AI4 recap, Semi-Finalists, Guys x 8 (03/07)

A few thoughts on the “boot the four that suck show.” How is Janay still in this competition? She is JPL, Finchy and Leah LaBelle all rolled up into one. Joe Murena gave the “not enough exposure” excuse that Simon attacked before the singers started. Simon correctly recalled that Kelly Clarkson got no run before she took the competition by the throat and made it her own. I was sorry to see David go, but he was bound to the get the boot. Celena just wasn’t that good. Aloha deserved to have one more performance (over Janay), but I’m not heartbroken that she’s gone. See, aloha does mean goodbye. At this point in the competition, you’ve got to sing well. A bad song choice will do you in.

Going in, I had a feeling that this show would be pretty good because 1) the guys, as a group, are way stronger than the girls and b) everyone left can sing and/or perform.

01 – Scott Savol (Taurus), I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (The Four Tops)
First off, why did they give all the singers’ Zodiac signs? Was that not ridiculous? Scott comes out in the smoke tinted shades again, which is a good thing because he’s got some crazy eyes sometimes. Scott sang the song with some subtle theatrics thrown in. He was making the gestures, but not really. Like he was too cool to really do them, so he kinda half did them. Gesticulations aside, I really like Scott’s voice. He’s just a big Pillsbury Doughboy up there. He had some nice runs during the song. I’ve told a few people that I like Scott, but I think that I may like him more than I should because I’m amazed at the voice that comes out of that body. Randy said that he had fun with the song and he finally saw the personality again that was first shown in his audition in Cleveland. Paula loved the little choreography. Simon said that he should stick to something that he’s good at … singing and leave the dancing behind. Personally the dancing didn’t bother me. I’m still amazed at that voice. I voted for Scott tonight, but think he may be on the bubble on Wednesday. Being on the bubble is nothing to be ashamed of in that all 8 are pretty strong and two HAVE to go.

02 – Bo Bice (Scorpio), I’ll Be (Edwin McCain)
Finally, a song that I recognized and liked from Bo. I love Edwin McCain. As some of you may know (from past recaps), “I Could Not Ask For More” was the song that Kristin and I danced to at our wedding. We got that song from the “Message in a Bottle” soundtrack. Good movie, except for the ending. Sorry. Hope I didn’t give anything away there. I’m actually a Kevin Costner fan. Partly because I choose to remember him by his successes (American Flyers, The Untouchables, No Way Out, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, JFK, The Bodyguard, Tin Cup, For Love of the Game, Message in a Bottle) and forgive him/forget about his truly bad choices (Waterworld, The Postman, Revenge, Thirteen Days, 3000 Miles to Graceland). Kristin and I saw Edwin McCain live at a VH1 party at the Sundance Film Festival (thanks TAP). Also saw Sammy Hagar there (sans the long hair, which was weird) and Liev Schreiber (Cotton Weary from the Scream movies). Any way, Bo was good … again. I think I’m one of the only people that isn’t really digging him. Partly because I don’t know all the songs he sings. Partly because I think he looks and performs like a young Joe Cocker. I’m not ANTI-Bo, just not over-the-top PRO-Bo like some people are. It doesn’t really matter to me who wins this thing because I’m only going to buy CDs of the people that I like anyway. Randy said it was not his best and was shaky at the start but he still likes him. Paula called it a consistent slam dunk. Simon called it absolutely 100% the right kind of song for him. He said the competition is his to lose at this point. We’ll see once they have to do the theme nights. I did not vote for Bo tonight because I guarantee he’s safe on Wednesday.

03 – Anthony Fedorov (Taurus), I’ve Got You (Marc Anthony)
I had to look that song up. I couldn’t figure out if it was Marc Anthony. Or Enrique Iglesias. Or Ricky Martin. Or Menudo. Or William Hung. I really think Anthony is a good kid and a great story (trachea thing), although TAPer James Snodgrass wishes he’d break out more turtlenecks because he thinks his trachea is going to blow during one of his performances. Anthony came out with a blazer that looked like someone threw paint on. Kinda stylish, kinda not. Randy said that he got the power back in his voice and was finally back. Paula said it was the best they’ve seen of him so far and that he was brilliant. Simon said he was a nice guy but was confused with the song choice. Seemed out of place saying he’s got as much Latin flair as a polar bear. I was thinking the same thing. Has anyone heard the comedian Henry Cho? Asian guy from Knoxville, TN? Same thing. Asian guy with a Southern accent. It just doesn’t fit. I didn’t vote for Anthony, but think he’s okay for Wednesday night.

04 – Nikko Smith (Taurus), Georgia On My Mind (Ray Charles)
Let me say this. Nikko is a suave cat. He dresses in black on black on black and just looks smoove. Throw a fedora on and it’s all good. My wife was just relieved that he didn’t sing Stevie Wonder again. Nikko gave a great performance. Started off a little shaky, but he really knows how to work a crowd and end a performance well. Seacrest gave him a bad time singing about “Georgia” when he’s from St. Louis, but whatever Seacrest. Let the boy sing. Randy said it was very ambitious to sing Ray (especially with the movie and all the attention it’s getting) and he started rough, but ended great and showed range. Paula called it wonderful and can’t imagine the final 12 without him. Simon said that he needed to do that. Said the vocals weren’t great through the whole song, but people will remember the last note. I voted for Nikko tonight. He’s really been pretty good throughout the competition so far. And the kid can sing. I wonder if he can pick it at short though?

