Pbmom's Blog

Tonight is Arena Anthems night on Idol. The top 5 are only going to be on the tour? That’s new. The final fan save happens tonight.

The first person who has a spot on the tour is Jax. She sings “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. I liked the energy. The vocals weren’t perfect but they were Jax. Keith said “Wow! That’s the way to open a show.” Keith said it was great at the end (took her awhile to let loose). Jennifer thought it was a great way to open the show. Harry said in the last few weeks he has gotten a glimpse of what it would be like with her touring. He said if it was like this performance, he would have a helluva time at the show. This was strong.

The next person performing is Nick Fradiani. He sings “Harder To Breathe” by Maroon 5. I was expecting not to like it, but it was actually very good. You have to understand my deep affection for Adam Levine. For me no one else can do better than the original, but Nick came very close. Jennifer said he gets more and more comfortable each time she watches. She gave him some advice about audience participation and that they were ready. In the end it is a party for them and you are leading it. Perfect song, he sounded great–just a missed opportunity. Harry thought that was pretty scary for the other people in the competition because he is one of these guys who is doing what they had hoped–he is getting better every week. It was a great song for him and it was terrific. Keith thought it was a really great song choice. He wants him to consider performance and centering.

Clark Beckham is also through. He chooses “Yesterday” by The Beatles. It started off rough but he found his groove halfway through. He didn’t make an emotional connection. He looked terrified. It is odd that Nick was the person in the beginning that was closed off, and Clark was better at it. Maybe following Nick did something to Clark’s psyche. The ending had pitch problems. Really bad pitch problems. I don’t think I have ever heard that from Clark before. Harry said he liked that he didn’t use any high notes gratuitously; they matched up perfectly with the lyrics. Harry thought it was terrific. Keith thought it was beautiful. He shouldn’t feel like he has to be so contained. Jennifer agrees with both of them.

Tyanna is next to make it through which means Quentin and Rayvon go up together for the fan save. She chose “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. That was a good choice for someone as young as she is. That was fun! There were a lot of pitch issues, however, in her lower range. I love her new hairdo! Keith said it was fun and he doesn’t recall seeing that side before. Jennifer said she felt that she was more comfortable than she has been in a long time. She liked this song choice and felt she did a really great job with it. Harry said it was so smart to choose that song. He thought she killed it.

Quentin Alexander is up first for the fan save. He sings “Light My Fire” by The Doors. I enjoyed that a lot. It was the lighter side of Quentin. Jennifer said they all thought it was great but she is always wanting some vocal POW. Harry said he liked that he sang it conservatively on that and he thought it was a great arrangement. It sounded cool. Keith said he swims in his own stream. Quentin is definitely not plankton. (What? Plankton?)

Rayvon is performing for his now fourth fan-save match. He sings Sam Smith’s “I Know I’m Not the Only One.” The vocal was great. I almost feel like he pulled back again on the emotional connection. The emotion showed in his face but it didn’t reach me. Harry said he gave a fantastic vocal performance. His favorite part was when he had to take a quick breath to go back up on the note. Keith said that if no one had heard that song before and he would have cut it that would have been a hit. If he keeps singing like that he might be the only one left. Jennifer said if he keeps picking songs like that and singing like that he just might make his way to the top.

For his second song Nick sings “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart. He already looks like he is applying the advice to pick a spot in the audience like Keith told him. I like that! It was still great but the first song was stronger. Keith thought it was a really good song. Jennifer said it was a really good song choice. Harry asked him if he could sustain a 2-hour concert and he said yes he can, he has, and Harry said he could see that.

Tyanna is back up for her next song “Heaven” by Bryan Adams. She sang it well, but I did not feel she was singing the song from a place of experience. She has never known a love that deeply before–she is just too young. I like what she did with the ending. Jennifer said she liked this for her. It was a different side that people need to see. It was a good job. She is not sure if it was a favorite from her but she likes to see her in this light. Harry thought she sang it very well. He wants to ask her what kind of music she would record on her first album because he thinks everyone would like to know. She answered basically a mix of everything. Keith thought her answer was a sign of a great artist because it hasn’t been created yet.

Clark does his own thing with Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend.” I have nothing to compare this to because I don’t listen to the Biebs unless I am forced to by someone else. I enjoyed it as a Clark song. Harry said this was not the song to do what he was doing with it on. It was okay but in order to make it sexy he needed to stretch it out. Keith said it is getting it out of the head, then to the heart, and then the rest of the body. It wasn’t raw and dangerous like the Biebs is. Jennifer said for him for this she wasn’t sure it was the right song choice.

Jax sings “White Flag” by Dido. I was approaching goosebumps but it fell just shy of them even though I thought it was superbly done. Keith said his attention was held for the entire song. Jennifer said to Harry earlier she needed a gravitas moment, not knowing what she was singing next, and absolutely had achieved that. The song was so beautiful for her. Harry said it was phenomenal.

Quentin sings his second song for the save. He sings “Shake It Out” by Florence and The Machine. This was great. This is so tough. I love Rayvon and Quentin equally for entirely different reasons. Jennifer said he took her advice from the last song and applied it in this song. Harry said it was really good. He wants to know if he sang out of tune (like everyone does from time to time) would they let him autotune it out? Quentin said he would not. If he makes a mistake he wants people to hear that. Harry said that is something else they have in common. Keith said he would be very clear on what kind of record he would want to make. If he gets to do that, take the reins because he has great artist instincts.

Rayvon sings the second song. He takes on the mega hit “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac. His lower register is tough. The falsetto note gave me goosebumps! I didn’t think he was going there. Then I wasn’t sure he was going to make it and I am so glad he did. Harry has a question: “Would he be guided or does he already know what kind of record he would make?” Rayvon thinks it would be a collaborative effort (perfect answer). Keith said it was a really high note. Jennifer said it was a great way to finish the show and to fight.

Can we keep them both? Can they both go on tour?

Rayvon gets the Twitter vote to be saved and he advances to the next round. I love that Quentin is so genuinely happy for him. I hope that Scott Borchetta will give Quentin a recording contract.