Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Idol Talk - Top 12


This blog is all about keeping it real, and in that spirit I will admit each week where I was wrong…and where I was right. First, I was probably the most wrong about pint-sized Hollie Cavanagh, having placed her at the bottom of my rankings. Where I was right, or pretty close: Jessica Sanchez stole the show with the best Whitney of the night.

This week’s theme is “songs from the year you were born,” which doesn’t seem to give anyone an advantage or disadvantage. It’s anyone’s guess this week who will shine. I think the burden will be on the younger contestants to prove that they can be authentic on songs that might be older than they standard fare.

The fact that 8 of the 12 remaining finalists were born in the 90s makes me feel so horribly old I can barely stand it. On the other hand, it means that I should know most or all of the songs since you could consider the late 80s/early 90s to be the formative years of my youth. Let’s just say you’ll be a lock for my vote if you can pull off a classic tune from Collective Soul, Cranberries, B II M, Natalie Merchant, Seal, Verve Pipe, Chris Isaak, Mariah Carey, Counting Crows, Duncan Sheik…wow, I am set adrift on memory bliss just thinking of the possibilities!

What do you think? Am I completely off my rocker this week? And just for the record, I couldn’t help but look it up, and three of the top four songs in my birth year (1978) were from the Bee Gees. Well, one was from Bee Gee baby bro Andy Gibb. Alright, here are my predictions for the Top 12!

Singers to Beat

1. Jessica Sanchez (1995) Deserves the top spot for “I Will Always Love You.” Maybe it’s just me, but I really hope she can keep it up from week to week. That’s a lot of pressure.
2. Phillip Phillips (1990) Homeboy better represent on behalf of “alt-indie-blah-blah-rock” (or however Randy described it last week). Could really kill it this week with the right song.
3. Colton Dixon (1991) Still waiting to see a breakthrough moment, but the potential is there. So many rock classics to choose from in his birth year.
4. Skylar Laine (1994) Moves up a spot out of respect for keeping her rendition of “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” on the pop side of the tracks rather than attempting to turn it into a country ditty.
5. Hollie Cavanagh (1993) Paris Bennett. Finally remembered who Hollie reminds me of. And I have this crazy idea — I would love to hear her attempt Jon Secada’s “Angel” this week.

Middle of the Pack

6. Heejun Han (1989) Branden on @americanidolnet half-jokingly suggested Heejun completely shock us with Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” and I LOVE the idea! Why not??
7. DeAndre Brackensick (1994) He’s growing on me. As soon as I figure him out, I’ll have more to say.
8. Joshua Ledet (1992) Sunk from #2 in last week’s rankings due to his off-the-mark performance last week that shockingly landed him in the bottom three guys. Hopefully it was just an off week.
9. Shannon Magrane (1995) Bottom two girls last week. Needs to connect. Have this sick feeling in my stomach that she may stay totally safe with  “Colors of the Wind” rather than attempt to branch out and connect on any number of hits from Alanis Morisette or TLC. Though I’d also respect an authentic attempt at “You Are Not Alone.”

Bottom Three

10. Erika Van Pelt (1985) Note to self: Don’t let Jimmy Iovine or anyone else talk you out of your song this week. What do they know??
11. Elise Testone (1983) Let’s hope she can pick up the pieces of her shattered ego after being the lowest vote-getter among the girls. Again, lots of songs to choose from her birth year.
12. Jermaine Jones (1986) I see a tough road for the Gentle Giant, but I have a genuine like for his genuine like of having made it this far.

Eliminated

Jeremy Rosado Nice guys finish...you know...

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