05 – Travis Tucker (Aries), Every Little Step (Bobby Brown)
Oh boy. I really like Travis but he needed a mulligan tonight. He’s still pretty stylish, although tonight’s outfit (grey pinstripes w/ suspenders) looked like Michael Jackson’s get up in “Say, Say, Say.” Remember that video with Paul McCartney when they were traveling salesmen hawking their elixirs? Good times. Poor Travis has pigeon-holed himself. He HAS to dance with every song now after last week’s performance. And the dancing throws his vocals off. He’s a good performer, but I think America is looking for a stronger, purer voice. Is it me or does Travis look like he has a dip in all the time? My wife thinks that he’ll ultimately get a modeling or acting gig out of this. I said before that he looks like Steve Smith, but he’s got a little Chris Webber in him too. No one probably knows these guys, but he looks a bit like Joe Branch (former Northwestern hoops player and Bulls intern) and Marquise Kately (current Cal player). Travis’ performance tonight had a little bit of everything. Usher moonwalk. Snake. Beat box. I was hoping that he’d do the caterpillar. Maybe up rock a little, then break it down, do a butterfly, transition to a head spin and back to a back spin and end in a relaxed, hand behind head, legs crossed pose. That would’ve been sweet. But I should’ve known he wasn’t going to do that because he didn’t have his Nike windbreaker on and they didn’t lay down the linoleum square for him to “break” on. Randy gave him an “A” for the performance, but a “D” for his pitch. Paula called him pretty special and that he’s different and unique to the competition and the competition needs that. Simon called the performance appalling. Called it a theme park performance (for which my wife said he offended all the theme park performers out there. My response was they are performing at a theme park for a reason.). Simon called him a dancer first and a vocalist second. I agree. I think Travis is vulnerable tomorrow night. I really like the guy, but I did not vote for him tonight.

06 – Mario Vazquez (Gemini), How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? (Al Green)
I had to look for the title of this one. It’s been in like a million movies or TV shows. I found it on the “Notting Hill” soundtrack. I think it was also on Ally McBeal (one of my favorite shows ever, well, at least the first few seasons). That show was just so funny and quirky. Then they lost cast members and tried to force new ones on us. Lucy Liu and Portia de Rossi were good additions. Everyone else from the fourth season on (it only lasted 5 seasons), save Robert Downey, Jr, was a complete miss. The only good thing to come out of those last fateful seasons was that Josh Groban was on. The last episode of the fourth season was supposed to be a wedding (presumably between Ally and Downey, Jr’s character) but he had that little problem in the hotel room that pre-empted it. That fifth season was painful to watch. They had already let Billy and Georgia go. John Cage was taking sabbaticals. Ling left midway through the season. Ally found out she had a biological daughter. Actually I’m glad it’s done. They really wrecked it and the last season had no semblance of what originally made it good and funny. Bygones. Back to Mario. No hat tonight. Came out in a camel hair blazer, which set off all kinds of “Are you ready for some football?” thoughts, as it reminded me of the Monday Night Football blazers. Did a great job with the song. Incredible control. Although he reminds my wife of Justin Guarini, except he’s real. Justin always had a put on, fake feel to him. Randy called it a very ambitious song choice and he needs to be in the final 12. Paula said she got goose bumps and he had nice transitions during the song. Simon said he has a charm about him. He thinks there are better singers in the competition, but overall he’s very strong. I voted for Mario tonight. He should be safe on Wednesday.

07 – Constantine Maroulis (Virgo), Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police)
Really pitchy at the beginning, but then I realized that’s just how he sings. Came out in a tux blazer, with Bogart lapels. I think they were olive color. Interesting look. Definitely less screaming this time, but that probably had to do with the song choice. Constantine gave a shout out to his band, Pray for the Soul of Betty during one of the interludes. I like Constantine, but I’m done with him. He should be exiting on Wednesday. Randy liked him tonight, said he was in tune and that he has the personality and star potential for the competition. At this point, my wife almost gagged, as she was put off by the way he takes compliments. Paula said his charisma was shining through. Simon called it a bad impersonation of Sting. As far as I’m concerned, Pray for the Soul of Betty, you can have your lead singer back on Wednesday night.

08 – Anwar Robinson (Taurus), What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Anwar took this classic song and jazzed it up quite wonderfully. My wife thinks that he has a distinct advantage in this competition because of his musical background. He understands music theory and can make ANY song his own. Because (like it or not) that’s what AI is all about. You take a simple song and make it your own. If you take a stylized song and try to further stylize it, you lose. See the girls and Alicia Keys last week. Anwar was wonderful tonight. His control was excellent. Forget that fact that I think that he looks like Keenan McCardell. My mom thinks he looks a bit like Andre Miller. Any way you slice it, he’s a winner. He’s been so strong every performance so far. I think that he is now my favorite to win it all. Or Janay Castine. Take your pick. Randy gave it up and said it was the best vocal performance all season so far. Paula dug deep for this analogy. She called his voice truly his instrument and it’s the entire orchestra. What? Does she write fortune cookie lines in her spare time? She also said that he breaths new life into old songs. Simon said that he’s everything a music teacher should be. And he called him very genuine. And he suggested that he and Paula get married and have kids because then they’d be the nicest kids in the world. I voted for Anwar tonight. He should be safe on Wednesday too.

So that’s it. It was a pretty good night. I think that Travis and Constantine are going to be gone, although it wouldn’t surprise me if Anthony or Scott didn’t make it either. My final four for the guys is Anwar, Mario, Nikko and Bo.

We’ll see. By the way, I can’t believe I took the time to write down everyone’s sign.