Tag Archives: guitar

Didi Benami Profile: Can She Rein In Her Emotions On ‘American Idol’?

Our ‘American Idol’ top 12 cheat sheet looks at Benami’s strengths and weaknesses. By Jim Cantiello Didi Benami at the “American Idol” top 12 party Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed its top 12 finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each specific “Idol” journey thus far. He also got the “Idol” hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night’s top 12 party in Hollywood. Didi Benami It took no time for Didi Benami to establish her “American Idol” identity: the resident weepy mess. From her initial audition in Denver to almost every single interview on the “Idol” stage, the sensitive singer/songwriter has shed a tear. Tears of joy, tears of mourning, tears of stress. But Didi saves the real emotion for her passionate performances, connecting to lyrics unlike any other singer this season. Best Performance : Didi helped put money in Kara DioGuardi’s pocket when she covered the judge’s song during Hollywood Week brilliantly. Tuesday night, however, Didi busted out the big guns — Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon” — and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. In the last chance before top 12, Didi picked the right week to remind viewers what she’s capable of. Perhaps she held back on her guitar-playing skills during the first two semifinal performances on purpose? Weakest Performance : Didi’s Ingrid Michaelson cover was more fragile than a Faberg

Siobhan Magnus Profile: Is She Too Quirky To Win ‘American Idol’?

Our ‘American Idol’ top 12 cheat sheet looks at Magnus’ strengths and weaknesses. By Jim Cantiello Siobhan Magnus at the “American Idol” top 12 party Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage On Thursday night, “American Idol” revealed its top 12 finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each specific “Idol” journey thus far. He also got the “Idol” hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night’s top 12 party in Hollywood. Siobhan Magnus Siobhan Magnus may look like an extra from “Gossip Girl,” but she’d probably be more at home on an episode of “Freaks and Geeks.” She speaks like she’s on lithium and dresses like a Benihana hostess, but, most importantly, she sings like a champ. The odd combination has proven an irresistible and appetizing mix for “Idol” viewers and judges alike. In a season overrun with quirky contestants, Siobhan Magnus definitely takes the (fruit) cake. Best Performance : Siobhan’s partially a cappella “House of the Rising Sun” was a haunting triumph, made all the more poignant due to its “this one goes out to my dad” dedication. Weakest Performance : It’s a little unfair to call Magnus’ “Think” weak since it featured a stunning rebel yell of a high note that was one of the most unexpected and thrilling moments of the season. Unfortunately, the rest of her Aretha Franklin performance was off-putting in a “why is this skinny white girl marching around onstage and pointing at audience members haphazardly?” kind of way. Tragic Backstory : Siobhan has a heavy home life that “Idol” producers often glob onto, but so far, the only things we know about Magnus is that she’s a glassblowing apprentice, she does silly warm-ups with her mouth, and she trained herself to wail high notes by singing Kelly Clarkson songs in the shower. ‘American Idol’ Top 12 Party Why She Will Win : Siobhan is, as Simon said, “a strange little thing.” You can’t deny that she’d make for interesting television every week. Viewers may decide to vote her to the finale just to see what the wild child might sing (or say) next. It also helps that she has real vocal chops behind the quirk. Why She Will Lose : Is she too quirky? The last time “Idol” voters rewarded a “zany” contestant, we ended up with a Taylor Hicks victory. And we all know how well that turned out. What She Should Sing : If Siobhan brought her guttural wail and lilting croon to Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” she’d be incomparable. And unstoppable. On Her Own “Sasha Fierce” Performance Persona : “I’m in a different place when I’m onstage. I kind of go inside my head and do my own thing. It’s not just me talking to somebody. It’s me in the zone, doing what I love to do more than anything.” What do you think of Siobhan’s chances on “Idol”? Were you happy to see her make it to the top 12? Let us know! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Meet The ‘American Idol’ Top 12 Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances ‘American Idol’ Top 12 Party

Read the original here:
Siobhan Magnus Profile: Is She Too Quirky To Win ‘American Idol’?

