Joshua Ledet Eliminated from American Idol: Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips Compete in Finale

After a suspenseful Top 3 elimination on American Idol Season 11, tonight we said goodbye to the very talented Joshua Ledet. Throughout the competition, Joshua demonstrated incredible growth as both vocalist and performer. He brought a unique flavor to the competition with his artful approach to vocal improvisation and dramatic performance. He married jazz, gospel and R&B and cultivated an incredible style behind an amazing voice. I was not a fan at first, but fell in love with his riveting performance of "It's a Man's Man's World" by James Brown. Check out how this kid pulled off this classic performance last week:




How epic and fierce was that performance... from start to finish!? Ah-ma-zing!

Anyway, it was a shocker (for me at least) that he was eliminated tonight. Joshua proved to be a very strong contender in this competition, but sadly will not be crowned as this year's Idol.

This means that next week's finale will narrow it down to our resident teen diva, Jessica Sanchez vs our token White Guy With Guitar (WGWG), Phillip Phillips. With these two in the finale, the franchise risks losing another talented female in the finale.

I truly believe that Jessica is the obvious winner in this season of American Idol. Phillip is more of a musician than a vocalist. He has great style and excellent instincts but his vocal ability pales to comparison to mostly everyone who made it to the Top 13 this year. Jessica, however, is a blossoming diva with all of the vocal chops necessary to be the next blockbuster Idol. She is soulful, youthful and powerful. We haven't seen that kind of female talent since Season 6's Jordin Sparks. For the sake of the show and its Billboard livelihood, Jessica is going to really need to prove herself next week... There needs to be female Idol this year.

And the rest of us??? We need to vote accordingly. Who do YOU think should be our next American Idol???

I am rooting for Little Miss Jessica Sanchez.

Season 11's American Idol Top 4 Performers

At this point of the competition on Season 11's American Idol, it could be anyone's game. Tonight we witnessed our Top 4 finalists-- Hollie Cavanagh, Joshua Ledet, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez-- sing for their lives! Here is what I thought about each of the performances:

Round One: California Dreamin'
- Phillip Phillip sings "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by Creedance Clearwater - I love that Phillip showcased a little bit more range. His belt was clear and healthy, since he's finally stopped singing with his throat. Still boring, but definitely hearing a lot of improvements with his voice.

- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Faithfully" by Journey - This girl is peaking at the right time! I loved how she really held back in the beginning and gave us those beautiful big notes at the end. She utilized her technicality to give us so much power, confidence and emotion. Great performance!

- Joshua Ledet sings "You Raise Me Up" - Keeps swallowing phrases, not enough breath in verses. Key change did him well because he was able to redeem himself. His outro was extremely impressive and showcased impeccable range.


- Jessica Sanchez sings "Steal Away" by Etta James - Incredible phrasing, control and style! This girl's vocal performance is way beyond her years! She showcased attitude, growl, power and incredible melodic chops. Her flips to her head voice were very impressive and she just nailed it!



Round Two: Songs that Inspire Them
Phillip Phillips sings "Volcano" by Damien Rice - I agree with Randy that this is one of Phillip's best performances this season! It was very well sung, passionate and simply sexy. This is Phillip in his true element.. but is it enough?


Hollie Cavanagh sings "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt - This song was just too mature for little Hollie to tackle. She tried her hardest to evoke emotion, but came across rigid and robotic. I was disappointed with some of her melodic choices as she didn't "go for it" like I know she could. The tempo should have also been a lot slower. Sorry, girl!

Joshua Ledet sings "It's a Man's Man's World" by James Brown - FIERCE! The outfit, the attitude, the staging, the instrumentation, the arrangement.... flawless! His range, control, growl, passion and maturity are ridiculous! I really wanted a female to win Idol this year, but Joshua keeps outdoing himself. This performance was epic!

Jessica Sanchez sings "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday - Perfect song choice!!! This performance showcased her passion, power and confidence and she delivered it flawlessly! The entire song felt like she was climbing a big mountain and she executed it with maturity well above her years. What a Diva!


I think its obvious where the divide in the talent is based off of tonight's performances, overall consistency and performer track records.

Its a battle between Jessica and Joshua.. Hollie and Phillip have no chance. Phillip might stay for another week because of the female teen demographic, but will have no chance of making it to the finale. Hollie will most likely be packing her bags tomorrow night.

What do you think?!

Season 11's Top 5 American Idol Singers Perform!

Its another double theme night on American Idol. Season 11's Top 5 American Idol performers gave us their best renditions of songs from the 60s and from the UK. Weird theme, but Jimmy Iovine is back and I am happy to watch him mentor our singers with Steven Van Zandt. Here's a recap:

Round 1 - 60's Music

Hollie Cavanagh sings "River Deep, Mountain High" by Ike & Tina Turner - Shakey and off pitch introduction, but then she really opened up as she built up the chorus. She really came out of her shell and gave us a nice, sassy side. Not every note was perfect.. However, like always she gave us an awesome last diva note! You can really see (and hear) Hollie fighting for what she wants!

