Last night the Top 12 guys took the stage on American Idol, and boy was it obvious that they were nervous. There were a few good performances, but most were either boring or all out crappy. The night also saw the return of Simon and Ryan's bickering. Jeez, and so early in the competition. We're not even with the Top 12 yet, and already these two are at each other's throats. It sucks that they fought because I'm concerned that most people will just remember the arguing rather than the actual performances when it comes to voting time.
I'll separate the fellas into three categories, but first a caveat: I unfortunately missed the first two performances so I'll just refer to what I saw from the recap near the end of the show. Yes, I know that the recap footage was taken from the dress rehearsal, but it's the best I can do.
The Good
Chris Sligh: Chris came out and woke everyone up from the coma caused by the previous singer, Sanjaya. I thought he was great and was full of energy, although he did get a little ahead of the beat like Randy and Paula said. I think that Simon is unsure of what to make of Chris. I think that, similar to how he felt about Clay Aiken years ago, Simon knows that the guy can sing, but he sure as hell doesn't fit the American Idol mold. Oh, and methinks that Chris's Il Divo crack stung Simon just a wee bit. Heh heh.
AJ Tabaldo: Like Chris, AJ was energetic and picked a great song to liven up the place. His singing and dancing were both great. He kind of reminds me a little of Mario Vasquez, who left the competition during Season 5 in spite of being a shoo-in to win. I'm pretty sure that AJ will be back with us next week.
The Bad
Phil Stacy: I fell in love with "I Could Not Ask for More" ever since I first heard Clay perform it during Season 2, and Phil's performance just doesn't compare. I think that he was putting his mouth too close to the mic because the first half of the song sounded mumbled. However, he did do well during the chorus, which is what people will remember most.
Brandon Rogers: Brandon was one of the performances I missed, but based on the recap, I'd say that it was good, but as the judges would say, safe and forgettable. This was a common theme among the guys.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DaMama
I disagree about Blake & Phil. I thought they were good. Blake surprised me....he sang much better than I expected. Phil made me cringe at first but brought it home during the chorus.
I think Rudy, Sundance or Chris R. need to go. Sundance was a producers favorite for some reason and will probably stick around a while, even though he's really not that good. Rudy just didn't not do it last night. Chris R. was painful and really should be sent packing.
Chris Sligh is awesome. I agree about the Clay Aiken comparison. Chris may not look like the "American Idol" but he sure has the pipes. Top 4 for sure.
Let's see if the ladies fair any better!
2 - holly
guess I am alone in this, I thought every single guy was off key and/or gave a lackluster performance. I had no desire to listen after a while, I think I went into a mild stupor of shock. The best season ever - I know they have to say that every year, but really, try the worst guys ever.
I know a lot of people apparently like Blake, with all his experience, he should be able to sing, but he did a semi Timberlake bouncy dance and hit not challenging vocals in a ver flat way. I think he did fool people in that he bounced a lot.
Bring on the girls, I want someone to cheer for and I didn't get it last night.
3 - Ty
Sanjaya picked a crappy song, although you can tell he has a great voice. Somehow he needs to pick a good song and not take his sister's advice (After all, she didn't make it, but she is kinda cute though!)
Rudy needs to go now, he stinks. He can take "Sundance" with him.
4 - Tito
They all sucked, a woman will win it this year.
5 - tss
The whole thing about Clay Aiken and Simon is that Clay turned out to be EXACTLY what the producers of AI wanted in an 'IDOL'- looks, charisma, personality, incredible stage presence and of course, TALENT!! No one else who has come out of AI has ALL the attributes that Clay has. No one last night grabbed me from the start like Clay did. Maybe one or two of the guys will improve over the next several weeks but to me: GAME OVER, IDOL FOUND!!
6 - Ty
"#4 " February 21, 2007 @ 14:39PM " Tito [URL]
They all sucked, a woman will win it this year."
Wait till you see the girls tonight. They will be worse than the guys, this competition is the Chris Sligh show. He is the frontrunner.
7 - Kaonashi
DaMama- Actually, I think that we pretty much agree on everything :)
Holly- I think that we agree for the most part as well. Most of the guys played it safe, with coma-inducing ballads and bland songs.
