Tonight, American Idol begins the singing marathon called Hollywood Week.

And I am sure it will be filled with all the drama and suspense that I have come to dislike about this show. It is tedious and overblown.

As I said last week, American Idol would have been wise to jump-start the live shows this season.

With strong competition coming from NBC’s The Voice, Fox risks losing viewers who are waiting to see the live shows.

The Voice starts out in performance mode right out of the gate and, as a result, the emotional investment in these singers is strong and instantaneous.

I can scarcely remember who auditioned for American Idol this season. The talent is strong – no doubt – but after three weeks we are still twiddling our thumbs wondering what these singers can do when allowed to perform to their full ability.

Does anyone else agree or am I blowing smoke here?

At any rate, we have two more weeks of whittling singers down to the Top 24 and then these singers compete for a spot in the Top 12. That’s six weeks of television until the Top 12 take center stage. Far, far too long

Are you enjoying the Season 11? Do you think the ratings will improve once the live shows begin?

Well, after much hype and ballyhoo, the NBC Premiere of the long-awaited Smash series debuts at 10:00 P.M. Eastern on Monday February 6th.

Katharine McPhee stars in the role as Karen, one of two singers auditioning to play the role of Marilyn Monroe.

By all accounts, her performance looks more than promising and the show looks fantastic. Also starring in this series are Megan Hilty, Debra Messing and Angelica Huston.

New NBC entertainment chief, Eric Greenblatt, wooed Steven Spielberg to produce the series and the network has persistently promoted this potent collaboration.

This is a real coup d’état for NBC, a network that is fighting strongly to reclaim its number one position in the television industry.

And with The Voice and America’s Got Talent in its back pocket plus numerous other projects down the line, it looks like it might just reach its goal.

Have a peek at Katharine’s “Touch Me” video below. And tell us what you think in the comments section. Will you be watching “Smash”?

Tonight, American Idol features the final stop of the Season 11 audition tour – the city of St. Louis. Think we’ll find any blues singers? One can only hope!

Wednesday’s Portland show was pretty weak, I thought. Lots of people with back stories and mediocre voices. I can’t see many going far during Hollywood week. We’ll see soon enough!

I am pretty much done with these auditions and just want the live performances to “kick-in”.

Right now, it is a veritable snail fest, although the atmosphere created by the judges and Ryan Seacrest has greatly improved. Lots of positive vibes and good will.

I honestly feel that the American Idol live performances should start sooner so as to avoid colliding with and/or get a jump-start on The Voice and Smash. You know, the early bird gets the worm and all that.

NBC is going to kick some butt with these shows. I hope Fox is ready for a fight.

Are you enjoying the Season 11? Do you think the ratings will improve once the live shows begin?

Tonight, American Idol enters the third and last week of preliminary auditions via the city of Portland, Oregon.

Thursday’s Houston, Texas show was very good.

More great singers were discovered and will most certainly do very well during the Hollywood Bootcamp.

I was very excited to see Season 6 contestant, Baylie Brown. I remembered that name – a star’s name – and was disappointed when she failed to make an impression during Season 6 Hollywood week.

She seems very confident and prepared now, so hopefully she will move deep into this year’s competition.

What do you think of the season thus far? Let us in on your favorites in the comments sections.

Tonight, American Idol continues its journey while highlighting the talent discovered at the Houston, Texas auditions.

I thought last evening’s show in Aspen showed some very promising talent.

There were a couple of guys with resounding baritone voices and, of course, Hippie Girl Haley was just tremendous. What a surprise!

And she is different and quirky in every good way, so I trust she will venture far in this competition.

So nothing more needs to be said – let the show begin in!

What do you think of the season thus far? Let us in on your favorites in the comments sections.

I have always wanted to travel to Aspen Colorado, so the closest thing I will encounter is catching a glimpse of it here and there during this evening’s American Idol Aspen auditions.

I wonder if anyone will ski into the auditions. Just a crazy thought!

I pretty much thought that the San Diego auditions were a bust, although I really liked the unassuming and genuine talent of Jane Carrey. She seems rooted and focused, raised with the correct work ethic.

I think there will be more to this story as the season unfolds – at least this is what I hope will happen. Time will tell, but I am rooting for her.

I do like where this show is headed this year. Presently, there seems to be a diversity of talent headed to Hollywood, so I hope this element will be reflected in the Top 24 and, ultimately, in the Top 12.

What do you think of the show thus far? Let us in on your favorites in the comments sections.

Reblogged from The New HOT 95-7 – Celeb Gossip, Music News, The HOT Show – KKHH-FM – All The Hits:

Last night after the big NFC Championship game, FOX aired a special episode of San Diego ‘American Idol’ auditions. Much to the judges surprise Jim Carrey’s daughter, Jane Carrey, came to audition! Take a listen to her sing, and find out if she got a golden ticket to Hollywood!

What did you think of Jane Carrey’s participation in the American Idol auditions in San Diego? To tell the truth, she is taking a huge risk given her background, but seems like a talented and unassuming young lady. I love her and wish her the very best

Well, apparently there is some important game on tonight, acting as a lead-in to a special showing of American Idol.

