American Idol Season 12: Judges

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For twelve seasons I have watch American Idol.  I fell in love with Simon and his rude comments from the very begining.  When I learned that he and Paula Abdul were leaving, I was convinced that I could never love the show like I had.  But then I tuned in to watch the only talent contest I really love to watch the new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler join the only remaining judge, Randy Jackson.  I had no faith that I would even watch that season to the end, but I quickly fell in love with the new combination.  While I will NEVER see the appeal of Tyler for so many woman, as a judge, he was perfect!  I learned to not judge a...JUDGE by its cover.  But then they broke my heart and left the show...

I'm pretty sure the show's producers must have been heartbroken too because it could have only been a grief induced fog that would have caused them to think that putting Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj in a room together was a wise idea!

And poor Keith Urban, I'm guessing he was bound in a irrevocable contract before they announced he'd be dealing with those two cuz he seems entirely too level headed to willingly sign up for that crap.

I have to guess that this will be the last season for Randy Jackson.  Though I'm still holding out hope that he'll be the one to whip the divas into shape.

I will be watching this season but with the first night of auditions over I am not enjoying this combination at all.  The drama coming from the ladies is disgusting.  It's like every stereotype of catty, bitchiness woman spend their whole life trying to fight!

How about you, are you watching this season?

American Idol Top 13 Performances

 

Are you watching American Idol? What do you think of the Top 13? I think they all did at least a decent job this week. But I was glad to hear the judges not just overly praise every performance. Without critique how are they to improve.

But far away the stand out of the night was Jessica Sanchez! I could have closed my eyes and thought this was Whitney singing. Her voice is amazing and I have no doubt she will go somewhere in music regardless of the outcome of this season. I am however not confident she will win it as I haven't seen her really make a mark outside of her performances and I believe past seasons have shown that personality OFF stage carries a lot of weight. If she can come out of her shell and win the hearts outside of her voice, I think she'll have a good shot.

Phillip Phillips is still one of my faves (from the first round of auditions. Though he seems to step a little further from my taste each week. He reminds me more and more of Casey from last season each week and I wasn't really a Casey fan.

Who are YOU rooting for this season on American Idol?

American Idol Season 11 Week 1 Auditions

American Idol is back and after the first two episodes of American Idol Season 11 auditions, I have several faves.  How about you?  You can go back and rewatch some of the most memorable auditions here on AmericanIdol.com. 
Although I have zero musical talent I know what I like and my early on picks usually do pretty well.  So here are my favorite male ad female auditions for week one.

Hallie Day

Phillip Phillips

Who were your favorites?

American Idol's Youngest Finalist Perform

The end has finally come to what has been my favorite season of American Idol ever.  This MIGHT have a little something to do with the fact that my 2 favorites from the very beginning are in the finale.

This week Lauren and Scotty each sang three songs.  First they did their favorites song from the season, then their musical idols chose their songs. Scotty's song was picked by George Strait and Carrie Underwood chose for Lauren.  And finally they each sang the song that will be their first single if they win. Because I love the both, and the judges did no critiques after the individual performances, I ended up with very little to say about the final 2.  I honestly cannot pick a personal favorite and can't wait to see wins.  I loved watching the two of them after all three performances, you could tell Scotty whispered something to Lauren to the effect that she won.  They are so cute together.  I don't know what to make of the rumors of them dating but they sure are cute together because they are both so darn sweet! 

No matter which one wins, I am confident that they will both go on to do great things on the country charts!! 

Lauren Alaina

First Song: "Flat On The Floor"
Lauren did a great job with this song again.  I really like her in this feel of song.  I LOVE Miranda Lambert and I think she is a lot like her sound wise.

Second Song: "Baby It Was Memphis"
I think she did a great job with this one.  I thought it was a little different from what she had been picking but I thought she sounded great.  I was not a fan of this outfit though.  Those short skirts make me think of Toddlers and Tiaras.