311 Thrill Fans During Epic Five-Hour Set

Mellow rockers play to sold-out Las Vegas crowd on 311 Day. By Matt Elias, with additional reporting by Lauren Black and Dave Kosin 311’s Nick Hexum (file) Photo: Dana Nalbandian/ WireImage “It’s the most epic show in the world,” declared die-hard fan Matthew Brill of 311 Day, a five-hour-plus marathon of music put on by veteran mellow rockers 311. Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas served as the worship center for the most holy of holidays for 311 fans (March 11, of course). Fans lined up as early as 1 p.m. to secure spots close to the stage, which was tricked out with the most advanced stage displays that the band has ever used. 311 shirts plastered the arena as eager fans waited for the show to begin, shortly after 7:30 p.m. As the boys from Omaha hit the stage, the sold-out crowd rejoiced as loudly as the reverberating amplifiers that were blaring the opening notes of “Jackpot.” Vocalists Nick Hexum and S.A. Martinez pogoed around the 360-degree stage, taking full advantage of the sprawling space. Above the band hung a multi-tier circular screen playing the simultaneous webcast of the show. The crowd kept up with the band, staying on its feet and dancing during the entire 60-song set. In addition to all of the hits (“Beautiful Disaster,” “All Mixed Up” and “Down”), 311 sprinkled rare, older gems into the mix, “Sun Come Through,” “Slinky” and “Loco” to name a few. Fans especially responded to “Taiyed,” which included an extended midsong jam session. 311 maintained their stamina by dividing the show into three sets, taking short breaks in between. They also officially announced the 2010 Summer Unity Tour, featuring the Offspring, bringing a huge roar of approval from the audience. 311 closed out the impressive event with “Unity” as an encore. Over the five hours of music, every bandmember got his time to shine, with Aaron “P-Nut” Wills lighting up his backlit bass, Tim Mahoney proving his acrobatics on the guitar, and drummer Chad Sexton performing impeccable drum solos. By the end of the night everyone was drenched in sweat — both the band and the crowd — suggesting that 311 Day is more than just a concert, it’s a religious experience. Related Videos 311 Day Contest Winners Party With 311! Related Artists 311

Read more:
311 Thrill Fans During Epic Five-Hour Set

‘American Idol’ Report Card: How Did The Girls Do?

