MBADC American Idol
Armchair Quarterback 2008, Season 7
American Idol, from
the perspective of a former national-level talent booker, demo screener, and
performance coach: who we like in the
competition, what works and what doesn't, what contestants can do to improve
their chances of success, and advice you can apply to your own career.
Editor's Note: Much has been made in the media about some of this year's
contestants having had label deals in the past. After much discussion, we at
MBADC made a conscious decision not to use this as a factor when rating each
contestant's performance in the MBADC American Idol Armchair Quarterback
column...including the new "most signable" section.
Season 7: The Top 10 Sing
Songs From the Years They
Were Born
Air date: Tuesday,
March 25, 2008
Ramiele Malubay: Ramiele Malubay's version of Heart's "Alone" was
a very good song selection for her. She was pitchy in places, but it suited
her style overall, and we'd like to hear her sing it again when she's
healthy. We especially like the way she sang the last line. Image-wise, she
still needs a little help. Her clothes were much too casual for that huge
stage, and she looked like an amateur, rather than the professionals the
Idols now are at this point in the competition. Tips for success:
When you're on a big stage, you have to look the part as well as sing it.
Jason Castro: Jason Castro's version of "Fragile" by
Sting was a great song choice for him. We'd have liked it better had the
arrangement stayed focused on Jason and the acoustic guitar, though. He was
fine, but the band and backup vocals added very little, and Jason wasn't the
highlight. Focusing on the acoustic aspects would have de-Sting'ed it, put
the focus back on Jason, and made it more Jason's style. We like him,
though. He has a unique look and nice tone. Tips for
success: Song selection, and the arrangement of those songs. It has to
be completely different than the original and highlight Jason's
singer-songwriter vibe.
Syesha Mercado:
Syesha Mercado's version of Stephanie Mills' "If I Was Your Woman"
was sung well, and was her best performance to date. She had one noticeably
iffy note, but overall did well. Image-wise, it's time for her to step it
up. An elegant song on a big stage needs a more elegant outfit. Syesha
looked more like she was headed off to the studio or to acting class. Tips for success:
Image is just as important as singing well. They're looking for a star, so
you have to give them the idea of what they get if you win.
Chikezie: Chikezie's version of Brenda Russell's "If Only for
One Night" was sung beautifully, but...yawn. It was boring. The song
obscured his fun personality and between that and the suit, the whole thing
aged him a good 20 or 30 years. Not good, when you're competing for a modern
record deal. We're with Simon on this; it took away his originality. Tips for success:
Song selection and imaging. You don't want to come off as a 50 year old when
you're in your 20's.
Brooke White: Brooke White's version of the Polic's "Every
Breath You Take" was cool in the beginning (mistake or not), and we loved it
with the acoustic piano. We didn't like the second half, when the band
joined in, at all, because it took away from the originality Brooke had
brought to it on her own. Get rid of the band; she doesn't need 'em.
Image-wise, she looked great. Love the hair makeover! Tips for
success: If your essence is as an acoustic singer-songwriter type, go
with it and keep that as your musical focus. When a band adds something, go
for it. When it doesn't, don't use them.
Michael Johns: Michael Johns' version of Queen's "We Are the
Champions" was sung with an excellent voice, but he didn't bring anything
new or original to it. Here's the thing: it's been done. We've already had a
Freddie Mercury who did that arrangement, and it was so fabulous it's
iconic. It's time Michael Johns got a musical personality of his own. He's a
good singer, but who is he as an artist? To be great, he's gotta develop his
own unique repertoire instead of repeating other artist's. Tips for success: Song selection,
and changing the arrangement so people can see what you're about is key.
Otherwise, it's like karaoke, however good the singer may be.
Carly Smithson: Carly Smithson's version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total
Eclipse of the Heart" was an excellent song choice for her and brought out
life and personality to go along with her great voice. We liked the rasp,
and she sang well until the end, when she lost pitch. But finally she had
some edge on a rock song, and we weren't bored. Tips for success: Song selection,
and bringing more of the edge she displayed in this performance are key. As
someone once said, "Rock ain't pretty."
David Archuleta: David Archuleta's version of
John Farnham's "You're the Voice" was sung well, but was an atrocious
song selection. The song was boring, and it had no hook, which is key to
keep a TV audience paying attention. He sang it near-perfectly, but it just
didn't translate. We're with Simon on this one: it did seem a lot like a
song we'd see performed by a high school kid at a theme park, rather than by
a superstar, which is who Idol is trying to find. Tips for
success: Song selection. It takes more than a good voice to sell music,
which is what American Idol is ultimately trying to do.
Kristy Lee Cook: Kristy Lee Cook's version of Lee Greenwood's "God
Bless the U.S.A." was the perfect song choice for Fox's audience, we'll give
her that...It's not exactly what we'd choose as a country song selection
(it's too iconic and has become the choice of 4th of July fireworks and
veteran's events) for a modern recording artist. She sang it OK, not
spectacularly, and her stage presence has improved a lot. But from a
business perspective, she certainly nailed the art of pandering to the
demographic...Tips for success: Pandering to a demographic is tricky
territory. It either works fabulously, or the audience sees through it and
rejects you. Usually, it comes down to how genuinely you feel it.
David Cook: David Cook's version of the Chris Cornell arrangement of
Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" was a perfect song selection, and he did it
with a stellar vocal performance: we especially loved the falls! topped with
excellent stage presence, and excellent stage presence. A star performance.
Before writing this, we checked out Chris Cornell singing this, to see how
much originality David Cook brought to it: Cornell's has more of a steamy
New Orleans blues feel; David Cook's is textbook alternative, and the
instrumentation and vocal style of Cook's version brings its own
originality. Sorry, Chris Cornell, but David Cook does it better. Tips for success:
When you're doing a cover, the goal is always to do it better--especially if
you're doing an arrangement that was done by someone else. David Cook's
performance tonight is an excellent example of this. Michael Johns Queen
cover is not.
Most signable:
David Cook. The guy's a star. Sign him. As we said last week, at times it's like watching
David Cook as the superstar musical guest and
then the American Idol contestants.
The MBADC American Idol Armchair Quarterback is intended as commentary and
is not affiliated with Fox Television, American Idol, or its producers or
judges in any way. Tips should be taken as a suggestion only and are not
intended as a substitute for qualified vocal coaching or artist management.
American Idol
Armchair Quarterback |
