American Idol 9 Episode 1

Yes, I'm at it again. YES.

It's been nine years since the first season in 2001 - at the time I was 7. Yes, 7. I'll admit, I can name all 9 winners, their runners-up and around half of the top 12 of each season but there are only a handful of the acts who come out of Idol who I actually like. Needless to say, Idol isn't a talent search anymore like it was meant to be. I mean yeah sure maybe some of the winners really had talent and some really made something of themselves but right now, I watch Idol for the freaks - it's just entertainment. It won't launch critically acclaimed stars nor will I like most of them but I'm open - someone might come out this year, you never know.

As many (or all) of you know, last year I attempted to live blog American Idol episodes - I only got past a few though. So this year, I'll try to watch the show again - I can't guarantee you that I'll make it to the end of the season but I can try, can't I?

This season sees Paula gone, replaced by guest judges during the auditions and ELLEN for the rest of the season. Will it be any good? Hmm.

So these're my notes - while watching the show. Nothing edited. YES! lol.

• The girl in pink (who went first) murdering Natasha Bedingfield's Pocketful of Sunshine is pathetic. The game doesn't know anything - IT'S A COMPUTER.
• The next girl wasn't that bad actually. It's OK but nothing spectacular. I'd say round 2/3 of Hollywood at the very least.
• LOL at the 'holding room entertainment' aka guy in a blue and white striped shirt saying 'holla' waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. He reminds me of someone I know. Doing a Britney song? Can't sing. It was amusing though. That's what Idol has become really - amusing. Not so much of a talent show anymore.
• That Hirsh girl had a interesting voice and the song choice was cool. I LIKE that Wolfe girl, nice, nice voice.
• This guy can sing. And that food looks good. lol. BIG voice, if he doesn't know how to use it properly it can get excessive. But nice voice.
• Next guy. He sounds like Chris Brown and the Eagles? WTF??!?!? Enough said.
• And the truckload of rejects.
• Wannabe 'otaku'. My best friend will be ready to kill her. Girl can't sing. Even if she was in Japan.
• These 2 guys (plus give and take 2 or 3 other guys) can totally form a boyband if ever they get rejected (hopefully not.). Gorgeous vocals.
• Guy in glasses up next. I have a bad feeling. Or not that much. A little too whine-y. Good at some points but I'm not convinced.
• Is this a wannabe Adam Lambert parade? lol.
• This Ashley Rodriguez girl is pretty good. That song's hard to sing. (I SAID IT BEFORE KARA DID. I DID.)
• The guy with the shattered wrists reminds me of a less intense Bo Bice. And I LOVED Bo Bice. He should've won. But anyway, I will be watching him.
• Day 1 - END. 17 golden tickets given.
• First girl day 2. ONE BIG NO.
• Parade of rejects #2. *goes and takes a nap* GUY IN THE KING SUIT! lol.
• Mike Davis. Guy in the boat. Might work in a group but solo he's a bit weak. He can hold a melody though.
• 16 year-old girl. Portuguese. Let's see what she can do. Sob story. Sounds like an Americanized Gabriella Cilmi. She doesn't sing like an excessive 40 year-old though. *ahem* Charice *ahem* I like her.
• This Joshua guy has a GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS DAMN SMOOTH VOICE. OH MY EFFIN' GAWD LIKE AAAAAHHHHHH. Smooth. Lacks some technique but with a little work it'll be brilliant. SIMON DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. I DO. (lol) But PLEASE, no one turn him into anther Archuleta, PLEASE.
• More rejects. Including a less enthusiastic William Hung.
• Justin Williams. Another sob story - cancer. Doesn't change how I'll look at his voice though - nothing will. Interesting voice. I like. High notes are a little iffy for me but it was pretty good.
• Someone singing CASCADA?? CASCADA? You have got to be kidding me. It sucked. A LOT.
• Seems like this next guy has a voice. HE DOES. *faints*
• Last contestant of the day. Hmmm. Nice voice. She sounds like someone but I can't quite put my finger on it. I disagree with Kara - not a very good singer, still needs some work, but VERY nice voice.

Well that's it. Might not be able to do a live blog tomorrow night but I might. lol.

Finally, they see some sense.

