “holding back and then letting go.” Joshua sounds a bit like Sam Cooke and looks a bit like Johnny Mathis.

Bottom three?

Elise, Colton and Jessica. Either girl could go home.

Season Shocker on “American Idol” as the 3 Best Singers Are in the Bottom Three

By Connie Wilson

On April 13, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

Thursday, April 12, 2012, Fox, 8 p.m. (ET) Elimination night on “American Idol” was a cliff-hanger not unlike the season that Casey Abrams was saved by the judges. Only, this night, the once-a-season save was used to rescue Jessica Sanchez, who, although being the best singer in the competition (arguably) has no noticeable fan base and isn’t male.

Jessica Sanchez.

Jessica has stood out as one of the most truly talented singers on season eleven of “American Idol” since the beginning of auditions, but, then, so did Pia Toscano, and she was shown the door in a similarly unceremonious fashion last year. The judges didn’t even allow Jessica—who was in the bottom three along with Joshua Ledet and Elise Testone—to perform her entire song before all three of them stormed the stage and declared Jessica to have been “rescued” by the use of the Judges’ save. As Randy Jackson said, “This girl is one of the best singers in America!” He went on to exhort voters to vote for excellence, not just their favorites. Steven Tyler, seeing the bottom three, had said, “We’re gonna’ use our card tonight.” The three who got the fewest votes were Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Elise Testone, who are, arguably, the top three in the entire competition.”

While it wasn’t incorrect to have Phillip Phillips be declared safe, Hollie Cavanagh was the one singer who was expected to finish in the bottom three. After that, Phillip Phillips was a close second, as he had an off night singing an obscure Maroon Five song. I had predicted that a girl would be the third person in the bottom three, and that girl could have been Elise Testone or Skylar Laine.

Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez & Randy Jackson.

As the tension built, Jimmy Iovine was shown repeating his opinion that the bottom three should have been Hollie Cavanagh, Phillip Phillips and Elise Testone.

Jennifer Hudson appeared on Thursday night’s show with Neo, projecting a totally new image. Her short hair and dark black short skirt seemed more reminiscent of some phases of Janet Jackson’s career, with a touch of Rihanna’s short hair-do. Jennifer was introduced as the only “American Idol” alumnus with both a Grammy and an Oscar. She showed off her enviable Weight Watchers’ figure, although her song, delivered while wearing a short, dark leather skirt was forgettable.

Less forgettable was the drama of arguably the 3 best singers in the competition (Joshua, Jessica and Elise) being named the 3 lowest vote-getters. This is the point where I repeat what I said in a previous article: this is a popularity contest. It is not a talent competition, unless the talent resides with one of your “favorites.”

From now on, it’s anybody’s guess who will win. Certainly not necessarily the most talented singer, as we saw tonight. Probably the most popular contestant…the one with the highest “Q” factor. Who is that? Is it Colton Dixon, who seems stuck on himself? Is it Skylar Laine, who sings country songs in a peppy manner? Is it Hollie Cavanagh, who has been off-key the last two performance weeks, but still managed to evade elimination? Is it Nice Guy Phillip Phillips, who seems a younger version of Dave Matthews?

Only time will tell.

April 11, 2012 “American Idol:” Loud with Signs of Trouble for Phillip & Hollie

By Connie Wilson

On April 11, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Television

"American Idol" Judges

Wed., April 11, 2012, Fox, 8 p.m. (ET) Tonight’s “American Idol” performance night, with just 7 remaining contestants, was a lot of “sound and fury, signifying nothing,” to steal from William Faulkner. It was disappointing to hear so few dynamic touches as the contestants sang songs from 2010-2012.

First up was Skylar Laine from Brandon, Mississippi, who sang a Kellie Pickler song with her usual flair. Two comments: Skylar would look better if she wore sleeves and the song was dynamically uninteresting, as it consisted of Skylar singing country as loudly as possible while playing guitar. Judges’ comments were good: “Crazy hot! Crazy good! Just great!”

Second singer was Colton Dixon who sang a Skylar Gray song, “Love the Way You Want It.” Colton was heavy on the fog and whine, as per usual. He played a white baby grand piano while staring soulfully into the camera. The judges liked it, with Steven Tyler even calling him “such a rare talent.” I’m not sure if Colton and Phillip are competing for the girls’ votes, but, if so, the judges were favorable towards Colton.