Katie Stevens and Paige Miles appear to be headed home. By Eric Ditzian, with additional reporting by Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” on Tuesday Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images The first grade in this week’s “American Idol” women’s report card goes to the producers for lopping 60 minutes off the show’s running time. A+ programming move, folks. The two-hour, filler-heavy live episodes we’ve seen in recent weeks will not be missed, even if the leaner, meaner show still managed to kick off with a painfully corny, too long bit involving the openly gay Ellen DeGeneres cuddling in the lap of the painfully heterosexual, recently engaged Simon Cowell as some sort of bid to convince us that the two talent adjudicators are BFFs. Now about those contestants . A few will not be missed either next week, based on their subpar performances on Tuesday night. Others, meanwhile, continued to impress and had us thinking this season is not nearly as dull as we once feared. Who surprised us, who disappointed us and who’s in danger of going home? Let’s take a look at the top 12 women’s report card. (And don’t miss Jim Cantiello’s recap of their performances in the MTV Newsroom .) Excellent Didi Benami : Picking up the guitar for the first time since the Hollywood rounds, Benami wins the comeback-kid award for her acoustic folk take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon.” Her confident strumming and doleful camera stares made the judges fall in love with her again, with Cowell declaring that she’d had her first “wow” moment of the season. Crystal Bowersox : After last week’s health scare, this season’s one to beat did it again, effortlessly killing it with a bluesy shuffle through Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” Though not as revelatory as last week’s Creedence Clearwater Revival cover , Bowersox’s confidence and chops inspired Cowell to absolutely guarantee she’d be in the top 12 next week. Good Lilly Scott : Performing in the prime final spot, Scott strummed an electric mandolin for Patsy Cline’s classic “I Fall to Pieces.” Kara loved how she made a 50-year-old song sound contemporary, and Cowell praised her unique personality and oddball delivery but wasn’t sure it was enough to get her through to the next round. Scott won’t hoist the trophy in May, but we beg to differ with Cowell: She will live to sing again next week, at least. Siobhan Magnus : This season’s resident quirky girl paid homage to her dad with the Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.” In place of last week’s soul-wail-heard-round-the-world, she kicked the retro tune off with a strong a cappella section and turned in a solid, if unexceptional, performance that should get her into the top 12 as well. DeGeneres said she was captivated and called the rendition spectacular. The glassblower’s apprentice may have kept it in check this week, but make no mistake: She can wail. Lacey Brown : She’d had very little success mixing it up with Fleetwood Mac and Sixpence None the Richer up until now, so Texas’ Brown decided to chuck it all and just do what comes naturally, crooning countryish ballads. From her rooster-like hair to the animal-print cardigan, it was all a bit Beauty School Dropout, but Brown did just enough with Brandi Carlile’s “The Story” to impress most of the panel, with Simon giving her props for knowing how to seduce the camera. She’ll keep on keepin’ on, but just giving good camera face won’t get her that far. Satisfactory Katelyn Epperly : She wanted to up the energy, but with a disco-lite stumble through Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move,” all Epperly did was likely make voters second-guess their opinions after two strong weeks. Kara went so far as to say she didn’t think Kate had her game face on and was just going through the motions, while just about all Randy Jackson and Simon could compliment was her gorgeous head of blonde curls. She’s probably safe for another week, but just barely. Unsatisfactory Katie Stevens : We’ve hammered her for many things in the past, but never before for being pitchy. A new week, a new critique. After repeated criticism for picking songs that made her sound older than a 17-year-old high-schooler, Stevens smartly went with Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway” … but it still didn’t measure up. Her Benjamin Button-like qualities just make her incapable of communicating any sense of youthful energy. Jackson said the song was too big for her voice, while Cowell called it gloomy, complaining that she too didn’t know what kind of artist she wants to be. You could see it in her eyes: She knows she’s going home. Voters will likely agree. Paige Miles : One of the most epic fails in “Idol” history. Miles, who despite scant screen time before the semi-finals has been tagged by the judges as having one of the best voices in the competition, butchered one of Michael Jackson’s favorite songs, “Smile,” turning it from inspiring to just plain sad and heavy in Ellen’s eyes. Cowell said it was like a Holiday Inn lounge-worthy effort and effectively signed her ticket home. Miles broke down and said she couldn’t keep her emotions in check during the performance, perhaps a precursor to Thursday night’s tears. What did you think of the women’s performances? Who killed it? Who blew it? Who is definitely making it to the top 12? Let us know by leaving your comments below. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

See original here:
‘American Idol’ Report Card: How Did The Girls Do?