ADAM LAMBERT WAS IN THE BOTTOM TWO THIS WEEK. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Although I would've LOVED it if he was ousted and not saved, bottom two is a welcome improvement from all the undeserved raving and praises he's been getting. Finally, the voting public see some sense. I mean, do they really want a theatrical guy as an American Idol? What happened to the sense of 'real'? That Idol turned ordinary people, real people into stars.

First step bottom two, next step elimination. Oh, and Allison can go as well - she doesn't deserve to be in the final because there are too many girls like her here. They might even be a heck of a lot better than screaming Allison.

New Music!

Things have been slow with me lately, so apologies for the lack of updates.. haha. And I know some of these points are older but nothing's been happening! garr.

• Extremely late but pop band RBD are over - their last album was released a little more than week ago. They were sort of a GA for me, didn't like them at first but I kept on seeing them everywhere so I listened again and got hooked. Garr. I do love the last album, good, solid pop songs.
• Well, Untouchable is officially GA's third single from Out Of Control. Loved the song when I first heard it, still love it and I honestly hope to God that it does heaps better than TLK for the girls' sake. I agree with everyone else when I say that the single mix doesn't do any justice to the original version but oh well.
• Oh, and Been Waiting is Jessica Mauboy's third official single! yay! Was listening to it a lot over the past few days and I love the groove of the song, how you just want to bop your head to the beat - it's infectious. THIS is what I call brilliance, I didn't like Burn that much.
• New Elliott Yamin song - not a big fan of it but it's good. What I'm worried of though is that he might give us an album full of standard R&B songs - he better not.
• Idol related news - two of the now top 11 have solo albums/songs circulating the internet. A few songs from Kris Allen's pre-Idol are out and both of Matt Giraud's albums are out. I'm so-so with Kris Allen's stuff, he sounds like an older/quirky-er Teddy Geiger and so far I've heard one song from Matt's album - I don't like it.
• Ruben Studdard has a new song out and it's pure brilliance. I only have three Ruben songs in my library - one from each stage of his career and his atrocious version of FWW aside, Together is the song I personally like the most from him. Brilliant melody and it's a refreshing change, compared to this Change Me is far too 'heavy'.
• Megan Joy has possibly got to be my best bet to win Idol or even just get to the top 3. Yeah, she sounds a bit like Duffy but that's what the US scene is lacking, plus the fact that she's likable and can actually sing. If she keeps on choosing good songs I think she'll go far. Oh, and Adam Lambert can burn in that horrid 'ring of fire' for all I care - I hate him.

Exam week for me is nearing so I'll have even less time to post but don't worry - I'm off for two months after my exams!!! Which means I'll be posting like every day. Oh, and I know I said that the next special would be Soulshock and Karlin but that'll be pushed back because in preparation for the Craig David concert I'm OFFICIALLY going to - it's the Craig David special!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay!

American Idol Top 11 - Week 2

It's country week. hmm.

Michael Sarver - I didn't like his performance that much, it was a bit too rushed for me but I don't know if the song's really like that. It's like the song doesn't have any dynamics - there's no high point or low point in it. I'm so-so about the whole thing.
Allison Iraheta - I know she can sing, she has a voice but I'm not convinced. There's nothing really moving about her for me - kinda like Carly last year.
Kris Allen - He's getting better I think. If he keeps on choosing good songs - he'll be a very strong contender. I don't know if it was a technical error or what but the high parts got fuzzy.. hmm. He reminds me a bit of Elliot - he can definitely go the same route as him.(NOTE: it was a technical thing..)
Lil Rounds - Gorgeous, gorgeous voice. The song doesn't match that much but what the heck - BRILLIANT VOICE. She did however, NAIL THE LAST NOTE.
Adam Lambert - I didn't like the arrangement, it's so strange and his voice was a bit weak at the start. He's strange. Plus the screaming at the end was just too much. I agree with Simon! I really don't like him.
Scott MacIntyre - He was so-so this week, nothing outstanding but the performance was OK.
Alexis Grace - Brooke White sang this better and though they have different voices and stuff - I do like Brooke's version better. Not a very good week for her but she better get through!
Danny Gokey - Again, it was so-so. There were high points and there were low points but it's enough for him to get through. yay!
Anoop Desai - YAY! The Anoop we all knew and loved during the earlier stages is BACK! I loved it, it was definitely A LOT better than last week's. yay!
Megan Corkey - BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT! It fits her voice perfectly and the arrangement is brilliant. LOVE IT. She's definitely the most current pop of all of them.
Matt Giraud - Nope. Once again it's nothing special - Carrie Underwood immortalized this song and this is nothing compared to her version. I don't like him.