Phillip Phillip sings "The Letter" by The Box Tops" - After watching Phillip's performance, I was convinced that I had never heard of this song before. But then I looked up the original version on youtube and recognized it. Phillip took a lot of liberty with the melody and even though I agree with the judges that he made this song his own, he basically made up a completely different song. There is a fine line between arranging an original version of a song and completely rewriting the whole thing. He crossed that line tonight.

Skylar Laine sings "Fortunate Son" by Creedance Clearwater Revival - We all know that Skylar is a spitfire on stage. She really knows how to work the crowd and is sassy, confident and full of energy. I thought the song choice was right up her alley but maybe a little too much of what we have seen her do in the past? To her defense, her stage presence has blossomed even more. She truly worked that ENTIRE stage and gave a solid, professional concert-quality performance!

Phillip & Joshua sing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers - What an awful rendition of a beautiful song! These two singers can not be anymore different! Their voices completely clashed in timbre and caused serious tuning issues to the point where the harmonies were dissonant and ugly! Ahhhh! This also showcased how much BETTER of a singer Joshua is compared to Phillip. The dude totally got slaughtered by Joshua's thick, soulful vocals. Not a great performance AT ALL.

Jessica Sanchez sings "Proud Mary" by Ike & Tina Turner - I felt that Jessica did a great job showing us some growth with this song. We all know that uptempos are not her forte but she is definitely getting better. Her time feel has improved as well as her overall ability to crisp her phrases and control her vibrato. She looked a little awkward on stage and needs to work on her blocking and choreography, but did a great job tackling such a difficult song!

Joshua Ledet sings "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations - This song is right up his alley and I completely agree with Randy that Joshua could potential resurrect old school R&B into the new generation mainstream. He laid really nicely in the pocket and gave us an easy, natural and very well done performance.


Round 2 - Brit Pop:


Hollie Cavanagh sings "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis - I commend Hollie for choosing such a difficult song.. in fact, I have been working on that song for MONTHS and I'm still not happy with it! Anyway, her delivery was flawless; it was intimate and beautiful. I would have loved to have heard her hit the high "A" in the song, but she kept it safe and performed it very well.

Phillip Phillip sings "Time of Season" - Phillip finally decides to stick with the original melody and although he performs the song in a slower, groovier tempo, he failed to make his performance memorable.  I was bored and his falsetto was consistently underpitched. The boy may have just hit his glass ceiling at Idol!

Skylar, Jessica & Hollie AKA The Diva Trio sings "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson - It's always hard to share the stage with fellow divas but I think the girls did a great song sharing the spotlight and nailing their harmonies! Not my favorite arrangement, but they did really well.

Skylar Laine sings "You Don't Have to Love Me" by Dusty Springfield - Sing it, girl! Great job tearing up that ballad and making it your own! And holy RANGE! This girl really showcased her chops and gave us an emotional delivery. As J.Lo said in her critique, Skylar really might win this whole thing!

Jessica Sanchez sings "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker - Beautiful and tender delivery.. but we all know that Jessica can sing the heck out of a ballad. Her performance was very sophisticated, but that last note was flat. She needs to really work on the intonation in her higher register. The judges loved it and I think she's amazing, but wonder if she will make it to the top like they say she is...

Joshua Ledet sings "Too Love Somebody" by The Bee Gees - Well of course the judges gave Joshua another standing ovation.. I was waiting for it. His performance was amazing. He did an excellent job delivering an effective dynamic contrast and passion. He kept it low in the beginning and gave us his signature scream at the end. I'm just kind of tired of that scream to be quite honest...


So.. who is going home?!

Phillip was by far the weakest of the night and I would HOPE that America votes accordingly. Hollie really stepped up her game, but am not sure if she will be safe. I feel that Skylar and Joshua were the most consistent tonight and predict that they will be safe. Jessica is in the middle for me this time.

It's time to get rid of our WGWG (white guy with guitar) and time to have a DIVA win this thing!

What do you all think?!?!

Season 11's American Idol Top 6 Perform

This week our favorite Top 6 American Idol singers performed songs from Queen as well as songs that meant a lot to them. The competition is getting stiffer week after week and this is what I thought about tonight's performances:

Round 1:
Jessica Sanchez sings "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Top notes were all flat and agree with J.Lo that she needed to rock out more. When she sang the big parts she sounded great.. just needs to work on consistency!

Skylar Laine sings "The Show Must Go On" - I love her! She needed to show off her high notes and she truly nailed it! She has such great range, perfect pitch and excellent emotion!

Joshua Ledet sings "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Great vocals! I love the attitude, the timing, the melodic choices and the style! Flawless and very classy!

Elise Testone sings "I Want It All" - Shakey introduction...but after she warmed up she really opened up. Some of her notes were just incredible. I agree with the judges that she was truly in her element with this song choice!