Elise and Phillip Phillips sang a duet where Elise got to demonstrate how bossy she can be. The song, “Somebody that I Used to Know” earned a “good for you for pickin’ that” from Steven Tyler.

Jessica Sanchez sang Jasmine Sullivan’s “Stuttering” while wearing a patterned jacket with puffy shoulders. The judges said: “You slayed the biggest fish of the night.” (Jennifer Lopez) “We know that you sing like nobody we’ve ever heard before.” (Jennifer Lopez) “You slay it every time.” (Steven Tyler)

Joshua Ledet from Westlake, Louisiana, wore a white jacket that was at least 2 sizes too small while singing “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars. It was a fast, danceable tune, and went over well. Joshua reminded me of Jackie Wilson from the 60s.

Skylar and Colton dueted on “Don’t You Want to Stay Here For A Little While.” I agreed with Randy, who pronounced it “Just okay for me.”

Hollie Cavanagh of McKinney, TX, sang Pink’s “Perfect.” Randy said, “It wasn’t perfect, but you were so much better than you were last week.” Translation: Hollie is in trouble again.

Phillip Phillips’ choice of Maroon 5’s “Give It A Little More” did not find favor with the judges, who pronounced it “underwhelming.” Although Steven Tyler compared Phillip to Steve McQueen and Johnny Cash, he is probably going to be in the bottom 3 this week.

After a power ballad of “Stronger” by Joshua, Jessica and Hollie—3 of the competition’s biggest voices—Jennifer Lopez pronounced this “the season of the big voice.”

Elise finished the night singing Lady Gaga’s “You and I.” The judges liked it, saying, “Elise is back” and calling it “the perfect song” (Randy Jackson).

The 3 lowest this week will probably include Hollie Cavanagh and Phillip Phillips, with either Skylar Laine or Elise Testone as likely targets for third, simply because they are girls. Stay tuned for elimination night tomorrow.

Who Is Most Likely to Win “American Idol”? DeAndre Brackensick Leaves in 8th Place

By Connie Wilson

On April 5, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

Thursday, April 5, 2012, Fox, 8 p.m. (ET) The inevitable happened on “American Idol” on elimination night. High school student DeAndre Brackensick, he of the fly-away Botticelli locks, bit the dust. He had been in the bottom three nearly every week, so his departure as the eighth contestant to leave the show was not unexpected.

Ryan Seacrest, host of "American Idol," at the IHeartRadio show in Las Vegas (9/24/2011).

Neither was the fact that two girls, Elise Testone and Hollie Cavanagh, were in jeopardy. They were also named to the bottom three after “pitchy” performances on Wednesday night. This was predicted by most viewers, me among them. Jennifer Lopez was firmly in DeAndre’s corner, however, staunchly defending his falsetto performances. She admitted that she cast a vote in his favor to retain him when he sang his last song, while the two male judges voted to give him the boot.

The remaining seven contestants, in the approximate order of their potential to win it all are as follows: Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Colton Dixon and Hollie Cavanagh. Some may argue that Joshua is the front-runner, and I would not argue with that observation. Girls are voted off the competition in much higher numbers, since it is primarily young girls who will vote for their favorites repeatedly from home. With that reasoning, Joshua would be the stronger contestant, simply because he is male.

The continuing popularity and consistency of Phillip Phillips is not to be under-estimated. Every week, Phillip stays true to his vision of himself and selects a song that perfectly suits his Dave Matthews-like talents (although I don’t think he has actually delivered any of Dave Matthews’ actual songs, yet, singing, instead, Genesis and other artists). And, although Elise Testone has been up and down, as one of the more seasoned contestants, she can really deliver the goods when she picks the right song, as we saw when she sang “Whole Lotta’ Love.”

After the elimination night of April fifth, I wouldn’t hold out much hope that Hollie Cavanagh has a legitimate chance of making it into the top two. And, for me, I agree with Jimmy Iovine that Colton Dixon doesn’t have the pipes of his competitors. Setting those two aside as contestants who will probably not be around that much longer, the real question becomes, “Will Jessica Sanchez pick her songs as wisely as Joshua Ledet has done?” The answer to that question could become the answer to who is the ultimate winner.