Ty- Did you know that Shymali is a Hooters waitress? I saw a pic of her in the uniform, and yes she does look rather pretty. As for Sanjaya, he definitely picked the wrong song. As I mentioned, a commandment male contestants should learn is, "Thou shalt not sing Stevie Wonder unless you ARE Stevie Wonder."
Tito- The jury's still out on that, but we'll see tonight.
tss- Let me guess...you're a Claymate? I can spot you guys from miles away. To paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi in Return of the Sith, only a Claymate speaks in absolutes ;)
8 - Ihavetodesagree
How can you say that Blake, Nick and Phil were bad. I thought they were the best ones of the night. Even though I did not like song choices. I don't agree that Aj would be put in the great category. For the ugly I agree that Paul, Chris R. and Sundance were completely ugly. For Sanjaya Yes I think his performance was ugly, but how can you say he is ugly. He is just so cute and I love how he smiles all the time. My predicition is Sundance and Rudy or Chris R. are going home.
9 - Kaonashi
Ihavetodesagree- I never said that Sanjaya was ugly in appearance. In fact, I think he's a very pretty boy, with great hair and teeth. I thought however, that his performance was awful.
10 - tss
Kaonashi- you say I am a Claymate like it is a crime or something? What is wrong by being a fan of a great talent? Was Elvis' fans 'bad' people; Billy Joel's? Neil Diamond's? Bruce Springsteen's? The Rollingstone's. Does Beatlemania sound familiar to you??? Or any other performers? Don't YOU like a particular performer more than others? I wouldn't label YOU if you did. Have YOU ever seen Clay perform? One of the best live stage performers around.
DaMama: have you seen Clay lately? He looks incredible. More of an 'idol' than 90 percent of the singers out there. That Ruben was the furthest from looking and singing like an 'idol' of any of the other contestants and knowing Clay received 80 percent of the vote every week (from the very mouth of one of the producers of AI)-and definately the final evening, and that the producers just 'handed' the title to Ruben for the sake of creating controversy has been proven by Clay hundreds of times over the past 5 years. Isn't it amazing that after Season 2 the amount of phone lines increased per performer and the amount of hours allowed to vote did too; just so what happened to Clay wouldn't happen to another contestant??? (Too many people voting and their votes getting jammed in the measly phone system allowed). Ruben's performance that last night was nothing but a boring mess; and America knew it!!! Also, the 'wildcard' night during Season 2 was created to BRING CLAY BACK after the judges really messed up by sending him, and not Ruben, home after the 'group' try-outs. No other season has had a 'wildcard' night. Hmmmmmmm.... food for thought, I say!!
11 - Kaonashi
tss- No, of course it's not a crime to be a Claymate. It's just that many of you tend to be rather...fervent when it comes to defending Clay. And yes, I have seen him perform, when he went on the Season 2 tour. I just wish that you guys wouldn't keep putting Ruben down to bring Clay up. That's old, old news.
12 - trishie
The previous blogger was right. Clay Aiken has the best voice of any other Idol so far and he should have won. He was definitely robbed of the title! When Phil Stacy sang, "I Could Not Ask For More," I shouted at the TV, "He can't be singing a song that Clay Aiken sang...what a mistake." Sorry, but nobody can compare. Call me a Claymate...I'm actually proud to be one. By the way, Chris Sligh cannot compare to Clay. Mr. Aiken was always humble and you don't criticize Simon on National TV. All they had to do to make Clay more attractive is to restyle his hair and replace the glasses with contacts. The features were there. I have no idea how they are going to make Chris good-looking. It will be interesting. That was not a smart move when Chris went off on Simon. I agree with Simon most of the time. He's a very good judge. Maybe he does't have a filter (like Clay has said in the past). Well anyways, it was a dismal group. Lets hope that the ladies are better tonight.
13 - oh.puhlease
TSS- Honey IT IS A CRIME TO BE A CLAYMATE! lol. Haven't you heard it is a cult and a not so subtle one at that?
