S13.E32: 6 Finalists Perform

[BogoGog24]

I think no matter if Caleb wins or not, after the show he will form a band. He had one back home that he played with for a few years and I think recorded an album with. He'll either do the Daughtry thing, or he might go to Vegas and do a show there or a Rock of Ages type of thing. Doesn't Taylor Hicks pretty much make all his money playing Vegas shows? That's what I picture Caleb doing. That being said, he's sung a good handful of current songs on the show such as Edge of Glory, Undo It from last night, Skyfall, and Pressure and Time. All modern songs. There must be plenty of people out there, myself included, who enjoy his classic rock sound if he's never been in the bottom before. If he came out with a throwback classic rock album, I'd definitely go out and buy it. As long as there is an audience willing to buy your music, it doesn't really matter if it's current or not. 

[ari333]

Jena-not-Jenna ... OMG I hope and pray that she is the "shock boot."  It would almost make watching this entire season worthwhile.

 

THIS. I can't stand her second-coming-of-Cher marble mouth and only Cher can do marble mouth and get away with it awesomely, imo. Whoever mentioned Jeh-na trying to be  a 4 Non Blondes wanna-be was on the nose. I also wonder if she's trying to go Lorde on some arrangements/affectations.

 

Oh the affectation. HCJ nailed it during her audition and it's only gotten worse. Holy Mother. JUST. MAKE. IT. STOP. 

[ItsHelloPattiagain]

I've be totally shocked (and probably do a little dance of glee, sorry-no-not-really-sorry) if JenaNotGina got booted. They have been pushing her and pimping her and practically corralling to vote for her and of course the whole Demi Lovato push last week is most likely going to carry her through. And so soooorrrry but JenaNotGina is NO Cher. My boss's niece was on The Voice recently so I watched multiple episodes recently and she seems like she would be a better fit on that show (not to mention she would not be on my screen)

 

Caleb will get picked up by SOMEBODY no matter if he gets the boot or not. He has a pretty out there personality (whether he annoys you or not and honestly he cracks me up) and I could see him doing Broadway Across America (BTW Taylor Hick did Hairspray for a while as well as doing other shows). Also Adam Lambert has done quite well with his sparkling personality and over the top vocal theatrics. 

 

IMHO if an Idol contestant can make a decent living as a performer/musician after Idol, then he/she is a success in my book. They don't have to have the biggest CD sales ala Kelly/Carrie/PP2 but I'm sure they would rather be singing than working at a Dairy Queen or mowing lawns. 

 

BTW does anybody know if Dial Idol is actually working? I have checked it a couple of times and it looks funky. 

Edited April 24, 2014 by ItsHelloPattiagain

[TheGreenKnight]

I don't think I'd even throw Phillip Phillips in with Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. He'll have to prove himself with his 2nd album first at least. Jordin Sparks was a similar case with her album going Platinum and "No Air" becoming the bestselling Idol song for a moment in time, meanwhile she's been locked away for whatever reason by her record label after her 2nd album failed to go even Gold, unfortunately (although "Battlefield" went 2X Platinum).

 

To be honest, the only contestant left I don't really like is Alex and I hope he's the shock elimination. And CJ, too, I guess, but he's not a threat to win at all.

[cassis]

During Alex's second song, after the words "so tell me….", did the band screw up? The music sounded weird for those few notes.

 

Definitely. I listened again last night and went over that section of the song repeatedly. Some part of the band (possibly some strings, not sure) we're off key. The camera switched to Keith at that point and you could tell he caught it as well. Surprised no one mentioned it but they may have been told not to bring up errors by the band after the last time (I believe Harry said something about it during one of the early live shows). 

[MelinaBallerina]

 

I do see the "dead eyes" thing with Jessica.

 

This is why I don't see the bus coming for Jessica in the judges comments.  I love Jess, but watching her sing is so hard.  Her voice sounds great, but there is no connection, either in her eyes, face or body.  I think the judges are frustrated with that too, which is why they keep harping on it.  I really hope she's taking it as constructive criticism and tries to improve rather than destructive criticism and give up.