‘American Idol’ Top Eight Women: What They Need To Do

Paige Miles and Didi Benami need to step it up, while Crystal Bowersox and Lilly Scott should keep doing their thing. By Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” last week Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images This is the week we’ve all been waiting for. Following Tuesday and Wednesday night’s performances, we will be down to season nine’s top 12, and the competition on “American Idol” will start to get serious. After last week’s surprise switcheroo due to Crystal Bowersox’s illness , the remaining 12 ladies served up a mixed bag of good, bad and eh on Wednesday night. Lilly Scott and Siobhan Magnus proved to be suddenly strong competition for Bowersox, who stormed back from her undisclosed ailment to regain her spot as the woman to beat this year. So what do the rest of the ladies need to do to win the hearts — and ears — of the nation? How can they get enough votes to avoid landing in the bottom two? Here’s what we do (and don’t) want to see from these “Idol” hopefuls, starting with those who need the most work. Didi Benami It feels like this once-promising singer has seriously lost her way. After ditching the thing that got her to the big show (i.e., sensitive singer/songwriter material with a jazzy twist), Benami was undone by a hard-to-watch warble through the Bill Withers soul classic “Lean on Me.” Didi would be wise to dig into the Lily Allen or Corinne Bailey Rae songbook to get back into the game. Paige Miles The judges have told Miles she has the strongest voice in the competition this year, but so far, she’s failed to make much of an impression personality-wise. Last week, Kara DioGuardi faulted her for smiling through a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Walk Away,” dissing Miles for not getting the angry mood of the song right. And she should know — she co-wrote it! She needs to put the coloring books away and bite off a meaty Alicia Keys song that will allow her to open up and show some serious emotion. Katie Stevens This teenager needs to find her inner child. After weeks of going too old, Stevens is in danger of losing her spot if she doesn’t show the panel that she could be a youthful, contemporary artist. She tried to display her younger side by singing Bailey Rae’s signature “Put Your Records On,” but even that didn’t work because the judges said it felt too unfocused and bland, with Simon Cowell suggesting she needed a bit more time to figure out what kind of artist she wants to be. Unless Stevens can smash it with a convincing tumble through a Katy Perry or Rihanna song, she might be back in her old classroom next week. Lacey Brown Proving you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, Brown followed the judges’ advice and performed Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” — and they didn’t like it. In order to stick around, she needs the kind of signature moment Magnus provided with her Aretha Franklin power note, so this week’s selection should focus on displaying her range and originality. Siobhan Magnus Has one note ever meant so much? Magnus, this year’s token quirky girl, could very well have stamped her ticket to the top 12 last week thanks to that massive wail at the end of her version of Franklin’s “Think.” Now, Magnus just has to keep surprising the judges and audience to stay in the running. Luckily, she hasn’t painted herself into a genre corner so far and has displayed an indie-leaning sensibility , so she’s free to try out anything on the charts, from Lady Gaga to Owl City. Katelyn Epperly The judges weren’t crazy about Epperly’s slow take on Coldplay’s “The Scientist,” but America gave it a thumbs-up and she made it to sing another day. She should strap the guitar back on this week and give us a new twist on a contemporary singer/songwriter, perhaps even putting some jazz into a Taylor Swift tune. Lilly Scott Scott is on a roll. She nailed her Beatles cover two weeks ago, gave another solid performance with Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” last week, again proving that while she may not have the best voice, she’s got a unique stage presence and memorable delivery. It would be great to see her sit at a piano this week and rework a contemporary ballad, say something from Muse or Carrie Underwood. Crystal Bowersox At this point, it’s Crystal’s game to lose. She’s proven she can kill it with classic-rock tunes, thanks to a very strong gospel-tinged rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Long as I Can See the Light,” but this week might be her chance to tackle a newer artist and prove that she can be relevant now. A Jack Johnson song might do the trick. What do you want to see from the girls on Tuesday night? Who do you hope steps up their game this week? Let us know below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

Continue reading here:
‘American Idol’ Top Eight Women: What They Need To Do

Ex-Wife of Casey James: Music is Singer’s Life

Kellie James has bad news for Kara DioGuardi: No matter how much you fawn over Casey James , it won’t go anywhere. “Music is everything to Casey,” said Kellie, the woman that was married to him from 2005 to 2008. “He just does what he loves to do, which is music, but he’s never thought of himself as a heartthrob. Frankly, I think it embarrasses him.” So far, James has handled the inappropriate Kara crush very well each week on American Idol . It’s a joke the show should really stop referring to over and over. In her interview with The National Enquirer , Kellie also details the motorcycle accident that left Casey with a fractured left wrist and right femur. He was in a wheelchair for six months as a result of it. “The doctors told us that they didn’t know whether Casey would be able to use his hand again, much less play the guitar,” said Kellie. “When he was finally able to play again, Casey felt he had a new lease on life.” It’s a lease that has paid off very well through the early rounds of Idol . Casey is considered the male favorite on season nine.

