74 replies to this topic

[trojan69]

So many shenanigans.

Yes, Amber killed it vocally, but she smiled the whole way through. Not. One. Word.

Subha does not resonate with me, but her vocal was phenomenal. The talent she displayed in the 90-second window she was given was among the best ever seen and heard on the AI stage. Of COURSE she was criticized for that! It was beyond obvious that she was not to be chosen and that it was decided long before the first note was struck tonight. There was a question whether Ameriker would accept or understand her???? After THAT reaction during the song, and the prolonged standing O after?

Kree, on the other hand, lost her tonality a couple of times and was bathed in tongue. It was one long miasma fest - the very thing that was later derided by Randy.

Adriana deserved that last slot over Subha. But Subha was better than Kree tonight.

No way were the decisions based on the performances tonight. No way in hell.

[torreador]

Something seriously wrong with my tv. Almost everyone sounded terrible, even the ones getting tongue baths from the judges. Obviously, either I need a new tv or I have to get my hearing checked, because it sounded like an early audition round, not the last step before top 20.

[Tasya]

What is wrong with Nikki Minaj, I mean really does she have some special condition? I already didn't like her from the previous rounds but if this is how she's going to be during the remainder of the season, I just may not be able to take it. "N:Why are you sad, Girl:"I'm not sad, i'm nervous",N:You're Scaring me". Freaking idiot. Plus, she looks at the camera all of the time. Like stop it already you ditz.

I disagree about Kree and Subha. Kree had a moment or two of shakiness, but Subha was all over the place. It's like she didn't really know what she wanted to do or how she wanted to arrange the song.

[culturevulture73]

The first savee, Teena, was flat yet she got in over the two who sang first and were on key, relatively? Okay.

Amber pretty much nailed down tonight, although I would have been a bit happier if she'd ended it without the big note. Of course, if she had, Nikki would have had some more nonsense about not coming through on TV or whatever.

Interestingly, my DVR had it being the boys tonight - was there some health crisis for someone or was this the plan all along?

Edited by culturevulture73, Feb 20, 2013 @ 10:22 PM.

[kelbel]

On the whole, I was really underwhelmed tonight. Soooo many ballads.

As far as who went through, I pretty much agreed with there choices. Except for one. I thought Tenna Torres sounded horrible. Isabelle was better than her, imo, and was shocked that Tenna made it in over her. Don't understand what the judges were thinking there.

I still like Angela, but she wasn't as good as last week. Didn't like the arrangement of that song and felt she was trying a bit too hard. Of course the judges were too busy gushing over her original song last week to comment on her performance tonight. But she was still better than the majority of all the other girls.

Kree was the standout for me tonight. Her vocal was effortless and pure. With that being said, I found the song a bit boring. She doesn't seem to have much of a personality that jumps out on TV and she dresses really plain. But I don't mind it for now. She's kind of like Adele. She's just all about the voice and doesn't worry about anything else.

I don't know why that Kamaria girl thought it was good idea to sing Kelly Clarkson. She was horribly off key the entire song. When will people learn to stay away from Kelly Clarkson? I felt bad for her, though. She obviously knew she had no chance of going through.

Brandy Hotard looks like Tierra from The Bachelor.

Edited by kelbel, Feb 20, 2013 @ 10:23 PM.

[mojoween]

My DVR said ladies.

I thought Born This Way was a hot stinking mess. It's one thing to try to make it your own but another thing to make it utterly unrecognizable and also all over the place. I hated it.

I actually didn't like any of the girls tonight. Boooooring.

[vb68]

I will give this to Nicki Minaj, she is the one judge that I actually want to hear respond. I couldn't believe she told that one woman to cut all her hair and jokingly said to go bald. I know it was meant to be funny, but even just going there is odd. Mariah, on the hand, struggles to with something to say at the very end of the panel. I did love her WTF facial expression after Nicki said one performance was like Christina Aguilera mixed with the Gangham guy.

Keith seemed more competent than I was expecting. I think he's an improvement on Steven Tyler.

It was easy for me to pick who was going through based on their comments. I thought they got it basically right.

Edited by vb68, Feb 20, 2013 @ 11:15 PM.