[jodo]

I think Jessica is smiling too much!  I have been trying to figure out why there is no facial/body connection to her songs.  I like her voice and she picks good songs.  I wondered too if it was her background of singing in bars to people who were paying little or no attention to her and her job was to smile and look pretty so why bother attitude.  Even after receiving feedback from the judges she would just say "I'm so blessed to be here" over and over to Ryan.  OK, we get it you are blessed but you should also be in it to win it!  I want her to show she cares!  When Majesty got the boot remember the comments about her huge grin the whole time and she was grinning from ear to ear when it was CJ....I didn't see any empathy coming from her for him.  I wonder if she will cry or just smile and say she was blessed to be part of it when she gets the boot as I think she will soon enough.  She is just not fighting to win.

Edited April 26, 2014 by jodo

[ItsHelloPattiagain]

The only reason I put PP2 (aka Phillip Phillips) in with Carrie and Kelly is because he had such a monster hit with "Home". The minute I heard that song I thought 'Oh sh&t, Jessica Sanchez is SCREWED". And that song is everywhere - from the Olympics to the radio to commercials. 

 

BTW Jordin Sparks is the girlfriend of the seemingly everywhere **sings*** Jason Deruloooooo!!!!!*** (of the current earworm song of the moment "Talk Dirty to Me")  I've seen them together on some awards show (I think MTV Video Awards?) and they are doing a duet together. 

 

IMHO I think Jessica is getting a lot of flack from the judges for her lack of connection to the lyrics/ music and frankly it's a lot of garbage to me. I remember her way earlier during the auditions and Hollywood week and she was wiping tears away and was talking about how hard it is to be playing in a band and trying to make a living out of her music. Contrast that with the chosen one JenaNotGina and it comes across as unfair. Nobody's called JNG out on her weird pronunciation of words or her perky weird attitude. 

[BogoGog24]

Personally the only songs Jessica really seemed connected to at all (in my opinion of course) were her own song Blue Eyed Lie and Jolene- both pretty similar, bluesy country-rock "I hate you" songs. Otherwise, I do feel like she often has this dead in the eyes look and she doesn't appear to connect or feel what she's singing about ("Call Me", for example, was pretty indicative of that) I think maybe the judges are being hard on her more than others because they expect more from her. She is supposed to be the veteran of the group who has years of performing experience under her belt but it doesn't really show. I would expect her to be a way better, more comfortable, and more engaging performer than she is. 

 

I'm not really a fan of Jena and I do agree the judges tongue bath her, but she is younger than Jessica and has shown more as a performer. She gets into what she's singing about and appears connected (Decode, Creep) She was a wildcard and she's really had to prove why she deserves to still be there. I think she has stepped it up since then. She's been in a band since she was 12, however, unlike with Jessica, her performing experience shows through. She at least tries to engage with the band more, move around a little bit, re-arrange a few songs. I do wish the judges would call her out on her weird pronunciation and tendency to scream the high notes. (Although they never called Malaya out when she screamed either) She's clearly the Chosen One now that Majesty is gone and Sam is on his last legs. She is probably the only one they think can be marketable at this point. Caleb's style is too outdated (according to others), Alex doesn't have the "look," and Jessica can come across as bitchy and unlikeable (to some) and doesn't look comfortable onstage. I can see why they want her to win it all (she is also younger) 

[Joystickenvy]

I don't feel like any of these kids connect to their songs. Caleb & Jena have big personalities and showmanship, which helps. Alex makes the same weird something stinks in here faces and does his little dance. Sam & Jessica seem more introverted and get called out more because they aren't as equipped to fake it.

As I said in Jessica's thread, the type of performances she has been doing are a lot different than what she is doing on a Idol, so I'm not sure her experience really helps much.

[BogoGog24]

I think her experience performing in bars is pretty useless for preparing for a TV show. Half the time she said she was playing to no one but the bartender. I almost wonder what's even the point in that. I think performing in bars has just put her in a bad habit of not really connecting to what she's singing about because most people don't care. She has a dead in the eyes look, doesn't really move at all (not even a quirky pee dance like Alex). She just stands there and strums her guitar while smiling awkwardly, which is probably what she always did at the bars. I think she's in a really bad habit that she needs to get out of and that's why most of her performances have been so underwhelming.

[Joystickenvy]

I've played a gigs like weddings, BBQs, corporate events, etc. where the audience wasn't paying a lick of attention, but it was with a band, so you can still have fun with your band mates. I imagine it would be really hard to stay engaged as a solo act. The other thing is usually at those type of things you are on a very small stage, so movement is physically limited.

Playing an event that is about the music is a lot different, requiring a much different energy. Hopefully playing the tour will help her work on those skills.

Edited April 27, 2014 by Joystickenvy