20 replies to this topic

[TWoP Tennison]

Erika Van Pelt

[BootStar]

So glad the "judges" put her through. I know she's fodder, but I love her voice and her confidence. I'm hoping the stylists help her out and don't try to sabotage her. You go, girl.

[MandoMaid]

Love her! One of my favorites - great pitch, great energy and really connects with a song. She so needs a stylist, though. Where's Stacy and Clinton when you need them?

[Dejana]

Top 13 Q&A

What sets you apart from the other contestants?
Erika Van Pelt: I have sort of a unique tone and timbre. I like to belt it out and I sort of can pull it back and do sort of these more restrained tunes, but when I get going I like to rock out and I like to squall and I like to show people I have that rock edge, too.

What do you need to improve to win the competition?
Erika Van Pelt: To be honest, I’ve had one real vocal lesson my whole life, when I was 7. So I’m taking full advantage of the American Idol staff — all the amazing vocal coaches and musicians they have. I just want to learn some more things about my instrument. That’s why I’m here.

What one thing about yourself do you most want people to know that hasn’t been covered on the show?
Erika Van Pelt: Besides the fact that I’m not professionally trained, I didn’t think I was going to be a singer until I got to freshman year of high school. I sang in church as a kid, but I played a lot of sports and I always thought I was going to be an astronaut. I would still like to go to space!

This is the point when contestants often get makeovers — anything you’d love or loathe to change?
Erika Van Pelt: I’m not afraid of anything. I’m pretty fearless. I’m excited to see what they want to do.

Any specific theme nights you’re dreading or looking forward to?
Erika Van Pelt: Of course I would be looking forward to any sort of throwback, rock theme. If we had ’80s I would love that. If we did country week that would be slightly out of my comfort zone. But then again, I feel rock and country can be very similar.

Who gives the most constructive and helpful feedback: Steven, Jennifer, or Randy?
Erika Van Pelt: Jennifer has been the one to give me the most constructive criticism. All the positive feedback is great, but I like the constructive criticism so I can go home, work on something, bring it back, and try to knock it out of the park. I’m here to grow.

[JazzieCazzie]

While I think this competition may be Jessica Sanchez's to lose, and that little girl is amazing, Erika is absolutely my favorite ... well, I can't call her a girl. My favorite woman. By a mile.

She may be my favorite woman on this show since Melinda Doolittle. I adore her voice and it's unique. Unlike most of the contestants, IMHO, I think if I turned on the radio and heard her I'd immediately know it was Erika.

And she seems real and funny and like someone you'd want to hang out with. I got a lot of Kelly Clarkson from her, not so much in her style of singing, but in that she could be a slow-burner who won't screw up, won't make stupid or bad song choices, knows what she can and can't do, and could really grow on people for the long haul.

I kinda may be woman-crushing on her just a little.

[chesslover]

Might be my ears playing tricks on me but it sounds like she's got something in her throat-to me anyway.

[Yogurt Baron]

I love her personality, I loved her audition, I loved her SFYL wildcard performance, I loved her in Vegas. Based on those things, she'd be my favourite. I can't think of many worse semifinal performances ever on the show than her "What About Love", most of which was drowned out by the band, and what little bit of it I could hear sounded badly out of tune to me. And I don't think this show has ever hurt my ears worse, including the annual parade of bad auditions, than what they called her "signature performance" in Hollywood---remember, the screaming about sugar, whatever that was? Based on those things, she'd be my least favourite. I'm going to have to go week-to-week with her---Kelly Clarkson potential, but real trainwreck potential, too.

[RoisterDoister]

Unlike most of the contestants, IMHO, I think if I turned on the radio and heard her I'd immediately know it was Erika.

I love her husky alto.

I can't think of many worse semifinal performances ever on the show than her "What About Love", most of which was drowned out by the band, and what little bit of it I could hear sounded badly out of tune to me

You really think her performance was worse than Eben, Baylie, Haylie, Brielle, Heejun and anything Sanjaya or Antonella ever did in the semis? Different strokes, I guess.

[NoteForMyself]

Erika is one of my favorites. I love her voice and her personality. She knows who she is. And she also has a very pretty face. Unfortunately, with the voting demographics of the AI audience, I don't expect her to be around for long. But she so deserved the Wild Card slot.

[Airy Pits]

Going by her two live performances, I suspect I'll be buying a lot of Erika's studio recordings this season. Love the voice, love the confidence, hated the sack dress in her "Edge of Glory" performance.

[MandoMaid]

And she seems real and funny and like someone you'd want to hang out with. I got a lot of Kelly Clarkson from her, not so much in her style of singing, but in that she could be a slow-burner who won't screw up, won't make stupid or bad song choices, knows what she can and can't do, and could really grow on people for the long haul.

Yeah, I'm feeling that about her. She doesn't affect a stage persona. What you see is what you get.

I'm a big Kelly Clarkson fan. Could be why I like Erika so much.

[dodginblue]

I just went back and listened again to "I Believe in you and Me" from the other night and I find her performance so impressive, I think she did such a nice job of interpreting it in a way that didn't make me immediately compare it to the original. She's got such a warm, sincere persona when she sings, and she made it about the song, not about herself. I could definitely see myself buying her music and I really hope she's able to attract enough attention to keep herself in the competition. Maybe she needs to come out and do some kind of country song or something. But what I could really see her doing is Blues. She's got that smoky tone in her voice.

[Cherry Wire]

I've always liked Erika's sound, but tonight she finally looked like a star too. She's charismatic in a grown-up, self-assured way the teen girls can't touch. And she did a nice job with a lousy arrangement that would have sunk some of the other Top 12'ers if they got it.

Is it too much to hope she makes some kind of miracle run to the top 3?

[Michmak]

Love her new look-it really suits her, and her gorgeous smoky alto.

Edited by Michmak, Mar 21, 2012 @ 10:25 PM.

[Phan]

I literally just spent the last two hours redialing for this woman. I love her voice, loved the new look - I also really appreciate the fact that she was willing to take a chance on something as simple as a new haircut and look - and her take on New York State of Mind was simply fantastic. If she goes home tomorrow, I will never vote again.

[bonita18]

Loved the new look! And being a part of Red Sox Nation I would have found it hard to sing about a New York State of Mind except sarcastically. Good job Erika!

[BootStar]

I thought she was great last night and that she looked fantastic. I have no idea what her natural hair color is, but she definitely looks better as a brunette. They gave her very "meh" feedback, however, so I'm worried for her, especially with he early placement in the lineup. Felt like they were throwing her under the bus a bit to secure Elise's place in the competition since apparently there's only room for one "old lady" on the show. If I have to choose, I'm going with Erika.

[RoisterDoister]

Too bad she's gone, because she outsang almost everyone last night. At least she went out on a high note. Hold your head up high, girl.

[Phan]

Well, my streak of damning the contestants by voting for them continues. Erika went out with a bang though and she's on the tour. That's still pretty cool.

[BootStar]

And the tour gets a GREAT opening act, so there's that too.

[chesslover]

The first top ten bootie always opens the tour? I did not know that.