Phillip Phillips sings "Fat Bottomed Girls" - The popping vein on his forehead is really distracting.. Anyway, this was a great song choice for him but I'm honestly bored with this dude. I enjoy the character behind his voice but feel like we have seen and heard everything.

Hollie Cavanagh sings "Save Me" - I didn't really believe her performance. Her voice is absolutely beautiful but she lacked the confidence and emotion that you need to be a great performer. She was good but maybe not good enough.


Round 2:
Jessica Sanchez sings "Dance With My Father" by Luther Vandross - So beautiful, so believable and so well done! This was a safe and easy song choice for her because it was right in her element. It was very tender and not over the top. Jessica saved herself from her last performance. =)

Skylar Laine sings "Tattoos On This Town" by Jason Aldean - I love when she plays the guitar! It was also a safe song choice, but it was great to hear her sing a country song because she just sings it well. I also loved that she showcased her range some more.

Joshua Ledet sings "Ready To Love" by india.aire - Beautiful song choice and wonderful, emotional delivery! I wish he wouldn't scream in every song but he gave us an awesome ending! That run at the end was phenomenal but do the judges have to give him a standing ovation EVERY time?!

Elise Testone sings "Bold As Love" by Jimmy Hendrix - Awesome job! I love her runs! She is so musically sophisticated, gave us great style, an awesome scat and just truly, in J.Lo's words, "slayed" that song. And I don't agree with Randy AT ALL! She did great!

Phillip Phillips sings "#41" by Dave Matthews Band - Very obscure and kinda kitschy. I loved the instrumentation and felt like he sounded great. However, if you close your eyes it sounds too much like Dave Matthews.. He might not be safe this week.

Hollie Cavanagh sings "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus - Her first standing ovation from the judges! This song fits her like a glove! Those top notes were perfect and she did a great job holding back and pushing forward when it was needed. Nice job!


Tonight's performances were awesome, but I truly missed watching the coaching sessions with Jimmy Iovine. Its fascinating to watch their transformations in the studio and I love hearing what Jimmy has to say about each performer. I also didn't like that the songs and performers were not introduced before each performance. What was up with that!? It left me wondering what the songs were called and I actually had to google some of the more obscure choices! All in all, the performances were really solid and its anyone's game at this point.

My predictions:
Top 3 - Jessica, Skylar and Joshua
Bottom 3 - Hollie, Elise and Phillip

Elise should be safe and we might say goodbye to Hollie or Phillip.. What do you all think!?

Season 11 American Idol: Goodbye Colton Dixon

Tonight we witnessed Season 11's Top 7 American Idol performers sit on pins and needles as Ryan Seacrest unveiled this week's verdict. Wow - what an exciting elimination! With Jessica Sanchez being at the bottom last week and the intensity of the competition getting stronger, it was really going to be a toss up as to who would go home tonight...

Tonight, consequently, we said goodbye to rocker Colton Dixon:

Throughout this competition, Colton has delivered solid performances. His cool indie rocker style and sexy falsetto have left him safe week after week. I agree that he may not have been this season's best vocalist, but the boy has talent. I admire his ability to completely arrange songs with his unique flavor. He is more of an artist and songwriter. He reminds me of the rock band Muse.

I believe that Colton will be American Idol's next Daughtry. Give this boy a couple of months and he will be signed to a record label and fronting his own band... American Idol was just a stepping stone for him.

Best of luck to you Colton!

And so now there were 6... looking forward to next week!

American Idol Top 7 Perform Songs from Then & Now

Here is a recap of this week's Top 7 American Idol Performances as the singers interpret songs from Then & Now...

Hollie Cavanagh sings "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele - Extremely risky as NO ONE should ever sing this song unless you are Adele. But I honestly feel like she really nailed it. The voice was strong and powerful and her delivery was sassy and heartfelt. You go girl!

Then - "Son of A Preacher Man" - Sounded great but was missing the dynamic contrast. However, she gave the BEST last note of the night... 2 weeks in a row ;)



Colton Dixon sings "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga - Awesome arrangement! I love the half time chorus and the bridge sounded pretty sexy! Colton is consistent and has great style.

Then - Earth, Wind & Fire sings "September" - Love this arrangement yet again! Colton may not have the best voice but can arguably create the best arrangements of songs week after week! Not sure if he will be save because the other singers really brought it this year!


Elise Testone sings "No One" by Alicia Keys - I loved the melodic choices during the intro of the song. However, it needed to be a little bit sweeter than what she delivered. Overall, not the best song choice for what she could potentially do.

Then - "Lets Get it On" by Marvin Gaye - Very cool sexy, jazzy interpretation. It is clear that she is very musically sophisticated, so why does she lack the fan base that others so naturally have? She is a true professional but fear that she is going home next.


Phillips Phillips sings "You Got it Bad" by Usher - Really nice arrangement and interpretation of this classic Usher song. Still needed to show more range and dynamics, but loved the style.

