AI 11: Finalists 1st 2 weeks

Week 1

Interesting theme using the male/female artists they had to sing from. Think that hurt some due to style clashes.

Let's just jump right to it
Joshua Ledet – good performance, wasn't over the top this week

Elise Testone – another good performance

Jermaine Jones – good, safe, but still not feeling it

Erika Van Pelt – good but didn't fit as well

Colton Dixon – ok, unfair for a whiny guy voice to sing Whitney

Shannon Magrane – good in parts, but some weak parts as well

Deandre Brackensick – what the hell was that

Skylar Laine – good for a country singer doing Whitney

Heejun – I just dont think I will ever get over the enunciation problems

Hollie Cavanough – one of the top this week

Jeremy Rosado – I actually like this

Jessica Sanchez – went big and succeeded

Phillip Phillips – definitely still the darkhorse, loved it

I think I liked the end question Ryan threw, 2 stand out and 2 in trouble

Stand Outs
Jessica S, Phillip P

In Trouble
Shannon M, Jermaine, Elise

I didn't like Colton, Heejun or Jeremy but they seem to be fan favorites.

So I watched the results show and was not surprised by the bottom 4 or voting off Jeremy (except that he was a fan favorite).


Week 2
The birthday year song theme has been done before and it's a good choice allowing for flexibility.

Phillip Phillips – Once again another grooved performance. Like his voice and style.

Jessica Sanchez – Didn't like the song choice – doesn't do anything to show off her cvoice and she didn' have the energy or presence like Colton for instance to pull it off that way.

Heejun – Still not seeing it, though the enunciation was better.

Elise Testone – Still like her voice/tone.

Deandre Brackensick – I will never get it.

Shannon Magrane – Much better this week, but still maybee weak compared to the field.

Colton Dixon – Very good performer. I actually liked the song choice. He's just too damn skinny.

Erika Van Pelt – I liked trying to rock it, but just didn't work for me.

Skylar Laine – I was thinking oh no, not another country song with a weak voice, but this week she sounded right on and I liked the rocking.

Joshua Ledet – Always a strong performance, I just wish he'd tone down some of the screeching.

Hollie Cavanough – Strong, big voice once again.

Stand Outs
Phillip, Elise, Hollie

Bottom
Heejun, Deandre

Jermaine left due to some legal disclosure technicality. Not much of an impact to me as I didn't think he was going to make it too far.

Here though Heejun is a fan and judge favorite, both were against him to that performance. But if he survives, then Shannon may be in trouble.

So I watched the results show and was not surprised that Shannon and Erika were at the bottom, but surprised Heejun and Deandre were not there as well – even after the judges and producer were down on them. So we're clearly having another Sanajay year with Heejun there and given that, it's not surprising that Shannon went home. While she has potential for future years, Erika has the potential to rebound in this year.