Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The first bit of business tonight will be revealing the identity of the 13th guy who makes the Idol semifinals.

I still think it’s going to be David Leathers.  Nigel tweeted that he’s a little star earlier this season.

And I see him as doing better on the show in the short and long term than Jermaine Jones, Johnny Keyser or Richie Law.

There’s the first bit of big news from tonight’s show.  Each judge will get a wild card pick this week, leaving us with a top 13 for the second straight year.

Well, looks like we’ll have to wait a while until we find out the identity of that 13th guy.  First, we get to hear from Reed Grimm.

Reed Grimm:  He’s going to sing “Moves Like Jagger.”  Odd, the first song tonight was born on The Voice. Hes going to do a jazz version of the song.  Not sure what to make of this.  The vocal started out sleepy.  He wasted key time playing the drums, which is his thing.  Most of all, he did not display the special voice we’re going to hear from some of the guys tonight.  The judges give his rave reviews.  But I’m not so sure anyone will remember that at the end of the night.  Again, I’m just not impressed by Reed. Grade: C.

Adam Brock:  Now we learn that Adam has a degree as a chef as well.  And must we hear again that he thinks he’s got “a large black woman trapped in his body.”  He’s going to try to prove it by singing Aretha Franklin’s “Think.”  So, is that the same old hanky sticking out of his back pocket? Sorry, I got distracted for a moment.  Perhaps because this is an adequate vocal, but not quite as good as I was expecting from Adam. It took him a while to hit his stride, but we started to see some of what he called “white chocolate” once he hit the chorus. Ah, so it’s not the same old hanky.  Didn’t think so.  Grade: B-

Deandre Brackensick:  The young guy we never met in the San Diego auditions is going to sing “Reasons” from Earth, Wind and Fire.  Oh, no, Deandre is in trouble.  First off, why would he choose this song.  To show off his falsetto I suppose.  But something in the song has to work, and nothing’s working for Deandre.  He’d better hope people vote for the face and his hair, because the performance isn’t worth many votes.  Are the judges crazy?  And then Ryan trots a couple of young girls on stage to show how much the ladies should like Deandre.  Really?  Where was this Deandre love before tonight?  Grade: D-

Colton Dixon:  He says he’s going to change it up tonight and shock a few people singing “Decode” by Paramore.  I thought he was going to do something different, but there he is at the piano.  OK, now he gets up.  And now he climbs on the piano.  OK, I’ve giving Colton Dixon big points for being current, for being entertaining and turning in a vocal at least as good as anything we’ve heard so far tonight.  He explains that he’s never away from the piano, which is why he considered that risky. Grade: B

Jeremy Rosado:  I have a feeling the guy from Florida is going to need a big performance tonight to survive, even if he is “huggable” and the “spirit stick” of the Idols. He’s going to sing “Gravity.”  Not sure this is the song I would pick if I had my choice of anything and wanted to make a lasting impression.  He sounded nervous in the opening and except for one big note in the middle, that never rose to the special level.  That said, he did hit some of the best notes of the night so far. And I’m seeing lots of compliments for that performance on Twitter which, I must admit, means more to me than anything coming from these love-everything judges. Grade: B-

And, after an odd interlude in which Steven moves from talking about being a baby in a topless bar to re-enacting a possible Grammy wardrobe malfunction, we get back to singing.

Aaron Marcellus:   The guy with the fewest likes on Facebook and fewest followers on Twitter is going to try to wow us with “Never Can Say Goodbye.”  Is it just me, or is he rushing portions of this song.  Considering some of the male singers who were left in the wreckage of Hollywood and Vegas on Idol, I really expected much more from that performance.  And, no, Aaron, a huge ending glory note does not make up for a performance that was merely adequate to that point.  Grade: C.

Chase Likens:  And, now, finally, we meet Chase Likens, who has horses and loves to whistle and attends college and says he’s “as country as any country boy can be.”  He’ll sing “Storm Warning.”  Why has Idol kept this guy in hiding?  He’s good looking.  He looks perfectly comfortable on stage.  And that vocal was pretty much spot on.  Grade: B+

Creighton Fraker:  This street performer from New York is going to tackle “True Colors.”  Yes, the Cyndi Lauper song. And, no surprise here, he’s going to nail this song with the best vocal we’ve heard all night, soaring where should soar and spot on from the opening note to the closing note.  Easily the best vocal we’ve heard so far.  Grade: A-

Phillip Phillips:  Here comes the pawn shop worker who wants to be known for making great music.  He’ll perform “In the Air Tonight.”  And, yes, he’s got his guitar.  Great.  And he’s going to do his own take on the song, not a karaoke version.  That should score big points with the judges.  So should that big note at the end.  That wasn’t my favorite Phillip Phillips performance, but it certainly should be good enough to get him into the finals.  Jennifer immediately puts him on the level of last year’s finalists.  Grade: B.

Eben Franckewitz:  This guy promised us more current music, and he’s going to sing Adele’s “Set Fire to Rain.”   Not sure this was a good idea. He just doesn’t have the power in his voice to pull this off.  It will be very interesting to see what the judges have to say about this disaster.  Even when he tried to pour it on at the end, it didn’t work.  Well, the judges smoothed it all over, didn’t they? Wow, they are totally worthless.  OK, the end wasn’t bad, but does that excuse the first 1:30 of the song?  I guess we’re supposed to read between the lines, because there was some very mild criticism in that critique. And, sorry, but Eben’s on stage with the big boys.  He should get no breaks because of his age.  Grade: D.

Heejun Han:   This guy is a sure smile every time.  Loved that footage of his mom dancing, then his comment about how she’d kick him in the head if it was aired.  He’s going to sing “Angels.”  OK, let’s be honest folks, the opening of that song wasn’t the greatest, though Heejun sounded much better when he launched into the chorus.  And he has the Idol routine down pat, with the big glory note at the end.  But, look, he could have forgotten half the words and he’d still survive the semifinals.  Grade: B-

Joshua Ledet:  Ryan says some people have nicknamed him “Mantasia.”  The name fits, because this guy has some mad vocals, as Randy would say. He’ll sing “You Pulled Me Through.”  Get ready for something special, folks.  Tell me who else among the males can sing like this.  Best of all, this guy doesn’t oversing.  Wow, the absolute best vocal of the night, by a city mile, a country mile, whatever. Simply fantastic.  Grade: A+

And now, the big reveal:  Who gets a second chance?

It’s Jermaine Jones.  Way to go, American Idol.

 Jermaine Jones:  He’ll sing “Dance With My Father.”  The opening was a little shaky, but he has a great rich tone to his voice.  Jermaine just makes me smile, especially when he stands beside Ryan.  Very nice, sensitive performance.  Not sure it was among the night’s best, but I can’t help rooting for Jermaine.  Grade: B-