Almost everyone was so-so this week for me - all but a few. hmm.

American Idol Top 13 - Week 1

haha. Yes! I'm finally doing an episode recap again..

'Lil Rounds - Brilliant start. She's slowly becoming a Fantasia-like singer, big voice, consistent song choices and lots of personality. I loved the performance, she
Scott MacIntyre - He has a nice voice and I like it but I'm afraid that if he keeps on singing ballads like this, he might become a one-trick pony. I don't however, agree with what Simon said. So what if it's not popular? Ugh.
Danny Gokey - I liked him during the earlier stages, and I still like him. Although I thought he was pushing a bit too much, the performance was OK.
Michael Sarver - I didn't like him during the top 36 but he does actually have a nice voice and I quite enjoyed his performance. What I'm afraid of though is him becoming somewhat a Daniel(of X factor last year in case you don't remember..) who can only sing ballads.
Jasmine Murray - From the contestants who've already sung, lemme guess who Simon will most likely sign because of what they sang today. Scott, so he can turn him into an inspirational ballad-singing machine and Jasmine, so he can make her a young, American Leona Lewis. She has a voice but her top 36 performance proved that all she can sing are ballads, that's it. Not convinced.
Kris Allen - When I first heard the name today, I had no idea who he is. So I wiki-ed and he's Man In The Mirror guy! haha. So-so performance, he has the possibility of becoming a Jason Mraz-ish singer(I SAID IT BEFORE RANDY DID!!!! IT'S TRUE! MY IDEA!) although he sounds like he came straight out of a flop boyband. Plus that note towards the end was just sad.
Allison Iraheta - I never liked her, still don't. It's not that she's bad or anything, I just don't like that kind of voice in particular, I hear too much of it here in the Philippines that I can get annoying at times. I didn't like Carly that much last season but I like her better than Allison!
Anoop Desai - I agree with the judges, the didn't go very well with him. It was kinda flat and bland but I just hope he stays another week... I liked him, not very sure about it now.
Jorge Nuñez - JORGE! Gorgeous voice, but it's average. Still, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS VOICE. It makes up for everything.
Megan Joy - I love her voice, but I quite liked the song choice. Cutesy, perky and nice. She better get through..
Adam Lambert - He pulled the theme the best out of everyone but I don't know, there's still something if-y about him for me. I liked the performance though..
Matt Giraud - I like his voice but the performance had a lot of flaws. He'll get in but he didn't do very well, I think.
Alexis Grace - She pulled it off. Not brilliant but not bad. Loved her, still do. TOP THREE, here we come! haha.

I said last weekend that the talent isn't as good as it was last year but this episode made me think twice. So, let me rephrase. The talent isn't as diverse this year. You don't have a bunch of big voices, a rocker, an alternative singer, an adult pop singer and heaps of variety.

American Idol: Thoughts.

I know I said I'd do live blogs and all but I haven't had the time, so let me just list down some thoughts on this season. I might do a recap for the top 13, but it depends.

