Idol Stalker - Watching American Idol |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Matt Giraud “So Small” Posted: 17 Mar 2009 07:00 PM PDT Matt Giraud picked "So Small" by Carrie Underwood and accompanied himself on the piano. I did feel that he was so busy playing the piano that I think he neglected his vocals. It definitely wasn't his best performance, in my opinion, but I did like the arrangement. Kara said that he worked the dynamics of the song vocally and on the piano. Paula said that he is an authentic performer. Simon doesn't think Matt has gotten enough credit for his vocals and believes he outsang Danny Gokey tonight. Randy said it was his favorite performance of the night. Tags: country week, grand ol opry, matt giraud, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Megan Joy Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:51 PM PDT Megan Joy put her personality on Patsy Kline's song "Walking After Midnight" and I wasn't sure I was going to like it but I did (I didn't love it, though). I am a little annoyed by her pronunciation but I respect her as an artist. Randy said that he was quite impressed, it was a perfect choice and it worked for her. Kara said it was a perfect song and a perfect look. She also pointed out that Megan has the flu and commended her for being a winner. Paula said that Megan had been to the hospital and hadn't been able to attend the run-through and still managed to look and sound amazing. Simon basically echoed what everyone else said. Tags: anoop desai, country week, grand ol opry, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Anoop Desai Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:45 PM PDT Anoop Desai tackled the Willie Nelson classic "You Were Always On My Mind" and I was really happy to see Anoop taking song choice seriously and showing off the vocals that got him past the auditions. Paula said that she was proud of him for picking a song that fit him so well. Simon said that Anoop went from "Zero to Hero" and said that it was one of his favorite performances of the night. Randy said that Anoop proved that he can really sing. Kara said that he was amazing and was probably the best performance of the night. Tags: anoop desai, country week, grand ol opry, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Danny Gokey Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:38 PM PDT Danny Gokey had a hard time mastering the lyrics to Carrie Underwood's breakout hit "Jesus Take the Wheel" and, while it started a little rough for me, he really sounded great during the chorus. I loved his white jacket too! Kara said that the first part of the performance wasn't spectacular but that halfway through he turned on the magic. Paula said that Danny was brilliant tonight. Simon agreed with Paula but said that he hated Danny's outfit. Randy agreed with Kara and said that the verses were pitchy. Tags: country week, danny gokey, grand ol opry, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Alexis Grace Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:32 PM PDT Alexis Grace chose "Jolene" by Dolly Parton which didn't surprise me too much but I didn't like the arrangement or the performance. It was okay but it could have been a lot better. Randy said there were a lot of pitch problems and the arrangement didn't quite work. Kara said that it sounded like Alexis lost her edge a bit. Paula said it was more effective than Randy and Kara said because she took an artistic approach and showed different sides of her voice. Simon thought it was "okay" and unoriginal. Tags: alexis grace, country week, grand ol opry, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Scott MacIntyre Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:26 PM PDT Scott MacIntyre sang "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride and the audience really got into it toward the end but I found it a little boring. I feel like he also slides in and out of notes. I like Scott but I don't have the same level of excitement for him as I think Paula said it was an impressive performance but that he needs to rely a little less on the piano. Simon said it was a bit of a stupid thing for Paula to say but added that he doesn't think Scott is picking the right songs. Kara said that Scott brings class and poise to the stage. Did you notice that, when Simon criticized his song choice, Scott told him that he has had a hard time with "hat picks" which, of course, goes back to all the rumors that contestants don't really get to pick their own songs. Hmmm… Tags: country week, grand ole opry, scott macintyre |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Adam Lambert Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:16 PM PDT Adam Lambert sang a really altered version of Johnny Cash's famous song "Ring of Fire" and I've been really hard on Adam every week but this week he TOTALLY won me over. WOW! I couldn't believe it was even the same song! Kara said it was all a little strange but she enjoyed the drama he brought. She said she kinda liked it but was confused. Paula said that Adam is true to himself, stands out and that he raises the bar each week. Simon said "what the hell was that?" He discouraged Adam from ever going to Nashville and said it was indulgent rubbish. Randy said it sounded like Nine In Nails doing a country song. Tags: adam lambert, country week, grand ole opry |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Lil Rounds Posted: 17 Mar 2009 06:02 PM PDT Lil Rounds chose to sing Martina McBride's big hit "Independence Day" and, while I absolutely love Lil, I wasn't a huge fan of this performance. The crowd seemed to enjoy it but I wouldn't have picked that song for her. Randy said it was an interesting and ambitious song choice but it didn't seem like she was comfortable. Kara gave her props for standing her ground in terms of song choice even though it wasn't the best performance. Paula said that Lil looked and sounded amazing but that she shouldn't have done two verses. Simon started by calling her "Little" and struggled to say "Lil" and argued that Lil was short for Little. It was funny. He didn't like the performance because he thought the song didn't suit her. Tags: country week, grand ol opry, lil rounds, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Kris Allen Posted: 17 Mar 2009 05:54 PM PDT Kris Allen sang another of my favorite songs "To Make You Feel My Love" (can you tell I love Garth Brooks?) and I was speechless and riveted by him for the first time. That could