Third Song: "Like My Mother Does"
Just hearing the title of this song made me start to tear up.  I don't know if it was overly emotional or if there were sound issues but there were times where it was very hard for me to understand the words she was singing.  But I do really like the song and can see it being a HUGE hit!!

Scotty McCreery

First Song: "Gone"
I thought he did a good job but for some reason it didn't strike me as much as it did the first time he did it.

Second Song:"Check Yes or No"
I LOVED Scotty doing this song.   I really love this song and I thought he did great with it.  


Third Song: "I Love You This Big"
I loved that this song actually fit him.  As much as I love when he sings ANYTHING, sometimes he's clearly too young to really understand the feelings behind some of the songs he's done.  While I don't personally know if he's ever actually been in love, at least the possibility is there that he could truly understand the emotion of this song.  I think he did a great job with it.  I don't usually 'feel' songs when I hear them for the first time but I really liked this one.

Photos courtesy of American Idol online.

Top 3 American Idol Contestants Take on 3 Songs Each

This week American Idol's Top 3 each sing three songs.  Clearly a true Idol will need to be able to perform a full set of songs but I can't even imagine having to learn three songs PLUS they each had their hometown visit this past weekend.

They each sang a song of their choice, a song Jimmy Iovine chose and a song the judges chose for them.

Haley Reinhart




First Song: "What Is and What Should Never Be"
Haley grabbed herself a standing ovation from Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson for this performance.  Despite a fall and a resulting missed line or two, she came back to finis this big song strong.  Jennifer Lopez thought that Haley's jog around the judges to have created a moment and I guess, therefor was worth the ending slip but I just thought it looked awkward as we was literally just running around them.  I didn't love the song but thought it was a great performance and I loved that she was able to get her dad to play guitar for the song.

Second Song: "Rhiannon"
I LOVE Stevie Nicks which I guess makes it a little ironic that I have not always been a huge fan of Haley's because she has a very similar voice.  But I loved everything about this performance, from the look of it with the dress and her hair blowing "in the wind" to her vocals.  I think if she did nothing but Stevie Nicks songs, I would always love her.

Third Song: "You Oughtta Know"
I am also an Alanis fan as this album came out my freshman year in college, we listened to it nostop for months.  I really wasn't sure how she would do with this song and it wasn't flawless but she did well.   I think she was trying to cover too much of the stage for some reason tonight and she'd have done better if she just calmed down a bit.  But the chorus was super strong.

Lauren Alaina

First Song: "Wild One"
You know I have loved Lauren since the beginning and I LOVE me some Faith Hill but although the judges LOVED her performance I thought it felt off from the start.  I don't know why but it felt rushed for me.  I think she did a good job but it just felt like the tempo was just a little too fast or something and she was trying to catch up with it the whole time. 

Second Song:"If I Die Young"
I think Lauren came out a little frazzled after knowing millions of people saw her getting her legs made up after ripping her nylons.  Jennifer Lopez thought she got a little lost in the emotion but got right back in it but I think it could have easily been nerves too.  Either way, I think she still had a strong performance and I didn't hear the 'little pitch problems" Randy heard.

Third Song: "I Hope You Dance"
This is one of my all time favorite song and it almost always makes me cry as I think of all the things I want for my boys lives.  It is a BIG song that has the potential to be either a big success or a big flop.  I was surprised that Lauren changed it up a little hear and there to make it her own.  But I think she totally nailed it!  She looked beautiful and sounded even more beautiful. And she even gave Jennifer Lopez goose bumps!

Scotty McCreery

First Song: "Amazed"
I thought that Scotty did amazingly well with this song.  It's a great song and higher than his standard picks but he killed it.  With each week he has been stepping it up and proving he can do more than just that beautiful low tone.

Second Song:"Are You Gonna Kiss Me"
I hadn't heard this song before but it was a great one and Scotty was soo in the moment you can almost forget that he is so young.  He sang it well and performed it even better.  Randy Jackson actually compared him to Garth Brooks and, in my book, there is no greater compliment to a singer with any county influence because Garth puts on the most amazing concerts EVER. 

