AIVI recap, Semi-Finalists, Guys x 8 (03/06)

I’m glad to be back and I once again thank Mike Rico for doing the recaps while I was on my Pat Riley/Roger Clemens-like sabbatical. You know, let Mike do the heavy lifting when there were 24, then 20 singers and ease my way back in when there are 16 (spread over 2 nights) and then be ready for the final 12. It’s like pre-season football. Play one series and the get the heck out of the game before you get hurt. Just kidding Mike. You did great and I hope you’re still available in a pinch should something come up during the season…

Tonight is “What’s Your Secret” night. Really an odd intro, but I guess it’s fresh. And they can’t do theme nights until they get to the final 12, so I guess they get a pass.

01 – Blake Lewis, All Mixed Up (311)

Blake’s thing America probably didn’t know was that he loves improv comedy. Although his fictional character didn’t really bowl me over. I don’t really know 311, but I did see them in concert once in Chicago. There was some kind of Wicked Tour and they had a ton of bands play at the United Center. Concert went on all day because 311 was there along with Chumbawamba (Tub Thumping), Everclear (before they sold out to make movie songs), Sarah McLachlan (she was an odd fit because her songs are so depressing), Duran Duran (they just had Ordinary World out) and the headliner was The Cure. Anyway, back to Blake. Wore a shirt with a skull on it and it showed his forearms which were all tatted up. Got to beatbox a little. Not familiar with the song, but I still enjoy his performances. Randy said he likes him because this is the first year that the singers are singing current songs and he loved it. Paula didn’t know the song, but she was interested in it (which was a good thing). Simon laughed that he didn’t understand a single word that he sang, but gave him props for keeping it current. Blake should be safe for Thursday. He’s original. He’s hip. He’s got that beatbox thing. People like him. I like him. Blake Lewis Can’t Lose.

02 – Sanjaya Malakar, Waiting On The World To Change (John Mayer)

Sanjaya started out saying that people might be surprised to know that he can dance hula. I was about as surprised as I was to learn that the kid from “Who’s The Boss?” came out of the closet. You mean you weren’t already out? Sanjaya came out, I’m guessing as a tribute to his sister, with straightened hair. Seriously, he looked like one of the Milli Vanilli guys. Rob or Fab? Or does it matter? And is one of them dead now? I always thought that a Milli Vanilli night would be funny. The contestant would sing off stage and Milli Vanilli would lip sync them on stage. Maybe not. And were those caterpillars or eyebrows above Sanjaya’s eyes? I still like the kid and think he has a soothing voice, but he’s so darn boring. Randy said that he was special the first time they saw him but he has yet to show that again. My question is, then why did they put him through to the final 24? Paula said there is still a sincerity in his voice, but he needs to raise his game. Simon said he was not as ghastly as last week, but it was not a good vocal. Then wondered aloud about his Paula hair style. Seacrest was kinda funny when he bagged on Paula’s hair extensions. Sanjaya really must go at this point. He probably should’ve gone in favor of AJ last week. But then again, the guys are so weak right now I don’t really care if he stays over any of the other ones. It’s pretty much assured that a girl is going to win this year.

03 – Sundance Head, Jeremy (Pearl Jam)

Sundance had a little fun with the secret thing, saying that he’s thin in real life but puts on the fat suit to sing so that America won’t recognize him in public as he’s thin. He looked like he was dressed by Randy Jackson tonight, with the big button down shirt, opened down to the navel. Sported the Mohawk a la Blake too. What annoyed me was the “thank you” at the end of the song. It wasn’t “than kew” like Paris last year, but the fact that he was thanking the crowd for their obligatory applause was kind of annoying. Randy like his southern rock on a Pearl Jam song. Paula said midway through the song his Sundance kicked in (does that mean he sucked in the beginning?). Simon didn’t like it as much as last week. Called it indulgent and like a generic bar singer. I did think he was shouting at times during the song. What really amazes me is how short Sundance is. Seacrest towers over him. He must be like 5’3” and 275 pounds.

04 – Chris Richardson, Tonight I Wanna Cry (Keith Urban)

C-Rich’s revelation is that he was 40 pounds heavier in college and played football. Isn’t Google a great thing? I Googled “Chris Richardson football” and found out that he played at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA and played QB and LB. They showed his number as 22 and I was thinking that he was a RB (Emmitt Smith wore #22) or defensive back. But in the back of my mind I knew that Doug Flutie wore #22 at Boston College (then in the NFL, short for the No Fun League, he had to change to #2 because QBs can only wear numbers 1-19). So anyway, Chris was good tonight. I didn’t know the song, but I thought he pulled it off. Randy said he put his own twist on the Keith Urban (who I hear is a country hottie) song and that he’s in it to win it. Paula said he picked a great song and adapted it well. Simon said it was good, but he was not jumping out of his chair. He also called it cutesy, but that he sold it. I like C-Rich. He should be bulletproof on Thursday.

