Vocal Masterclass Discussion For American Idol Season XIII Top 8 Performance Show Part Two: Songs From The 80s.

April 9, 2014 by Masterclass Lady 3 Comments


20140409-130627.jpgPicture Credit: AmericanIdol.Com

This week on American Idol should be a very good week – for a couple of reasons.

First off, the Top 8 will be performing Songs From The 80s. This was a very good decade for music and, hopefully, each singer was able to find a song perfectly suited to their vocal style.

Secondly, one of my favorite Idol winners ever – David Cook – will be the Guest Mentor for the Top 8 singers.

Finally! Yes, finally! I, along with a legion of fans, have been waiting for this moment and it has arrived. And just in time, too. The ratings should receive a gentle boost with David Cook’s involvement this week.

Also, I would expect, he should be performing on the Results Show on Thursday. So, many multiple Cookie sightings in store!

The Performance Show airs on Wednesday, April 9th at 8:00 PM on NBC, followed by the Results Show on Thursday, April 10th at 9:00 PM.

Are you excited for this week’s show? Are you hoping, like I am, that Sam Woolf, performs without the guitar?

Comments are open for business. Let’s get this show back on track.

American Idol, American Idol Season 13, David Cook, Singing, Television, Vocal Masterclass Discussion, Vocal Masterclass Discussion For American Idol Season XIII, Vocal Masterclass Discussion For American Idol Zeason XIII
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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3 Responses to “Vocal Masterclass Discussion For American Idol Season XIII Top 8 Performance Show Part Two: Songs From The 80s.”

  1. Jessica Reffler April 9, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    I am so excited to see what David can help these kids concoct. He certainly is the master of turning a song upside down, a la Billy Jean. Another one of David’s strengths is to give a song a musical narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end (and maybe a middle eighth), without making the song sound truncated in the ridiculous context that 1:30 is.

    — Maybe he can help [b]Dexter[/b] make some artistic decisions to clearly showcase his classic country persona.

    — [b]Sam[/b] could take a note from David’s quiet confidence and ability to connect with the audience, although Harry’s advice last week to look at one person in the audience was the best so far.

    — I’m keeping my fingers crossed that [b]Caleb[/b] does something “not so loud.” He has done quieter songs, but still with over-the-top bravura. It’s not about quiet. It’s about shower a more vulnerable side. If he doesn’t, he will simply become a caricature of Jack Black/Meatloaf, albeit with perfect pitch and technique. I hope that Caleb doesn’t choose a typical ballad from a band like Journey or Foreigner. It’s too much in his genre. He needs to take something out of his wheelhouse, which he has shown us he can do.Maybe “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper?

    — [b]Jena[/b] and [b]Jessica[/b] have the raw talent to do what David has done. Working with him will solidify their growing confidence.

    — [b]Malaya[/b], as Harry as astutely pointed out, needs to learn to work with the musicians better, rather than running amok with her runs. I hope she has the wisdom to take some notes from David and gains even more poise.

    — [b]Alex[/b] can only get his artistic instincts confirmed by David. I hope he will work on his diction a little. I think 80s week is in his wheel house. There are so many indie tunes he could redo. My offbeat suggestions are “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and “What I Am” by Edie Brickell. My not-so-offbeat suggestions are “Driver 8” by R.E.M. (or another early dittie by them) or “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon.

    — I don’t know what to say about CJ. No one can help CJ, but CJ and a vocal coach. I’m hoping for a blues song by Stevie Ray Vaughn (“Life by the Drop”) or Robert Cray (“Strong Persuader”).

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  2. Masterclass Lady April 9, 2014 at 4:32 pm

    Great, great suggestions Jessica. Hopefully, the singers are reading comments on this site, as ReReader suggested. Thank you

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  3. Kariann Hart (@KariannHart) April 10, 2014 at 5:31 am

    I enjoyed the selection of songs from the 1980’s. I just knew Caleb would chose a Journey song. I had hoped for “Lights” but he sound good with “Faithfully”. Yes, indeed – David Cook is a good mentor. He picked out things the Finalists needed to hear. Not all listened.

    Sam changed his mind and decided to have his guitar. I loved his song selection, “Time After Time”. So, the producers again put him in a group with some lovely teen girls and he didn’t even look at them. Eye contact with a few would have made a much better performance. Sam has a really nice voice, but he needs to make that connection. I agreed with Harry’s suggestion about Ricky Nelson. I watched six of his performances and then sent Sam two tweets about Ricky. Mainly, it’s the eyes. Ricky knew how to slowly close them and open. Will Sam ever learn to flirt?

    Jessica, I tried using the word strong instead on b. Let’s see if it works. I give up on Dexter and CJ, but I bet they’re going to eliminate another girl. It may be Malaya. Jena and Jessica did a nice job. I much prefer a specific theme than more current songs. But, that’s me.

    MCL, I agree… it’s great to have seen David Cook mentor. He made Randy seem irrelevant.

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