I used to think Clay was the bomb, I LOVED HIM! His histrionics and scandals ruined me on him and the spell was broken. I now see him for what he is; a mediocre talent who is starting to look disturbingly like Michael Jackson! He just icks me now, I can't believe I loved him once. When the spell is broken for you, you will see what I am talking about. I can't believe you are saying he looks incredible! He looks like a middle aged woman with dentures now. Your idol may be found but the game ain't over baby!
14 - Susanna
Well, last night was a huge disappointment. Brandon should have been better, and Chris Sleigh, whom I thought was funny and good, turned out to be not so great, and not so nice at all. He won't get my vote.
I liked Blake well enough to say he was probably best, Chris R. is too cute and not that bad at all, and A.J. shows promise. Nick was better than they said too.
The rest were close to awful. Sundance should have gone home long ago, Paul was a mess, as was cute Sanjaya, Jared got lost in the shuffle someplace, Rudy was way off last night, and, as you say, Phil chose the wrong song. His beginning was just horrid. I do remember Clay singing that, and he sings circles around Phil.
Ruben, Clay, Chris, and maybe Elliott all sound better to me than this bunch so far.
Girls HAVE to bring it. Maybe, it was just nerves.
15 - whyohwhy
Oh, please, oh.puhlease!!
So you actually believe what tabloids write? Come on now. Wait, I've got a headline you can run out and buy... "Clay Aiken trolls online with Batboy." That might as well be "reported." Because if you believe even a fraction of the drivel the tabloids print, you truly will believe anything.
What ever happened to just letting the guy sing. Good grief!
Now, back to last nights "Idol" wannabes. I do agree with the assessment that Chris Sligh reminds Simon of Clay...and that's gonna hurt his cause. I think overall...this years crop of talent is really lacking...not just because I'm all "idol found-game over," but because most of these people have no charisma and less singing talent. My .02 of course!
16 - jc
at last, someone appreciated aj's performance last night. most of the internet reviews tags him to be going home this week. based on last night's performance, he has the potential and he sang better than most of the early favorites. i hope his lack of screen time during the audition week would not hamper his chances of moving forward. i would sure be sad if he goes home...
17 - Michelle
I agree with the other Clay fans here. Idol found. Game over. There will never be another Clay or another voice as great as his. He has IT. He is IT.
As to the "former fans," I'll bet you also have a bridge you'd like to sell.
If you believe the ridiculous stories about anyone in the tabloids, you need to seriously sharpen your critical thinking skills. Clay and his fans are having a good time these days mocking the tabloid lies. I know, I know. They are such easy targets.
18 - Kaonashi
Hmmm...to be fair, the Kelly Ripa incident happened on national TV, in front of millions of people. That wasn't a tabloid thing.
19 - jackback
Kelly Ripa can't take a joke. What made it into an incident is her vitriolic ranting about it. That was really ugly. She needs to get over herself.
I thought the guys were all too nervous last night. Sundance is not delivering on the potential he displayed in his audition. Chris Sligh can sing but his personality so far is not very likable. I think he's trying to be funny but it isn't working.
Sanjaya is young and cute, he may hang in there on that alone, and a better song choice next time.
Blake was the clear front runner this time.
20 - oh.puhlease
Bingo...the Ripa thing was on National TV and I saw the way he treated her with my own eyes. That aside I don't believe the scandals because they were in the tabloids, I believe them because I know people who have been around him for years and they told me they were true. Clay hooks up with guys on line and he is gay. He used to be some what of a role model to me, NOT any more. He is lost and is desperately trying to find peace, hence the constant makeovers, new teeth etc. never seeming to really accept himself for who he is. All of that "love yourself for who you are" stuff was a ruse. He is changing him self constantly. If he was so happy with himself, why his constant pursuit of perfection? Why not leave your self alone and embrace who you really are? I am not talking about a hair cut or color, I am talking about how he said he wasn't going to go Hollywood and he buys the biggest freaking mansion of any idol contestant…. he is ALWAYS trying to look cool. I liked the geek myself thank you very much.