Elimination Night Proves to be Heejun Han’s Swan Song on March 29, 2012

By Connie Wilson

On March 29, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

Thursday, March 29, 2012, Fox, 8 p.m. (ET) Steven Tyler said it best, in dismissing Heejun Han from “American Idol”: “You saw this coming last week. Unfortunately, after talking, we’re going to have to let you go, man.” And so Heejun Han exits “American Idol” in 9^th place.

The rest of the show consisted of “flashbacks” to how the contestants had done on Wednesday night’s performance night with Jimmy Iovine critiquing. Jimmy Iovine’s observations were right in tune with my own. He criticized each performer’s performance as the trios of singers were called to the fore to receive the bad news, and his critiques parallel my own in most cases.

The first set of 3 was Elise, Phillip and Hollie. As I had feared, Hollie was in the lowest three. The second trio, comprised of Colton, Joshua and Heejun, delivered Heejun to his fate; he looked glum and did seem to “see it coming,” as Steven Tyler put it. It’s always best not to get on the wrong side of the judges, and Heejun had done that.

The third set of three, Skylar, DeAndre and Jessica, delivered the only surprise of the night, for me, when Skylar have received fewer votes than the other two. I did criticize her awful outfits, but I thought her singing went well. Perhaps the Hispanic/Filippino vote for Jessica is coalescing? I noticed, with a smile, that the short Skylar couldn’t quite make it onto the elimination stool, so she just stood there beside it. (Why don’t they give these poor kids a chair that they don’t have to perch on?)

I thought that Jimmy’s remark about DeAndre (“I’m sitting right in the middle on Deandre. He needs more experience. If enough people buy into it (his falsetto), he’s okay. Otherwise, he’s in trouble.”) Going forward, I would agree with that assessment. Eric Benet came out in person to congratulate DeAndre on his performance. I had said that Benet’s SONG was not that well-known (when compared to “Whole Lotta’ Love,” which Elise performed) but someone took me to task for not knowing who Eric Benet is. How can any of us not know that he was married to Hallie Berry. He also hasn’t had a really big hit since 2000, so that means that, when Eric was at his hottest, DeAndre was about four years old, since he’s still in high school.

Jimmy also mentioned the crying jag many of the contestants were on Wednesday night, saying, “When you cry, your voice closes.” He gave Colton no props, saying, “I don’t think he sings as well as the other 8 contestants at this point in the show” declaring him to be ‘behind on points.” (Ouch!)

On the other hand, Jimmy Iovine boosted Elise Testone’s stock by saying she was a dark horse and “comin’ on strong.” Of Hollie, Jimmy said, “I don’t believe you win this on technique. You win it on passion.” He also praised Stevie Nicks’ belief in Phillip Phillips saying, “I’ve been around Stevie Nicks for a very long time, and she’s very rarely wrong.” We also had Steven Tyler announcing a new Aerosmith tour, the Global Warming Tour, to kick off June 16^th in Minneapolis.

Nicki Minaj performed a routine for her new release “Starships” that featured her falling out of her bra-like top and sounding like a chipmunk. Her hair was bleached blonde and she had on a dress with a train (a la Jessica Sanchez on Wednesday). She pranced more than dance and announced she’d like to come back as a guest judge. Her performance was almost as noteworthy as her grim, sacrilegious Grammy turn.

Going forward, I would expect the strongest contenders to be (in no particular order) Elise, Joshua, Jessica and Phillip, while the also-rans list, for me, is formed of Skylar, Colton, Deandre and Hollie.

March 28, 2012, on “American Idol:” Who Did Well? Who Will Go Home?

By Connie Wilson

On March 29, 2012

In Music, Reviews, Television

Wednesday, March 28, 2012, Fox, 8 pm (ET) Deandre Brackensick, who sang fifth in tonight’s “American Idol” performance night, sang Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry.” That song could have been used as the theme of tonight’s performances, with several of the remaining 9 contestants tearing up at key moments. [Yes, I know who Eric Benet is, Gentle Reader. That is not the point here. The point is that a song like “Whole Lotta’ Love” by Led Zeppelin (as an example) is going to be much more recognized than “Sometimes I Cry” by the singer best-known for his marriage to Halle Berry, whose biggest hit came 12 years ago.]