Third Song: "She Believes In Me"

This is the type of old school country my mom listened to when I was little.It had the potential to sort of round out the evening for Scotty as it was a quieter song.  But I thought it had some weak spots.  The judges totally disagreed.  I hope the rest of America agrees with the judges because I really want to see him in the finals!

Ryan Seacrest asked the judges who won round one and got a unanimous Haley.  For round two, Steven said Lauren and Jennifer and Randy said Scotty.  Steven Tyler gave round three to Haley.   Randy and JLo gave it to Lauren.  I'd say it's pretty much up in the air overall based on that.  I really don't think I can even guess at who the top two will be.  My personal choice, in case you haven't been paying attention all along, would be Scotty and Lauren.  But I have to say Haley has done much to win me over.  I just can't get over the adorable personalities of the two southern 'kids.'

Either way I can't wait until the finale next week. I think this is the most excited I've been for a finale in a long time.  Remember, next week the performances are on Tuesday and the results on Wednesday!

Tickets for the American Idol Top 12 LIVE Tour are on sale now. (click image for more info)

Photos courtesy of American Idol online.

Top 4 American Idol Contestants Sing To Go Home Heroes

This week's show opened with a reminder that the three that make it through this elimination will be going back visit their hometowns to a heroes welcome.  

And the Top Four contestants were coached this week by Lady Gaga.  She looked very unique, as usual as worked with the contestants.  But she definitely had some great words of wisdom.

Haley Reinhart




First Song: "The Earth Song"
I don't think I've ever heard this Michael Jackson song before.  I didn't really like the song that much and thought it was too much growling for my taste.  However, Casey was in the audience and clearly really liked it.  Did I mention that I think there's something going on there? Well, I do!  Randy and Jennifer Lopez agreed with me but Steven Tyler disagreed.


Second Song: "I Who Have Nothing"
Another song I didn't know.   I had to look it up to find out Tom Jones and Luther Vandross among others have recorded it.  What can I say, I must live under a rock every now and then.  I think she did really well vocally.  But I didn't find it as earth shattering as the judges who gave her a standing ovation and Jennifer called it the best performance of the season.

James Durbin




First Song: "Don't Stop Believing"
Not only do I KNOW this song, a rarity for James, but I LOVE it.  There were a couple spots I thought something was a little off but overall I thought he killed it.  I love that he even rocked the Journey T-shirt and it got a big thumbs up from former Journey bass player, Randy Jackson.  And he had me cracking up with his fishy faces while Ryan Seacrest gave out the phone numbers for voting.  Not sure if his little one was in the audience or what but he was clearly paying attention to someone in particular but they didn't show who.



Second Song:"Love Potion Number Nine"
This song always makes me think of a lip sync show our junior high did each year because some of my friends performed to this song.  Sorry girls, but James did it MUCH better.  It was a very rock version and went back to the hard core stuff James hadn't really done in a couple weeks.  I loved how he played with the crowd at the end.   

Lauren Alaina

First Song: "Anyway"
Ryan described this song as a contemporary country classic...I'm not sure that contemporary and classic are supposed to go together.   I was suprised to hear that she was taking on a Martina McBride song as Martina has a BIG 'ole voice.  I don't think this is a song Lauren would have been brave enough for just a couple weeks ago.  But I thikn she did a great job with this song she was dedicating to everyone 'back home' who'd been affected by the recent tornados.  The judges were unanimous in their love of her performance.

Second Song: "Trouble"
I loved her innocence in not even wanted to sing the lyrics "I'm Evil," but I didn't understand why she would even pick a song she had objection too.  But luckily Lady Gaga talked her through it and she was able pull it off well.  As Jennifer Lopez pointed out, Lauren really pulled out the performance quality as well as the vocals in this song.  Lauren said this song was really outside of her comfort zone but she tackled it head on and won.

Scotty McCreery

First Song: "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning"
This song always brought me to tears when I heard it on the radio.  And Scotty did it proud.  I had chills before the end of the first line.  He did change it up just a little in a couple spots and I loved what he did with it.  But I do still worry whether is was the right song choice.  I'm hoping the timeliness of it with the recent developments will revive the love for this song and equal lots of votes.  I was prepared for the judges to not like the song selection but they all had very positive things to say!