As you can plainly see, I am not an avid sports fan – except when the Olympics air.

Then I turn into a raving lunatic, acting like an avid and obsessive sports fan. It really is one of the great mysteries of life.

But, I googled the information and it is the NFC championship game between New York and San Francisco.

American Idol airs directly after the game on Fox at 10:00 Eastern. So, as long as there is no overtime, we should be good to go.

Also, was I the only one bummed over the fact that the Coal Miner Kid, Shane Bruce, didn’t receive a golden ticket to Hollywood during the Pittsburgh auditions? So much air time was allotted to him, so perhaps he will come back as a wild card.

And why didn’t he perform “In The Still Of The Night” for the judges instead of the coal miners? “Hallelujah” just doesn’t cut it, plus it is over-performed. He brought nothing new to the table with this song.

Nevertheless, he demonstrated great potential for growth and, given his personal history, would have attracted a huge audience. So, either Idol will rethink this or they have another agenda in mind.

Tonight’s show features the discovered talent at the San Diego auditions. Are you excited and pumped? I am! Comments are open so start this party early!

What a fantastic showing in Savannah, Georgia last evening! The new season of American Idol moved smoothly and efficiently, thanks to Ryan Seacrest’s flawless narration and the renewed energy of the judges, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler.

And the singers! Let’s talk about the singers! The first thing that comes to mind is fluid. Their voices were clear and effortless. Their vocal sound just oozed from their bodies, pitch perfect and transparent.

Now, I cannot for the life of me remember all the names because that’s the way my mind works. I’m a numbers gal.

But suffice it to say that the vast majority of the singers brought a huge smile to my face with their creative, nuanced approach to their music.

And, although Philip Phillips ended the two-hour showcase with stellar vocals reminiscent of a younger and, perhaps hipper, version Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, a great deal of talent still needs to surface over the next three weeks before we declare him the one to beat this season.

But he is one to watch closely, very closely!

So, we are off Pittsburgh tonight and I am very excited. Are you? Who are your favorites so far? Please share in the comments section.

Enjoy the show!

Tonight’s two-hour premiere of American Idol Season 11 will showcase the discovered talent in Savannah, Georgia.

Two hours for one city seems a little extreme. Has it always been this way? Who can remember from year to year? Not me.

So the two-hour showcase allotted to the Savannah singers must be indicative of the stellar level of talent at these auditions. Or, we may be treated to some tedious filler and back stories but then it wouldn’t be American Idol without it, correct?

Whatever the case, enjoy the resonating sound of Ryan Seacrest’s singular voice during the narration because, depending on what happens with his contract negotiations, this may be his last season.

And that would be a shame. No one can take his place. He makes it look so easy. He is unflappable, intelligent, accommodating, genuine – just a regular guy with a heap of ambition and talent.

So,let the drums roll out and the trumpets sound as we begin – hopefully – another full decade of
American Idol.

And please add your comments and thoughts in the comments section of this blog topic.

Well here we are again. Another season of American Idol is upon us. This year the popular reality singing show is entering its 11th Season, with no sign of “giving up” or “handing over” the reins to another singing competition.

Although NBC’s first season of The Voice and Fox’s first season of The X Factor did perform to high numbers, none came close to the ratings and popularity of American Idol.

This show is so ingrained in the mindset and viewing routine of the TV audience that it is going to take a cold day in hell for this show to disappear off the radar.

The only way this will happen is if Fox decides not to renew Ryan Seacrest’s lucrative contract next year.

If he disappears from Idol, the show will follow in its footsteps. He literally and figuratively is the voice of American Idol. I cannot imagine this show without him. Can you?

As you ponder this question, have a look at this year’s schedule and give us your take on a couple of interesting changes to the format. Should be interesting.

Wednesday, Jan. 18 (8:00-10:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 1
Thursday, Jan. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 2
Sunday, Jan. 22 (10-11PM ET/7-8 PM PT) Auditions Episode (Special Broadcast)
Wednesday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Jan. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Wednesday, Feb. 1 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Feb. 2 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Wednesday, Feb. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Feb. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 1
Wednesday, Feb. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 2
Thursday, Feb. 16 (8:00-9:00 PM) Hollywood Round, Part 3
Wednesday, Feb. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM) Performance Challenge
Thursday, Feb. 23 (8:00-9:00 PM) Semifinalists Announced
Tuesday, Feb. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM) Semifinalists Perform/400th Episode (Special Broadcast)
Wednesday, Feb. 29 (8:00-10:00 PM) Semifinalists Perform
Thursday, March 1 (8:00-10:00 PM) Results Show; Finalists Announced & Judges’ Wild Card Picks Revealed (ET live/PT tape-delayed)
Wednesday, March 7 (8:00-10:00 PM) Finalists Perform
Thursday, March 8 (8:00-9:00 PM) Results Show; First Elimination (ET live/PT tape-delayed)

Become a fan of American Idol on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanIdol. Follow the series on Twitter @AmericanIdol and join the discussion at #AmericanIdol. Also, follow host Ryan Seacrest at @RyanSeacrest, and follow the judges: @yo_randyjackson; @JLo; and @iamstevent.