First up was Colton Dixon, who selected a LifeHouse song, and, after giving the females in the audience lyrics like, “You’re all I want, you’re all I need. How could it be any better than this?” (which Colton described as his “favorite worship song of all time”) he teared up a bit, to start the evening off. Steven Tyler declared, “You’ve got that star quality,” while Jennifer Lopez gushed, “You’re a performer. You’re amazing” and Randy—who has a genius for stating the obvious—said, “I think I could be looking at a contender for the title.” (Someone should clue Randy in that all the contestants are there because they are “contenders for the title.”)

Skylar Laine from Mississippi followed and selected a Miranda Lambert song. She had on the most horrible outfit I’ve seen this year: a black studded pleather motorcycle jacket with a weird asymmetrical top with a white border that emphasized exactly the areas that a short somewhat stocky performer like Skylar should be seeking to de-emphasize. The earrings for all the girls were so large that a wind might have taken any of them skyward. Jennifer praised Sklar’s “unbridled energy”, while Randy declared, “I loved it. It’s all about telling a story. You are a powerhouse singer.” Skylar’s outfit during her trio was just as bad a choice, but her enthusiastic performances remained typical for the country girl from the Southland.

Hollie Cavanagh probably received the least glowing reviews from the judges after she sang Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel.” She, too, teared up, saying that it was celebrity judge Stevie Nicks’ story of her mother’s recent passing that caused her to lose it. Steven Tyler said, “I just wish you’d have sung a different song. It was just okay for me.” I’m with Steven on this, and Randy pointed out some “pitchy moments” for Hollie. She looked lovely in an all –white dress with a silver necklace collar and her hair down, and the stage effects of fog and snow were equally effective, but it wasn’t Hollie’s best night.

Deandre Brackensick, as mentioned above, sang fifth, and selected an obscure song, despite the fact that Jimmy Iovine and Stevie Nicks pointed out that, “He’s one of the guys in jeopardy here.” Deandre chose to display his impressive falsetto range, but he selected a song (Eric Benet’s “Sometimes I Cry”) that was not that well known. Steven Tyler chose to say, “You gave Prince a run for his money” So beautiful” referencing the high runs in the song, and Jennifer Lopez used the word “Crazy” five times. Randy, in his usual bombastic fashion, said, “That’s who you are. Guess who else is back in the house!” I’d like to see Deandre resurrect some old BeeGees hits if he insists on singing in this high falsetto voice, but nevermind about that for now.

The final singer who did not do it for me tonight (to be followed by the “hits”) was Jessica Sanchez, undeniably one of the most vocally talented of the girls. Her song by Beyonce: meh. Jessica used a set with red doors and wore a dress with a train that was not her most attractive look (plus the de rigeur huge earrings). Although Steven Tyler dubbed the dress “beautiful” and Jennifer Lopez used words like “Beautiful. Gorgeous. Great performance,” for me, Jessica had an “off” night. I’d say that about all of those mentioned above.
So, who really hit the vocal ball out of the park on “American Idol” on March 28^th?

They saved the best for last.

Elise Testone sang Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta’ Love’ and brought the house down. Steven Tyler told her, “You made Robert Plant proud.” Jennifer Lopez proclaimed that it was “some real rock star stuff” and Randy said, “An amazing job. Congrats!” Elise had a bit of an advantage in that she has sung the song with her own band previously. She also had the confidence of knowing that Stevie Nicks thought she was outstanding and said she would hire her right then, if she needed a singer, saying, “I don’t like to sing with just anyone.”

Heejun Han also did a nice job with his choice of the Donnie Hathaway song “I’m Singing This Song for You” and much talk of how he has turned his attitude around. The judges did give him a standing ovation, and Steven Tyler said, “You did it. You turned it around. That was great.” Jennifer Lopez remarked, “You don’t make it this far by mistake.” Randy praised Heejun’s “buttery, beautiful tone,” although noting that “it wasn’t perfect.” Heejun has been in the bottom three more than once, and, last week, he definitely pissed off Steven Tyler. Was his good job tonight enough to keep him from going home? We’ll know tomorrow (Thursday, March 29, 2012).

Two (of the four) best, for me, were Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet.