See the original post:
Ex-Wife of Casey James: Music is Singer’s Life

B.o.B Talks New Single ‘Nothin’ On You,’ New Mixtape, New Album

‘The biggest lesson I learned is patience,’ Atlanta MC says. By Jayson Rodriguez B.o.B. Photo: MTV News Upstart Atlanta MC B.o.B aka Bobby Ray isn’t your average rapper by any means. First of all, he plays the guitar — and while Kanye West, Drake and Lil Wayne have tried their hands at shredding, none of them can spin a wayward, folksy tune like he can. Combine that with co-signs from Eminem and T.I., who signed the Mixtape Daily Firestarter alum to his Grand Hustle roster , and you have the makings of a breakout star. So how, exactly, does Bobby Ray plan on introducing his soulful Southern lyricism? With his new single, “Nothin’ On You,” a sprightly, musical number from his forthcoming debut, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray . “Introducing B.o.B or Bobby Ray — it takes more than one song to do it,” the rapper told MTV News from red carpet of BET’s “Rip the Runway.” “But I feel like this song is really genuine and really sincere, so I feel good about people finding out about me through ‘Nothin’ On You’.” The song, featuring Bruno Mars, currently rests at number 37 on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B chart. Although “Nothin’ On You” is still picking up steam, it’s already received praise — the program director at Los Angeles’ KIIS FM told Entertainment Weekly that B.o.B would be the next big thing on radio. Bruno who, along with Phillip Lawrence from production team the Smeezingtons, helmed the track, gushed over Bobby Ray’s talent. “It’s great — he’s an incredible artist,” the singer said. “We actually wrote and sung on the hook. We’d been fans of his for a minute and he came in and just murdered those verses. Hopefully the rest is gonna be history.” The rapper has been signed to Atlantic Records for some time now and graced the pages of 2009’s XXL Freshman 10 issue, with fellow rookies Kid Cudi, Asher Roth and Wale, among others. Waiting on the bench wasn’t without its challenges. At one point B.o.B threatened to pull the plug on his promising career before it even started, though he later backtracked and said the rumors were exaggerated . “It does get frustrating, trying to be as free as possible but at the same time working with people,” the rapper told MTV News last year. But with a new mixtape — the DJ Drama-hosted May 25th — in the streets and a release date on deck for his debut, April 27, Bobby Ray said he learned the value of patience. “I will tell you this about the journey as an artist to get to the point where you actually have a release date,” he offered. “The biggest lesson I learned is patience. Once you get here it’s like, OK, now you have to keep going. You never get to an end. So you have to be patient and pace yourself. Take time. It’s like building a house. You gotta take time, build a foundation, get the walls right, get the electricity right, get ther plumbing right and make sure when you turn the light on that the door don’t open up.” Related Artists B.O.B. “Bobby Ray” B.o.B.

Read more:
B.o.B Talks New Single ‘Nothin’ On You,’ New Mixtape, New Album

American Idol: Girls Drool [Recaps]

