American Idol Season 14 Hollywood Night 3

12 02 2015

Group Night Continues

1385015_10154925704030601_1985407597453397698_nLast week’s episode ended with contestant Alexis Granville who was about to pass out on stage right before they were about to sing for the judges. After she gets the all-clear from medical personnel, “Sal’s Gals” tries once again to perform. Sal Valentinetti did well with his part but it sounded weird with his voice with this song. I had mixed feelings about Alexis’ performance as well. Jax, someone I love, sounded weird too and the weird drama in the performance was odd. It was like all these voices just did not belong together and it was a bad song choice. Alexis and Jax go through. Sal, Kelley Kime and ? are cut. I really like Sal. He has a kind heart and he should come back next year.

Emily Brooke in the group “Three to One Brunette” has food poisoning. Keri Lynn Roche, Jake Black and Riley Bria developed a backup plan in case she couldn’t perform. I enjoyed the entire group seeing “With A Little Help From My Friends.” All of them are through.

The next group all went to college together at Belmont University. They form the group Boulevard (Blvd). They change up the song “Since You’ve Been Gone.” Cody Fry, Rayvon Owen, Piper Jones and ?. I didn’t like the arrangement. It dragged. I liked Rayvon out of this bunch. The song was not suited to Cody’s voice and Piper was a little off in the beginning. Harry liked the arrangement and was his favorite group of the day. Everyone is going through.

“Team Yup” sings “Love Runs Out.” Tiffany Stringer is the only showcased singer in the group and I don’t recognize any the three guys joining her. Tiffany is from Southlake, Texas. I didn’t like what I was hearing and neither did the judges as no one makes it through.

“Vital Signs” performs next. Will their vitals be strong or will they go into cardiac arrest? They sing “I Want You Back” but will they be wanted back? Adanna Duru sings first. The judges liked her during the auditions but I didn’t see the magic there. It was average. There are better and more unique voices in the competition this year. Cindy Maslov is not shy about saying she is in this for herself. She voice is about the same as Adanna. Denise Napoli is a Sayville girl and I won’t let my high school rivalry with them cloud my judgment. (Patchogue Medford HS here baby). It too sounded very similar to the others. Camille Peruto was the only voice that got my attention. Adanna and Cindy are through; Denise and Camille go home.

Daniel Seavey, Qaasim Middleton, Trevor Douglas and (woot!) Savion Wright. “LKYCO” is their group name (Ladies Keep Your Clothes On). Awesome! What happened to Trevor? Poor Daniel looks terrified. “The Story of My Life.”  It was a weird arrangement but I feel good they are through. And they are!

Hollywood Anderson was caught up in the experience and flirting with all the ladies. “Team No Sleep” seemed to be an appropriate name. Hollywood didn’t perform his captain duties to Laurel’s approval so she assumed control and seemed to be bossing people around. He sang first and he sounded exhausted. Laurel Taylor Taunton didn’t sound any better. Amber Kelechi needs a few more years for her voice to mature. I stand by my statement that the judges felt sorry for her and thought by allowing her to come would be a gift. Monica sounded terrible and Brittany didn’t get a solo part. Oddly, in the end, Amber sounded the best of the bunch. Hollywood and Monica go through.

Alexis Gomez sounded great in her group. Loren Lott still is not doing anything for me music-wise. Quentin Alexander did well in his group. It appeared they and their entire groups made it through.

Lovey James, Jess Lamb, Kory Wheeler and Karla Davis sing another one of those songs I am sick of—All About That Bass.”  They made me forget that I hated that song. I loved all their performances. Kory and Karla did not make it through. I am sorry. That was the wrong call. They deserved those spots and Hollywood and Monica in the other group did not.

“Rocky’s Crew” consists of Rocky Peter, Rich, Tanya Mackenna and Trent. Tanya is the only one going through to the next round.

A lot of cuts follow of many unnamed contestants but include Cindy Jo Scholer, the bear killer.

Team “Soul Connection“’s Heatherle Spires did not want to be in the group anymore. She seems to be upset that the group went to sleep and she doesn’t feel they have her back. She refuses to sing with them (so she says to the crew). She has to sing. They start off “Grenade” sounding great. Also in the group were Erika David, returning contestant Sarina-Joi Crowe, and Adrianna Simon. I thought Sarina-Joi stood out but all the ladies sounded good except for Adrianna. The only one who does not make it through was Heatherle.

Mark Andrew, Vanessa Andrea, Katherine Winston and Alex Shier sang together. Mark is my favorite but they sounded wonderful together. Mark, Katherine, and Alex are through.

In another group, Angelica and Tion make it through. Jelly and Regina make it through in their group.

“Grenade” is performed by yet another group. Jackie Nese did not sound good in this song. Maddie Walker did not either. I don’t recognize the other two. Jackie is the only one going home in her group. She is gracious about extending support to the rest of the group.

“Garrett’s Girls” include Garrett Miles. He sounded a little off his game. I know he didn’t make it through but I think his ‘girls’ did.