Then "Midnight Hour" by Wilson Pickett - Same performance again. This dude is talented but I've heard him sing literally the same song every week. Maybe he is too much of an individual and just can't help being "himself." Hmmm... luckily it picked up during the end of the song, but is it enough? Not sure if it is....


Jessica Sanchez "Fallin" by Alicia Keys - Safe song choice but she delivered it very well. Effortless, flawless and amazing. Girl has talent, style and charisma when she sings. She is ready to go.

Then "Try A Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding - NICE! This girly has so much control, power and style. She truly made this song her own - best performance of the night!


Skylar Laine sings "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga - LOVED the country interpretation. Excellent reharm, growl and stylization! She is an awesome performer!

Then "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye - Not sure if it there was too much melodic freedom, but I loved her ability to take this classic R&B tune and transform it into a modern country arrangement. Consistent, solid and "brilliant" as Randy said. ;)


Joshua Ledet sings "I Believe" by Joshua Ledet - I loved that he showcased his lower register and gave us a little bit less of his signature shriek. We know you can blow and I'm glad that you showed us just a little bit of restraint!

Then "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke -  Amazing, but I was honestly a little bit bored. Too much screaming for my taste. I am not sure how big of a disconnect there was between the live performance and the national broadcast because I am questioning the judges' standing ovation...


Overall, the talent is extremely impressive this year. I can honestly say that every single one of these performers deserve record deals that will propel them into successful careers in the music industry. Joshua is the next gospel star, Colton needs to front a rock band, Phillip is straight up ready to take over the indie/acoustic rock scene, Jessica is going to rule Top 40, Hollie could make it big on Broadway, Skylar is going to be the next country music sensation and Elise is gonna tear it up as a jazz/blues singer/songwriter. I've never been so passionate about the group that we have this year....its going to be difficult to say goodbye to someone tomorrow!

But honestly, I'm thinking our girl Elise will be going home. Thankfully, she will do well because she actually has experience and education and is just probably not gonna win this competition...

What do you think?!

American Idol Season 11 - Top 7 Perform Songs from This Decade

Tonight we watched Season 11's Top 7 American Idols compete and sing their favorite songs from "this decade." Special guest mentor Akon joined the show's resident critic Jimmy Iovine to coach our singers before they hit the stage. This is a quick recap of tonight's performances:

1- Skylar Laine sings "Didn't Know How Much You Love Me" by Kellie Pickler - Another stellar performance! Choosing this country ballad was absolutely brilliant.. She played to her strengths, showcased her range and gave us that power and conviction that we needed. And she even threw in her little guitar! So cute and SO talented! Love this girl. =)

2- Colton Dixon sings "Love the Way You Lie" by Skylar Grey - Beautiful but boring. The only part of the song that captivated me was the bridge but I felt like he could have relished in that moment for just a little bit longer. However, he gave us a great falsetto and excellent arrangement.

3- Jessica Sanchez sings "Stuttering" by Jasmine Sullivan - This diva delivered an incredible rendition of this unknown song. What could have turned out to be risky song choice, ended up being brilliant. We know that she has power and range, but now we know that she has incredible style. Beautifully done!

4- Joshua Ledet sings "Runaway Bride" by Bruno Mars - Great song choice.. loved how he added his special Joshua style and flavor to his performance. SO much power, control and passion. Like Steven Tyler said, he did a great job "selling" the song. His track record is quite possibly the most solid out of everybody else in this year's competition.


5- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Perfect" by Pink - The introduction was shakey...yet again. The key should have been brought up a half step because the low notes on the verses were way off. Her voice is incredible, but its sad that she lacks any emotion when she sings. But that high note at the end was frickin awesome. The girl just needs to keep singing; she has a lot of potential. ;)

Well.. it turns out that my DVR decided to stop recording during Hollie's judges critique and unfortunately I will not have a completed critique until tomorrow morning when the youtube videos will be posted.

WILL UPDATE SOON!

(ahhh... technology!?!)

Goodbye DeAndre Brackensick - American Idol Season 11 Top 8 Elimination

This week our Top 8 American Idol singers paid tribute to my favorite decade ever... the 80s. As each week progresses, the performers continue to unravel their voices, hearts and souls in front of America. Each week however, another one will be forced to bite the dust as the competition gets tougher and tougher.

This week we said Goodbye to lion-maned teenage heartthrob, DeAndre Brackensick:


Although the judges panel continued to rave about DeAndre's signature falsetto vocals week after week, I was never a huge fan of his singing. Granted, the young singer has definitely showed some improvement with his vocal control, melodic interpretation and overall stage presence. But as Jimmy Iovine pointed out today in his critique, his improvements are merely marginal compared to the leaps and bounds that the other competitors are experiencing.

DeAndre is a special singer. He is undoubtedly unique and can do really well if he stays within his niche. He's a handsome young man with great style and marketability. He can reach great amounts of potential if he chooses wisely after this show ends.

