AI8 recap, Wild Card Show (03/05/09)

Hey folks

Mike Rico, here, recapping today for Jason as he’s a busy dude and was doing work-related stuff last night. Last night was the Wild Card show, where the judges picked 8 singers who missed the cut and gave them one last opportunity to sing their way into the last three spots. Wait, did I say three?



1. Jesse Langseth, Tell Me Something Good. I like singers like Jesse in theory, but find it hard to back Jesse for some reason. She gives bad face when she sings, though she is a pretty girl. I like the tone of her voice, but don’t really dig her style. I would have rather seen the smooth stylings of Ju’not than see her in the WC show. I think I have her and Tatiana to blame, but mostly the judges.



Simon said it was a lot better, but self-indulgent. Kara said she brought a swagger, while Paula said she’s strong and tenacious.



Like I said, not a fan of Jesse and her performance was middle of the road for me. Let’s find someone else to fill out the last 3 spots…



2. Matt Giraud, Who’s Loving You. Dueling piano player guy. These bars kind of look like fun when you walk past them, but singing with strangers seems weird so we keep on walking… I don’t know if I’m getting old and grumpy, but I don’t like Matt either. I don’t like singers that feel the need to stretch every note and go up and down all the time. Yes, I know it’s his bluesy style, but I don’t buy it coming from him. A lot of people do, so there is a market for this guy. Maybe that Irish pub in the New York, New York Casino.



Simon said he was a billion times better, but hates what he’s wearing. He also said he can see some Taylor Hicks coming through. Then the other judges coiled back and defended him as if Simon had said Matt might have a touch of the leprosy. “No! No! Matt is not a leper!” they seemed to be saying… Kara said thanks for bringing back bluesy Matt. Randy said he is scaring the competition with that performance tonight.



Taylor is clearly the least respected of all the winners of AI. I notice when they have the backgrounds of all the winners of AI during auditions, Taylor’s image is small and on the end like the butt on a loaf of bread… Matt said this song is in his bones and that he should have sang this for his earlier performance. Granted, he sang better than last week, but not a fan. Judges like bluesy Matt, so it sounded like he was a shoe in…



3. Megan Joy Corkrey- Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. I do like Megan and her nutty little performances. If I thought it was contrived, I wouldn’t dig it, but she feels authentic to me. She has a classic beauty underneath the quirkiness and the fully tattooed wing and that makes her very interesting. I like the tone of her voice on top of it all…



Simon said she’s current, while Kara says that the competition needs her as she gives America a different flavor. Randy said he can see her making these kind of records, while Paula offers up only mild praise…



If it wasn’t for AI, I would have never heard this song. I remember Katherine McPhee sang this and I believe someone sang it last year…This type of song was a perfect fit for Megan. She does her thing and I loved the performance and we have to believe that she is guaranteed a spot in the final 12.



4. Von Smith, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- Von was the kid who was over the top in his auditions and the judges asked him to bring it down a notch. Von has sung in a more subdued style in the final 36 and it has been rewarded with one last chance for the judges. I, for one, hate his style of singing. Watching his auditions throughout the process made me irritable. I won’t ask for anesthetics when I’m at the dentist, but pass me the nitrous oxide when it’s his turn to sing.



Simon said he’s boring, too serious. Said he was more interested in his earlier performances. Kara said it was a bad song choice, but even worse, it was dark. Paula said he’s overthinking and just needs to let himself sing freely.



It’s end of the road for Von. I think he did take his performances down from his manic levels and he seemed to get penalized for it, with the judges saying they like old Von better. In the end, oftentimes, the singers have to figure it out themselves. He’ll have to find his style and hope there is an audience for him. If not, there is musical theater. Well, in this economy there is some musical theater.



5. Jasmine Murray, Reflection- I’ve been behind this girl since the beginning and was disappointed that she shot herself in the foot in the final 36… She’s got the talent, but she was one of those who had her brain eaten by the bad song choice zombie. Teenagers, in particular, seem to have their own ideas and make questionable song choices on AI. Maybe David Archuleta’s father can get a consulting gig for these kids.