The last group to perform was “Violet Vixens” who sing “Somebody To Love” by Queen. Joey Cook fell apart during rehearsals and she forgots her lyrics during her performance but cleverly covers it up by inserting her own words that the people hearing her mess up–well it’s all in their imagination.  That was a cute cover. I like Joey’s uniqueness and I hope she goes through. Shannon Berthiaume sounded great. Naomi Tatsuoka dropped the drama from auditions and that allowed me to enjoy the beauty of her voice. They didn’t show the one girl singing solo. I hope the three they did show make it through. They are all through.

Solo night tomorrow!





American Idol Season 14 Minneapolis Auditions

25 01 2015

1385015_10154925704030601_1985407597453397698_nIt was a funny start to the Minneapolis, MN auditions with the judges getting locked in their escort vehicle.

Shannon Berthiaume has never sung in front of people before. She is a 17-year-old from St. Paul, MN and chooses “House of the Rising Sun” I love her overall tone but there were some parts that bordered on shouting. Jennifer thought she is a crazy artist in a best and most beautiful way. Keith thinks it is the best raw talent they have seen. Three yeses.

Kemil Casey, a 19-year-old nanny from Buffalo, MN, sang the first notes of “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson and I disliked it. Harry felt it was oddly entertaining. Jennifer felt that he probably has a career in show business just not that one (singing). Keith felt he had a great heart but the vocals aren’t there.

Apparently Harry was so tired he ate a whole bag of kettle corn in his sleep the prior night and doesn’t remember eating it.

Morgan Ovens, age 24, a professional organizer from Venice, CA sang “Hand in My Pocket” by Alanis Morissette. She sounds lovely but nothing stand-out interesting about it. Gabrielle Noe’l is a 23-year-old leasing sales manager from Minneapolis sounded lovely too, but there have been so many unique voices in the competition she would have to do something really stand out in order to make it. Twenty-three-year-old Courtney Guns is a bartender from Bemidji, MN and is a little too nasal for my liking. Yeses for all the ladies.

The next contestant is a hoot. She cried at Keith Urban concerts, saw “Selena” with Jennifer Lopez, and “Hope Floats” with Harry Connick Jr. Keith likes that Vanessa Andrea came well prepared. I love this young lady’s personality. Her husband is active-duty Air Force currently stationed in Minit, North Dakota. Can she sing? SHE CAN!!! She calls her husband (?) on the phone and the judges tell him each their yes vote. And she thinks Keith smells AMAZING.

Zach Johnson, age 20, is a student from Fargo, North Dakota and is one of those people whose talking voice does not match his singing voice. He sings, “Don’t Close Your Eyes” by Keith Whitley. I thought with his silly energy it was going to be a disastrous audition. It was anything but. Keith mentioned if he liked Garth Brooks and he exuberantly said Garth was coming to Minneapolis and he said, “Tickets! Now!” Harry likes him a lot and loves his energy and spirit. Harry gives he some advice–if you don’t talk with a country accent, don’t sing with a country accent because that is not who you are. I don’t know about that. Opera singers don’t necessarily sing in their native tongue. Also how many artists from other countries sound American? Keith says yes because he has a good voice. Jennifer said she would have liked to have heard him sing without the accent. Zach gets a ticket. Keith says that if he comes to his Sioux Falls concert he will let Zach sing with him. True to his word two weeks later he does. Keith is such a generous person.

Aaron Bissell, age 17, from Cedar City. Iowa provided me with me first goosebumps from Minneapolis. Harry jokes around about his coffeehouse experiences where people would tell him to shut up. He goes to Hollywood.

Cindy Jo Scholer is a sportswoman who has killed a bear and also a pre-K teacher from North Branch, MN. This 26-year-old sings “Crazy” by Patsy Cline. Jennifer felt she kept losing the melody of the song in an attempt to show off her singing voice. Keith says lose all this stuff (and he motions to her face and body) and get rid of the theatrics because she has a really good voice. She has talent in the center of her voice. Harry felt like she was yelling. Jennifer is a no. Keith is a yes. Harry says yes.

Just when they were talking about Harry wasn’t going to say no to that girl because she killed a bear last week, in walks the next audition who looks like–a bear. Harry screams, “He’s alive!” The unnamed contestant starts singing but the outcome of his audition is undetermined.

Matt with an unknown last name makes it through to Hollywood.

Jacob Tolliver, age 20, from Portsmouth, Ohio is currently in Vegas as the Jerry Lee Lewis understudy in a show called “Million Dollar Quartet.” He has mad piano skills! His voice was so-so. Harry says Jerry Lee Lewis was already done. Keith adds who are you? Keith wants him to play something else. He tries to sing “Stay with Me” but I don’t like it. Three yeses.

Hannah Mrozak, age 16, Richfield, Wisconsin sings “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Etta James. She has a lovely voice. Going to Hollywood!

Kristi Kroker, age 21, a student from La Crosse, WI had a few pretty notes but it went sideways in other places. Jennifer felt like it is more like a high school audition versus an American Idol audition. She leads off a string of “no” responses.

They leave the best for last or at least one with a profound story. Mark Andrew, age 29, is a landscape foreman who just had a baby with his wife. He is a hometown boy and feels this is his last opportunity to get a break in the industry. Goosebumps! He has a Cat Stevens vibe. Keith asks him to sing something else. He oddly chooses “The Monkey Song” from Jungle Book. He gets a ticket to Hollywood.