I happen to be a Johnny Lang fan (“Lie to Me” being my favorite) and have seen him in concert, so I did know his song “Look Out My Window,” and I loved what Phillip did with it. Phillip is always interesting and, as Stevie Nicks remarked, “He’s gorgeous.” That was right after Stevie told Phillip (who asked for her autograph), “You’re going to be a very big star.” Randy said, of Phillip’s performance, “That was a great performance. Amazing. I love you. I love the individuality. Big Props. You got big things in front of you.” To me, Phillip is a young version of Dave Matthews, so the Johnny Lang twist was appreciated.

Joshua Ledet was also “on” tonight, singing Mariah Carey’s “Without You” (Harry Nillson version0 and doing it justice. Randy said, “Dude, I think that was flawless. It was emotional for you.” That comment was in reference to Joshua’s tearing up at the end of the song, which made the fourth contestant of the night (Colton, Hollie, DeAndre and Joshua) and the fifth standing “O” from the judges.

The contestants also formed trios to sing spirited versions of songs by Michael Jackson (Deandre/HeeJun and Joshua), Madonna (Skylar/Jessica and Hollie) and Fleetwood Mac (Colton/Elise and Phillip). These were very enjoyable, and I only wished that Skylar’s sweater didn’t hang below her white jacket, which stuck out and emphasized her generous posterior. The hat wasn’t working for me, either, but she sure is a spunky singer. And, after all, this is a singing competition.
So, who’s going home tomorrow night?

I put Phillip Phillips, Joshua Ledet, Elise Testone as “safe.” Heejun Han was good tonight, but did he do too much damage to his image last week and in prior weeks? Colton has a female fan club, of which I am not a member, so they’ll probably phone it in. Skylar was her usual spirited self, (but had on horrible outfits); Hollie looked beautiful but made a few vocal gaffes. DeAndre did his falsetto schtick, which the judges seemed to love, but did the folks at home? And Jessica was lackluster, but, if she were to show up as the lowest vote getter, I believe the judges would use their once-in-a-season “save” for her.

If I were a betting woman, I’d stick with the two boys who have become regulars in the bottom three (Heejun and DeAndre) and throw in one of the girls who were off their game tonight, which means Hollie first and Jessica second, since her song didn’t receive the enthusiastic reception of some others.

If they kick Elise off after that performance, there is no justice.

Erika Van Pelt Becomes #10 Contestant on Eleventh Season of “American Idol”

By Connie Wilson

On March 22, 2012

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

The elimination round for this week’s “American Idol” turned out as I had predicted: a female contestant would be cut, rather than a male, and one who had selected an obscure song.

There is a definite bias amongst the young people voting. The bias is in favor of the male contestants. Therefore, a weak performance by a Deandre or a Heejun will be forgiven by the screaming teenyboppers, while the female contestant who has done a better job will be given her walking papers.

In my article yesterday, I mentioned that the most obscure songs by girls were sung by Elise and Erika. I had considered the very real possibility that Heejun Han would be kicked off, but his song was entertaining, if not as well sung as those of some others. Heejun has definitely angered judge Steven Tyler, so I wouldn’t count on anyone “saving” him if he continues being picked for the bottom three. Heejun and Deandre seem to end up in the bottom three nearly every week; were I a betting person, I would not bet on either to win, and Jimmy Iovine as much as said this about Heejun on air, which seemed somewhat cruel.
Erika Van Pelt had come out with a brand-new hair-do that I remarked reminded me of Lisa Minnelli. She sang “I Believe in You and Me” and the judges’ remarks were: “Amazing by the end. An unbelievable tone. You sold me.” (Randy) Jennifer praised Erika’s tone and interpretation, telling her that she “makes songs come alive.” Steven Tyler said, “It was perfect. I think you’re great.” Despite these salutes, the judges did not use their one “save” for Erika. My theory is that they’re saving it for a Jessica Sanchez or a Joshua Ledet, should they be in peril.

The elimination of Erika (no relation to Lucy) just proves that the judges don’t carry as much weight in their remarks as the ability of at-home viewers to relate to the contestants’ selections. I’m sure that many will remember how taken with Casey Abrams the judges were last year. He did not prevail, even though a big magazine picked him to win it all. (“People,” if I remember correctly.).

Casey Abrams was in the audience with his parents this night, possibly because Hailey Reinhardt was featured singing her new release. Another singer who delivered an underwhelming performance was Lana DelRay. The best entertainment portions of elimination night were provided by the opening group number (Billy Joel’s “The Longest Time”) and by the appearance of fellow Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry to salute Steven Tyler on his birthday.