Bizarro Seattle World
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Rainy-ass Seattle is the next stop on the AI Audition round.
Random thought: The judges are MUCH meaner this season during the audition round - ALL of them. Additional random though: Is Seattle totally populated with completely bizarre people? Good God. I'm about 40 minutes in and haven't heard a single musical moment and feel as though I'm trapped in the Theatre of the Weird.
Related thought: I hate rain.
And then the sun breaks through. My eardrums stop crying their revolt when Thomas Daniels walks into the room and starts singing. I can't put my finger on who he puts me in mind of - Luther Vandross? Not quite - but lovely. This guy is one to watch.
Random commercial break question: Do you think the producers kind of "earmark" a particular contestant and then put a note in their file (or whatever it is the judges are reading) that THIS is a person they should torment mercilessly?
I don't like Blake Lewis nearly as much as Thomas Daniels on sheer musical value, but damn - he's entertaining with personality to spare. He also has "the look", whatever that is. That usually works to a certain level in the competition (think Ace), but soon the chaff is parted from the wheat and the cream rises to the top and [insert your own success cliche here].
Best line so far of the night goes to Ryan Seacrest:"Welcome back to the talent vacuum that is Seattle."
Shymalie Malakar - liked her. She has one of those voices, though, that I never thinks makes it all the way to the end. It's kind of a high, sweet white-girl voice and everything she sings she will sing beautifully, but it will fall short of any rich, full female or male voice in the competition. As much as everyone loved Lisa Tucker, it reminds me a bit of her - cute, good voice, good stage presence, but middle-of-the-pack.
Her brother - Sanjaya - a totally different story. I MUCH preferred him. His voice was totally unexpected. I have to agree with Simon - he was a LOT better than his sister. He has a quality to his voice that is distinctive, with a rich foundation that makes me want to hear him sing more. His problem will be owning the stage if he makes it farther than the Hollywood round, however.
What's UP with Simon and Rudolpho "Rudy" Cardenes?? I thought he was GREAT - and let me tell you something: Without exception any Journey song is one of the all-time most difficult songs to sing for men. It takes such range and power, and while he needed to work a little on the very top end, I'm having to nitpick to find the flaw. I thought he was excellent. F Simon!!
And with that, Day one is a WRAP with only SEVEN people making it through!!
I have a question: Do we really have to have a day 2 in Seattle? I mean, really? Is there not some algorithm that should kick in that calculates the success rate of day 1 against the cost of conducting day 1 and, when a negative result is invariably returned, they just say "F It. I'll count the money I'll save - on to the next stop." Picking out two of the weirdest dudes in line and featuring them at the start of the day is not boding well, either. Do you think that when they get the weirdest of the weird to start the day it's like a blow from which they'll never recover? Picking on that kid's rather over-large eyes, however, seemed over-the-top.
I've definitely been sucked back into Theatre of the Weird. I love this show, but honestly. There's only so much one person can take.
Random thought: When people come out after having not made it through to the next round, do they really sincerely believe their own hype? I guess there's something to be said for confidence.
Oh no he did NOT. There is NOT a guy here trying to pretend he's Taylor Hicks. And he's a HAIRDRESSER? A Taylor-poseur HAIRDRESSER? You do NOT mess with the Soul Patrol by copping Taylor Hicks by doing it badly. And of course you knew he was going to SUCK. I hope he's a good hairdresser.
Anna Kearns (aka "The Tallest Girl I've Ever Seen In My Life") - I'm underwhelmed. I don't honestly think she would EVER make it through if Seattle hadn't been such a bag of s--t. No offense to Anna, but is this what I have to look forward to this season? Really? I need some encouragement here soon - someone who makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck they're so God-given good (hereinafter referred to as G-GG).
And what is UP with me agreeing with Simon twice now in one show?? I agree with him that Jordin Sparks was not perfect. Again, I go back to the theory that it's been so bad, they are simply easily impressed. Jordin's voice was good but I have yet to hear the person who simply makes me pick up the phone, call my mother (who also watches) and tell her who the top 3 will be (last year I picked it dead to rights - truly, I called mom after Taylor's audition and said "This guy's gonna take it all. Write it down - you heard it here first." - I swear!).
Thank GOD - it looks like Seattle is about to wrap. Is it me, or have these first two episodes, Seattle and Minneapolis, been really, really bad?? I hate to impugn entire areas of the country - and fine cities are Seattle and Minneapolis, filled with history and beauty and their own unique culture - but NOT filled with fabulous music talent.
Clear winner (only one) for me was Thomas Daniels, hands-down.
Good GOD let's hope Memphis brings it next week.
Labels: American Idol, Auditions
posted by RenaRF @ 8:17 PM,