Last night it was time for the women to sing for their beautiful, diamond-encrusted supper. How’d they do? Ohh, you know, this is the Season of Horrors, so not terribly well. But not terribly, either. There’s been much brouhaha-ing about how this is going to be a year where a lady wins. Because it’s been three long seasons since Jordin Sparks was given a seat in Rupert Murdoch’s flying Rapture bunker, the producers have been intent on giving the crown to a girl this time around. Can they do it? Judging by last night’s festivities, no. No they cannot. But neither can the guys! No one can win this year! So, equality of the sexes has finally been reached. Way to run headfirst into that glass ceiling and tumble through it, ladies! The main takeaway from last night is that Kara did apparently talk to someone about her hair. It wasn’t the windblown Sebastian Bach-esque mess it was on Tuesday, so we’ve that, at the very least, to be thankful for. Simon still had his usual plains-flat tarmac atop his spiky British head, Randy still threw turtle shells at everyone, and Ellen continued her Orpheus-like descent into the Hades of her career. Ryan Seacrest burbled and moaned, missing his dear boys so very, very much. Where was Carol Brady, and Dimples St. Hotbod, and Kara’s boyfriend, Lady Elephantiasis? They were all sitting in their Chairs of Regret and Ryan couldn’t talk to them. He had to talk to stinky, stupid girls all night. What a bore! How boring! When is summer going to hurry up and get here already? The Good BLUNDERPANTS. She was alive! There were some fears that Crystal would be overcome by her mysterious illness and be unable to perform last night, it’s why the goils switched with the boys on Tuesdee, but those fears were allayed when Boomerslacks was brought out to face the judges, first of the evening. She strapped her guitar to herself and sang a merry warble about things and we all sighed with relief. Wouldn’t it be funny if Crystal Thundertrousers actually won this whole damn ish? Ma Yellowteefs beats all the TeenyPop competition and Vermonts her way up to the throne. I’d like that narrative. It’s a story I’d read. And, hey! Her teefs aren’t so bad anymore! Someone took a laser to her chompin’ stones and done fixed ’em up. Either that or she got dentures. Imagine if someone with dentures won American Idol . It would be the closest a thirteen-year-old girl ever felt to her grandma. “I get you, Gran” she would say, hot hormone tears pouring down her face. Gran would smile and her teeth would fall out and outside a dog would bark and the whole of Indiana would sigh wistfully. Who else was good? Oh, I put a video of the Blair Witch up top because I thought you might like it. The sound’s a little off, but don’t let that distract you. She actually was pretty good last night, that creeeeeepy witch lady with the gray, gray hair. I don’t get her style, never have and never will, but I suppose that doesn’t really matter. Or maybe it does. Last year I sort of wildly hated Adam Lambert, largely because he dressed like a 25th century space merchant and it was stupid. I suppose I am maybe that shallow. But in the case of Elizabeth Proctor up there… I don’t mind so much. She’s scary and Halloweeny, but sometimes we’re all a little scary and Halloweeny. We should forgive her that. We should not, however, forgive anyone for singing a song from 1964 on American Idol . I’m calling a moratorium. You are only allowed to sing things from the last twenty years. Srsly, if I have to hear any more Sam Cooke or “My Girl” or Janis Joplin on Idol ever again, I’m going to throw myself into the TV, and then I’ll be like John Ritter in that Stay Tuned movie, stuck forever in a hellish televisionscape, at the merciless whims of a devilish Jeffery Jones. And i don’t want that. That Delamor character was a surprising success last night! She didn’t sing that well, but she chose an interesting song. I mean Creed as a band is really only for mushy-hearted youth faith leaders from Ohio (who wear waffle crosses and are named Luke or Jared and wear cargo shorts and flipflops until November and shirts with lone