With all the crappy Reality TV out there, not enough mention of one the best shows, American Idol. Many copycats these days, but only one original. Ok, granted this is the adult version of Star Search, but hush up.
Anyway, it’s always fun to root for your favorites, try to predict the winners, and generally get let down by the lack of talent in these young whipper snappers these days. Sadly, though AI is a great vehicle for the talent search, the results are not always indicative of good things. Taylor Hicks jumps out of course as most surprising winner and the documented troubles of Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino are unfortunate. Luckily we have Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson as true standouts, and recently David Cook and Lee DeWyze doing well. Last year we got Scotty McCreery as the hometown favorite. Don’t forget Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson as non-winners who have made it big as well.
Recent seasons have been sparse with the talent and Danny Gokey was the upset knockout and I needed earplugs for Adam Lambert’s high pitched squealing in season 8. Kris Allen has to be the scrawniest winner of all time (including the women). Though season 9 was also lacking quantity of talent, Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox were personal favs from the start and I loved their duet. Season 10 again lacked talent, but brought us the hometown winner, Scotty McCreery. The outrage over the early ousting of Pai Toscano seemed too much, but perhaps a matter of taste. Perhaps the best thing about season 10 was it brought us the “angry muppet”, Casey Abrams.
So when I tuned in to season 11, I wasn’t expecting much. But after quickly playing and fast forwarding through the season (thank you DVR!), I’m surprised at the overall talent this year and actually think selection for the top 24 went well.
So now it’s time to have fun and make a few comments on notables below.
Aaron Marcellus
Good tone, mature, confident. Should do well.
Adam Brock
Unique voice and passionate, but perhaps too emotional.
Colton Dixon
Return success and sucks his sister didn’t make it as well. I want to sit on him and shave his head. Ok, but I don’t see going far.
Creighton Fraker
Interesting perhaps, but thinking just average.
DeAndre Brackensick
Should see Scotty McCreery to find out what a man’s voice should sound like.
Eben Franckewitz
The name alone will kill him (Steve Lawrence was born Sidney Lebowitz after all). Too young to make it.
Heejun Han
The focal point of many snippets of coverage so far, and nice enough, but needs to work on complete enunciation.
Hollie Cavanagh
Projects well. But one of a ton of blondes this year.
Jen Hirsh
Fun, confident, should do well.
Jeremy Rosado
Nice guy for sure, but not seeing anything to stand out. Young.
Jessica Sanchez
Big voice. Young but seems confident and in control. Should do well.
Joshua Ledet
Interesting big voice and just letting go, but don’t know if that will work enough.
Hallie Day
Tall (though not as tall as Shannon Magrane), confident, consistent. Should do well.
Phillip Phillips
Going with average overall but with upside.
Reed Grimm
Nice, fun, funny, but too vaudeville. Well rounded, confident, great performer, multi-talented, but not seen any real, full performances. Simon might not have let him through.
Shannon Magrane
Actually seems to have a good voice, but might be too young and unpolished to really compete. But I can’t be impartial here since I have a fascination with Amazon women.
Skylar Laine
Though I have love for country singers, I’m just not feeling it here. Too young, too much swagger, not enough everything else.
Early on, there was a lot of love for NC hopefuls, but only one made it through to the top 24, Chelsea Sorrell.
Now there’s the call back of one of the following 4 guys:
Jermaine Jones
Real man’s voice obviously, but seems too opera like.
Johnny Keyser
Probably has the look they want and by default should make it out of this callback.
Richie Law
Another deep voice, but the guy was just irritating the whole time.
David Leathers
Nice kid, loved his comments after final cut. But too young and nothing to stand out.
So then here are my predictions for Top 10
Aaron Marcellus
Adam Brock
Hollie Cavanagh
Jen Hirsh
Jessica Sanchez
Joshua Ledet
Hallie Day
Phillip Phillips
Reed Grimm
Shannon Magrane
And the Top 3
Jen Hirsh
Jessica Sanchez
Hallie Day
Hard to pick a winner yet but I can’t imagine the guys doing too well. Apparently the producers spotted that as well, bring a guy back just to help.
Now we get to sit back and enjoy and revisit the predictions each week.
