AI8 recap, Semi-Finalists x 36, Group 1 (02/17/09)

I was going to do a “what have we seen so far” recap, but just didn’t have the time. I’ll try to include parts of that in this e-mail and subsequent ones.

So, these semis are a bit different than in the past. Out of the 36, they will be broken down into 3 groups consisting of 6 guys and 6 gals. Only THREE (3) advance in the first 3 weeks; the top guy, the top gal and the next highest person (regardless of gender). That person could be the 2^nd or 3^rd highest vote getter of the week. That makes nine (9). The fourth week will be a judges’ choice “Wild Card” week where they will force their favorites on us. I remember season 2 being a bit like this, as Ruben made it through, but Clay Aiken had to go the Wild Card route to the finals.

This may be short and sweet tonight. On to the singers…

01 – Jackie Tohn, 28, New York, NY (A Little Less Conversation, Elvis Presley)

She kinda made it her own, but this is such a “non-serious” song that I couldn’t really take it seriously. Song always reminds me of Oceans 11. Jackie kinda looks like a younger version of Lily Tomlin. Or Alanis Morisette. This performance had a real Taylor Hicks feel for me. Randy said she was a good entertainer, but not blown away by her vocals. Kara said she can work a stage and has a big personality. It got Paula up dancing and she profoundly said “perfect sometimes is boring.” Simon said she played a clown tonight and thinks she blew a great opportunity by doing that song. I’m not a fan of hers.

02 – Ricky Braddy, 26, Elizabeth City, NC (A Song For You, Leon Russell)

Very good voice. Has a website up and running (thebraddybunch.com). We didn’t see him AT ALL in the auditions or Hollywood. He did a pretty good job with the song, but I think the lack of publicity is going to hurt him. Randy said he had a beautiful tone. Kara said he killed it and made it seem effortless. Paula mentioned the fact that he was not featured yet. Simon called him very, very good, but said he has no star quality. He may make it through because he already has a following, but if not, I think he may be a Wild Card choice.

03 – Alexis Grace, 21, Memphis, TN (I Never Loved A Man, Aretha Franklin)

She’s the mother of one that they told in the auditions to “dirty your look up.” The black on her pale skin looks better than the pink that she wore to the audition. And the pink coloring in the hair adds a nice touch too. She’s one of my wife’s favorites. I though Alexis did well tonight. She’s got a big soulful voice. Reminds me of the female lead in “Valley Girl?” Randy said that she done found the dirt and soul. Kara said the genie is out of the bottle. Paula rambled on but I took “quiet confidence” out of her words. Simon called her the dark horse and liked her to Kelly Clarkson. And there was a Ted Danson with Neil Patrick Harris sighting in the crowd. And was it me or did her dad look like a blonde Penn Gillette? I think she should make it though as the #1 gal, and if not, she’s a shoe in for a Wild Card spot.

04 – Brent Keith, 29, Blanchester, OH (Hicktown, Jason Aldean)

Don’t know who he looks like, but I did read that he was a finalist on “Nashvile Star” about 4-5 years back. Not really impressed with him. Plus it’s country and I don’t do country… Randy called it a new edge to country. Kara said he played it safe and said the song wasn’t rangy enough for him. Paula called it a safe song. Simon called him forgettable. He’s toast.

05 – Stevie Wright, 17, Phelan, CA (You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift)

I had high hopes for Stevie, but she was dreadful. Came out in a cool ‘80s outfit, much like Robin Sparkles in “How I Met Your Mother” (Let’s Go to The Mall), but it was a horrible performance. She was a victim of being criticized as being too “old” so she overcompensated and tried a “young” song (Taylor Swift). Never works. Ask Ayla Brown, a semi-finalist from a few years back, who was ousted on a Natasha Bedingfeld song. Randy said it was not hot for him and that she was better than that song. He also threw in that she may not have made it to Hollywood if she auditioned with that song. Ouch. Kara said that song had nothing to do with her. Paula also said it was not the right song and that was not the Stevie that they fell in love with. Simon called it terrible, out of tune and that she was nervous. Like Brent, she’s toast too. Hopefully she learns and maybe she’ll give it another shot next year.

