MBADC American Idol
Armchair Quarterback 2005
American Idol from
the perspective of someone who's booked artists at the national-level: who we like in the
competition, what works, what doesn't work, what contestants can do to improve
their chances of success, and advice you can apply to your own performances.
Week Six (Guys):
Monday, February
21, 2005: 1st Public Vote, Guys Performances
Nikko Smith: Nikko Smith is much better than tonight's
performance. Just because you sound like Stevie Wonder doesn't mean you
should sing a Stevie Wonder song. We have a Stevie Wonder in the music
industry already, and he does Stevie better than anyone. We want to hear
Nikko Smith do Nikko Smith better than anyone. (Brad Pitt looks like Robert
Redford, but we wouldn't want to see Brad play Redford's character in a
remake of The Way We Were.) Tips for success: Nikko has his
own look. Now it's time to develop his own sound.
Anthony Fedorov: Anthony Fedorov has much more star quality than he
showed tonight. He was a little pitchy and didn't seem to sing with the
passion we know is in there from past performances.
Tips for success: Now's the time to shine! It's crucial that Anthony
not hold back during the next performance. Better song selection will help,
too.
Scott Savol: We'd like to see Scott Savol do well on
American Idol because he's different. He has beautiful tone, and the
capacity to pull it off vocally...Unfortunately, the song he performed
tonight wasn't the greatest. Tips for success: There are contestants
with more charisma, so great song selection with an impassioned delivery
will be key for Scott. Image-wise, a streamlined wardrobe will help--the
layered look didn't work well. One way larger guys can find out what works
is to check out pictures of well-dressed football players or basketball
players out on the town. Ruben Studdard had some nice looks the year he won,
too.
Bo Bice: When a singer is singing the right song and it feels good,
that singer's spirit shines through. That and Bo Bice's songwriter
musicality made for a great performance...which isn't easy to achieve when
performing rock and roll in an "in the round" stage setting. Good clothes
for the image, too--we were afraid American Idol might try to dress
the rockers in clothes they aren't comfortable in. Tips for success:
Bo Bice should keep doing what he's doing, even more so. Shine on, Bo.
Travis Tucker: Travis Tucker has looks, presence, and nice tone, but
we don't get the vibe that music is Travis's passion. Instead he
strikes us as a struggling actor who happens to be able to sing, and we
often find ourselves wanting to
send him to a casting director instead of a record label. Tips for
success: Star quality is about more than looks and a pleasant voice, so
if music is your passion in life, let us see it!
Constantine Maroulis: We see what Constantine Maroulis was trying to
do in choosing a Seal song, but the verses didn't work for his voice
(pitchy). Constantine has a ton of charisma and excellent potential, but his
vocal style sometimes reminds us of a guy playing a rocker in a Broadway
play. Tips for success: It sounds like Constantine's vocal coach
probably had a Broadway background. A new vocal coach experienced in the
rock genre can give Constantine the edge and redirected vocal power he needs
to succeed in rock.
David Brown: David Brown has a lot of potential to do well, but
nerves and boring song selection tonight seemed to drain the joy out of
him...which was a shame, because joy was the quality we liked about him in
early performances. Tips for success: David should use better song
selection to bring out his passion for the music. Show your joy!
Jared Yates: Jared Yates has beautiful tone, but it wasn't the best
song selection to show it off, and that coupled with nerves made it a little
boring to watch. Tips for success: Working with a choreographer who
can help Jared get comfortable moving around onstage will help a lot (not
choreographed moves or dancing; we're just talking about getting comfortable
moving to music). Choosing songs he's passionate about will help, too.
Anwar Robinson: Anwar Robinson probably has the most star quality of
any guy in the competition, but the nerves showed a bit. The delivery was
pitchy at times, but he had the charisma to get around it. Kudos to Anwar
for taking a creative risk in song selection...but we know he's capable of
even more. Tips for success: Anwar should keep up his vocal
coaching--perhaps with a new coach--to get stronger and maintain
consistently reliable power.
Judd Harris: Although Judd Harris executed the song OK, it didn't fit
his image...or vice-versa, so it came off like a boy band singer trying to
rock out. As our webmaster, who's had years of working around the music
industry put it, "He chose the song Constantine Maroulis should have
done." The wardrobe could have gone with the song better, too. Tips for
success: Song selection, song selection, song selection. If Judd feels
like rocking out onstage, he's gotta at least put on a pair of jeans.
(Joseph Murena's clothing choice would have worked well.)
Joseph Murena: Joseph Murena probably the most technically
well executed song of the night, but in terms of song choice, he played it
way too safe. Beautiful voice, though. Tips for success: We sound
like a broken record, but song selection, song selection, song selection.
Mario Vazquez: If you've read our previous American Idol
coverage, you know Mario Vazquez is one of picks to win. This was our least
favorite of Mario's song choices so far because we're over the boy band
thing, but he did an excellent job of performing in front of the audience.
Mario Vazquez was also the only singer tonight who seemed to perform with
joy. Tips for success: If Mario follows the instincts he used in
choosing his previous songs, he can knock it out of the park.
We voted for: Bo Bice, because his song selection was the truest to
his artistic self. 2nd Choice: Mario Vazquez, for his live performing
ability.
Ryan Seacrest Smart Quip of the Night: Unfortunately,
no time for Smart Quips on performance nights.
American Idol
Armchair Quarterback
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.
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