[MarySNJ]

I thought Born This Way was a hot stinking mess. It's one thing to try to make it your own but another thing to make it utterly unrecognizable and also all over the place. I hated it.

I agree. I thought it was a very strange song choice.

There was a lot of samey-samey tonight. Lots of ballads or non-ballads that were balladed-up. I hope the next batch do mostly uptempo stuff.

I'm really liking the tone, tenderness and subtlety of Kree's singing. It wasn't perfect but it was refreshingly not over-wrought compared to some of the others.

Otherwise, there are some pretty voices but I haven't been floored by anyone yet like I was with Elise early last season.

I was really not impressed with Teena and thought the other girl... Isabelle?, deserved to make it over her. Plus there's a squeaky quality to Teena's voice that isn't pleasing. Apparently the PTB have name-dropped her in the media so they must really like her. I don't get, at least not yet.



I prefer the live shows over the contrived drama of the green mile but I always liked the voting rounds with 24 semifinalists over the sudden death with wildcards.

[torreador]

I missed the first couple of minutes. Was the assigned theme "slow and boring"?

Also, Born this Way singer could not dance. And whoever let her wear those pant? Yikes!

[Nidratime]

Nicki said to go bald?! I didn't hear that. She said to cut the hair and style it "younger<' not to go bald. And, frankly, I agreed. It looked like 1970's hair.

[damalanop]

I didn't have a problem with any of the choices tonight, which I think may be a first for me! Isabelle, I thought was really good and could have been interchanged with Teena, who I liked before, but tonight was just okay. But again, I had no real quibble with the judges' choices. Cree was the standout for me, followed closely by the girl from Alaska (I am blanking on her name!).

[aps817]

Nicki told her to lose the hair cause she was wearing a wig/weave and it looked horrible! Obviously she doesn't want her to go bald.

[vb68]

Obviously she doesn't want her to go bald.

The bald part was a joke. Randy felt the need to walk it back, saying that Nicki wanted her to keep some hair.

Edited by vb68, Feb 20, 2013 @ 10:53 PM.

[ripa27]

Would it kill somebody to just stay at the piano for an entire performance? I'm so tired of seeing contestants play for 15 seconds and then the performance goes to shit as soon as they stand up.


Not feeling Tenna at all. It sounds like someone is choking her whenever she goes into her upper register.

Edited by ripa27, Feb 20, 2013 @ 11:10 PM.

[cocopuffy]

I agreed with the judges' picks except for Tenna Torres-who I just chalked up to mariah Carey wanting to push one of her camp kids through. I was generally underwhelmed except for Kree and Amber...a couple of the girls were just awful.
"Born this Way" was a trainwreck and the Kelly Clarkson song was just NOOOOOO...that poor girl. Something had to have been wrong with her earpiece because there is no way she sounded like that and made it to a live audience.

[LennieB]

I didn't hear MY American Idol tonight.

[Sedruol]

I was impressed at how well the panel did judging a live show. There were some great, specific comments provided, which is such an improvement from last season.

I couldn't argue with the ones voted through for the most part, although I do lament the loss of Shubha - she had a great voice and tons of charisma. I could have done without Teena, but I knew the Camp Mariah alum was safe.

[peggy06]

What a boring show full of boring songs. If this is a girl's year, it's gonna be a snooze-fest. And they all sound the same. Kree and Shubha were the only ones who stood out for me. Kree had the most honest, least forced vocal performance of the night. I'm not a country fan, though, and I hope she changes it up from sad/inspirational slow songs. Shubha was trying too hard, but I thought her voice was much more interesting than most of the rest. And she had some spark. Really don't like this format, and to have four judges basically repeating each other is a total drag. I may not last out the season.

Edited by peggy06, Feb 20, 2013 @ 11:36 PM.

[Mycenaeus]

Here were my top 5 for the night:

1. Amber- best vocal performance of the night, although I agree with whoever said she didn't need to make the last note a glory note.

2. Kree- 2nd best vocal performance. She went flat a couple of times but I like that she doesn't feel the need to overdo it. I've yet to see her do anything uptempo though.

3. Isabelle- Yes, the arrangement was very loungy and old-fashioned, but the vocals were pretty good. She definitely deserved a spot.

