AI8 recap, Semi-Finalists x 36, Group 2 (02/25/09)

So, a day later this week because of Obama’s State of the Union address.

This one may be short, as it’s late and I’m in day 4 of a launch of a new drug!

Judges flipped seats this week and they also alternated who went first.

01 – Jasmine Murray, 16, Columbus, MS (Love Song, Sara Bareilles)
This one was kinda weird for me. It sounded like the background music was too loud or that her mike had a hollow echo to it? Jasmine was in the group with the bikini girl during Hollywood. And for the record, I don’t think the bikini girl was that good looking. Nice body and tan, but her face looked like one of the ants from the movie “Antz.” Jasmine looked a bit like Brandy/Moesha. My favorite part of Brandy was that she was married to Quentin Richardson and I saw a highlight of her giving him “head bumps” after a dunk once. Love the “head bumps.” Judges hated it. I hope that she comes back next year or in a few years. She has a good voice, but this song choice was horrible.

02 – Matt Girard, 23, Kalamazoo, MI (Viva La Vida, Coldplay)
This kid is the dueling piano player. Kinda looks like he could be a Dillon brother (Matt & Kevin’s). Looks lost without a piano. Almost like he needed Enablex for overactive bladder (nice Novartis plug for my wife Kristin). Another bad song choice. Simon called him a wannabe pop star.

03 – Jeanine Vailes, 28, Washington, DC (This Love, Maroon 5)
Ouch this was bad. Nice short shorts though. And she reminded me of a black (or overbaked) Cher. All the judges could do was compliment her legs. Stick a fork in her. She’s done.

04 – Nick Mitchell, er Normund Gentle, 27, Brookfield, CT (And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going, Dreamgirls)
Some of you legacy TAP people will get this, but he reminds me of a cross between Jeff Pettus and Jason Marshburn… I don’t get how they put Nick/Normund through. You’re telling me that Jamar (Danny Gokey’s friend from Milwaukee) wasn’t better than him? I almost hope that America votes him through because the producers/judges allowed him to go through. His voice is okay, but it’s totally mocking the whole competition. If I were another semi-finalist, I’d be pissed. If I made it to the final cuts and got cut before him, I’d be incensed too. Seems like a funny and likeable guy, but Paula actually made the most sense when she said that he’s a true performer but doesn’t know if this is the stage for him. Vote For The Worst has him as their weekly poster boy. He may get through. The 12 tonight were so bad (generally) that I wouldn’t care if he was in the top 3.

05 – Allison Iraheta, 16, Los Angeles, CA (Alone, Heart)
Interesting. I just read that Allison previously won $50,000 and a recording contract on a Telemundo talent contest. Hmm. I gotta chew on that one for a bit before I decide if I’m going to hate her like I did Carly Hennessy. At least she’s American… Allison has a nice husky tone to her “rocker” voice. Almost looks like a mini-Kelly Clarkson. I thought she was great tonight. The best girl by far. Judges loved her. She should be the top girl tomorrow.

06 – Kris Allen, 23, Conway, AR (Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson)
This kid looks like the lost Lachey brother. They showed him in Hollywood with a guitar and he looked like he needed an instrument up there. He was bouncing around like he had just shotgunned a few Red Bulls before he got on stage. He was okay, but forgettable. Kara went first and said the chose the wrong song, the Paula totally disagreed. Thought she did that to get the token cheers. But then a strange thing happened. Simon and Randy agreed with her. They totally left Kara out to dry. Maybe it was a rookie initiation thing because I think Kara was right…

07 – Megan Joy Corkrey, 23, Sandy, UT (Put Your Records On, Corrine Bailey)
Very cute girl, other than the tat sleeve she has down her right arm. Looks like a cross between Kirsten Dunst and Julia Stiles. Judges loved her, but I was distracted by her odd “dancing movements” and accent on some of the words. Maybe that’s “current” and “relevant,” but I just found it “annoying.” And yes, I stopped typing and did quotation marks with my fingers on each hand during those words above. But I didn’t say “quote, unquote” like others do. She may get through tomorrow because the judges loved her. If she doesn’t get through on the voting, I’m sure she’ll be a Wild Card contender.

08 – Matt Breitzke, 28, Bixby, OK (If You Could Only See, Tonic)
Was it me or did Matt seem like he was moving in slow motion while he was singing? Man was this song boring. Judges all like him as a person, but thought the song was boring. Kara made the mistake of saying, that he could ACTUALLY sing, which makes my wife go off because why is it a surprise that someone in the final 36 of hundreds of thousands can ACTUALLY sing? Like that’s some big revelation. Like it’s not ACTUALLY a singing competition. I think Bixby will get their now most famous welder back soon.

09 – Jesse Langseth, 26, Minneapolis, MN (Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes)
My wife Kristin thought that she looked a bit like that girl Ava from Gray’s Anatomy. You know, the one whose face was put back together and went crazy on Alex. Jesse wore an indoor outfit. I call it an indoor outfit because if she wore that outside in the sun, she’d get real bad tan marks… Judges were mixed on her. I don’t think she stood out enough to make it through.

10 – Kai Kalama, 27, San Clemente, CA (What Becomes of the Brokenhearted, Jimmy Ruffin)
Kinda boring song choice. Had a nice sneer going though. My wife Kristin thought he had a nice voice, but that it’s not that strong. Judges called him old fashioned and called the song a safe choice. Don’t think he’ll make it through.

11 – Mishavonna Hensen, 18, Irvine, CA (Drops of Jupiter, Train)
I kept trying to figure out who Mishavonna looked like. Was it Debi Mazur? The female wrestler/bodybuilder/freak Chyna? Was it a not-as-soft Lauren Graham? Then it hit me. With her turned up nose, she looked like a resident of Whoville from The Grinch That Stole Christmas. The judges panned her for being too serious and not having an emotional tie to the song. This doesn’t bode well for her tomorrow, although she could be the 3rd person through (after the top guy and girl).

12 – Adam Lambert, 27, Hollywood, CA (Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones)
Adam looks like a Goth, glam, eyeliner-wearing Jason Bateman. Or maybe just Justine Bateman. You choose. Adam’s been doing musical theater since he was 10. He was good. Way better than anyone else (especially the guys) tonight. But he reminds me of the showgirl in “A Chorus Line.” Not in a female sense, but in the way that she was a showgirl trying to get a role in the chorus line, where you’re supposed to conform to everyone else and not stand out. I’m not saying you shouldn’t stand out on this show, but Adam seems to be overly theatrical in his songs and voice. That bugs me a bit right now and I’m sure it will manifest to pure hatred in the weeks to come. He’s a better singer than Constantine, but I liken Adam to him in that he totally plays to the camera and stuff. Kara had a cool comment about him saying that his vocal technique was outrageous. He’s through tomorrow night. Guaranteed. Just like last week when they gave Danny Gokey the Pimp Spot.

That’s it for now. Would love to hear your comments back.