06 – Anoop Desai, 22, Chapel Hill, NC (Angel of Mine, Monica)

I love me some Anoop. But the background vocals sounded loud with him (and others tonight). Every time I hear him sing it makes me think of that bad movie “American Dreamz” which parodied “American Idol.” But he’s actually a good singer. Randy said it was an interesting song choice, but thought the song was sharp. Kara didn’t think he had the riffs to nail the song, but that he connected to it. Paula said that America has connected with him already and that he has a real Brian McKnight feel to him. Simon called the song too grown up for him and too serious, but that he has a massive likeability to him. I think Anoop is the 3^rd person to go through tomorrow (after Danny Gokey). If not, he’s definitely a Wild Card choice.

07 – Casey Carlson, 20, Minneapolis, MN (Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, The Police)

Casey is a cute girl (and a bubble tea maker to boot), but this song was like a bad beauty pageant song. Ouch. It was horrible. I actually winced while she was singing up there. Especially when she was doing her bad choreography and the karate chops. Randy called it completely wrong. Kara said everything was wrong and that you shouldn’t touch songs by The Police. Paula called her phrasing weird. Simon called it atrocious and karaoke-y. But you gotta love her mom with the thick Minnesota accent. Poor girl. Zero chance of advancing. No Wild Card possibility either after that performance.

08 – Michael Sarver, 27, Jasper, TX (I Don’t Want To Be, Gavin DeGraw)

Hmm. It didn’t take long for Michael to give the obligatory “bounce” when he was singing this song. Similar bounce that occurs when any Eminem song comes on, but subtly different. I love this song because it’s the theme song to one of my favorite shows (One Tree Hill), but it’s been done and overdone on Idol. And you can’t really do it any differently. Randy said he can definitely sing, but that he’s better at soul. Kara called the song a great crowd pleaser, but not his best performance and that she’s seen him do better. Paula mentioned that Bo Bice, Elliot Yamin & Chris Richardson have all done that song previously. Simon said that people like him and he hopes that America gives him another shot. Wild Card maybe because he shouldn’t get more votes than Danny Gokey, Anoop or Ricky Braddy.

09 – Ann Marie Boskovich, 22, Nashville, TN (A Natural Woman, Aretha Franklin)

Well, she wore a nice blue dress… Vocals okay, but not up to the song. Randy said it was not the right song choice. Kara said it felt old fashioned and suggested she do a Sara Bareilles song. To which Ann Marie shot back, “you mean something not as good?” That killed Simon. He couldn’t stop laughing. I forgot what Paula said. I don’t think she did very well tonight. Real weak showing for the gals tonight.

10 – Stephen Fowler, 26, Cleveland, OH (Rock With You, Michael Jackson)

This is the guy who forgot the words to the David Cook song in Hollywood. They let his guy through and not the kid who was friends with Danny Gokey? This was a boring, uninspired version. At least he didn’t forget the words, but it kills me that he made it through and others didn’t. Randy that wasn’t even in the right place. Paula said he should’ve done the David Cook song that he messed up the words for and proved that he knows them now. Simon called it a terrible arrangement. Stephen is out.

11 – Tatiana Del Toro, 24, San Juan, PR (Saving All My Love For You, Whitney Houston)

Does it really surprise you that she chose a Whitney song? She kinda reminds me of a Latina version of Karen from Will & Grace. I think the first question that I’d ask Tatiana is “what color is the sky in your world?” She is that out there, as evidenced by her closing of her eyes at the end of her song. Was she on Valium tonight? She was so reserved. Like Mike Tyson in the interview with Robin Givens. The scary part is, she could potentially make it through. She was arguably the 2^nd best girl and already has votefortheworst.com backing her. Randy said she had some moments where she could sing. Kara called her a roller coaster ride and that she was very reserved. Paula didn’t like the demure Tatiana. Simon called her a drama queen and that she was desperate to be famous. I think he parting line summed her up, “America, this is my dream and it’s up to you to keep it alive.” I can’t stand her.

12 – Danny Gokey, 28, Milwaukee, WI (Hero, Mariah Carey)

It’s pretty obvious that he’s a dead ringer for Robert Downey, Jr. We all know the back story on Danny. The story is there, but he’s also an amazing singer. I know this is early, but I think Danny is going to win this thing going away. He killed the song. Randy called him the redeemer of the night. Kara said he was the hero. Paula called him stellar. Simon called him good, not fantastic. He’s through tomorrow. Guaranteed.

That’s it for now. It’s late.