05 – Jared Cotter, If You Really Love Me (Stevie Wonder)

Jared’s secret is that he played DII hoops in college. See, I knew he looked like a baller. He played at Five Towns College in Long Island. His intro showed him missing a dunk on the playground. I think he kinda looks like Carlos Boozer, but better looking. Jared came out with an argyle sweater, an homage to Kobe Bryant, who may have gotten that look from Motownphilly BoyzIIMen. I really like Jared, even though he mugs to the camera like Constantine. But it’s WAY less irritating. Randy worried when he heard he was doing a Stevie joint, but said it was real good. Paula wanted him to color up the way he sings (Paula critical? And of a good looking guy nonetheless? Is hell freezing over?). Simon called it not original, but said he’s popular so he should be safe. He was disappointed, because there was no wow factor. I think Jared is safe on Thursday, but I may be wrong.

06 – Brandon Rogers, I Just Want To Celebrate (Rare Earth)

Brandon’s secret is that he’s a classically trained piano player. I thought this song was by Lenny Kravitz, but I was wrong. Brandon came out with a white Member’s Only-type jacket and also a white belt, fashionable on the PGA Tour right now, most notably by Jesper Parnevik and Aaron Baddeley. Randy thought it was solid, but messed up at the end. Paula called it phenomenal (there we go, she’s back not making sense). Simon said he didn’t represent himself well and that he’s nervous for him on Thursday. I think Simon likes Brandon and thinks he’s a talented singer, but his song choices so far have been poor. I think he’s vulnerable on Thursday.

07 – Phil Stacey, I Need You (LeAnn Rimes)

Phil’s “bet you didn’t know” was that he had hair before. Long hair. He’d probably look less menacing with hair. Had a real odd look today. Like he was going to the race track. Hey, who do you like in the fourth? The five horse? There was a movie called “Let It Ride” that starred Richard Dreyfuss. He is a degenerate gambler whose wife (Terri Garr) is on the verge of leaving him because he wastes all his time and money at the track. He finally has a day every gambler dreams of where he hits every race and “lets it ride” on every ensuing race. He wins a bundle. Kinda funny movie. Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid in the Harry Potter movies) has a small part too. Back to Phil. Didn’t think it was that good tonight. Odd song choice and not a great vocal. Randy called it an interesting song choice and that he reminds him of Steve Perry (Randy had to get a name drop in there), but that he was pitchy in his lower register. Which reminds me of Steve Perry. How could he be so successful as the voice of Journey, then just flop as a solo artist? The only hits that I remember him having was Oh Sherrie and Foolish Heart, which can be mistaken for each other at times. I guess it’s happened before (artists not making it solo), but whouda known? Paula called it an odd song choice and that his lower part of register was not good. Simon didn’t get it at all. I think Phil may be in danger on Thursday.

08 – Chris Sligh, Wanna Be Loved (DC Talk)

Said he had short hair for a very long time, then went on to say that it’s his real hair and not a perm. I hear that the song is from a Christian pop band. Not really familiar with it. But I think that he has a real nice voice to listen to. My only problem with him is that he sings songs that not everyone knows and I think that you run the risk of people not connecting with it. That being said, I still think he’s a shoe-in for the final 12. Randy said that although it was not his favorite song choice, he still got the vocal prize for the night. Paula said it wasn’t her favorite performance. Simon said he still has a lot of potential. I think that Chris is a very funny guy and his singing is pretty good too. I think that he will be in the final 3 guys with Blake and Chris Richardson, but none of the 3 compare to Melinda, LaKisha and Stephanie.

As an aside, I jeard today that Jenry got stagefrigjt in Jollywood and got booted. He vowed to come back strong next year and re-audition tjougj. Looking forward to tjat, as are most of the females watcjing. I’d say tjis is the last Jenry mention, but I can’t do tjat. If tjere is anytjing consistent about these recaps, it’s tjat I love to beat a dead jorse.

So, based on performance, Sanjaya and Phil should go, but realistically, it could be Brandon and Phil. I’m still not impressed with Sundance either. I think that Chris x 2 and Blake are safe and Jared is probably safe, but I’ve been wrong before.