4. Angela- The vocals were good, but I didn't really like the song choice. She made it for me because of her previous showing.

5. Shubah- The arrangement was a bit frantic, but I think it took some spunk to even attempt this. Her voice is great and she is very current and memorable.

Instead Tenna Torres and Jessica Sanchez 2.0 got into the top 5. Tenna Torres has great control but an unpleasant tone. Since she went to camp Mariah, we know Mimi was an automatic yes. Which probably means that Randy was an auto-yes as well. Nicki got defensive when people called her out for saying Tenna was the best singer in her group (she wasn't) and so she probably sealed the deal to get Tenna through.

As for Jessica Sanchez 2.0 (I can't remember her name- Adriana?), I didn't think her singing was good at all and I was surprised the judges gave her a standing-o. She sung Aretha and didn't come close.

Is this our first unedited look at the judges? I think I like them. Keith is adorable. Mariah actually speaks-- who knew? She was practically a smiling non-entity during the edited episodes. They have a good dynamic. I think they could lose Randy though.

[Sparkling Beth]

I was impressed at how well the panel did judging a live show. There were some great, specific comments provided, which is such an improvement from last season.

I felt the same way. I've been waiting for years for the judges--from Randy, Simon, and Paula through to Randy, Steven, and J.Lo--to give specific and constructive critiques. Don't just tell the contestant "That was da bomb!" or "That was a complete and utter mess." Tell them why. And how they can improve if necessary. The judges tonight did that, and I was very pleasantly surprised. I hope they keep it up throughout the season. I thought this judging panel would be a train wreck but I think they did a great job tonight.

[Mystery]

I liked Shuba (sp) and hoped she'd make it through. Don't care for Tenna and I'm not sure how many more episodes of Nicki I can watch, but I do like Keith a lot.

My Comcast DVR also had this listed as guys tonight.

[Bookrat]

Are the judges tone deaf? So many were off key and yet got praised. Geesh, I just want them to stay in pitch.

[corvus13]

Why do I only know like two of these girls?
I really liked Teena Torres at the beginning, but wow, she sucked towards the end.
Why is Keith sitting so far away from Nikki on the edge of the desk? At least she sounded sane tonight.
How old is Brandy? She looks and sounds like she's 35.
"Mister Know-it-All" was horrible. And the audience didn't boo the critiques much, so they didn't like it either. :)
I didn't like what Kree was wearing, but she sounded good. Best of the night.
Angela, a/k/a TCO, was a'right, but she was too histrionic.
Isabelle? Just Isabelle? Pretentious much?
"My Funny Valentine" hurt my ears. Just, yuck. And Randy said she wasn't oversinging it? And Mariah said it was brilliant? Please. Amber should not have been put through.
Why did Randy say the results weren't unanimous, when Ryan said they were?

[BogoGog24]

I agreed with all the judges' choices except, like everyone else, thought Isabelle deserved a spot instead of Teena. I think once it goes to audience voting she will be gone though, unless she manages to fix her voice by the next performance. I don't know what the judges were hearing with that one, seriously. I also found her hand gestures really distracting. Adriana isn't my favorite, I think her tone is a bit strange and takes some getting used to, but I think she deserved the spot over Shuba. Shuba was all over the place with that song- she should have stayed at the piano.

I think sadly Angela reached her peak in Hollywood week with her original song, similar to Andrew in Season 9 when he did Straight Up then basically went downhill from there. She will never be able to reach that same level of excellence she had with her original song unless she pulls out something really fantastic, everyone will always compare her performances to her original song.

I am sooo confused as to why Isabelle was not put through- she had the voice as well as a very relatable and inspiring story that I thought for sure they'd want to put her through because they know it would probably get a lot of votes. I have the feeling it was because Randy didn't like how it was "old fashioned" (can't believe him of all people even has the nerve to call something old fashioned, much less ditch the classics) Joshua sang this song last year and no one cared...

For me, Amber and Kree were the best of the night. Everyone else was either okay or just awful. I think except for Teena they made the right decisions. I felt bad for that girl that had to go first- she was literally the only person to sing anything upbeat and you have to give her props for going first on the first night. She sounds like she could be a great country singer.

