Hello everyone! First, I have some Idol alumni news to share. My dear friend and fellow contestant Chris Sligh has been nominated for New Artist of the Year and you can vote for him! Go to www.doveawards.com and show Chris some love! Also I am hitting the road with Melinda Doolittle, Gina Glocksen and Chikezie on tour starting – March 15. We will be hitting cities across the USA so make sure to check out my website, www.philstacey.com, for information. OK, enough self-promotion …
Now my predictions for this week… (drum roll please)… Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre. No surprise. I told you this when they first auditioned.
Lil Rounds didn’t disappoint; she did amazing. I think singing Mary J. Blige was a great choice for her. She really came out and showed America what kind of record she will put out. This is hard for contestants to do this early on in the competition.
Scott MacIntyre is obviously a judge favorite that can do no wrong. Simon and Randy at least acknowledged that the performance wasn’t perfect but I don’t think he will be leaving anytime soon. It is about time Idol produced someone for the Josh Groban market.
Now for the real competition – the coveted third spot. I think it will be between Felicia Barton, Ju’Not Joyner and maybe Jorge Nunez. Von Smith may also have a long shot. I have been excited to watch Felicia Barton for some time now. She is a cousin of a friend (full disclosure) and I am hoping she does well. I think she could be the dark horse of this week but her lack of previous screen time could hurt her.
Ju’Not Joyner did a great job. He has a great voice and I think his voice and style could help him stand out this season. I do wish we could have heard a song that he hasn’t been filmed singing yet.
Jorge Nunez is a strong contender for the third spot and could be an upset. Because he sang at the end of the show he does hold an advantage. People will remember how genuine he came across. I think he could build a huge fan base. And I agree with Simon on being true to his heritage. There is obviously a huge market for Spanish-singing crooners. Just ask Beyonce.
Also, Anoop’s fans want me to make sure you all go to YouTube and check out “noop dog millionaire.” I’m happy to pass along the info – I’m sure we will be seeing him singing next week.
14 Comments
While there were many good performances tonight, I can’t really say that I was blown away by any one performance. I do think Felicia Barton has a fantastic voice (and resembled Alicia Keyes too). I’d like to hear more from her. I haven’t been as sold on Lil Rounds as everyone else. She’s very good, but her voice is somewhat common. I thought the judges were way too hard on Arianna (name?). She was better than that. MacNamara was better than I expected too. Hard to guess who (other than Lil Rounds) will make it thru tomorrow night…
I think Lil Rounds is the real deal. I am not a fan of her style and would probably never buy a record but I appreciate that she is drama free and apparently a truly undiscovered gem with no Idol or other industry connections and if it is true, as Paula said, that she has been a steady performer throughout then my hat is off to her.
And, to quote Paula about others, I heart Scott McIntyre. As some of you may have noticed, I am not a sympathy voter. Maybe I just like sappy Dan Fogelburg kind of singers. Also, I want to hear him with his piano. And, while he lost a few high notes, I didn’t mind. And I loved the song which I had never heard before (I am not very current obviously) and think if Simon has a problem with the lyrics why not tell the songwriter not Scott.
Junot is my 3rd choice. I don’t remember him singing that song in Hollywood (although I remember Jamar singing it) but I liked that he didn’t scream it.
Felcia Barton was obviously robbed in Hollywood (can you say Anne Marie Boskovitch?) and was probably sacrificed so that the black haired screamer slot could go to the Idol producers’ friend Joanna Pancitti. I’m glad she got her moment and her voice is good but I thought her delivery a bit leaden. But she was clearly the 2nd best female voice tonight imo.
I…just…don’t…get…Jorge. I thought the song and his delivery was extremely old fashioned. I do agree that whatever moron was giving him dialect lessons should be fired because frankly the ONLY thing he has going for him is his Latin persona (I’m not saying its fake…he is a Ricky Martin wanna be so let him wanna be it).
As for the rest…I would say they were better than the worst of the last two groups except for perhaps Taylor and Arianna who were pretty bad.
I guess tomorrow we will finally be told how the Wild Card program works. I’m bettng Tatiana will be back along with Jamar.
Fave moments tonight:
1. When Simon told someone (see–I can’t even remember who it was–a girl, I think) that by the middle of his/her song he couldn’t wait for it to end.
2. When I used my DVR to watch Mishavonna’s performance of “Drops of Jupiter” from last week again. I watched her THREE more times. (Ok, I watched Adam again, too.) I hope she’s a Wild Card pick.
