American Idol 8 - final reduction week 3

Here I am for the 3rd week of top 12 selections.

Last week Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, and Kris Allen joined first round finalists Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, and Michael Sarver in the top 12. These are not necessarily the exact 6 I would have chosen so far, but there are no huge errors or surprises in this group.

Let's get on with seeing how tonight's group of 12 does.


You're All I Need to Get By
Von Smith
Von was OK in Hollywood week. I'm certain the cuteness factor helped him get through to the Semi-Finals because I think there were better singers. And tonight? He's OK. He sang fine, but there's something I can't quite put my finger on that I just really don't like. The judges all really liked him, but his performance didn't do a thing for me.

If I Ain't Got You
Taylor Vaifanua
OK - this is a really good performance. Her pitch is very good. She has stage presence. She sings supported. I find the overall performance quite good. The judges aren't jumping up and down, but I think they were really harsh - especially after falling all over themselves over Von.

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
Alex Wagner-Trugman
Oh Alex. Dear, sweet Alex. Please don't ever do that again. The vocal would have been fine if it hadn't been for the very odd affectation of vocal grinding. From someone who looks like he's about 14 it just sounds dumb.

Winner Takes it All
Arianna Afsar
It's too bad - I think maybe nerves got to her more than she expected. Her pitch is terrible. The arrangement was bleh. The runs were ... weird. She has a really pretty voice, but I don't think that makes up for an overall sketchy performance.

Hey There Delilah
Ju'Not Joyner
I don't think I've ever heard this song, but I like it. And I think Ju'Not did a very nice job with it. Maybe the best so far tonight. Good job.

Give Me One Reason
Kristen McNamara
Classic 5-bar blues style. And she's got the voice for it. Unfortunately with the blond bangs and the orange dress she came off as ever-so-slightly Harper Vally PTA to me. That's probably not entirely fair, but it is what it is. Still, I think with her overall performance she has a definite chance to move forward.

I Would Do Anything For Love
Nathaniel Marshall
The best thing about Nate's performance tonight is that he probably sealed his fate. It was nothing more than silly karaoke. I hated it. He can sing I guess, but that was just weird. Bye bye.

No One
Felicia Barton
It's the ultimate second chance. She got cut, and was called back to replace another contestant who was determined to actually be ineligible. Sadly for her, she didn't make her second chance count. The vocal is not good. Pitch is strange. It's not a good song for a show like this. Her final note was nice, but the rest was not. The judges seem to kinda like her, but I am not a fan.

Mandolin Rain
Scott MacIntyre
I think Scott is a shoe in. He hit a couple of bad notes, but he's got great pipes. The whole inspirational thing is also on his side. And on the off chance that America doesn't vote him through, the comments from the judges lead me to believe that they'll put him in as a wild card.

This One's For the Girls
Kendall Beard
I'm not a big fan of country music. And Kendall missed a couple of pitches here and there. But what makes this stand out for me is that she picked a song that suits her voice, that's young, and that comes across as relevant and contemporary. I can't say she's a certainty because of the pitch issues, but overall not bad. And for a wonder, the judges agree.

Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
Jorge Nuñez
Before hearing a single note I'm not expecting to like this performance. I was not of fan of Jorge's during the auditions. His vocal talent didnt' impress me. He sounds better than I was expecting though. I think there will be a certain segment of the population that will love him to pieces. Lot's of people love an accent. I don't mind one, but I'm still not really a fan.

Be Without You
Lil Rounds
They saved the best for last this week. I think Lil was fantastic. She looked good. She sounded great. She picked the perfect song for her voice and style. Tons of star quality. Overall excellent.


It was a decent show overall tonight. Not as good as last week, but not excruciating either. I think the best shots to get by to the big show are going to be:
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
and Jorge Nuñez

But you can never be sure how America's going to vote. I think other potential top 12 material includes Ju'Not, Kendall, and Kristen. It will be a tough elimination night tomorrow no matter which way things end up going.