stripes running across the top-middle and have tickets to the Dave Matthews concert in Columbus if you want to go, he’s always liked you since Mr. Radnor’s geometry class but he’s been too much of a vaguely sissified gentleman to ask you out until now, until this gauzy spring of senior year, and soon you’ll both be off at college, you at OSU and he at Miami, and then where will you be, where will any of us be?) but it was cool to see Delamor slow that shit down and strip it of all the swooping faux-grandeur. She did a nice job. Simon even said so. Good on you, Delamor! Perhaps you’ll be dimly dazzling us in the Top 12 rodeo. Perhaps perhaps perhaps. The Bad Red Hair McGee, come here for a second. No, it’s OK. I just want to talk to you. Hey. How are you? Having fun? Like being on TV? Good, good. Now look. What the red hot fuck was that last night? The judges told Lacey to sing in the style of Six Pence None the Richer (a known Christian band that Jared/Luke will put slyly on the radio when you are driving home from Columbus [you went!] and he will turn to you and smile and it will be goofy and sad, in the way nice things are) last week, and so she did just that. She sang “Kiss Me.” Remember that hot mess? It’s from the She’s All That Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and it’s a piece of garbage — all twitty tinkle and sagging white Christmas lights. And Lacey didn’t do well with it. It came across really schmoozy and stupid and she was wearing a white version of Michael Jackson’s costume from the “Scream” video. There’s something I sincerely do not like about Lacey. Her hair is… I can’t really even go into the hair. (Jared/Luke’s sister, Tara, has the same hair. She moved to Akron after high school and takes a flew classes at the college, but mostly she works at SuperCuts and drives the lonely strip of Montrose at night. Sometimes for dinner it is Chili’s with Darren, who seems strangely cold now. And sometimes it is Red Robin with Dawn, who is getting bigger and who seems to be giving up, who doesn’t talk about London and Jane Austen anymore like she used to in high school, lying on Tara’s bed and staring up at the ceiling and dreaming about the future. Tara sits across the table from her, barely touching her burger, and she runs a hand through her piecey, choppy hair and she wonders what Jared/Luke is doing, if he ever asked that girl out, if he ever actually feels closer to God than she does.) I also really didn’t like the Stevens girl from CT. You know, the teen belter with the big coffee voice that belies her youth and is strangely unsettling? Yeah. She bothers me. Her little intro package was sooo fake and smug. Ick. You do not want to be in Middlebury High’s production of Pippin with her next fall. Trust. I Don’t Know What to Say Did you guys like that Epperly girl’s gonzo white piano Coldplay fiasco? I suppose fiasco is a strong word. But it was just so strange. Like, she sounded good and all? But… It just didn’t fit. Something was weird and wonky and off about it. It was so Grandiose. Epperly is Having a Moment. This is an unpleasant thought. That Epperly will have Moments on this show. That some of these people will have Moments all the way through, clear to May. Epperly made me realize just how much I don’t really get any of these Moment whittlers. All desperate-eyed and hungry. It’s unbecoming. That’s what Epperly’s performance was. Unbecoming . It was so needy. Eugh. Requisite Haeley Vaugh Section She sang “The Climb,” by Miley Cyrus. Of course she did. She’s so annoying. We get it, Haeley. You are Teen America. Your name is Haeley for Christ’s sake. That’s enough to know. We don’t need additional, mangled song evidence. “Haeley” says everything about you that you’d ever want us to know. Haeley. Internet iPod Twitter text feelings and blowjob parties! Teen Issues! Degrassi is lame and Justin Bieber is for 8th graders! I think Tim Urban asked me to give him a handjob in the rehearsal studio the other day and I think Ryan was watching from behind an old portrait! Teen Stuff! Haeley! We get it. We get it . Other People Sang Does anyone remember who?

