I just heard (and got confirmation) that Asia’h Epperson, one of my early favorites also lived in Marietta for four years at one point in her life, probably at the same time as Carly Smithson! Sheesh! Hopefully, I’ll get to talk to her at some point. She’s got a great shot of making the top 12 based on what we’ve seen so far.
Before we get to the meat of the action, you may or may not have seen that iTunes will be the exclusive provider of “Idol” music but they won’t reveal sales figures, as not to “influence” the voting. Uh huh. (Ryan pimps the connection twice.)
It was a good night, not quite as good as I had expected given the lofty advance notice of these 12. Part of it may have been the limited 50 songs they had to choose from. (No Beatles, no Rolling Stones, no Supremes, et. al). It was far better than a year ago. (I read my account from that night and it wasn’t pretty.)
Who will go home? Jason Yeager and Luke Menard were both ignored early on by the producers and their vocals did nothing to break through. Zzzz… in both cases.
I didn’t have a clear favorite but I liked the top 3 about equally. I have to Castro the stop spot simply because he is truly an underdog. Danny’s over-the-top Elvis places him near the bottom for me but he will survive Sanjaya-style. The top 12 in order for me: Jason Castro, David Cook, Michael Johns, David Hernandez, David Archuleta, Colton Berry, Robbie Carrico, Garrett Haley, Chikezie Ezie, Jason Yeager, Danny Noriega, Luke Mernard.
David Hernandez (“In the Midnight Hour” Wilson Pickett) — He already did a 60s song for his first audition. Raised by single mom in Glendale, Ariz. — same city as Jordin Sparks. Simon was the skeptic. I think he has an amazingly pure voice. At this stage in the competition being first is bad but not fatal. Being second is worse. Does he have the stage presence? I’m not 100% sure. But he’s a solid singer, far better than many past top 12 contestants (including most if not all of last year’s men.) “I like the gospel thing in the front,” Randy said. “Fell a little apart at the end. Watch the long phrasing.” Paula: “It’s lovely. Perfect vibrato.” Simon: “It was better than I thought it was going to be. Beginning was terrific. Middle was rabbit in headlights. You have to loosen up a bit.” (Agreed.)
Chikezie Ezie (“I Love You More Today Than Yesterday” Spiral Staircase) He sang second. He made it to Hollywood a year earlier. He improved this year. He’s got a great voice but it was kind of boring. Maybe it was the song. Or maybe it’s him. Hard to say at this point. Randy: “It was pretty good. The only problem is you’re an old-fashioned singer… make it new, fresh, young.” Paula: “You’ve come a long way.” Simon (calls him jacuzzi): “I hated the whole performance. The suit is hideous. [Chikezie tries to talk back.] The wink was hideous. It was old-fashioned, corny, cheesy. This could have been something we filmed 40 years ago.”
David Cook (“So Happy Together” Turtles) He goes third. A bartender and musician from Missouri, he said he had no clue what that Simon term “worthy” meant in the first audition. I don’t particularly like his rocker looks but he does a fine job with this classic Turtles song. He’s less cheesy than, say, Constantine. Randy: “You worked it out making a rock joint out of ‘So Happy Together.’ It’s crazy!” Paula: “It’s worthy of great praise.” Simon: “I thought it was good. I thought you shouted the song a bit in the middle… You almost made it believable.”
Jason Yeager (“Moon River” Andy Williams) He sang fourth. He’s a 28-year-old singing server from Texas with a son. They give him an extended opening segment focused on said son. What an old-fashioned song. He does nothing to modernize it. He has a fair amount of charms and good looks, as well as solid vocal ability. Is that enough this year? I’m not sure. Randy: “All you guys can blow. You had a couple of problems pitchwise. Never lose concentration.” Paula: “I have such sentimental value to that song. I did my first ballet recital to that song.” [That was dedicated to my grandmother, Jason said. Awww…] Simon: “I bought my first puppy to that song. You came much older [than 28.] It was very cruise ship.”
Robbie Carrico (“One (Is the Loneliest Number) by Three Dog Night) He went fifth. Britney’s ex is all rocked out. “I was in an boy-girl group and toured with Britney Spearks,” he said. “I wanted to do rock bad.” It was good. He was a little nervous but did alright. Randy: “A nice version. You had me rockin’ out.” Paula: “You picked the perfect song. You are authentic.” Simon: “The only performance we’ve seen tonight that felt current. I’m struggling with the authenticity.” He doesn’t seem as authentic as Bo but more authentic than Constantine.
