This is the second time we have seen this song in season 9, (one was clearly inferior) but we shall compare those two with Mr. Castro from season 7. So, will it be Dreds? The long lost JoBro? or the Paint Salesman?
In previous seasons, there used to be three contestants and three songs. Ahhhh, the good old days. Now there is too much chatter and att store pimpage that they can’t quite squeeze out 18 minutes of music in a one-hour show. But I digress.
I am still hoping for that awesome breakout performance. Let’s go, kids!
01. Casey James
+1/2
“Ok It’s Alright With Me” by Eric Hutchenson – I liked this song! It wasn’t amazing, but it is a nice laid-back style that is reflective of him as an artist. In that regard, it was pretty good. However, he is still going home tomorrow.
02. Crystal Bowersox
+1/2
“Come To My Window” by Melissa Etheridge – I Love this song! But I have to agree with Randy that I didn’t love this arrangement. Her vocal was ok, but I was distracted by the harmonica on it, and thought it was counter-productive to the vocal – it was weird and in the way, and seemed like an afterthought. Meh. I liked Kim Caldwell’s version way back in Season 2 better.
03. Lee DeWyze
“Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd – Good work, Lee! He has been slowly gaining momentum, and he really came out and showed how it should be done.
04. Casey James
“Daughters” by John Mayer – Meh – I don’t like this song, but I thought his vocal was ok. His guitar playing is superb, as always. And I do like Casey singing John Mayer, but there are so many better John Mayer songs! This was a song choice fail, judges.
05. Crystal Bowersox
+1/2
“Baby I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney – This was a pretty good song choice for her, and it was pushing her vocal range. However, I think it showed off that she is not a very strong vocalist. I know that isn’t always what things are about, especially this season, but all season I have been waiting for an amazing vocal, and I don’t think I have gotten a single amazing vocal yet. So pretty good, but in the final 3, I am still waiting for more.
06. Lee DeWyze
+1/2
“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen – Ok, so I think I take back my previous statement — This vocal was amazing! It was unfortunately ruined by the backup singers, the smoke, the lighting, etc. I just wanted to hear him sing! Despite this, this was the moment he needed, and as my husband noted, “He just Carrie Underwooded that song!”
Lee may have wrapped up his win tonight – He came out fighting on both songs, and even my beloved Bowersox didn’t step up tonight the way she needed to.
Casey combined two lackluster performances with the unfortunate placement in the dead-man’s spot, and is a sure ouster tomorrow. Bowersox and Lee will battle it out at the Nokia. Though I have a feeling with an incredible performance next week, Bowersox still has a slight chance to pull it off, after tonight, it is Lee’s competition to lose.
I am excited to see their hometown visit footage tomorrow. It will be nice to see some good midwestern (x2) and Texas love!
As much as I loathe the fact that there is less and less singing, last year’s duet night brought about the awesome Slow Ride performance that I love to watch, even still. Let’s hope another awesome duet will happen tonight.
01. Lee DeWyze
+1/2
“Kiss From A Rose” by Seal – This song was my freshman year of high school homecoming song. Ahh, the memories. Lee’s performance was a little lackluster. There were parts where it was really nice, but other parts that were pitchy. He should have picked a better song, because it is such a hard song to perfect.
02. Michael Lynche
+1/2
“The Free Willy song” by Michael Jackson – I loved the song choice for him, but I never felt like he reached his potential. He needed to rip this song, and it never happened–I think the song just started way too low for him.
DUET: Crystal & Lee
+1/2
“Falling Slowly” – Has this song been “claimed” by Kris Allen? Maybe, but this was an excellent rendition, as well. I love their voices together – a very coffee house vibe. I enjoyed it.
03. Casey James
“Mrs. Robinson” by Simon and Garfunkel – I actually loved this rendition from him. I thought he switched it up enough to make it interesting, I thought his pitch was spot on, and I think he might make it through tonight. Go Casey!
04. Crystal Bowersox
“I’m Alright” by Kenny Loggins – Go Bowersox! This is such a fun song anyway, and I loved the liberties she took with it.