I agree it was his time to go and wish DeAndre the best of luck!

What do you think???

American Idol Season 11 - Top 8 Perform

It's 80s night for Season 11's American Idol Top 8 performers! This week the singers were mentored by Jimmy Iovine and No Doubt's frontwoman Gwen Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal. Here is a recap of this week's performances:

1- DeAndre Brackensick sings "I Like It" by Debarge - I am not a huge DeAndre fan, but can admit that this was one of his strongest performances. I enjoyed listening to him sing with his real voice as opposed to his falsetto. Stage presence and pitch are getting a lot better, too. He is definitely responding well to the vocal coaching that he is getting backstage. Still not my favorite, but can respect his growth!

2- Elise Testone sings "I Wanna Know What Love Is" by Foreigner - Elise's vocals are always solid; she is a consistent performer with undeniable talent. This week, however, she failed to deliver anything special. As the competition gets tougher every week, these singers are going to need to dig deep and perform creatively. The key change was iffy and the melodic choices were not as strong as the ones she has made in the past. Sorry, Elise - you may be in trouble!

3- Phillip Phillips sings "That's All" by Genesis - Great song choice and yet another solid performance to add to his track record. It was a little screamy for my taste but I totally loved the arrangement of the tune. Not sure if Phillip is an American Idol, but definitely an artist that I am starting to respect. This guy is crawling his way to the top!

4- Joshua Ledet sings "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red-  This was a perfect song choice for him. I especially enjoyed the adlib towards the end of the song. It not only showcased his powerhouse vocals but demonstrated his amazing melodic choices. Very natural, very heartfelt and overall, awesome job!

5- Jessica Sanchez sings "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston - Jessica needs a little help when it comes to properly executing uptempo songs. Her voice is big, bright and powerful, however she needs a lesson or two on rhythm and time feel. Some of her lower notes in the verses got lost and lacked the necessary breath support and execution. However, this young diva is very talented and will most likely be safe.

6- Hollie Cavanagh sings "What A Feeling" from Flashdance - Another awful outfit choice, by the way. BUT anyway, the verses needed a little bit more support as her lower notes were a little shakey. Her voice is undoubtedly strong and beautiful, but she needs to relax and allow herself to connect to her performances. I also agree with Steven.. her pitch was all over the place. She is a loud, slightly robotic Diva in Training. Relax, girly!

7- Colton Dixon sings "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper - I truly enjoyed Colton's rendition of this classic 80s tune. The 80s was such an awesome decade and he did a wonderful time transforming this 80s anthem into a modern, rock song. Vocally, I felt like he could have pushed the dynamics and given us a little bit more of that power and adlib towards the end. Great stage presence, too!

8- Skylar Laine sings "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Celine Dion - Beautiful tone and control. It was wonderful to hear Skylar perform a ballad with such emotion and conviction. That key change showcased her range beautifully. This was the exact performance that she needed to have! Great job girl!

Tonight did not showcase the group's talents to their fullest potential. Perhaps its the pressure, the fatigue and the uncertainty that comes with a competition of this caliber. I felt like Skylar and DeAndre really put their best feet forward. Phillip and Colton continued to be solid and will glide through another week of safety. Jessica and Joshua performed a beautiful duet and will continue to be at the top. And finally, Elise and Hollie are who will most likely be in trouble.

What do you think???

American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Heejun Han

So tonight on Season 11's American Idol we said goodbye to resident funny man, Heejun Han. Last night's performance was solid but apparently not special enough for America to keep him in the race. Here is a video of him singing "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway:




I feel as though America made the right decision. Although his voice is naturally beautiful, his immaturity and lack of experience could not compare to the many powerhouses that we have this season. Heejun's raw talent, however, is really lovely and with the right coaching and branding, he could actually have a great musical career. More than likely, Heejun will fizzle and become yet another Idol parody such as Sanjaya from Season 6.

Next week the competition will get even tougher as the Top 8 finalists continue to sing for their lives.

Who do you think will go home next?

Recap: Season 11's American Idol Top 9 Performances

This week on Season 11's American Idol, the Top 9 performed under the mentorship of the show's favorite coach Jimmy Iovine and legendary Stevie Nicks. The singers were given a little bit of freedom with their song choices and were asked to sing songs from their favorite idols.

1- Colton Dixon sings "Everything" by Lifehouse - The verses took a little bit too long to build up but when he finally opened up to the chorus his delivery was right on point. Overall, Colton has really great stage presence and emotionally connects to every song he sings. Very consistent, very solid!

2- Skylar Laine sings "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert - Great phrasing, vocal inflections and connection to the storytelling. Skylar is simply just a natural superstar. Her sass, confidence and energy own the stage. I loved the adlib that she gave at the end because it showcased power and range and only hope to hear her show off that part of her voice more!

