Garnet Greene

I’m looking forward to tonight’s show. I have some favorites amongst the guys: John Park, Casey James and Andrew Garcia, I hope they impress. Here’s how it went: 

The Best

 Todrick Hall

 Song: Since You’ve Been Gone 

First Impression: Todrick came to play and brought his “A” game, a totally effective and restyled version of Since You’ve Been Gone. Slammin! 

Judges: Ellen: “a great performer” liked everything but the chorus. Randy: didn’t like that he completely changed the song. Kara agreed. Simon: A “dancer trying to sing,” thought he “murdered the song.” I completely disagree and I bet America does too.

Casey James

Song: Heaven

First Impression: Well, let me go on record as saying, I hate blonde guys as a rule, and Bryan Adams songs for the most part, but this guy’s got an outrageous amount of charisma. He’s also so comfortable with himself, his voice, and his guitar; I suspect he’ll be very hard to beat in this competition. He really brought the star power.

Judges: Kara was verklempt, and overcome with the vapors. Everyone else really liked him.

Andrew Garcia

Song: Sugar We’re Going Down

First Impression: I waited all night for Andrew and he doesn’t disappoint. He seems like a pro already. He did a great job with a complex song – the opposite of Michael Lynche’s boring approach. He proves that you can add a lot of nuance to a rapid-fire song.

Judges: Simon was disappointed, felt he was too serious, thought he was forgettable. Kara didn’t like the song as an acoustic version. Randy didn’t like it. Randy is a big fan of his as is Ellen. They all hope he’ll be back.

The Worst

Jermaine Sellers

Song: Get Here

First Impression: I tuned out halfway through this performance, apparently I found it boring.

Judges: Ellen: didn’t feel his emotional connection to the song. Randy: felt it was too old a song. Kara, and Simon agreed. Simon felt he over sang and blew it totally.

Tim Urban

Song: Too Late To Apologize

First Impression: OK, though over styled in some sections. I don’t think Tim is a force to be reckoned with unless he gets the “cutie-pie” vote.

Judges: Simon: “We made the right decision not putting you through the first time around,” felt he was all around weak. Kara: felt the music “overpowered him.” Randy, “none of it worked.” Ellen: didn’t like the song, but thought he was adorable.

John Park:

Song: God Bless the Child

First Impression: I like John, but you could hear his nerves in his voice that was a bit tight, and there were several pitchy moments.

Judges: Simon: didn’t feel that he has a big enough voice for the song, no emotion, flat delivery. Kara didn’t feel connected to the song. Randy and Ellen didn’t like the song choice. Ellen liked his voice.

Alex Lambert

Song: Wonderful World

First Impression: it may be a wonderful world, but that was a dreadful, painful performance, pitchy, awkward, and yucky to watch.  Alex has a long way to go to become an idol contender.

Judges: They all like him, but they all think he’s got to get it together, or he’s out. He’s not ready.

The Rest

Aaron Kelly

Song: Here Comes Goodbye

First Impression: A boy taking on a man’s song and not delivering. Aaron is not on his fifth wife, third divorce, what have you. This song was all wrong for him, and the vocals were only so, so.

Judges: Simon: “quite a good performance,” but not confident, song was not memorable. Kara: “likes pop-country” for him, and that he “did a great job.” Randy: thinks he has a great voice for his age. Ellen: looks forward to him continue to get better.

Joe Munos 

Song: You and I

First Impression: I didn’t love this performance, but he’s got nice potential and he will get the “cutie pie” vote.

Judges: Ellen: felt he was very comfortable on stage and sounded good. Randy: thought he did a good job, though not perfect. Kara: liked his daring song choice, felt he had a great performance, the best so far. Simon: doesn’t see his star power, “forgettable.”

Tyler Grady

Song: American Woman

First Impression: A letdown for me. I didn’t feel it, I didn’t hear it, I wanted it to be over; too bad because I like Tyler.

Judges: Simon: Unhappy with his graduation from “pretend to be a rock star school.” Kara, Randy and Ellen: “Style over substance,” “going through the motions.”

Lee Dewyze

Song: Chasing Cars

First Impression: Tuned out again. Am I just tired or are these performers tired?

Judges: Ellen: likes the tone of his voice, though he made a few mistakes. Randy: “didn’t like the song for him” wants him to rock harder. Kara: “the song has a small range” which didn’t work for him, he needs a bigger song. Simon: “thought it was the best performance so far.” Lee’s “a naturally good singer.”

Michael Lynch

Song: This Love

First Impression: A nice competent performance – he’s definitely good on stage. However, this song didn’t show of his vocal abilities. It’s too rushed.

Judges: Ellen: thinks he’s “infectious” a few pitch problems. Randy: likes him and his “persona.” Simon didn’t love his performance – nothing unique.

This was a pretty disappointing Men’s night for American Idol. I only truly enjoyed Casey James, Andrew Garcia and Todrick Hall – and it’s possible no one else liked Todrick though. It’s OK, I don’t mind it out on a limb!

The judges, as usual, gave wildly conflicting advice: be unique, don’t be unique, do it your way, well not too much. Do they really think they are helping? Oh and Ellen, you told one of the contestants that he shouldn’t rely on his looks. They should – you can win this thing, or come very close, on dimples power.