Hello everyone!

I hope y’all had a relaxing, memorable holiday. Mine was splendid and filled with family, laughter, music, good food and just plain ‘ole fun!

But now the decorations have been carefully stored, the house is quiet, the baking is gone (thank heavens) and the laugher and pitter-patter of my grandchildren’s voices and feet respectively are a happy memory.

So what to do, what to do? Oh yes, I have a blogging site or two or three to address.

So here I am – finally – ready to roll.

And, with the New Year, we find ourselves immersed in January 2012. But, no January blues here because it is Awards Show season.

However, more important, a new season of American Idol, the raison d’être behind this and many blogging sites, is premiering this week. I don’t know about you but I think January and American Idol go together like cookies and milk.

We also have Season 2 of The Voice on the radar, as well as NBC’s new series “Smash”, featuring American Idol Season 5 Runner-Up, the very talented Katharine McPhee.

So, it is going to be a very busy few months with lots to chat about. I can’t wait to share ideas and opinions with all of you once again.

Are you excited about the return of American Idol and The Voice? How about “Smash”, The Grammys, The Golden Globes, The Oscars, The Tonys and so much more?

Not only does David Archuleta have the voice of an angel, but he also embodies the spirit of one.

At the end of his outstanding performance in Salt Lake City, David made a very special announcement (see the above video) – that he was going to embark on a two-year mission for the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints.

David became overwhelmed with emotion when he made his announcement:

“It’s not because somebody told me that I was supposed to do it, not because that I no longer want to do music anymore, but it’s because it’s the feeling that I felt that I need to do next in my life.”

I have to say I wasn’t totally surprised. After meeting David during the American Idol Season Seven summer tour, I mentioned to my family that something very special was happening with David – beyond music.

His spirituality and introspective nature was just so tangible. He seemed to be seeing and capturing an essence that others could not visualize. The world that he created for himself was a very special one and now we know why.

It is important in life to understand your instincts and prioritize what is really important. It makes for a meaningful, solid and truly successful road as a human being.

I congratulate and applaud David for his impeccable taste and lifestyle choices. He may not have won that American Idol title, but sure as I’m standing here, he is the epitome of one.

The video below captures both his announcement and his final number in the “My Kind Of Christmas” tour stop in Salt Lake City. It is truly beautiful – in fact probably the most beautiful version I have ever heard.

And, interestingly enough, the audible breathing that is the result of David’s vocal cord paralysis, was barely evident in this number. All one could hear was the passionate glory of his gorgeous and expressive voice.

Please stop by and share the love in the comments thread. Don’t be a stranger.

I have to admit – I just don’t get it! I truly don’t. The fact that David Cook has eluded superstardom leaves me completely and utterly baffled.

It leaves me to question the nature of the promotional process once American Idol completes a season.

All that hype, all the hoopla, all the exposure garnered from weekly appearances on American Idol should be an enormous platform for catapulting an artist’s career, especially one as talented as David Cook. You would think so, right?

But, no, it rarely happens and no one knows why.

Season Seven Of American Idol, where David Cook emerged as the winner, was arguably the most successful season ever.

Their summer tour sold out huge venues both in the United States and Canada. Many, many unique stars were born, including David Cook, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Carly Smithson, Michael Johns, Brooke White.

Just reflecting on this wonderful group of singers brings a smile to my face. They are all phenomenally talented in their own special way.

While Simon Cowell wants us to believe that he and he alone has found artists with the X Factor, I beg to differ. All of the American Idol singers mentioned above possessed this integral factor in spades.

David Cook’s version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean“, which originated with artist Chris Cornell, was a show-stopping moment on the show, one that repeated itself many times throughout Season Seven.

Did record producers not realize the gem they had in David Cook? Could someone not have envisioned an album of classic rock songs featuring David’s signature style and sound?

We all know that Rod Stewart has made gazillions with his cover albums, launching another exciting phase in this singer’s career.

Listen to the video below. It screams superstar. Please, record producers, stop with the cookie-cutter, mind-numbing approach to musical success and stardom and start producing stars of quality, intelligence and charisma.

The world needs singers of passion, with a strong moral compass and multi-dimensional visionary approach to their artistry.

David Cook’s new CD, This Loud Morning, was impeccably conceived and produced. David threw his heart and soul into this CD and it deserves to be recognized at a higher level.

You can purchase “This Loud Morning” on Amazon.Com or download it via ITunes.

Where are the David Cook fans? Are you as frustrated as I from the lack of exposure David is receiving? Hit the comments below, while you listen to “Billie Jean”.

But, more important, tell your friends to download his album pronto. Please. We need more people like David in the music industry and we must ensure his longevity as an artist.

This video of David Archuleta performing Silent Night with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra has to be the most compelling, passionate and inspiring performance of this song classic I have ever had the pleasure to see and hear.