David Archuleta (“Shop Around” Smokey Robinson) He sang sixth. The former “Star Search” winner seemed liked a happy-go-lucky kid. He’s going to get the teen vote! There’s an impressive depth in his voice for his age. He’s clearly a pro. Randy: “I thought that was really brilliant. You were born with a gift.” Paula: “I feel that was a brave and bold choice.” Simon: “When you got it you got it. That was by a comfortable best performance of the night so far.”
Danny Noriega (“Jailhouse Rock” Elvis) He sang seventh. This kid annoyed me from the get go. He does like to bug his eyes out! He made it to Hollywood a year earlier like Chikeze. This was a high-risk song. Didn’t Taylor Hicks do this at one point? Danny seems a wee bit young to be doing this mediocre Elvis imitation, but it’s hard to deny a great voice. Randy: “You know how to have a good time.” Paula: “It was very warm, almost scalding. This was a safer song which allowed you to be a performer.” Simon: “I don’t understand a word you just said [about her colors.] It was verging on grotesque.” And wait—isn’t this song from the ’50s???
Luke Menard (“Everybody’s Talking At Me”- Harry Nilsson ) He sings eighth. We never saw him before. He’s a carpet cleaner and he was also someone who auditioned a year earlier. He was cut in Memphis. He’s got movie star looks. He’s got a bit of that Ace Young soprano vocals. He starts a bit slow with a very soft rock snoozer of a tune. But he picks it up midway, then slides back to way too mellow. Way too mellow. Randy: “For me, that song, it was very pitchy. It was almost consistently sharp.” Paula: “I am going to agree. I didn’t feel this was the best song choice for you. You have Kenny Loggins tenderness to your voice.” Simon: “Your problem was, it was forgettable. Nobody is going to remember that as being a great performance or great vocal.” He’s toast.
Colton Berry (“Suspicious Minds” Elvis) He sings ninth. Earlier, he gets some airtime during the Coke segment. “During certain angles I look like Ellen DeGeneres,” he said. Boy, that’s going to build his fan base! When he gets nervous, he sings the Teletubbies theme song. He’s the one who got the spot Kyle Ensley might have gotten. He’s a perfectly adequate singer and has some charm. He sounds better as he goes along. Randy: “You did a pretty good song. Started a little rough but by the end you were feeling your way.” Paula “It’s nice to see a different side of you. We’ve heard the ballads.” Simon: “It was okay. It wasn’t quite as bad as the other Elvis song. The whole idea is to find a recording artist. What did I get? Nothing. You have no relevance in today’s chart. Young kid singing an Elvis song.” I agree with Simon.
Garrett Haley (“Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” Neil Sedaka) He sings 10th. He’s one of those we haven’t seen or heard yet. He is compared to Leif Garrett and Peter Frampton with his big hair. He’s cute and tried out on a lark while vacationing in San Diego. He is one of those truly inexperienced ones. That alone would make me root for him before I even hear him. As for song choice, didn’t we retire Neil Sedaka songs years ago when he was the guest judge? Ugh! Vocally, he could be Leif Garrett redux, too. He’s likable and he does what he could with a lame song. Will this make him stand out? No. But fortunately for him, there were less memorable performances that may save him an extra week. Randy: “You didn’t do anything with it. Don’t be afraid to make it your own.” Paula: “If you stay at that slow tempo, it brings the performance down.” Simon: “It was boring. Your voice sounded a bit whiny. You looked terrified.” It wasn’t that bad. But I agree that it felt old.
Jason Castro (“Daydream” Lovin’ Spoonful) He sang eleventh. He is the first one to opt for an instrument - a guitar! And he’s one of the six guys we barely saw. He’s the dude with the dreads who is a drummer and only has sung publicly a few times before this. He picks a sweet pop song by Lovin’ Spoonful. I like this dude. He has a quiet confidence and ease about him. He’s the best of the crew we haven’t seen much of despite a little vocal shakiness at the end. Randy: “Little pitch problems like that high note at the end.” Paula “You did blow me away.” Simon: “That was in the top two performances of the night. You like David have got it. Great choice of song. You made it sound current.”
Michael Johns (“Light My Fire” Doors ) Our former Buckhead boy from Australia gets the driver’s seat spot, the 12th position, the pole position that virtually guarantees him survival at this stage. The producers give what they usually think is the most powerful or upbeat performance the end spot. Oddly, he’s citing Atlanta, not Los Angeles, as his home. Okay, so he’s no Jim Morrison. (Morrison wouldn’t wear a scarf on stage.) But he’s really good and the type of guy who is clearly marketable. Watch the praise cascade down: “You just throw all caution to the wind. You sing great. I see a true legend rock performer. You’re like a Michael Hutchence.” Paula: “Excellent way to end the night.” Simon: “I would say you are the most consistent contestant we’ve had… You have the natural charisma of a lead singer.”