Read the original post:
American Idol: Girls Drool [Recaps]

‘American Idol’ Top 10 Men’s Report Card

Michael Lynche, Alex Lambert lead the pack in a week that showed much-needed improvement. By Eric Ditzian Michael Lynche performs on “American Idol” on Tuesday Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images The top 10 “American Idol” men could only improve after last week’s string of uninspiring, borderline panic-inducing, “Hoo boy, this season is looking weak” musical performances. On Tuesday night’s show , improve is exactly what they did … most of them, anyway. The evening was still pocked with pitchy renditions, poor song choices and “How is this dude still around?” confusion, but overall the men stepped up in their second week of live shows. Who surprised us, who disappointed us and who’s in danger of going home? Let’s take a look at the top 10 men’s report card. (And don’t miss Jim Cantiello’s review in the Newsroom .) Excellent Michael Lynche : Not to toot our own horn, but before last night’s show, we urged Big Mike to ditch the guitar and show us what kind of artist he truly wants to be, because we weren’t sure Jason Mraz? James Brown? On Tuesday the new daddy delivered, busting out a soulful take on Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.” What’s more, during his post-performance banter with Ryan Seacrest, he cemented his reputation as the season’s most engaging personality. While we wouldn’t go so far as to give him a standing ovation, as Randy Jackson did, Lynche still deserves much credit and the chance to keep singing for weeks to come. Alex Lambert : You could see this one coming, since the kid was torn apart last week. Nothing’s better on reality TV than the rise of the underdog, and that’s exactly what happened to Lambert during his performance of John Legend’s “Everybody Knows.” Who knew the Mulleted One had soul? His pre-performance package displayed a winning vulnerability — I was so nervous! I just love to sing sooo much! — that only augmented Lambert’s comeback-kid-of-the-week status. Satisfactory Casey James : We’d been hoping to see James’ rock and roll side, and we got what we asked for — but we’re just not sure we were asking for the right thing from James, a realization that became clear during his southern-fried rock rendition of Gavin DeGraw’s “I Don’t Want to Be.” His electric guitar noodling felt a bit like amateur hour and the whole song sounded like the work of a bar band, but you know what? It was a bar band that’d have you doing a sweaty group boogie and ordering another pitcher. Even though Kara DioGuardi finally found the opportunity to criticize the guy, James ain’t going away this week. Andrew Garcia : Garcia followed the pleas of the judges to stop futzing with tunes and just step up to the mic and wail. Well, he went with a straight-forward arrangement in James Morrison’s “You Give Me Something.” He just didn’t seem to have the vocal fortitude to blow us away. Is it possible that behind all that technical wizardry lays a mediocre singer? We don’t think so, and Garcia is going to have to pull himself together next week to convince the rest of America. Tim Urban : The brothers, the sisters, the prayers! Urban might be as brilliant a tactician as he is middling a singer. His take on “Come on Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson reeked of high school talent show blandness, which honestly doesn’t matter after Urban established himself as a God-fearing family boy from Texas. Simon Cowell made a savvy decision to fete Urban for his work ethic and ability to listen to criticism, rather than focus on his singing. The judge knows better than anyone: Urban is safe this week. Lee DeWyze : The judges implored Dewyze to drop the coffehouse singer-songwriter vibe last week and indulge his rock instincts. That’s exactly what he did with “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder. Was it as ethereal a performance as Simon wanted us to believe? Is DeWyze really one of this season’s frontrunners? We’re not willing to go there yet, but after two solid weeks of live shows, the 23-year-old is one of the most comfortable contestants up on stage. It should only get better for him in the coming weeks. Unsatisfactory John Park : Dude, what is going on? Simon nailed it when he said Park put on a so-what performance. We’ve been rooting for this kid for a while, but it might be time to give up on him. His song choice was at least something written in the 21st Century (“Gravity” by John Mayer), but the delivery was still reminiscent of something you might hear at a retirement home soiree. His sweet story about growing up in a bilingual Korean-American home might win him enough votes to make it through to next week, but we’re fairly certain he doesn’t deserve it. Todrick Hall : We’ve actually enjoyed Hall’s risky song choices: Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” last week, Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It” on Tuesday. Whereas his twisted take on Clarkson was oddly amusing, his butchering of Tina was sacrilegious. Two straight eviscerations from the judges do not bode well for Hall. The guy’s in trouble this week. Jermaine Sellers : Was it that the judges were cut-throat last week or that Hall just plain stunk up the joint? For two straight weeks, the church singer has ditched the soulfulness we loved and amped up his cheeseball ’70s lounge singer impulses. The guy can still nail a high note, as evidenced with “What’s Goin’ On” by Marvin Gaye, but many of the others made our ears hurt. Jesus may be his homeboy, but the viewers at home hold his fate in their cell phones. To quote Randy, “Ah man, it’s like urrrggggh!” Aaron Kelly : Pardon us while we head for another cup of coffee, because even thinking about Kelly’s insipid performance of the Temptations’ “My Girl” makes us drowsy. In the 16-year-old’s defense, that song was no worse than last week’s rendition of “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts. The only difference was that Simon and Ellen seemed to have tired of, um, whatever it was they liked about him in the first place. We’d say Kelly is in serious trouble this week, but that was our opinion last week and look what happened. With praise from Randy and Ellen DeGeneres, expect the oldest teenager in the history of the world is stick around the “Idol” stage. How do you think the guys did this week? Let us know in the comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page, where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

Excerpt from:
‘American Idol’ Top 10 Men’s Report Card

‘American Idol’ Top 10 Men: What They Need To Do

After a rocky week one, we have some advice for Andrew Garcia, John Park and the rest of the guys. By Eric Ditzian Andrew Garcia Photo: Michael Becker / FOX The pressure is on the top 10 “American Idol” men. After a series of roundly derided performances last week that had experts and fans questioning if this season’s talent is the weakest in the show’s history , Andrew Garcia, Casey James and the rest of the men will take the “Idol” stage Tuesday night (March 2) after a last-minute switch with the top 10 ladies (word is Crystal Bowersox is suffering from unspecified “medical issues”). So what do the men need to do to win back the hearts — and ears — of the nation? How can they get enough votes to avoid landing in the bottom two? Here’s what we do (and don’t) want to see from these “Idol” hopefuls. Andrew Garcia We’ve already heard Garcia remix versions of tunes from Paula Abdul, Adele and Fall Out Boy. And we’ve already seen how what we at first took for wild originality has come to seem like remix-by-the-numbers blandness. Garcia needs to forget about reinventing a tune and wow us with his vocals instead of his musical tinkering. Casey James That this cowboy kid had the best men’s performance of last week said more about the show’s overall weakness than it did about his rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven.” We’ll be looking to see James expand on his chilled-out singer/songwriter vibe and deliver a bit of old-fashioned rock and roll,