Recorded live last Christmas and set to air on PBS on Tuesday, December 13th from 8:00-9:00 P.M., David’s arrangement of this beautiful carol is nothing short of exceptional.

His phrasing, inflection, his lyrical, seamless vocal quality and expressive interpretation, are absolutely sublime. His face is radiant throughout this song and genuinely expresses the meaning of the lyrics in every verse.

Watch how his demeanor changes for each verse. It is very evident in the third verse, where his facial expression and body language mirrors the text so very well. He wears his joy and happiness on his sleeve. It really is remarkable.

David has released a CD and DVD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Glad Christmas Tidings.

It is an absolutely exquisite “watch and listen”, capturing the spirit of Christmas through stellar vocal and instrumental performances.

It is available for hard copy or digital purchase from Amazon.com or via ITunes.

But do yourself a favor right now and listen to the video below. It is an excellent way to begin your week and to be reminded where the meaning of Christmas truly lives and breathes.

Update: You can also order Glad Christmas Tidings DVD from Deseret Book for $18.74, free shipping code, 12DaysFree

Also, I was just informed by one of my readers, Janey, that Silent Night is NOT included on the PBS special. So, if you want to enjoy the entire show, you better order yourself the DVD tout suite!

This video featuring David Archuleta performing his original composition, “My Kind Of Christmas” brought such a smile to my face. The melody and the lyrics are brimming with the spirit and joy of the Christmas season and David’s performance captures the magic of the Christmas season so well.

Presently on a Christmas Tour with his “My Kind Of Christmas” show, David is following his own career path with the vision and passion he brought to American Idol Season Seven.

He has a very intelligent, strategic plan regarding his career, knowing full well that there is huge audience out there ready to embrace him with open arms.

To follow your dreams without the security blanket of a record label takes courage and maturity.

And, as David said, being tied to a record label is very restrictive for, given the nature of today’s music industry, it can be an erratic and disloyal partnership.

David has released a CDand DVD with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir called Glad Christmas Tidings.

It is an absolutely exquisite “watch and listen”, capturing the spirit of Christmas through stellar vocal and instrumental performances.

It is available for hard copy or digital purchase from Amazon.com or via ITunes.

Also, author Pamela Pike’s book, “Through Our Eyes, is the perfect reading complement to this CD and DVD. You can purchase Through Our Eyes: A Fan’s Perspective on Artist David Archuleta At Barnes And Noble or at Amazon.Com

Enjoy the video featured below and make sure you share the joy in the comments section!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed author Pamela Pike’s book about the enormously talented David Archuleta.

This wonderful book, which includes detailed interviews with fans and musicians alike, perfectly summarizes why David Archuleta has continued to be an unstoppable force since his outstanding journey on American Idol three seasons ago.

His talent is uniquely special. David sings from his heart and has only the utmost respect for his music. And this respect carries over to his fans, his musical peers and extraordinary mentors.

I had an opportunity to meet David when he was touring with the Top Ten from American Idol Season Seven. I can’t remember when I have had the privilege to speak with such a mature, thoughtful, caring and genuine human being.

And then, there is his voice. That singular, passionate voice! It is one of those special instruments that moves, inspires and remains with you long after the performance is over.

In her book, Pamela Pike made absolutely certain that no stone was left unturned. She has provided the reader with incredible insight into the relationships David has established with his fans and mentors.

Also, because of my Vocal Masterclass articles for American Idol on the MasterclassLady.Com site, I was given the privilege to add my personal insights about David’s outstanding vocal talent in this book.

It is an absolutely heartwarming journalistic achievement and one that I highly recommend.

Through her detailed interviews, Pamela Pike has perfectly captured David Archuleta’s essence and, more important, his singular talent to achieve excellence every step of the way.

Purchase Through Our Eyes: A Fan’s Perspective on Artist David Archuleta At Barnes And Noble

Purchase Through Our Eyes: A Fan’s Perspective on Artist David Archuleta at Amazon.Com

Jason Castro will be strumming a lot of lullabies on his ukelele.

His signature song, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, has taken on a whole new meaning with the birth of his baby daughter, Madeline Emilia.

His wife, Mandy, gave birth to their beautiful baby girl on Sunday.

On behalf of all of us here in the MCL Community, we congratulate Jason and Mandy. Your lives will be forever changed by this precious gift from Heaven.

Because, yes indeed, his performance of “Singing In The Rain” was pure, unbridled genius.

Choreographed by Gene himself, he captured the emotion of the moment so very well through his expansive body language and facial expressions. His passion and joy for dance was clearly evident in this number.

His wonderful use of space, formulated by his decision to let the camera be the eye of the viewer, was and still is innovative and ground-breaking.

The dimensional aspects of this number are wonderfully broad and captivating, almost difficult to summarize in mere words. One has to visually take in the glory and passion of this number to fully understand the brilliance of this performance.

Which of today’s performers capture the essence of Gene Kelly Or is that performance era gone forever?

By Gene Wilkey

My wife, Kathy, and I traveled to Nashville on Friday to see the AE10 concert. As it turned out, Friday’s entertainment was almost as good as Saturday’s. I will touch on that later, but first I would like to tell you about the big show. I will call this more of a report on the event than a review of the singers.