DUET: Mike & Casey
+1/2
“Have You Really Ever Loved A Woman” by Bryan Adams – Nice work boys, and Casey’s guitar playing was so fantastic! Their voices really blended well together.
Man, this is a tough night! I know many people think Casey is out, but I think he was better than Mike, and deserves to stay. Regardless, I think Casey and Mike will go 3/4 and Crystal and Lee will go 1/2 – the order of those is yet to be determined.
That said, tonight was an opportunity for someone to step up and be awesome, and that didn’t happen from anyone.
As a side note, I know I have been MIA. Again. Twice in one season is not good. This no-DVR situation needs to be solved. In the meantime, however, school is over and I am here for the duration!
The kids are singing “inspirational” songs tonight. Since this is clearly a subjective matter, it should be renamed “Pick whatever you want, so long as people donate to our charity” night.
01. Casey James
“Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac – He has some awesome guitar chops, but the vocals were just average. Casey, you better start stepping up!
02. Lee DeWyze
“The Boxer” by Simon and Garfunkel – This is my favorite S&G song, and I loved this performance. THere were some places where the phrasing was kind of funky, but I appreciate the artistic liberty taken. This guy is kicking ass–could he win the whole thing?
03. Tim Urban
“Better Days” by The GooGoo Dolls – Ugh, the vocals were terrible on this. It is really too bad he is not better, because he has potential. The whole not-singing-on-pitch thing really ruins it for me.
04. Aaron Kelly
“I Believe I Can Fly” by R Kelly – A Kelly doing R Kelly? Why do they keep letting him pick songs that are too big for him? Can someone help the high school student with song choice, please? He had slightly better vocals than Tim, but Tim pulled it off better, honestly. I didn’t like anything about it, and I think he will be heading home tomorrow.
05. Siobhan Magnus
“When You Believe” – I actually liked her vocal tonight when she didn’t push too hard. The arrangement was a little weird in the middle and it didn’t really go anywhere. Also, it sounded in rehearsal that she was hitting a bigger money note than she did in the performance. Unfortunately, I think she has already hit her peak, so from here on out, it is all downhill.
06. Mike Lynche
“Hero” by Nickelback – Well, it definitely wasn’t as good as last week, but it was ok. And in comparison with the mediocre performances tonight, it actually ranks in the top half! He could have picked a much better song, though.
07. Crystal Bowersox
+1/2
“People Get Ready” – Wow, it was obviously not her best vocal, but what a heart-felt performance! So much emotion – I love it! I love the mic stand, too – tres cool. I didn’t like the glam look from her, however. She should stick to the hippie look.
I think Aaron is the odd man out tonight. His cuteness has run its course, and his vocals just don’t get it done onstage. I have a feeling, though, that Casey could make a surprise appearance in the bottom three. That dead-mans spot is, well, deadly.
Crystal and Lee take the top spot again! Everyone else just pales in comparison.
IGB is tomorrow, otherwise I would expect a “Huff”-ing for sure, with Crystal as the Huff-ee. With the jam-packed two hour show, however, I don’t think there will be time for Seacrest antics.
I know – this is really cheating because we have a much better sense of how the contestants will fall. Admittedly, I wrote this before last week’s results show, so without the Big Mike save, I would have already been off to a bad start. However, I think this list will be pretty accurate.
9. Andrew
8. Aaron
7. Katie
6. Tim
5. Mike
4. Siobhan
3. Casey
2. Lee
1. Crystal
I think Andrew and Aaron will definitely be out this week. Although Katie has been surviving, I think most of the teen girl votes go to Tim, so he should survive longer than her. Tim, like so many before him (Pickler, Constantine, etc.), will be a random contestant who, to everyone’s dismay, lasts until the six spot.
Mike’s save should help him last a few more weeks. After that, Siobhan, who may have peaked too early, will be out in the four spot. That will leave Casey, Lee, and Crystal to visit their hometowns. I expect to see Crystal and Lee in the finale, and Crystal to be crowned champ–the first female since Jordin.
So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Feel free to argue with me.
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