3- Heejun Han sings "A Song For You" by Leon Russell - What a vast improvement from last week's horrendous performance! His tone is so unique and this song showcased the really cool husky textures in his lower register. I felt like the beginning was really strong but kind of lost his momentum towards the ending. I don't think he deserved a standing ovation from the judges but perhaps its because he set the bar so low for himself last week. Good voice but he is NOT the best singer in this competition.

4- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood - First off, Hollie finally pulls off the right outfit and looked phenomenal. Some of the notes in her song were a little bit iffy but I think she pulled it together and gave a touching performance. Her storytelling was on point and by the time she reached the end of the song she really nailed the high notes with conviction, power and control. This girl is a budding powerhouse.


5- DeAndre Brackensick sings "Sometimes I Cry" by Eric Benet - This week DeAndre's stage presence was a lot more tamed. The placement of his voice has improved but he definitely lacked the dynamic contrast that he needs in order to compete with these other singers. During the modulation in the bridge, the notes totally lacked the necessary breath support. He is definitely special but still needs a lot of coaching.

6- Jessica Sanchez sings "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce - Excellent job climbing up to the climax of the song from the very beginning teasing us with dynamics and vocal control. I agree with Stevie Nicks that the slowing down of the tempo was brilliant; her version of this song turned into a powerful, heartfelt ballad. I also agree with Steve Tyler: this little diva is a star already.

7- Phillip Phillips sings "Still Rainin" by Jonny Lang - This dude might win this competition. He is consistent, solid and truly the whole package. Great song choice, amazing power and overall very strong vocal chops. This was another great performance added to his track record and he's reaching to the top.

8- Joshua Ledet sings "Without You" by Mariah Carey - This was my favorite Joshua performance. He did a wonderful job holding back his powerhouse vocals in the beginning of the song and showcased his chops with a lot more finesse. What incredible emotion! It was visceral. This performance was the only one of the night that deserved the judges' standing ovation!

9- Elise Testone sings "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin - Risky song choice but this chick really rocked it out! Amazing vocal grittiness, power and control. She can be dirty and she can be pretty. Just killer, Elise. Really really great job!

Tonight I felt like the producers did a great job saving the best performances for last. Elise and Joshua completely took their songs to the next level. Elise demonstrated great showmanship and Joshua gave us his entire heart and soul. The mediocrity was sandwiched in the middle and became easily forgettable as the night went on. I also feel like the judges gave standing ovations to the two worst singers in the competition- Heejun and DeAndre. I didn't agree with many of their comments tonight. They need to be more critical as the competition gets stiffer. It would be a shame to sway America's votes from the singers who truly deserve a fair shot at this thing.

This week, I predict DeAndre and Heejun are in trouble. At the top this week is Phillip and Jessica.

What do you think????

Season 11's American Idol Top 10 - Performance Recap

Tonight we watched Season 11's American Idols sing through Billy Joel's songbook. The Top 10 honed their performance skills under the mentorship of the show's favorite critic, Jimmy Iovine and hiphop mogul, Diddy.

Tommy Hilfiger also made a guest performance as the show's new Image Specialist. I love that they brought him onboard and agree that when you look great, you feel great and sound great. Here is what I thought of this week's American Idol Top 10 performances:

1- DeAndre Brackensick  sings "Only the Good Die Young" - This performance seemed like a glorified karaoke number. Although the arrangement was somewhat boring, I appreciated the improvements in his stage presence. He appeared a lot less nervous and more laid back. At times his vibrato was slightly overbearing. Overall, I find him to be one of the weakest singers in the competition.

2- Erika Van Pelt sings "New York State of Mind" - Best makeover of the night! Erika has one of my favorite voices. She has soul, depth and delivers beautiful phrasing. She really knows how to hold back and build up when it is appropriate. Her mic technique is that of a true professional. Unfortunately, her polished performance can come across to others as playing it safe. It's going to be difficult for her to compete with the other teen belters in the show if she does not figure out a way to impress the lamen.

3- Joshua Ledet sings "She's Got A Way" - His intro was a little shakey in pitch, but it was nice to hear him sing with dynamics. Before this week, mp-mf were non-existant in his performances.. it was a whole lot of ff and fff going on. I loved the song because it showed great range and control. However, I agreed with J.Lo about him needing to connect more to the lyrics.

4- Skylar Laine sings "Shameless" - There is no doubt that this girl has a great country sound. Sadly, she had a couple of bum notes. In the beginning, it took way too long to build up into her sweet spot. When she opened up, she began to sound better but then came across a little too screamy. I agree with Randy: it was pretty good, but not the best.

5- Elise Testone sings "Vienna" - What a solid intro! She gave us wonderful storytelling, excellent melodic variation and showcased really cool vocal flips in and out of head voice, while teasing us with her growls. She killed that run at the end! Her ending was harmonically difficult and demonstrated serious musical chops.  Elise and Erika are the most sophisticated vocalists in this competition. Finally, maybe someone who is actually seasoned and educated can win this whole thing?