• Can someone please explain to me why Tatiana Del Toro got into the top 36 THEN got into the wildcard round instead of Norman Gentle? Norman can actually sing, sort of like the girl from the Ting Tings. They both don't have the most gorgeous voices but they can hold a melody AND entertain us, keep us interested whereas all Tatiana can do is cry and say 'Thank you'.
• Scott MacIntyre has got a gorgeous voice, but somehow he sounds a lot better when I just listen to him. In fact, a lot of the top 13 sound better when I don't watch them perform. Jasmine Murray, for example. I wasn't convinced by her when I watched her but I got the live recordings and now I'm a fan.
• I've got my favorites, Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, Jorge Nunez, Scott MacIntyre, Anoop Desai and Megan Corkey, let's just see how they do!
• I agree with Simon on the Jorge Nunez thing, I don't see why he should work with a dialect coach. He's Spanish for heaven's sake so it's natural that he sings like that, it's the way he is. Isn't Idol about taking raw talent and making it into a superstar? I can't wait to see him kick butt if they ever do a Latin week.
• I didn't find Lil Rounds' performance as brilliant as everyone says it is. Sure, she's got a beautiful voice, the song really matched her and the performance was very good, outstanding but there were people who were as good as her that night, some even better.
• Ricky Brady is AMAZING but he still didn't get through. This is so unfair.
• Over-all, the talent this is isn't as good as it was last year. The people who got cut last year were better than a few of the top 13 and last year gave us Cook, Archuleta, Brooke, Carly, Michael and pure, raw talent. Watching an episode of Idol last year was like watching professionals do their thing. I wonder what it'll be like this year.

New Music!

Haven't been posting, sorry about that. haha.

• The new Lady Sovereign album is out. Haven't heard the whole thing yet but I'll try to whip up a review in the next few weeks.
• There's a new JLo's new single is apparently a recently leaked song, Hooked On You. I like it, it's very... American, very JLo. I love the melody, the arrangement's fine and her vocals are so-so as always so am looking forward to the new album!
• I FINALLY found the last Liberty X album! Yay! Have been listening to it for the past few days, it's amazing as always!
• There's a new Corbin Bleu song out as well but I'm not convinced. One the outside it sounds like a fairly good song but there's something about the melody that makes me uneasy, that makes me not want to listen to it. Moments That Matter is still the standout track so far. Amazing stuff, but I'm not so sure if there's enough amazing stuff on his new album to pull it through.
• Am currently addicted to Shontelle. It's late, I know but I just got a hold of her album recently and I only got the chance to listen to it a few days ago. I LOVE the songs, she's very contemporary and she sounds like all the big singers at the moment but she's not. She's got her own identity and she's got a grip on what music is right now. She's almost as amazing as Karina for me..
• Jesse McCartney's re-release is slowly coming together. There's a live version of a rumored song on it, Body Language and may I say, he's amazing. He's R&B and yet he's being himself, the artist we saw in his first two albums. Can't wait! haha!
• This year's American Idol is not that they promised us it would be, amazing. There have only been about four or five good performances so far and even those weren't as good as last year plus the fact that one guy during the first week didn't get in just because he had no 'personality' but his voice was gorgeous. I'm scared for the show, to be honest. The contestants cannot just keep on murdering these amazing pop songs and make them bland, off-key and horrible performances.
• The Black Eyed Peas have a new song out. Not a big fan, but you gotta admit, it's a very BEP song and it'll most probably be this huge hit. They're good technically, they've mastered the craft but they're personally not my taste, that's it. I do however love how after a lot of new artists keep coming out, they still manage to give us something worth listening to and something that's them.
• Am currently in love as well with the piano mix of Alesha Dixon's Breathe Slow. Love the original song but the piano mix has an even bigger contrast than the original. Alesha's voice isn't exactly smooth and the piano just flows, I LOVE it! haha. It has a lot less instruments as well.. yay!
• There's a new Mary J Blige song out, What Love Is and I'm slowly falling in love with it. Very mellow compared to Just Fine but the melody is just brilliant, it makes ma want to listen to her other albums now! Amazing vocals as usual, she better release more new stuff soon!
• Rihanna's got a new song as well, following the Chris Brown incident. It's so-so, but I've stopped liking Rihanna for a long time now. Not that I'm saying she's not a good singer or anything but I do think she's too overrated. She releases songs, she's a singer just like everyone else in the industry and she may be a good performer and all but there are people better than her.

I promise to post a little more than this past week, I've been to busy with schoolwork and getting sick and all. Will be back tomorrow with another post!

American Idol Auditions - Week 1

American Idol may now have the reputation for destroying and sanitizing the winners but we can't deny the fact that it's so fun watching a 'star' being made, even though we know they're gonna be murdered.

Well guys, it's my first live blog thingy, so take it easy on me!