Second Song: "Young Blood"
This wasn't a song I knew but thought it was fun.  It showed a lighter, fun side of Scotty.  But it also played a little with his range vocally.  I love his stage presence and think he will really do amazing things whether he wins or not!

After all four performed their first song, Ryan asked the judges who won round one.  No one would pick a winner but Randy said Haley was the one lagging and needing to step up her game in the second round.

Photos courtesy of American Idol online.

Top 5 American Idol Contestants

This is the first week that the Idol contestants performed 2 solo songs each.  I enjoy seeing a little extra from each of them in one night.

I was excited to see Sheryl Crow working with the contestants this week.  I love her. (And am totally jealous that one of my good friends is going to see her in concert next week at a very intimate venue.)
And I think she did some great things with the contestants.

Haley Reinhart




First Song: "You And I"
This is a song from Lady Gaga that isn't released yet.  Sheryl Crow thought this song was going to give her a 'real moment.'  But as much as I thought she did well, as she usually does, I didn't see the moment.  And neither did Jennifer Lopez.  

Second Song: "House of the Rising Sun"
Haley started this song a cappella which I think may be the first time anyone has gone a cappella this season since voting began.  She did a great job.  She has such a beautiful, power voice.  Randy voted her the best of the night!

James Durbin




First Song:"Closer To The Edge" 
As with most of James' choices this wasn't a song I was familiar with.  And honestly I think it was one of his shakier vocal performances.  As always he worked the crowd and performed it well.  But his voice just sounded strained to me.  But the judges loved it.


Second Song: "Without You"
This is such a powerful song and he clearly connects very deeply to it.  I LOVED this softer side of him, with him just singing with the microphone and the piano behind him.  He really has an amazing voice!  I think it was a GREAT come back from the first song!  And I was amazed that he held it together just long enough to finish the song, tears in his eyes and all.   That man is filled with some serious love for his family.

Jacob Lusk

First Song: "No Air"

I was a huge fan of Jordan Sparks when she was on Idol and LOVED this song.  It is supposed to be a duet and according to Jimmy Iovine it's really hard to do both parts of a duet.  First of all, half of the time it sounded to me like he was saying "no hair."  Other than that, I did like it and was glad that he finally picked something more current AND recordable!  But Randy didn't think it was the right fit at all.

Second Song: "Love Hurts"

Jimmy and Sheryl Crow pushed Jacob to reach outside of his genre to do this song.  I don't know that he really left his genre so much as took a rock song and made it gospel-y.  I think he did well.  But I'm just not sure it was enough.  Personally he is my least favorite of the group at this point by quite a bit.

Lauren Alaina

First Song: "Flat On The Floor"
I LOVED it!  It was powerful and fun!  She did a really great job with a song that was really well suited for her.

Second Song:"Unchained Melody"
This is big song and very different from her first song of the evening.  There were a few spots where I didn't like what she did with it.  But she made it her own and she did really well overall.  Judges had nothing but good things to say to her!

Scotty McCreery

First Song: "Gone"

I love that each week he is stepping just a little farther out of what was previously his comfort zone but without betraying who he is.  I really liked this!  He rocked out tonight!  And the judges loved it too.  So happy for him.  I loved him from the very beginning but he has grown so much and is proving that he is worthy of still being there!

Second Song: "Always On My Mind"

This is a classic country song.  I think he did this song proud.  I loved his look and the feel of him singing it from the stool.  I don't know that it was technically perfect, but I sure hope it is enough to get him through for another week!

I really can't even guess what will happen this week.  My hope would be for Jacob to go home, if not him my next pick would be Haley, who I like but just not as much as the other three.  I'm still nervous because Scotty was in the bottom two last week!!  I really want James, Lauren and Scotty to be the Top 3.

And in case you needed more reasons to love these contestants, check out these baby photos of the Top 5!

Photos courtesy of American Idol online.