Simon called it pretty special, while Kara said she didn’t know she had such a big voice. Randy said the song was a little too big for her, but Paula said she did a wonderful job.



Jasmine gets back on track with her performance tonight. She sings confidently and jogs everyone’s memory of why she was an early favorite. She could be one of those young talents that find themselves during the competition and do some damage.



6. Ricky Braddy, Superstition - I remember the whole Braddy Bunch thing, but I have to say I don’t remember his performances. At least there are no preconceived notions as I tune in this week.



Simon said he sounded good, but didn’t think he made a big enough impression. Kara said they all knew he could sing, but he needed to show off his personality and he did. Randy wasn’t a fan of the performance and said he tried to do too much with it



Braddy reminds me of a good buddy of mine and Jason’s, Jerry Beach. This Braddy guy is definitely a more flamboyant version of JB, though my wife remarked that he wears his jeans tight like Jerry. That’s just how Jerry rolls… Braddy sings it okay for me, but Superstition kind of sings itself if you are a halfway decent singer. Simon’s right in that it didn’t separate him from the rest of the bunch. Last call if you want one of those Braddy Bunch t shirts…



7. Tatiana Del Toro, Saving all My Love For You. Tatiana needs no introduction. I’ll admit she can sing very well at times and the overblown circus/drama that she generates seriously detracts from the talent that she does have. Tonight she sings the same song she sung on Tuesday.



Simon grilled her about singing the same song. Kara asked her which person is she tonight. Randy said there were good moments and bad moments; a mixed bag. Paula said she’s not a fan of repeat songs, but says she can really sing.



Watching the critique is painful as the judges fight to get their words in…She can sing a Whitney song better than 99.9% of us, I’ll give her that much, but I need the nitrous again for when the singing stops. Her best career move would be to get on a telenovela on Univision as an evil nightclub singer.



8. Anoop Desai, My Perogative - Anoop is my guy. I was annoyed that America didn’t make him top 3, but then again they elected good old Dubya not once, but twice. Yes, I truly believe the same conspirators that voted against John Kerry are keeping Anoop from his rightful place in the top 12. Wait, did I say 12?



Simon said he’s not the best singer, but people like him. Kara said she wanted to get up and dance. Anoop then said if a North Carolina guy like him could make a Duke girl like Kara dance then he’s happy. Anoop, go on with your bad self and your sexy ACC banter. It’s no wonder America loves Anoop. Randy said he did better this time. Randy now amends the “don’t repeat your song rule” to “you can repeat your song, but you got to slay it!” Paula said he is the showman and says everyone loves the performance. When Paula says you’re quite the showman, that means your show is dorky or awkward. Despite picking on Tatiana for singing the same song, she’s now glad that Anoop did it.



It seems that Anoop is the human anomaly and the exception to every rule on AI. The novelty of a smooth r&b voice coming from a straight-laced Indian American is starting to wear off, but what’s not wearing off is the reaction Anoop Dogg gets from the audience. He definitely gets the crowd going despite his strictly junior high dance moves. There’s only so many times you can do the “pick the lint off your shirt” move and that is once or less… He’s got a nice voice and a lot of charisma and personality and we’ll see how far that takes him, if only he can crack the top 12… For those that didn’t get the Chapel Hill shout out from Anoop, it was the anniversary of the shooting of Eve Carson, the NC student body president that was murdered a year ago Thursday. A very sad event to learn about…



Of course, no predictions are necessary today. I would have had Megan, Jasmine & Anoop going into the final three spots as most observers of the show would. As the judges announced the winners of the night, they created a very nice moment. They announced Jasmine and then Megan would pass on through and called up Matt and Anoop for the last spot. I knew Anoop would get in and was stunned and yelling at the tv when they announced Matt was going in. Anoop gave the “gracious loser” hug to Matt and then it was announced they will take Anoop as well and make it the top 13. Sweet!!! Cut to Anoop’s stunned reaction, then the giddy parents up in the booth and then back to the other contestants mobbing A-Dogg. Well done, AI.



Overall, no beefs from me, though unlike Kara, I would say “No, thanks” to bluesy Matt. But that’s a small quibble… Time to get the finals cranking next week. Now, back to J and your regularly scheduled programming.