Any B-98 listeners notice how they keep playing that Train song and others from the last three weeks’ shows? I will die if they play Elton John, Meatloaf or ABBA tomorrow…
I thought the show had alot more talent than last week. At least I didn’t cringe during every performance. I liked Ju’not. I liked Lil Rounds too. I was impressed with Von and also Felicia. I liked Scott and I’m sure he’ll get through. I was NOT impressed with Drama queen boy/Olivia Newton John wannabe. Earlier in the show when they profiled him I thought he seemed like probably a nice kid but I really dont think he’s got the chops to be a star…not to mention the emotional strength that it would require. I guess I’m happy for him that he had his “moment” on stage but I don’t expect him to get through.
I thought Jorge was actually pretty darn good and while I like Scott, I didn’t think he was the best singer last night. Country girl did pretty good but pretty good probably isn’t going to get a shot at the final 12. Felicia did a great job and I also agree with Monica about Lil Rounds. I’m sure she will go far in the competition. Ju’Not has such a smooth and beautiful voice and I would love to hear some more from him.
Tonight will be a real nail biter because last nights singers definitely made it hard to choose who to vote for. I very seldom vote for more than one person per show and My feelings have always been to vote for the one singer you thought sang the best that night. I may be a rarity here but I don’t vote based on past performances.
It will be interesting to see who comes through in this wild card round…..to many good singers too choose from, but the judges will probably (and i did say probably) make the right decisions.
Last night’s show was a pleasant turn-around from last week. Which was kind of sad. Lots of talent and only three go through. I honestly listened/watched all but two performances without fast forwarding. I loved Felicia Barton and Von Smith and Scott McIntyre and Jorge…and Kristen McNamara…Ju’Not and Lil. Why did they have to group so much talent together on one night after last week’s night of pretty much no talent??? Hopefully the wild cards are an equalizer.
Felicia, Ju’Not, Kristen – My top 3 from last night, in that order. Von / Lil were good too. I hope Nathanial goes home, I’m tired of his drama.
Thanks for your insights, Phil! It must be really hard to comment on their performances since you were in their spot and know it from the inside out; but you help the fans so much by giving us a an insider’s POV.
I really haven’t been blown away by many this season, bu I was surprised by Ju’not’s very effective reduxe of ‘Hey there, Delilah’ (he reminded me of a cross between Ricky from Season 2 and Chikezie from Season 7). I like Jorge and I think he shouldn’t have to stop being himself to advance. I’m on the train with others about Scott and Lil Rounds, too; but I do think some made it into the Top 12 at the expense of Anoop, Jamar and others who showed promise. The Wild Card show will be very interesting.
I’m coming to the Morristown stop (April 19) on your tour, so I’ll see you live for the second time (first time was Carnegie Hall). Luv ya!
My picks from last night are Scott, Ju’Not, and Kristen.
Lil Rounds was ok…not my fav. I love her spirit though…she just glows! (Ok, that was scary..i sounded like Paula! eek) I wouldn’t be surprised if she moves on as a wild card though.
Ju’Not surprised the heck out of me. I love his voice and the way he totally owned the song. It didn’t sound at all like the original and i loved it!
Scott and Kristen get better and better each time you see them. I really hope they can hold on to some spots. They deserve to go on.
I agree with KsKitty, Nathanial needs to disappear…he’s getting on my nerves and always looks like he’s about to cry.. just like in Hollywood week. We can only handle so much drama you know? lol
Overall, last night had the most talent out of the whole group combined. Its gonna be a tough pick. Hope everyone voted!!!
Lil Rounds was awesome! I see her making it far
Last night’s contestants were obviously the most talented from the first two groups. Its a shame that the three who will be picked will NOT be the ones who are record-ready: Lil Rounds, Ju’Not, and Felicia. The blind guy does not impress me vocally, neither did Jorge, but both will probably go thru on the sympathy vote. Anoop should have been in the remaining line-up. I’m betting that the producers will bring back annoying Tatiana – just to annoy us all and throw more drama in the mix! Oh well.
Scott has been an early pick for me (as well as Anoop). But Jorge really impressed me last night.
Why don’t you promote Ricky Braddy???????? He has a great voice and he should get a wild card spot, don’t you agree?
He is from Elizabeth City, NC and that’s where my daughter lives!!!!!!!!
Have a wonderful Time Phil, i have watch the video’s lastnight it hilarious. I am one of the fans of Melinda. Love her so much. I am so happy you guy are all together.