6- Phillip Phillips sings "Movin' Out" - I can really appreciate this dude's authenticity. His artistry is as if Dave Matthews and Adam Duritz had a child. He has a killer time feel and sweet melodic interpretation. Vocally, I would have liked to see him grow, but maybe he doesn't need to. Maybe he can with this whole thing with his cool vocal style and musical arrangements.

7- Hollie Cavanagh sings "Honesty" - This week, Hollie did much better with the dynamic contrast. Sadly, she was consistently sharp on many of her power notes- perhaps due to pushing. She resembles a young Celine Dion, even the diction is very "er." The ending completely lacked the proper breath support in order to execute those runs in her head voice. I usually love her performances, but this week was a miss for me.

8- Heejun Han sings "My Life" - Heejun totally copied Billy Joel's diction during the verses. He fell flat on almost all of his sustained notes. His facial expressions were strange and his stage presence was hokey and uncomfortable. He may think he is funny, but not in a good way. His performance was like a skit off of SNL. Humor will not mask mediocrity. It was simply horrifying.

9- Jessica Sanchez sings "Everybody Has A Dream" - Her voice reminds me of Jennifer Hudson, it has the darkness in her low register and the wide, powerful vibrato during sustained notes. This week she held back in her performance very well, and did not oversing. She showcased excellent range and wrapped us around her little finger yet again. SO good!

10- Colton Dixon sings "Piano Man" - Perfect song choice, excellent vocal delivery. Beautiful yodel and a wonderful buildup into an effective key change. I respect his voice and musicality. My favorite performance of him yet!

Now that American Idol has narrowed it down to their Top 10 favorite singers, its going to get harder and harder for America to vote. For the girls, it's a battle of Teen Belters vs Seasoned Performers. For the boys, its the Rockers vs the Balladeers. In my opinion, Heejun and DeAndre need to go. However, America may not appreciate the sophistication of Erika and Elise and the teen female demographic might prolong the boys' livelihood in this competition.

Who do you think is in trouble this week???

American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Shannon Magrane

It makes me so sad to see the lovely and talented Shannon Magrane leave Season 11's American Idol competition. Shannon was one of our beloved Dream Ticket Winners and truly such a beautiful, young singer. To be able to sing with that immense amount of power, soul and finesse at only 16 years of age is truly a blessing from God. I wish Shannon the best as she begins this exciting adventure in her life. I am confident that she will have a long, successful career in this industry. She carries herself with grace, poise and dignity.



Last night, Shannon sang a wonderful rendition of Mariah Carey & Boyz 2 Men's "One Sweet Day." It was an extremely difficult song to undertake, but her delivery was strong, passionate and well above her years. Her flaws are minor compared to the maturity and grace that she carries herself with despite her tender age.

Shannon, you will be missed!

Season 11: American Idol Top 12 Finalists Compete

Here is a recap and vocal review of Season 11's American Idol Top 12. Tonight we had the chance to watch our singers perform songs from the year they were born. Some of them were born in the 90s which makes me feel old. This is what I thought:

1- Phllip Phillips - Boring. I know he is sick and all, but I was bored! Sorry!

2- Jessica Sanchez - Terrible song choice, too much vibrato and completely lacked accuracy of syncopated rhythms. She'll stay because she's so good.

3- HeeJun Han - The poor dude has awful diction and the worst microphone technique ever! His personality is cute, but not enough to be an Idol!

4- Elise Testone - Finally, you showed us a soft and vulnerable side. Perfect song choice that showcased wonderful tones and phrasing, but got too loud too soon. Hold back, girl- there's tons of beauty in your voice when you keep it soft and build up slowly.

5- Deandre Brackensick - I felt like I was in the 70's when he started. His phrasing, his facial expressions and even his outfit made the performance so cheesy! He has a great voice but it was cheesy CHEESY!

6- Shannon Magrane - Yes!! You did it, girl! You relaxed, emotionally connected and gave us a great performance! The voice was in control and the dynamic contrast was very effective into building up the song! Wonderful job for proving yourself this week!

7- Colton Dixon - Great voice but also boring! He is going to need to step out of his comfort zone in order to stand out!

8- Erika Van Pelt - Great vocal mix and technique, effective key change and interesting ending! She reminds me of Kelly and could surprisingly win this thing!

9- Skylar Laine - She is such a firecracker - has killer stage presence and style! I can't believe how much potential she has for her age!

10 - Joshua Ledet - I did not like the song choice, but it showcased impeccable range and control. Not sure that it deserved the standing ovation, but strong enough to continue.

11- Hollie Cavanagh - The notes just soared above her so effortlessly. Loved the song choice and the key fit her voice perfectly. She almost didn't get that last note but did a great job closing the show!

Tonight we also witnessed this season's first controversy. I was creeped out by the way the producers decided to address the disqualification of Jermaine Jones. Additionally, I was upset that we were not presented with a Jeremy Rosado comeback performance in its place! What a waste of a spot as I was never a big fan of this "gentle giant."