I recall some of the reviews from last year’s tour reporting as few as 5,000 people in attendance at some of the performances. We left our hotel 2 1/2 hours before the show, arriving at the entrance plaza of the coliseum at least two hours before the 7:00 show time and there were more than 5,000 people milling around in front of the venue. All of the local restaurants from completely skanky, to 5 star restaurants, were packed and had waiting list of an hour and a half or more. The signs were good that the turnout would be huge. The arena was set up in it’s maximum capacity configuration. It has triple deck fixed seating and the floor was filled with temporary folding chairs, with the stage in one end. Our seats were on the floor, right in the center, less than 100 feet from the stage. I would be surprised if there were 50 empty seats in the building. Reports of American Idol’s demised seem to be premature, if this is any indication.

The preshow consisted of videos of past Idols playing on the side screens of the stage. There were still people taking their seats at show time, so the start was delayed for maybe 10 minutes, but once underway we were in store for a very professional, seamlessly produced and executed show from beginning to end. All eleven performers gave excellent performance backed by a very tight five piece band. I don’t know if it is customary or not, but there were no backup vocalist. All of the backing vocals were provided by the Idols themselves with the exception of Scotty’s single where it sounded like tracks were used for the backing vocals. Haley, Stefano, and Pia performed backup duties more than anyone else, and they did an outstanding job. This year’s show utilized the talents of the contestants to create the overall show with less emphasis on how they placed in the competition, rather than the mini concert format, that counts down from tenth place to the winner, that I have read about from past years. As a Pia fan that moved on to support Haley after Pia was eliminated, I was very pleased with the outcome. Both girls had a lot of stage time. Some accounts of this are misleading because they don’t distinguish backup singing from any of the group formats; so for example, you may be left with the impression that Haley, Thia and Stefano were in a quartet with Lauren on “If I Die Young,” when actually they were sitting on stools at the rear of the stage singing backup.

The songs performed on the American Idol Season 10 Tour were:

The Girls – “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga”

This was a pretty typical group number. I don’t really care for this song, so it was just so-so for me, but it gets better.

Pia Toscano – “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys & Jay Z

Pia stayed behind after the group performance to perform this song alone. This method of moving from one song to the next by leaving a performer on stage from the previous number, or adding an additional singer to one or more that are on stage, created a fast paced flow throughout the concert. I recall a similar method was used for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert last year. It was apparent that a lot of time was spent in planning the flow and order of this show.
No surprises here; the lovely Pia doing what the lovely Pia does. She was in good voice, and even though her movements were very recognizable as Pia, she was a little freer and used more of the stage than what we have grown accustomed to. I think there were times where she was pushing her voice too hard, but it was a very nice performance overall.

Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone – “California King Bed” by Rihanna

Pia opened this number, singing the first verse and chorus alone. She was joined on stage by Stefano and the room began to heat up. The ladies in the audience cheered loudly, and it was on. Each sang their respective verses and then joined at the top of the high riser for a toe to toe shootout. They rejoined on the main stage for another shootout. Good stuff. Very dramatic. Both of them sang very well and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do a duet or two in the future.
You Tube video from the Oakland performance of this song can be seen here:

Paul McDonald – “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart

If you never quite got Paul McDonald, You needed to see this performance. He was in his element here. The greeting he gave the audience, “what’s up Nashville” was met with the loudest cheer of the night; so far anyway. He offered a very good rendition of the Rod Stewart classic and didn’t look foolish on the big stage as he had on occasion during the Idol season. It was a more subdued Paul we saw on the tour stage than what we were accustom to seeing on TV. He even “sounded” good on this number that has become his go to song. He gave props to the band between verses and worked hard to get the crowd fired up before the finale chorus. He looked like a pro.

Thia Megia – “Who Says” by Selena Gomez

Thia finally found her comfort zone. She looked good on stage, very confidant and relaxed, and her movements had a smooth professional flow about them. Her voice was strong and clear with her characteristic tone and inflections, and she seemed to enjoy herself. She has a tendency to look more like Edy Gourmet than a teenage girl sometimes, but I think with time, she will develop her own style.

Pia, Thia, Haley & Naima – “Tightrope” by Janelle Monae

All of the girls worked well on this fast paced tongue twister. Each girl sang a portion of the lead vocals as they stood in a line across the stage dancing. Yes, Pia was dancing too! I’m giving the “Shake your booty” award to Haley, though Niama was a strong contender. Thia sang a little more of the lead than the others and seemed young and contemporary. She sounded very good and sometimes it was hard to tell if it was her or Pia singing. The handoffs from one lead singer to another and the switch up from lead to backing vocals was seamless and excellent. Niama brought a little bit of her island girl flavor (Stanton Island?) to her fist lead vocal but sounded more traditional R&B later in the song. The harmonies these four girls put together were outstanding. Their “woops” were very powerful and there is part of the song where the lyric is “high or low, high or low” where they reminded me of the harmony style of Sergio Mendes and Brazil ’66 or the Fifth Dimension. They had a great blend; very smooth. Haley wrapped it up with a very soulful last line. The girls should be extremely proud of this performance. It was top drawer and as professionally done as any group of singers could have done it.

