Kellie Pickler - "I'm The Only One"
Could this girl get any cuter? Seriously, could she? I don't understand how a single person in America could dislike Kellie Pickler. I promise you, if Carrie Underwood had Kellie's personality, her album would sell double the copies. She has a good voice with the potential to be great, and talk about having the "it" factor! She embodies"it". I've personally loved all of her performances (except maybe "Blame It On The Sun", which I admit had me nodding off), despite the few sharp/flat mishaps she's had. This performance of Melissa Etheridge's "I'm The Only One", and even the equally good "Something To Talk About", shows how great she can be when she's on.
Mandisa - "I'm Every Woman"
Mandisa may not be the most marketable candidate for American Idol, but she's definitely got some killer vocals. Watching her initial audition, her performance of Heart's "Never", and even her pitchy but still memorable rendition of Faith Hill's ballad "Cry", there's no doubt Mandisa can blow. I'd even agree with Paula's early assessment that there's a very "Frenchie" feel about her voice. Then of course, there's Simon's response "Forget about Frenchie — she's more like France" — which is the problem with Mandisa. Even with her vocal advantage, she can only go so far when up against people with more marketable looks, which equals bigger fanbase. In this very hot performance of the belting queen Whitney Houston's "I'm Every Woman", Mandisa shows off everything she's got. More performances like this and less of last week's "Don't Worry About A Thing" will keep her in the running for American Idol — that and learning how to sound great even when not full on belting.
Taylor Hicks - "Livin' For The City"
Taylor Hicks brings to this competition what Bo Bice brought to season 4 and Fantasia brought to season 3: showmanship. Taylor possesses this innate skill to make the audience get into any song he's performing, and it's not contrived or mechanical. It's due to true, pure, excitement of his own — about music, and about performing. This performance of "Livin' For The City" proves that. It's not the most vocally challenging, but he most definitely sold the song in a way that none of the other contestants can. Let's just hope he hasn't peaked too soon, and that there's better to come.
Elliott Yamin - "Moody's Mood For Love"
I could listen to Elliott Yamin sing anything all day. He has, arguably, the most listenable voice of any American Idol contestant ever. It's so silky smooth and full of velvety soul that he can tackle classics like Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" or even contemporary songs such as Rascal Flatts' "Bless The Broken Road" and do it effortlessly. As with Mandisa and Taylor, his look isn't the most marketable, but I'm hoping and praying that at least for this guy's sake, America looks past faces and sees Elliott's unmistakable talent. This rendition of "Moody's Mood For Love" proves it. The only way he can remain in the competition when competing against heartthrobs Chris Daughtry, Ace Young, and even the (arguably) adorable Kevin Covais is to blow us away every single week.
Article comments
1 - Musket
Kevin sucks.. i hate him.. he is a real idiot.. so are his fanns
2 - Jackie
I'm less impressed with Ace than you are. I think he has a strong fan base, in a huge part due to his looks and how he plays to the crowd. I think Chris and Taylor will be the last two men standing (as opposed to Boy Kevin) and hopefully we'll see Katharine McGhee holding up for the women. Oh, yeah... I'm sure it will be Kellie Pickler in the last two women, too. Not to be rude (cue Simon), I'm not all that thrilled by Pickler's performances. She makes me laugh when she talks as it's hard to believe anyone in this day and age is that clueless about life beyond the farm. But that, of course, does not an American Idol make. I would have truly loved to see Gedeon in the Top 12 rather than Bucky.
3 - Jackie
Ack. McPhee, not McGhee. Darn those alike names!
4 - Jim
I think your comments are very fair, although I liked Bucky's version of "Thunder Rolls".
Elliott is so nervous, and he doesn't choose songs enough people know. That's better than choosing a song people are sick to death of, but still, he needs to have more confidence. I think Simon's criticisms of his song choice frayed his nerves. That's a shame, because he was so much more confident a few weeks ago than he is now, and he's so much better than quite a few of the people this season. When he goes I don't know if I will bother to watch the rest of the season.
I hope some of you will vote for him this Tuesday, so he can at least make the tour. A lot of the people this season have already done CDs or they have been on Broadway or have relatives in the industries. Elliott doesn't have any of that. I'd like to see him at least make the tour.
5 - Tiger
Paris best performance is by far All I Do. Did you hear her improvise on the lyric?...Im thinking, Im thinking, Im thinking...yeah! I totally disagree with you in that regard. More people will remember All I Do than Midnight Train To Georgia. Her vocal was actually better in All I do also.
Paris is my favorite because she's natuarlly talented unlike McPhee and Pickler. One thing McPhee lacks is the energy. I still get the feeling she's singing for her mother not her. Pickler seems made up to me but that's just my opinion. i.e. she's so happy to see Stevie Wonder she cries; but then she claims she doesn't know him. LOL
Ace could do pop music one day like Paula Abdul, but he's no George Michael.
Chris is my next favorite to Paris; Higher Ground was good but I don't think he got to the point of the song...just my opinoin.
6 - Jimmy
"Kelly Clarkson's intonation"...are you insane. Of all the idols, she has the worst intonation. Live, she is all over the place when it comes to pitch. She even has pitch problem in some spots on her cd! I like Kelly, but Katherine's intonation far surpasses Kelly.
7 - Idolhead Ed
I'll have to say I can't disagree with you much at all except if Ace was supposed to be a ringer, he's already rung. After "Father Figure" I thought he would win. Not now. It looks like he will be this season's Anwar.
Katharine has also had some stage experience which for my money would be a good thing for anyone who tries out for Idol. It just makes the show more enjoyable when you don't have to worry about someone wetting their pants on stage. I agree that Kat's "Until You Come..."was her best and one of the best this season.
8 - guerillabob
will paris quit with all the hugging!!... fantastic little singer but a bit too cutesy..chris doesn't belong in the competition.. he needs to get himself into a recording studio today.. mandisa.. beautiful girl.. and spunky as hoohaa needs to keep her confidence up.. she seems a bit daunted by the big stage..i actually think kevin can sing.. i find myself singing the stuff he sings later on..totally agree with you on taylor hicks performance.. but of all I LOVE ELLIOT!!! THE MOST!!
9 - Mary
I think the best vocalist on the show is the bennett girl, Can't no one on that show come close to that young girl,she has natural talent.As for the men yes Elliott is by far the best male vocalist, but his looks will get him voted off the show because America likes to see pretty things,and good looking people.
10 - guerillabob
well paris does have a slight fantasia's little sister feel... and a fantastic talent.. but mandisa, elliot, chris are my personal top three
11 - guerillabob
paris and taylor.. four and five
12 - noypidbest
Bucky has a unique voice i really like him he just need to pick a song that is suit for him,no matter what win or loose i still like him ,he is so sweet and nice
13 - guerillabob
can anybody just hear simon say "its not a niceness competition"...? hahahaha... but he is adorable... and real.. and what he lacks he makes up for with enthusiasm