Looking forward to tomorrow's elimination round. I predict HeeJun and Deandre are in trouble. We shall wait and see... =)

Disney's American Idol Experience

If you are ever curious as to how one would be able to audition for The American Idol Experience and be a part of this great attraction, here is a cool video that explains the process:



Hope you can come visit one day! =)

American Idol Season 11 - Goodbye Jeremy Rosado

Last night was the first elimination round of American Idol Season 11's Top 13 Finalists. Each singer was given critiques of their performances from the night before and special guest performances were made by mentor Mary J. Blige and last year's runner-up Lauren Alaina. The results were somewhat predictable as both the boy and the girl with the lowest number of votes were Elise Testone and Jeremy Rosado. The judges had to decide which singer was going to be the first finalist to go home.

It was a difficult decision but America said goodbye to Jeremy Rosado for the last time. The results were announced by J.Lo who had saved Jeremy the week before.

I knew Jeremy was in trouble. Despite his strong vocal chops, his last performance failed to stand out among this season's strong talent. The competition is the most difficult it has ever been.

This boy is very talented and I believe great things are headed his way! Jeremy, you will be missed!

American Idol Season 11: Top 13 Finalists Compete

Last night we watched American Idol Season 11's Top 13 Finalists compete against each other. The girls paid tribute to Whitney Houston and the boys rocked out to Stevie Wonder. Special guests were Jimmy and Mary J. Blige. With the exception of a couple performances, the shows were solid. Here's my take on each performance:

1- Joshua Ledet - It's never easy being the first performance of the night, but he killed it with a wonderfully styled and controlled "I Wish." His time feel was spot on---passionately delivering every phrase right in the pocket. Great job over all!

2- Elise Testone - I've never been crazy about her and this performance only justified that. Her voice is thick, soulful and passionate. However, her rendition of "I'm Your Baby Tonight" was literally rough sounding. There was no holding back, no emotional connection and no finesse. Her voice is amazing but she lacked the tenderness that you need when you are singing a love song. 

3- Jermaine Jones - This dude has an amazing velvety chocolatey tone quality to his voice. However, his rendition of "Knocks Me Off My Feet" was simply boring. He was a little pitchy during some of the runs in the middle of the song and he failed to capture me during his moment. 

4- Erika Van Pelt - Her vocals captured me the second she began "I Believe In You In Me." Sultry alto vocals led up to a beautiful mix in the middle register. She eloquently build up to the chorus with finesse. Her performance is a perfect example of how to balance power and grace. Solid, Solid Solid. 

5- Colton Dixon - This boy is starting to grow on me. He has such a true rocker sound. He did an amazing job recreating "Lately." His performance was genuine, unique and absolutely on point. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to hearing more from this kid.

6- Shannon Magrane - Poor girl. She might be going home this week. Her rendition of "I Have Nothing" was shakey all around. Pitch problems and lack of control basically swallowed her. This 16-year-old has great talent and potential but last night her nerves got the best of her and her song choice became bigger than her. 

7- DeAndre Brackensick - This kid is starting to grow on me. He is a naive talent with so much potential. His performance of "Master Blaster" showcased great personality and rhythmic prowess. It was refreshing to hear him sing more in his chest voice. He did very well.

8- Skylar Laine - This little pistol did a wonderful job adapting to this week's theme with her rendition of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." Her voice is still young and needs time to develop but she has the makings of a star. Her vocal delivery and stage presence speak volumes for her age.

9- Heejun Han - Another beautiful voice that puts me to sleep.. but not in a good way. His version of "All In Love is Fair" was tender and vulnerable. He did a wonderful job conveying the emotion in the story of the song. However, he was a little pitchy and failed to capture me as well in his moment.

10- Hollie Cavanagh - This little girl is surprisingly solid and extremely polished. Such a powerful vocal on "All The Man That I Need." She has a great future ahead of her. I can see her having an amazing career in the contemporary Broadway circuit. I'm a fan.

11- Jeremy Rosado - I'm a huge fan of this guy's voice. He needs to be signed whether or not he wins this thing. His version of "Ribbon In The Sky" just needed a little bit more control--it was almost there. I am looking forward to hearing more from him. He's gonna need to rock out an uptempo soon. 

12- Jessica Sanchez - Flawless. This girl has been driving me crazy lately. I was a little afraid of her song choice, but her performance of "I Will Always Love You" was absolutely ridiculous. Her talent is truly a gift from God. Perfect from start to finish!

13- Phillip Phillips - He's very good to look at so I believe America will keep him in this competition, but honestly, he is not the best singer in this competition. I love his style but vocally, he pushed and screamed a little bit too much on "Superstition." I didn't love his performance last night.

So these are my thoughts on last night's performance. Tonight the results will be announced and the judges will need to decide who gets to stay between the lowest girl and lowest boy. I predict Elise, Shannon and Jermaine are in trouble. Judges will most likely choose a female to go home. What do you think?!