I actually really liked how Kree dressed more subtly than the other girls. She doesn't need some over the top sexy outfit because her talent is enough to make people pay attention, at least for me it was. It's refreshing to see a girl contestant dress like a normal person instead of weird wigs, ugly makeup, and 5-inch heels with her boobs hanging out of a sparkly bra.

I also agree that the show dragged quite a bit. I hope that for the rest of the season the girls don't keep picking just ballads, it's so boring! Hopefully the guys' show will be more interesting- I liked more of them than the girls anyway.

And I'm also curious/confused about something: Was this actually a live show? Because I thought it was pre-taped, even though it was filmed in front of a live studio audience, but at the same time, there doesn't seem to be any editing done...

[cggb]

I don't like Nicki the performer or the celebrity, but she is the only one on the panel that has worthwhile things to say.

[angelita100]

Kree and Amber -- BIG ASS GAP - and everyone else. I would have picked Shuba over Angela, Adriana or Teena. Angela will getto at least 5th spot from that original song last week. She sucked tonight but easily made it through. Although I do think Nikki was trying tell her the same thing I was thinking.

Nikki is the best idol judge ever as far as I'm concerned. Loved how she called Brandy's performance pageanty. So true. Loved how she told Teena to lose the damn hair. I agree. She just doesn't blow smoke up these folk's butts and that's why I like her. Keith is good too. I'm glad he told Shuba that she was fought for. I think they have a good mix of judges. So now they just need to find some good talent and based on tonight they have a long way to go.

[Ms Kat]

My Funny Valentine? Kill me now. Just Ugh.

Born This Way reminded me of a little girl getting dressed in her mom's clothes and performing in front of her mirror. Awkward and gawky like a colt that hasn't grown into its legs yet.

Isabelle was robbed.....ROBBED I tell ya!
And, just why was her song considered dated but not that horrendous Funny Valentine?

Kree has a Kelly Clarkson vibe, understated. They never saw her coming either. Think she might be a surprise by the end of the season.

N Minaj is growing on me. She is a strange little bird to be sure. Mr. Kat and I always say you like her more when you understand that she is a cartoon and just go with it. She does make some interesting calls though many of which I agree with. I like Keith, he comes off sincere. Randy..well he is just Randy. Mariah is in a tough spot, she is a Diva extrodineere and can't appear to be beating up on innocent little pups. She would come off as a mean girl if she did that, and besides she is always last and the others use up all the good lines.

[rollerblade]

Don't like this format either. I'd feel bad for tonight's 6th place girl, if the next group of 10 girls all sucked ass.

What did Angela sing tonight? Was it the same song as last week? I couldn't tell, and neither could the judges. They seemed to be talking about last week's song and performance.

Kree may be understated, but her wardrobe needs a bit work imo. Doesn't have to be paegent gown or teenie mis-mash or Gaga-rageous, but what she wore today look like what a post-maternity housewife would wear when going to the grocery store. I do love her voice however.

Isabelle.... I wanted her gone before she even sang. Can't stand these contestants who's apparently too good to have a last name.

Is Ryan 5 feet 4 inches tall or what?

[Mycenaeus]

And, just why was her song considered dated but not that horrendous Funny Valentine?

I have the feeling it was because Randy didn't like how it was "old fashioned" (can't believe him of all people even has the nerve to call something old fashioned, much less ditch the classics) Joshua sang this song last year and no one cared...

I don't think the judges objected to Isabelle's song because it was an old song. I think it's because of the way in which it was done. Isabelle had an old fashioned lounge singer arrangement with some big showy vocals towards the end.

Amber, who also sang an old song, got different feedback because she didn't sound dated at all. It was a very R&B take on the song. I think Mariah tried to explain that when she was telling Isabelle she could have stripped down the arrangement to make it modern. But in the end she said Isabelle's voice would sound good over anything, so I didn't think she would go home.

[mojoween]

As long as Nicki continues to start off her critiques with a godawful fake accent, I'll never pay attention to anything she has to say. It could be the most astute observation ever but I will dismiss it immediately. Those accents make me irrationally enraged.