Anyway, I know those stories are fact, not fiction. Not because of the tabloids but because of connections. What I find shocking is that there are so many fans who DON'T believe them. As I said, his behavior is so clear for those who have the eyes to see. Panic attacks, Paxil, constant changing of his appearance, refusal to answer a simple question by Larry King and others just to put the stories to rest (and don't give me the he knows people will believe what they want to crap, MANY others have taken matters into their hands and addressed these types of rumors when they have gotten out of hand the way Clay's rumors have, Kenny Chesney, Jake Gillanhall, Oprah, the list goes on. Not Clay, he just uses innuendo and clever verbiage) If all of that wasn’t enough add to it the constant secrecy surrounding him all the time, the middle of the night blogs, the NEVER EVER HAVING A GIRL FRIEND AT 28 YEARS OLD...the signs are endless. If you guys think he is innocent of all of this, I have a bridge I could sell you! So there. Tootles.
21 - Jan
Kaonashi,
I have to agree with you about "I Could Not Ask For More. Phil's beginning (for lack of a better word)
was HORRIBLE! hehe Clay did tend to hit every song out of the ball park and it makes all subsequest performances pale in comparison.
I like Chris Sligh but I think he made a huge mistake with his Il Divo remark. I'm sure he thought he was being funny. Simon was already red with anger from his confrontation with Ryan. You can't joke with anyone when they're angry, especially Simon.
Kaonashi, The Kelly Ripa thing did happen on national TV, but KR blew it all out of proportion,
especially after youtubes surfaced showing Simon doing the same thing to her after scratching and picking his nose. Yuck! Regis made fun of Kelly by putting his hand over Caroline Rhea's mouth when she was cohosting. Youtubes show Kelly doing
it countless times. It's not tasteless when she does it??
Oh Puleeze, Oh Puleeze is a good name for you.. do you expect anyone to believe you were ever a Clay fan? You are so negative! As for your sources, I'll believe you have them when you name them! Name your sources, I dare you! It's as easy to lie on the internet as it is to give a fake name, Oh Puleeze. The tabloids do it all the time. Name your sources or give it a rest?
Who are you a fan of, anyway?
Clay answered that question hundreds of times and he just got tired of being asked. I can show you
if you need actual proof. I have the proof, I have the truth.
Back to the subject, American Idol. I thought Blake did a good job. No one was as good as I expected. That was probably from nerves.
I'm very interested in seeing who'll be left standing Thursday night.
Kaonashi, I've mentioned before that I enjoyed Spirited Away. No Face was not the nicest entity. :)
I really like the Japanese version.
I saw that one before the English version was released. Great film!
The girls are starting to sing now. This is going to be fun.
22 - Jan
Oh Oh Clay's at it again. :)
Check out this youtube;
Some of the girls are sounding promising. Simon still sounds like a bully.
23 - Doug
Am I the only one that thinks that Chris Richardson is the identical twin of actor Bradley Cooper?
24 - Kaonashi
Jan- where did you see a You Tube video of Simon picking his nose and touching Kelly's face? Do you have a link? I'd like to see this. Oh yeah, and I know that NoFace wasn't the nicest creature in "Spirited Away", but he's so cute before he turns into a monster :) I also watched the Japanese version of this film...when I lived in Japan for a while.
Doug- Good call on Chris Richardson looking like Bradley Cooper! I don't know this actor, but they definitely look alike except for the hair.
25 - tss
Kaonashi: I have seen the video of Simon putting his LEFT hand over Kelly's mouth,too. Many have seen it. It was posted on a Clay fanboard two days after the Ripacrite incident. There was a montage of Regis doing the same thing to Kelly and Kelly (and I saw this show live a couple of years ago) putting both of her mitts into her mouth up to her wrists, licking every finger and then SCHMEREING both hands all over Regis' face- YUCK BIG TIME! I almost blew my breakfast!! Even some magazine shows showed the same footage on tv several times: Access Hollywood, Extra, E!, etc. After that Friday show with Clay the percentage of people who watched that show were about 90 percent for Clay and 10 for Kelly. After she went on that tirade on Monday's show the percentage for Kelly was even lower (this is from comments on Regis and Kelly's own website put up for the show). One thing you have to understand: Claymates don't lie and don't exaggerate. We have no reason to! The Clay haters are the ones who feel they have to make up stories and stretch the truth. Very pathetic to many people. Why can't we just let celebs do their thing as long as it doesn't HURT anyone and why can't people like who they want to like?