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Bottom line: They've got some real talent, but they've got to solidify their performance skillz
This season's American Idol Top 10 s basically a talented bunch. But it one of them having an absolutely masterful performance to shine a glaring light on how amateurish most of them are when it comes to performance skillz.
This was Motown Week, with Barry Gordy in attendance and Smoky Robinson as the "mentor". BOth those guys look pretty damn good for what their ages must be, but I'm beginning to think botox isn't just an addiction for industry women.
OK, let's go:
1. Matt sang Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On
I've been a quiet Matt fan for the last couple of weeks. I think he has a really facile, quality voice with a great tone and an easy style. But I was not buying this. The beginning at the piano was very nice, but once he got up and tried to really groove, he was not bringing the sexy back, all Justin Timberlake comparisons to date aside. He does have good riffs, but this was the first week where I thought they were getting the best of him. The end, in particular seemed quite rough. He's good, nothing horrible about this...but not his best. The song was a little too much for him. I think he'll still be safe, though.
2. Kris sang Marvin Gaye's How Sweet It Is (although this was more of the James Taylor version)
Kris continues to give very nice performances. That might be part of a problem he'll have to face to stay in until the end. I think he's nice, and he has the added advantage with me of being damn cute. But take someone like my S.O., and all he sees his nice...and a little boring. The most important point, though, is that this isn't really a singer's song. It's all about a nice, laid-back vibe and feeling good. Kris certainly does have that vibe, but I'm not sure he quite has the connection and warmth of, say, a James Taylor, to make the song really fill you up with warm fuzzies inside. Kris's biggest advantage is that he is very current...he's got the Jason Mraz, John Mayer thing going, and it works for him. And it should keep him safe.
3. Scott sang Diana Ross & the Supremes's You Can't HUrry Love
OMG. This was horrific. The loungey, slow beginning sucked the life out of me. And then when he tried to amp it up and groove, it stomped on what was left of my lifeless body. Dude: You cannot wail. Stop trying. He sounded and looked lost from the minute the tempo picked up. Scott is caught between a rock and a hard place. When he sings right in his wheelhouse...inoffensive balladry...he's boring. When he tries to stretch and bring some life...he can't. I hope he's finally at risk, because this is ridiculous.
4. Megan sang Stevie Wonder's For Once in My LIfe
OMG. OMG!!!! She is awful. Can't anyone please make it stop? She cannot actually sing. at. all. This was full of strained, ugly, yelling singing. They jedges were totally right that the song was wrong. She should stay singing something that doesn't go too high or too low, and something that doesn't try to get too loud or powerful. Of course that is all to compensate for the fact that she has horrible technique which completely wipes out whatever intriguing quality her voice has...unless she stays in that mid-range, mid-volume, mid-boring place. I'm thinking it's all over forher.
5. Anoop sang Smoky Robinson's Ooh Baby Baby
Anoop proved last week that he could really sing, and this week we still heard those glimmers of really really nice tone. This was a really rough performance though. Pitchy, particularly sharp on the falsetto, very rough, patchy beginning. There were definitely pretty moments, but it didn't build on last week; it was somehwat of a faint reminder of last week. Still think he'll be safe, but he better step it up.
6. MIchael sang Ain't Too Proud To Beg
Well, Michael didn't seem to take Smoky's feedback at all. He had all the pleading, and none of the demanding this song requires. And why, if he's talking about being overwrought by the loss of his loved on, was he smiling the whole time? Pet peeve alert right there!! Randy was spot on about him just not having the real, honest-to-God R&B chops for that song, and furthermore zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....what? Huh? Is he still singing? It might be over for Michael