Here is a video of this song on You Tube from the Philadelphia performance.

Stefano Langone – “Grenade” by Bruno Mars

Stefano opened the song at his keyboard where he remained through the first verse. His vocal was good; in fact, he could have been singing his own song. Stefano, like Paul, benefited from this live performance, big stage environment as compared to the fishbowl of TV. If he looked like he would explode any second, as he had on TV, you couldn’t tell it and his intensity didn’t overpower the room or the crowd like it seemed to on TV. It was a very good performance from Stefano. I recall Pia gave one of the best performances of Hollywood week when she and her group performed this song. I think it could make a nice duet for Pia and Stefano at some future date.

Stefano Langone and the Girls –“DJ Got Us Falling In Love.” by Usher

This was the same quartet of girls from the previous song; in fact, all of the girls except Lauren. They were performing backup duties here, but they did move around the stage using hand mics, which made them a bit more than traditional backup singers. Spoiler alert: If you have tickets for a future show you may want to skip the rest of this review. Poor Stefano was having wardrobe problems. I think it started when he pulled up his shirt tail a little to get some air. For some reason there was a high pitched roar in the room. Then he pulled it up again to wipe sweat off of his face and the same high pitched squeal filled the room. (Come to think of it, that sounded a lot like my wife that time) Poor boy must have been getting pretty hot trying to sing while swimming in a pool of estrogen and the next thing you know there was even more bare flesh “accidentally” revealed than at a Janet Jackson concert. My ears were suffering for it. For the ladies who missed it, Stefano looked like a Ken doll strutting around without his shirt.

Guys w/o Scotty- “Animal” by Neon Trees
The five guys got a big crowd reaction as each of them appeared from the steps at center stage and sang a few lines of the song. Stefano found a functional shirt for this number. Jacob didn’t get the love that the other four received, but a respectable crowd reaction none the less. This is another song that I didn’t like too much, but I can’t fault the guys for that.

Naima Adedapo – “On The Floor” by Jennifer Lopez

I was very impressed with Niama’s rendition of J Lo’s current hit. I think she was better than “Ms Lo” actually. She did all of her familiar dance moves while singing and remaining on key. She managed to keep her breathing under control to support her vocal. It was very well done. Even though I’m probably not the target market for her current style, I still think there is a star in this girl trying to get out. She looked like a real pro every time she appeared on the stage throughout the show. Time will tell.

Pia Toscano – “This Time” *****

Well here it is; the much discussed single from Pia. I said before that I’m not crazy about this song but I have to say that it too benefited from the live performance. Pia must have felt like this could be a make or break performance for her and she delivered this song with all of the love and caring of a woman delivering her first child; without the pain or screams of course. You could see the seriousness of the expression on her face and the intensity of her delivery. It sounded better to me than the recorded version and was very good despite the flawed lyrics and dated style of the song. Pia’s trademark squat, wiggle and wave looks pretty good in person and I believe she is close to breaking the extreme chin lift habit that she had during the show. She did it occasionally, but not as much as before. Pia did her best with this song and I enjoyed her performance.

Lauren, Pia and Thia – “Firework”

Lauren began this song alone on the stage and was joined by Pia who sang a few lines, then Thia doing the same with Lauren completing the verse and taking them all into the chorus. This song was a little sleepy and none of the girls were carrying the song very well. You had to struggle at times to her them. It finally picked up in the final chorus but it was too late to change my overall impression of it.

Casey Abrams – “Smooth” by Rob Thomas and Carlos Santana

Casey was good on this up beat song, and his growling seemed appropriate for the number. The song started off very subdued with just Casey at the top of the stair under a spotlight playing his upright bass and singing. After the first verse, the tempo picked up with the other instruments coming in. He gave a very energetic stage performance and was well received by the audience. The highlight was the excellent guitarist from the Idol tour band coving the famous Carlos Santana’s guitar licks. He was very good.

Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart – “Moanin” Art Blakey

I really enjoied hearing this great jazz classic again. I was a little disappointed that it didn’t present as well in this environment as it had on TV. The sound system and the acoustics of the large coliseum weren’t right for the intimate jazz number. It was hard to pick up the nuance of some of the lyrics, or hear them at all in some instances. There was no special dress or hairdo to set the mood for the song as there had been on TV. All that aside, it was one of my favorite songs of the night as well as for the whole Idol season.

Casey Abrams – Harder to Breath by Maroon 5
This song was pretty much like the TV performance.

Group Number – Minus Scotty – “Forget You”

The group did a great job of this off color pop hit by Cee Lo Green. I have seen the practice sessions for it on You Tube and hoped they would have performed it live in the same way. In practice, the group members were all close together and took turns with the lead vocals, swapping off in a very smooth and naturally flowing way. It was more of a jam session than a performance and you could see that they were having a lot of fun with it. In the stage version they all stood individually across the entire width of the stage behind mic stands. The performance didn’t seem to draw you in like the practice session had. Never the less it was very well done and an enjoyable lead into the intermission.