OMG! Eeew. Simon Cowell during the first season. What was he thinking? Then a montage of auditions and 'special idol moments', very predictable. AND a montage of Ryan saying 'This is American Idol'..haha. Yeah, yeah, Idol changed Cook's life, but they murdered his music! Gar. Montages everywhere, can they think of anything more interesting? Why do they have to cut to a break after the flashback? Garrrrrr.

So they're in Arizona for this episode. I like the guy in a can costume thingy! They're introducing Kara DioGuardi. Look, I know her and I can name five other people who know her, so why did Ryan just say that you probably don't know her if you're Jewel or the other artists she worked with.

The first contestant of the year! Eep! Haha. Love his hair and he's Vietnamese! Twan Win. OK, he's not very good at all, and he's like going out of tune! Corny dance though. What is it with unconventional hair this season?

Well the next contestant's mom's a singer, she might be anywhere near good. Hmmm. Not bad but the high notes are a bit awkward. She can sing though and she is different. She's in a band, and she hasn't told them. OOOH.

The first rocker of the season. Nope. Not very good. He's crying? Already? They're fighting? Strange. So no yes' yet. Hmmm. There's another guy, nice voice. If he doesn't murder the melody of FLYING WITHOUT WINGS that much. HE GOT THROUGH! He seems Pinoy. oooooooh. YES! But he should really stop murdering songs.

Then there's a really nervous guy. He's got the strangest voice, it sounds so strange. Can he even sing? Haha Bulgarian. He sang a Kara song? Whoa, and he's having a panic attack.

An ad, again? What the? And it's back!

Haha. Another auditionee murdering a song, and another one and another one. Guy with a guitar! X-ray. That's his name. That is straaaaaaaaaange. Did he even use that guitar? So this next girl founded an organization. She reminds me of Marie Digby. HEY! She's good. I like her, she'll be a very good popstar! haha. Will remember her, Arianna.

Ad break. Back from break and it's day two! An hour has passed already? haha.

Guy with a deep voice. Elijah. Not very good, can he even sing? Next up, girl who just turned sixteen, she's like the typical giggly 'like, yeah, like um, duh.' girl. OH. She's Kara's biggest fan. Is she any good? Maybe if she was picked up by Disney(note: I just wrote that before Randy said HSM..), it would work but no, not for the mainstream market, no. A girl who was named after Stevie Nix(is that the right spelling?). They like her. OOOH.

Is back. haha.

Oil/builder guy! haha. He's kinda good, a few technical problems here and there but he has a voice! Will watch out for him. Ah yes, the obligatory montage of bad auditions.

Bikini girl. She can't really sing well. I mean, there are good parts but she's more for Disney, I think. Maybe her and giggly girl can star in a TV show. I agree with Kara, she doesn't have any soul or 'groove'. OOOOH. Catfight. THEY PUT HER THROUGH TO HOLLYWOOD? NO! WHY? GAR.

They're saying how to pronounce Kara's name. haha. Next guy. No. Not good enough, his voice is too weak. Girl who can't believe this is happening! haha. No for me. There's something shaky about her. She called him Sim-y? What the? OH! She's through? I have my reservations.

Girl with no family with her, she's interesting. I like her! YAY! She's through! Emo-looking guy's next. He makes horror films! He's not bad, I can see him out with an album anytime soon. YAY! He got in too! AAAAHHHH! I LOOOOOVE him! haha.

And they're back!

Blank guy who sang in the closet late at night. His voice is like a higher and less better James Morrison. So he's through? haha.

And the episode's almost done, I can tell. There's the sum up thing and the worse auditionees singing the same song. One last audition!

And we're back!

The guy's got really bad tunnel vision, and he's a singer songwriter. Is he any good though? He reminds me a bit of Guy Sebastian, I'm liking him! I like him! He's good! haha. YAY! He's through! WHOOT! I'm rooting for him! Scott. Will remember that name.

And the live blog is done! Was it any good? haha.

American Idol!

Well, American Idol starts in exactly four minutes here so for the first time in at least a couple of months, I am sitting in front of the TV and waiting for the show to start.

How this season's Episode Recaps will work:

I will do a live blog, which means the stuff I write will be written as I watch the show, making it 'fun' to a certain extent.

So, the first live post will come in the next two hours but I'll start writing in like 4 minutes.