AIX Recap, Semi-Finalists x 12, Guys (03/01/11)

So I’m venturing into doing these again this season. But I have to admit, I didn’t watch all the auditions and didn’t see all of Hollywood Week yet. I do like the additions of Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez though.

I guess they have 24 semi-finalists, 12 guys and 12 gals. They’re going to have America vote in 5 guys and 5 girls, then the judges get Wild Card picks. This is a pretty big change from years past when they only eliminated 2 a week in the semis. Only 5 out of 12 are not very good odds. You must bring it immediately.

They have a new 360 stage (theatre in the round, if you will). But Ryan Seacrest still sucks.

On a side note, it’s funny how American Idol took the ages and hometowns off of their website (unlike previous seasons) and don’t put them on the screen either. I wonder if that’s a conscious decision on their part?

I’ll try to keep this one short, as I’m still getting to know the contestants…

01 – Clint Jun Gamboa, Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
I hate this guy. I’ll just get that out there. From the little I saw of Hollywood Week, he kicked the fat kid Jacee out of his group. And he has bad glasses. And vampire teeth. And Voldemort’s nose. I actually thought he was “mentally challenged” when he first auditioned. The Idol Chatter guy said he looked like a grown-up version of the Little Einsteins (that drew a laugh from me). The judges liked him though. Needless to say, I didn’t.

02 – Jovany Barreto, I’ll Be (Edwin McCain)
This was the guy who showed his abs in the auditions. He’s got quite a chin too. Very Leno-like. I really like Edwin McCain, but he didn’t really do much with this song. You’ve probably heard this 10 times now, but my first dance (with my wife Kristin) was to Edwin McCain’s “I Could Not Ask For More.” That’s my ringtone for her too. For some reason, Tyler & JLo thought they had to be nice since they’re new, but Randy kept it real and said it felt karaoke, sounded like the original, but not as good.

03 – Jordan Dorsey, OMG (Usher)
Really? This is not a song to show your vocal chops in a singing competition. Stupid song choice. He admitted afterwards that this song “was not me.” Twelve singers and only 5 get voted through. Again, stupid song choice. Stick a fork in him.

04 – Tim Halperin, Streetcorner Symphony (Come On Over) (Rob Thomas)
I thought this sounded horrible. Maybe it was that his mike needed to be louder. All the judges like him, but thought the song didn’t do him justice. Sounds like disaster.

05 – Brett Loewenstern, Light My Fire (The Doors)
It was like the Light My Fire Lite version. Odd song choice. Flipped his hair quite a bit though. It was offputting. I like this kid and his story, but that’s not going to get it done.

06 – James Durbin, You Got Another Thing Comin’ (Judas Priest)
This is the kid from Santa Cruz. If I remember right, slightly autistic. He’s my 8 year old son Jared’s favorite. I let Jared stay up for the show. Don’t tell his mom. She’s away on a business trip. He got to stay up until 9:30 even though his bedtime is 9:00. But he was helping me on the recap. I think James has a real rock star quality to him. Although he does the Siobhan scream. I may get tired of that every week. I know Simon would’ve. Tyler cursed and called him (bleeping) crazy good. JLo called him, among other things, “organic” and “insane.” I haven’t seen the gals yet, but he’s definitely a favorite.

07 – Robbie Rosen, Arms of an Angel (Sarah McLachlan)
This was a weird arrangement for me. I felt like he changed it up too much. Made a painfully slow song even slower. I once saw a Twisted concert at the United Center. Real weird show. Like 12 bands/performers and they ranged from (I’m dating myself alert; it was 1999-ish) Chumbawumba, 311, Everclear, then Sarah McLachlin, Duran Duran and the headliner was The Cure. The concert took all day. Seriously, Chumbawumba. Tyler & JLo praised him (again), but Randy didn’t think it was a great performance and he never got quite settled in. I like the kid, but I thought this effort was horrible. And he’s got Lego hair.

08 – Scotty McCreery, Letters From Home (John Michael Montgomery)
From the snippet of what I saw in Hollywood Week, I don’t like this kid either. He was the one making people sing for him to see if he would allow them into his group. Pretty arrogant, in my opinion. And he looks like Alfred E. Newman from Mad Magazine fame. I just think he thinks he’s too cool for school and I’m put off by that. And I don’t like country music. Judges loved him. He may get through, but he’ll never be a favorite of mine.

09 – Stefano Langone, Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars)
My son Jared thinks he looks like David Archuleta. Since we have an 8 year old and a 5 year old, our radio is constantly on Radio Disney and we hear Bruno Mars songs all the time, but strangely enough, I didn’t recognize this song. Jared did though! I really like this kid. Some of the blogs though he was sharp and couldn’t keep up with the song, but I liked it. Stefano looks like a younger version of an actor, but I can’t think of his name. It’ll come to me. I hope he’s still on next week. Maybe my buddy Tony will come up with it. He’s the one who sends on his look alikes every season.

10 – Paul McDonald, Maggie Mae (Rod Stewart)
The first thing I thought when I saw him (I don’t remember him from Hollywood or the auditions) is that he’s Taylor Hicks without the white hair. His phrasing was so odd, like Didi from last season and Megan from 2 season’s ago. Paul’s definitely a different dude. I noticed his ultra white teeth (especially with his Johnny Cash, all black look) and it was funny to hear JLo mention that too. He’s unique and different, but I was not a fan.

11 – Jacob Lusk, A House Is Not A Home (Luther Vandross)
Wow. Great performance. I kinda remember this guy from Hollywood. Jared thought he looked like Stephon Marbury. Hmm. He must take after me in the look alike department… He actually reminds me of an actor named Harold Sylvester, who played DC in “Fast Break,” the basketball movie (I’m dating myself again, circa 1979) with Gabe Kaplan as the coach. I think Jacob’s going to go far in this competition.

12 – Casey Abrams, I Put A Spell On You (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins)
He reminds me of that dude Normand Gentile from a few years back, but with a better voice and singing chops. I don’t remember this guy from the auditions or Hollywood either. He’s out to a create a different American Idol mold and he’s off to a good start. He’s different alright. Judges loved him. I need to see more.

Jared had me vote for James, Jacob, Stefano and Brett tonight.

If I had to guess who (based on performance) should be in the top 5, I’d say: James, Jacob, Stefano, then I don’t know. I think the worst ones were Jordan, Jovany, Robbie and Tim. That leaves 2 of Clint Jun, Brett, Scotty, Paul and Casey.

Can’t wait to hear the gals tomorrow.