There was a brief intermission at this point. I went to the concession stand for drinks and saw one of my all time favorite Idols, Melinda Doolittle, who was sitting with the sound and camera guys in a roped off area behind us. If you have never seen her in person, I can tell you that she has the face of a star that stands out in a crowd. I had to go over and at least shake her hand and say hello. When I returned to my seat I said to my wife “oh yeah, I saw Melinda Doolittle while I was up.” She looked at me in disbelief so I sa
id, “Yeah, right back there.” As we were leaving after the show, I saw her again through a crowd of about 500 people and pointed her out to Kathy. She said we should go over and speak to her. Melinda was very gracious and posed with me for a picture. Her half of the picture looks good!
The show resumed with Lauren after the intermission. I think it was a wise move to have the second half bookended by Lauren, at the beginning, and Scotty, at the end, to split up the country artist and also to help define them as individuals.

Lauren Alaina – “Flat on the Floor” by Carrie Underwood

Lauren opened with this recent hit from season four winner, Carrie Underwood. She does a pretty good cover of Carrie, but her enthusiasm in delivering the song began to take it’s toll before the song had ended. She began to sound hoarse and strained by the last chorus.

Lauren Alaina – “Like My Mother Does” *****

This, of course, is Lauren’s single that we all heard during the finale. She was not in good voice but delivered her song as best she could. Lauren pushed her voice way too hard on the first song and sounded raspy after that. A rough wheeze could be heard over the microphone when she took the first breath for her second song. I hope she wises up before it’s too late.

Lauren, Haley, Thia, and Stefano – “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry

I think this was Lauren’s best song of the night because, not only do I like it better than the others, but it is less vocally demanding than the first two. She was also buoyed by the backing vocals of Haley, Thia and Stefano. The three performing duties as backup singers worked very well together on this song, particularly Haley and Stefano.
The crowd loved Lauren and cheered for her at about the same level as for the boys. This was also true for Haley, but less so for the other girls.

James Durbin – “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns and Roses

James started his presentation from the rear of the main floor bringing the crowd to its feet with a continuous roar. I could have touched him as he passed very close to our seats. He had hit the “guy liner” extra hard for the show and had something hanging about knee length in the rear. I’m not sure if it was a tail or scarf. Add a toboggan pulled down to his eyes and an old flannel shirt and he was good to go. The girls really have to work much harder to prepare for these shows. Once on stage, no one is better at hamming for the crowd and aging on the cheers than James. I suppose he was in good voice; it was pretty hard to tell with the crowd noise and the type of songs he was singing. James was very well received by the crowd.

James Durbin – “Uprising” by Muse

One of James’ popular songs from the competition was brought out again for the tour. He did a good job with the vocals but James sounded better to me singing some of the pop songs in the group numbers where you could actually hear his voice. The crowd showed their love for James again and he was gone.

Jacob Lusk – “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross

Jacob received a polite but unenthusiastic reception from the crowd. He was another performer who benefited from the big stage. His movements and facial expressions seemed more to scale in this setting than on TV. He delivered this song well and in a reasonably restrained manner.

Jacob Lusk with Pia, and Stefano – Or- “Jacob Lusk and the Pips” “You’re All I Need to Get By” by Marvin Gay and Tami Terrell

I actually enjoyed this R&B classic from Jacob quite a bit. This song builds to a crescendo toward the end and is a perfect vehicle for Jacob’s “enthusiasm.” Jacob did a good job with the lead vocals, working well with his backup singers, and was very entertaining on this song. What caught my attention, and what I enjoyed the most, was the excellent “Piping” from the Italian connection backing him up. Pia and Stefano were almost as good with their choreography and hand gestures, combined with backing vocals, as the Temps, Tops, Pips or Supremes. They were serious about it and not clowning around like young people often do when mimicking the classic R&B style of backup singing. I don’t know if Stefano has previous experience with this sort of thing, but Pia has done a lot of it with her band. Excellent job.

Haley Reinhart – “House of the Rising Sun”

I can’t get enough of this old blues standard, and rock classic, that became a big hit for Eric Burdon and The Animals in the early sixties. Like Eric and Siobhan Magnus before her, Haley made this song her own. This was the best song of the night for me, but I’m biased.
I am glad to hear that Haley has signed with Sony Interscope records. There were rumors for a few weeks but now it is official. She will be unique in this recording house that is predominantly hip hop. I hope they know what to do with her to reach her remarkable potential. That makes four so far from this season to get a record deal.

Haley Reinhart – “Bennie and the Jets”

Combined with her rendition of HOTRS, this was the best set, although “Moanin’” would come in second for me as a standalone performance. Neither “Bennie…” nor “Moanin’” were set up as well as they were on TV. “The Fabulous Baker Boys” start from the piano top that she used for “Bennie…” boosted the appeal of the TV performance, but she merely started off leaning on the short stairs in the live version.