be a single on the radio right now! I LOVED it!!!!!!!! Paula said she was pleasantly surprised and said it was an honest, pure and vulnerable performance. Simon thought it was terrific, the song choice was great and he was completely in control of it. Randy said that he loved that he went out on a limb to have a tender moments. Kara said that it wasn't even "country" it was beautiful (Paula added that it was "Kris Allen"). ***image and video coming soon*** Tags: country week, grand ol opry, kris allen, top 11 |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Allison Iraheta Posted: 17 Mar 2009 05:48 PM PDT Allison Iraheta sang Patti Loveless' song "Blame it on Your Heart" and, again, I was totally blown away by the maturity of her voice and stage presence. I guess it was a fun choice for her and I think it suited her feisty personality. Kara said that Allison made that song her own and that she gets better every week. Paula said it was another rock solid performance but suggested she pick songs that allow her to be vulnerable in the future. Simon said it seemed like she was struggling to remember the words but that it was rock solid, if not precocious. Randy said it was "dope." Tags: Allison Iraheta, country week, grand ole opry |
| American Idol 8 Top 11 – Michael Sarver Posted: 17 Mar 2009 05:42 PM PDT Michael Sarver sang one of my favorite country songs Garth Brooks iconic classic "Ain't Goin' Down Till The Sun Comes Up" and, while I liked it, I think he should have picked a song that allowed him to show off his vocals a little more. He flubbed the lyrics a bit in the middle but it was a lot of fun. Randy loved the song but wasn't sure it brought out his vocals. Kara said it was fun but she missed his big notes. Paula said that the genre suits him so well. Simon said he couldn't understand a single word of what he said and thought it was a bit clumsy. He gave it a 1.2 out of 10. Come on! ***images and video coming soon*** Tags: country week, grand ole opry, michael sarver |
| Katharine McPhee Filming “Wedlocked” - Photos Posted: 17 Mar 2009 09:10 AM PDT American Idol season 5 runner-up, Katharine McPhee, was spotted on the set of her upcoming movie Wedlocked, which is also sometimes called You May Not Kiss the Bride. The film is set to be released sometime this year but, since it is still in production, details (including the title) continue to change. On the IMDb site, the plot is as follows: "A mobster tries to arrange his daughter to obtain U.S. citizenship by setting her up with a American photographer." Hmmm… It does have the potential to be funny. The cast is rounded out by Mena Suvari, Vinnie Jones, Tia Carrere and Dave Annable.
 See more photos after the jump!
 image: splashnewsonline.com Tags: wedlocked, you may not kiss the bride |
| Jennifer Hudson Talks About Upcoming Tour Posted: 17 Mar 2009 08:58 AM PDT Jennifer Hudson will be going on tour with R&B singer, Robin Thicke, and the singer/actress sat down with Billboard.com (during a conference call) to talk about the experience. The shows will kick off with a performance in Albany, "I’m excited to get out and meet the people and sing for the people," Hudson said. "I always love to perform live. The only other tour I’ve been part of is the (American) Idol tour, so this’ll be more intimate and personal." She also explained that it made more sense to be a co-headliner than to go it alone since she doesn't have enough material to fill out a solo tour. "I’m in a weird place," Hudson said. "Like, ‘Wow, everybody knows Jennifer, but where do you place her? Who do you put her with? Where do I go?’ That was the hardest part of the puzzle to put together. I think we came out with a great solution." I agree and I'm glad her reasoning skills outweigh her ego because I hate when artists decide to headline a tour when they've only had two or three hits (ahem, I'm talking to you, Lady Gaga). I wish I could see them in concert! Anyone have tickets and/or are planning to go? image: Bauer-Griffin Tags: robin thice, tour dates |
| Queen of England and Prince Snub Simon? Posted: 17 Mar 2009 08:46 AM PDT Piers Morgan, who you may know best as one of the judges on America's Got Talent, has a book coming out and, in it, he describes and encounter that he and According to Monsters and Critics, in 2007 at a Royal Variety Performance, the 82-year-old monarch was introduced to Simon but, judging from the look on her face, she did not recognize him. In the book, titled God Bless America: Misadventures of a Big Mouth Brit, Morgan writes: "Simon Cowell arrived at 6.30pm looking unusually twitchy. ‘Have you ever actually met the Queen?’ I asked. ‘Erm - no.’ ‘Nervous?’ ‘No, of course not.’ ‘What if she doesn’t recognise you?’ ‘Piers, don’t be ridiculous.’ "Later, when the Queen and Prince Philip reached us in the line-up, it was quite clear that neither had a clue who Cowell was. The Queen shook his hand with a bemused half-smile on her face and moved swiftly on to me with an expression of familiar relief. "’Hello again, Your Majesty,’ I said. It was, after all, the fourth time we’ve met." Ouch! It is a very big deal to meet the Queen in England so, for a man with an ego like Simon's, it must have been very humbling to be unrecognizable. To add insult to injury, Britain’s Got Talent winner, Paul Potts, was also lined up to meet the British Royals and Prince Philip knew enough to ask some questions. Morgan writes: "’You’re judges, is that right?’ asked Prince Philip. ‘Yes, sir,’ I replied. ‘So,’ he chuckled, looking back at Cowell before pointing to Paul Potts, ‘you sponge off him then?’ Morgan continues: "An hour later I was sitting in Cowell’s sumptuous private jet heading back from Liverpool, where the show had been held, to London with our fellow judge, Amanda Holden. ‘Perfect night,’ I said. ‘The Queen didn’t know you, and Philip called you a sponger.’ Cowell ignored my jibe, leaving a giggling Amanda to observe: ‘That would be the same Queen and Prince Philip who are getting the slow train home?’" That experience must have left Simon speechless. Still, it couldn't have been too humbling – this was a couple years ago and he seems as full-of-himself and self-assured as ever! image: Newscom Tags: piers morgan, prince philip, queen of england |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Idol Stalker To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of Idol Stalker in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Idol Stalker, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
