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 11
Finalists Sing
Songs of the Beatles
Air date: Tuesday,
March 18, 2008
Amanda Overmeyer: Amanda Overmeyer's version of "Back in
the U.S.S.R" was a good song choice, and she had good energy during her
performance. But she was pitchy in places, especially on the verses. We'd
like to see her work with a really good rock vocal coach to get her low
notes under control. Stage presence-wise, she's improved 100%. If she gets
her vocals under complete control, and continues to have decent song
selection, Amanda could be one of the greats. Tips for success:
Don't throw away the verse to get to the chorus. The verses get you
there, so every line is important.
Kristy Lee Cook: Kristy Lee Cook's version of "You've Got to Hide Your
Love Away" was the right song, but the wrong arrangement for her voice and
style. The lush arrangement was too much for her voice, and she couldn't
sing up to it. As a result, she was pitchy on the choruses. A country
acoustic version would have suited her much better. And we agree
with Simon's point about stage presence. She's got to work harder to improve
in that area. Tips for success: When your vocals are less than
stellar, stage presence becomes even more important.
David Archuleta: David Archuleta's version of
"The Long and Winding Road" was decent, and he sang it well. Which is
saying a lot...With all due respect to Sir Paul McCartney, some of the MBADC
staff finds this song the most boring Beatle-penned song ever. Tips for
success: Same as last week: song selection, and getting the kid an education in Beatles
101.
Santa Claus, please bring him the Beatles collection next Christmas...
Michael Johns: Michael Johns' version of "A Day in the Life" was
a really bad song choice. of a better term, he doesn't sing the hell
out of it. Tips for success: Song selection. A beginning artist doing
a Beatles epic is a little like a beginning cook trying to make Lobster
Thermidor on their first trip to stove: it probably won't be palatable, and
it definitely won't be pretty. (And the artists who could maybe pull it off
are too smart to even try.)
Brooke White: Brooke White's version of "Here Comes the Sun"
might have worked for her as a song selection, but again, the arrangement
was a poor choice for her. The country twang in her voice would have been
better suited to a more intimate, slower, country acoustic version.
Performance-wise, she should have stayed seated and dug deep into the
lyrics. The flower-child dance and standing at the mic removed the intimacy
that's needed for the lyrics (sunrises are quiet moments, not all over the
place), and the song's music doesn't warrant much movement. And the
flower-child yellow dress was...beyond awful. Tips for
success: Pay attention to the lyrics and to the feeling they're trying
to create. Then dig deep.
David Cook: David Cook's version of "Day Tripper" had an
excellent vocal--probably his best vocal performance thus far. The
arrangement worked for him, and although this wasn't our favorite song
choice, his voice was unique enough to pull it off without being a direct
copy of the Whitesnake version. Great stage presence, too. "Hello" is still
our favorite because it was unexpected, but overall he did an excellent job.
Tips for success:
Continuing to make smart choices in songs and arrangements, and not letting
it go to his head, is key.
Carly Smithson: Carly Smithson's version of "Blackbird,"
although sung with some beautiful notes, bored us, even though it's one of
our favorite Beatles songs. There was no emotion in it until the end,
because this vocal arrangement took all the sensitivity out of it. Beatle
Paul sang it almost quietly, with sensitivity, and let it build. That
probably would have been a better way to go. Tips for success: Song selection,
song selection, song selection...
Jason Castro: Jason Castro's version of "Michelle"
was...atrocious, and we feel bad for saying it, because we like the guy. It
was a bad song choice, and a really bad arrangement, and the whole thing
came off too corny even for American Idol. We love the tone of
Jason's voice, but it would have been much better served on another song. Tips for
success: Song selection, song selection, song selection. And it's
probably time to pick up the guitar again.
Syesha Mercado:
Syesha Mercado's version of "Yesterday" was...Well, it's such an iconic
song, we're not quite sure what to say. It wasn't awful, but we definitely
didn't love it, and we weren't moved by it. Tips for success: Song
selection. Syesha connects on camera and seems engaging in the interviews,
but she loses a lot of her pizzazz when she starts singing.
Pairing her with the right song might help.
Chikezie: Chikezie's version of "I've Just Seen a Face" was OK,
but not great. The shift in arrangement from slow to fast was awkward, he
was a little pitchy, and we wanted him to lose the harmonica. But we really
do like him on uptempo stuff. He's fun to watch, and we love his energy. Tips for success:
A musical instrument is not a prop. If you can't play it, don't do it.
Ramiele Malubay: Ramiele Malubay's version of "I Should've Known
Better" was another example of poor Beatles' song selection. We were bored,
and she didn't sing as well as she's capable of. But most of all, that song,
and that arrangement, are so iconically '60's Beatlemania, there's nowhere
to go to make it your own. And the outfit made it all a little too...cute. Tips for success:
Song selection, song selection, song selection...Remiele is really talented,
but she's just not connecting because of poor song choices.
Most signable:
David Cook. He's so far ahead of the others in terms of ability and
being his own artist, at times it's like watching a 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 |