At this point the band plays a big fanfare and a video presentation begins to roll on the main screen above the stage. It’s the familiar scene where Ryan Seacrest announced Kelly Clarkson had won the first season of American Idol. The video continued through the announcement of each year’s winner, culminating in Lauren and Scotty standing with Ryan, waiting in anticipation of this year’s results. When he said “the winner of American Idol 2011 IS,” Giant letters on the screen spelled out S-C-O-T-T-Y and it was time to lock ‘em doors and turn the light down low.

Scotty McCreery – “Your Man” by Josh Turner

As you might expect, the crowd roared with enthusiasm for the season 10 American Idol. The all American boy delivered Josh Turner’s modern classic with ease, wearing his old blue jeans and a tee shirt. He said he had been watching the show from the wings and thought he would never get out there.

Scotty McCreery – “Are You Going to Kiss Me Or Not” by Thompson Square

This was the second tune that Scotty had done to good reviews during the season that was offered to the concert audience. Scotty played his guitar and started the song seated in the dark. There were no surprises but maybe a few welcome changes to Scotty’s style are taking hold. I didn’t notice the exaggerated country accent that he had used through most of the season on the other songs but it was still present on this one. Also gone was the flute style side mic thing that he had become known for. He still snaps his head in the opposite direction now and then as if he is trying to catch a runner playing off base. I’m sure it will all smooth out over time.

Scotty McCreery – “I Love You This Big” *****

This is Scotty’s debut single that has done well on the country charts and has gotten good radio air play. I have seen a video for it as well. I’m not a big fan of this song. It seems a little silly to me, but compared to other coronation songs from past Idols, it’s not that bad. Scotty delivered it well and he was a big hit with the fans.

Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina – “When You Say Nothing at All” by Alison Krauss

Scotty and Lauren did a reasonably good job with this song. I think this song is too mature for them and I would much prefer Allison Krauss’ version or the original by the late, great Keith Whitley, but their rendition was a decent cover and received a good reaction from the crowd.

Scotty McCreery with Lauren, Thia, Pia and Haley – “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry

This was my favorite of the Scotty performances. He was backed by all of the girls except Niama on this song and they worked well together, Scotty opened the song from the platform at the top of the stairs and as he move forward toward the stairs the four girls appeared behind him. They followed him, moving as a group in a sultry slinky fashion, to several positions on the stage and finally to the front / center runway where they continued with the call and answer style of this high energy song. Scotty called and the girls answered in unison. It was a very good performance by all.

Entire Group: Medley “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake, “Faithfully” by Journey, “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith, “Any Way You Want It” and “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin” by Journey.

James & Lauren – open with a few lines from” Here I Go Again.” Then Paul starts and is joined by Haley for the second line, then Casey comes on stage for the third line of the song “Faithfully” by Journey. It becomes a medley as Stefano & Naima join with “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith After that, the group is joined by Thia & Jacob and everyone sings “Any Way You Want It” and “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin” by Journey. It was a bit of a mixed bag. Of the bunch, James and Lauren were good and Paul, Haley and Casey did a very nice job. Steven Tyler’s gig seems to be secure though.

As you can see, the songs of the judges, and even one song by “The Voice” judge Cee Lo Green, were well covered during this concert. Hmmmm.

We had a great night of entertainment watching these young stars of tomorrow honing their chops on the big stage. It was good to see all of the families and mothers or fathers having a special night out with their daughters from about 8 to 15 years old. There were a lot of young adults and older folks as well. It was a well balanced and exceptionally well behaved audience that seemed to enjoy the show as much as we did. Buy your tickets early for next year’s show, and maybe we will see you there.

Concert pictures here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/american-idol-live-tour-pictures-213069#1

Friday
When we go to Nashville we like to stop by a little country restaurant along the way called Marcy Jo’s Meal House for lunch. It’s a cool little place that is owned by country singer Joey Martin and her sister in law, Marcy Feek. You may have seen it a few years ago in an Overstocked.com Christmas commercial. Joey and her husband are the country duo Joey and Rory. They are real nice folks and the home cooking and fresh baked goods are out of this world.
We ate dinner Friday night at the lounge at our hotel. The guy performing in the lounge was a Nashville song writer / entertainer. Many of his friends had come out to celebrate his birthday. Among his group were five song writers, including him, and six professional country singers. Their combined credits included several number one records, one song on George Strait’s latest album and one of the song’s responsible for Faith Hill breaking into the big time, “Wild One.” All of the friend’s took turns joining the birthday boy on stage to sing or play guitar, piano or bass. Every one of them were good singers or musicians. They were very entertaining and it was a little bit of an education on how songs are written, in Nashville anyway.
Auditions for “The Voice” second season were being held in Nashville on both Friday and Saturday so many auditioners were staying at our hotel. Steve, the entertainer, offered an open mike to any of them that wanted to sing and many took the opportunity. One auditioner named Jeff caught my ear, so look out for him next season.

We went down stairs for a hamburger and beer and ended up staying until closing time for an evening of very good entertainment.